We have a problem.  We have too much stuff yet we still buy too many things and then we need to find ways to store all that stuff. Sometimes you have to buy a new thing to store the stuff.  Sometimes you even buy a bigger house or a storage unit just to store all that stuff.  And when we buy stuff, we aren't buying good quality stuff, so it breaks and it ends up in a landfill.  Some of the stuff is so cheap we don't even pay attention to how it's made or where it comes from. Luckily, it's possible to adopt a lifestyle of consuming less simply by buying less and it's easier than you think.

Read more »

Benefits of a More Minimal Lifestyle

Living a more minimal lifestyle has been a wonderful thing for me. I say MORE minimal because I of course am not an extreme minimalist by any means...I mean I have over 90 houseplants. But I have worked hard to only own what I love and need, only do things that bring me joy or are necessary, and only think and focus on things that are positive and benefit me. So I wanted to share some of the benefits I've noticed from this new lifestyle.

Read more »

How Owning Less Makes Me Feel Less Stressed in Life

I know it seems like it's such a trendy thing but simplifying my life really did change it in all of the best ways.  I know I could give an advice post about why it could do the same for you but instead I'm just going to explain how it's made me feel stressed in life.

Read more »

Do You Have Decluttering Paralysis? 5 Ways to Break Through!

 

Today's post is another one from a blogger I have just adored for a while now - Jessalynn Jones from Doable Simplicity.  

If you are like me you are busy, tired, and maybe just a little lazy. I mean, when I have an afternoon off the first thing that comes to mind isn’t tackling a huge decluttering project. I don’t want to tear up my house. I want to sweep the dirt under the rug, straighten a couple of throw pillows, and pretend the piles aren’t on every surface! Good enough! But are those excuses just a form of decluttering paralysis? Well maybe…

Read more »

What Is Project 333 and Should You Try It?

Today's post is from a blogger I have just adored for a while now - Jessalynn Jones from Doable Simplicity. 

 

I really love clothes. As a retro boho gal who loves to sew I often dream of my next project and always love putting together fun colorful outfits. But I’m also a minimalist and I needed to find a way to keep my clothing in check. That’s where a minimalist fashion challenge called Project 333 came to the rescue. What is a Project 333 and how did it work for me? Let me tell all! The good, the bad, and the ugly…

Read more »

How to Adopt a More Minimalist Lifestyle

 

Minimalism is always being talked about and while I'm not going to get into what it really is (because that's a personal interpretation based on the person wanting to get into it), I will give you some advice on how anyone can adopt a more minimalist lifestyle.  You can save space, energy, time, and money! 

Read more »

Major Benefits of Living With Less

Whether it's your closet, your house, or your email inbox, living with less can mean a less stressful and more simple lifestyle.  Here are some ways to living with less can benefit you.

1. You spend less money.
When you have less stuff and the stuff you do have is only what you need, it makes it easier for you to see what is available, for instance in your closet. You need an outfit for a party so you look at what you have (you know all of it fits because you got rid of what doesn't fit) so you can easily put something together versus getting overwhelmed even glancing at your closet, and then running out to the store in a rush. 

2. You save time.
Once again, if you know where your things are, you won't have to spend time searching around.   If you can't find your box of winter gloves in the closet, it could be because it's buried in clutter. But when everything is organized and purged, you can easily see where you store things.


3. You save energy.
It's so nice being able to calmly and quickly open a drawer and grab exactly what I need... there is no frustration because I never have to frantically search for something since I know where it all is.

4. You have less stress.
This goes hand in hand with time and energy.  I can't remember the last time I was stressed out looking for something. 

5. You are always prepared for company.
Entertaining is so much easier when you don't have to spend tons of time cleaning and decorating.   And you will never be upset when you have an unexpected guest drop by!

What benefits can you think of that would really help you in your own home?

Be sure to follow Ask Away on Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin', Pinterest, and Instagram!

5 Ways to Realistically Adopt Minimalism into Everyday Life

 When I first started practicing minimalism, I realized that there are people who extreme minimalists, and some that are more casual about it.  The key is to incorporate minimalism however you see fit into your current lifestyle.  

