My Minimal Hoarding Life - 2019 Resolution - February Check In

Wow! A month already gone but that is life, we have to make the best of the time we have because before you know it, time has 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 easy and two are hard.

I usually make a word, or phrase, of how I plan to be for the year and this year I have chosen " Dream it, Do It." I chose this because I am making my dreams come true a little at a time, the time to get them finished is now, year 2019!

Here are my 2019 resolutions :

1 - Reduce Spending By Half

This month I had to spend, no choice! The truck needed radiator work and a/c work, I spent my savings. Big sigh. 

I did buy a shirt off the clearance rack, I was scanning my closet and I have work clothes and super dressy clothes. It was $11 and reduced down to $3, while its still buying, I did save money by getting it off this rack, now I have one that is new, that can be worn to the doctor office, etc.

The good side, I am buying less food and using more of what is in the deep freezer or home canned.

This is a 100% fail only because I had to do truck repairs.

2 - Reduce Stuff By Half

A work in progress! Yes I have been busy on this one. Since it rained for a week I did have time to "look mat stuff" and I did get more out of the old home place.

While I have stuff here I do not need, I have a room full at the old home place I do not need or want. I have a half of a pick up truck piled outside waiting till I have a full load ready, including an old desk, a shelf, a counter top, a couple small tables. I tossed all the old magazines and the books that smell like a basement, and more just little junk stuff. I took down the kitchen curtains and tossed those as well.

This is a 100% accomplishment.

3 - Set Up Sunshine`s Homestead Creations Store

Oh yes! While I can`t just do all the work in a day, all alone, I am making so much progress!

I have a huge, I mean huge! section of land cleared and I am working on the parking area now. I have a small building to move here but I have a little more to cut down before I will say I am ready to move the building, mostly small pines, 12 of them.

The last week had been rain, not just plain rain but days and days of pouring rain that has caused a flood, while floods are not good I used this as an observation of the land and how it effects my property.

This is a 100% accomplishment!

4 -  Cut Out Sweets - Kick diabetes ass!

I mentioned when I wrote out this list that it would be easy this year but once again I have failed 100% on this resolution. I did have a check up and I have not gained any weight, I am actually down a couple pounds since this time last year, but my A1C is still to high.

So, that is how I am doing with my 2019 new year resolutions, how are you doing with yours?

By Andria Perry

My Minimal Hoarding Life - Let The Clutter Be Gone! New Season In Life

It that time of the year, again! Although I feel I do not have  much stuff there are things I can get rid of in my home. Plus when I am dealing with more than one place/home things do add up.

Sunday -I moved the office furniture around, cleaning the floor as I went, making sure each section was clean before placing a piece of furniture down, I vacuumed the hall and the spare bedroom..I also cleaned the kitchen but not the floor.

Monday - Started the house cleaning.

This morning I dusted the office and removed things I did not need anymore, into the recycle bin.

Next I changed my bed sheets and washed them with the other dirty clothes. When those were done I washed the bath mats from both bathrooms.

I went through the papers on the desk.

Off to the pantry I went and removed what was sitting in the floor, tubs, laundry basket filled with homeless items,  I put things on the top shelf while standing in a chair, swept the floor.

The breakfast nook, "catch all" as I come in the door, got cleaned and things put away.

The laundry room got a good sweeping and the rug vacuumed.

 Tuesday - I took all the loaded up, a car full, recyclables to the drop off/donation bin.

Wednesday I just took a day off to rest since I have been overworking myself outside.

Thursday - I had to go to work so I did not get home till late so I really did not do anything except make new plans.

Friday - Since its finally warming up I went to work at the old home place. I seen how much I need to toss in the trash so I went by the trash pickup office and paid for three months of trash pickup. 

I know that a lot of what is there will not ever be used so I will donate what I can and trash can the rest. While some look at the big picture and shake their heads at the work, I am not like that, I see one room at a time. I see one repair at a time. But I am sure that is the landlady in me, I have had houses trashed by tenants and I got them back to excellent shape.

That is my week in review, how was yours?

