In an effort to make our house more of a home, with breathing space, I have started to divide the house and each space into zones.

It is dead simple. In the kitchen is the coffee maker. I have moved the mugs and everything else to do with the coffee maker in the cabinet above them. Now, if I want to make coffee, I can just stand in the same position, and do everything from there.

Advantage is that I store everything I no longer need away immediately, and that it reduces clutter drastically.

It also means that I have to move stuff around the house a lot to get everything in its own designated zone.

Does all that work simplify my life? Oh yes it does.
Does it have to do with frugality? Oh yes.

Funny thing is, that now I have started this work, I have found I had way more food in the pantry than I thought, and I found that I really do not need as much stuff as I am having. This has lessened the buy, buy, buy habit a lot.

And that makes me happy. Isn't that what the journey is all about?

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I have to admit it, I am a spendthrift sometimes still, especially at times when I am emotional/depressed etc.

I have to stay conscious of my spending habits at all times, and most of the time it is hard. But not now. We are saving up for the garden remodel that takes place in october.

Now we have that goal, and need to work on the budget end of it, it is SO much easier to stop myself from impulse buys. Every time I hold something in my hand, I think: this could also be a new rose, or this could be a flowerpot with pretty tulips in spring.

It is an extra block, and I cannot tell you how many things I put back in the racks because I realized I really did not need them.

I also realize, that when the garden is finished, I am going to work on a new goal, like a nice vacation in summer, or some remodeling job in the house. Anything to keep me from those impulse purchases :)

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Back when I was just spending, spending and more spending, I kept telling myself that I could buy something because I was worth it, and because it would make me happy.

Now I have a home full of clutter, and a body that carries around a lot of clutter in the form of extra weight. All because I deemed myself worth of things, stuff, bad food, everything that is clutter now.

Realizing this made me sad, but then it hit me, I had totally misdefined "I am worth it". Through this misdefinition I deemed myself worthy of stuff, not worthy of what really matters.

Worth is not about things, it is not about two mcD meals a week, it is about deeming yourself good enough for what really matters, like health, love and happiness.

And it is about knowing you are worthy to live in a home with the room to grow, and where you can express yourself as you are.

"I am worth it" is now about spending energy on myself, on spending time with me, getting to know me, and finding out what I am truly worthy of. 

So... what are you worthy of?

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This past weekend I was away from home. I took my yearly trip with my mom, this time to Edinburgh. When I arrived home, I walked in, and looked around, as if I was a visitor in my own home.

It hit me right there and then. I have too many things. Everywhere you look there is something extra. A coat on a chair, a box of things to look through etc. It was very depressing to see, and it made me even stronger in my resolution to declutter and to simplify our home.

The other thing I realized was that I really need to change my spending habits. I don't need more stuff. I don't need to fill my overflowing shelves and surfaces with more things.

Right now having less stuff is more important than anything else.

So that is why I am letting go. I have photographed many good items, I will advertize those for sale. Other things are boxed up, waiting for the run to the thriftstore on saturday.
I swear, there is nothing like coming home from a short trip to see the truth about your life.

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