Tag Archives: minimalism

Day 2700 – We Don’t Give Christmas Gifts

Posted on by
Reply

I read a fantastic article yesterday – The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents. It really struck a chord and I wanted to share it and my thoughts on gift giving at Christmas.

I stopped buying Christmas presents about 9 years ago. Like most things in my life, I started/stopped doing it for a superficial reason but the deeper reasons that resulted from the change became very important to me. I stopped Christmas gifts because of my own debt and the example of a close family from church who didn’t do gifts. I thought, huh, that’s interesting. So, I stopped. I’ll admit, that first Christmas was a little awkward, but my friends and family know I don’t do gifts. I still get a few gifts here and there (which I totally appreciate!) but now it’s expected that I won’t give one back.

As time went on, I still didn’t give Christmas gifts. Bret felt the same about giving gifts, so we didn’t. Looking back, I can see how those deeper reasons were a lot of the points the author of the above article made. Since we’re minimalists, we’re all about less stuff. And in turn, we don’t want to add to someone else’s “stuff.” It also frees us to give generously at other times of the year. The unexpected gifts are the best, in my opinion. 🙂

But I have to say, the biggest benefit has been a nearly stress-free holiday season, every year. There’s no “what am I going to get XXX for Christmas?” or “I have SO much to do!” Honestly, the biggest stress of our holidays is getting to and from the airport and flight delays. Since we’re not stressed about all the “stuff you have to do” at the holidays, we can truly sit back and reflect about the real reason for Christmas.

So, what do you think? Are we completely crazy?
(Just be glad I didn’t talk about some of the other topics that we’re REALLY in the minority about!)

day_02341

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Day 2675 – Minimalism Leads To Freedom – or – How To Read A Book In One Day

Posted on by
Reply

Bret and I have decided to be minimalists for a number of reasons. Yesterday, I put one of my favorite in practice.

Freedom of time.

Since we have so few possessions that need our regular attention, we have a lot of time freedom.

On Friday, I got a notification that a book I had requested came in. Unfortunately, Bret had the car and I missed the bus. So, I knew I would pick it up on Saturday. I made sure to review my to do lists and get everything done that HAD to get done on Friday. I made sure I had a short list for Saturday.

What did I do with this free time? Well sir, I plopped myself in our comfy chairs and read. I read outside until it was too dark. I read on the chairs inside. I read on the floor. And by George, I read the whole book in a day. I started around noon and finished just before midnight.

Minimalism isn’t just about not having a lot of things. It’s about only having the things essential to you. And yesterday, it was essential that I read this book!

img_4873

Day 2569 – Two Benefits Of Being A Minimalist

Posted on by
Reply

I love living a minimalist life. It was one of those things that came out of nowhere but it makes complete sense for our lives. In the last few days, two experiences stood out that made me want to write this post.

First, the apartment was a little messy and impeding my ability to work. It was still morning and I wanted to get to work. So I set a timing for 10 minutes. In TEN minutes I cleaned the apartment. Not a “shoved everything into a box or a drawer” cleaned but actually straightened up. Since we have so little, everything has a place and it’s easy to get it there.

Second, I was able to spend about 3 hours last night finishing a book. I read about half of the book in pretty much one sitting. Now, this is more a time freedom thing, but I think it still goes along with our minimalist life. Because my responsibilities are light in the home and in life too really and I can carve out time on a Friday night to finish a book. It is amazing freedom.

What about you? Are you living a minimalist life? Even if it’s just one aspect of your life. What are the benefits you’ve found?

This is the book I finished last night. Great story by the way, I can’t wait to get the next book. This guy also write The Grimm Sisters series.

image

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Day 2523- Why Live A Minimalist Life?

Posted on by
2

We started living a minimalist life through a series of decisions that really had no larger purpose in mind. We started sleeping on the floor because it felt better on Bret’s back. We didn’t get a bed for our apartment because we didn’t have a truck. We didn’t keep things that didn’t fit in the car because we were curious to see how that would work. It really seems like a backwards way of getting to where we are now.

After we made these decisions, we thought about the why. Why are we not keeping things? Why are we getting rid of so much? It really came down to living as sojourner’s in this world. We believe this world is not our home. We’re just passing through. Why settle down if this isn’t the final destination?

Another question we get when we encourage others to live this way is ‘what are you filling your time with? Why cut care of things out?’ (i.e. not having a lawn to cut, etc) It’s something we’ve been pondering recently. We’re big on seriously considering our decisions. When someone asks us why about a decision we make, we take the time to rethink our position and choices.

So, I knew we had the sojourner reason. But I discovered another reason this morning, or I should say, I was able to put words to another why while listening to a John Piper sermon on prayer. He referenced Matthew 6:25-34 (see below) about the birds of the air not worrying because God takes care of them. So why don’t we worry and think about worldly concerns? So we can seek the kingdom of God. That is a big reason why we do what we do and live why we live – to have more time and brain space to learn about God. To dwell on his word and what it means for our lives. We have created an environment in our home where we aren’t distracted by cleaning lots of things or having to take care of lots of material things – so that we can sit back, relax and meditate on God.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ‘Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.‘” Matthew 6:25-34

day_02126

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Day 2511 – Living Light Tips – Organizing Your Home

Posted on by
1

We started living light or living a very minimalistic way when we moved into this apartment. We still sleep on the floor and we still only have camping chairs for our furniture. We have gotten rid of more than we’ve purchased in the last year and we have made even more changes that have made our lives simpler.

I’m a big fan of The Modern Mrs. Darcy. She blogs about reading, life and everything in between. She recommended a great book and one I wouldn’t have thought to pick up on my own – Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized. My biggest take aways were:
– Store things where you’ll use them (extra towels on a shelf in the bathroom instead of the hall closet)
– Only have 1-2 types of socks and don’t match them
– Only have 1 type of reusable containers

How we’ve changed things:
– Not matching socks….ok, just Bret’s socks. I have a soft spot for fun socks – superhero socks, Star Wars socks, silly ducks, etc. I have to match mine. BUT they’re super easy to match. Bret’s are the same white sock. This has saved me maybe a few minutes for each load of laundry, but that adds up.

image

This was something I already had going on, but it’s a good minimalist tip. Bret has 4 work shirts and 2 work pants. I’ve labeled 4 hangers so I can keep track of what he’s worn already  (I also set a calendar reminder).

image

We got rid of all of our random reusable containers and only have 2 types. Red Rubbermaid and some green ones I got from the dollar store. We also got rid of all of the dishes that weren’t in the black and white set. image

A brand new thing we’re trying is washing, drying and putting away the dishes immediately after using them. I read a great article on Becoming Minimalist about how why he does this (mostly taking the stress out of having something hanging over your head). It makes a lot of sense and I want to take a look at other areas in my life where I can apply this (I’m looking at you four different to do lists!)

image

What about you, what are some things you do to have a more organized and minimalist home?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel