How much is too much stuff in your home

I want to get real here for a moment and talk about the amount of stuff that people have in their homes. I don’t want to sound too critical because everyone can do what ever they want in their own homes with their money but I feel empathy for the people who are so easily influenced by these people and think they need to have the same to have a happy, harmonious and peaceful home. So, how much is too much stuff in your home?

Too much stuff

I was actually prompted to write this post when I saw one of our morning TV programs featuring an Australian blogger and her well organised home.

It was a real credit to this woman. I don’t know much about her, how many children she has, if she works, her income, her situation in life etc etc but what I did notice was that she had so much stuff.

And like I said above, she can choose to have 3 houses full of stuff. I don’t care. But what did worry me was all the comments on the TV program’s Facebook post from people, especially women, who were saying “I wish I could be this organised”.

And people, I’m here to tell you, you can! You just don’t need all that stuff!

The definition of being organised

Here’s all you really need to know about being organised. It doesn’t matter how much stuff you have nor how much storage you have for all that stuff.

You need to be able to find what you need when you need it.

You don’t want to be spending too much of your valuable time organising.

You need to keep on top of it. It’s not a ‘done once’ job. You need to maintain that and that’s a lot of work.

How much do you need

I swear, I have more than enough in my home.

Just to compare (from what I can remember), I think this woman had 5 sets of sheets for each of her 5 beds. I have 2 sets each for my 3 beds. One set is on the bed and when that’s being washed, the other set goes on the bed.

This woman’s walk-in linen closet (yes, a walk-in linen closet), was filled with shelves from top to bottom. So many towels, sheets, and who knows what. And yes, it was well organised and labelled and good on her for going to all that trouble, but really, if you don’t have the time or space, don’t worry about it. Don’t think this has to be your definition of being organised.

Seriously, ask yourself, do you really want to be organised like her or do you want to be organised enough so that you get the laundry washed, dried and returned to where you store your linen ASAP? Hell yes!

The more you have, the more you need to organise

This woman’s pantry was immaculate. Yes, but so is mine. It suits my needs. The only things I have labelled are my flour and sugar plastic containers and I write on them with a Sharpie.

Everything is stored, like with like. The products I use the most are on an easily accessible shelf. The products I use the least are lower down. I only keep the amount of food I need for my family for a month or so. There’s no waste and I only spend $150 per fortnight for all of my groceries.

That’s all you need. Are you the same as me? When you get home from doing the grocery shopping and lugging it into the kitchen to pack away, are you looking forward to opening all of those packets and dispensing them into an immaculately labelled, matching container that probably cost you $500 to set up, just so you can have an immaculate looking pantry?

Do your own thing

Honestly, do your own thing but please don’t be influenced by the appearance of someone else’s organising habits just because it looks nice.

Organising is an ongoing job just like washing the dishes or sweeping the floor. It’s not a done once job that you set and forget. It needs to be kept on top of every day.

You have to do what works for you, within your time and budget constraints.

How much do you need

The world has gone a little bit cray-cray in my opinion when it comes to how much stuff you think you need in your home.

It’s all about consumerism, copying what everyone else is doing and buying and buying products as a way to make you feel better about your life.

If you’ve not heard of JOMO, I highly recommend reading this post I wrote about it. There is real joy in missing out on what everyone else is doing.

I grocery shop once a fortnight and some months, I don’t go to the shops except to grocery shop. Sure, I like to buy things for myself, my home and my family but as far as retail therapy goes, the only therapy I need is knowing I am happy in my home and with my life, just the way it is.

Is it too much stuff?

Personally, I think what this woman had in her home is way too much stuff.

Some people have been caught up in a whirlwind of consumerism and not knowing just when to stop. They then have to buy all the storage to keep it in. Are their homes like this because they have too much money, that they buy whatever they see then make a space for it in their homes? Or is it a status symbol to show people how well they’re doing?

I don’t know and I don’t really care but it really makes me feel sad when I hear people say “I wish my home was that organised” but it doesn’t need to be. You don’t need too much stuff in your home. What you do have just needs a home and you need to put it back there after you’ve used it. Simple.

Homes are being built bigger (and costing more because of that) and I think people have forgotten how to be happy with less. Too much excess of everything.

Check it out. Let me know what you think.

