Tag: #simpleliving

Why I’m Grateful for Minimalism — A Short and Sweet Episode

Posted on by Katie Coughran

You can now purchase my book, How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook is out now and the paperback will be out in the next month or two.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FHSMQLL

Welcome to a short and sweet episode of the podcast. Minimalism has been a great help in my life and this past week, I had another insight into why. No article today, you’ll have to hit the play button below to hear all about it. Thanks for being here!

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Minimalism for Couples — Four Tips

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Practicing Minimalism by yourself has its own complexities, but practicing as a couple is a completely different story. While my husband and I are now on the same page regarding minimalism — most of the time — we weren’t always, which led to both struggle and growth. These four practices have helped us to work our way through the difficult minimalist moments, as well as work on building a lifestyle we love.

Press play to listen, or read the rest of the article below.

These are our top four practices:

  1. Be respectful. First off, not only is everybody on their own path and has their own pace, but nagging about minimalism has never worked for anyone I know. YOUR kind of minimalism may not work for them, and THEIR kind of minimalism may not work for you. When it comes to personal belongings, being respectful seems to work best. Ditching/donating your own things and letting them ditch/donate/declutter their own things will likely ultimately lead to a happier home.
  2. Create a minimalist home together. When only one person is “in charge” of making the home pleasant, not only is that a lot of pressure and work, but the other person in the partnership isn’t invested. When both parts of the pair are working on creating a beautiful, minimalist home, not only does it give both people an opportunity to share in the experience, it’s likely that there won’t be resentment. Besides, it’s fun to design or create minimalist spaces together! I may not always agree with my husband’s ideas, but in the end, it’s just stuff and I love that we’ve designed our home together more than being 100% in charge.
  3. Communicate clearly about your spaces and expectations. Which surfaces are you hoping to keep clear? What are your partner’s triggers? What can you each do to contribute to the home? Communicating in a loving way will help your minimalist practices to stick and go a lot smoother as a couple.
  4. It’s not just about your space, but also about your schedule and lifestyle. People often forget that this is a major part of minimalism; it’s not just about the STUFF, but the activities you say yes to, the time you spend on hobbies, and whether you’re spending quality — and also mundane — time together.

Spending time supporting each others’ dreams, hobbies, and creating a simple-living lifestyle together has been some of the best work we’ve put into our marriage. Again, most of the time, it’s really fun, especially considering the fact that we used to spend a significant amount of time on the insignificant and — in retrospect — boring. Not only was it a waste of our lives, but we weren’t creating stronger relationship bonds. Now that we’ve refocused our goals, our life is just better. 

Minimalism as a couple hasn’t always been easy. In fact, there were several years when we really clashed and it was a major struggle to overcome. Learning to practice minimalism and incorporate it into our life has been a slow process, but absolutely worthy of our efforts.

I hope these minimalism-for-couples tips help you along your path. Remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

Here’s the article I talk about on the show, 6 Surprising Ways to Communicate Better With Your Partner

The PRE-ORDER for How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide is up! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook will be out September 1st, paperback will be out in the next month or two.

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

4 Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money

Posted on by Katie Coughran

The PRE-ORDER for How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide is up! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook will be out September 1st, paperback will be out in the next month or two.

There are so many different ways minimalism has saved us money, it will be a recurring theme on this podcast. All of the emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of minimalism are wonderful and I certainly go into some of that here. However, there’s also this other side that’s simply practicality and there’s NOTHING wrong with that. I hope you enjoy the episode (hit the play button) or feel free to read the article below.

1. Practicing Simple Living means a slower life for us, or faster paces in nature, which is often free or inexpensive. Going on a hike pretty much costs fuel and food/water and most people likely already have the necessary gear. The views, getting some exercise, accomplishing a challenge all are worth much more to me than spending ten bucks on some random item I find at the store. I’ve used the example of hiking here, but there are so many ways that living simply adds joy and beauty to our lives without expensive price tags and stuff that will ultimately become a strain on our time and space.

2. Multi-use items save both space AND money. I also find them to be more natural, which is appealing to me, personally. Do you know how many items baking soda has replaced in our home?? That stuff is amazing and really inexpensive. I also now only keep one homemade cleaner in the home instead of ten different cleaners for ten different things. Simple, inexpensive, natural — so many things I like.

3. I no longer head to the store to look for something to buy, I now go to the store to buy what I need. I have lists, I’m organized, and I avoid sections I don’t need anything from. That’s a major shift in mindset and definitely saves us money!

4. Lastly, the more I practice minimalism, the more I have an abundance mindset. Don’t get me wrong — I still struggle at times. However, in my general, daily life, I feel content with what I have and I don’t want more, which absolutely keeps me from buying more and ultimately saves money. Not only am I grateful to have what I need, but I’m happy to be able to use and enjoy my things in my uncluttered home. 

I hope these tips help and remember — it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

7 Way to Simplify Your Life article

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Pre-Order Time! How to be a Minimalist: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I’m pleased to announce that the second book in the How to be a Minimalist series is now available for pre-order with a release date of September 1st! NOTE: Ebook only at this time — the paperback will be out in the next month or two. You can find the Amazon link HERE or by clicking the book cover above. Pre-order now and it’ll show up on your device when it comes out September 1st.

