Q&A | butter dish or napkin holder?
Is your cloth napkin holder a repurposed butter dish?
A couple of people asked variations of this question after taking the virtual tour of my secondhand home, so I thought I should cover it here.
It's actually way bigger than a butter dish, but it was hard to see that in the photos. Here's a picture with an actual butter dish for scale!
This is what it looks like with the lid on.
And here's what the bottom says.
I got it from my Buy Nothing group, so I have zero idea what it originally was intended for. But it's working great to hold my napkins.
Why are you getting your BSN?
Several of you have wondered about this; I think I mentioned it somewhere else, but I'll just answer here since it must have gotten buried!
I am currently a registered nurse (RN) with an associate's degree in nursing (ADN). We take the same NCLEX as 4-year nursing graduates do, and we are allowed to do all the same skills as nurses with a BSN.
However, hospitals do usually want you to have that BSN degree; mine requires us to get it within 5 years of our hire date.
The good news is:
- Hospitals will usually reimburse you for your BSN classes
- RN to BSN programs aren't very long (15-18 months) or super intense (for example, one of my classes this fall is Information Technology in Nursing and Health Care. That sounds...not hard.)
- The classes can all be done online
- You get a little pay raise when you get your BSN
I chose the ADN-then-BSN route for financial reasons (of course!).
I got my ADN at the community college (so much cheaper than four year schools), and now my hospital will pay for me to get my BSN while I am also getting paid to work as a nurse.
Overall, this is a great path for my financial life.
Plus, my community college has a very highly ranked nursing program and a crazy high NCLEX pass rate.
So, this path is a win both financially and educationally. Seriously, guys, do not sleep on community colleges!
Anyway, I'm starting my BSN this fall with an online program designed to be done while working as a nurse, and I should be finished by next December.
I have heard from lots of my coworkers that these classes are not nearly as tough as what I have just been through in nursing school, so I'm not too worried about my upcoming course load. Most of these classes are sort of "fluff" classes in comparison to the classes I took for my RN.
Did you or your readers need to declutter before living a frugal/minimalistic life? Any words of wisdom?
I beg people not to give me gifts. I am also guilty...somehow I amassed many, many pairs of underwear! I would like to move and am going thru my belongings.-Margaret
You know, I'm not sure that frugal and minimalist always need to go together.
I mean, in a sense, they are obvious bedfellows. If you buy/own less stuff, then theoretically your expenses will go down.
But some minimalists spend a lot of money, either by buying very expensive versions of whatever they do own, spending a lot of money on experiences, or owning a large but sparsely decorated home.
And on the flip side, some maximalists have acquired their dizzying array of possessions by thrifting or picking up freebies.
Fashion Girl, a hardcore maximalist, falls into this category. A lot of that big U-Haul truck was filled with her things! Ha.
Honestly, I think even a fair number of hoarders don't spend a lot.
Consider the abandoned house; I believe the owner amassed this wild collection of stuff by going to yard and estate sales, so I would imagine cost wasn't the big issue here.
(Of note: hoarding is usually a mental illness, so it's quite different from minimalism and maximalism. I'm just saying...you can own a lot of stuff without spending a lot of money.)
I personally lean more toward the minimalist end of the spectrum because:
- less stuff means less to wash, dust, repair, and maintain
- keeping my space tidy is easier with less stuff
- if I buy less stuff, I can afford to buy long-lasting, quality items
- I enjoy the look and feel of a low-stuff home
So honestly, I think this is just a case of preference and figuring out what works for you.
HOWEVER.
If you are the type of maximalist who is paying full price for your stuff, or your shopping habits cause your spending to outpace your budget, then yes, you probably will want to consider changing your approach.
Based on the brief email from you, here's my take:
You can start living frugally right away, before you declutter.
Decluttering doesn't have to happen first! There are a million and one ways to be frugal that don't require a decluttered home. 🙂
You have good reasons to declutter
It sounds like the extra possessions are bothering you, plus you plan to move. Those are great reasons to minimize your possessions, aside from any discussion of frugality. Go for it!
But as I said above, you can live frugally now; decluttering takes a while and you don't want that process to be a roadblock to you saving money.
I think a move can be such a useful decluttering event. And to everyone else: even if you're not planning a move, try pretending.
Going through your items and asking yourself, "Do I like this enough to put it in a box and move it to a new home?" can really help you clarify which possessions matter to you and which don't.
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The napkin holder looks like a pate dish? Always useful if you can use an item in more ways than one.
The dirt in the abandoned house was terrible, and then to see so many items just begging for a good scrub. I am happy you and your sister in law were able to rescue so many items for yourselves and the thrift shop. And I hope the house is in a good way now, or going in a good way to become a happy home again for other occupants.
[Frugal medialist, I would think 😉 ]
I'm sort of minimal, who occasionally creaps into maximal. When my kids were young, I saved everything. It might ( and probably. ) would be useful again. But I realized I really don't need to do that, and I am being better about releasing my extra stuff. I do overbuy certain clothes for kids- I need to get out of that mindset . A 12 yr old does not need 3 outfit changes a day like a 12 month old.
I would suggest, if there's stuff you're not sure if should give away, pack it all in separate boxes, but do not open them once you move in. In a few months, if the boxes are still untouched, just take it to the thrift store.
It’s not the acquiring of stuff that expensive, it’s the finding of stuff you already acquired so you don’t end up rebuying nail clippers or hammers or what have you every time you need them.
You can be an organized maximalist or a disorganized minimalist. It is easier to find your stuff as a minimalist just because you have less stuff and there is only so much to dig through. I am not naturally organized, so I prefer to own less stuff. But I know both extremely organized and extremely disorganized maximalists. My SMIL absolutely saves money by stockpiling clearance or couponed or free items and then remembering she owns them when she needs them. My friend on the other hand has been acquiring free stuff for decades and there is no way to find anything and stuff on the bottom of the pile has been destroyed by mice and time.