Via Channel 9 Today Show

You don’t need all this stuff nor do you need all the stuff to keep it organised. Don’t be influenced by what you see on social or mainstream media. Do what you can with what you have. I am ever so grateful that I learnt from my mother and grandmothers that all I need in my home to live a rich, well organised life is the bare minimum and enough to see you get by.

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My $5 Trip to KMart

Can you believe I went to KMart the other day and came out with only the things I wanted to buy and only spent $5?  My $5 trip to KMart wasn’t a very pleasant one and I’ll tell you why.

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Discount Department Stores

KMart stores in Australia have undergone a big change in recent months to make way for their ever growing range of homewares, a new store layout and basically what I call unwanted, unnecessary items for the home, or junk. Yes, its cheap and yes, it’s nasty. With clever displays, modern signage and the latest range of modern colours, people are flocking to KMart in droves. There are people who claim to be KMart addicts and are proud of it. For me, it’s become a magnet for people who don’t have the money to spend on these things but they think they are getting a bargain because it’s cheap and everyone else is buying it. Remember, it’s not a bargain if you don’t need it.

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Before shopping malls and discount department stores like KMart, Target, Walmart and Big W, for example, there were only the major department stores in the nearest big city. When I was quite young, a shopping mall was built near where I lived. For a long time, my Mother used to still go to the city to buy the things we needed like underwear and shoes. Clothes were often hand-me-downs from neighbours and she sewed a lot of our clothes. The things she did buy were Australian made and excellent quality. The underwear would be passed down to my younger sisters until it was thread bare and then she’d cut up the underpants for cleaning rags and the singlets would be cut into bandages. 

Now there’s a shopping mall, or two or three, in every neighbourhood and they have at least 2 discount department stores selling cheap Asian imported goods with no quality whatsoever but they’re cheap. I needed new underwear for my daughter and for $5 I could buy a pack of 6 underpants for her. That’s all I needed and all I bought.

Clever Marketing

With the strategically placed goods and clever marketing, I was able to resist the temptation to buy other things. I don’t need them. Why would I buy them even if they are cheap? Even if I couldn’t possibly live without that ceramic planter filled with a cheap faux plant, I know it will be at the thrift store soon enough for $1. The cushions, the framed prints, the glass bottles, the candles, shelves, furniture, the rugs etc etc, they are changing every couple of months. The stores will persuade you to buy the newer range with a flashy brochure. Throw the junk mail away!

When I went to pay for the underpants I looked around at the people with their shopping trolleys full of cheap homewares, linen, toys, clothes, shoes and other junk they probably didn’t need. Just how many decorative items do you need for your home? Some poor people I saw didn’t look like they had 2 pennies to rub together. I’m not one to judge a book by it’s cover. People can buy whatever they want. I looked at some of the young mums with young children who didn’t have shoes on (both the mums and the children). I really wondered if they could afford what they were buying. Maybe they could afford it but maybe that money could be better spent elsewhere or even saved.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve bought brand new homewares from KMart, for example when I made over my son’s bedroom. The two banners were $7. By the time I added up how much it would cost me to make them, it was cheaper to buy them. Also the plant stand in the corner was $6. I’d searched for 6 months for something similar. Even if I change the theme of the bedroom in years to come, everything can be reused or repurposed. I only bought these three items new. The whole makeover cost me $100 over the course of 6 months.

Be strong and don’t follow the crowd

I read online where people are buying new bed linen every time KMart introduces a new colour scheme or range. I don’t believe you need to upgrade your linen until it has holes in it. My Mum used to mend good quality cotton sheets only because they were a little worn in one area. On my son’s bed I used my youngest sister’s 40 year old blue chenille bedspread prior to me getting the above black comforter (gifted). It was so thread bare but it still did the job. I’ve still got it and will repurpose it into another project when I have the need.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that all these goods at the discount stores are things you need just because they’re cheap. People on extremely low wages make these cheap goods. They’re cheap and they won’t last long. It won’t last long enough to repurpose. Don’t be fooled by clever marketing. Don’t think you want what everyone else has. Be strong and be an individual. Your home, which will be bursting at the seams, will thank you for it and so will the environment.

If you want to know how to avoid impulse buys, you can download my FREE ebook “How to Stop Buying Stuff”. You’ll also get on the waiting list to receive information about my upcoming H.O.M.E. Program.

