Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Minimalism And Me - Car Lot Yard



This one is the most difficult for me and being a woman it really shouldn`t be but I get attached to to cars.

As  a teenager I bought cars but back then I could pick up a good car for $500 and that car would last me forever, but being a teen the title was not ever in my name, always my dads or ex`s till I divorced him, those cars were sold.

When the insurance laws went into effect back in 1999 my dad gave up driving but he needed a reliable way to get around and that was me, we bought a 1995 Subaru at a dealership when they had a "half price" sale and we got it for a wonder price of $1600. I asked " Why did you put it in my name?" He asked " you`ll never have to walk again." Yes I still have that car and I still drive it but last Summer I pulled in the yard, parked and it would not crank, no I have not tried to fix it but I think its just the battery. I have a problem getting rid of this car.

Next is the newest car I ever had and I bought it in 2003 and it is a 2001 P.T. Cruiser. When I seen the first one I wanted it. Years passed but each time one passed me on the road I said " my car." I knew I had some money coming and I spotted one on a used car lot and I said " I will buy that car." I did and I am still driving with 319,000 miles but as it goes with any car, it has to be kept up and the older it gets the more up keep. Right now I have it parked because it needs wheel barrings, a heater coil and a gas filter. 

And I am not the only one.

Tony still has his muscle car, a 1976 Nova. Yes it has a good motor and transmission,Good paint job, he redid the interior but it needs tires, tail lights and a windshield. Yes we have been dragging this thing around for so many years. 

BUT that is not all, He also has his Nissan pickup truck that the timing belt was going out and Cobb automotive really messed it up, now it ticks. When it was taken to another shop the mechanic showed Tony where the idiot couldn`t get the part to fit so he CUT down an important part to make it. Its still running and he still drives it but its one of those "I might get back home and I might not" deals.

So what am I going to do today? 

I am going to look at another car. Something I can feel safe to drive and make it back home. The price is right, I just hope I like it.

Now how do I deal with the yard full of hoarded cars?

By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Getting It For Free - My Minimal Hoarding Life


The first two weeks of this month had been hectic to say the least. First with the lady being evicted and having to use my trash can to get rid of the trash she left behind and then my other job having to come first because I could not leave home for a couple of days, I felt as though I was falling behind at the old home place.

But....... I managed! I did get some progress made.

One day I took an hour and filled the trash can with more small junk from the basement, the basement of decay is what I have nicked named it. What people do not understand is that even of its dry in the basement there is still a lot of moisture when you live in Alabama. So unless its sealed, air tight with your own forced air inside and you use it a lot, then you get the basement smell and dampness. Anything wooden does not have a chance! Especially being left alone for around seven years.

For weeks now I have been piling up the bigger junk outside on the side porch and today was the day, Free dump day. Four times a year the county landfill gives free days and this is the last one of the year. I got rid of an old T.v. a dining room table and chairs, a coat rack/ stand, an old tater/ onion holder, Two tables left from the rental house that I could not put in the trash can. And old busted up tiles I removed from the floor of the last rental repair. The truck was filled and side boards added , then tied down.

From home I had some broken glass that I added to this load.

There ya go! Making things a little more minimal and saving even more money while doing so. Cost would have been $10

For more on how I saved money for me and my sister click here :
https://niume.com/pages/post/?postID=125718



By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry - The landfill 10-15-16

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Another Hell Week - Living Minimal


It should be against the law to own so much junk! I am not talking about the antique vendors that have precious items to share with those who are minimal but have nice things, I am talking about the dollar tree junk!

But in all fairness, I once was the dollar tree junkie. I am now suffering the consequences for those actions. The basement.

Week before last I got another huge trash can filled to the rim with old rotting junk, it was picked up and hauled to the dump. I also have a side porch filled with rotting old wooden junk to haul off to the dump, by the truck, This coming weekend is a free dump day and if its Gods will I will have the truck filled to full capacity.


