So we have completed one whole month as minimalists. How did it go? GREAT! According to my credit card statement, the only thing that I bought that wasn’t a service or food was my son’s school shoes and socks. I think we can put these in the ‘essentials’ category. This month, I have been slowly cleaning out my cupboards one by one and 'minimizing' them. If I haven’t used an item recently that's still in good condition, it has been put up on ebay. I have made $300 already! Not bad for things just sitting in my cupboard doing not much. I have donated 3 old mobile phones to the Mobile Muster for recycling. I threw out a digital camera. What is it 1998? I also came to the realization that over 50% of my cupboard space is taken up by baby stuff. Baby clothes, baby toys, cot sheets, bed rails, baby blankets, nappy bags, baby bottles, baby spoons, baby sleep suits. All things I do not currently require. Will I have another baby? The parliament is hung on that topic. So for now, why do I need these things in my cupboards? Under the house they go. I have made a ‘baby section’ under the house. If my husband catches me in a moment of weakness, then wonderful, it is all there to use again. If I continue to use the fly swat successfully, then all the stuff is in one place to donate to friends and/or charity. So far I have minimized my laundry, kitchen, pantry, kids rooms, and living room. Does anyone need Season 2 & 3 of Prison Break by any chance? Next to tackle is the linen cupboard, the bathrooms, our bedroom, and the dreaded study aka the dumping ground. I am going to Guns n Roses next week (symf) and minimalists don't buy Guns n Roses t-shirts. This will depress me. A few dozen vodkas will get me through. Otherwise I haven’t really missed shopping. If anything, it is nice not getting so many ‘sale’ emails and being able to walk straight past clothes shops without even looking. Why look when you can’t buy? I wanted to try to fix things rather than buying new ones this year. Things I have fixed this month: -My stick vacuum broke but it was still covered under warranty. Woo! -The scales on my Thermomix broke and it is out of warranty – they re-calibrated them, did a firmware update, and replaced my blades FOR FREEEEEEEEEE! Best customer service EVER! -I iron patched the hole in the arse of my gym pants – so far arse is staying in. -I sewed buttons back onto my work blouse and pajama pants. -I have super-glued the kids toys back together (and my fingers to them) countless times. -I shortened the straps on my bikini top. Why? (see below) I am going to set you all a challenge. Something that I have been doing this month as I minimize what I own. The challenge is use everything to 100% completion. Ladies lean in. We are all guilty of having half a dozen partially-used mascaras in the drawer. We all have moisturizer that we have been given as gifts but don’t use. We move onto new makeup before finishing the old. My challenge to you is to use what you have. If your moisturizer runs out, go for a rummage in the back of that bathroom cupboard. I guarantee there is some in there that your aunt gave you 5 years ago. Use it. Go back through those 6 half-used mascaras and use them again until they are ALL empty before buying new ones. Try it. Go on. Have a look in that bathroom/ makeup cupboard. What have you got stashed in there that is usable but never used?
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