While How to be a Minimalist With Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism focused on parents/families, this Beginner’s Guide is all about the individual and the various ways they can implement minimalism into their personal lives. It was a pleasure to write this book and I sincerely hope you enjoy!

DESCRIPTION:

Excited to start practicing minimalism, but uncertain about where to start? This book is — as titled — a guide just for beginners, and a great starting point. However, because of the variety of areas this book covers, experienced minimalists might also enjoy the different ideas explored in each chapter.

Although it’s difficult to capture EVERY aspect that simple living and minimalism can encompass, this guide goes over more than just how to go about decluttering your home. The reason for that? Minimalism is about more than just your possessions — it’s about your calendar, spending time on your goals, self care, maintaining your home once you’ve put in the effort to declutter it, emotional minimalism, and even keeping your budget in line. Don’t worry, though, this guide doesn’t skimp on the details of how to ditch, donate, and declutter so that you can move forward with confidence in your minimalistic practices.

That’s the beauty of minimalism — it can touch every aspect of your life. This guide is here to get you started with practical, realistic, and thoughtful methods so that you can find YOUR kind of minimalism.

7 Minimalist Cleaning Tips

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Keeping things minimalist-minded when it comes to my cleaning routine has saved me hours of cleaning time and kept me on track when it comes to having a tidy home. My family and I all benefit from having a nice space and I’m happy I don’t have to spend extra minutes cleaning — some more bonuses of minimalistic practices.

Hit the play button to listen to the episode, or you can quickly read through my tips below.

If you’ve listened to many of my podcast episodes or read my book, you’ll know that I dislike cleaning, but I love having a clean house. Minimizing the amount of time I spend on chores but also being able to enjoy a tidy home is one of my goals with minimalism and here are my top tips for having the best of both worlds.

  1. Clean the dishes after every meal. Yep, it’s a bit of a pain, but it’s impactful when it comes to amount of dishes you need — if you only have a dish or two for each person In the home, you HAVE to clean up after every meal. If you have 50 plates, it’s easier to let them pile up and create a huge mess. Also, having a tidy kitchen won’t only feel good, but it will likely help you to eat better foods if your kitchen is clean.
  2. Have the right tools. You don’t need a million, just the right ones. I finally made a daily cleaner that I love and crocheted a few wipes that are specifically for the bathroom. The bonuses were that I was able to ditch the other products I had used and I now have more space in my tiny RV cabinet. Even better, our bathroom is clean most of the time because the process is quick and simple with the right tools.
  3. Deal with clutter daily. Put away paperwork as soon as it comes in, make sure your surfaces are cleared off at least once daily, and make sure clothes get put away in the hamper or closet when you’re done with them. You’ll feel less stress and be able to enjoy the benefits of being organized. Plus, it won’t be a big deal if somebody stops by.
  4. Fold and put laundry away as soon as it’s dry. This one’s the worst for me, quite frankly. I’ve learned that having a pile of laundry out makes your home feel cluttered and messy faster than most things, so it’s worth it to just deal with folding it and putting it away as soon as possible.
  5. Make constant efforts to downsize and evaluate. Did you spot a shirt tucked into the back of your closet that you never wear when you put your laundry away? Can you ditch it? You don’t have to be compulsive about searching for things to ditch, but looking at your things objectively when you’re tidying up helps to keep working on minimalistic practices.
  6. Make your bed every day. In the morning is preferable. Have you ever taken a look at how large your bed is? If it’s messy, it looks like the whole room is messy. In comparison, if you leave a glass and book out on your bedside table, but the bed is made, nobody would hardly notice. Making my bed each morning just makes me feel good and gives me a place to comfortably rest or hang out during the day.
  7. Create a cleaning routine. Focus on the flow — move fluidly from one room to the next instead of bouncing around your home like a ball in a pinball machine. It’ll take less time and you won’t have to put much mental effort into making sure you check everything off your list. Check podcast episode 12 for some tips, although I go into the nitty gritty depth of how to do this in Patreon Exclusive episode 7. $3/month patrons get two bonus exclusive podcast episodes each month and you’re also supporting the show continuing, my friends. Thanks for considering!

The Darwin Awards Podcast

Jenny Mustard Minimalist Cleaning Habits — Get Tidy + Organized

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

10 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Another List — Ep. 31

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There are so many things that I used to purchase that weren’t necessary! When I think back, sometimes I bought those items because I felt some sort of social obligation. I also would buy things without considering the non-monetary cost of owning those items. Now, I’m much more mindful about what I bring into our home and try to make sure that when I purchase something, it’s actually necessary or worth the cost and space if it’s more of a luxury item.

Check out the podcast by clicking the play button below:

Ron L Banks Youtube channel and the video I talked about — Check it out HERE

Here’s the Berkey Water Filter System we bought (this is an affiliate link — thanks for your support of the show!)

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Why I Love Tiny House Living — Ep. 25

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There are so many things to love about minimalism. Living in a small space can be one of them. We’ve lived in all kinds of home sizes, but right now, we’re loving our tiny house on wheels. In this episode, I’ll tell you why.

What I’m Reading:
Sisters of Bloodcreek Trilogy by Mary Gray and Cammie Larsen
Hush, Now Forget — Book 1
Sleep, Don’t Fret — Book 2
Rise, Take Flight — Book 3

My latest videos on YouTube:
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!