Last week I had an eviction to move out, Without a court order, and it was filled with trash and junk. I cannot believe that one person can be so wasteful, not to mention nasty. No matter how much stuff I hoarded I still cleaned the house. I did not having it laying in the floor, not did I have rotting trash in the house.

So this week I had to use my huge trash can to clean this house out, its filled with the lid not closing, I also filled my sisters trash can AND I have more busted up wooden furniture to haul to the dump along with what I have piled up and ready to go.

I still cannot understand how people just leave their shoes, sheets, towels, and kitchen gadgets behind, those two bed pillows I do understand because that was pure filth. 


Another thing I cannot understand is the disregard for money, pocket change just thrown in the floor. But I will say that I notice this more with nasty hoarders than with cleaner hoarders.

Did you get anything accomplished in your life this week?

By Andria Perry
Photos By Andria Perry- Of rental house junk.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Minimalism- Needing A Kick In The.....





Yes! that is exactly what I need, a kick in the butt! I shake my head now ten years later or maybe twenty year later and every year in between for hoarding up things like I did, for taking whatever people gave me and keeping it.

I am not just working toward minimalism for one house but now I am in two houses.

The old home place.

Yes its been weeks or maybe a month or more but I am making a huge dent in this house. Each week I am cleaning out debris and old stuff/junk. Last week I got out another huge trash can filled to the max, it`ll be picked up today and ready to refill.

I tossed a dining room table and the chairs out the door yesterday, Saturday, there was some water damage and I was not about to keep that and try to help it, trash is trash and no matter who gave it to me, its out the door. Its an object and is not that person, she only gave it to me because she got new.

Old magazines? Yes I found more and those also it the trash can.

Tossed out all the old throw rugs and bath mats.

I swept and mopped the house out once again, I think I will need to do the kitchen floors more and the weak spots will have to have repairs.

I still need to go through the closet, no clothes but tubs of stuff and the dresser and chest of drawers, to throw all those clothes away.

Now all that is left is the one bedroom, and there is not much in there because the floor is bad I will have to wait to fill the trash can with that and not until that floor is braced back up and I wont fall through and into the basement, Okay maybe I would not fall through but I am not going to chance it.

Home :

For the most part I have been doing just pick up and put up since I am gone daily to work at the other place or to just work in general ( to make a living). 

Its the same old same old. Cook and wash dishes. Wash laundry and put it away. Sweet the floors. Pile up paperwork and file it.

I did clean the silverware drawer out and wash the holder and washed all the eating utensils. :)

 I have been taking cleaners and old towels and wash rags to use at the old home place. I did load up food and take it to that house. I did take a few cords for the T.V. to connect to the antenna box that I had hoarded here in a small tub. I reckon the small stuff adds up to but I am not really tossing it but moving it and using it somewhere else, at least its organized.

The lawn(s)? I have been managing both so, so far so good.

Shopping? 

Not really. I have not bought anything but a few staples like milk and bread, a couple packs of meat. 

I did buy a couple new t-shirts for $1.00 each but they will replace the old rags that I wore to work in I tossed out, the old shirts move to the work shirts and these new t-shirts move into the everyday wear around the house section.

How has your past week been? cleaned? removed anything?

By Andria Perry
Art By Andria Perry


Monday, September 5, 2016

Being Minimal Again


September 4, 2016

I took off yesterday, Saturday, from the daily grind of getting up and going and going and going, even Tony said " it feels nice not to have to get up and go."

But being off from work did not mean I was off completely, I still have my own home to clean, dirty laundry to wash and meals to cook.

As I said before I had to make time and money for the old home place. When you run your own business you tend to let what you have " go" for the need of others to keep the business up and running, the old home place was the one that got neglected. The size is one half of where I live now, around 800 square feet but it had a full basement that I don`t have here and I miss dearly. I worked seven days on this house, not really spending much money but investing time and energy instead. The roof had leaked so I had sheet rock to take down on the inside, a couple pieces had already fallen making a mess.I bagged that and sent it to the dump and then I began to fill the trash can with trash, it used to be my stuff and I walked off and left it when life got real and I could not take it anymore at this house. 