@Tarynkay, Great comment and perspective. Thanks!
I have always said that having to put all your stuff in a box and haul it thousands of miles every few years--or more frequently--makes it much easier to be practical about possessions. I did this as a military child, but none of the other five members of my family have had this experience. With predictable results. 🙂
I'm with you on the minimalism thing: The look and feel of a less-cluttered home is restful to my mind, plus I don't want to have to move a bunch of tchotchkes to clean. So I tend more towards fewer things.
@kristin @ going country, I don’t know, I’ve moved a lot but take a lot each time. Mine relate to reactions to trauma though.
I agree with Kristen, minimalism and frugality can go together, but not necessarily. I know lots of people with very little who spend a ton of $$ on things like travel/eating out/experiences, but have few possessions.
I lean minimalist, but am definitely not a minimalist. I've had multiple people comment on the lack of stuff in our house (i.e. knickknacks walls without art/decor). I find clutter to be overwhelming and prefer a more minimalistic aesthetic . However, I also live with 4 other people, most of whom like their "things". So, as a household, we are probably in the middle between minimalist and maximalist.
I like the way you are using that dish, whatever its original purpose. Its perfect for the task. I think I am leaning more toward minimalism in my home spaces, but I am not always frugal, so those two are mutually exclusive. I have spent the better part of the four years since my hubby died going through every space of my home, purging and decluttering. He was probably a borderline hoarder, if not just lazy about managing his cargo. For me, less stuff means less mental clutter, a cleaner looking space, and peace. I'm sad that I had to lose him to achieve that, but he was not on board with it.
@Gina from The Cannary Family,
my wonderful dad was like that. I mean, he wasn't a hoarder as such, but probably was a little on the spectrum and liked his particular things. My mum, just as wonderful, was... very neat and organised and not at all obsessed with clutter. Sure, she liked nice decor, but liked clean tables and a place for everything / everything in its place. After he died, she said it felt a little like betrayal, but starting with the hugggggeee ''his domain'' garage, she emptied it out and got rid of so much stuff, and in so doing, found things that were totally worth keeping and bringing back to life / or selling. She was devastated to lose him and would have lived with his stuff any day, but by nature, she was much more streamlined and just organised, had neat, systematic ways of filing stuff.
@Gina from The Cannary Family,
My husband too has drawers and shelves of what not's, in his mancave. I do not clean nor decklutter there. My workspace is tidy even if my study houses over 800 books -I curb my personal books and decor in an annual cycle, but do not touch my husbands books that are also on those shelves. For knicknacks I have one long rail over my desk, with mostly black and white picture of family members. It lifts my heart to see them when I look up, but I would not be able to bear pictures on every wall or side table.
My husband likes tidy but it overwhelms him to get started and it also makes him restless to work on it together. I see improvements, but they are very slow and I suppress my impatience. Fortunately at work I can organize to my heart's content!
@Gina from The Cannary Family,
Right there with you! 4 years and I have a nephew working on the farm purging and organizing the shops & tack room. He took a pick up load of fishing gear to organize and sell. I am just getting around to the idea of changing out furniture that was more his aesthetic. Growth!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, I have to remember the "lazy about managing his cargo." My DH is not a hoarder but it takes forever to organize or just clean up his spaces.
@Caro,
This was my mom and dad, too. My dad was (I think) on the "hoarder spectrum", and loved looking in thrift shops, flea markets, and similar, which my mom considered "old junk". He collected things like green glass vases (the generic kind you might get with a few cut flowers or a small bouquet from a florist), vintage glass electric transformer covers, McDonalds Happy Meal toys, and anything else that caught his eye. When my mom was getting ready to sell their house following my dad's death, the real estate agent commented on how lovely the first level of the house was.....and was then horrified to see the second level, with all of my dad's "collections" in the rooms. My mom had not had the time to clear out all of that mess, but did before the house went on the market. My mom was/is not a minimalist, but she was very organized and disliked clutter.
I googled the brand "Real Home" and it looks to be a lidded loaf pan.
I am minimal and have to convince myself to spend money. My husband is a maximalist. It's a tough combo!
I'm on a bit of a decluttering kick right now, and while it's related to frugal living and my values, I wouldn't say that decluttering is inherently frugal. The mere act of getting rid of things doesn't usually cost much or save much, and extreme minimalism can be quite expensive!
To me, the value of decluttering is that it helps me enjoy my home more, be content in a smaller space, and reflect on what material items I actually need or want or will truly enjoy. So it has frugal benefits! But in my mind, the essence of frugal living is using money wisely in order to be able to spend on the things that are important. That can happen at most income levels and house styles.
@Meira@meirathebear, Amen!
@Meira@meirathebear, very well put!
Re: the minimalist/maximalist question: As I've noted in the past, I'm the product of a mixed marriage. My mother was a packrat, whereas my father was a compulsive cleaner and tosser. So I've inherited both tendencies.
However, I'm trying to err on the side of minimalism and decluttering these days. I've found that asking myself, "Do I really want to take this along to an apartment or assisted living when I finally need to go?" is a powerful motivator. And I'm proud to note that I'll be donating at least six boxes of stuff to a nearby church's garage sale this week.
@A. Marie, Exactly!
I am not within 15 years or so of assisted living, but I really, really don't want to have to do the decluttering then - or force someone else to sort out my stuff. So I am s l o w l y going through things and will, when it is down to just "heirloom" stuff, invite siblings and their offspring to choose what they want left to them.
