For the past over 20 years I don’t buy cotton balls. Really. This is amazing because my fingernails and toenails are always polished and usually polished with red, which can be very hard to remove.Yes I do need and use them all the time. Constantly! Since I research and consume so many vitamins and supplements I thought I could use the cotton in the bottle for something. My nails! Lol The habit of saving and using cotton has no doubtedly saved me money. Ha😂 money for more polish and polish remover. It never ends. Lol ✌️
You have done great for yourselves. I understand the fact that tomorrow isn't promised to anyone, but investing today is a hard thing to do for me now because I have no idea of how and where to invest in. I would be happy if you could advise me based on how you went about yours, as I am ready to go the passive income path.
I stopped buying: -dryer sheets (full of chemicals) -diffusers (chemicals in the air again) -dry clean only clothing -strong bathroom cleaning chemicals (1:1 Dawn:white vinegar works well). -wrapping paper/gift wrapping supplies - except from the thrift store and I only keep 1-2 rolls that can be used all year round. I mostly wrap in brown paper. -junk food/baked goods. I'll just make my own if I need to.
Your # 2 is great. It is awful how we waste! I stopped paper napkins 3 yrs ago& bought several cloth ones second hand!- no regrets! Also, paper towels are ONLY for a pet clean up. I cut old towels and stained old shirts for a bad of rags and wash them. No regrets- just need to be sure all family members know. I invested in glass containers. I no longer shop at Dollar Tree. This was my biggest change. I thought I was saving money but when you pickup this& that, you’re not saving. I also stopped buying seasonal items. Many cheap ones ended up in the trash.
This is the only way to keep our houses tidy and save time on housekeeping and also this way we can save our hard earned money on things to be placed in store rooms
Unless you really enjoy sewing, and maybe you do, sewing even 1-2 pillow covers takes up more time than almost everything else in this list put together. Also, I have two sets of sheets per bed and two sets of towels per person. That way I do not have to rush laundry to have clean sheets or towels. I wash the towels every other week (one towel per person per week.)
My sewing skills are limited. :) I can make a very basic pillow case. My point was that I don’t buy the whole decorative pillow. Instead , I change things up with pillow covers. ❤️
This is such an inspirational video! I too am minimalist in some areas but not all. However I am trying the minimalism approach in all areas of my life. Kitchen is a big one for me. Thanks so glad for sharing this amazing video 💕
The kitchen can be really tough! Especially since there are so many gadgets that get marketed! Best of luck on your minimalism journey! Thanks for being here!
You have been such a positive influence in my life especially over the last few days. We live in Daytona Beach Florida and we have gone through two devastating hurricanes. In fact I hooked onto your channel as we were going through some of the hurricane stuck indoors and I really appreciate all your fantastic ideas. I'm not quite there yet but I'm working on it. Thank you
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry for what you are going through! Two hurricanes! I’m happy that you are able to find some inspiration from my videos! Happy to have you here. All the best on your journey! ❤️
Your house is so elegant and cozy .. the colour theme is very pleasant and soothing.. beige, light brown, and white.. the cotton pillow covers just add to the entire set up.. beautiful ..
I'm 100% the second list! I hate single use kitchen items. Only time we use them is during parties. I also keep my bathroom items simple. I do love tablecloths and placemats I can't give those up and extra linens are necessary for us forsure. I have a sister who thinks she's a minimalist and gets on me 🙄 but she really just gets rid of everything every time she buys something new. Is that minimalism? She spends too much money on replacing stuff I think
You ARE worth it! Finding the things you love is a huge part of minimalism. I’m sure that I DO buy things that bring me joy - that you wouldn’t even consider purchasing! ❤️
I'm not a minimalist.. yet and I don't spend money on these things either except nail polish - I'm a sucker for nail polish (also happy to have my collection and be able to do almost anything my daughter wants with her nails). To each their own! I'd rather spend it elsewhere in my life.