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

My Minimal Hoarding Life - Being Mindful

This year its my goal to cut spending in half so I have to be mindful. I think about why I am shopping. 

These are the questions I ask before I go shopping, before I leave the house:

1 - What do I need? 

I am at the point in life where I don`t need stuff. I can go into a store and waste hours and never buy anything. 

I am in the part of life where I realize I just need clothing and food, and not new clothing weekly.

2 - How much do I have to spend? Not credit, in the bank or cash on hand.

  

This is usually what make a trip or stops a trip shopping. I do not own a credit card, if I need something bad enough I will save for it.

I have to think so I wanna blow my money now? Or do I want to save for that special item?

3 - Can I wait another day?

Sometimes we use shopping as a way to reward ourselves for losing a pound, sometimes we use shopping to cover an issue we are dealing with, sometimes we shop because we are bored and other times we shop with friends as a way to be social.

Think about waiting another day, if you really need to shop can wait one more day? The next day comes and that urge may have passed so you saved yourself a lot of money!

SO.......

When you do go shopping for food make a list and stick to it so you can get what you "need" instead of what you want in the moment. Sometimes the impulse buys is what is making us fat.

Here is another tip :

Eat at home before shopping!

Why?

Because when you are saving money eating out can cost anywhere from a cheap $5 burger to a lovely meal of $20, then add tip, then if you are with friends eating out we tend to linger longer and spend more, maybe an extra drink from the bar or dessert.  You not only wasted money you just ate and drank  enough calories for a whole week!

What to do when you stop shopping

This is the real problem, I hear people ask "well what do I do now?"

1 - Back to Why? Why do you need more for the same things you already have? Why are you saving? 

Like most of us we have a something we want but don`t have the money for it. Some want a nice trip, a week vacation. Some want a down payment for a new or used car. Etc.

For me its about building my business, I thought one day while browsing the clearance rack in the ladies department, I don`t need anymore clothes, but I want a $3,000 building. So I walked away, checked out my food. when I got home I transferred $20 into my savings account. Why? because I was gonna buy clothes that would have been $20, the building became real at that moment. I started being mindful about my money and the goal. 

Make your goal known! Name your savings account.

2- If you are bored check out some of the local free stuff going on in your town.

Spring, Summer and Fall, most towns have festivals and they cost nothing to roam and check out free music.

The library! Oh yes. Check out the bulletin board in your local library because its free to post what is going on in town and even what shows,plays and people will appear right there. 

Look up your town online, or the next town over and see what is happening. Many events are free! Put a few cokes in a small cooler and into the car, now you have your own drinks from home.

3 - Head to the Park

I know, I know! Many of you are already shaking your heads telling me about all that ails you, here are the top complaints I hear.

I have depression and I do not want to get out.

I have a bum leg.

I am an introvert and I do not like people.

I will have any anxiety attack, I am scared, what if I do not fit in?!!

First ......

Getting out of your home and into the fresh air and sunshine helps depression!

A bum leg? Maybe you need muscle? walking in a park at your own pace can help with that.

I would like to say I am people person but I am not, however, the world is filled with people and I have found out that many are exactly like me. Hint - Wear sunglasses so no one will see you watching them :)

Anxiety, well, I have found the best way to "get over it" is to face fear and just do it! We all have a little anxiety so we gather all of our courage, get out and go, and then we finally breathe and see its not bad at all.

Once again, put water or cokes in the car cooler for a quick ready drink.

4 - Have a get together at your house with the friends, cook a simple meal and invite them over for the afternoon/evening, whatever time you would usually shop. Each week swap out who is cooking at their house. You save a huge amount of money by doing this at home.

5 - Movies

Go see a movie! While going to the movie is costly most theaters have a day that its cheaper or you can buy discount tickets online. Eat at home before you go and skip the popcorn, if you are brave put candy and a drink in your over sized purse. ;)

By being mindful with my money and shopping I am also making a difference in how my home looks, less clutter. Plus I am saving money to buy something I want.

What do you want from your money?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry and Pixabay