@A. Marie,
It is smart to do this now. "Stuff" --specifically what to do with it and how to get rid of it -- is a huge impediment for some when a lifestyle change becomes necessary. It becomes much difficult to make decisions as we grow older and sometimes less agile.
@A. Marie, my mother and brother were both hoarders and my dad probably had ADHD, so his stuff was scattered everywhere. It was pretty much a case of consciously not being what I saw in my upbringing because I am organized and declutter constantly. Not a minimalist because my husband is sentimental and holds onto things.
My parents were frugal (cheap, some might say) and kept everything. They were baby boomers and I think there was a sense that everything could be useful again and since there wasn't much extra money to be had, it was best to KEEP EVERYTHING.
I really like Marie Kondo's note about if something can be repurchased for $5 or less and you're debating getting rid of it, get rid of it.
I don't always adhere to this advice, but I think it's very different to keep something that is inherently valuable/expensive for a later date vs. hoarding a huge collection of extra storage containers for food.
@Elisabeth,
My husband's parents were this way. They kept everything, because they thought they might need it someday. Cleaning out their home when they passed away was very difficult.
My parents who were the same age thought differently. They thought it was not right to keep something that you did not need especially if you knew someone who could make use of it.
I would like an update on the abandoned house - did your brother end up rehabbing it, or did the house get passed on to another to do something else with?
@Molly, me too!
I just was saying to my brother yesterday that we need an update! His wife has an instagram account for the house here: https://www.instagram.com/treasure_haus/
But I think I need to bug her to do an update. 😉
@Kristen, Yes, please!
I have always been frugal, but I am not a minimalist. I have bought and sold vintage and antique items since the 1990s as a side hustle. Although I have sold most of what I buy, I have amassed little collections of items that I love over the years. All were bought at thrift stores, estate sales, antique flea markets, garage sales, and so forth.
I pass along items that I can't use or no longer want to others. There are also times I have experienced life changes or transitions, and I have found that I longer need or want things that I have -- especially clothing. I decluttered home-wide this past Spring. I started with the clutter hot spots in my home - the hall closet, the pantry, the ubiquitous junk drawer. I go through my clothes and papers seasonally.
I think that one can be a frugal maximalist as well as an unfrugal minimalist. I know someone who is a minimalist who owns just two handbags. One for spring and summer, one for fall and winner. Both of these are Louis Vuitton's with price tags of about $3000 each. Minimalist but not frugal.
@Bee, after donating my purses I, too, now own just 2 - red for spring/summer and a black one for fall/winter/dress. But they are not expensive. I don’t think I ever paid more than $35 for a purse.
Thank you for the Community College shout out! I've worked at Community College for years now and not only is it a way cheaper option, you're earning you're degree in 2 years, and yes, you could go on, but most are leaving and getting jobs that pay more or the same as when you went to a four year. Trades is a great example. I was able to put all 3 of my kids through CC for no cost by working there. It was a win win 🙂
A suggestion for decluttering before moving based on advice we used before moving ourselves across country after 20 years in the same house. Pick a category and put all items in that category together on a table/bed/floor. An example is all your serving bowls. Which ones are your true favorites or that you use all the time?
Separate them out and donate the rest. I found though that one of our large favorites was going to require a box of its own and the U-Haul could only hold so much so it didn’t get to move. There is always more stuff available at the other end of your move!
Since two of us were moving we each took a turn making sure our favorites were picked.
@Juhli,
Putting all like items together is a technique that I gave used often. Right now I am trying to pare down the number of vases that I have. They are all sitting on my dining room table. This should be an easy task, but I use my vases often. (I garden). When I walk by, I stare at them. Every once in a while, I'll pluck one out and pass it on to someone else. It can be a long difficult process.
@Bee, I used this technique also. It takes longer to pate down the category but I feel more confident in my decisions.
That hoarder picture gives me the creeps! Yikes! My sewing/craft room is an on going creating mess! But, nothing like that! I have bought a few card making supplies, but NO new fabric. (Yay)
I’m so happy you are going on to get your BSN!!
@Joy in NW Iowa, buying craft supplies and using craft supplies are two different hobbies 🙂
It was definitely a creepy kind of house. But it was so satisfying to rescue things, wash them, fix them up, and give them a bright, clean home. 🙂
@Victoria, "Buying craft supplies and using craft supplies are two different hobbies" is a PERFECT summary.
I am definitely not a minimalist, but I'm not exactly a maximalist. I think, like most other things, it's a spectrum. I am a maximalist when it comes to books. Libraries don't keep old books anymore, and there are some very good books that are being lost.
I have totes and totes of kids clothes because I have 7 children. Why get rid of clothes that somebody will soon grow into? That saves me both money and time shopping. I have gone through some of the smaller totes and thrown or donated any clothing pieces which will not age well. I've kept some things because they are special or won't really go bad; my oldest is 21, so it's possible somebody will need them before another decade passes. I am donating all shoes in decent condition because the bottoms of shoes deteriorate relatively quickly.
I also have a basement full of stuff from my parents' house. Some is furniture which will be given to kids as they move out. Some needs to me given up.
I think it's also a stage of life thing for me. I'm ready to have less, but I don't have much time to go through things right now. In September the church is having our kitchen cabinets replaced. That will be a wonderful opportunity to weed things out. If kids want me to keep things I want to get rid of, said thing will be put in a box with their name on it and packed away until they move out.
@Jody S., I LOVE that last sentence. When my sisters and I were clearing out my father's last apartment, it seemed like one or another of them would pick something up and say "Somebody ought to keep this!" I finally said "The next person who says 'somebody ought to keep this' is the somebody who has to keep it." That shut everyone up.
I think minimalism can be the enemy of frugality.
Buying when it's cheap is frugal, having to buy no matter what the price is not. Having bits and bobs on hand to fix something saves a lot of money compared to buying the parts, and the frugal way to get the bits and bobs is to trash pick when you see it. A lot of what worked in the Tightwad Gazette was based on this theory.
I'm toward the maximalist end of the spectrum but each item needs to justify its existence. I also have a ton of art, most of which comes from travel and most of which is on display. Having moved a couple of years ago I had the opportunity to reassess: if it's not on display in the new place then I'd better have a damn good reason to keep it. Note that I had to move all the art before I knew what I'd display.
If you want a fantastically strict evaluation, don't pretend you're moving. Pretend your house burned down and ask what you'd rebuy.
@WilliamB,
I agree with much of what you said in your first paragraph. It is thrifty to save items that you will certainly use. I question the wisdom of disposing of seldom used things that cost under $5 or $10. For example, I use my pastry cutter once a year. Although it takes up space 364 days a year that I don't use, it doesn't make sense to me to buy a new one every year.
Although rarely used, I also keep emergency supplies on hand. I keep several flashlights, batteries, and tarps for hurricane season. They take up space, but I do not want to go from store to store looking for these when we are under a hurricane watch.
@WilliamB, your assessment of what would you rebuy after a fire is bare-bones harsh truth. . . very good wisdom! Having been on fire evacuation warnings several times, this approach really helped me with unloading extra possessions through the last handful of years. It is an endless process.
My husband agrees with you 100% about having extras on hand for repairs.
@WilliamB, your "Pretend your house burned down..." is similar in spirit to my "Do I really want to take this along..." (see above), although I'll admit that mine is elder-specific. Anyway, I've found that having some sort of guiding principle like this is helpful.
My husband and I have lots of hobbies and interests -- gardening, woodworking, sewing, knitting, canning, reading, etc, etc. Those all require lots of different tools and equipment, many of which were aquired used, through gifts, or on sale.Our rule is if we're not using something, we get rid of it. And we've spent a lot of this summer doing that. But we will never be minimalists. We have a lot of stuff that we use regularly. (We have three chainsaws, two snowblowers and three canners -- could we do with less? Yes, but we do use all of these regularly.) Yet I would say we're very frugal.
@Cindi, getting rid of something you use doesn't seem frugal, even if you could manage e fewer of them.
I probably lean more towards maximalist but I got a lot less attached to stuff after doing an international move! My apartment is quite small so I also don't have a lot of things for that reason.
I love reading but generally don't reread books (with some exceptions). I have a shelf of favourites (which will probably be extended when I get a bigger place) but I mostly borrow books from the library 🙂 You can also often find films there as well, which cuts down on streaming services.
I'm going to chime in on community colleges. Our son really wanted to go to Chapel Hill, even though he was accepted at other great schools. He had almost a year's worth of AP classes, so he went to our local community college for free (dh had a stroke just before and we had no income) for a year. I think the cost of the whole year would have been around $1200 including books, so a steal, imo. He reapplied, was accepted, the graduated after 2 years. Not only did he go to his dream school but left with a manageable amount of student debt - barely over 10K. I see so many people online who have been crippled by student debt or who dropped out because a 4 year school is so expensive and I wonder how different it would have been if they had gone that route, even for a year.
@Jennifer, in the same vein, the most important item on your resume is where you graduated!
Word of advice for those with college bound students… do make sure you align the community college degree with the university requirements so you don’t have to retake some classes.
Yes! My community college partners with many colleges in my state, which means your two year degree can get transferred in full at those schools, no questions asked.
@Jennifer, Another advocate of community colleges here. DS#1 went to our local state-owned university, and finished up during the first two years of the pandemic, so went fully online. He enjoyed it much more than driving in to class every day! Then DS#2 went to the same university, but struggled with various issues, including not really knowing what he wanted to pursue as a career. He decided to switch to the local community college, to work on an ADN and become a nurse. He was delighted to see that not only was the community college less expensive but they had many online course options, at least for the electives we have to take. And they have a satellite campus near us, so we don't always have to drive downtown. And they offer so many more options to test and get college credit. They've also taken our homeschooled kids' College Credit Plus credits, with much less fuss than the university did. All in all, we're very happy with the experience. As DS put it, "At the university everybody wanted to have a social life. Here at this college, everyone seems to be here to work on a career and actually learn."
At first I would call myself a frugal minimalist. I am a ruthless declutter-er. I shocked many around me when I got rid of my college degree last year (that piece of paper meant nothing to me and if I ever go to grad school they will want formal transcripts from the university). I also buy almost everything used, and I'm not afraid to say I don't need something (my sister in law thinks I need a wearable breast pump. I think I'll wait and see how my insurance-provided one works out before I buy another. She also thinks we need a bigger house.) I just love the free feeling I get when I realize I don't actually need something. I don't have to shepard it around, I don't have to clean it, I don't have to buy it in the first place!
But then Kristen mentioned the minimalists who spend a lot of money on experiences, and that's definitely me 😀 (in example, the alarming amount of money I spent on a concert with my best friend last year, I also love taking trips with my husband, best friend, and extended family.) But maybe it can be argued I save money daily by using cloth towels instead of paper, cooking 90% of meals at home, shopping second-hand or asking around for items, etc etc so I can splurge on the memorable experiences. Or maybe some of you frugal pros would wince no matter what when you saw some of the categories on my spreadsheet, haha!
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, Add me to the list of people spending on experiences!
I mention that without judgment just in case it wasn't clear! I think spending on experiences is great. I was just trying to explain why I decouple minimalism and frugality as a default pair.
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, I wouldn't! I thought the point is to spend within our means and on what is meaningful, eh?
I am an advisor for the local HS grads and regardless of ability to afford a 4 yr college, I always give the kids and their parents the initial speech of get all those pesky pre-req's at community college. I had 4 cousins start at a 4 yr, fail out. The next batch of us went to community college and transferred our junior years. As an older student, I went directly into the BSN accelerated program because I already had a micro biology degree.
