Thursday, June 30, 2016

Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 4

I'm counting the paper as 20 items because I've had it for close to 15 years. It's from our homeschooling years and teaching preschool co-op.  That’s 25 items for this load and a total of 353 items for the month.

My Purge Pile:

































You may be interested in:
Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 1
Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 2

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

June 2016 Reading List

















The Brides of Chance Collection (Romancing America Series)
One Chance in a Million by Cathy Marie Hake
Second Chance by Tracey Bateman
Taking a Chance by Kelly Eileen Hake
Last Chance by Cathy Marie Hake
Chance Adventure by Kelly Eileen Hake
Chance of a Lifetime by Kelly Eileen Hake

Florida Weddings (Heartsong Novella Collection)
Cords of Love by Lynn A. Coleman
The Heart of the Matter by Kristy Dykes
Merely Players by Kathleen E. Kovach

Friday, June 24, 2016

Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 3

This load is mostly my husband's clothing and misc. stuff. My husband has been purging so much that I’ve teased, that he is becoming more minimalist than me. He’s fine with that. LOL Although after 5 ½ years of serious purging he still complains about some thing’s I purge and rescues them. This journey is really helping us to refine what we want in our lives and what we want in our next home. I'm purging a pair of jeans and 3 bags of bags, kitchen, and office items. I don’t like low waist jeans, you can’t bend over or your crack shows. I save the bags to drop off at my local charity Clothes Closet where they us them. That’s 64 items for this load and a total of 328 items for the month.
 

My Purge Pile:






































You may be interested in:
Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 1
Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 2

Friday, June 17, 2016

Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 2

We purged 188 items. That makes 264 items purged so far for June.

My husband and I purged the shed include a got amount of trash/recyclables. He used up some of his stuff like oils, windshield washer fluid on the cars too. I'm very proud of him for letting so much go the last couple years. I told him he has gotten rid of so much stuff in the shed that it'll never get messy in the winter again. Our kids weren't sure about us purging more. Our oldest boy (24 yrs.) said it was already looking empty out there. LOL

I worked on hobby stuff, personal items, and toys too.

My Purge Pile:




























  


















































You may be interested in:
Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 1

Monday, June 13, 2016

Buying or Not Buying Products



 













Let’s talk about buy products or not buying products. We get into habits of buying certain things and don’t stop to think if we need it. In most cases we ended up buying way more than we need or can use within a reasonable time. That creates unused products, cramped storage, and wasted money. 

I stopped buying things that I don’t use often, or things I thought I could do without about 6 years ago. I don’t just automatically add things once used up to my shopping list. I wait to see if I really miss the items or find that I need it for whatever reason. Most often I never buy the product again. It seems weird but I had so much extra of everything that it’s taking years to use everything up. I’ve donated or trashed things that I knew I’d never use but a lot of products I knew that I would use up eventually so I’ve keep them. My supply is dwindling and it feels nice to not have so much products. It has reduced decision fatigue also since I have a shorter list of things that I buy and mostly buy the same brands over and over. 

 I buy the same brand and package size of Health and Beauty Aids such as toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, dish soap, dishwasher soap, storage bags, and trash bags every month. It makes it easier to not have to think about it since they are needed items. This category didn’t take long to use up and I was able to automate what I use regularly. 

The Personal Care category has been a bit harder. I don’t use a lot of product but I had a good amount of product. I didn’t have nearly as much as some people since I don’t use a lot but I had more than I needed. Makeup products, I limited myself to 1 blush, eyeliner, and 2 eye shadows. I limit my perfume, nail polish, and hairspray things too. I do have a few more of certain things than I ultimately want but since I use the product, I’ll use what I have until it’s gone. I’ll buy 1 of something when I need to purchase again. This category I'm doing pretty good with although like I said I still have a few things like body spray that i need to use up.

One area I am still working on using up is cleaning products. I haven't needed to buy more but I did still buy Comet for the bathroom. I stopped doing that about a year ago.  I was almost out of products when my daughter came home and brought her cleaning product for me to have. That was almost 2 years ago and it may be another 2 years before I use all hers.  She had big gallons of concentrated products that take awhile to use. I have my favorites but to me a cleaner is a cleaner if it does the job. I don’t use cleaners that much and that is one reason they are lasting so long. I like basic soap, water, a little bleach and comet for the bathroom. I’d probably buy an all-purpose cleaner than will work on the floor too. I’ll be saving my money until I use up what I have. 

In the case of food items I stopped buying things I don’t want to eat due to wanting to eat better, 6 years ago. I slowly used up the undesirable food items to save money, things like rice mix packets, hamburger helper, and frozen food items. Once the items were gone I’d not buy them again and buy healthier stuff. I buy basic staples like rice, pasta, beans, canned goods, flour, and sugar along with fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat. I don’t buy much packaged processed stuff; I buy one treat per week like ice cream, chips, or candy. We have 3 of our 4 adult children at home so I do have more of things due to them purchasing items for themselves that I need. 

What have you tried going without? What did you find? What worked? What didn't work?

Sunday, June 12, 2016

My 7 Year Blog-Aversary

WooHoo! It’s been 7 years since I created my blog A Welcoming Heart on June 12th, 2009. I have enjoyed publishing my blog and want to continue to grow as a person. I am challenging myself over the next year to create content for other social media outlets. I’ve been working on a Youtube channel and Facebook page to promote my blog.


I’m a homemaker now that my children are grown instead of a stay-at-home mom/homeschooler. I have more free time to devote to the possibility of having a career and income. I want to do it in a way that allows me to continue to be home. I’m not sure how all this is going to work since I really have not used many social media outlets. I will need to learn a huge amount of stuff but I will give it my best. I’m praying for a successful year.

 

Friday, June 10, 2016

Clutter Busting Challenge June 2016 Part 1

I'm 76 items lighter. The clothes I'm purging because I've decide not to get back down to a size 8. The Christmas crafts because we're not doing secular themes with the grandkids.

My Purge Pile: