The shift in my lifestyle from what some would call ‘a typical woman in her thirties’ to minimalist means that I have discarded a lot of items I once thought were necessary in my home. Here are just a few examples of pieces that were a complete waste of time and money.
Specialised beauty products
Storage solutions: I have bought so many boxes, baskets and bins throughout the years and all of them seemed like a good idea at the time. The reality was, they only served to organise my mess rather than reduce it. It wasn’t encouraging me to own less- it just made the inside of my drawers look prettier. Now I leave everything on display, so I know exactly what I have at a single glance. I don’t have to drag out a storage device to look inside- it’s all there to see.
Specialised beauty products: I used to buy moisturisers, toners, face washes, make up remover pads- because I believed I needed them all to clear my acne and keep my skin at its best. Now I use coconut oil for cleansing, shaving and moisturising and a flannel to clean my face. My skin has never been better because I am using a one ingredient product. It has saved me money, time and space by simply changing up my routine.
Multiples: The maximum number of towels needed per person is two- one for use while the other is being washed. The maximum set of sheets needed per bed is two- one for use while the other is being cleaned. I used to have a towel and pillowcase for every day of the week. Now I only have what I need and donated the excess.
Decorative textiles: When I bought new curtains or decorated a room, I used to buy the matching throws and pillows to make the whole space match. These items served no purpose other than for aesthetics and they needed to be kept clean, tidy and organised- for what? Now I only buy the things that we use and need during home improvements.
Trinkets: Souvenirs from holidays, ornaments that matched the décor and knick-knacks that had no sentimental meaning. They took up unnecessary space and the only time I really looked that them was when I cleaned the surface they were placed upon. Now I keep the surfaces in my home clear so I don’t have to clean for as long, meaning I can spend my time doing something more exciting.
Pyjamas: I had a thing for nightwear at one point in my life. I would buy a new set whenever I saw some that appealed to me for whatever reason. Now I have two sets- one for wear and a spare. This is all I need and when they wear out, I will replace them- but for now- two sets are serving me just fine.
Photo albums: I used to purchase a photo album after every big event in my life and print out a selection of photos to put in said album to mark the occasion. This cost a lot of money once I had paid out for the album and the printing and took up a lot of my time to put them in a specific order. Now I keep all my photographs digitally in clearly named files so I can find them easily and quickly when I want to go through them again.
Tagged in Minimalism Minimalist