While I was married, we bought and fixed up properties every 3-5 yrs, that kept us minimalist by design. My crafting/painting/quilting studio is a complete disaster and I find myself closing the door on it. Can't create in chaos!
Random Responses:
1. Any photos of that abandoned house just make me cringe and shudder. Creepy.
2. My motto is The More Stuff I Own, The More Stuff Breaks (and gets lost and is in the way and causes extra decisions).
3. The most resourceful and creative people I have ever known had a ton of stuff, all of it very well organized and accessible. They taught me much about salvaging, rescuing, and repurposing.
4. Sometimes I feel guilty about producing so much art, an unnecessary item that clutters other people’s homes! And yet, I can’t stop. There is a constant battle between beauty and simplicity raging in my confused mind.
5. Although I say I don’t want to own more stuff, thrift shops and garage sales are very appealing because of the thrill of the hunt.
6. Last week I entered a raffle and won THREE PRIZES! I had chosen each one (it was a “pick-a-prize” type raffle) of those with someone in mind, and it was great fun to pass them along to folks who were thrilled to receive them.
7. I love yarn and knitting but have been on a severe yarn diet for several years, only shopping in my own stash, figuring out ways to combine yarns to make items.
8. It dang near broke my heart to do so, but I gave away a giant box worth of clothing I have loved and worn for years, including sweaters I made myself. Why? Because of #2 above.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I am in awe of your ability to do #8 because I don't think I could have done that. However, I must disagree with #4 in that I don't believe that art is "unnecessary". Your inability to stop creating beautiful art is testimony to that.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I don't consider my tomato painting as clutter for sure. I love having art in the house. You just keep right on making it.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Art is food for the soul.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Have you ever read Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way"? I read it years ago, and it made a huge impression on me. IIRC, she explains that God is the Great Creator (of the universe, of the earth, of all the creatures in it and of all of us). We are made in God's image. So when we create, we are expressing the divine within our souls; therefore, being creative is part of who we are. It is as necessary as air, sunshine or food. (Not only art but music, dancing, writing, photography, designing, sewing, needlework, acting, cooking/baking, woodworking, gardening -- all kinds of things can be classified as a creative outlet for someone.)
Therefore, don't think of your artistic output as mere clutter.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, you know I don't consider it unnecessary clutter. ;-P
It's not as of you're forcing someone to buy your work.
@WilliamB, @Fru-ga Lisa, @JD, @JNL, @BookClub Elaine, THANK YOU! I wasn’t fishing, but will accept all your kind words, try to stop bouncing between two opposite philosophies, accept my place in life, and do the best I can. (Feels as if someone should say “Amen” or “I second the motion” here!) (Yeppers, I’ve read The Artist’s Way—good words there.)
I don't think that frugal and minimalist are necessarily connected for all the reasons you list.
I downsized almost 12 months ago and have significantly less space now. I went from a three bedroom, three storey townhouse with a full basement, to a two bedroom apartment-style condo with a small (and I mean small) storage cage in the parkade. Basements, like garages, allow for a ridiculous amount of stuff to be stored vertically and this can be dangerous!
I sold and gave away a tonne of stuff before I moved and I have sold and given away more items since moving that I just couldn't find the proper use or space for. Some of that has meant needing to purchase alternate storage solutions that fit better in the space I have to work with. One of my biggest issues with too much stuff is not knowing where something is so I give up looking for it and sometimes end up buying another one.
Re: community colleges - YES. I went to one, both of my kids went to one, and my aunt was director of guidance at one, a job she truly enjoyed since she was helping kids get what they needed for less by finding the right study paths at community college.
Am I a minimalist or maximalist? I don't know. We have art hanging on nearly every wall, since DH was just as much of an avid collector of art as I am. I have 7 shelves of books in my "reading nook." I have 3-4 sets of sheets for each bed and plenty of towels. We have tools aplenty. I have three sets of dishes.
But:
I have very, very few knickknacks. I hate dusting, so the less I have to dust, the better. I reuse my small amount of Christmas decorations year after year, and put out nothing or maybe one thing for other seasons and holidays. I have a small wardrobe and I wear less shoes than many women plus a few men. I have worn the same jewelry - small earrings, modest wedding set, watch, one vintage ring on the right hand - for decades and it was a big moment when I bought an extra watch for wearing during yard work and wet activities. My living spaces are open, not crowded with furniture, and my closets and cabinets are not full. I don't like cluttered countertops. I guess I am mini-maxi-malist.
I think one can be frugal as either. And I agree with Bee, it isn't frugal to me to buy a tool every year just because one uses it only once a year.
My parents and my in laws have both passed. In both my family and my husband’s family the kids (us and in laws) have helped to clean out homes. We kept items that were given to us by our parents and some sentimental items as well. In one instance we had a Goodwill run in a rented truck, in the other we used both rented truck and dumpsters. These estate clean outs truly took a lot of time and effort on the part of 6-8 people. I decided after those experiences that I needed to only keep items that my family would want or could sell to avoid the massive amount of time and effort expended on ‘things’. I am now fairly selective about what is kept. Anything that does not have purpose must be excluded from my home. I do not want to force my family to clean up after me.
1) Not the napkin holder, but the butter dish: I have the exact same one. But right from the get go I have put the butter in the part considered the top. Not sure why, just do and will continue.