Since I had left it meant I no longer wanted it, the stuff. For several weeks I have been filling trash bag after trash bag with junk that is no good. I do not have a problem just tossing it into a trash bag and putting it in the weekly picked up garbage can. However, Tony is another story he tends to want to hold on to things that are no longer required for his life now, the past is gone and there is no need for some of those things.

When I inherited a house full of furniture last year I sold most of it, keep a few pieces and sold what it replaced, but there was some left over that I kept and I put it in this old home place, going to have another yard sale or another go at Craig`s list. 

I know you have heard " things happen for a reason" and they really do.

 As I was cleaning this place I picked a large kitchen table and a couple chairs , an old t.v. and this computer desk to go to the dump.



What was left was the inheritance, antique wicker lounge, two rattan tables with glass tops, two brass lamps and all of it looks adorable in the living room, I have a bedroom suit there but I tossed the mattresses long ago.  I have nice pictures to hang on the walls, a refrigerator and a microwave.

I got so much done last week that I made myself proud.  

I have not decided if I will use solar power here or if I will move back to town, closer to the hospital since Tony has been sick. If I do I will sell so much stuff because there is no way to put everything here in the space into that tiny space.

Here at home I look around at all that I have put into this space and I am not happy about it, I see so many things that are not necessary that are cluttering my life, making it hard to get things clean and dusted. Although its neat, cleaned and organized I am still feeling it.

Its my struggle.

Now here at home, the house where I reside, I managed to get the bathroom cleaned and mopped but I went a step further. I took down the shower curtain and washed it, put up one of the others I have for change out. I also took up the bath rug, washed it and put down a clean bath rug.

I got all the paper work filed, this time I had doctor stuff and court stuff. Not just the everyday upkeep of the business. I also had a ton of coupons laying out ready to be filed in the binder, put away in the pencil boxes or to share with my friends. 

I managed to get away from cooking and actually clean the kitchen, the counters got a good wipe down as well as the stove and microwave. I swept and mopped the floor. I had to clean out and rearrange the plastic food container shelf, And tossed some of those no longer needed lids. I straightened up under the kitchen sink as well and put all the cleans back in order. However, I have not been able to finish painting the walls, for the most part its behind the fridge and the china cabinet.

I washed all the dirty laundry, three loads of it, and folded and got that put away.

I did not get all of it done but I made a huge dent it this house and keeping it clean and minimal.

How was your past week? Did you toss anything?

By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry Note: the lounge picture was taken last year at another house.



Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Resolutions 2016 - Lets Take A Look Back At August



Resolutions 2016 - Lets Take A Look Back

You maybe be thinking "Resolutions! this woman is crazy!" because so many people make them but let them slide after a couple of months, or we just totally forget what out life goals were for the year by getting caught up in work and daily family life, this happens but you still have plenty of time.

I learned to write down what I want to get accomplished and place it where it can be seen more often than not, A refrigerator door is a good place, or a bedroom mirror.

How am I doing? Lets see. For the eighth month of the year- August.

One - Stop shopping so much and use up the stockpile. 

I am very proud to say "accomplished" for the month of August. I have to think back but I can only see the mayonnaise and pineapple. However, I did buy cases of home canning jars to put up my own home grown vegetables and fruits. I am out of stock with Dog food and I am low of toilet paper. Other than that the pantry is going to be a work of art, so to speak, with jars of the goods I have left and will not restock as they were before. This year this room had transformed.

Two - Start a new business.

This one was going very strong for the first six months of the year and then the other two businesses/ jobs got in the way. Maybe, just maybe I can bounce back this fall and winter but its not looking good for the produce and plant business, I do have many house plants growing and they are getting full and nice, so who knows, Maybe this was a starter year and not really a full business. A fail for this one in August.