Easter or another shopping "eggstravaganza"

I can’t help it but I’ve got to get it off my chest. I’m “hopping” mad (pun intended) over the craziness that occurs in the shops when it comes to any event these days or should I say an opportunity to fill the shops with useless rubbish and encouraging people to buy, buy, buy for the event. Easter time is just a runner up to Christmas these days with the amount of things there are to buy to decorate your house, buy gifts for people or anything remotely relating to Easter, except of course, the true meaning of Easter. Even if you’re not religious it has got completely out of hand.

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Easter homewares anyone? How about an Easter tree? Like what? I start to hyperventilate when I walk around the shops and see what’s for sale. Let’s not forget to buy plastic eggs to hide all the eggs and toys in for the Easter Egg hunt. There are kids clothes decorated for Easter, decorations, and it goes on and on.

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I can remember as a young girl putting out a little box, putting some shredded paper to make a nest and keep our fingers crossed that the Easter bunny would visit and leave us a little something. It was usually a chocolate bunny and a sugar egg. Now people are talking about what gifts they’re buying their kids like pyjamas. Huh? Pyjamas? When did that become a thing? When did it all of a sudden become about being an excuse to buy your kids and loved https://jetsnation.ca/account/ ones more presents? I know I don’t. They still get a little bit of Easter chocolate (and then they’re not too fussed on it). I only have one ‘believer’ left in the family so I’ll keep doing it until he stops. 

Don’t spend money on buying Easter themed craft kits. Use stuff you already have. A cotton wool ball is the original and the best use for a bunny tail as well as using up old bits of cardboard or paper. These bunny baskets I made years ago came together with stuff I had lying around the house. 

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I think the more we spend on occasions such as Easter, Christmas, Halloween and every other event the shops like to fill their stores with ‘stuff’, the more they’ll keep making it and selling it. It’s time to stop. Not only is the amount spent ridiculously high, the damage to the environment is even worse. Think of all the hours that have gone into making that toy/Easter egg hunt bag/homewares/you name it, specifically designed for Easter and the cheap labour gone into making it. Unless you buy yet another big storage tub to keep it in and then try and find a place to store that, it will just end up as land fill.

Remember the ‘reason for the season’ or just use the time to keep any family traditions alive but please, keep your money in your pocket for a more meaningful life experience or we will just continue this cycle of spending, buying, trashing.

Happy Easter!

6 smart strategies to avoid buying 'stuff'

 

There’s a bit of a phenomenon going on in Australia right now with a whole range of ‘cheap’ homewares being sold by the big discount department stores. I watched a piece on a nightly current affairs show about how people have gone ‘crazy’ buying up big with cheap copy ‘designer’ homewares, even to the point of shelves being emptied on the day the products go on sale. I just shook my head. I can’t understand why. Maybe it’s because I’ll always make do with what I’ve already got and keep the money in my purse or it’s because I hate the thought of these cheaply made products eventually ending up as landfill because the stores will inevitably bring out a new range every season. Here’s 6 smart strategies I use to avoid buying this ‘stuff’.

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1. Do I really ‘need’ it


You have to ask yourself “do I really need it” when it comes to buying stuff you think you need. Knowing the difference between wants and needs is something I always ask myself before I purchase anything, even if it is secondhand. Needs are your basic requirements for living like food, clothing, shelter and water. A $20 ‘side table’ that looks like an upturned waste paper basket is something I definitely don’t need.

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2.  Make do with what you have or source it for free or secondhand


We’ve been doing some landscaping recently and created a small paved area to enjoy a morning coffee or to find a quiet spot to read and enjoy the garden. It would be just perfect with a couple outdoor chairs and a small table. I do like the look of the chairs above but at $39 each I just couldn’t justify the price. I did, however, find two outdoor chairs on the side of the road for free which are currently being made over with products I already have at home. I could’ve done without chairs and a side table for this area but the opportunity presented itself to grab these two free chairs so I saved spending any money and I helped the environment by not letting the chairs end up as landfill. There are plenty of free websites like Freecycle where you can list your ‘wants’ or check out recycle shops at your local tip for things you might ‘need’. We pick up so many things for our home from these places and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

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3.  Does it serve a purpose


Often I could be so tempted to buy some of these decorator items. They might just fill that spot on your night stand or on a bookshelf but really, does it serve a purpose. The above decorative apple is $25 and I just couldn’t justify buying it even if I did have a spare $25. I’d rather use sentimental items that belonged to my Mum or grandmother to decorate with which mean something and I could look at them with fondness. Changing the look with a photo, a book on a book stand or an arrangement of greenery from the garden helps to decorate a home plus if you’re displaying an old vintage vase that belonged to your grandmother, you’ve got the added bonus that it can hold flowers. Even things the kids make can be displayed and rotated on a regular basis.

