The 2nd Minimize Minute

Here’s a challenge for you in 2018! Join me each week as we take on a new task to help simplify our lives and minimizing our households. Write in and tell us how it went for you, or to get the task from a previous week. MinimizeMinute@gmail.com

Challenge # 2: Identify 3-5 “just in case” items you’ve been hanging on to and get rid of them. “Just in case” items are things you’re hanging on to in case you need them down the road. The theory is that 99% of the time, you won’t ever use these “just in case” items, and if the need does arise, a replacement can almost always be found cheaply and easily. The goal is to work towards keeping only what has a defined or immediate use.

How’d it go: This week’s task was much harder for me than Week 1’s “Grab a Box” task. Living in a remote area without easy access to most things has created a monstrous desire to save everything, especially when it comes to art and craft supplies. I cautiously weeded through my stash while keeping in my mind that creativity is a core value of mine and one I want to instill in my child. I found a lot of supplies to donate to a local kids’ group and many other things that I was never going to get around to use. Rusted saw blades, anyone?

I also took a close look at my bookshelves. I have hundreds of books. Many of them I will never finish or reread but couldn’t bear to part with them simply because I love books. Ultimately, I knew that wasn’t a good enough reason. I gathered and donated a whole box of books that I know I will never reread. It actually wasn’t hard once I got started.

The kitchen was another area that held several “just in case” tools, dish wear and even small appliances. Once I started opening the drawers and cabinets I don’t open every day, the excess became apparent. We had two electric griddles, three glass pyrex dishes, and a small army of old stained dish towels that we never used. The electric, dog-shaped wiener roaster had to go too.

(Previous Challenge: The 1st Minimize Minute)

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