My Minimal Hoarding Life - Don`t Burn Out

As we all know when January hits we all have these big and wonderful plans to get like back on track, to clean and organize our homes and life.

So we jump in and begin to make things move, we clean and re-arrange and organize and then.................... There is just to much to do! 

Fast burn out!

And that is why a resolution does not work, we try to hard to make it happen in January.

How do we handle this differently? 

This is where a little planning comes in, lists!

Depending on where you live is how you want to do things. I am in the deep south so I can do somethings people who are in Idaho cannot.

If you are in the snowy area I would suggest cleaning out closets or kitchen cabinets.

The clothing closets seem to take me the longest because I try on most of the clothes so I will either " love it or toss it."

The kitchen cabinets can be just washing up what is not used as often to checking expiration dates on foods.

Since I live in central Alabama I can paint. I love painting the interior of my home, its not as hard as some people think and since I am inside for January I try to get this part done. (Note : its in the 50`s here during the day so I can open the door for fresh air)

A sample of my list would look like this.

Things to do in January :

1- Clean exterior of kitchen cabinets

2- Clean out Kitchen cabinets - interior

3 - Paint kitchen

4 - Rearrange pantry

See how I did that? I stuck to one area so that I would accomplish that area and move in to another room.

What have I accomplished? 

Before painting

The past week was a work week and a work at home week too! 

Monday - I did nothing at home because I was not here all day, I worked away from home with job #2. 

Tuesday things got real, I cleaned the kitchen cabinets. I have to say I have been ashamed of them for some time and there is nothing like grease lightning to get rid of kitchen grease! I did the upper cabinets and then got the lower. I also cleaned out the open face spice rack and cleaned out, removed old foods, from the upper cabinets.

Wednesday - I had to go to work at job #1. Cut up downed trees and removed the debris at the rental house.

After removing tiles and painting.

Thursday  I decided it was time to finish some of the painting that I had started last year. I did have a couple walls already painted and each wall I finished I had do so in the corner so there was not over lapping to mess up the color of the new walls and the old walls. Since I have always hated this little tile border (that I did paint from wine to brown many years ago) I took it down! I cleaned the wall and I painted it.  I also got on the ladder and painted the wall above the cabinets, everything got two coats of paint.  I have only one small wall left to paint and it has the china cabinet in the way. And calking the counter top after removing the tiles. I used a pale gray for my color, it does not clash with the counter tops that will be replaced one day.

Friday  I had a a few errands to run so I did not get to more painting, instead I took a couple of hours in the evening and cut down some bushes and separated junk by the garage. Since we are having a few warm days I am starting on another area that will be cleaned up and used outside. Plus its a good way to get out for fresh air and out of the house.

Saturday - Today . Since the rain got here earlier than I wanted, I will either paint the molding/trim white today or/ and I will organize a little out in the garage.

I do feel like I accomplished a lot last week on my off days, or my working at home days, and each small step I see a huge difference that makes me fool good.

What about housework?

Yes there is always the normal work in the house that has to be done no matter what projects we are going to make our homes nicer.

Usually when I am working away from home and I come home I will do laundry, a load or two, whatever I can handle, and I that chore under control. 

I always wash dishes after dinner, if I skip a night its because I am exhausted and I will do them first thing the next morning.

I also have to change bedsheets once a week, that is for two beds. Tony`s gets it twice a week. 

As far as dusting, vacuuming and the rest of the house cleaning, This week I was good since I have just done all that last weekend.

Click this link to read more about that : Cleaning and Cleansing  

What Went Out? 

This past week a lot went out. Since I cleaned out the top cabinets I tossed all those boxes of foods. As much as I loved those boxes rice meals, I no longer eat them since I am trying my best to control diabetes in this household. I have away the mixes that were still in date. I also game away 5 huge boxes of cheerios, thy are good and still in date. My family benefited from those.

I also had an invasion of ants, so the dogs enjoyed the vanilla wafers and chips the ants were eating. The birds got what they did not want.

I take the trash out just about daily as well as the recyclables. I have almost three trash bags of aluminum cans in the garage that will be recycled for money next week, I try to make sure I have enough to make it worth the trip, or I just drop by when I am in town, I do not make a special trip to recycle.

What Came In? 

Nothing! I did not shop last week at all besides a few fruits and vegetables, diet coke. But that is not something that will stay for very long. :)

Now that is how I get things done and I do not burn out. Each project has a season, if you make the monthly list and use the season you are in I am sure you can accomplish your goals.

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

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My Minimal Hoarding Life - A Cleaning And A Cleansing

This will not be your normal de-clutter and clean up article today, but I did accomplish that and more. 

Things had gotten very strange here the past month and I did not know why till something happened not once but twice to me and then something totally different happened to Tony.

Let me explain. Some my blow me off like I am a total nut case while others will understand. I do not expect everyone to agree with me or like me, that is just life and I accept that fact.

One  night I was laying in my bed reading, getting sleepy, when I smelled and tasted something nasty. Cigarette smoke. I just whispered " Go away and leave me alone, I can`t help you." I turned over and went to sleep.  I thought nothing else about this, till..... a few days later I was washing dishes and the same thing happened, once again I said the same thing. 

Another evening I was taking a bath in the main bathroom so Tony went to use my bathroom. I could hear him walking back and forth but I didnt really think nothing about that. I came out of the main bathroom and Tony said "I seen a black thing jump off your bed and run into your  bathroom where it disappeared, so I salted your room and the bathroom." I asked "What did you say as you salted the area?" Tony replied " I told it to get the fuck out of here!"

That is when I knew that something was here and was not leaving and Tony said the wrong thing. Time for me to get the cleaning and cleansing up and going.

How?

I started in the spare bedroom, The office and the main bathroom since I have already cleaned those areas the week before. I toss salt in the far corner of the room and work my way around the room, tossing it against the walls to make a solid thin line, going into the closet and back to the doorway, making it last, and drawing a thin line of salt across that doorway to block anything evil from coming back in.  While I am spreading the salt I am saying over and over "In Jesus name all evil spirits must leave."

Next I needed to clean up my bathroom and bedroom so I cleaned the bathroom first, mopping and even washing the rugs. I vacuumed and dusted my bedroom and put away all clothing. I salted those rooms, closet included. 

I got to the entryway to the front door, swept and mopped that area, wiped down the screen door on the inside. I vacuumed and dusted the living room and dining room and I salted those areas, making sure I put a line of salt across the entry to the font door. 

Now I have the kitchen, laundry room and pantry.

After lunch I swept and mopped the kitchen first, wiping off the counter tops and making sure everything is put away. I salted the kitchen, being more careful with the salt to make sure it stays by the wall and not all over the  floor.

I swept and mopped the pantry and then the laundry room, since these two are by the side door they got it last. When the floors dried I salted those rooms leaving the door to outside last. Before I poured the line to block whatever it was from coming back in I tossed salt out the doorway to the outside saying " In Jesus name all evil spirits must leave."

So I cleaned and cleansed the house.

This may sound strange too but I have been battling this flu since the first week of December, I would get better and then bad again, no matter how much I kept the house cleaned and wiped down. Today I woke up and I can breathe, I can take a huge deep breath, no coughing or wheezing. 

What did I do extra? 

I cleaned out the microwave and I cleaned the filters to the vacuum cleaner.

I have kept the paperwork filed! No pile ups so far.

What went out?

Besides some evil spirit, I took out more recyclables that I will toss into the local recycle bin later today.

I took two huge throw pillows and put those in the car, They will go into the yard sale I am planning in the spring, I have began to get that stuff together at the old home place, what does not sell will be donated from there, its much easier for me to take it there instead of piling up here. I am not sure anyone would come to the woods for a yard sale, so it will be in town at the old house.

That is about it on the going stuff, we had snow and I was trapped at home for a couple days so I did not pile the car to full.

What is new?

I have not bought anything new but there is good news about what I am doing that is new.

I have skipped buying the newspaper for coupons two weeks in a row, meaning I am ridding myself of that addiction, however, I will buy them when I see they offer plenty of coupons for animal feed and toilet paper. Seems that one week of the month the inserts are good and that will be the only time I buy them. So far this is 3 months in a row that I have been staying away from coupons. 

Resolution #1 - Stop buying. I did not make this resolution for nothing.

Train the brain!

This is the hard part, always had been. Training your brain to say no. I have found that if I put a huge goal on something and I fail I will slip back into old ways and then after a while have to start it all over again.

"So how do I get out of this cycle?" 

I think of something I want badly. Something big. Something I have always dreamed of and I stop myself before I buy that shirt, or go out to eat when I have a fridge filled with food. I put that money aside and I do not allow myself to spend it.

I am thinking before acting. I am working my butt off and not for more junk weekly, but for that one special thing. I applied meaning to why I am working, not to just survive but to get that "big" what I want.