Three- Replace the old worn out, things and thoughts.

It seems I am a magnet for certain types of people. The crazier, the more they cling to me and I have no idea why. Then they turn my life upside down with their drama and its like a field day for them because they insist on more attention by putting me down. Yes I have gotten rid of a couple more of those toxic people, toxic to me anyways.

I have taken away more old junk. I have began to look at things as not a want, I am learning to view things as a need to live instead of a want for something pretty to look at. August was a good month for cleaning out an old life that does not exist anymore, its been gone for seven years.

But I this will take awhile but I am up for this challenge, so this one is a complete accomplishment for the month of August.

Four - Be more selfish and do more for myself. 

I knew this resolution would be the hardest ever for me because I am always the one taking care of others But ya know what? I am beginning to say no, a little more. I am beginning to turn off the phones till I wake. I began to buy me a new shirt instead of someone else. I began to " listen" and know that I am being used and controlled and I am cutting my loss and walking away.

I am trying my best to not be so sensitive. Although people hurt my feelings often I am not going to show it. I will just walk away because I can do without that in my life.

So Number four is an accomplishment for the month of August.


Three out of four is not bad at all! And I still have four months to go.

How about you? Have you changed your life any this year?

By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry


Sunday, August 28, 2016

My Minimal Hoarding Life - Day Two




My Minimal Hoarding Life - Day Two

August 28, 2016 

I decided to go to work today after Church because its was not going to rain and I could get the help I needed, Tony drove his truck and would supervise the roof repair since he is feeling much better and I do not like climbing a ladder. 

Last night I figured up about how many 1 x 6 x 12`s  that was needed but I did not know the price of these, a roll of felt roofing, two pounds of 8 penny nails, two pounds of 16 penny nails and one pound of 20 penny nails. One heavy duty facial mask for the inside work.

Me and Tony went to Lowe`s home improvement store and when I seen the cost of one piece of lumber my heart sank to the floor, it was $8.48. I only had $75 on me today. I already have the felt roofing and the nails and mask and that was $30 without tax.

Tony seen this stack of lumber that had something wrong with it and he told me to wait right there he would be right back. I did. He came back with one of the employees and he said " sure I will see how much." Tony told me that sometimes they will sell the bad stuff cheap and then I remember once before and all they wanted to reduce it was half price so I told him not to get his hopes up. 

The employee came back with another man and he counted it up and said " How about $20?" Tony said " okay" and we headed to check out. Tony seen three 2 x 4 x 8`s and had chunks out on the side and he said " how much for those?" The man said " Ah, I will throw those in."  At this moment I am holding back  cause I want to run and hug and kiss this man and thank him for selling all this for that cheap!

I had to do 2 Transactions and that was fine by me, the first was $35. The employee told the cashier to ring up every piece of lumber and he would fix it afterwards. It all rang up to $168!! He came over and scanned his card, did the over ride and scrolled down to cull and just like that it was $20 plus tax , $22.00

I was beyond happy! My prayers were answered. For months I have prayed for God to send me help and the materials to fix this roof so it would not ruin the house, $203 worth of material for $57! Thank you God!

I got the material at the house, the help had cut out a bad spot in the roof, Tony supervising, I tossed the lumber up on the front porch roof and handed them the nails, they got to work.

I worked inside cleaning. I used the mask because of asthma and the dust, plus I took down some of the ceiling that had water spots and it had leaked there, that was a mess.

I did get rid of more junk but for the most part I cleaned the living room and I moved all the furniture into the bedroom, except one chair and a small table and lamp.

Next I am wiping down the walls.

That was my Sunday, how was yours?


By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry

Saturday, August 27, 2016

My Minimal Hoarding Life - Making Progress Slowly



My Minimal Hoarding Life - Making Progress Slowly


August 27,2016

Since I spent the most of my week working, for pay, I decided to do work for me today, a Saturday, at the old home place.

