Inspiration | The Minimalist Mom

Shopping Is Not A Hobby

May 11, 2012 By theminimalistmom 7 Comments

Source: s752.photobucket.com via Connie on Pinterest

I’ll be re-posting from the archives a bit in the next few weeks. I’ve had some new readers to the blog lately and thought this might be a fun way for them to get to read about my decluttering journey. Today’s post is from my second month of decluttering. – Rachel

I was a nerdy jock in high school. And chubby. When I wasn’t at volleyball, basketball or rowing practice I enjoyed eating M&M’s and reading. A good book and some sugar. Heaven. The 90′s were a simpler time it seems.

Shopping is on addiction status for teens. I was sad/appalled to read about ‘haul videos’: teens post videos of themselves unloading bags of purchases from the mall and describing the purchase. We’ve recently watched a few seasons of Friday Night Lights via iTunes: what about football, cheer squad and the rally girls? I thought Glee Club was making a resurgence. Isn’t there a better hobby out there than shopping?

I’ve made some bad purchases in my life. Too many to count. Did I really need to lease a brand new VW Golf when I was a full-time athlete with almost no income? But so far the only thing I regret selling is half of my Apple stock (thought I needed to diversify. Bad call by me).

We are still in selling mode here. I’ve got multiple listings on Craigslist for assorted baby items. My goal this week is to get our car cleaned up and listed for sale. I’m still unsure what the best method is to sell my Coach purses: eBay, consignment or Craigslist. Progress is being made but it’s slow.

The first round of minimaliz-ing was hard. In fact, my brother commented on here that it shouldn’t be that hard. On her blog The Very Small Closet (excellent wardrobe planning advice here – take a look), Julie Skinner has a great post on learning to let go. I have found that after that initial pang about dollars lost and dream wardrobe items that never quite looked right on me (and never would) it’s become easy.

It has become easy to look around my home and see what it is I actually use. What is picked up on a daily basis and what is causing me more laundry, dusting and stress. What was a brief time in my life and no longer needed (my box of craft supplies that was only used three years ago for all of our wedding invitations) and what is the here and now (snowshoes ready for some baby and mom snowshoeing as soon as the mountains are ready for us).

It’s become easier to see what hobbies are part of my life. Running (jogging stroller and running gear), reading (library card), Crossfit (said running gear works just fine), watching Mad Men (so sad the season is done. Don Draper you are killing me), working on my e-book about saving money/buying less baby items (MacBook) and spending time with family and friends (nothing needed).

Filed Under: inspiration, shopping mistakes, Storage

Your Clutter Coach

May 7, 2012 By theminimalistmom 7 Comments

Source: theminimalistmom.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Sometimes you need more help than a book or a blog can give you.

Sometimes you need a friend to remind you to donate those bags of unworn clothing that are sitting in your basement.

Sometimes you need someone to make a plan for you, motivate you and keep you accountable.

Sometimes you need a Clutter Coach.

I get a lot of emails asking for help. I always respond (even it takes me a while) with advice, suggestion and encouragement.

And I always wonder, did they carve out a weekend to clean out that attic? Are they in the throes of home purging and feeling beaten by the process? Did they pull out some boxes from under their bed, lose a few hours looking through old junk, and then decide it was all too much work?

For some time I’ve wanted to help beyond the posts on this blog. Something very personal for paring down and living smaller.

A book wasn’t the answer. There are already some great books out there like Family-Sized Minimalism and Clutter Bootcamp for inspiration and how-to. A book can’t hold your hand, give you a kick in the butt or suggest another method for dealing with all that mail.

I want to do those things.

I want to see closets go from jam packed to roomy.

I want to help people get more sleep.

I want to find solutions for the mud room clutter that can be so hard to reign in.

So I’ve started something new.

Your Clutter Coach

This is for people that:

can’t make the time to declutter even after reading a lot of books and blogs on the subject
get sidetracked by old photos and trinkets every time they attempt to clean out the guest room
have pared down their stuff but it crept back quickly
need motivation and accountability to clear clutter for good

Your Clutter Coach is a personalized decluttering program. It’s tailored to your lifestyle, your needs and your schedule. It’s me kicking your butt and you kicking ass.

You can read more about the services here.

If you’re interested in the program I am currently giving away one free Four Week Clutter Coaching Program at Parenting with Crappy Pictures (if you haven’t visited this site before it is hilarious). The giveaway is open until Tuesday May 8th at 8pm PST. Head on over to read the details and enter.

PS. This will be the only time I mention Your Clutter Coach in a big post like this.

Filed Under: 2011 Challenge, Bathroom, books DVDs and media, car free, Clothing, DVDs, etc, Finances, Furniture, Getting Started, Gifts, giving, Guest Posts, Health, inspiration, Internet, Kids, Kitchen, Media: books, minimalist with kids, Minimize Yo Butt, moving overseas, Off Topic, One Simple Thing, paying it forward: wedding edition, Project 333, shopping mistakes, Storage, Technology, Travel, Uncategorized

A Privileged Life

April 26, 2012 By theminimalistmom 43 Comments

Sometimes I feel like there should be a note at the top of every post I write here. It would read something like this:

Disclaimer: I am a white university educated woman living in the first world.

I have led a life of privilege.

