A Minimalist - Journal

July 23 , 2015 

I cannot believe a week has passed already . The plan was to clean up the house that I had neglected while working , not just working but with a deadline .

That did not happen . Instead the a/c went out during the hottest week so far this year . I had to hang blankets over doorways to block out the room so that the small window units could cool a few rooms till the part came in for the a/c . I had to keep the house dark with the curtains closed to help with the colling of the house .

I slept by day for the most part and did what I could in those few rooms by night .

I did keep the kitchen clean except for mopping the floor and I plan to do that this evening . 

I did keep the clothing washed and dried , I did this at night so that I could open the laundry room door and let the heat from the dryer escape .

I also " HAD " to can and freeze my vegetables from the garden .I reversed the process , I would chop and soak the vegetables (that required a salt bath to soak )that were going to be relish early in the day instead of soaking all night , when night came I cut the over hood fan on to suck the heat out as I boiled and canned . 

I wanted to clean up this office because I do have the eBay items that I have up for sale in here and its driving me mad that they are not organized And I wanted to vacuum and dust the house . 

I think I am stuck in the reverse day and night thing , I will have to change that , somehow .

I reckon life throws you a curve ball every now and then and I just have to deal with it , after all I still have one week before my next busy work week gets here so maybe I can get the home , garden and lawn under control in that amount of free time . Oh and I almost forgot my eBay and etsy store needs some attention , I have 20 free listings on eBay I should make sure I take advantage of that .

Sometimes I think " maybe I should just give up all these different jobs and get a nine to five job ", then it hits me that I am the boss at most of my jobs now and that I do not think the nine to five people could handle me :) 

I often wonder how other people in my line of work deals with home and work , if they are minimalist in this hoarding world ? 

By Andria Perry

A Minimalist - Saving Money

July 22 , 2015 

Being a minimalist means I am satisfied and I do not have the urge to shop for more and more and more stuff . But we do have to eat . 

I use coupons to shop for just about everything and Today I added to the stock pile things I got for free or dirt cheap .

I do have to say that none of its really for me except a couple items and thats the usual , I tend to make sure everyone else is happy . When they are happy they are quiet and when they are quiet I am happy .

I have two dogs and I have to make sure they are also happy so when I use coupons its not just for people but for the dogs too , they really enjoy their treats and snacks . A plus is they will mind me no matter what for a doggie treat :) By using coupons for their feed and snacks I can save that money for the fencing so they can run free , right now they cant and stay safe .

The reason for two transactions was that I simply forgot and after I seen the store coupon in the green advantage flier , I took advantage of that sale and the coupons that matched .

Store of my choice is Publix grocery .This is what I got on sale and the coupons I used :

Transaction One

2 - Red Baron Pizza`s $4.99 on sale buy one get one free - No coupon = $4.99

1 - 6 pack double rolls of quilted Northern toilet paper $4.99 on sale buy one get one free - Used .55 mft. coupon = $1.95

3 - Pedigree dog snacks $4.00 on sale buy one get one free - Used $3.00 off of three mft. coupon = $3.00

8 - Hunts pudding 4 pack $1.00 - used $1.00 store coupon = Free

-$1.07 senior discount ( love the children check out girls :)

Total before sale and coupon was - $38.07

I paid $10.91

Transaction two :

6 - State fair corn dogs $3.49 on sale buy one get one free - Used $1.00 off store coupon = . 75 each 

2 - Smuckers Magic shell chocolate $2.29 each - Used $2.00 off two store coupon AND $1.00 off two mft. coupon = $1.58 for two 

Total before sale and coupon was - $26.39

I paid $6.95

Now lets total those together for the grand total .

Grand Total was $64.46

Grand total I paid was $17.86

I love coupons and saving money means I do not have to work as hard to buy  the junk food for everyone in the household . As for me I picked squash , tomato`s and okra today from my garden , cost ? a little sweat .

I am making life easier one step at a time . 

By Andria Perry

A Minimalist - Adventure`s Of A Landlady

July 21, 2015 

Being a landlady for around twenty years gives me a bull crap radar and 99% of the time I can see right through the lies . I am saying there is 1 % that is better than just good at the con game and they can fool me .

Now Roger Dodger thinks he is great at his game of lies but I see right through those lies , especially after dealing with him for a year and a half .

With last weeks lies I gave him an ultimatum " Pay rent in full or move and I am inspecting the house regardless " .

Did I expect all the rent ? Yes , And I never understood why two adults cannot clean a house when they sit on their butts all day , neither working . No you cannot blame the one year old for NOT washing dishes , sweeping , washing clothes or cleaning the bathtub . The baby is only responsible for the toy mess and maybe a drink spill .

Now let me put this so that you`ll see and hear the scene  . 

