Learning to Live with Less

 

Good Morning!  Wow, it has been so very long since I have sat down to do a blog post.  To be honest, I was not sure if I would ever do one again.  I have debated for the past couple of months of giving up my blog.  Things have been kind of tough for our family financially lately and I have just been down about it.  Sitting down to do my blog was not really giving me any enjoyment like it used to either.  So I took a break and I have found that I have missed posting and reading other blogs as well.  So I am back!  Happy to be too!

Over the past couple of months we have been dealing with money issues like I mentioned above.  My husband and I have talked many times in the past years about cutting back and watching our spending.  Well, it did not happen and now we are in a position of “Do it now or things are gonna get really bad!”  So, we have been cutting back our spending on things like eating out and shopping.  I sat down in July and calculated we had spent over $500 eating out that month.  Ugh!  Needless to say, it was time for a change around here. 

I am not going to say that this has been easy for our family to do.  I did not realize how much we depended on eating out and just running to Target to buy stuff.  I knew my husband and I were guilty of always doing this but our kids have been affected too.  Over the past few weeks they have said things like, “I want to go get something to eat.  I’m so hungry!  I can’t wait to get home!”  and “Please can I just get that one thing!  It’s not fair I can’t have that toy.”  Oh my GOSH!!!!  Trust me there has been a lot of this talk and boy, do I feel guilty.  Guilty for being an example of constant want and not necessity. 

So, we are learning to grocery shop better.  I am still learning this, so no advice from me!  Cutting back on extra shopping is tough as well.  I just try and go to Target once a week now.  I really try and put more thought into my purchases as well.  Asking myself, “Do I really need that right now or can it wait?”  or “Do I really need this item at all in our home or for myself?”  This is what it has taken for me to think about the money I am spending.  It can be tough but it has to happen for our lives to get back on track.  It is worth it if we can reteach our children that living with less is a good thing.  Live in the moments and enjoy each other instead of all the stuff around us.  Not that all stuff is bad!  We just need a lot less of it in our lives. 

Have a great day everyone!

Organizing Tip Tuesday-Emails Again

 

  Okay, first off, look at my desk!  So pretty and organized.  As I sit here typing this today, um, well it is not at all looking that great.  Put that down on the list of all the things I need to do around the house and have not done because like the kids, I am in summer mode people!!

Back to the post!  Last weekend, we missed two events going on and it was all because of my email.  Yes, you heard me right.  I have been subscribing away to everyone and their dogs sites that I am having an email overload.  I totally missed the really important stuff because of the stuff that is not as important.  Now, don’t get me wrong, most of these blogs and sites are awesome.  I just don’t have the time or want to read everything and sort through it all anymore.

I have touched a couple of times here about needing to lead a more minimalist lifestyle.  Missing out on great stuff going on because of emails I am not even reading or looking at is a waste of a time.  Not only mine, but my family’s time too.  So, I have started the process of going through and opting out of some things.  It does make me a little sad but I know in the long run, it will be well worth my time. 

How are you at keeping up with emails? 

Have a great week and take some Time to Organize.

Clearing out the Cabinets

 

I know those are very yummy looking cookies but that’s not what this post is about.  Last week I was clearing out a space in one of our bottom cabinets and I came across this cake stand pushed to the back of the cabinet.  I had forgotten it was under there!  I pulled it out, cleaned it off and set it on the open shelves that we have in our breakfast area.

So yesterday, I was looking at the cake stand and decided that my daughter and I should make some chocolate chip cookies.  The cake stand would make a great place to put the cookies when they were done.

My point to all this is, that sometimes when things are OUT OF SIGHT, they are OUT OF MIND.  By placing this cake stand in view, it was on my mind to use it.  Taking the time to clear out cabinets and organize what you have can make special items that you have more visible and therefore become more useful.  You can also rotate your items around.  Put out some things that you have not used in awhile and when those items have been out for awhile, put them up and bring out something new. 

Have a great day everyone and take some Time to Organize!  Oh, and go make some cookies!!!