Suited to Success

Most people tend to set them self a New Years resolution, some stick some don't. At least you might get one or two tasks done that you have been meaning to do. It might be to have a spring clean or to finish painting. These where both put on my list, along with not buying anything new for a year!

A good friend in Canberra mentioned to me last year that she was doing a clothes collection at work where people could donate their old unwanted work clothes to charity called Fitted to Work which specifically target individuals looking or applying for work, which sets them apart from your general  charities like Vinnies or an Op shop.

Similar charities to Canberra based Fitted to Work can be found all over Australia. The closest one to me  Suited to Success  in Brisbane is a not for profit organisation that helps the less fortunate enter into the workforce. They have trained staff that can provide the perfect outfit for the first interview, even help with a resume or go over what may be discussed in an interview.

We all have a few skirts, suits or shirts that we don't like anymore or don't fit us anymore. Most of us also try and do a clean out once a year (or maybe more if we are good minimalists).

A Suited to Success drive is a great way to de-clutter your wardrobe and it makes you feel great because it's going to a good cause. Suited to Success also collects handbags and shoes that are in good condition.

If you would like read more on my minimalist journey check out Cull the Crap if you would like to donate and you are on the Gold Coast Queensland email me through the feedback form for more information.

Also check out and follow my Instagram Page

And please subscribe to Cull the Crap to receive bi-weekly updates on how my resolutions are traveling.

Stay simple.

The ability to say NO

From a young age all we want to do is experience the world, to meet new people and to do new things. To adventure and create new opportunities. This is a great mindset to have at a young age, and as we grow. I couldn't imagine being any other way.

As we get older we learn about responsibilities and what we want to achieve in life, sometime the crazy opportunities do come to an end and the ability to drop an excess of money become more of a concern. All of a sudden we are forced to grow up and our priorities change. Commitments to friends and family fill up as do the weekends and time off. Time to ones self is valued more.

Having minimal shoes, clothes, gadgets and assets are key parts in living a more minimal lifestyle. But also being more minimal with commitments that you make and asking yourself do I really need to do this? help. Now I have always been very social and that will never change but I am now learning the importance of saying NO.

I'm not saying stay at home and be boring or not help your friend through a hard time, maybe just asses how your time is spent, just the same as you would assess the assets or expenditures in your life remember you come first!

If you do politely say no to an invite it's not the end of the world, any true friend should realise this, even explain why you are saying no. They might take on some of your advice.

I found I was spending time on things that didn't really matter, I was spending too much money doing it and neglecting important things I had to do. From the amounts of texts I would get to having no time to myself on the weekend to relax.

Now I live a more minimal but wholesome social life, filling it with outdoors, friends and family. My budget is loving it! I'm more refreshed and less burnt out and get to enjoy the things that matter.

Stay simple.

Also check out my new Instagram page for visual ideas and projects - search cullthecrap. 

minimalists.org

Towards the end of last year I started roaming the online world for eco friendly blogs after reading 'How green are my wellies?, small steps and giant leaps to green living with style' by Anna Shepard. I stumbled onto all sorts of things; sustainability, recycling, compost heaps, fair trade even foreign employment conditions. Then I found The Minimalists.

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus left there six figure jobs, big houses and nice cars in 2010. They took control of their life and their belongings using minimalism and created one of my favourite blogs, they now have a following of more than 2 million people and are killing it! I wouldn't be here culling my crap if it wasn't for them. www.theminimalists.com 

Minimalists.org is an online forum the guys have set up for like minded people to chat and bounce ideas off each other in regards to a more minimal and simple life. They hope to also create community within their readers by setting up meet-ups across 8 countries and 100 cities. With the help of their readers!

Check out their blog and the organisation if you like, share it with your friends even come along to a meet-up.

minimalist.org

Stay simple

Do It Yourself

When I set myself the challenge of not to buy anything new for a year I had to think about what makes me happy and what I enjoy doing. If I was a shopaholic that bought new dresses and shoes every week I was going to have a bad time. If I needed to buy new things for my business it wasn't going to work out. The only thing I could think of that would get difficult in the next year was my hobbies. I love gardening and projects. So rather than buying new products for the house and home I would need to start on a DIY mission. I had to get back to basics and start making some things myself.

Check out my DIY veggie patch. I just grabbed some wooden pallets that were free to good homes in an industrial area close by, some styrofoam boxes from friends that where on light and easy (you would also get these from your local grocer) and added some hessian material that was laying around. (You can pick this up from a material and crafts store). It came together quite nicely. If you want to give it a go just remember to poke drainage holes in the bottom between the slats in the pallets. My garden beds are not Gardening Australia Magazine worthy but it felt good using second hand and recycled products at no cost to make something that will grow food I can eat and minimalise what I buy in the weekly shop.

Stay Simple 

The first week

I hope that everyone had a beautiful Christmas and a happy New Year. Welcome to 2014! The year to Cull The Crap.

Now I am only 5 days in and I'm doing ok. As you may know if you have been reading this blog before now, my New Years resolution is not to buy anything new for a year and so far it's going pretty darn well. Although there is still a long way to go.

New Year's Day  I had my first hiccup. I was on the way the the beach and thought it would be a good idea to get one of those spray bottle fans to keep cool while sunbaking. Nope! had to stop myself! First of all there was the packaging, it was made in China, required batteries and a small screw driver to open the back, I opted for a regular spray bottle. I saved myself the cash and the trip to the shops and stayed with my plan. And it did the trick quite well. It's a bit funny I just about slipped up on my first day. 

Other than that I have thought about a few things I "need" to buy. An esky and a beach tent but I will have to opt for something from ebay or gumtree second hand. But that's no problem at all! 

Not only in the holidays did I eat some delicious food and hang out with family and friends I managed to get to the op shops in my area to scope out what was on offer. I was amazed, there were heaps of almost new dresses, cute leather skirts, shoes that looked like they have never been worn and a abundance of office wear. I felt like I would be ok for the year. I recomend checking them out every once in a while.

These were the buy of the day I think!

Well here we go, another year! But for me this one will be a much different.

Stay simple and Cull the Crap.

x