2) My ears gloss over (Yeah, I know) at the words maximalist and minimalist. While I think it would be wonderful to clean a minimalist home, I could not live in one. I have bought totes to store and organize things and have considered that enabling myself to keep and add more. I avoid yard sales and garage sales because I will always find something I want. I did go to a flea market that covers 12 acres, this Saturday with my brother, mostly to spend the time with him. (Side by sides are invaluable transportation at such events.) And of course with prices so low, it was difficult to resist some purchases. Like two newish, heavy, jacquard tablecloths, one autumn themed, one Christmas themed, for two dollars each. Because I collect tablecloths to have for tea parties, receptions and events. I also bought a tea set of four cups and saucers, creamer and sugar bowl with lid in Japanese lusterware for $2. And now I am scouring eBay for a matching or coordinating teapot. Because... potential for tea parties. I have collected several pieces of forest green (mostly Anchor Hocking) glassware in varying pieces to place on shelves in my full bathroom window that I can see from my couch just because it will be pretty and feed my eyes and I found a beautiful pitcher for $8. I am partial to themed vignettes having to do with special memories or things I like. And, as a single woman, I have more tools than most men, for home repair and I also want to build bird houses when I grow up. BUT, I also do not want to leave a mess for my family. These things are the tip of the iceberg. And I'm getting older. So, I feel the need to purge. And designate items to certain people that are willing to be gifted.
3) I am glad you are getting your BSN. You are already an asset to your field, having worked as a tech and then moving up. You are capable of still more responsibility and it will be good to "maximize" (I like that use of the word) your abilities, including teaching. Just as the world needs more Lisey's, the nursing industry needs more Kristen's.
Oh, that's fun that we both have the same dish! Mine is from my Buy Nothing group.
Kristen, your white dish is beautiful no matter what it's used for. To me, it looks like a contemporary version of a French terrine. If you wanted, you could repurpose the top as a tray for food (like cheese or appetizer-size bites) or even next to the sink under, say, a soap bottle and a scrubbie.
Calm and tidy minimalist here. But there's always deviations; in my case, I own three sets of dishes: my parents' china, my husband's childhood Corelle dishes, and handmade pottery. We use all of it regularly.
Oh, that's a good point about the lid. I hadn't come up with anything great yet except "put it under the container". Ha.
Neither...more of a practicalist? (I may have just invented that word...) I own what I need to own, not for any particular reason other than it makes sense to have in my inventory of items. On that note, I first arrived at this website following a decluttering link rather than a frugal habits link, as I'm looking to 'reduce inventory' as I head towards retirement and less need for 'stuff,' and potentially a smaller dwelling eventually. It's been great, I found a local buy nothing and have been giving stuff away to someone who needs it more than I do.
Oh, that's funny!
I doooo love a good declutter, but my decluttering is sort of adjacent to my frugality.
@Kristen, I love the feeling after having decluttered but I hate the process, and I seem to attract clutter (logically this is actually due to me not caring/noticing small amounts of it!) I wish I felt more motivated to stay on top of it.
Best wishes on your BSN experience, Kristen!
Interesting question today. I am a recovering maximalist; I think I have kept stuff for its emotional memories, or because they were gifts. Now I am working on decluttering to have space for easier cleaning, easier storage, and fundability. It is hard to manage bulky hobbies--sewing, knitting, watercolor painting, cooking, reading, piano and recorder playing, and occasional gardening--but it must be done or be overwhelmed.
I got to meet a real couture expert a few years ago and asked her advice about managing my sewing stash. She said that regular purging is an important strategy, getting rid of what you are sure you won't use. It gives you room to work in. It makes sense in the kitchen too, as I have a weakness for kitchen gadgets. And the bonus, less dusting, less time looking for things, more time for the fun parts! Being frugal includes practicing respect for time and effort. I can't tell you how much time I have lost looking for a particular sewing pattern, book, or piece of music.
@Kristina, I really agree with you so much about the frugality not wasting time. I'm working on this one. This week I bought cloth napkins that were marked down at Ollies. Four cotton cloth napkins for $1. I spent $7. I have fabric already that I was planning on using for making my own napkins. BUT. I can use that fabric for something else AND it would take a good bit of my spare (rare!) time to cut out and sew the napkins.
Here's a good connection between frugal living and decluttering: you can sell your extra stuff and increase your bank account balance! I have mostly used Facebook Marketplace for this but lots of people here use eBay as well. Or, if it's not "nice enough" to sell, or you can't be bothered, donating items helps others be frugal as well.
I'll also rave about community colleges...I'm a professor at a CC and I absolutely love it. Our college is large and diverse and has the most wonderful students, faculty, and staff. It helps students save money, obviously, and it also gives students much smaller class sizes and one-on-one relationships with instructors that they are unlikely to get at our giant flagship university.
I am a minimalist and mostly frugal. I buy my clothes on sale but only own a few. My hobbies are cheap ones. Our furniture came from IKEA. But I pay a lot of rent in a tiny apartment to live in a place that will care for me the rest of my life--in independent living now but with assisted living and full care just down the hall and around the corner with no increase in rent.
Perhaps a silly thing to mention, but as a retired college professor -- I'd rather college courses not be talked about as being "fluff".... I taught mathematics, so I suppose my classes weren't usually talked about as fluff. But my colleagues in other departments worked very hard to provide courses that were thought provoking. The whole idea of a bachelors degree is to graduate someone who has critical thinking skills and knows how to learn things. Your nursing course may have required a lot more memorization than a Information Technology course. But I do want my nurses to know about the technology that is being used in treating patients. And I want students to have stretched themselves -- taken a sociology course or a poetry course. I want people in general to have challenged their brains in many ways.
Sorry for the rant, but I know you are a very intelligent person and have influence with your many followers. I'd love to see all the bloggers encouraging learning as you have been doing, and not disparaging things that don't perhaps sound as difficult but may open their minds.
