Speaking of greeting cards. At least 30+ years ago (may be longer), my mom bought a birthday card that depicts a couple sitting on a couch. The front of the card says, "We couldn't afford a present.." and on the inside it says, "In fact, we'd like you to return it when you are done reading it." We have been sending that card back and forth to each other! We are not sure when it actually started because we didn't date the comments in the beginning. But when we realized we had something going on, we started dating it along with who the card was for. For example--"Happy birthday, Sarah from Ron and Nancy 2021" What is cool is you never know when and where it will pop up! My sister had it for about 2 years and forgot about it! She found it when cleaning out a desk and sent it to me on my birthday. I was so excited when I opened up "the card"!!! This year my daughter had to add a page to the card because we had filled it up! Anyway, we have had a lot of fun over the years!
When we travel we buy Christmas tree ornaments instead of souvenirs. It is so fun to pull the ornaments out one time of year and talk about and remember the trip. Bonus is there is a home for them among our ornaments!
I do the same thing. Now that my kids are teens and can help decorate the Christmas tree, they pull out the ornaments, "Oh! Remember when we went to..." It's lots of fun!
As someone with adhd, depression, anxiety, and overwhelm… Those little kitchen gadgets do help immensely. If I have a gadget that only works for one use but simplifies that *one* thing, I am much more likely to do it which means I’m much more likely to make and eat something rather than skip the whole meal because I’m too overwhelmed to do one step of the cooking process.
Absolutely! I think the point made in the video applies to gadgets that you don't use very much, or that do something you could just as easily accomplish some other way. But which gadgets/appliances those are varies from person to person. Personally, I have no use for the banana slicer that was shown in the video, because I don't slice bananas often and I don't find it very difficult when I do. But I really miss the apple slicer I used to have that broke recently, because I slice apples almost every time I eat them, and using the slicer makes it so much faster. If I have to cut it with a knife, I'm much more likely to decide that I don't really want an apple after all because I'm feeling too impatient to cut it.
Same! My egg slicer is ESSENTIAL. I love salad, but only with hard boiled eggs. I won't painstakingly slice an egg all tiny, and I don't want like 4 bites of all egg. We do meatless Monday every week, and it's unlikely it would be such a staple of my life without that egg slicer. It's actually a replacement, because we wore out the first one years ago! 😁 (I do think her point is just use it or lose it, and don't think we HAVE to have the latest and greatest just because it's there)
I have the kitchen stuff I like. Toaster & microwave on the counter. 3 waffle irons in the cupboard (they fit and I do sometimes use them). But when I’m tempted by a new gadget, I ask myself what I would get rid of to make space. And the answer is always nothing.
Our rice cooker has saved us from many, many rice mishaps... My ADHD has led to plenty of burnt pans! It's a uni-tasker, but well worth it if you burn the rice once a week otherwise 😁
Normally, I would agree with the greeting cards, however, my husband passed away suddenly in 2020- He always wrote beautiful, and thoughtful words in cards to me. I cherish that I can still read those words in his unique crazy handwriting that were meant just for me. There are a few silly ones, too that remind me how funny he was, and they make me smile. I'm really glad I have them.
I'm so sorry about losing your husband. When my grandmother died, I went through all her things. And finding old cards--from half a century ago--in which people had scribbled some lovely note in their handwriting was so meaningful.
@@rebeccam8094 and that is something that can't be replaced. I believe certain sentimental items like this should be considered as treasures. Maybe our daughters or sons won't be able to appreciate them, but imagine what a find it would be for their children or grandchildren, just as you described.
So every anniversary, my husband and I go to the drug store and take the time to pick out a specific card for each other, a very thoughtful one. Then we show it to each other and put it back. It is great. Then we go home feeling really loved. It is a great tradition that is going on 15 years.
I love that tradition you guys have. I have a friend who gives his wife the same valentine card for years. It took about 3 years before she realized it. Now she looks forward to it.
When I celebrated my second Mother's Day, my husband started writing in a notebook. He wrote from the perspective of our oldest daughter (who was 23 months old at the time) and then included a picture of her. From that point on, he wrote in it every year and kept updating the pictures. Occasionally, he would have our kids trace their hands in the book. I read it from time to time. It's a precious book to me. :) My oldest is turning 11 soon and she now writes in it for mother's day. This is a good alternative to "Mother's Day" card. I hope they'll fill the book. I will treasure the book always.
We live out in the middle of absolute nowhere. It takes us 40 minutes to get to the nearest Walmart and 2 hours to get to Sam’s or Costco. We still buy bulk because of our living situation. We don’t have the luxury to drive 40 miles if we need 1 item. And we cook 3 times a day so we tend to go through food at home at a quick rate. We just developed a system for this and found places to store the bulk items in our home. We have 3 deep freezers and we keep those organized as well. It is a rule to not just throw the most recent stuff on top. And we plan our meals, heck, cooking 3 times a day, you have no other choice, gotta make sure you have all of the ingredients without making that 40 mile trip to town. My biggest deal is leftovers, I will not let leftovers go to waste. I find creative ways to redo them for a second meal. I know this would all be different if I lived in a city. But for us, this is the way life must be! ❤️
I’m glad you said this! My life is so much easier because I always stock up a set amount of the foods I frequently use. I put cheap neon colored circle stickers on the containers that I put the expiration month and year on so things don’t get wasted. When I go to grocery shop I replace what I’ve used since the last grocery trip. It seems complicated but it makes shopping and meal planning a lot simpler and saves me a lot of money.
With shelves empty in our area, I thankfully utilize Costco for dry goods and items I use. Costco is nearly a100 mile round trip but worth it. Last year I bought dried milk for example. It was awesome - I use it in cooking and making my tea. Now I keep a back up because our local store had only nearly expired milk on the shelf. I was grateful to have it at home.
I shop at Costco once every six months. I buy very specific items. Trashbags, laundry pods, dishwasher pods, shampoo, toothpaste, *flour, *sugar, *baking soda, *spices, a seasonal fruit, pasta, canned tuna, and one special premade costco item for a family treat. Starred items I buy once a year. It allows me to save money on things that can get expensive and not go overboard. The key to shopping at these places is to be strategic. I don't have a ton of items to store and I don't end up buying them weekly at the grocery because I can't remember if I bought them. At the grocery, I shop weekly and only shop the perimeter aisles so I don't need to go into the inner aisles where I might be tempted to buy processed food I don't need. Everything can be made from scratch in the outer aisles.
Thank you for saying this! We live in a small town, and food is disappearing quickly off the shelves! So we buy in bulk, when we can! We store it in the garage (old house with barely any pantry storage). We want to move to the country, so I’m taking notes on what you said! God bless! ❤️
I use my egg slicer, tomato slicer, and my air fryer at least 3-5x a week. I do believe that you should only buy what you will use. My family loves food made in the air fryer and I love that it doesn't heat up the kitchen like the oven.
When we were contemplating getting an air fryer, I made sure I could think of several items that we already consumed regularly that could be done in the air fryer. It was a great buy and is very worth it, but I’m also glad we really thought it through first.
The slicer can be used for so many things too! We use it to slice eggs, mushrooms, & strawberries! I think my kids want to see if it will slice other soft fruits?
Leslie Heisner Did you consider a toaster oven with an air fryer feature? Mine (Breville) has one. I don't really use it though. I'm not sure how it compares to stand alone air fryers.
Even better for #10: I don't use dryer sheets or fabric softener at all. They're unnecessary and often just add build-up to your fabrics. I'll never give up bulk. From a day-to-day perspective, it's so much more convenient to not have to run to the store for every little thing. But the big effects come from emergency prep. You have to have backstock for those situations (or to be able to care for others when they're in need). You just have to rotate it and have a home for it. When we run out of something in the pantry upstairs, I get the backup from the downstairs food storage. If downstairs is getting low, I add it to the list. Easy as that. Nothing expires and you always have a safety net to cushion you in times of job loss, pandemics, etc. I feel like it's irresponsible to be super reliant on the grocery store--you're putting yourself at risk, and when there's a public issue you're putting others at risk too.
The idea is always to have a good ratio between bulk and space - the image she showed is too much food, and it's not stored well enough, but I do have at least a few weeks of food (and water) stored in my house in case of emergency.
@@Serena-or7sl The image she showed is a terrible way to store anything and was an unfair representation of good food storage. I have about that much but it's stored in an accessible way that's easy for me to rotate through.
Agree with you folks that the image she showed was a poor representation of bulk shopping. I hear that a lot from people who give extreme examples. @Serena-or7sl you're correct that there's a ratio or happy medium between bulk and space. We try to buy a smaller selection from each category of items, rotate stock, and use those items creatively.
"Would I take it with me to the nursing home?" - My grandmother went into a (super nice) care home, private suite sorta place, but still only about 300-400sf. My aunts going through her 2000sf home with 70 year old WW2 china from Belgium and all the jewelry and all the clothes... took them months. What Grandmother ended up choosing spoke to me, so now my motto - when decluttering - is "Would I take it to the nursing home with me."
If it's not too personal to ask, would you mind sharing some of the types of things she took with her? I'm intrigued to see what she thought was important in the golden years of her life and how that might teach me in these years of young motherhood.
@@shmachable I can answer what I and my grandmother brought with her when she moved to a nursinghome. What we packed was the things and clothes she wore and used all the time. The paintings that that had the most sentimental value, not the pretties or the most expensive ones. Pictures and newsclippings of friends and family. The most important things I found out, (especially if the person have dementia) is the things that brings back memories and things that make the new place feel like home to prevent the old person more confusion and unrest. Ps, One thing that's a bit funny she took with her was a wooden box where her grandfather, father and husband had all hammered in spare nails in :)
One year on our anniversary we gave each other cards and I said look we spent 10 bucks on these, we could have bought a bottle of wine. The next holiday we bought a bottle of wine and both signed it and we have been doing that ever since.
I guess we saved a lot of money too because we've been married 47 years! We also have pretty gardens as I said don't buy me cut flowers, buy some to plant.
I have thought this so many times too! Like, how about instead of each of us 3 getting mom a $5 card for her birthday that says "happy birthday mom" we use the $15 and get her a gift that she can use.
I can fully agree with u on almost everything u said in this video except for the mention of the “air fryer”. I gotta say, the air fryer has been one of the best new kitchen appliances to come out with since the microwave! It is far from a “single tasker”! The air fryer is not only a healthier way to fry something it also can cook and bake so many other items. It is such a great help with something small that u just don’t wanna heat the oven up for. 🙂
I agree with you that the air fryer is indispensable. It is so easy to take meat out of the freezer pop it in and have a meal within 15 to 20 minutes. As I am on a carnivore diet, I don’t have any other uses for it, but it beats having to use the oven!
@@slowslug3247 There's no Teflon in my air frier or in my mom's. I didn't even realize Teflon on any cookware was still an option. Other nonstick coatings, yes, but my air frier doesn't have those either. I use aluminum foil to line the baking tray or basket if I'm worried some food will stick even after I've sprayed it with olive oil. And since it's a toaster oven sized model, I also use it as a toaster oven. My regular oven only gets used now if I am needing to bake something large like a full sized pizza, and I haven't used my regular toaster in months since it's just as fast to use the Toast setting on the air frier, so getting rid of that frees up some counter space.
So I just want to add something about greeting cards. It costs so much and I avoid it. Sometimes I have to but my husband and I started to write in a journal book. When we have a Birthday or anniversary or any time we want to give each other a card we just pick up the journal and write a noted to each other. This is such a great idea that I started last year. We both love it.
That is a stunningly simple, meaningful, and awesome thing to do! I'm going to ask my husband about this tonight (We've only been married for ~7 months, so we don't have too much accumulated)!
One day I was at walmart for something legit, & had to walk thru the bathtowel section. OMG i was soooo tempted.... I stopped and asked myself what was it I wanted???? i had plenty of nice towels already. Turned out, what I wanted was the NEATNESS of their display. So...I went home and neatened my bathroom. Yay me! since then when I want something, I ask myself do i really want that item? or is there something it conveys to me, that I want? I love magazines about quilting; but I enjoy a couple pages and then leave them in the store, because I know I won't actually get around to making quilts for many years yet. Instead I give myself time to prettify one small space, & that's enough to perk me up.
Now that's insight! It should have been obvious when i go around Ikea or Habitat, etc.: it's the neatness / organisation / absence of clutter i crave! Part of me always knew, but i needed to read it from you to hammer the point home so thank you, really, for sharing that 🤗
That line is incredibly profound--"is there something it conveys to me that I want"? So very true--coziness, family, friends, connections. I think all of the entertaining gear I buy has been more about connections than "need".
I LOVE my veggie spiralizer! As a diabetic, a gadget that enables me to substitute nutritious, fiber-rich veggies in place of carbohydrate-rich pasta is a literal life saver. It's so fast and easy to use, too (also fun to use with friends or kids).
I also love my instant pot, but I wouldn't characterize that as a kitchen gadget that does only one thing, since it can saute, pressure cook, slow cook, etc.
For those of us who are actual crafters and not people who just like to buy things, having stuff on hand is a huge money saver (buy it on sale) and time saver (gee, I want to start this knitting project at 8pm, but I don't have any yarn). You can absolutely have a good stash of stuff that is organized and contained and still get rid of things you don't want or need anymore.
When we traveled to Europe, I bought a different dish towel in each country. They are my favorite souvenirs ever! I get so much joy out of looking at the tourist highlights when I’m doing an everyday chore. (Do the dishes.) I think because they don’t sit out all the time, it makes me have excitement in remembering the trip when I pull the clean towel every couple of days or weeks.
I love this idea! I used to collect magnets but I don't like them on my fridge anymore so they are sitting in a box and I don't know what to do with them lol This way you will get to actually use what you bought and enjoy it:)
My trick to get rid of the « throwaway guilt » is taking pictures of the souvenirs, greeting cards and kids crafts before throwing them away. It also works really well to help the kids getting rid of stuff they have trouble giving away but are too old for, or don’t really use antimite. We would tale a picture of them with their plushies for example, so they have a memory.
YES YES YES!! I had 'flowers' my 2 daughters made for me in kindergarten (youngest was 9 years old when we were getting ready to move) and so I took photos of the things they created and then tossed it. The photos are digital so no physical photos are available.
My aunt was always so good with writing cards for birthdays and Christmas. She’s gone now and I love love love rereading them and seeing her handwriting. 💙
I have saved cards that have hand written beautiful words from my husband, parents and my 3 sons( now in their 30’s). I love going through them and re reading them. They warm my heart. I guess if they spark Joy that is a good thing for me.
When my mother in law had dementia, I noticed that she liked tactile cards. I now make them out of left over paper. I do buy wedding cards and put a monetary gift inside.
"Are you a shopper or are you a crafter?" ... I feel personally attacked. Hahaha But seriously, this is the reality check I needed. Currently watching as I declutter my home. Resonate with so much of this. Great video!
I'm a shopper AND a wannabe crafter, who spends more time shopping, and plotting, and planning about the things I'm going to make. I need a new system.
Seriously though! I'm definitely a crafter, BUT!!! I still buy way more than I can ever realistically use. Especially glitter 🤦♀️ do I really need every shade of every color in every cut? No!! Lol
As a librarian, I’m so happy that you mentioned going to the library and downloading books from the library. I personally have not purchased books or magazines because my house is so cluttered with them but I’m slowly getting rid of them. Also, you become a cool mom again when your kids hit their 20’s.
I need to work on this. Books is a downfall of mine. I have more books than I will be able to read already. I enjoy helpful books, be it parenting, spiritual growth, or , self improvement. I will ponder donating half for others to enjoy.
@@dawnmelius9403 I also have too many books but I have been able to downsize them by donating them to the library. They can use the money by selling them or adding them to the collection. I also realize I can check out pretty well any book I want from the library so only keep really special books (annotated books -Jane Austen, Alice in Wonderland, Phantom Tollbooth) and ones I want to read within the next year (or two). Books should be a blessing and not a burden.
My library also has magazines you can download from their app! My mind was blown- I love reading magazines, but I know that I tend to hoard them if I buy them 😅
@@TarTelperienNumenor whaat, I have to see if my library has magazines, going to be a game changer!! I love the library audio books, I only buy audio + physical books I really love
I have been a quilter for a long time, with a very organized wall of cabinets full of high end fabrics I won’t use. I learned that a dog groomer was looking for inexpensive fabrics to make bandannas for her furry clients. It felt so good to give her 2 boxes of fabrics! We are friends now, and she’s helping me gain space for my new activity, rug hooking!
My lameness ended when my kids got to their early to mid twenties. My oldest son called me from college, he was 22 at the time, and apologized for, “Everything I ever said mean to you, for being disrespectful and taking you for granted!” He had to get out and experience life and hear how others were brought up, he shared stories of some of the young people he met and they were eye opener’s for him. He’s 37 now, and still likes us! Side note, I have two more children 35 and 32. They still like me too!😊😂
Not long after I started having kids, I called my parents and apologized for all the grief I put them through. (Specifically, I apologized to my dad for never blowing my nose when he asked me to🤣)
I did the same when I had my baby, and lived away from my parents, it's like I suddenly saw everything my mom had to go through, and I felt the worst daughter (I wasn't that bad, but that's how I felt), thanks God I can now try to give back, at least a little of what she's giving me
I had to apologize to my mom as an adult, growing up my parents got divorced and my dad would tell me things that I “needed” to tell my mom. Of course they were always hurtful, and I couldn’t find a way out of it bc I was a kid. Even though I now realize I was being used and it wasn’t my fault it HAUNTED me, and it felt so much better to tell her, and I could tell it felt better for her to finally make since out it all.
You're right there's hope for these young families! I've always been close to my girls. But in high school they came home sharing stories of their peers. They're thankful for our relationship.
Another point in favor of library audiobooks is that they *return themselves.* For those of us who never remember to return a book, this is *magic.* Less clutter, and no fines!
Very valid benefit! I did OK returning them when I lived two blocks from the library but our new house is at least 10 minutes from the closest library and not on my way anywhere
@@purplepianoist88 Surprisingly, most of the libraries I frequent these days do not charge overdue fees! The principle is that people who most need to read these books won't borrow them because they are afraid of amassing large fines, or they WILL amass large fines and be scared away from coming to the library. Simple solution: don't charge fees, and people will feel better about borrowing books. I only borrow e-books mostly because I can adjust the print size for my old eyes. I also donate a little money ever so often to make up for fines not collected.
Ehhh I'm thankful I kept a lot of my cards, especially from my dad. He died almost 10yrs ago from cancer when i was 29. It's nice to read these things once in awhile.
Girl. Dryer balls are where it’s at! Ive had the same 12 for 4 years and they are still going strong. I don’t use fabric softener in the washer either, its much better for your clothes, wallet and space!😊 my husband is so the same way with tools LOL
I used the dryer balls for seven years or so, they lasted until my toddler got a hold of them. She picked at the wool until they started falling apart. 😞 At least I could compost what remained. I’m without dryer balls right now but will probably try them again when my kids are old enough to listen.
Tossing fabric softener around your dryer just gets gunk on the drum. (Line drying your clothes is even more eco-friendly, BTW, if you can do it.) Putting fabric softener on your towels just reduces their absobency.
If I could go back in time to when my kids were little, I would "buy" way more experiences and way less "toys". We did take our kids on many day trips and weekend trips and have the wonderful memories to keep. But, so many things we bought over the years just ended up being clutter and hardly used. Thanks for all the great ideas for today's families!
I was born in 1952. We got lots of toys for Christmas, but at the end of the day they were all put away in our toy box. Anything that was left out, such as my paper dolls, my mother threatened to throw away. Nowadays it seems that toys have taken up living and dining rooms, the children and their belongings run the household, so parents think they need to spend thousands of dollars on remodeling that includes a toy room. Absolute insanity!
I bought a pretty, silky Christmas scarf at Dollar Tree this year and threw that around my neck for the 2 weeks of the season. It was black light grey, and red…so it went perfectly with my mostly black and white wardrobe . I got more compliments on that scarf than anything else. It cost $1 and takes hardly any space to store in my Christmas decoration bin.
I used to wonder why on earth all of those single purpose kitchen items existed. Who needs this weird thing that just cracks eggs? But eventually someone told me that they're mostly designed for disabled folks who actually do need these "oddly specific" tools so they can cook for themselves and live independently. I definitely look at a lot of products differently now. I try not to clutter my kitchen with things I don't need/ use, but I also keep in mind that every product in the store isn't made for my personal use/ needs.
Have you ever done stuff in bulk? A mango pitter may seem ridiculous but if you've ever had 50-100 mangoes, it's much faster! Or pitting cherries if you're pitting a ton. Or dicing tomatoes (I have a restaurant quality dicer).
I came here to say this. Lots of products that people think are ridiculous are actually meant for people with disabilities. They just aren't marketed that way because they wouldn't sell as well. It's unfortunate that ablist mindsets make this an issue, but it's true. Many items that many of us overlook are huge barriers to others living regular lives
My avocado slicer thing is one of the most used items in my kitchen. We do taco night OFTEN and my guacamole is to die for. I have several items that are used almost exclusively for taco night but they get used OFTEN!
Yeah she doesn't think about what she's saying, but she talks about clutter without meaning but has pillows with words on them that I bet no one touches
emily mulcahy Good point. All of my tiny kitchen gadgets (which wouldn't include the dicer) take up less space than one of her tacky dime-a-dozen throw pillows does.
25 Cass, 25 is when kids get normal again - when they start caring about their own space and their own money and cooking food on the stove instead of in the microwave. When travelling I buy a single art print done by a local artist and hang that up when i get home. I am reminded of our trips every time I walk by them :) I started this when I went backpacking in Europe and couldn't carry much. A tube mailer was cheap to mail home!
I buy postcards. Much better photos than i take and portable. Your idea supports local artists and i will try it when traveling is an option again. Thanks for sharing this experience!
I agree with Hailey... 25 was when my daughter had my grand-daughter and I became cool again. Also, I love Hailey's idea about artwork. I do the same thing. I have a wall in my family with all the (small) paintings that I have collected. When I look for something to remind me of a special trip, I also look for something that will compliment my "Memory Wall." It's inexpensive, easy to carry, and looks great in a collage-type design.
I do that to... I only buy real painted art or crafts from local artists.. As you say it is lovely.. It reminds you of your holiday every time you walk past the artwork🤗. "tacky tourist crap" just ends in the bin adding to the rubbish problem! My kids do those coin pressing souvenirs... Where you put in a cent, pay a dollar, turn the arm and a motive is pressed into the cent.. They have a little pouch they collect them in.. If they don't want them anytime in the future.. It's metal and can be recycled.
