Watching others shop

Wow, I went out shopping with my siblings and I almost spent nothing. I only enjoyed a €1,- breakfast and a €2,- lunch. My sisters bought new comforters and head pillows. I just watched how they did their shopping. It was funny because I am always the one that tells them where to buy and if they can get a discount coupon. 

Eventually I came back home with just some kids cutlery and plates that where on a wishing list for my nephew. But really spending money for myself and getting new stuff in the house is a big no, no. The thing is, I enjoyed the company and the events of the day but I didn't need to spend a penny to get it. 

The feeling is great obtaining something intangible. So watching others shop can also bring happiness to oneself. The downside is that after printing the discount coupon I need to find a new printer. I thought I still had inkjet cartridge but it's not. With the coupon that my sibling gave me for my birthday I plan to buy a laser printer. 

Still I am waiting after the new year because then the sale starting and I can get the best deal. 

Reflecting on

Last weekend I went out shopping with my siblings and that was fun. I didn't bought anything expensive for myself. Just two anti-slip hair band in sale for 35 cents each and two snacks for less than €2,-. The rest is just shopping for others.

The thing about getting nothing out of hours shopping doesn't upset me anymore. When I started with minimalism it's about saving money and spending less. Nowadays I don't care if I walk out a store without anything. It's more about the experience not the thing I buy.

For example last month I got a free teddy bear. It's nice and all but in the end, it didn't fulfill a purpose. I gave it back to my nephew of course in the box that I folded up nicely. It's not bad or something. I think owning something new for a while made me realize it's not important and it was just a gimmick.

The gift of giving is also something I learned to appreciate. Something small or cheap can still be valuable to the receiver. As a child I got a lot of things and everything was a treasure that I didn't want to part with.

Stuff is just stuff but it also holds value and I know that being a minimalist isn't easy. But finding those small things that really matters holds much more value. I try to get less in the house and it works.

New things I got

This week has been a bit hectic around the house. More like I wasn't at home for a long time and I need to do a lot of chores around the house. I wanted to do more with my crochet projects but didn't had time for it. So instead I am writing this post while watching tv. Yes, a little bit of multitasking in between or I wouldn't been able to write this post.

So today I made some time to sit and relax. So what did I do this week concerning minimalism. I had to give back my uniform for a different staff. So more space in my closet. I even had the courage to donate my old comfortable undershirt. I also took my other undershirt and I am using it. Those has been laying around for a while unused.

This week I got some new stuff because my siblings came back from holiday. I asked for some things that are way cheaper than in the Netherlands. My first gift is a box of sheets masks and a small mp3 box I requested. The other thing I got is a flexible tripod cause the one I had is broken.

And a new pair of pants is going in my closet. My mom was planning to shorten my other pants but she didn't had time to do. Instead she bought a new one. It's something that she did to say sorry for not fixing my other one.So now I am think about donating other things because something new in means two out. So now it's time to get rid of stuff.

Online buy

This week new buy is a rice cooker for ourselves. Our current one still makes beautiful rice but the downside is that a very important part is broken. The button which I have to press to open the lid and lock it. For months we have been using tools like our hamer to put pressure on it and used it. But it was about time to replace it with something better.

For my nephew who isn't aloud in the kitchen steps on the line to test our limits and a hammer falling accidentally on my foot and knocking me out for weeks wouldn't be ideal. So considering all those factor it was time to go hunting.

The thing with rice cooker is that there is so much choice. Three years ago I bought an American Originals Multi Chef. I love it because it had so many functions but I use the cooking rice the most. I bought it in sale for around 30 euro's which I found reasonable at the time.

This week I didn't had much luck, the multi purpose rice cooker ranged from 50- 100. Never the less I bought one. One for exactly 54,95 euro's. I ordered it online and got it the next day in house. Blokker promises and gives excellent service. And I got my sister to pay for it with credit card because it's better than Ideal which doesn't guarantee safe delivery and it is basically a direct money transfer. It's not possible to get your money back if something happens.
So be smart and use advantage of your cards instead of directly transferring money to a webshop.

A whole week

It just slip my mind, not blogging. The fall is great but less sun is bad for my health so every dry moment outdoors I spent it wisely. This weekI took the oppurtunity to do some more recreative cycling. Just riding my bike. I know the fall and the winter in the Netherlands is quite cold and I won't get the chance to do something outdoors except for walking around the cornor and doing groceries.

I can't even wait for the snow to fall. Last year and in the beginning of 2014 there wasn't much snow. However, I did got the free salt and put it in the empty cleaned up detergent containers. Those containers have handles and it's easier to distrubate the salt if needed. No more bucket with salt and a hand shovel.

In the mind of a minimalist, this week I have given away our huge washing basket. It used to be used for a household of five. For the past several years we used it as the toilet paper container and now it's gone. So it's been great minimal effort can give a huge return because that basket ain't small. Less stuff, more living spaece.

Recap

Wow, I went through my own post and saw that this month I got a lot of new things. I already have put away old items accordingly to the 1 in 2 out rule but never got the chance to really get it out of the house.

The pile of donation is getting bigger each week and it's about time to donate. I love the fact that I see the pile growing slowly instead of scrambling stuff once a month just to donate. It's also gives me a peace of mind of that what I trow away really isn't useful to me. 

Now I have a huge bag with old clothing which I still have to drop off at H&M or C&A to get a reduction coupon. I am really a fan of these clothing companies because they at least try or make an effort towards those who make our clothes. 

Never the less, tomorrow I will go donate my clothing and put away the donation stuff in a box. I even need to buy an electric heater. Yes another buy this month but November this year is really cold and getting out bed sneezing daily isn't really healthy. 

So for short this week has been great and tiring but it doesn't end. Tomorrow is another day.

Ooops!

I just came to a conclusion that some of the things I do are very useful in everyday life. Like how do I review my own clothing. The the labels I cut out of my clothing are very nice and I forgot to make a picture of the bundle last week.

So I recently asked for a free shopper and in the weekend it came in with the mail. I love it and am planning to use it but know I need to get rid of two things. I thought really hard about it and planned to donate a singlet and my eye roller.

This is how I do it, two object for one. This week I also got a free stuffed bear and now I need to donate something. I think something like a bag but I am not ready to let one go yet. Still, I am getting closer to shrinking my collection of bags.

Happy B'day to me

Hurray it's my birthday and I spent it so meaningful. I got messages from around the world but it's not that special. Yesterday I celebrated with diner outdoors. I still had a coupon for a the second free diner. I spent just €50,60 for the whole diner. I got red envelops and a giftcard.

I also went to a different village just to go shopping. I bought the pants I need for tomorrow and got some lunch. The very dutch peas soup was not bad but I didn't bought anything that I didn't need. At home I found something very special my Kellogs beach bag. It's so great to get a new bag for free.

But it means that I have to get rid of two other things because the free bag is still an item I want to keep. So lucky to get the bag on my birthday.

Another year has past and I am happy that I am still healthy!

Logic Tricks

I know some people always loose the roll of trash bags but I never got that problem after putting the bags in the bin. The life-hacks videos on YouTube has helped me in that sense. Except I don't buy a roll of trash bags. But that made me think about that a lot of chores can be simplified logistically. Never look for something when you need it.

It's just like washing dishes. When I clean up the table, I make sure the tableware is stacked and has no food in it. Second of all, I am very grateful of my utensils in the kitchen a drying rack and a dripping container for cutlery. The sponges are in hand-sight and the dish soap is next to it. Because this chore is done daily everything that's needed is always there. 

But for those who just trow away trash once the sack is full it's totally different. I try to make living as simple and easy as possible. I love how it's done in my own daily life. I went from a huge pile of clothing to smaller piles that I really like. I have less stuff in my bedroom which helps with resting and the best thing is getting it clean in under 15 minutes. 

I think thinking logically like postponing a buy when needed or thinking more carefully helps in reducing clutter. Thanks to it my mom and I have bought less and spent less. We also try to look at thing from a different angle. My mother hasn't bought any clothing this last two months that aren't need. 

Try thinking differently and see what minimalism can be for you.

Small project, Huge impact

Don't you dare to think I have been just sitting around doing nothing. This week I made something very special. It's very simple but very useful. I really love it because it helps me in storing temporary items.

I like to write in the living room because I can talk with my family but also do something useful at the same time. So I bring my laptop downstairs just for a few hours but at night I don't want to walk to the attic just to store my laptop. But it look so cluttered when I let it lay around on the table and with friends visiting it just doesn't look right.

A very easy DIY project came in my mind. Finding a plank and stick four wheels underneath it. Why would you think. My couch has empty space underneath and I can just slip it under. I do not only put my laptop under it but also my bag or anything that takes to much space on the coffee table.

This solution is so easy but makes so much of a difference for instance I sit a lot on the floor and use a cushion but it doesn't have a place to call home. Now it goes underneath the couch every time after I use it. These small tweaks in my life have helped me to maintain a clutter free room.

Accidentally bought

There are things that I have wished for a long time or seen on tv that I want to have. Beauty tricks that has been on magazines or tv but I couldn't buy it because of the price. So today I am very happy to say that I finally bought a item that has been on my list for a long time.

I was supposed to go to a furniture shop to buy a "flying" shelf because my nephew loves the phone that is in hand reach. So I went and instead I bought a satin pillow case, it was half price for €3,50. It's usually priced €6,- thus my purchase in a long time. 

The expert say that if you use a satin pillow case your hair and skin will get prettier because it doesn't leave any crease on the face. I am very eager to find out if it helps, cause a pretty skin by just sleeping is so nice. 

Don't worry about my phone cause I also bought the shelf and want to install it immediately but I haven't got a drill, which means I have to borrow it very soon. I was also surprised because the shelf was also an discount item.

A fantastic weekend and one that I will not forget so soon. 

Shift

After writing for about a year I come to a conclusion that minimalism has taken a huge position in my life. For one it's not only about the stuff anymore and how I try to get rid of it. I am in a phase where I am happy but I am still actively thinking about living with even less.

It's the small difference from getting rid of stuff and thinking about living with even less. It's a step up in my minimalistic lifestyle. I don't think of my belongings as a nuisance but more like small treasures. I understands it's still stuff but after going through and selecting so many things I kept those that are really meaningful to me. Though I don't think I am clutter free, it's a great felling where I am now.

It's this shift in mind that made me level up in the invisible scale of my minimalism lifestyle.