Roger Dodger knew I was coming and what time , he was not home so I called . But Roger dodger never answers and always calls back ( I know that`s not normal but ? ) . He calls back with " he is out borrowing the money and it at Walmart " ( ?! ) , I say " okay I will be back in a little bit I am going to the store " .

Roger Dodger calls me when I am in check out at the grocery store and I told him " On my way " .

Knowing the sound of my car ( yes I need a new muffler or car :) as I pass taking my sister home , he walks outside and sets up what he wants me to see .

I am two houses up on the opposite side of the street . As I start back down the hill Roger dodger is sitting on the front porch step with one knee up and his elbow propped on it and his face in his hand . 

I smile a little knowing here it comes .

I park in the driveway that is on the right of the front porch with the yard to cross  . 

As I walk up to him I notice that he has his fingers near his eyes or in them . He looks up and says nothing and just looks at me . 

I have the receipt book in one hand and I hold out my other hand asking for money but not saying anything either but trying to keep a  Poker face . Tony just watches  .

Roger Dodger says " You`re going to be mad at me " . I asked "Why? " knowing here comes the bull shit storm .

He pauses , he was getting his courage up , or rather his lines ready for me , acting class !

Roger Dodger hands me money but its only half . I walk up on the porch and I sit down and I listen to the same lie as last week and he was laying out all his bills and what has happened , he even tossed in " And your on my back for rent " .

BUT .....

This time Roger dodger tried to use good old tears on me . Yes , he did ! yes they were the poke myself in the eye tears and I could see right through the bull . Tony not so much .

So when he finished I laid some good old fashion I am in the same boat as you are in complaints . I let him know that I run a business and I am also broke as he is because I am not getting paid either ! His 2 tears had already stopped .

Did it sink in ? Nope because people do not care if you are broke and need what is owed , they only think of themselves .

I ask to inspect the house and he says " I will walk you through since " she " ( no names please ) is at Walmart  " .

For the most part the house was clean this time but I did announce I was going to inspect no matter what he says . 

However ......

The clothing situation was horrible , hoarder style and I let him know . I said " Seriously , you should get trash bags and bag all of it and put them in the garbage can " . He replied as he pointed to a pile of clothing " That is what that pile is because they are mildewed " . I said " That is what happens when you don`t wash clothes " . 

A note to the Gossip queen " There was no meth lab in this house , nor did I detect any abnormal smells of chemicals " .

I walk outside and I give him a receipt for the partial payment and as I look into his eyes I see that look " the I just got my way look " . 

I am not sure if he knows it or not but he is walking on thin ice . I have already told him and he needs to take my words to heart because I am sure he needs me more than I need them in my house .

I do not have any problems with any of the other tenants paying on time .

I reckon its just another day as a landlady .

By Andria Perry

 

A Minimalist - Organizing A Stockpile

July 21 , 2015 

Now that you know a minimalist that does have a stock pile let me tell you how I keep it from looking cluttered and just thrown together .

First I keep like things together  .  I do use the see through storage tubs so that I can see whats inside if I do not chose to label the tub .

In my Bathroom I have a small closet and thats where I keep my small tub of make-up , all of my hair stylers and all my body lotion . That is where I will be using them so it makes sense to store them there . Under the double sink I store all the shaving cremes , sunscreens and Listerine .

The Spare Bedroom :

All shampoo`s and conditioners are stored on a shelf ,that I simply put inside ,  the spare closet because there are many of them . This is where I store all body washes , hand soap and bar soaps . On the top rack in this closet I have a few small tubs with medication aka cough syrup , cough drops and first aid bandages and wraps .

I have devoted one wall to store my can goods . I keep English peas , Green beans , Tomato`s , Corn and Veg-all . I also have evaporated milk , Chef Boyardee and soup . 

At the other end of this wall is where I keep the condiments such as ketchup , mustard , mayo , bbq sauce , Ragu and hot sauce .

If I have the chance to stock on dog food ( its rare ) I also store it in this room .

The Pantry :

I am extremely lucky to have a pantry in this house and I make good use of it .

This room has shelves on the back wall but I added several free standing on two of the other walls and under the the shelves that are already in place and I filled this room .

The newest shelf addition is not full at all and I do plan to rearrange this room to better suit my needs . 

The large wall shelf I added hold tea , cocoa and coffee . On the lower part of this shelf I have my homemade can goods . Jelly and Jams . Relish and pickles . Pickled okra and squash .

Now to the monster ; The wall of shelves . 

Top shelf is very high so I put the toilet paper , kleenex and paper towels up there .

Next down is where I keep sugar and sweeteners . Rice and dinner napkins / Scott`s wipes  .

The third one I keep boxed potato`s , An assortment of noodles and pasta , packs of seasonings and  gravy packets  Salt and sugars .

The bottom shelf holds salad dressings , croutons , crackers , oatmeal and grits .