For some reason, I have had it pounded in my head to ‘save this! You MIGHT need it’! So after 57 years of marriage and only three moves, sheltering my three grands ( and their stuff), I have quite a large project facing me. Many of your suggestions and videos are life saving!
If you have sensitive skin - acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc., you might be surprised how not using fabric softener or dryer sheets (or any scented laundry products) can help! That stuff is bad for the environment and bad for your skin! Ironically, it can also build up on your clothes and make them look dirty and worn faster, even locking in smells... and they actually make your towels less absorbent! I switched to a free and clear detergent and wool dryer balls (nothing scented, no other products except occasional stain remover). Turns out the artificial scents were one of my migraine triggers, I have less acne, my family members have less eczema, and we save money and space not buying those extra products. Oh, and absolutely no difference in the "softness" of our laundry. 🙂
Yes! Wool dryer balls are amazing! If you want your laundry to have a scent, you can always add some oils, but I don't need that. It helps my clothes dry faster too
Wool dryer balls don't seem to work for me. I've always used free and clear detergent and dryer sheets also come in free and clear, no scent., but no, don't use fabric softener on towels. I hate that everything we use has scents and it's hard to find products without: bath soap, shampoo, deodorant, dish soap, etc.
I have never used dryer sheets, or even seen that in the shop! It’s fine without. I even use vinegar often in the washing machine instead of softener; it’s great for sensitive skin and for the washing machine! And no smell
@@lindatelleman6538 Yes! This. I'm a recent convert to using vinegar in my laundry. I was blown away by how great it works. The laundry smells so clean when it comes out, from just 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar. I add 2 drops of lavender oil to my drying laundry, though. Mostly because I love the scent that wafts out.
The moment they truly understand how many people’s families you’ve helped through your videos and funny stories-that’s going to be the moment your kids will start appreciating you work) You are great, thank you for what you are doing!❇️💛💛💛
We travel all over the world. We stopped buying souvenirs many years ago. No regrets. I love that you hire a professional photographer each year for your family. I am a photographer and you're so right. Honestly, I don't shop. If I need something, I'll get it, but I don't buy what I don't need.
Souvenirs - we buy a Christmas ornament when we travel. Then when we put the tree up we enjoy remembering our vacations and places/people we love. The tree gets better every year!
With birthday cards, my fiance and I pass the same card back and forth (that has lots of writing space). Been going strong with one card for 3 years :) once the card is full, it will legit be a memento of several years of our lives :)
Cas, I'm absolutely thrilled I found you this summer. You inspired me to clean, organize, rearrange my whole house. My whole family can breathe better because of you. I finally got my "hoarder" husband to stop piling things everywhere and he now appreciates the simplicity and cleanliness of our home. I owe you my sanity. I realized I was burying my head under the sand, not wanting to look at the clutter; now, I can love my home and keep it clean. THANK YOU!!!!
We live in Seattle and we LOVE our local tool library, such a great community resource. You pay a really low membership fee and then check out tools as needed. We've also ended up donating tools we don't use very often and don't have room to store. Couldn't recommend it more!
A tool library? What an excellent concept! I am going to check into my local area to see if one exists. I'm from Eugene, Oregon so if there isn't a Tool Library in our community should have one (or more.) Thanks for the idea!!! : D
I am a minimalist but a melon Baller is used a LOT in my house and it brings be joy because it was my Grampa’s and it reminds me of how fancy he would cut up melon.
I've been telling so many friends to just book a session with a local photographer for family photos instead of buying school photos. You get your whole family and even though it's more than 1 package, it's definitely worth it with multiple children. Plus usually better captures their personalities at the time!
My school pics were always terrible. Like if your bangs were out of place the photographer sure wasn't going to say anything. Just take the pic and move on down the line. So what if you get a crappy photo. So not worth the $$$
I was the cool mom until my kid was old enough to drive, because I was always willing to be the one to drive the kids wherever. The other parents were SO glad they didn't have to, and the kids were SO happy they got to do whatever it is they were wanting to do. LOL. It's also VERY good for keeping tabs on what's going on. I remember overhearing one of her friends saying, "Your mom is so cool." She retorted, "She's not that cool, guys." hahaha. Just never react to what they're talking about back there in the back seat. Never chime in. IGNORE it all. They will assume you can't hear them and you learn all sorts of important stuff. The catch is, you can't let your kid know what you heard. If someone is trouble waiting for opportunity, don't say anything; just find reasons that your kid can't go somewhere if that kid happens to be going.
I was that mom too, it’s like practically being invisible! So glad brilliant minds think alike. And the other thing I did was give a bit of advice about watching how their friends and or girlfriend was with their parents or siblings because that’s how you’ll be treated, for example, if a girl you like doesn’t like her dad, beware, you’re not going to be treated well. So far, that has worked well. However, everyone’s an individual and I understand that isn’t always the case. Take care and thanks again for your advice, hugs!!!
I so agree with you. I was always involved, always driving, always their friends at my house. I learned a lot. Also missed a lot. But I so cherish those times of being room-mom, chaperone, mother figure. So many kids out there do not have present parents. One or the other or both. I love being able to encourage and inspire young people!
My mom left my dad, along with me, 11,and my sister, 15. My dad tried very hard to substitute, and he was great, we always had a full house of girls. But he worked shift work and he just couldn't substitute for my mom (neither could my older sister, who has never been particularly fond of me). But my friends stepmom really was there for me through rough times. She couldn't have her own children and my friend had a complicated relationship with her own mom and took that out on her stepmom, and I was desperate for an affectionate female (my mom wasn't affectionate even when she was around). I actually had a few moms that stepped into the mother role for me over the years and I have thanked them, but I thought I should thank you all for being there for all the kids. It isn't always as obvious as an absent parent and I'm sure you all made a big difference in the lives you've touched. Ironically, I never had my own children but have spent my life taking care of other people's children. I love them all as if they were my own, I can't imagine loving them more, it would be almost painful. Cheers to being the one who steps up, you're probably making a bigger difference than you'll ever know
I have reacted occasionally when kids are talking together but I agree let them have their personal moments. I felt that my kids really started appreciating me after they’ve moved out started families or just needed knowledge on real life stuff. That’s the most amazing moment when your grown kids say ‘I’m so thankful for….’ ❤❤ makes my heart melt
After I cleaned out and organized I don’t find a lot at thrift stores anymore. I think twice before bringing something home. But I do buy $.25 magazines at thrift stores. I find magazines relaxing to look at. They don’t require any deep thinking. And for $.25 I can toss them out when I’m done looking at them. I enjoy your videos!!
My oldest thought I was awesome and even called and thanked me in her freshman year in college. My younger daughter appreciates me she is just not as vocal about it. They have to get out of high school to realize not everyone has a spectacular mom like you and me. :)
I'm a good declutterer but I'm married to a hoarder! In the last lockdown, the four of us decluttered each room in the house together as a family and helped us bond. Tip: a great time to declutter is just a couple of days before a family holiday. That way you come home to a fresh house. Also, we still buy toilet paper in bulk because it's cheap and in lockdown, supermarkets ran out! Love from Australia xox
Yes! I'm always, wondering how my grandma managed to have super clean house, at the same time always cook the best foods with no fancy gadget , or detergents.
I was super lucky that I had a good, open relationship with my daughter. Her friends all thought I was the cool mom, and I think she liked the idea that she had the cool parent. Her friends would come to me for questions they didn't feel comfortable talking to their parents about. I always got the feeling they had gone to my daughter for advice first and she told them what I had told her then brought the friends to me when they needed more help than she could give them. That made me happy. I wish every kid felt they could talk to their parents about anything, but I know that's not the case, I'm just glad they found an adult they could talk to who would give good advice and make sure they were safe, whoever that adult was.
I narrowed my souvenirs down to a unique really nice magnet because we use magnets on our fridge for pictures of family. This way I have neat magnets that are eye catching and make me happy because they remind me of happy memories.
When your children leave the nest is when they suddenly realize you are the cool smart Mom. My children are all grown now with kids of their own. They are amazed that I managed to raise them without all the high tech gadgets and phones. Just the other day my 50 year old son complimented me on enforcing house rules. They have come in handy in his house with 3 kids and a dog
A controversial one: buying gifts as an obligation, specially for someone you don't like. I only buy something for people I love (something that they need) an it can be any day, not for an specific occasion
Oh my gosh I agree! Even my nieces and nephews! when people ask what I’m getting them I say “me” 😂😂😂 we buy enough things for people we love for no reason, they will def get enough on Christmas without something extra from me
My father was a radio personality at a local country radio station. He started getting recognized when I was in middle school. Mostly I didn't mind the interruptions when we were out. My father was the same guy on or off the air and he liked people and they loved him. He passed away almost 13 yrs ago and we (his family AND his "fans")miss him very much. I'm sorry, but I think it's incredibly sad that your children are embarrassed of the income that supports them, nourishes and gives them comfort. I hope someday soon they get over themselves and see what an incredibly special person you are and how valuable your work is to us!❤
I just had to share this little victory with you, even though it has nothing to do with this video :) So, I recently made the most half-assed scrapbooks. They were not the ones I had always imagined, with cute stickers and ribbons and fun cutouts. They are basically those plain sticky scrapbooks with the clear plastic covers. I curated all the random bits and memories from the past few years and stuck them in the pages. Stuff wasn't even in chronological order or decorated at all. It's really the world's ugliest scrapbook, and it only took me an hour. But when I look at them, I am SO PROUD. No longer do I see a pile of messy memories to be cataloged, but 3 neat and tidy books on the bookshelf for all to see. Thanks for giving me permission to do a shitty job.
I so, very much L❤️Ve this comment!!!🥰❤️ I have struggled for DECADES, waiting to have: the inspiration, motivation, creativity, time, resources , et cetera, blah, blah, BLAH!!! just to do what you described, “cute stickers” and all! It AIN’t happenin’!!! I now feel perfectly free to do a half-arsed, crappy job... And LOVE IT!!! 😃 Thank you,, Krissycus😘 Oh! And by the way, it absolutely does have something to do with “Half-ass Cass”’s videos.😉 (Her words, not ours, for any poor soul who might feel offended.- We love you, Cass!!!🤗)
OH! And the teenager thing: I remember my kids changing their minds back to appreciating me when some of their friends that I got to know (from school chorus or church youth group) mentioned, "your mom is so cool". Then we had some hard years. Now that they're in their 20's and much fuller appreciation has kicked in. Hang in there, Cas!
I feel the exact same way I’ve decluttering my house to the point I’m darn near a minimalist and sometimes I still feel like it’s too much. I feel more open and have a much greater sense of what really matters😊
Great list….at over the past decade I came up with a very similar one. Challenge now is decor items….. :). The stress I feel at times with all the STUFF is overwhelming. My two biggest weapons: eliminate the word COULD from my thoughts and stay out of stores and catalogues. Also, instead of overbuying stuff for the grands (it is hard!) I put $ into a fund that will pay for lessons (swim, art, sport) - something that they will have for the balance of their lives that doesn’t take up space!
I don't agree with the bulk items. It depends on the bulk items in this time of COVID. I didn't panic during the pandemic to buy toilet paper and tissues, for example, as I always had a stash of these items on hand for an emergency. Since I use vinegar and peroxide for several DIY uses, I keep several around. When the pandemic opened up and toilet paper, tissues, vinegar, etc. became available, I would buy one extra when I went to the store because my instincts tell me of another possible shut down. So I'll be ready and feel for those who will be waiting online - again - to get tissues. It's about preparedness.
I agree. During the shutdown, I told my sister that I felt kinda guilty because we were well prepared while I watched other people scramble to find TP, hand sanitizer, cleaners, and even certain food. 🤦
Yes! I agree....I always have extra in case of emergency! Before covid my husband rolled his eyes when I bought extra... his tune changed during covid when I had all we needed.
I have been making weekly meal plans and shopping lists for years. My kitchen is small and I don't have room to store extra stuff. I would just like to say that even during the pandemic and all the restrictions, we never went without the food or toiletries we needed, even though I don't have a stash of anything. I always found what we needed in the stores when we needed it.
I agree. Although we need to be wise when shopping for the best prices because the bulk store is not always the best deal, this is not the time to be shopping for a week's worth of groceries at a time as we have well learned these past 18 months. I have paired down what I own to only what I use, and storage for essential consumables takes priority in my space.
This is the FIRST "Things I don't buy anymore" video that didn't make me feel mega guilty about wasting my space and money! Instead, Cas is has made such a practical list of items that just make sense! And they're so doable! I'm inspired! Renting a saw or a pressure washer? Yes!! Can't believe we never thought of that before. Love all the extra tips for saving space AND money. I'm sending this link on to my family and friends who I think will love it and really benefit from it like I have! 👍
I love your family photographer idea! My granddaughter and her husband do this but several time a year because the kids are little. I teased her once and said "You're like the royal family with your photos, like you have a personal photographer." and they did! Many photographers would be happy to make you a regular!
A really high end blender and a crock pot. Yaz. That's what I have. And my cousin is a world class chef (he won the championship on France once!) And he said that knifes are all about keeping them sharp so even simple, affordable knives will do. So I own a pro knife sharpener so that my IKEA chefs knives are a s sharp as razors! All the time! Good, sharp knives in different sizes are the absolute best kitchen equipment and takes no space. The pro sharpener fits in the palm of my hand so no worries there 💕💕💕😀😀😀
50% disagree on Bulk Foods/ Bulk items... We plan it so that we get a select set of items in bulk, specifically *ones we know we will use* 🙂 It's great for TP, drinks, pre-portioned snacks, and shelf-stable items like pickles. (We found out the hard way that we can't finish off the bulk fruits and veggies before they go bad, so those are off the list😅) In our area the gas is at least 30c cheaper from the Sam's Club, so the membership pays for itself over the year. My "I stopped buying" item is cookbooks. I love cooking so much, and especially reading recipes, but so many times you can find good recipes online. Plus we end up modifying recipes so often, it's easier to just save it in my phone with any changes made!
Absolutely I used to have well over 50 cookbooks and while I still have over 20 I have realised that there’s probably only a couple of recipes in each book that I actually use
Once I'm done decluttering, I'm planing on going through all my cookbooks and copying the ones I use into a personal cookbook binder, complete with page protectors. That way I can get rid of the bulk recipes I don't use!
My kids were in college and living on their own before they started to appreciate me. Suddenly they began calling for advice. They also were very thankful that I was a very over protective parent and kept them out of many situations.
Love your channel. She is saying this is what she doesn’t do anymore. Ppl “DO YOU!” Growing up I was told that “EVERYBODY has an opinion”. Don’t drive yourselves crazy trying to “keep up” and follow others. If it warms your heart to reach out to ppl with cards DO IT!! Side pt: If having signs in your home make you feel good and safe in your space I say DO IT!!!
I agree and have my blank greeting cards in an organizer, like a large version of a divided recipe box. I do have the ones I receive in a box and will be putting them in a scrap book type album. I was so happy find the handmade cards my sister gave me. They were nothing fancy but the notes she wrote were so sweet and personal. She passed away three years ago. Good memories of her sweetness!
Food storage is vital to everyone. Giving up my bulk items from Costco would not benefit my family. It feels good to have these items, especially in hard times. Thanks for great vids.
I used to keep my magazines like “Country Living” for years to re-browse. I did that for a long time and finally I realized I had all my magazines from the beginning when I first subscribed in the 80’s onward. I ended up moving and bringing them all with me! I did reach a point when I knew they had to go so I bundled them in packs of 12 by years and sold them. They got to be enjoyed again by lots of other folks. Before that, I thought, maybe I will just take out anything that inspires me and put them in file folders by category in one of those plastic file boxes. I recently found that box in the basement and realized that I hadn’t looked at all those folders in years. I recycled it all and now when I get my new issue, I enjoy reading through it and then pass it along to friends and family who also share it with their friends and family. I still get excited when I see a new issue in the mailbox and I enjoy it with no clutter guilt!
I probably bought some of your magazines online 😉. Lol. I used to love Country Living magazine but that was one that had to go. I still browse them at the store on occasion. I had all of Mary Engelbrites magazines as well. I cant believe I used to have time to read so much. Lol
My library has magazines you can download from their app, maybe your library does the same! My mind was blown, I love reading magazines, but I know that I tend to hoard them if I buy them 😅 But I like the idea of passing them along too!
I agree with so many of these. Love that idea about school pictures. Although the bulk store I started up again a few years ago when I realized that it was worth the cost of the basic membership just to buy OTC daily allergy meds there! I’ve learned to only buy things that I will actually need. We cook a ton - So buying certain foods in bulk stores is helpful.
I have a charm bracelet that I started the year I married I get a special charm that reminds me of the trip. I now have 47 years of memories that hardly takes up any room and my grand daughter loves looking at it.
I lost my house in a fire almost 10 years ago. That 'purge' was a blessing in disguise. You really don't need things that you haven't seen or used in years. I've tried to keep my house more clutter free since then. Although, I do buy coffee mugs for souvenirs. I love the fun memories as I drink my morning coffee.
Lol Cass, my husband did the same thing with the wet saw. We done a job that required laying tile in the bathrooms and he had to have a wet saw to work with. He too ended up buying one and hasn't used it since. It made me laugh when u mentioned the exact thing we went through. I love your videos and all your amazing advice. Thank you heaps for everything!! We ❤ U bunches 💓
I did this years ago. Saves time and money especially the last one of theme sheets and comforters and clothes. But I will buy the theme blankets my kids keep them for years and snuggle with them. The only thing on the list I have is an air fryer. But I use mine daily or every other day. I'm a post it girl too. And I write my appointments on my daily calendar in the kitchen. Im visual so I look at it everyday so I don't forget something important. Thanks for sharing
"Why do these even exist?" A lot of those weird kitchen cutting tools are really great for people with disabilities. Not everyone needs them but they're the only reason I can eat prepare food some days. 👍
@@mandaa4 Part of that marketing means that they will often end up being more affordable than if they were marketed solely as a "medical device" or something. It also makes them more approachable for, say, someone who is disabled or elderly but is afraid to "mark" themselves as such--they may be more likely to get something they need if they don't have to confront their pride by buying a product "meant for" disabled people.
I get it about greeting cards. I kept the ones from our wedding for YEARS before finally throwing them out. What I do now is take photos of special ones I receive and toss the actual card. However I do love giving cards, especially to my far flung family and friends. I feel it’s nice to get snail mail that’s not a bill, especially if the person is going through a rough time. I use dryer balls rather than dryer sheets. I do buy audiobooks and Kindle books by favorite authors because I’ll reread them. I do borrow from the library as well. Magazines- I don’t buy the physical magazine, but the couple I enjoy, I can buy via Kindle for $5 a year.
Great tips on "Don't buy anymore"! Smart, Smart, Smart! I was a cool Mom to my children's friends but not to my children, but now I am a cool Grandmother to my grandchildren, according to my children!
What a great episode! I realized that I, too, have made all the same decisions over the years. In addition to magazines, we no longer subscribe to physical newspapers. We are also moving away from plastic cups, dishes, containers, and using glass or metal instead -- only possible because our two wild boys are grown up and out of the house!
When I used fabric softener on a sponge for a few months it left a coating inside my dryer that wouldn’t come off!! It’s a great idea and worked well but I switched to will dryer balls instead. They work the same!!
The fact that someone ADHD is a profesional organizer gives me hope. I’ve had to learn to be organized otherwise I’m not functional and I do it as a need not cuz it’s fun for me 😭love that this is your hyper focus ♥️
I’ve given up buying impulse items! I keep a list on my phone of things I want for myself or for my home. If it’s not on the list when I got to the store I don’t buy it. The main thing this has cut down on is home decor! I can appreciate something and think it’s pretty, but if Im not actively redecorating my bookshelves, I don’t buy things that sit around and take up mental and visual space. If I see something I just LOVE I think about it for a few days and then if I still want it I can add it to the list, but then when I see it on the list it’s in the context of the other things I want and I can decide what’s most important right now.
My husband started the buying tools for projects and then when we moved and C-vid was dictating our employment we started our own business and got our money back on use of every tool and then some😱. I feel like that never happens, but it's the one time I'm so glad he didn't declutter along with me when I got rid of my craft room 😳.
I love audiobooks as they are not cluttering up my place...They stay on the internet....Also the library does not have the newest audiobooks... they have the older books...I like the newest audiobooks...I also like greeting cards as they are meaningful to me & my friends & family ..Thank you Cas for all the good useful ideas 😇🥰☺
Just a cya: that dryer sponge hack has actually caused a lot of house fires. The softener is meant to be diluted and rinsed in the washer, putting a sponge loaded with it into the dryer coats the sensors on the inside of the dryer, making it unable to sense how wet or dry the clothes are and sometimes running for so long that the clothes catch fire.
I get those little balls and they last a long time. Slowly getting my hubby from buying the dryer sheets. Most of them have tooooooo much perfume on them.
I was coming to the comments to thank her for all the suggestions and with the house fire warning lol. And boop, a fellow concerned busy beauty already beat me to it. 🥰😊
I agree with everything except tool rental. Most of the time, it costs the same to just buy a tool (my angle grinder and wet saw come to mind) vs. renting it for several days - and often several weekends since I also work full time. True, I don’t use them that often but they are there when I do. I appreciate you mentioning greeting cards. I stopped buying them a long time ago because it’s stupid to spend $5, $6, $7 on a piece of paper that is going into the trash. My friends don’t agree and that’s okay!
I honestly thought that one of the things on the list would be the home decor signage pictured ("Gather", "Family", etc). We tease a friend for having every room in his house labelled, and having words to tell him how to feel.
When mama daughter was 24, I finally became cool again! Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have been decluttering my bathroom today for at least four hours. That turned into a deep down cleaning of the bathroom. I am tired but oh so happy!
I subscribe to a digital e-card service that lets me send a fun card and message to friends and family for different holidays and lets them know I remembered but does not give them clutter that they have to handle eventually. I also like sending digital gift cards as gifts--no package, no wrapping, but you can still customize it, like give them one to their favorite store or restaurant.
I hung on to my old toaster oven (that replaced my microwave years ago) until it finally conked out-just in time to get a toaster oven with the air fryer option! Woo hoo!! AND I love my instapot, multifunction at its best!!
After we did KonMari; I told my mom if the greeting card isn’t pretty enough to be displayed/framed it isn’t worth it so we don’t buy them anymore. Now she buys me only the most beautiful greeting cards that are like art pieces on my shelf now 😂 she understood the assignment 😂
I used to keep all of the cards my inlaws baught us ... every birthday every holiday for every child (3) no matter how old that child is (even the baby would get a card) they were always the fancier cards or the ones that played music... it literally added up to almost 2.5k in cards !! Guess who would have liked 2.5k Instead of cards we eventually threw in the firepit.