But when I take the help with me they are getting confusing, jumping here and there and not finishing anything before beginning something else.

I have to get the roof on first, there is no question about that so Tony walked around the place and seen where I could salvage lumber and not have to buy those pieces. But.... Then the help wants to check out prices at the lumber mill verses Lowe`s home improvement store or home depot home improvement store. 

WAIT! 

First I want them on the roof to see what lumber has to be replaced, if any! I put the brakes on that. That is the plan for the next working day there at the old home place. On the roof, with paper and pen. Write down where and how much will have to be replaced, then I will go from there.

As for me I mowed the grass but it was not really that bad and did not take to long so I began to get rid of more junk, well its trash. I loaded the trash can up half way.  I also tossed a huge stack of magazines that were old and smelled musty.

I plugged up the refrigerator and put some Diet cokes and water there so that we all have something to drink, its still hot in central Alabama, within minutes you are soaking went with sweat.

I realized that I also need to write a plan out for myself, I did a mental list on the way home of what I need to take with me, a biggie is a face mask so not to inhale all the dust.

I have a feeling Tony wants this house fixed back for me because he is in fear of dying, so that I might down size and move back in if need be, or if he is in the hospital a long time I will have a place closer, this house is 3 minutes from the hospital.

I am ready to get this house cleaned up and painted. I have furniture already there so I would just have to take back a few pieces.

 I feel comfortable being there anyways, I lived there for around 23 years.

Have you started another new project, or are you like me and have a long term project to get cleaned up and organized?

By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry

Monday, August 1, 2016

My Minimal Hoarding Life - Last Saturday


 
 
Ever have one of those days, or weeks, the more you clean the less it looks like you did anything? That was my Saturday.

The "everyone" bathroom was disgusting, the sink was nasty and the toilet was awful! I made sure I cleaned this room first, if I were a visitor I would have ran. Why was it so dirty? Tony decided that was his and I was not to use it, but he did not clean it at all. I told him today the deal is off because it was so bad. I made sure it got mopped and I cleaned every single item out from under the sink and wiped it out. I wiped down the door, inside and out and wiped down the vanity with fantastic with scrubbing bubbles. Cleaned the mirror.

Since it was pouring rain I washed the laundry and used the electric dryer instead of hanging them out on the clothesline, I have only used it a few times since May so its all good. I got two loads of laundry washed and dried, That included changing all the bed sheets.

I took out a car load of recyclables to drop this evening at the donation bin.

I disposed of all the trash that is not recyclable and dumped a bucket full of peelings into the compost pile.

Next I had to deal with the pantry, I had a mouse come in ( R.I.P.) and it chewed holes in two bags of gluten free crackers, the crumbs were everywhere. I cleaned up that mess and then I began the switch. I am switching out the dishes that are in the top of the kitchen cabinets that I don`t use often, mostly holidays, with the boxed foods and cracker, etc. so that IF another mouse finds its way in it can`t party down on my food. I also bought small clear tubs for many of the other products I have in my stockpile. I just can`t deal with mice walking on my food.

After dinner I cleaned the kitchen and I mopped that floor.

Sometimes I have to let the normal vacuuming and dusting go to get other things accomplished in the house. I got a lot finished today.

I did buy new small clear storage tubs today but it was not to hoard things but to protect my food from future rodents. I am not a mouse lover at all.


By Andria Perry
Photos by Andria Perry

Saturday, July 30, 2016

What Did July Bring? Resolutions 2016


 
 
July, the seventh month of the year has now passed and you may wonder, or not, if anyone has kept those resolutions? After all things don`t just happen over night, sometimes it takes seven months or maybe 12 months to get it done. Who has forgotten what they were? 

Sure there are days, or a month, that I forget about me and my goals but then it will keep coming back when I look around at my life, Plus I write down my yearly resolutions.