@Ann, Back in ancient times when I started my undergraduate years, we were absolutely required to diversify our freshman and sophomore year curricula before we could declare a major. So I took calculus but also classical music appreciation (symphonic and opera); English (starting with Beowulf) but also French (Chanson de Roland), and swimming (which was a required course for everyone and which I had to take twice before I mastered the dead man's float) and Beginner Tennis. When I applied to graduate schools, the University of Wisconsin (Madison) was thrilled to see my C in Tennis juxtaposed against the rest of my record. I'm not sure why. I ended up at UVA instead but always remembered that telephone conversation with the graduate admissions office.
@Ann, I think there is a worrying trend in education right now where it only seems useful if it can get you a job, which is not really the point of education. Obviously it's part of it, but education teaches you to think. I hate how our current society has pitted STEM and the humanities against each other, as if there is nothing worth learning from the arts and that you can't apply that kind of thinking to STEM subjects. Honestly, I think a large reason for it is that there is no clear line to a job from those subjects.
I know in some European countries students are required to study some humanities courses as well as courses in medicine, for example, because the critical thinking taught those courses is important when becoming a doctor or a nurse. I loved my master's course because as well as learning about development of technology and data, we also talked about social ramifications and could take literature classes. People argue that we should teach critical thinking in schools, but those are the kind of skills you learn in a good English Literature or History class. I also think it's part of the reason we have issues with AI and fake news, but I won't get into all of that!
@Sophie in Denmark, Ack! Don't get me started on AI. Emphasis on "artificial". "Superficial" as well. When you have to flag ChatGPT's "hallucinations" (translation: it's just making s*!t up) ...
@Sophie in Denmark, Oh, and I just finished McCall Hoyle's "The Thing With Feathers"! What a lovely book. I know it's a YA novel but I absolutely loved it. Will pass it along.
@JDinNM, People have a misconception that it's objective. It's not, it was built by people who have bias and as it is a data scraper, it will occasionally provide incorrect, biased or fake information. AI 'art' is art stolen from actual artists! I suspect there will be tiers to it eventually where you have to pay...whether or not that that will make users more critical of it is yet to be seen (probably not as long as technology companies push it).
@JDinNM, I'm so glad! That's one of my books I reread every year or so 🙂 YA novels can be very inspiring!
@Ann,
yes, what you said! As a former humanities teacher, I can't emphasize enough the importance of developing critical thinking skills, which are so crucial to any type of job. No college course that asks you to think deeply about something (including subject matter that may not necessarily be a job prep item), ponder possibilities, wonder why something is as it is, is "fluff".
I know what I have to say, has nothing to do with this post, but I have to tell you!
Good golly agua de pepino is freaking delicious! I made it, because we had an abundance of cucumbers from our garden. It was so so good and refreshing. I have made it four times now and doubled the recipe last night to share with a coworker.
Thanks for sharing!
I haven't been commenting much lately, but this one hits a nerve. For the record, I keep my thrifted/estate sale-d cloth napkins on the counter, in a rack that was designed for square paper napkins. About 2/3s of the cloth napkin is supported by the container, the other 1/3 of the napkin just rests on the counter. Close enough.
I take an in-between approach to stuff. As I learned from the fabulous Amy D, part of frugality is anticipating future needs and stocking up on those things in advance, when you find killer deals.
I am known to buy things and keep them for some time before use. I do it with shoes, clothing, and I do it with supplies of all kinds.
Recently, I made 95 Personal Care Kits* in honor of my aunt's 95th birthday. I had to buy some things, but the stickers, bags, and some of the contents came straight from my stash. As I was in the process, I casually put the word out and someone gave me enough items to do another set of 95 mini care kits (toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm) at no additional cost.
I made time sheets and informational stickers for the thrift store where I volunteer from supplies I had on hand.
I now have all the materials for 35 "Secret Santa" gifts for another volunteer gig on hand.
I have the supplies on hand for a Dec. 5th holiday party for 100, including table games.
I once bought two bolts of rose tulle at a garage sale and stored them for at least five years. Finally, I was able to use them at a charity event, saving money for a beloved non-profit.
I buy things when I find them, whether it's super post-holiday clearance or garage sales or thrift stores. I try not to deliberately go out shopping for "stuff" and I avoid craft and hobby stores like the plague. I avoid chasing coupon deals, because those aren't the kind of places I normally frequent. For example, I don't have a Target Red Card, because to me it's just a screaming billboard in my wallet and my inbox. Don't have a card, don't go there as often, don't spend as much money. This approach saves me more than 5%, lol.
My house is not cluttered, but my closets and oversized garage are well stocked.
The key is organization. Knowing what you have and where it is are crucial.
IMHO, being a minimalist seems like it would be a very expensive thing to be.
Just my two cents.
*And since I explained one and not the other, here's what I put in the "big" Care Kits:
Package of oversize body wipes, colorful toothbrush, branded travel toothpaste, full size dental floss, pocket comb, shampoo, lip balm, mini bar soap and three safety pins. I kept the cost to about $2.20 per kit. Interestingly, my 100 year-old friend and my nine year-old granddaughter helped me assemble the kits for the food bank my 95 year-old aunt helped found in 1976. A good time was had by all.
@Dicey, i wish there was a “Like” button for your post because I would use it.
My “hobby” the last few years has been trying to downsize my possessions. Every once in a while my husband will go on a tear and bet rid of stuff. I can only do my stuff. I find that accepting that I am in a new season of life and therefore need to discard or donate things that no longer serve me. On the other hand, I still need and enjoy “refreshing” my possessions with what is now useful.
I love your idea if honoring your relative with the personal care kits.
I no longer use my Target card and they send me letters threatening to close my account. I think thus time I will let them. You are right - I will save more than 5% by doing so. There was a season of life when Target shopping was quite useful - now not so much.