I had a laugh when you said you don’t buy gadgets. My friend was really excited to tell me she’d bought a Soup Maker! I’m afraid I weed on her bonfire because I replied “Isn’t that a saucepan!?” She’s still my friend fortunately 😂😂 Love your videos x
We absolutely love our air fryer and use it everyday. My super picky eater daughter started eating vegetables because of it (asparagus, green beans, broccoli, green peas, kale chips, etc) and it is multi purpose too (to toast, heat, broil, fry etc). And we use our old small one for travels.
I’ve been considering one but getting kids to each veggies is like the best selling point I’ve ever heard. Any cooking tips? Which air fryer do you have? Bc I’m about to go look on Amazon now.
@@beccaschlomann7592 we have the Philips Viva air fryer. I spray a little bit of Avocado oil and sprinkle some onion salt, pepper, sometimes garlic powder etc (any flavor you prefer). I set it to a low heat setting, like 220-270 so it doesn’t burn then cook for around 15 mins or depending how you like it (it was trial and error for me)
@@beccaschlomann7592 hey let me know how it works for you❤...we still have our old tiny air fryer (Dash brand) and we just just keep it for use when we go on vacation..comes in quite handy heating pizza slices,etc💕
Ok, so we are going to the mall and my oldest daughter tells me that if I see her in the mall with her friends, not to say hello! I was a bit offended but I said ok. Later, when around the corner she came with a group of friends, they saw me and come running up to hug me LOL You become less and less lame, till they are off on their own. Then one day you are brilliant again!
After high school, closer to college graduation and getting married is when my mom status improved! Hang in there! Parenting teens and very young adults is challenging! P.S. I think you're cool😘🥂💕
Speaking of greeting cards. At least 30+ years ago (may be longer), my mom bought a birthday card that depicts a couple sitting on a couch. The front of the card says, "We couldn't afford a present.." and on the inside it says, "In fact, we'd like you to return it when you are done reading it." We have been sending that card back and forth to each other! We are not sure when it actually started because we didn't date the comments in the beginning. But when we realized we had something going on, we started dating it along with who the card was for. For example--"Happy birthday, Sarah from Ron and Nancy 2021" What is cool is you never know when and where it will pop up! My sister had it for about 2 years and forgot about it! She found it when cleaning out a desk and sent it to me on my birthday. I was so excited when I opened up "the card"!!! This year my daughter had to add a page to the card because we had filled it up! Anyway, we have had a lot of fun over the years!
Love it!
I LOVE that! What an awesome idea... fun and nostalgic all at the same time. 💖
Love it!
Love this! My mother and grandmother used to put the same $20 bill in each other’s birthday card for YEARS!! Back and forth back and forth!
Love this idea! I have problems throwing away Christmas cards of someone's child. I feel so guilty. I may borrow your idea!
When we travel we buy Christmas tree ornaments instead of souvenirs. It is so fun to pull the ornaments out one time of year and talk about and remember the trip. Bonus is there is a home for them among our ornaments!
I do the same thing. Now that my kids are teens and can help decorate the Christmas tree, they pull out the ornaments, "Oh! Remember when we went to..." It's lots of fun!
We do this too!
My husband and I do this too! Decorating (and un-decorating) the tree never feels like a chore :)
I love this idea
I started doing this as well. I wish I would’ve started sooner
As someone with adhd, depression, anxiety, and overwhelm… Those little kitchen gadgets do help immensely. If I have a gadget that only works for one use but simplifies that *one* thing, I am much more likely to do it which means I’m much more likely to make and eat something rather than skip the whole meal because I’m too overwhelmed to do one step of the cooking process.
WOW! This sounds like me, except I have distracted thinking instead of ADHD!
Absolutely! I think the point made in the video applies to gadgets that you don't use very much, or that do something you could just as easily accomplish some other way. But which gadgets/appliances those are varies from person to person. Personally, I have no use for the banana slicer that was shown in the video, because I don't slice bananas often and I don't find it very difficult when I do. But I really miss the apple slicer I used to have that broke recently, because I slice apples almost every time I eat them, and using the slicer makes it so much faster. If I have to cut it with a knife, I'm much more likely to decide that I don't really want an apple after all because I'm feeling too impatient to cut it.
Same! My egg slicer is ESSENTIAL. I love salad, but only with hard boiled eggs. I won't painstakingly slice an egg all tiny, and I don't want like 4 bites of all egg. We do meatless Monday every week, and it's unlikely it would be such a staple of my life without that egg slicer. It's actually a replacement, because we wore out the first one years ago! 😁
(I do think her point is just use it or lose it, and don't think we HAVE to have the latest and greatest just because it's there)
I have the kitchen stuff I like. Toaster & microwave on the counter. 3 waffle irons in the cupboard (they fit and I do sometimes use them). But when I’m tempted by a new gadget, I ask myself what I would get rid of to make space. And the answer is always nothing.
Our rice cooker has saved us from many, many rice mishaps... My ADHD has led to plenty of burnt pans!
It's a uni-tasker, but well worth it if you burn the rice once a week otherwise 😁
Normally, I would agree with the greeting cards, however, my husband passed away suddenly in 2020- He always wrote beautiful, and thoughtful words in cards to me. I cherish that I can still read those words in his unique crazy handwriting that were meant just for me. There are a few silly ones, too that remind me how funny he was, and they make me smile. I'm really glad I have them.
In the next breath she said she still writes the note. Just not on an expensive card.
@@azlizzie I get that, it makes sense, I just mean cards I received. :)
I'm so sorry about losing your husband. When my grandmother died, I went through all her things. And finding old cards--from half a century ago--in which people had scribbled some lovely note in their handwriting was so meaningful.
@@rebeccam8094 and that is something that can't be replaced. I believe certain sentimental items like this should be considered as treasures. Maybe our daughters or sons won't be able to appreciate them, but imagine what a find it would be for their children or grandchildren, just as you described.
My mom passed and I can hear and feel her when I read her cards. I think greeting cards are a dying love! I will keep this tradition!
So every anniversary, my husband and I go to the drug store and take the time to pick out a specific card for each other, a very thoughtful one. Then we show it to each other and put it back. It is great. Then we go home feeling really loved. It is a great tradition that is going on 15 years.
This is so cute!!!! Love this idea!!!
That is so fun!
I've snapped pix of verses I like n write it in a 99 cent card! 😆
My Dad always tells me he saw a cute card for me at the store, read it, and enjoyed it for me. LOL
I love that tradition you guys have.
I have a friend who gives his wife the same valentine card for years. It took about 3 years before she realized it. Now she looks forward to it.
When I celebrated my second Mother's Day, my husband started writing in a notebook. He wrote from the perspective of our oldest daughter (who was 23 months old at the time) and then included a picture of her. From that point on, he wrote in it every year and kept updating the pictures. Occasionally, he would have our kids trace their hands in the book.
I read it from time to time. It's a precious book to me. :) My oldest is turning 11 soon and she now writes in it for mother's day.
This is a good alternative to "Mother's Day" card. I hope they'll fill the book. I will treasure the book always.
We live out in the middle of absolute nowhere. It takes us 40 minutes to get to the nearest Walmart and 2 hours to get to Sam’s or Costco. We still buy bulk because of our living situation. We don’t have the luxury to drive 40 miles if we need 1 item. And we cook 3 times a day so we tend to go through food at home at a quick rate. We just developed a system for this and found places to store the bulk items in our home. We have 3 deep freezers and we keep those organized as well. It is a rule to not just throw the most recent stuff on top. And we plan our meals, heck, cooking 3 times a day, you have no other choice, gotta make sure you have all of the ingredients without making that 40 mile trip to town. My biggest deal is leftovers, I will not let leftovers go to waste. I find creative ways to redo them for a second meal. I know this would all be different if I lived in a city. But for us, this is the way life must be! ❤️
I’m glad you said this! My life is so much easier because I always stock up a set amount of the foods I frequently use. I put cheap neon colored circle stickers on the containers that I put the expiration month and year on so things don’t get wasted. When I go to grocery shop I replace what I’ve used since the last grocery trip. It seems complicated but it makes shopping and meal planning a lot simpler and saves me a lot of money.
With shelves empty in our area, I thankfully utilize Costco for dry goods and items I use. Costco is nearly a100 mile round trip but worth it. Last year I bought dried milk for example. It was awesome - I use it in cooking and making my tea. Now I keep a back up because our local store had only nearly expired milk on the shelf. I was grateful to have it at home.
I shop at Costco once every six months. I buy very specific items. Trashbags, laundry pods, dishwasher pods, shampoo, toothpaste, *flour, *sugar, *baking soda, *spices, a seasonal fruit, pasta, canned tuna, and one special premade costco item for a family treat. Starred items I buy once a year. It allows me to save money on things that can get expensive and not go overboard. The key to shopping at these places is to be strategic. I don't have a ton of items to store and I don't end up buying them weekly at the grocery because I can't remember if I bought them. At the grocery, I shop weekly and only shop the perimeter aisles so I don't need to go into the inner aisles where I might be tempted to buy processed food I don't need. Everything can be made from scratch in the outer aisles.
Thank you for saying this! We live in a small town, and food is disappearing quickly off the shelves! So we buy in bulk, when we can! We store it in the garage (old house with barely any pantry storage). We want to move to the country, so I’m taking notes on what you said! God bless! ❤️
Bulk food was meant for people like you, it's needed, for people who live in the city is kind of crazy to hoard so much extra lol
I use my egg slicer, tomato slicer, and my air fryer at least 3-5x a week. I do believe that you should only buy what you will use. My family loves food made in the air fryer and I love that it doesn't heat up the kitchen like the oven.
Yeah, I think if you use something that often, it’s totally okay.
When we were contemplating getting an air fryer, I made sure I could think of several items that we already consumed regularly that could be done in the air fryer. It was a great buy and is very worth it, but I’m also glad we really thought it through first.
what kind of tomato slicer do you use?
The slicer can be used for so many things too! We use it to slice eggs, mushrooms, & strawberries! I think my kids want to see if it will slice other soft fruits?
Leslie Heisner Did you consider a toaster oven with an air fryer feature? Mine (Breville) has one. I don't really use it though. I'm not sure how it compares to stand alone air fryers.
Even better for #10: I don't use dryer sheets or fabric softener at all. They're unnecessary and often just add build-up to your fabrics.
I'll never give up bulk. From a day-to-day perspective, it's so much more convenient to not have to run to the store for every little thing. But the big effects come from emergency prep. You have to have backstock for those situations (or to be able to care for others when they're in need). You just have to rotate it and have a home for it. When we run out of something in the pantry upstairs, I get the backup from the downstairs food storage. If downstairs is getting low, I add it to the list. Easy as that. Nothing expires and you always have a safety net to cushion you in times of job loss, pandemics, etc. I feel like it's irresponsible to be super reliant on the grocery store--you're putting yourself at risk, and when there's a public issue you're putting others at risk too.
The idea is always to have a good ratio between bulk and space - the image she showed is too much food, and it's not stored well enough, but I do have at least a few weeks of food (and water) stored in my house in case of emergency.
@@Serena-or7sl The image she showed is a terrible way to store anything and was an unfair representation of good food storage. I have about that much but it's stored in an accessible way that's easy for me to rotate through.