Your List is so interessting! I loved the idea of making own birthday cards! I no longer buy gift wrapping paper. I heard about a japanese tradition called 'Furoshiki' on another minimalists channel which is basically wrapping gifts in a piece of cloth and tie a bow of it's ends on top of the gift. I found this amazing because it can be reused over and over again and if you decluttered scarfes off of your closet you can also use these as a gift wrap. 😊
@@malissakirby4193 Face creams are mostly just marketing, so I'm sure she's just fine without them. I don't use them either, just a facial moisturizer and I get lots of compliments on my skin. It's more about what you put in your body than on it. Everyone takes care of themselves in their own way. Face creams aren't it for her or I and that's ok.
Ok, I will look to replace dryer sheets. I buy souvenirs, but they must fit in my pocket and when I get home I glue them to a Christmas wreath. I used to have table cloths for every season, now I just have two, one for Christmas and one for the rest of the year. Subscriptions, I've accidently gotten subscriptions and try to cancel them! Sometimes I will buy a bottle of water for the bottle. I have paper plates, but they are for times when I have people over for dinner I can just dump in the garbage. For me I use dishes I have to wash. Paper towels are for cooking (covering food in the microwave) and not cleaning. I have cleaning clothes that I wash. I have covers for my mop and they are washed. I am not a minimalist but I try to keep clutter down. In your children's room, maybe allow them to draw pictures to put up.
I have to save these tips! They are awesome! By saving them, I can look back upon them to remind Myself, I Am no doubt gonna have to reflect upon them more than once!! 😁 Thank You for Your tips!!
I no longer use any window cleaner, all-purpose cleaners, bodywash or (body) soap since I use microfiber cloths instead! I love to shop thrift stores and online for used clothing and more.
I'm with you on the thrift store stuff. I can't afford new clothes. Mine are full of holes but they're clean so who cares. My daughter, once she starts school, will have a new uniform but aside from that I don't see the point. We've been very lucky with hand-me-down clothes for her as her cousin is a year older but I wouldn't buy new stuff because it lasts five minutes (she's 2.5 and in size 4 clothes!) and gets so dirty. Childhood is for living, not being scared to paint without a smock. Thanks for sharing your life, I really appreciate it.
Yes! I’d much rather spend money on other things instead of clothing - especially for kids who are just going to outgrow them quickly! Thanks for watching! ❤️
Wow you are very minimalist! Some great suggestions. I am naturally minimalist but I do like certain things that I buy within reason for example I love earrings and occasional splurges on malas or bracelets. I have pretty good self control and enjoy browsing at garage sales!
And see that’s just it! It doesn’t matter if you buy those things that you love! I’m sure that I purchase things that you don’t! It’s all about finding that perfect balance for yourself. ❤️ thanks for watching!
When giving gifts to my family o like to give something practical that is on offer such as hand wash or my son in-laws shower gel and save for their anniversary and give them the money that way they don't end up with useless gifts Eileen
A couple of items I would add: Pets. Having a dog or a cat or any other animal is a big expense. Exercise/ gym membership/ yoga. Instead I walk the dog or work in the garden. Thermomix. It’s the one kitchen item that I use every single day and it definitely saves money, energy and creates really good home cooked meals.
A very good list of items. Not sure how I feel about every other Christmas with no gifts. Kids are in school with others talking about gifts and holiday presents, I would think the kids have feelings of being left out. Some of the Holiday excitement is anticipating Christmas morning and gifts. How do you explain Santa Claus only comes to your house every other year? A bit confused by this one habit. TY
Well, we only started this tradition a few years ago when our kids were older. Even still, we don’t practice the Santa thing…so it wasn’t an issue that way. They know not to spoil other kids fun regarding Santa, but they have always known where their presents come from. If you want to know more about our gift free Christmas - I do have a video on it. Honestly, we all very much look forward to the full day together! And, I feel like the kids are even more excited for gifts when those years come around. It works perfectly for our family, but I know it might not for everyone! ❤️
@@dorisdepinar21 Christmas is a very materialistic holiday. I think it's nice they're focusing on what really matters which is family. I'm sure they still get gifts from other family/friends and probably make their own/bake goodies instead. Other religions don't do Christmas, it's not the end of the world. And there's always birthdays, etc. for gift giving opportunities.