I volunteer at a lovely thrift shop. I always bring something(s) to donate but also often come home with new treasures that cost me little but bring me pleasure. I love the thrill of the hunt and am cursed with a good idea for good value and quality.
I'm a knitter and a lot of knitters spend a HUGE amount on expensive yarn that never gets knitted. Other knitters are so frugal (some by necessity) that they only buy old knitted items at thrift stores and unravel them to reclaim the yarn. Many frugal knitters will buy inexpensive, mostly acrylic yarns, and some even hoard those in enormous stashes--so not really so frugal.
I seek out the best prices possible--my average project might cost $50 or $60 (blanket or sweater) for quality real wool or other fibers, while many of my knitting friends think nothing of spending $200 - $300 for yarn for a project they might never get around to knitting. Yarn can sit in their stash forever.
With the tariffs that might be coming, some stashers are bragging they can knit from their stashes for years to come, but I won't be surprised if they still buy yarn and pay the tariffs. I can afford the tariffs because 15% on top of $60 for a sweater is still a lot less than $300 and many of the expensive yarns are imported too. At the rate I knit, I'm hopeful the tariffs will be gone before I need to buy yarn for my next project.
Knitters tend to have multiple projects. Unfinished projects are called "UFO's" (Un-Finished Objects), and the typical knitter has at least 5, some many more.
I'm someone who used to buy yarn when it caught my fancy--expensive single skeins because they were pretty, or a project's worth of yarn here and there, though then prices were far less. And I had several UFO's too. But I hurt my shoulder and had a long knitting hiatus. I decided it was ridiculous to hold on to all the yarns I may never use, and when I went through my stash I was embarrassed and appalled at how much was there. So I donated anything worth saving to a local thrift shop that specializes in craft supplies, and I made a few rules for myself:
1. I have to finish the project on my needles before I can buy yarn for a new project.
2. I can have one small, portable project for meetings and travel, in addition to a big, involved project I work on at home.
3. If I'm getting bored with the project on my needles, I'm allowed to start planning the next project. I can select a pattern, decide the colors and type of yarn I want, and I can buy ONE skein of yarn to "swatch"-- which is to make a sample square to determine gauge (stitches and rows per inch)-- or learn a new technique for use with the pattern, but I cannot cast on for the new project until the one on my needles is done.
Surprisingly I enjoy knitting so much more now, because I actually FINISH my projects. I'm motivated to finish a project that has become boring because it means I can move on to the shiny new project. It's a slog to swatch and plan, but because I've already done that part, I can knit the last stitch on one project and immediately begin the next.
I also used to buy many sets of needles. I needed certain sizes or lengths, or the size I needed for one project was tied up in another UFO. Then I might need a circular needles of a certain length for part of the project, and a set of double pointed needles to knit small diameters in the round.
I learned a technique that I can use a circular needle for virtually anything, especially an interchangeable set with various lengths of cable that can be swapped out. Now I have ONE dedicated set of very high quality interchangeable needles and I can knit anything and everything with this one single set. The set was expensive. I bought the basic set and have added to it over the years using credit card deals so I only paid a fraction of the retail prices.
I don't think I can qualify as a minimalist knitter because my accidental stash is growing again (time for another donation) but I do think I'm a frugal knitter.
@Jan, is there such a thing as a frugal knitter? (I know, I know, there is but boy howdy, it's hard to do if you want to buy quality.)
I think of knitting as an experience rather than as a thing. Local yarn, where available, is one of my standard souvenirs. Hell, my trip to the Faroe Islands started with my not being able to answer the question "what yarn should I buy you when I go to the Faroes?"
The other Reason to get a bsn is that there are certain jobs that require it Especially in education or if you want to go into a private practice type job like midwife or nurse practitioner
No one would walk into my house and think "minimalist." But I wouldn't say I was a maximalist either. I think I am like a lot of people - somewhere in between. I don't like to manage a lot of clothes and shoes but piles of books and art and craft supplies make me feel happy when I look at them. I take care of them and enjoy using them. I also really love dishes - pretty plates and pottery bowls and funny mugs. I have way more cups and bowls and dishes than a household of 1 person needs but I enjoy them more than the average person probably does. For better or worse, though, my house is on the small side (just over 800 square feet) so there are limits to how many things I can own.
I started decluttering a couple years before I knew we would move. It definitely made it way easier. I have always been frugal but wasn't either a minimalist or maximalist. Stuff just comes in somehow. LOL. Even after the move, I am still decluttering.
I echo Kristen in that minimalism can be frugal or spendy. I've noticed clothing is a grey area for me: when I lived in a metro area, I could thrift high-quality items for great prices and I had more. Now, I am not in a place with great thrift stores, so I tend to buy more expensive pieces, but fewer of them. I do wear everything I own and love it all. Having fewer clothes but ones I love has overall cut town on expenses and the time I spend getting ready.
my mother and father were both packrats. hubby and two teens are ginormous pack rats. we have four flashlights, three coolers, five laptops,, countless pens, records and sheet music that is not countable. books on almost every wall. but amazingly the kitchen and the bathroom are almost clutter free. we just came back from a ten day vacation where we collected magnets. but they don't go on the firdge. they go on one of the cabinets that are made of metal. we rent a car and go to nice restaurants on vacay but i always order an appetizer and we usually get one drink with free refills but i usually leave a huge tip. i pay for everything with cash, hubby always uses credit card.
my friend the nurse whom i met while i volunteered at hospice always says it doesn't look like four people live in my tiny one bedroom apt. and now we have a 3.5 year old cockapoo. one of the hotels we stayed in in NH had 2 bedrooms, a dishwasher in the kichen, a fireplace in the living room and a patio too. i want to move there permanently. we could only stay one night as we couldn't change the next hotel. but hopefully we will return for ski season.