Agree with you folks that the image she showed was a poor representation of bulk shopping. I hear that a lot from people who give extreme examples. @Serena-or7sl you're correct that there's a ratio or happy medium between bulk and space. We try to buy a smaller selection from each category of items, rotate stock, and use those items creatively.
@@mkat8505 Love it! Smart!! (now ex...hopefully you're better off!)
"Would I take it with me to the nursing home?" - My grandmother went into a (super nice) care home, private suite sorta place, but still only about 300-400sf. My aunts going through her 2000sf home with 70 year old WW2 china from Belgium and all the jewelry and all the clothes... took them months. What Grandmother ended up choosing spoke to me, so now my motto - when decluttering - is "Would I take it to the nursing home with me."
If it's not too personal to ask, would you mind sharing some of the types of things she took with her? I'm intrigued to see what she thought was important in the golden years of her life and how that might teach me in these years of young motherhood.
@@shmachable I'm keen to know too! I'm decluttering my mum who has dementia ahead of a care home move and having to make these decisions for her.
@@shmachable I can answer what I and my grandmother brought with her when she moved to a nursinghome. What we packed was the things and clothes she wore and used all the time. The paintings that that had the most sentimental value, not the pretties or the most expensive ones. Pictures and newsclippings of friends and family. The most important things I found out, (especially if the person have dementia) is the things that brings back memories and things that make the new place feel like home to prevent the old person more confusion and unrest.
Ps, One thing that's a bit funny she took with her was a wooden box where her grandfather, father and husband had all hammered in spare nails in :)
Very helpful question! I will share it with my old friends!
This is similar to the idea of Swedish Death Cleaning. Definitely check it out.
One year on our anniversary we gave each other cards and I said look we spent 10 bucks on these, we could have bought a bottle of wine. The next holiday we bought a bottle of wine and both signed it and we have been doing that ever since.
What an awesome idea!!
Brilliant idea xx
I guess we saved a lot of money too because we've been married 47 years! We also have pretty gardens as I said don't buy me cut flowers, buy some to plant.
That is so sweet!
I have thought this so many times too! Like, how about instead of each of us 3 getting mom a $5 card for her birthday that says "happy birthday mom" we use the $15 and get her a gift that she can use.
I can fully agree with u on almost everything u said in this video except for the mention of the “air fryer”. I gotta say, the air fryer has been one of the best new kitchen appliances to come out with since the microwave! It is far from a “single tasker”! The air fryer is not only a healthier way to fry something it also can cook and bake so many other items. It is such a great help with something small that u just don’t wanna heat the oven up for. 🙂
I agree with you that the air fryer is indispensable. It is so easy to take meat out of the freezer pop it in and have a meal within 15 to 20 minutes. As I am on a carnivore diet, I don’t have any other uses for it, but it beats having to use the oven!
I agree!
Absolutely. I find I cook so much more now that I have mine!
Except the Teflon poison. Toaster oven is a healthy option
@@slowslug3247 There's no Teflon in my air frier or in my mom's. I didn't even realize Teflon on any cookware was still an option. Other nonstick coatings, yes, but my air frier doesn't have those either. I use aluminum foil to line the baking tray or basket if I'm worried some food will stick even after I've sprayed it with olive oil. And since it's a toaster oven sized model, I also use it as a toaster oven. My regular oven only gets used now if I am needing to bake something large like a full sized pizza, and I haven't used my regular toaster in months since it's just as fast to use the Toast setting on the air frier, so getting rid of that frees up some counter space.
So I just want to add something about greeting cards. It costs so much and I avoid it. Sometimes I have to but my husband and I started to write in a journal book. When we have a Birthday or anniversary or any time we want to give each other a card we just pick up the journal and write a noted to each other. This is such a great idea that I started last year. We both love it.
Great idea indeed!
I love it. That's really all I want, a love note from my hubby! (My love language is words of affirmation.)
That is a stunningly simple, meaningful, and awesome thing to do! I'm going to ask my husband about this tonight (We've only been married for ~7 months, so we don't have too much accumulated)!
I love this idea! I might have to try it.
We have a similar book we write travel
Memories in :-)
One day I was at walmart for something legit, & had to walk thru the bathtowel section. OMG i was soooo tempted.... I stopped and asked myself what was it I wanted???? i had plenty of nice towels already. Turned out, what I wanted was the NEATNESS of their display. So...I went home and neatened my bathroom. Yay me!
since then when I want something, I ask myself do i really want that item? or is there something it conveys to me, that I want? I love magazines about quilting; but I enjoy a couple pages and then leave them in the store, because I know I won't actually get around to making quilts for many years yet. Instead I give myself time to prettify one small space, & that's enough to perk me up.
Now that's insight! It should have been obvious when i go around Ikea or Habitat, etc.: it's the neatness / organisation / absence of clutter i crave! Part of me always knew, but i needed to read it from you to hammer the point home so thank you, really, for sharing that 🤗
I love this! I think you definitely verbalized a sentiment in my head as well! This is a great help!!
That’s great! Thanks for sharing.
That line is incredibly profound--"is there something it conveys to me that I want"? So very true--coziness, family, friends, connections. I think all of the entertaining gear I buy has been more about connections than "need".
Awesome!
I LOVE my veggie spiralizer! As a diabetic, a gadget that enables me to substitute nutritious, fiber-rich veggies in place of carbohydrate-rich pasta is a literal life saver. It's so fast and easy to use, too (also fun to use with friends or kids).
I also love my instant pot, but I wouldn't characterize that as a kitchen gadget that does only one thing, since it can saute, pressure cook, slow cook, etc.
For those of us who are actual crafters and not people who just like to buy things, having stuff on hand is a huge money saver (buy it on sale) and time saver (gee, I want to start this knitting project at 8pm, but I don't have any yarn). You can absolutely have a good stash of stuff that is organized and contained and still get rid of things you don't want or need anymore.
When we traveled to Europe, I bought a different dish towel in each country. They are my favorite souvenirs ever! I get so much joy out of looking at the tourist highlights when I’m doing an everyday chore. (Do the dishes.) I think because they don’t sit out all the time, it makes me have excitement in remembering the trip when I pull the clean towel every couple of days or weeks.
I love this. Bought some in Australia and they are some of my favorite.
I did that also
What a great idea. We buy tshirts as souvenirs for pretty much the same reasons.
Practical souvenirs are the best!
I love this idea! I used to collect magnets but I don't like them on my fridge anymore so they are sitting in a box and I don't know what to do with them lol This way you will get to actually use what you bought and enjoy it:)
My trick to get rid of the « throwaway guilt » is taking pictures of the souvenirs, greeting cards and kids crafts before throwing them away. It also works really well to help the kids getting rid of stuff they have trouble giving away but are too old for, or don’t really use antimite. We would tale a picture of them with their plushies for example, so they have a memory.
YES YES YES!! I had 'flowers' my 2 daughters made for me in kindergarten (youngest was 9 years old when we were getting ready to move) and so I took photos of the things they created and then tossed it. The photos are digital so no physical photos are available.
I do this all the time.
My aunt was always so good with writing cards for birthdays and Christmas. She’s gone now and I love love love rereading them and seeing her handwriting. 💙
My aunt is the same way. Hers are some of the few I keep because of the encouraging and kind words she writes.
@@joyfeemster3674 so sweet! I bet her handwriting is beautiful too!
I have saved cards that have hand written beautiful words from my husband, parents and my 3 sons( now in their 30’s). I love going through them and re reading them. They warm my heart. I guess if they spark Joy that is a good thing for me.
When my mother in law had dementia, I noticed that she liked tactile cards. I now make them out of left over paper. I do buy wedding cards and put a monetary gift inside.
Beautiful!! I feel the same about my grandmother!
I am in love with my airfryer. It was the best thing I bought for the kitchen. We use it everyday. No regrets here.
Yes I just bought a new one that has more functions. So I gave my toaster oven and still functioning air fryer!
Yeah, but do you really need property rights over it? Make it much simpler...?
JP Sears humor comes to mind when watching some of this.
My son bought me a toaster oven with airfryer setting!!!
Mmm leftover pizza’s best friend. There’s always room in my kitchen for an air fryer
I love our air fryer too
"Are you a shopper or are you a crafter?" ... I feel personally attacked. Hahaha But seriously, this is the reality check I needed. Currently watching as I declutter my home. Resonate with so much of this. Great video!
Personally, I am BOTH!
😂 I felt same.. I am a buyer 😮 sadly had no time to do craft but I will love to go back n bought things which I only need for those projects
I'm a shopper AND a wannabe crafter, who spends more time shopping, and plotting, and planning about the things I'm going to make. I need a new system.
Seriously though! I'm definitely a crafter, BUT!!! I still buy way more than I can ever realistically use. Especially glitter 🤦♀️ do I really need every shade of every color in every cut? No!! Lol
As a librarian, I’m so happy that you mentioned going to the library and downloading books from the library. I personally have not purchased books or magazines because my house is so cluttered with them but I’m slowly getting rid of them. Also, you become a cool mom again when your kids hit their 20’s.
Also, you can download more than books…movies, music digitally from your local library. This was great when everything was locked down.
I need to work on this. Books is a downfall of mine. I have more books than I will be able to read already. I enjoy helpful books, be it parenting, spiritual growth, or , self improvement. I will ponder donating half for others to enjoy.
@@dawnmelius9403 I also have too many books but I have been able to downsize them by donating them to the library. They can use the money by selling them or adding them to the collection. I also realize I can check out pretty well any book I want from the library so only keep really special books (annotated books -Jane Austen, Alice in Wonderland, Phantom Tollbooth) and ones I want to read within the next year (or two). Books should be a blessing and not a burden.
My library also has magazines you can download from their app! My mind was blown- I love reading magazines, but I know that I tend to hoard them if I buy them 😅
@@TarTelperienNumenor whaat, I have to see if my library has magazines, going to be a game changer!!
I love the library audio books, I only buy audio + physical books I really love
I have been a quilter for a long time, with a very organized wall of cabinets full of high end fabrics I won’t use. I learned that a dog groomer was looking for inexpensive fabrics to make bandannas for her furry clients. It felt so good to give her 2 boxes of fabrics! We are friends now, and she’s helping me gain space for my new activity, rug hooking!
I’m a quilter too, although more of a collector of beautiful fabric. Your project has inspired me !!! Thanks a bunch.
My lameness ended when my kids got to their early to mid twenties. My oldest son called me from college, he was 22 at the time, and apologized for, “Everything I ever said mean to you, for being disrespectful and taking you for granted!” He had to get out and experience life and hear how others were brought up, he shared stories of some of the young people he met and they were eye opener’s for him. He’s 37 now, and still likes us! Side note, I have two more children 35 and 32. They still like me too!😊😂
Not long after I started having kids, I called my parents and apologized for all the grief I put them through. (Specifically, I apologized to my dad for never blowing my nose when he asked me to🤣)
I did the same when I had my baby, and lived away from my parents, it's like I suddenly saw everything my mom had to go through, and I felt the worst daughter (I wasn't that bad, but that's how I felt), thanks God I can now try to give back, at least a little of what she's giving me
I had to apologize to my mom as an adult, growing up my parents got divorced and my dad would tell me things that I “needed” to tell my mom.
Of course they were always hurtful, and I couldn’t find a way out of it bc I was a kid.
Even though I now realize I was being used and it wasn’t my fault it HAUNTED me, and it felt so much better to tell her, and I could tell it felt better for her to finally make since out it all.
