Absolutely can be done. We do it and it creates a nice clean open spaced feel in the home that both of us find really relaxing.
Major bonus - its easy to maintain/clean.
i so agree, we do the same, well i do most shopping during sales but yet i never discard n after evry month i jsut check everything n discards things accordingly. i think important is to check on n off wht u r using n wht things r just occuping space from long time, just recently i noticed tht coffee table n chair in my room r just extra, never used them n they r jsut taking space i gave to my BIL, now i m looking someone to give away baby bassinet.
when i was shifting from my previous home to this one, i had two blenders one alone n one wth food factory , i gave my blender to movers and also baby swing to them, though everyone says keep the things u might need them later, well if i have not used them in 3 months i dont think i need them :)
my in laws are such ppl.. man it was SO easy keeping the house clean and organized.. and i dont know if this makes sense.. but internally i felt at peace
but like someone said before me… in our social circle.. ppl thought they were kanjoos or poor… which isnt true at all.. but i guess we all have diff priorities in life.
they only own one set of dinner plates etc.. one set of cutlery.. limited bedsheets and towels. even with clothing they dont go overboard.. the only thing they stock up on is food they dont like decorations.. the only thing mil likes are flowers and plants so she has a green corner going on at her place.. but otherwise.. the table tops, coffee table top.. etc .. all clear. it helps they live in a country that itself teaches this ideology of simplicity and nothingness…
best bout this all… they get to use everything a whole lot.. get their money’s worth.. discard. and buy new. so you arent staring at the same friggin tea set from 20 yrs ago cuz it was THAT espensive to buy and you cant just throw it out.
MHMMM.
as easy and relaxing housekeeping was… i follow none of their rules
i dont hoard but my cabinest and closets are chaka chak full
things similar to what bebo and khawa have written.
we simply dont buy things unless we have a specific long term need for it.
specifics from my life …
I don’t own a dresser :D. weird right? i know … but my rule is that I don’t need anything that doesn’t/cannot fit in a closet. I have two hanging organizers within a larger closet for smaller items like socks and such. 1/2 closet is devoted to desi clothes. 1/2 to western. that amounts to total of 20 desi outfits … including both fancy and casual. I own just 2 pars of jeans and 2 pairs of slacks. about 15 tops/blouses. 10 pairs of shoes total.
each time a new item is purchased … one old item must go or new one wont be bought. no clothes will ever be hung behind doors or draped over bed/chairs etc…
same rules for the dude. same to the baby. 1/4 of baba’s closet belongs to the baby
it does help that i wear a uniform to work and also that I don’t mind wearing western outfits to desi get together (why should I? as long as I’m decently dressed/covered).
i bought just the very essentials for the baby also. cars seat, stroller, crib (this was an absolute waste and I’m getting rid of it), formula bottles, set of soft spoons (totally unused), and baby clothes. diapers and wipes are an ongoing need for now … so I stock up on those. notice … I didnt/havnt/wont buy baby shoes (until needed), high chair, food steamers, baby changing table, diaper genie and whatever else most people think we need. …
3 sets of bedding. 4 sets of towels … 2 sets are in use at all times.
I have no wall hangings.
bedroom is just bed with two side tables. and two lamps. no other electronics, chairs, vanities or dressers.
and the theme continues for the living room and bathrooms
even in the bathrooms … I keep just 1 bottle of shampoo, one conditioner, one bar of soap, poof scrubby thing, two razors. any makeup/jewelry/hair accessories must fit into one small bathroom drawer.
I don’t do sales. they are a trap. I only go shopping with a specific need, buy just that and leave. partly why I never understood the “hang out at the mall” syndrome growing up. i know i’m odd
I also keep a bottle of glass/general spray cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, bleach/pinesol and a roll of paper towels under each cabinet. so that couple of times during the day … after bathroom use … a quick spray and wipes keeps all surfaces clean.dry at all times and really saves me major cleaning projects.
keeping things minimal also means major savings! for me that also means comfortably purchasing higher end products whenever i need to replace something.
