My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2018 March Resolution Check In

Wow! A month already gone but that is life, we have to make what we of time because before you know it, time had slipped passed us. Don`t put off what we can do today till tomorrow.

I make four resolutions, or goals, to accomplish each year. Some years I make it with all of them, some years I do not. Usually two are easier and two are harder.

I have began to pick a word, or words, that I try to also apply to my life for the year. This year I chose the words "No Regrets" because I do not want to regret a single thing I go for this year, whether I make it all the way or I fail, I will learn either way and make myself better.

What are my resolutions? 

1- Stop buying - Grow more

Ahhh, the sweet warmth of Spring! It is spring here in central Alabama and I am proud to say that I have planted several early tomato plants outside, all have tomatoes or are filled with blooms.

I put one potted sweet green bell pepper on the deck but it did not take to the coolness well and I brought it back inside.

As far as food is concerned I am still buying, not as much but its a must right now.

The buying of stuff? 

Yes I have bought a few new things, one obsession I still have is shower curtains and bath rugs to match. Yes I did but new and a couple new towels as well, I am still keeping the others as well.

I did buy a new dish drainer and the old one went out, it was old and the plastic coating was flaking off the metal so its outta here.

Other than that I have not done any serious buying.

Yep, This is an accomplishment because I controlled myself and spending.

2 - Clear land - Set up rentals

This resolution is one of the harder ones as I have stated before, sometimes I can achieve the hard one and sometimes it will spill over into another year.

So.....

I did see someone I know with equipment that can clear it and I did ask him to do a drive by and give me a price, but I have not heard back yet.

I have not had time to get with the commissioner about the drainage problem but that I can do sooner than later.

On the right track = Accomplishment coming my way!

3 - Clean, declutter and organize

I did not get my life back till around the 11th. of the month and then the other job kicked in so March was not a month for my needs, as in home, but more as another whole month of working.

Even with that said I did haul off a truck load to the dump from the outside and I have gotten most of the front yard under control once again. 

I gave away a car, so that one is out of the way.

Last night I did an inventory of my over the counter medications, when I did I also cleaned out an entire cabinet, organizing it and I made more space.

The cleaning is beginning to happen again in my home, one thing I accomplished was throwing out all the coupons that were expired, I have not bought coupons in almost two months, however, I am still getting them from a friend each week, most of the time I use the ones for toilet paper and animal feed, that is all. I always seem to have a lot of paperwork/mail/I have no ideal why.

Life can be hard when you have to work and then come home to work but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and that is what matters.

I will say this has improved, its an accomplishment. 

4 - Take a vacation

Well, we all know from reading above this did not happen. 

But I have tossed around a couple ideas for a Summer vacation, somewhere I have never been. 

I won`t say where just yet because I have not done the homework on these places, the cost of motel and the price to visit the places I want to see.

And I am thinking about hitting up 2 destinations at once, one on the way to the other or vice versa. 

Not a complete fail because I have just about made my mind up, if I cannot afford where I would love to go, I will do these other two places. 

There ya go the third month of the year of 2018 gone but I am working on what I want to happen in life.

How about you? graining ground?

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

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My Minimal Hoarding Life - Don`t Jinx It!

 Since I got the rental house redone and rented I get to stay home more, somewhat. 

Seems like when one job ends and I can rest and get back to home life the other job kicks in, and it did. 

BUT.... enough with those excuses to be nasty and hoard, although I want to whine and just take naps, Yes I did off and on for a week :)  it is spring and things are kicking in high gear, grass, pollen and dust, you cannot just stop.

So, where was I before getting interrupted by making a living? 

Cleaning the outside! Yes cleaning around the house before snakes and other critters get to roaming around.

I had cleaned another section of this place that has not been used at all, then I moved junk out of the garage into that area, separated the recycling from the take to the dump from the keep pile. BUT.... then I had to just leave it to work a month.

 After a day of recovery from working so much, I got back into the grove of cleaning up my own. First I took off the plastic and metal to the recycle center, then a few days later I loaded an entire truck with garbage to go to the dump.

I still have a little to do in that area before I let the dogs inside it for hiding out, they will make that their hide out I am sure.

Next I took an evening and I mowed around the house, I did the small area in the back and around all the trees.

The next day I got out the riding mower and mowed the entire two acres, even what was left to do from last year from before I got the rider.

AND.....

Today was the biggie! I gave a car away.

Back in the year 2000 my dad bought a car in my name, he said it would be mine clear when he died, all he asked was to drive him to his doctor appointments and to get groceries, he never drove it. Its a 1995 Subaru, Legacy. 

Now I know you are thinking " that is an old car!" and yes it is but its still looks good and it will run, just needs a battery and an oil change, just stuff like that. I gave it to my sister since she gave up drinking several years ago I feel its okay for her to drive again.

One more thing gone that cannot hold me back if I need to just go.... move. Not that I have plans to move but there has been talk of looking for a summer home.

She was excited when the roll back delivered it, I could hear it in her voice.

Okay, now to the what was brought in.

I did buy a solar panel kit and battery, I wished when a storm passed a few days ago and we lost power that it was up and going but I have not made it that far.

A relative also gave me a couple kitchen facets and that type stuff that was nice for me to store for the rental houses. I try to be careful about what I take because it can become a hoard and pile up, when you cannot find what I need I end up buying another.

So I think that is a pretty good balance, out with the old and in with the new..... not just the new but solar! The beginning to the next end.

More cleaning?

Yes I managed to get the living room, dining room and my bed room vacuumed, the living room and dining room dusted. 

I moved the citrus trees outside, I usually leave those in for another month but the blooms were so strong smelling they had to go out just to breath.

I have changed the bed sheets this week.

I have kept the laundry and the dishes cleaned up after use.

I had started on the kitchen but I had cleaned out the truck and the car so I had boxes of stuff that needed to be put away/organized sitting in the corner.

Although I did nor complete the house cleaning I do feel like I have accomplished a lot in the last couple weeks, all the while still working most days.

I would like to say I think life is getting back to normal around here for me, I do not want to jinx myself :) how about you, how is your minimal hoarding life?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry

NOTE : I have included several awesome books to help people learn how to get rid of things, things they they want to keep but have no need for them. As hard as it was for me, I finally gave away a car I was not driving. You can get rid of things and make life easier.

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