Linda,
I needed to read this right now. Thanks for the post. There is hope 😉😂
You're right there's hope for these young families! I've always been close to my girls. But in high school they came home sharing stories of their peers. They're thankful for our relationship.
Another point in favor of library audiobooks is that they *return themselves.* For those of us who never remember to return a book, this is *magic.* Less clutter, and no fines!
Library e-books, too!
Very valid benefit! I did OK returning them when I lived two blocks from the library but our new house is at least 10 minutes from the closest library and not on my way anywhere
I'm pretty sure my library made hundreds of dollars off me in fines and ruined book fees when I was younger...
@@cswhitak Can I download these to my Fire 10+ 2021 release into my Kindle App? Thanks, Lynn
@@purplepianoist88 Surprisingly, most of the libraries I frequent these days do not charge overdue fees! The principle is that people who most need to read these books won't borrow them because they are afraid of amassing large fines, or they WILL amass large fines and be scared away from coming to the library. Simple solution: don't charge fees, and people will feel better about borrowing books. I only borrow e-books mostly because I can adjust the print size for my old eyes. I also donate a little money ever so often to make up for fines not collected.
Ehhh I'm thankful I kept a lot of my cards, especially from my dad. He died almost 10yrs ago from cancer when i was 29. It's nice to read these things once in awhile.
Girl. Dryer balls are where it’s at! Ive had the same 12 for 4 years and they are still going strong. I don’t use fabric softener in the washer either, its much better for your clothes, wallet and space!😊 my husband is so the same way with tools LOL
We have the wool dryer balls. No chemicals, no static - Win-Win! And mine have lasted 4 years as well.
I used the dryer balls for seven years or so, they lasted until my toddler got a hold of them. She picked at the wool until they started falling apart. 😞 At least I could compost what remained. I’m without dryer balls right now but will probably try them again when my kids are old enough to listen.
I have a dog that sheds, how many balls would I put in regular load?
I have not found my dryer balls work!! Any tips for using these?
Tossing fabric softener around your dryer just gets gunk on the drum. (Line drying your clothes is even more eco-friendly, BTW, if you can do it.) Putting fabric softener on your towels just reduces their absobency.
If I could go back in time to when my kids were little, I would "buy" way more experiences and way less "toys". We did take our kids on many day trips and weekend trips and have the wonderful memories to keep. But, so many things we bought over the years just ended up being clutter and hardly used. Thanks for all the great ideas for today's families!
I was born in 1952. We got lots of toys for Christmas, but at the end of the day they were all put away in our toy box. Anything that was left out, such as my paper dolls, my mother threatened to throw away. Nowadays it seems that toys have taken up living and dining rooms, the children and their belongings run the household, so parents think they need to spend thousands of dollars on remodeling that includes a toy room. Absolute insanity!
I bought a pretty, silky Christmas scarf at Dollar Tree this year and threw that around my neck for the 2 weeks of the season. It was black light grey, and red…so it went perfectly with my mostly black and white wardrobe . I got more compliments on that scarf than anything else. It cost $1 and takes hardly any space to store in my Christmas decoration bin.
I used to wonder why on earth all of those single purpose kitchen items existed. Who needs this weird thing that just cracks eggs? But eventually someone told me that they're mostly designed for disabled folks who actually do need these "oddly specific" tools so they can cook for themselves and live independently. I definitely look at a lot of products differently now. I try not to clutter my kitchen with things I don't need/ use, but I also keep in mind that every product in the store isn't made for my personal use/ needs.
Have you ever done stuff in bulk? A mango pitter may seem ridiculous but if you've ever had 50-100 mangoes, it's much faster! Or pitting cherries if you're pitting a ton. Or dicing tomatoes (I have a restaurant quality dicer).
I came here to say this. Lots of products that people think are ridiculous are actually meant for people with disabilities. They just aren't marketed that way because they wouldn't sell as well. It's unfortunate that ablist mindsets make this an issue, but it's true. Many items that many of us overlook are huge barriers to others living regular lives
My avocado slicer thing is one of the most used items in my kitchen. We do taco night OFTEN and my guacamole is to die for. I have several items that are used almost exclusively for taco night but they get used OFTEN!
Yeah she doesn't think about what she's saying, but she talks about clutter without meaning but has pillows with words on them that I bet no one touches
emily mulcahy Good point. All of my tiny kitchen gadgets (which wouldn't
include the dicer) take up less space than one of her tacky dime-a-dozen throw pillows does.
25 Cass, 25 is when kids get normal again - when they start caring about their own space and their own money and cooking food on the stove instead of in the microwave.
When travelling I buy a single art print done by a local artist and hang that up when i get home. I am reminded of our trips every time I walk by them :) I started this when I went backpacking in Europe and couldn't carry much. A tube mailer was cheap to mail home!
I buy postcards. Much better photos than i take and portable. Your idea supports local artists and i will try it when traveling is an option again. Thanks for sharing this experience!
I agree with Hailey... 25 was when my daughter had my grand-daughter and I became cool again. Also, I love Hailey's idea about artwork. I do the same thing. I have a wall in my family with all the (small) paintings that I have collected. When I look for something to remind me of a special trip, I also look for something that will compliment my "Memory Wall." It's inexpensive, easy to carry, and looks great in a collage-type design.
It was a lot earlier (20ish) for me, but I already had 3 kids and was married for 5 years by 25, so that’s probably why 🤷♀️😅
I do that to... I only buy real painted art or crafts from local artists.. As you say it is lovely.. It reminds you of your holiday every time you walk past the artwork🤗.
"tacky tourist crap" just ends in the bin adding to the rubbish problem!
My kids do those coin pressing souvenirs... Where you put in a cent, pay a dollar, turn the arm and a motive is pressed into the cent.. They have a little pouch they collect them in.. If they don't want them anytime in the future.. It's metal and can be recycled.
I started caring around 19-20. I had my first child at 25, but plenty of friends who were more sheltered, took a lot longer lol
For some reason, I have had it pounded in my head to ‘save this! You MIGHT need it’! So after 57 years of marriage and only three moves, sheltering my three grands ( and their stuff), I have quite a large project facing me. Many of your suggestions and videos are life saving!
If you have sensitive skin - acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc., you might be surprised how not using fabric softener or dryer sheets (or any scented laundry products) can help! That stuff is bad for the environment and bad for your skin! Ironically, it can also build up on your clothes and make them look dirty and worn faster, even locking in smells... and they actually make your towels less absorbent! I switched to a free and clear detergent and wool dryer balls (nothing scented, no other products except occasional stain remover). Turns out the artificial scents were one of my migraine triggers, I have less acne, my family members have less eczema, and we save money and space not buying those extra products. Oh, and absolutely no difference in the "softness" of our laundry. 🙂
Yes! Wool dryer balls are amazing! If you want your laundry to have a scent, you can always add some oils, but I don't need that. It helps my clothes dry faster too
Wool dryer balls don't seem to work for me. I've always used free and clear detergent and dryer sheets also come in free and clear, no scent., but no, don't use fabric softener on towels. I hate that everything we use has scents and it's hard to find products without: bath soap, shampoo, deodorant, dish soap, etc.
I have never used dryer sheets, or even seen that in the shop! It’s fine without. I even use vinegar often in the washing machine instead of softener; it’s great for sensitive skin and for the washing machine! And no smell
@@lindatelleman6538 thanks, that’s a great tip!
@@lindatelleman6538 Yes! This. I'm a recent convert to using vinegar in my laundry. I was blown away by how great it works. The laundry smells so clean when it comes out, from just 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar. I add 2 drops of lavender oil to my drying laundry, though. Mostly because I love the scent that wafts out.
The moment they truly understand how many people’s families you’ve helped through your videos and funny stories-that’s going to be the moment your kids will start appreciating you work) You are great, thank you for what you are doing!❇️💛💛💛
Yes, Thank you!!
We travel all over the world. We stopped buying souvenirs many years ago. No regrets. I love that you hire a professional photographer each year for your family. I am a photographer and you're so right. Honestly, I don't shop. If I need something, I'll get it, but I don't buy what I don't need.
Souvenirs - we buy a Christmas ornament when we travel. Then when we put the tree up we enjoy remembering our vacations and places/people we love. The tree gets better every year!
With birthday cards, my fiance and I pass the same card back and forth (that has lots of writing space). Been going strong with one card for 3 years :) once the card is full, it will legit be a memento of several years of our lives :)
That's cool!
Then you can take a picture and throw out the old one and restart a new one. Photos are the best memory storage freedom.
I love that idea!!!!!
When they are 25ish they will realize they have a great mom and that you did such a great job raising them.
Just keep loving them!
Cas, I'm absolutely thrilled I found you this summer. You inspired me to clean, organize, rearrange my whole house. My whole family can breathe better because of you. I finally got my "hoarder" husband to stop piling things everywhere and he now appreciates the simplicity and cleanliness of our home. I owe you my sanity. I realized I was burying my head under the sand, not wanting to look at the clutter; now, I can love my home and keep it clean. THANK YOU!!!!
We live in Seattle and we LOVE our local tool library, such a great community resource. You pay a really low membership fee and then check out tools as needed. We've also ended up donating tools we don't use very often and don't have room to store. Couldn't recommend it more!
What a great idea!!!!
A tool library? What an excellent concept! I am going to check into my local area to see if one exists. I'm from Eugene, Oregon so if there isn't a Tool Library in our community should have one (or more.) Thanks for the idea!!! : D
I am a minimalist but a melon Baller is used a LOT in my house and it brings be joy because it was my Grampa’s and it reminds me of how fancy he would cut up melon.
I'm doing a no/low spend month and it's made me aware how much I just impulses buy without asking if I really need it.
I need to do a no/low spend month.
I've been telling so many friends to just book a session with a local photographer for family photos instead of buying school photos. You get your whole family and even though it's more than 1 package, it's definitely worth it with multiple children. Plus usually better captures their personalities at the time!
I wish I would have thought of that when my kids were young. Going to pass this on for the grandkids. Really a great idea.
Take individuals photos or small groups. Family portraits were 1910 when price was unaffordable for most…
Collage or frame group of photos.
Then everyone is seen…fewer blinking eyes or glass glare
My school pics were always terrible. Like if your bangs were out of place the photographer sure wasn't going to say anything. Just take the pic and move on down the line. So what if you get a crappy photo. So not worth the $$$
I personally enjoy looking back at my whole class photo.
I was the cool mom until my kid was old enough to drive, because I was always willing to be the one to drive the kids wherever. The other parents were SO glad they didn't have to, and the kids were SO happy they got to do whatever it is they were wanting to do. LOL. It's also VERY good for keeping tabs on what's going on. I remember overhearing one of her friends saying, "Your mom is so cool." She retorted, "She's not that cool, guys." hahaha. Just never react to what they're talking about back there in the back seat. Never chime in. IGNORE it all. They will assume you can't hear them and you learn all sorts of important stuff. The catch is, you can't let your kid know what you heard. If someone is trouble waiting for opportunity, don't say anything; just find reasons that your kid can't go somewhere if that kid happens to be going.
Great tip! Thanks!
I was that mom too, it’s like practically being invisible! So glad brilliant minds think alike. And the other thing I did was give a bit of advice about watching how their friends and or girlfriend was with their parents or siblings because that’s how you’ll be treated, for example, if a girl you like doesn’t like her dad, beware, you’re not going to be treated well. So far, that has worked well. However, everyone’s an individual and I understand that isn’t always the case. Take care and thanks again for your advice, hugs!!!