Lets begin and see what seven months has accomplished in my life.

One - Stop shopping so much and use up the stockpile. 

This one is easy its an accomplishment, I did not stockpile any store bought food except a case of tomatoes and I have been using all of the stockpile, to the point that I did run out of products. Ketchup being one.

I still do and I probably always will stock on toilet paper, try to, but hey! I need my toilet paper.

However, since I am crossing the line of buying and making I am home canning food I grow or that neighbors grow and share, so I am stocking on home grown foods.

Two - Start a new business.

Nope! Nature took its course and it went down. I did make my money back in June selling the produce but July I did not sell anything. I do still have many of the houseplants that should be nice and big to sell next year.

This one is a big fat fail!

Three- Replace the old worn out, things and thoughts. 

This one is a 50/50 because somethings have been fixed and replaced and something have not, yet.

I still have not bought a car and I need one but I keep putting it off, I reckon when I am broke down on the interstate I will try harder.

My thought pattern? Yes. I am changing slowly and its for the better.  I am not feeling so sorry for people like I used to and then they run over me.


Four - Be more selfish and do more for myself. 

No not really. This one is the hardest for me because I am a caretaker by heart and not just as a job. People get sick I doctor them, people want to learn to cook I teach them, or if they are hungry I feed them and so forth.

July I did not go swimming, I did not even make time to color my hair.

I need to learn to live more in the moment instead of always following the plan or schedule.

BUT I did update my wardrobe a little and I did buy myself a CD, no matter who like the music!

So there you are two of them are coming along and two are not.


How about you? gave any thought to what you wanted to change about you back on new year day?

By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Minimalism Monday - Life Happens


 
 
July 19,2016

Life happens, its not even Monday anymore but what the heck? Better late than never, right? Minimalism Monday has always been a day to reflect on how well I am doing the minimal thing anyways and to see if I found a new way to organize or release things that I am attached to and to ask " how was your past week?"

Last week I worked and I also worked, let me explain.

I have to go out into the world and work for a living because I have not figured out how to stay home and make enough money to pay all the bills, And I have to work at home dealing with the Summer vegetable garden that I use for food all year round, And I ..... well lets just say I do everything at home as far as upkeep. That is work and work.

To save money I had vowed to use the clothes line to dry the laundry, since it was installed back in May. So far I have only used the dryer three times and I think that is a good record, but we also are in a moderate drought, if it rains its been in the late evening for the most part, I get to use the morning sunshine and mid day heat to get the job done. With that being said I made a new schedule and I wash earlier than I used to when I used the electric dryer. One day when the temps were 102° the laundry was dried in one hour!

I worked last week at the old home place that is in the city, I own it and it is always the last house to ever get worked on due to having to keep up the rental houses that is my main source of income, but I am doing baby steps and getting this one in order as best I can with the limited help I have ( seems no one wants to work, people want you to give or they just go get it from the government). When I moved I pretty much left that hoarded life behind, I did not need nor want all of that anymore. Over the years I have been working to clear the house out and I have, I have sold everything that was worth anything and the rest is absolute trash as far as I am concerned. I loaded the trash can and sat it out to the curb. I also mowed the grass and paid someone to help me clean up after the tree limbs were cut up. I did make progress with this house.

I did not do any major cleaning in my home because it was for the most part already clean, I just did the upkeep of putting things back into there place and cleaning up behind myself in the kitchen. 
 
 

 
I did not buy any newspapers this week so no coupon mess.

I took the recyclables to the donation bin.

 
 
I did mow half of the lawn/ yard, why only half? That was all that had actually grew and it was around the house so I used the push mower.

Now what did I buy last week? 