Ehl, here is another question… do you interact with desis, what do they have to say about your kid not having shoes or to your minimalist lifestyle?
Reason I ask is that I tried the whole my kid doesn’t need shoes so I’m not buying them but I got a earful from my family on how I’m depriving my kid. And how I am being ungrateful to Allah by not spending…
I do interact with desis but really not a whole lot. 2-3 times a month. No one has said anything to me. … Donno what they say about me amongst themselves.
My mom recently said to start getting baby used to shoes or she’ll refuse later. So i bought her a pair. .. That she promptly threw off
She is 10month now and should begin wearing shoes now that she is walking. .. But my point was. … What use are shoes to a baby that does not walk?. .. Outside of decorative purposes? Socks in winter are just fine to keep things warm n dry.
Deprivation is relative. I Compare my life to majority if the world. .. And frankly even with my minimalist efforts. … I live in luxury.
Imho all babes need are a lot of love hugs kisses food n basic body covering. Everything else is fluff.
My way of thinking is definlately not for everyone. Im odd by desi n western standards. .. But it works for me so Im ok with it.
So true! Last week I went to a store to buy a baby shower gift and there are so many useless faltoo things that are termed essentials for babies. These businesses exploit the emotions of new parents and make profit out of it. Similarly the gift registry that expected mother had made was full of things which I think she will never use.
well i just get rid of my baby walker today :D , i meet a friend today n she was buying walker for her baby n i was like if u want i can give you bc my baby hardly used it n it is just occupying space, she was like ok :)
^ zero decorations khawa …
but I admit that’s a bit extreme … i’d like one wall hanging per room but Mr. wont budge yet. I need to throw more minimalist decorating ideas/pictures at him … he’ll come around eventually. aakhir jayein gey kahan na na ker key
25! yikes! … but they are sooooo very adorable. hard to resist.
Ehle...You need to 'haath phair' on a lot of heads and transfer this quality of yours....:D
I think when we first got married,when money was tight and always knew that it was a temporary residence we had (rental apartment),we actually had the basics,the minimum.We had a 3 seater sofa,a dining table which had 3 chairs,no proper bedroom furniture,no decorations items etc.
It was all good.
Today when we have a kid and have been living in this home we own for quite a few years,we have gradually gathered too much stuff and hence now when ever I open a closet something has to fall on my head,and I wish I can get rid of some stuff,especially clothes which seem to reproduce like bunnies...!
Do you see yourself,like 10 years from now,actually having more stuff,which might not be all necessary stuff but just gathered over the years...?
nope , we keep everything coz the minute i try to throw away things , i need them the next day!
Here are a few positive examples of how all this desi technique of hoarding old stuff has helped me :
all the old cotton vests got used up nicely when we bought a new investment property and needed pure cotton cloth for cleaning purposes during the refurbishment :)
the old kitchen knives served their purpose in the garden digging ;)
empty perfume bottles go into the corners of my cupboard with their tops off and clothes get this beautiful khusboo all the time
The thing is we desi's love variety hence why we dont throw things out even when we buy new stuff !
Ehll e chamman, I admire your lifestyle choices. I also avoid the sales and try to stick with the philosophy of quality over quantity. Most of the desi hoarding is a result of ‘50% sales and bargains phenomena’, because let’s face it, a real desi can’t resist a good bargain, can they? And so the mountain of those unwanted ’ impulse bargains’ gets bigger and bigger!
Wow at the ones who can keep it to minimum..my son is 8 months old n I have lost count for his shoes. But I have no urge to go to bare minimum..I work hard to earn and I m more than happy to spend it...I don't want to leave a bank balance when I die...I don't buy him toys yet because he get them either as gifts or hand me downs..books, I buy them in bulk..no regrets!
I love me good sales from good quality stores..I don't go crazy over sales at everywhere but gymboree n gap etc I only buy on sale because I can't justify spending on the regular price knowing it will go on sale in 2-3 weeks! N I do plan to save those items for the next baby so it has to be of good quality!