Sure, from under the mountains of consumer debt, or when I compared myself to those that have more than me, I didn’t always feel privileged. I didn’t always feel or see that in this world I was one of the lucky ones. Clean drinking water, access to education and healthcare. I have all of that.

I am privileged.

I want to live with less but I already have so much.

When you read posts here about the small ways my husband and I have changed our lifestyle, or even some of the bigger ones, please know it is a privilege to do this. Most people don’t get to make these choices.

For most people in this life, less isn’t a choice. Less is a reality.

It’s a sobering thought: I’m enjoying just having a half dozen pairs of shoes when there are so many that go barefoot.

At times I feel like this pursuit of less is a silly thing to think about, write about and put my efforts into. There are bigger causes. I’m not curing cancer or helping people get off the streets.

But then I’m reminded that small change can change the world. I’m reminded that because I can see more clearly that I am living a privileged life, I’m giving more.

The real tragedy of leading a privileged life is not your warm bed while so many live without a bed at all. The real tragedy of leading a privileged life is in not recognizing that you’re leading it. And it’s been easier to feel rich, to enjoy everything I do have, to see the privilege in my life and to give more, since I let go of a lot of stuff.

Do you think you lead a privileged life?

Filed Under: etc, inspiration

The George Costanza Opposite Rule

April 14, 2012 By theminimalistmom 30 Comments

There is a Seinfeld episode where the perennial loser character George Costanza thinks that every choice he has made in his life is wrong.

Jerry tells him he should start making choices against his instincts and George decides he will start doing the opposite of what he thinks he should do. You can watch the video above for the first result from the George Costanza rule.

Of course by the end of the episode he is back to his old ways but I really think he was onto something.

Sometimes I feel like I’m going backwards or seeking out the opposite to what most of my peers are embracing. Sometimes I feel like I’m living the George Costanza Opposite Rule.

No car, deleting my Facebook account, living smaller when living bigger and better is supposed to be the dream. My recent digital sabbatical also showed me that I am attempting to turn my back on some of the supposed perks of life in 2012.

Living the opposite, or implementing the George Costanza Opposite Rule, can actually be a path to better living. Less mess, less stuff, less cleaning, less debt, less stress and more of what you want in your life: health, friendship, time and sleep.

I’m reminded of my mother’s retort when I would say that one of my friend’s had/did something I wanted to do/have. Just because everyone else is jumping off a bridge doesn’t mean you have to too.

Anyone else feel like they’re moving in a different direction than their peers or social circles?

Filed Under: Getting Started, inspiration

You don’t need a vacation. You need a new life.

March 19, 2012 By theminimalistmom 40 Comments

escaping our reality

In September of 2010 my husband and I were burnt out.

We had a young child, my husband was working and traveling a lot and we lost my father-in-law in July. We were tired, stressed out and grieving.

On a Friday my husband said, I need a break. He’s not someone who says this often, or really ever, so I listened. We decided to get away and leave our troubles and stress at home for some sun.

Saturday morning we booked flights leaving the following day for a beach vacation.

In the previous six months we had payed off a good chunk of our consumer debt. Going on a beach vacation was a step backwards. The flights and all-inclusive resort were A LOT of money.

But we felt we needed it. We were on the brink. My husband couldn’t focus and couldn’t work. I had just finished a stretch of solo parenting while he was on the road with his band. I desperately wanted some R & R. R & R that I couldn’t get at home with a spouse that needed to put in 12+ hour days at his job and with my 10 month old that was an unreliable napper.

Needing a vacation from your life is a desperate spot to be in.

It means you’re counting the days till the weekend first thing Monday morning.

It means you’re tolerating your life instead of living it.

It means you’re on the edge of losing something big: your health, your sanity or the people around you.

When someone tells me they’re “just holding on” or “counting the days” until they’re through something, and that something isn’t climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, I know what the meaning is behind the words. I need a new reality. I need a new life.

Last weekend I had my first “away from husband and son” trip ever.

It was exciting to book, exciting to chat with my sister about spending some time together and planning what we would do for 48 hours without my toddler along for the ride.

It was exciting but I didn’t count the days until the trip happened.

It actually snuck up on me. We’ve had some big events around here that overshadowed my impending getaway.

This vacation was a want, not a need.

When I think back to that last minute beach vacation I know we needed it. We needed a break from our lives, we needed time to decompress and we needed to push the reset button. Taking a break from our reality gave us a better perspective on it. Something had to change.

It was on the return from that vacation that I made the decision to get rid of a lot of stuff.

At the time it seemed like a silly idea to a lot of people. Like I was distracting myself from dealing with our real problems: my husband worked a lot and we still weren’t sure if we could manage financially without me returning to work.

The silly idea that started with purging our home lead to a move overseas, a new career for my husband, getting out of debt, more family time, and writing again after years of thinking that dream was dead.

I’m not the only one that decided to make a big change after a taking a vacation. Several of you have emailed me and shared a bit about your start to living with less stuff. It is uncanny that so many of us decided to let go of possessions after some time away from our homes.

Obviously leaving our routine can lead to positive change. It can be rejuvenating and, most importantly, fun.

But if you think you need a vacation, if you need a plane ticket booked to tolerate your Monday to Friday, if you’re clinging to that mark in your calendar for your next break from real life, what does that say about your life?