I had a problem last week with trespassing, I am sure I was to be robbed because strangers do not show up with an empty truck and trailer " just to turn around" in a private drive clearly marked with no trespassing signs. Plus I am in the woods. I do have security cameras but I upgraded with a new plan and cameras and I bought a driveway gate, installed that halfway up the driveway ( the driveway is what I call a city block long) there is a spot for anyone that pulls up can turn around, by the road and just before the gate so no one has to back up. Since this is my private space I do not have visitors to " just show up" all visits are planned. But I did get that done for me and my home last week.

I did use coupons to buy more home canning jars for the harvest that is in full swing. 

Now what did I get rid of?

A few years back I was having serious back problems so I often got gifts to help. I gave my sister this huge back thing that heats and buzzes in certain areas of the back and legs. I did not like it so it was time to say goodbye. 

What is the plan for this week? I am going to get rid of some of the paperwork that is old and I will not need it anymore and I need to clean out my big closet, again, because its just..... to much of what is to big for me and its really outdated. Some shirts I will sell so eBay here I come, again.

 
How was your past week?

By Andria Perry
Photos by Andria Perry

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Minimal And A Homestead - Minimalism Monday


 
 
I heard that over two million people are choosing to get off the grid and live off the land, does that mean that they are minimalist? How can you be minimal and  homestead? How about an opinion of the "new" way to get what you want and not hoard? 

In some views this can be a contradiction, minimal and living off the grid? after all you do have to have some sort of food storage and some hoard "stuff" for later use, right?

When some people hear " off the grid" they automatic get the vision of the old hermit with no running water or power, campfire to cook and ragged clothing but that is no longer how off the grid should be viewed. I want to have luxury to a point (the computer and T.V.) but I am also not afraid of hard work, to gather food and preserve it, and if need be cut wood for heat.

Two words .....Twice.

Solar Power, well water.

When I say off the grid I mean that I don`t want to continue to pay a huge power bill monthly that is at times the same as rent or a house payment. The water here is so costly that we dare not to waste a drop and its , whatever they call it when it leaves behind a whitish dust, maybe lime water? 

I want to reduce my work load in the city and not have to worry about pounding the pavement to make ends meet each month. I want to keep the money I earn and not be a slave to monthly utility bills.

But I do understand there are things to learn and get done before I disconnect the power and use only solar power, for one I need to invest in the solar power system. Some people think of the cost and walk away but when you own your own company, as I do, I know the yearly numbers and they are getting higher each year but with the same low pay, so in a couple years I will be reaping the rewards of the investment. 

Downsizing.

I am sure this will be the best thing for me to do, a smaller house. Less space means less stuff. I remember when I lived in a smaller house with a basement, I stored my home canned foods down there and it was rare I had anything spoil. The utility cost were lower but I did not have a huge space to grow food. 

I do not intend to raise animals for food. However, I would like a few chickens.

I am a hot mess!

I am one of those people who has an office filled with paperwork that is scattered everywhere and if you move something you mess up my system, but when its time to head out the door to that meeting I grab up that scattered paperwork and head out with everything in order for presentation, leaving not a single paper behind. 

Right now I am laying the foundation, what I am getting rid of that is  clogging life up and bring in what will make it freer, mind and body, bank account and daily job.

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Minimalism Monday

July 11, 2016

Last week was another wild ride in my life. I was "given" food that I refused to let rot so I bought more canning jars (investment, they last as long as they are taken care of ) and put that food up for the winter and I am sure will last me a year.

But I did get the home in better order. I cleaned the house! Yes I dusted and vacuumed, swept and mopped. 

I took off the recyclables. 

I filed paperwork and I clipped coupons ( only 2 papers this week, I am cutting back so much!)

I offered free shipping for the Ebay stuff, get rid of it or give it away.

I keep the laundry washed, hung out to dry and it gets folded right off the clothes line. No need to waste power for drying laundry in July in the state of Alabama!

But more than anything I realize that I don`t need much to make my happy, good health is the one thing that is important and to achieve that I don`t need a cluttered, dusty home. 

How did you do last week? Buy more or get rid of more?

By Andria Perry
Photo By Andria Perry