It is hard but I am doing it, second week and I am doing it!

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

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My Minimal Hoarding Life - Clean it - Organize it

Those are the words stuck in my head. Repeat the words and do. Clean it, organize it. Clean it, organize it.

January 8, 2018

I worked on Monday so I did not get much accomplished as far as cleaning or organizing. And I did add to the stockpile but before you roll your eyes and think " this is a joke!" let me tell you what the stock was.

Toilet paper and washing liquid. Cough syrup and over the counter cold medications. Since we are sick right now we needed the over the counter stuff and it was dirt cheap with coupons.  I should not even have to explain toilet paper or washing liquid! That stuff is always being brought in.

With me bringing in stuff, no matter what it is, something has to go out. I am trying my best to stick to this, hard but I am sure its doable.

January 9, 2018

On Tuesday I went by my sisters house and I dropped off one bottle of the scented All washing liquid, I also gave her a bottle of Palmolive dish washing liquid. From cleaning out the office/ ebay closet I gave her a grocery sack filled with T-shirts. From the pantry I have her three packs of Knorr noodles and a box of Zatarain`s rice mix.

Later Tuesday evening I cleaned out another kitchen cabinet. It was boxed foods, rice mixes , pasta mixes and potato mixes. Since I am not allowed any of those with diabetes I will give them away or if they are expired I will cook them for the animals. All that went back in was a bag of croutons. I think I will rearrange the dishes and put not used as often dishes up there.

January 10, 2018

Wednesday - Since I had to go into work mid day, and run errands for medication I did not get as much accomplished as I intended.

Nonetheless, I did three loads of laundry that included washing, drying, folding and putting them all away. Changed Tony`s bed sheets (part of the laundry did) and cleaned the kitchen, meaning washing all the dirty dishes, by hand, from cooking all day, drying them and putting them away.

January 11, 2018

Thursday - My off day, My day to do whatever. For the most part I did not clean the house but worked with my plants. I have seedlings and they were repotted, well some of them were.

The rest of the evening was ruined by a neighbor.

January 12, 2019 

Friday - I got up early but not to do anything around the house, I had places to go and get things done before the three day weekend began. 

I bought diet cokes and produce from Aldi and that was all the shopping I did.

Later in the evening I got a phone call from someone I had tried to make connect with earlier and he asked could he come to my home for a meeting on Saturday, Of coarse!

So I cleaned the house. Mostly it was just stuff needed to be put away. I swept the floors and took out the trash. I picked up the scattered paperwork I was working on and put it neatly on the dining table. Washed up all the dishes. Nothing major.

January 13, 2018

Saturday - since I had company coming I did not start any cleaning or chores. He spent most of the day here talking and getting his I`s dotted and his T`s crossed. When the day was over he was after dark so I just rested and went to bed early.

January 14, 2018

Sunday - Since the house was still in good shape I did not do that much.

I changed my bed sheets and Tony`s bed sheets and washed those, dried and folded and put them away.

I did not feel like cooking so I took Tony out for fish, I had shrimp so minimal dishes to wash and pot away.

I did not buy any newspapers today for coupons because after previewing the inserts I do not use anything offered with coupons this week.

What Came In And Went Out 

Sunday I did scan the CVS and Walgreen sales paper online. 

At CVS I needed to restock the Boost for Tony and I got four 6 packs for $7.00. I bought nothing else.

At Walgreens I wanted a couple cans of pink Salmon at 2 for $5 and a couple packs of butterball turkey bacon 2 packs for $2 so I spent $7.70 there.

I have to say that th past few days nothing went out but trash and recyclables. There was just to much going on to start ripping the closets apart, or even loading the car with things that needs to go. I am sure that I will get something accomplished this coming week.

How did you manage last week? 

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

Blogs You might also like : Learning to live free  and Cooking with Angie

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My Minimal Hoarding Life - The First Week

Clean and organize. Yep that is the plan and yep since its just the first week of the new year I am keeping that resolution! I am sure it will be the easiest of the four that I made for 2018

To read more about resolutions click here : New Year 2018

I have been keeping up with getting rid of something daily, even if it is recyclables.

January first - I filled the car with recyclables and two old pair of shoes.  I vacuumed and dusted my bedroom. I scrubbed my bathroom.

January second - I took all the trash out and I gave the dogs cans of beef stew that I was not going to eat because I did not like it.