I think none is extreme though. If you want to every other year they get like 1? Or there’s some people that do something like 1 need, 1 want, one learning (book or something) 1 something to wear
Your thoughts are appreciated I am thankful for the opportunity Now learning how to sort share a rotate ITEM S in my room. Thank you again for taking time w me on RU-vid,
Really, really loved what you said about craft supplies, only what you need at the time. I'm ready to downsize my stuff for scrapbooking. Now that photo books are available, I only want the things I need to finish books that are in process from years ago.
I threw some kitchen items away including a cheese grater that we never used! My husband asked “why did you throw that away, now we don’t have one”! All of a sudden we need it? - I thought I must be in the twilight zone! 😮
Oh my…what a question to ask! Ha ha! I am extremely happy, thank you! I have an amazing husband, 5 wonderful children, a comfortable house to live in that we designed ourselves to meet our needs, a supportive church family…this list could go on. But I’m curious too…what makes YOU happy? Let’s be joyful together! ❤️
@@ArrowHillCottage I don't have a ton of stuff, though way more than you-Im just starting minimalism. I have my brothers and sisters and their kids that make me really happy and my church family, too. I know happiness isn't about things, I just don't think I could go without Christmas gifts every other year (I only need one or two, but it makes me so happy that someone remembered me). I guess that was the main one that got me. I could probably do without most of the rest of it, too. Thanks for replying 🫶😄
I’ve said before to people who can’t understand that one…( the every other year gifting) that you can’t fully understand how much of a distraction the gifts can be until you take a step back from them. Our family, yes even the kids! 100% loves this tradition we have going. That being said - they are looking forward to gifts this year too! ;)
I am almost your clone! Lol. When’s the last time you heard that? I have two bio kids and 4 adopted. You just basically explained my life. Blessings! I enjoy your videos. :)
Things I don’t buy: -dryer sheets. I use wool balls -fabric softener -almost any clothing item not on sale -tooth whitening stuff. It didn’t work lol so why bother -makeup outside of nail polish which I find fun -This one is a bit more of a sensitive issue, but I got into using cloth pads instead of disposable. So much softer, less irritation, and reusable. Mine are from TreeHugger Cloth Pads and they have several other low-waste options. I made a small investment at the start, but now I spend nothing a month for supplies and haven’t in a couple of years. It’s not for everyone, but I do recommend people explore options. I couldn’t do a cup, so this option worked for me. They’re super low maintenance too-just regular wash and dry or line dry if like me you like to during warmer months. -Most non-perishable food if it is not on sale. It does mean I sometimes buy a bit more at once, but it saves in the long term. I’ll still use two boxes of cereal, and saving $2 per box adds up along the way -Most condiments. I use dressings for stir fries, keep butter and olive oil for cooking and enjoy peanut butter toast but that’s about it. I only have ketchup in the house because it came in several individual packets the last time-months ago-that I ordered in a meal. -Car. I don’t drive. Save tons of money, and in my books time because I like to read on the bus or answer business emails or just have a text convo with a friend. Driving you can only drive. -I have a huge supply of craft items, which I do work through, but am on a buying moratorium unless someone requests a project that I do not have the supplies for already -Most books. I’ll only buy from a very few authors I like to re-read and also lend to friends, or if it isn’t available from the library -most bags. I now have a good amount (enough for grocery shopping) of reusable bags, so I go from there and don’t purchase anymore. -Meat and fish products. I’ve been vegetarian for about 13 years now, and while this isn’t for everyone, it saves me a lot. -bottled water/most other bottled drinks. I have a brita filter (my city’s water tastes terrible especially in the summer) and buy things like iced tea powder if I feel like I need more. If I’m going out and it’s warm, I try to remember to bring along my own bottle of fluids. -seasonal decor. I inherited a bunch. Don’t need anymore -gift wrap. I have cloth bags my mom made decades ago that serve well for most things, and some non cloth bags that have been given in gifts to me that I reuse if the cloth won’t suffice -likewise, I don’t buy tissue paper. If I receive it in a gift, I save it for if it might be needed, but usually that’s not the case -Magazines or newspapers. Library works just fine for most -any sort of coffee pod -garbage bags last me a long time because I compost and being vegetarian, have very few food scraps that go into the garbage so it’s mostly just say a used tissue (looking to get into making some flannel ones, but that’s a step yet