Now to the small shelves I added under the mounted shelves : I have store bought relish ( sweet and dill ) Sweet pickles , bread and butter pickles and dill pickles . Size range from small jars to huge jars . I have peanut butter and salsa . One is full if drinks such as rice milk , sunny delight , juice , boost and V-8 .

Am I finished ? Nope :)

In the breakfast nook there is a single cabinet and I store kitchen paper products there . Paper plates and bowls . Plastic spoons and forks . Aluminum foil and freezer baggies / storage bags / sandwich bags . Large lighters and grill stuff .

Under the kitchen sink I added a double decker shelf on one side to store the dish washing liquid . Next I have lined up cleaners such as fantastic to oven cleaner to air freshener .

So now you know how a minimalist keeps her stockpile . Its just like I keep my shoes and my clothing closet , neat !

By Andria Perry

A Minimalist - Stockpiling

Yes I know ! Minimalism and stockpiling is contradictory . 

But not in this house . 

It is possible to have what you need and use daily and be a minimalist . Why ? Because being a minimalist does not mean having nothing . It means having enough and being neat and clean with your things . Organization is key . A huge plus is it means saving money . 

I do have a stockpile . I do have a pantry and I do have a deep freezer. I do have a closet that WAS empty  . So why not keep them fully stocked with what I use daily ? 

I try to stock things by using coupons so I do not pay full price , most of the time 1/4 th the price or free ( free means paying sales tax only ) . 

I like to keep a years worth , if possible , of jar sauces such as Ragu , ketchup , mayo and mustard . I also like to keep plenty of paper products aka toilet paper . 

The first things I remember stockpiling was hair and body products and thats where I save the most money . Not buying Shampoo , conditioner ,soap & body wash , toothpaste and toothbrushes for two years has helped the most , I got all of it free!

It was hard to stop stockpiling certain items and to move on to another item that I use daily but I managed and now I can go weeks without buying anything , with or without coupons .

So the answer is yes I can stockpile and be a minimalist . I can have nice things and be a minimalist . 

By Andria Perry

A Minimalist - Selling On eBay And Craig`s list

This is not the normal for me  . I have in the past thought about selling on eBay but I would wave that thought aside , knowing I would  have to keep stuff in the house . Clutter .

After a week or so and no selling with only lookers I had decided to take down all the items I had posted . I don`t have fancy name brand things but I do have new items and they are what I would call priced cheap enough . 

Then yesterday I made a sell and Monday I will mail it out .  Maybe I am just not patient enough and should give it a little longer . Maybe I should research how to boost selling , that is probably what I need to do . 

Now to Craig`s list . I did post the furniture and some books on Craig`s list and I had a good turn out over a month`s time . I made hundreds of dollars . I sold books , t.v.`s , kitchen tables , kitchen chairs (a separate set ) , bedroom suits and household stuff . I also posted the estate sale ( I staged  the rental  house with ALL the stuff I inherited and did not want or traded things out and sold my stuff,  it was a house full  ) and I did good that day with just household things . 

But the downside to Craig`s list is that you have a lot of people to come look and decided they don`t want it . I had only one guy come by to see " ME " but I was never alone and that fizzled out instantly .

What I had left of the inherited stuff I gave away except a bed frame ( mine ) and the antique chaise lounge and two matching side tables . I am storing that in my old home place till I get that place ready to move in  .

I did do better on Craig`s list because I had two 17 foot U-hauls full  and what I mentioned above is all I had left .

BUT , I still have that little voice in the back of my mine saying " get rid of it , it nothing but clutter ! " . 

By Andria Perry

A Minimalist - A long Night

Yesterday after getting up at daylight and running most of the day on few hours of sleep I had to do the unthinkable . 

Clean house .

I had laid down for a nap and Tony woke me telling me the a/c was not working . I got up and it was not working , so I got the repair guys number and it would be today that he could come.

I looked around and since I know this guy and all his people , I cleaned up and after a week of barely managing to bathe and go to bed , the house was ...... not how I normally keep it . Since I have overheard how men talk about women and how clean or nasty , I was not going to be in the category of nasty !

After I got the kitchen / living room and dining area cleaned up , not dusted but cleaned up with no clutter , I went to folding and putting away all the clothes that I was washing and drying while cleaning the other rooms .

I got the main parts of the house presentable . 

Luckily I did have a small window unit and I put it in the window in the living room and closed off the rest of the house . Since I have two sofa`s I took one and Tony took one and that was sleeping quarters for the night . I kept waking up because I am used to my room and my huge bed but I reckon the sofa was better than suffocating .

The a/c man just arrived and is outside with the a/c unit . Hopefully this messy office will be cool in a short while .

 

Nope not this weekend , a part was bad and it`ll be Monday . Looks like I am buying another window unit :/

By Andria Perry