January third - and January forth - I do not recall what I took out, I think it was just the trash and a bag of  soda cans.

January forth - I did some major cleaning, I did one section of the kitchen cabinet and I got another bag of plastic containers to get rid of, they wait by the back door till morning.

I washed and dried three loads of laundry and I folded and put every single load away.

January fifth - I took the bag of plastic bowls to the recycle bin. I also gave away a 12 pack carton of Grape soda because I had bought it for Tony but his diabetes stuck around and he cannot drink it. I worked the rest of the day at my day job.

January sixth - I vacuumed the living room and dining room. I cleaned the small bathroom, scrubbing the tub, sink and toilet. Next I took down the shower curtain and liner and replaced it with a new printed shower curtain/ liner combo. I also changed the bath rug. I do this every now and then for a change up. I am not sure about the new liner print I got, I am glad I only paid a dollar in case I cannot handle the pattern.

I had made a plan for one of the closets that I cleaned last January, the office closet. I have/had clothing that I was selling on Ebay stored in this closet, some sold and some did not.

 So I cleaned out all those clothes, washing them and putting them in the yard sale tub for that Springtime yard sale, if they do not sell then, off to the donation bin they will go. I laid out several that seemed to have shrank for my sister, those will be put in the car for the return to her house in a couple days. I am also sending her a bottle of the washing liquid I have in stock. This closet has only a couple coats left hanging.

I gathered trash and recyclables and took those out.

January Seventh - Today. I am about to dust this office as well as the spare bedroom, that is a for sure.

I will clip coupons (for toilet paper, animal feed and washing Liquid) and file the rest. I will not be stockpiling any food for a long time.

I will file paperwork as well.

That is something else I have been doing a very good job with, keeping all the paperwork filed and not allowing it to pile up.

While it seems as though I am doing a lot around here, I`m not. I am just working an hour or so in the morning and an hour or so in the evening. That seems to be working out with keeping this place cleaner and getting rid of junk too.

How has your first week of the year been?

By Andria Perry

Photo By Andria Perry

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My Minimal Hoarding Life - New Year New Goals

Here we are the first day of a new year, 2018. As I reflect back on the year of 2017 I can say I learned many things good and bad. But I let all that go and start anew.

The last day of last year I did a major cleaning. I got the kitchen, dining room, my bedroom and the living room dusted and vacuumed. I also got  my bathroom that was in a desperate need of cleaning.

I washed and dried several loads of laundry, folded and put them away.

I filed all the paper work and got the recycling ready.

New Years Day :

I woke early and had my coffee while I left " Happy New Year" messages for all my friends.

I sat down and I wrote out my four new resolutions, I had to think about it for a few minutes and then I just wrote them out, not as hard as the ones for last year.

I then began to do number three on the list, " clean, declutter and organize my home" again. I got behind last year so now its catch up time. I started with the spare bedroom and I got everything that was pulled out out back into that closet. I had bought a package of sweater box tubs  to use and I filled two with stuff from a long flat tub and used it for Tony`s fishing tackle he has hoarded. Why? he always says he does not have that color so its my mission to show him what he does have so he will not buy the same thing over and over.

Next was the office, I cleaned off the desk and put things back into their places.

I took the recyclables and the garbage out, no need for it to wait till tomorrow, it in the car and ready to go.

I intend to vacuum and dust both room today, January first.

What are the new resolutions for 2018 ? 

1- Stop buying - Grow more

Actually I did this a few years back, I had a nice stockpile and it needed to be used, I have a nice stockpile now and I need to use it up. I also aim to grow more and home can it instead of buying. Plus I want to just stop buying junk. No impulse buys.

2 - Clear land - Set up rentals

I have some land that is just sitting not making any money and I am still paying yearly taxes that needs to be cleared and some type of rentals set up, whether it be trailers or small houses. One already has water lines and a septic tank so I can make three more and have a nice little area going.

3 - Clean, declutter and organize

This goes deeper than just the daily cleaning. I want to have this place so minimal that I can pick up and move anytime I take a notion .  I also need to paint the interior and the exterior. Clear out bushes and make it neat and clean once again.

4 - Take a vacation.

Its been so many years since I had a nice vacation. I will be looking into a vacation some time this year. I want to visit some place I have never been before. 

And there you are! My 2018 resolutions. 

No I will pick the words for my year, they are "No regrets!" I will do everything and not regret any of it.

How about you? got resolutions or goals?

By Andria Perry

Photo By Andria Perry

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