to go) and it therefore doesn’t smell so doesn’t need to be taken out often so I can wait until a big cheap bag is full instead of taking out smaller bags frequently. -any sort of disposable cutlery or plates. Just. No. -clay cat litter. Again, not for everyone, but I use wheat based for my kitties. -I limit my use of air conditioning and keep my heat turned as low as I can. Likewise, I try not to turn on lights if I can avoid it -I never wash in hot water with the exception of my student’s studio towels, for the germ factor. Things I admit I am less minimalist about: sheets and towels. I have a bunch, but I tend to have night sweats, and don’t like running laundry every day for one set of sheets, nor do I really have the time. Plus, I am in a cold/hot climate and find I prefer regular flannel in winter and cotton in summer. Likewise, I don’t want to run a load for just one towel, so I’ll wait until I have a pile to save on the water usage. -cleaning supplies. I teach music out of my house, and have students that come by…and their germs…and grime. So it’s not an area I want to ignore or take lightly. -I do have Netflix. -until recently, craft supplies…now I’m much better about it! -I do pay more for higher quality cat food for my kitties. Not the most expensive but definitely not the cheapest variety. But I try to only buy pet supplies when there is a sale or I have a coupon. For me in the past couple of years, it has been starting to acknowledge and appreciate what I already have, and avoid bringing more in. It is also about acknowledging what feels right for me. So I’ll spend a little bit more on a winter jacket or pair of boots (I’m on the Canadian prairies; it gets cold…) but I’ll aim for a sale or clearance, and make sure it’s very high quality so it lasts. My current winter jackets (yes, I’m in a climate where you need one for milder winter and one for extreme cold) are 14 and 8 years old, respectively and still in very good condition. And I’m not going to deny myself the comfort of a tv show or movie at home, but I haven’t been to a movie in over a decade, and that was for work (I was working in a daycare and we took the kids on a field trip), and rarely go to any sort of concert (I do occasionally see my city’s symphony play). It’s all about what feels right to me.
I buy a Norfolk Island Pine tree for Christmas. They come predecorated and live for years. It's too cold where I live to plant them so every year I save a fortune on Christmas trees. I place electric candles in the windows, wreaths, and Christmas mats. That is it for Christmas. I don't buy paper products. I cut up rags and we use them. Toilet paper is unnecessary because we have a bidet. I am a BJ's member because I hate to shop. I shop every other week. We never run out of food. My time is what I value the most. I have one beautiful set of dishes because every day is a special day. I, too, don't buy nail polish or most makeup. I buy a foundation and blush. I'm done. I care for my skin because if your skin is well cared for you don't need as much makeup. I don't buy donuts, cakes, or chips. Again, if you care for your skin, you look better. I do buy plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and have a garden.
Great video and I agreed on most of these items. Question though, how do you tell or explain to your kids about this lifestyle especially when they’re in the age of easily being easily influenced by friends, relatives, etc...and go home and tell you so and so have this but they don’t? It takes years for some of us adults to understand the meaning of minimalism after we’ve been through and experienced life so I feel it’s challenging for the kids especially in today’s society.
I honestly think that because the kids don’t see my husband or I being easily influenced - they recognize that they don’t have to either. That’s not to say that they don’t from time to time want something trendy or popular in style…in those cases we usually tell them that they can put it on their Christmas or birthday wish list, or save up to buy on their own. ❤️
Lol every other year presents. It's really the expectation that needs to be eliminated. It makes the kids greedy hoping they get whatever and give only out of a sense of obligation. But the planning woth every other year seems a little rigid and could damper spontaneous giving
I can understand your thoughts that it seems rigid. Just know that our entire family very much looks forward to the ‘off’ years and knowing that we are doing to have 100% uninterrupted quality time together. If during the day we feel like going and getting ice cream - we do it….if we feel like going sledding…we go. There is plenty of room for surprise and excitement, just in a different form than gifts. ❤️
You could make your own ugly sweater by just pinning some of your Holiday fabric scraps onto a sweatshirt. It would be the ugliest and you might win a prize.
Or just borrow a sweater.... or attach really anything with double-sided tape to an already-existing sweater. I don't believe in buying ugly sweaters either but don't see that as a reason to turn out a social event! There is always a solution :)