 An example of this is the fact that I like blogging about fashion and doing outfit posts so getting rid of all my clothing wouldn’t really make sense.     Another thing is how I have an addiction to handbags (okay not really an addiction!) so I like to own a good selection of them.  

So here are some ways you can realistically adopt minimalism into your everyday life without having to sacrifice things that may make your life difficult without them.  I know that seems to go against what minimalism is… but I said adopt… not totally change over to full blown minimalism!

1. Enforce the One In/One Out Rule in Your Wardrobe

I know it can be tempting to go on a shopping spree from time to time but once you make a rule that you can’t add something to your closet, without purging one item, you will think twice about silly purchases.    This works very well for me especially because I’m low on hangers and I have a small closet so I literally do have to get rid of an item if I get a new one.

2. Opt for Quality Over Quantity

If you like shoes, it’s okay if that’s your main “thing” that you have a large quantity of, just be reasonable about it.  Instead of having 50 handbags (25 cheap 25 nice), opt for only high quality bags so that you can be proud of your selection and you don’t have “junky” ones just taking up space.  

3. Routinely Purge Your Home

Every 3-6 months go through closets, drawers, storage areas, and bins to purge anything you don’t use or need.   You may think there’s no point since you just did it a few months ago, but trust me…that little souvenir shot glass you have held onto forever that sits in a drawer may just get the boot this time around.  Routinely purging the same areas gives your mind the proof that you really DON’T need everything you thought you did the last time around. 

4. Keep Surfaces Clear

You really don't need 10 decorative vases on the mantle now do you?   Think of all the dusting you have to do and how you have to rearrange everything.  If you keep the surfaces around your home clear, with MINIMAL decorations, you'll have less to clean, more time, and a happier home.

5.  Gift Things You Don't Use or Open

If you have numerous items that you've never used or even taken out of the original packaging, put them all in a box and make it your designated GIFT BOX.  I blogged about this before as a way to save money at Christmas.  Anytime you need gifts for a holiday or any other occassion, shop this box first to save money by giving away something you already own. 



Do you try any of these tips already? How does it work for you?

Bucket List Item: Embracing Minimalism

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.

I got to cross another thing off my Bucket List recently!  I have embraced minimalism!  Before you start shaking your head, let me explain that minimalism doesn’t mean having nothing except, like 4 items in your home…it means making more with less.   Do I really need all the stuff I have?   No!  After having to move several times over the past couple of years, it really put in to perspective how much crap I had that I didn’t need or use.

photo by emdot	via PhotoRee

Here are some ways I began to embrace minimalism.

I sold my dvds and my dvd rack.  I didn’t even watch them all and some were unopened from when I bought them on sale.  

I haven’t bought any new clothing and I got rid of the excess of what I already had.   I used ebay to sell handbags and shoes and some nice clothing items I had barely worn (if at all).  I also cut down on the amount of duplicates I had with, for example, black tshirts….do I really need 5? No, so I got rid of the 3 rattiest ones and kept 2.

Read more »

Embracing Minimalism with my DVDs

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.

photo by chatirygirl	via PhotoRee

When you hear the word "minimalist" you probably imagine someone walking into a room with one piece of furniture in it...not true.  Minimalism just means a way of life where you don't have more than you need in a wasteful way.   It's not a right or wrong way to live, but I can tell you one thing, minimalism goes hand in hand with budgeting and staying clean and organized! 


There's nothing like a good move to make you realize how much STUFF you have.  ANd I realized that not only were books annoying to pack and transport (That's why I have a Kindle now), but DVDs are just as much of a pain!

Read more »

5 Steps to Simplify Your Email Inbox

One way I am trying to destress this year and focus more on minimalism (having less) is by decluttering, organizing, and simplifying my email inboxes.  I've posted about decluttering your online life before but here's a few more tips!
I have 2 email accounts.  My gmail is for blog and work related stuff.  It's the email address listed on my business card.

My Comcast email is used for ebay, Paypal, bill paying, and surveys.

Read more »