This is not minimalism

This is NOT minimalism. This is magazine styled, copy selling, high fashion photography. In reality, your clothes are more colorful and not perfectly pressed. You don’t have a Chanel bag sitting in your closet. You have more than two pairs of shoes and they are worn. If this is the minimalism that enticed you to find the movement, that’s not a bad thing. However, be realistic in your journey. Owning less is not about being perfect or beautiful (by pop culture standards). If you aspire to this black and white, picture perfect style, you will never feel good enough. Release what does not serve you and respect what does. That is minimalism.

The Rule of Half

One of the easiest ways to save money and use less is to try cutting things in half. You will be surprised at how much you overuse when you start this process. One of my favorite books, The Tightwad Gazette, mentions this idea and I’ve been using it ever since I read about it.

Take whatever you are about to use and cut it in half. My first attempt was with dryer sheets. I started tearing the dryer sheets and using only half a sheet per load. I found that there is no difference in the result compared to a whole sheet. That was easy so I tried it with laundry detergent. Again, success! Next, shampoo, toothpaste and other personal items worked well. Automatic dishwasher detergent did not work with less. I still fill the cup, but I did find the store brand works just as well as the pricier stuff. Sugar in my coffee and butter on my toast worked well by using half and are probably better for my health too.

On the subject of food, look at the serving sizes. Start measuring out the serving sizes and you will be surprised at how much you over use. Creamer in the coffee is one that shocked me. I measured out a tablespoon and it is much less than the amount I was using. I tried using less coffee but I have to draw the line there.

Use your judgement, of course. Do NOT try this with prescription medicine, but do this with mundane things and see what happens.

Clear out the Clutter

Apartment therapy’s 20/20 Home Cure episode today got me started in clearing out the bookshelf but I took it a bit further. Instead of just clearing out the books I went for the whole office. 

The best way to clear out a room is to do exactly that. Empty it completely. Remove anything you can, leaving only the bare furniture, shelves and walls.  Arrange the furniture in a way that opens up the room and provides the functionality you really need.

Once its empty, think about the purpose of the room. Visualize what this room should look like and what you really want in it. Now, start putting things back. Only put back the items that are useful, aesthetically pleasing and have a purpose there. The purpose may just be that you like it but think in terms of the perfect room.

Once you have only what you really want in the room, take everything left outside and put it away. Not sure how to deal with what’s left outside? Make three boxes: another room, donate and out. No boxes? Don’t loose momentum here. Trash bags or even piles will work, just don’t bring it back in the room. If it belongs in another room, put it there, if it’s broken or useless, throw it out/recycle it. If it can be used, donate it or put it in a box to go out and give it away.

Every time you walk into this room you will feel good.

Holidays on the cheap

I know you will see a million articles and blogs on how to do things for the holidays in frugal ways. Here are the ones I’ve found to work without making all your gifts out of used potholders.

Holiday Meals: If you have a large gathering, or even a small one, ask each of your guests to bring their favorite or “specialty” dish. It’s not wrong to ask what they’re bringing or suggest a dish. “Aunt Mabel, everyone loves your pecan pie, would you consider one for this year?” That way you don’t have four string bean casseroles. Planning ahead is also important. Look at the store specials and buy what you can on sale. Frozen turkey, thawed in the fridge three days beforehand is way cheaper than a fresh one. If you’re not a traditionalist or having just the family, consider a chicken or just the turkey breast, or not a turkey at all. If you are really strapped, and invited somewhere else, accept the invitation and ask what you can bring.

Christmahanakwanzika: Okay it’s Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza put together, but it is gift giving season no matter what. Among our friends I’ve told them we are just giving to the children this year. Most parents do appreciate this and are happy to save a bit of money too. You can still give a card addressed to the family.

If someone’s having a party, it’s customary to come with a hostess gift. These are easy, a few pretty soaps, dollar store ones are nice enough wrapped with rolled wash cloths and a ribbon are a nice gift. Use a pretty leaf or twine for festive additions to the wrapping. Baby gifts like bibs or a plush toy or rattle are easy to find in most places. For small children 3 to 6 year olds, a couple of match box cars, or dress up toys are great from the dollar store.  7 to 12 year olds: playing cards like uno or old fashioned gifts like yo yo’s, paddle balls or a small box of legos can be found cheaply. Over 12 is a bit tougher. If you’re not absolutely sure, stay away from the latest trends. Chances are the trend is old by the time you know about it. This age group is picky. I hit the office supply store:  a new set of earphones, a usb drive in a fun shape or color, cool pens, pads, journals etc. The dollar section at Target is a good place for this but you have to have some discipline to stay away from the rest of the store.

Office exchange: While your at the office supply store, get a good deal on some nice pen sets. If you are really broke, a mug from the dollar store with some tea or hot chocolate pack with a ribbon is always your best bet.

Don’t forget the thrift shop. There are always nice candle holders, dishes and mugs for super cheap. Buy a few pretty china dishes and then bring cookies, brownies or other food gifts. It’s a great place for baskets too. I’ve found so many name brand dishes from noritake to crate and barrel. You will be surprised.

Clutter War

I'm now trying to unclutter my office. I have these visions of a perfect minimalist workspace. You know, the kind you see in magazines and on Lifehacker or Unclutterer.com. All the books are covered in white paper, sparsely placed photos of beautiful black and white photography on nearly empty shelves and an ikea chair and desk with nothing but a white bud vase and perfect flower. But then there is the annoying reality that is my office. I can clean up and put things away and organize. I will finally get it to where it looks like no one lives or works here. Then things just seem to creep in. Files, papers, business cards etc have migrated into my workspace. Right now, there's my coffee cup, of course, and the stack of bills that need to be opened, the stack of stuff to be filed, cleaning spray from my intention to clean as I unclutter, my borrowed label maker and a host of receipts that have found their way to my desk and that little remote that comes with the mac, among other things.

All the websites devoted to organization tell you to break it down into manageable tasks, so here I go.
1. The file drawers: Business Files and Personal Files separated and labeled and purged of old stuff.
2. Take all the photos that line all the shelves and put them in an album. I love my family but I don't really need them staring at me while I work.
3. Put all photo's, printer paper, disks, extraneous cables, memory cards etc in those nice white boxes from ikea.
4. Promise myself I won't let it get out of hand again.....and do it all over in 6 months.

Wish me luck!

PS The suggestion came up about scanning all my documents and storing them on cd, but there is something about keeping the papers that I can't let go of. It seems somewhat time consuming to receive papers, scan them into the computer, organize them into related directories and then remember where I put the cd when I'm looking for something.