Thursday, August 14, 2014

Becoming a Minimalist Part II

I would like to talk more about living in a more minimalistic fashion.  I realize it is not for everyone, but if you are on a fixed income or earning a low wage, but need to get by and live comfortably at the same time, I have some helpful hints.

First of all, unless it is broken, do not fix it.  I admit I have some things that should be replaced some time in the near future, but they are doing for now, and only the really important things need a true repair.

I have examples of things that I personally can do without, but I realize that everyone has different needs and priorities based on life style, personality, family size, social life, etc..  As for me, I do not need a big coffee pot.  My kids and myself get up at different times and prepare our own coffee.  I have guests occasionally, but not usually big coffee drinkers.  I like my coffee really fresh, so I just have a cone, but I have a small coffee maker put away in case I want to change methods.  When I think or browse online for a new coffee maker of any kind, like a French press or a cappuccino maker or what have you, I have to ask myself, 'do I really need this?'

Then there is clothing.  This is a really big one.  I have always loved clothes since I was a little girl.  I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was a kid, and I used to draw and color in detail, pictures of fabulous outfits and boots with intricate embroidery, embellishments and laces.  However, my fashionista days may be over, although I still like clothes.  When I go through my wardrobe, I have to ask myself, 'do I really like this anymore?  Will I ever really wear this again?  Do I really need a business suit still?  An evening gown?  I know we all do this, so I hope this is not too elementary, but I like being plain and to the point, rather than fancy and pretentious. 

Then there are the skin and hair products.  Yes, I need lotions and face cream as well as shampoo and conditioner, but I do not need twenty different bottles cluttering the shower.

The list goes on like, 'how many sets of sheets, towels, mugs, hangers, storage containers, (these are useful I must say though) do I really need?  Actually, if you are decluttering, it is advised not to get more storage containers, because that is only reason to have more stuff.  I took some baskets which contained a lot of useless objects, and put bricks in them in my back yard for decoration outside my back steps, just a creative idea of what to do with these attractive but no longer needed baskets.

If you have ever had a problem with roaches, especially the German variety, clutter is a huge culprit.  If your kitchen counters are cluttered, it makes them harder to clean, and a perfect breeding ground for them to hide.  Even the cupboards being more sparse, helps to remedy that situation, along with stuff like combat and raid. 

So, if you like to shop in store or online, carefully discriminate whether you really need what you are looking at, can you afford it?, and do you already have something similar?  With clothes, how many pairs of black pants does one person need?  I admit I used to own a lot of clothes, still do, but not unreasonably, and truthfully, I only own one pair of dress shoes.  I do not own a pair of sandals, although I have some flip flops.  This is because I am legally blind, and it is safer for me to wear tennis shoes, so in the summer I wear canvas sneakers and slip-ons more than my flip flops.  I own one white summer blazer and one autumn, winter blazer, well two if you include the black velvet.  I own a few jackets, but mainly only one in gray, one in black and one in navy, including a brown leather and a black Dickies Sherpa hoodie for more sporty occasions like hiking and outdoors.

I am only giving an inventory of my clothing to explain my ideas on this subject, and the same goes for bathing suits, dance attire or yoga, whatever your thing is.

Well, what have I not covered?  Broken stuff has to go, unless really expensive and hard to replace and a part is attainable via the internet for example, like my son's guitar parts.

I do not own a car.  I have a gulf cart to get to the store.  It is not easy not owning a car, but truthfully, even if I did, I would not be able to afford registration, tax and insurance, although I did once pay all that somehow.  Still, I do afford myself certain luxuries which are my own priorities such as internet, cable, landline and the occasional new age workshop or yoga class.

Still, money is tight, and I do splurge once in a while on some treat, but becoming more and more disciplined is a good thing.  We watch the news, all the people suffering in Iraq, Israel and the Gaza strip, and we have to be thankful and grateful every day, and pray for these poor souls.  We also can have compassion for ourselves sometimes when life is hard, without wallowing, another luxury we cannot afford.  I would love for you to join and follow my blogs if you have enjoyed this one.  Shanti.  Namaste.  Much love.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Becoming a Minimalist


There is a new way of living called being a minimalist.  I am one of those people.  Surprisingly, in a world where materialism is the norm, and people are trying to keep up with the Jones's, getting more bigger and better stuff, including cars, houses, etc., there is a new type of living which is becoming more popular.  This is called minimalism.

For one thing, most people these days, have too much of everything, except maybe not much money.  Many of us try to live beyond our means, and also drowning in stuff.  That is right, stuff.  For ten years, after I moved into my mobile home, I procrastinated on simplifying my existence. 

Eventually, I began to go through everything with a fine tooth comb, getting rid of so much junk I moved into my home, as well as acquired everywhere from The Salvation Army to the Columbia Mall.

I will give examples of things people often have too much of or too many of: 1) clothes, 2) dishes and glasses, etc., mugs... 3) sheets and towels, 4) shoes, 5) hangers, and 6) cosmetics, beauty products and medications that are old and expired.  Even perfumed oils and make-up have expiration dates, even if not written on them.  The details of this would be a topic for another blog.

I guess what took me so long was all the personal complications and relationships in my life.  And then, not that my life is easy or uncomplicated, my life became more peaceful.  Or perhaps I did, maybe not externally, but in my own self.  I found that I had time to clean and purge myself of all the junk.  I went through my stuff, and I eliminated all the things I no longer needed or wanted.  It was such a good feeling, and suddenly I had so much more space.  I really believe the concept of Feng Shui, that it helps to get rid of clutter.

I saw a video and looked at a blog about these tiny houses people are now living in.  Although, to be honest, I would love to have a bigger home and more space, but for now I have a place that is mine and beautiful, a haven that I can kick back in, that is mine, and that I can share with my kids.  I might even get a cat again, one of these days.