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4. Understand the value of the product


I did happen to see this rhinoceros planter at my local store last week and I was so tempted to buy it even at only $6. It would look great in my new outdoor area with a plant in it and even though it was only $6 I told myself I have many empty ceramic pots at home that could serve the same purpose and for $6 I could buy 6 loaves of bread, three 250gm blocks of butter or 2 kilos of sausages for example. I passed at buying it and felt so much better for it.

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5. Can I make it myself

 

This is one strategy that I always ask myself. Needless to say I have about 100 projects I’d like to get busy with and about 100 unfinished projects. Even though the above cushions are only $10 each, ask yourself “does it serve a purpose” and understand the value of the item. Really, why do we need a dozen cushions on the lounge or bed (even though I’m a little guilty of having a lot of cushions)? They are purely for decorative purposes. If you want people to use them to rest their heads, have a couple very plain cushions that can be easily unzipped and thrown in the wash. Styles come and go and you’ll soon get sick of the cushion. I know because I buy them all the time from markets or online garage sales for about $1 each and sometimes get them for free. Even if you aren’t crafty, there a million and one ways to cover a cushion using a no sew method or even an old woolen jumper. You’ll be saving money, saving the environment and maybe feeling a little proud that you made it yourself.

 

 

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6. Throw out the junk mail and only get what you need from the store

 

I don’t look at the junk mail from these stores. It would be quite easy to fall in love with the styling they use in their photographs and think that you could create that same look in your home. When I was tempted by the yellow rhino above, I did have a purpose going into that store to only buy some stakes for my garden. That’s where I saw the rhino, I pondered for a moment and then kept walking. If you don’t look at the junk mail, you won’t even know what they’ve got for sale. Easy!

 

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The marketing teams from these stores really have worked out a fantastic formula to entice people to want to have all these new decorator homewares. I know they won’t be getting my money. I’ll look out for them all in the second hand stores or the tip shop because that’s where they’ll all end up when the store brings out next season’s range. Save your money and spend it on an experience or put it towards something the whole family can enjoy. I bet your homes all look lovely as they already are. Your wallet will thank you, your family will thank you and you won’t be increasing the profits of these stores who make one hell of a profit by having everything cheaply made from overseas suppliers.

 

At the end of the day, I’m not going to dictate what you should and shouldn’t spend your money on but something needs to be said about social media and clever marketing and how easily people are influenced by consumerism and what everyone else is doing. I’ll keep my money thanks and when those little trinkets finish up at the second hand store, I might think about buying them. 

Shopping (and stuff)

Want to know how I thrive through frugal living? It’s about shopping (and stuff).  It’s how I’ve lived most of my life but in particular when I stopped work to have children and reduced our income to one. Getting back to a more thrifty way of living is so liberating and makes you feel in control of your financial situation.

Who doesn’t love to shop? I know I do. Being in control of your spending and avoiding temptation you’ll look at shopping in a totally different light. To me, shopping is both a necessity and a recreational pursuit. You don’t have to spend a lot of money (or any for that matter) when you think about it as something to do.

The Story of Stuff

One of the most liberating pieces of video I’ve ever seen which changed my shopping habits forever was “The Story of Stuff” by Anne Leonard. It’s a 20 minute movie on the story of, well, stuff. If you have the time, watch it and let me know what you think. It might help you think twice about buying up big at post Christmas sales, buying all the Easter/St Patrick’s Day/Valentine’s Day/[enter any occasion here] paraphernalia, children’s toys, craft supplies, new dinner sets, extra towels and sheets just because they were on sale. These are all the areas I have cut back or eliminated from my spending and don’t regret at all.

 

Shopping is no longer retail therapy for me. The only therapy you’ll need from shopping is wondering how you’re going to pay back your credit card. If you haven’t got a credit card, you’ll wonder how you’re going to pay for the other bills you should’ve paid. And, you’ll have a house full of ‘stuff’ you don’t need which will probably be thrown away or sent to the thrift store.

 

Once you think about shopping for the necessities only and living within your means, you’ll never have a problem again. Your wallet and the environment will thank you for it.