I so agree with you. I was always involved, always driving, always their friends at my house. I learned a lot. Also missed a lot. But I so cherish those times of being room-mom, chaperone, mother figure. So many kids out there do not have present parents. One or the other or both. I love being able to encourage and inspire young people!
My mom left my dad, along with me, 11,and my sister, 15. My dad tried very hard to substitute, and he was great, we always had a full house of girls. But he worked shift work and he just couldn't substitute for my mom (neither could my older sister, who has never been particularly fond of me). But my friends stepmom really was there for me through rough times. She couldn't have her own children and my friend had a complicated relationship with her own mom and took that out on her stepmom, and I was desperate for an affectionate female (my mom wasn't affectionate even when she was around). I actually had a few moms that stepped into the mother role for me over the years and I have thanked them, but I thought I should thank you all for being there for all the kids. It isn't always as obvious as an absent parent and I'm sure you all made a big difference in the lives you've touched. Ironically, I never had my own children but have spent my life taking care of other people's children. I love them all as if they were my own, I can't imagine loving them more, it would be almost painful. Cheers to being the one who steps up, you're probably making a bigger difference than you'll ever know
I have reacted occasionally when kids are talking together but I agree let them have their personal moments.
I felt that my kids really started appreciating me after they’ve moved out started families or just needed knowledge on real life stuff. That’s the most amazing moment when your grown kids say ‘I’m so thankful for….’ ❤❤ makes my heart melt
After I cleaned out and organized I don’t find a lot at thrift stores anymore. I think twice before bringing something home. But I do buy $.25 magazines at thrift stores. I find magazines relaxing to look at. They don’t require any deep thinking. And for $.25 I can toss them out when I’m done looking at them. I enjoy your videos!!
My oldest thought I was awesome and even called and thanked me in her freshman year in college. My younger daughter appreciates me she is just not as vocal about it. They have to get out of high school to realize not everyone has a spectacular mom like you and me. :)
I'm a good declutterer but I'm married to a hoarder! In the last lockdown, the four of us decluttered each room in the house together as a family and helped us bond. Tip: a great time to declutter is just a couple of days before a family holiday. That way you come home to a fresh house. Also, we still buy toilet paper in bulk because it's cheap and in lockdown, supermarkets ran out! Love from Australia xox
Oh my goodness I too love tidy, minimalist but ALL my family are the opposite 😢. They’re hoarders and artists like my husband.
@@loreestockdale9183 I feel for you 🥰🤗
Yes! I'm always, wondering how my grandma managed to have super clean house, at the same time always cook the best foods with no fancy gadget , or detergents.
I was super lucky that I had a good, open relationship with my daughter. Her friends all thought I was the cool mom, and I think she liked the idea that she had the cool parent. Her friends would come to me for questions they didn't feel comfortable talking to their parents about. I always got the feeling they had gone to my daughter for advice first and she told them what I had told her then brought the friends to me when they needed more help than she could give them. That made me happy. I wish every kid felt they could talk to their parents about anything, but I know that's not the case, I'm just glad they found an adult they could talk to who would give good advice and make sure they were safe, whoever that adult was.
I narrowed my souvenirs down to a unique really nice magnet because we use magnets on our fridge for pictures of family. This way I have neat magnets that are eye catching and make me happy because they remind me of happy memories.
:)
When your children leave the nest is when they suddenly realize you are the cool smart Mom. My children are all grown now with kids of their own. They are amazed that I managed to raise them without all the high tech gadgets and phones. Just the other day my 50 year old son complimented me on enforcing house rules. They have come in handy in his house with 3 kids and a dog
A controversial one: buying gifts as an obligation, specially for someone you don't like. I only buy something for people I love (something that they need) an it can be any day, not for an specific occasion
I hate receiving these type of gifts too, they just feel so thoughtless, but i still feel guilty getting rid of them lol (i still do though!)
Oh my gosh I agree! Even my nieces and nephews! when people ask what I’m getting them I say “me” 😂😂😂 we buy enough things for people we love for no reason, they will def get enough on Christmas without something extra from me
This 🙌🏼
Agree!!!
My father was a radio personality at a local country radio station. He started getting recognized when I was in middle school. Mostly I didn't mind the interruptions when we were out. My father was the same guy on or off the air and he liked people and they loved him. He passed away almost 13 yrs ago and we (his family AND his "fans")miss him very much. I'm sorry, but I think it's incredibly sad that your children are embarrassed of the income that supports them, nourishes and gives them comfort. I hope someday soon they get over themselves and see what an incredibly special person you are and how valuable your work is to us!❤
I just had to share this little victory with you, even though it has nothing to do with this video :) So, I recently made the most half-assed scrapbooks. They were not the ones I had always imagined, with cute stickers and ribbons and fun cutouts. They are basically those plain sticky scrapbooks with the clear plastic covers. I curated all the random bits and memories from the past few years and stuck them in the pages. Stuff wasn't even in chronological order or decorated at all. It's really the world's ugliest scrapbook, and it only took me an hour. But when I look at them, I am SO PROUD. No longer do I see a pile of messy memories to be cataloged, but 3 neat and tidy books on the bookshelf for all to see. Thanks for giving me permission to do a shitty job.
I so, very much L❤️Ve this comment!!!🥰❤️
I have struggled for DECADES, waiting to have: the inspiration, motivation, creativity, time, resources , et cetera, blah, blah, BLAH!!! just to do what you described, “cute stickers” and all!
It AIN’t happenin’!!!
I now feel perfectly free to do a half-arsed, crappy job...
And LOVE IT!!! 😃
Thank you,, Krissycus😘
Oh! And by the way, it absolutely does have something to do with “Half-ass Cass”’s videos.😉
(Her words, not ours, for any poor soul who might feel offended.-
We love you, Cass!!!🤗)
❤💖💚💛🧡
Lol! Love it!
OH! And the teenager thing: I remember my kids changing their minds back to appreciating me when some of their friends that I got to know (from school chorus or church youth group) mentioned, "your mom is so cool". Then we had some hard years. Now that they're in their 20's and much fuller appreciation has kicked in. Hang in there, Cas!
You know you’ve achieved true mom energy when your kids are embarrassed of you 😂❤ Congrats Cas!
I feel the exact same way I’ve decluttering my house to the point I’m darn near a minimalist and sometimes I still feel like it’s too much. I feel more open and have a much greater sense of what really matters😊
I am a greeting card maker, I spend so much time making them. I would be glad to know someone saved my handmade card - throw away the store-bought :)
Great list….at over the past decade I came up with a very similar one. Challenge now is decor items….. :). The stress I feel at times with all the STUFF is overwhelming. My two biggest weapons: eliminate the word COULD from my thoughts and stay out of stores and catalogues. Also, instead of overbuying stuff for the grands (it is hard!) I put $ into a fund that will pay for lessons (swim, art, sport) - something that they will have for the balance of their lives that doesn’t take up space!
I don't agree with the bulk items. It depends on the bulk items in this time of COVID. I didn't panic during the pandemic to buy toilet paper and tissues, for example, as I always had a stash of these items on hand for an emergency. Since I use vinegar and peroxide for several DIY uses, I keep several around. When the pandemic opened up and toilet paper, tissues, vinegar, etc. became available, I would buy one extra when I went to the store because my instincts tell me of another possible shut down. So I'll be ready and feel for those who will be waiting online - again - to get tissues. It's about preparedness.
I agree. During the shutdown, I told my sister that I felt kinda guilty because we were well prepared while I watched other people scramble to find TP, hand sanitizer, cleaners, and even certain food. 🤦
This! Bulk buying and a deep freezer was a huge help during the Covid shutdown.
Yes! I agree....I always have extra in case of emergency! Before covid my husband rolled his eyes when I bought extra... his tune changed during covid when I had all we needed.
I have been making weekly meal plans and shopping lists for years. My kitchen is small and I don't have room to store extra stuff. I would just like to say that even during the pandemic and all the restrictions, we never went without the food or toiletries we needed, even though I don't have a stash of anything. I always found what we needed in the stores when we needed it.
I agree. Although we need to be wise when shopping for the best prices because the bulk store is not always the best deal, this is not the time to be shopping for a week's worth of groceries at a time as we have well learned these past 18 months. I have paired down what I own to only what I use, and storage for essential consumables takes priority in my space.
This is the FIRST "Things I don't buy anymore" video that didn't make me feel mega guilty about wasting my space and money! Instead, Cas is has made such a practical list of items that just make sense! And they're so doable! I'm inspired! Renting a saw or a pressure washer? Yes!! Can't believe we never thought of that before. Love all the extra tips for saving space AND money. I'm sending this link on to my family and friends who I think will love it and really benefit from it like I have! 👍
I love your family photographer idea! My granddaughter and her husband do this but several time a year because the kids are little. I teased her once and said "You're like the royal family with your photos, like you have a personal photographer." and they did! Many photographers would be happy to make you a regular!
A really high end blender and a crock pot. Yaz. That's what I have. And my cousin is a world class chef (he won the championship on France once!) And he said that knifes are all about keeping them sharp so even simple, affordable knives will do. So I own a pro knife sharpener so that my IKEA chefs knives are a s sharp as razors! All the time! Good, sharp knives in different sizes are the absolute best kitchen equipment and takes no space. The pro sharpener fits in the palm of my hand so no worries there 💕💕💕😀😀😀
I agree with most of your list. I also don't buy plants, candles, special ingredients for recipes, and throw pillows.
I've also had to quit the throw pillows. I would buy more I didn't need and gave away what I already had. Why? I don't know. So I quit.
Have you seen how expensive pillows are now? Crazy $14.00 for cheap looking pillow atvWalmart. No way would I pay that much
50% disagree on Bulk Foods/ Bulk items...
We plan it so that we get a select set of items in bulk, specifically *ones we know we will use* 🙂 It's great for TP, drinks, pre-portioned snacks, and shelf-stable items like pickles. (We found out the hard way that we can't finish off the bulk fruits and veggies before they go bad, so those are off the list😅) In our area the gas is at least 30c cheaper from the Sam's Club, so the membership pays for itself over the year.
My "I stopped buying" item is cookbooks. I love cooking so much, and especially reading recipes, but so many times you can find good recipes online. Plus we end up modifying recipes so often, it's easier to just save it in my phone with any changes made!
Absolutely I used to have well over 50 cookbooks and while I still have over 20 I have realised that there’s probably only a couple of recipes in each book that I actually use
Once I'm done decluttering, I'm planing on going through all my cookbooks and copying the ones I use into a personal cookbook binder, complete with page protectors. That way I can get rid of the bulk recipes I don't use!
My kids were in college and living on their own before they started to appreciate me. Suddenly they began calling for advice. They also were very thankful that I was a very over protective parent and kept them out of many situations.
Love your channel. She is saying this is what she doesn’t do anymore. Ppl “DO YOU!” Growing up I was told that “EVERYBODY has an opinion”. Don’t drive yourselves crazy trying to “keep up” and follow others. If it warms your heart to reach out to ppl with cards DO IT!! Side pt: If having signs in your home make you feel good and safe in your space I say DO IT!!!
Yes..you do you!!
I agree and have my blank greeting cards in an organizer, like a large version of a divided recipe box. I do have the ones I receive in a box and will be putting them in a scrap book type album. I was so happy find the handmade cards my sister gave me. They were nothing fancy but the notes she wrote were so sweet and personal. She passed away three years ago. Good memories of her sweetness!
Food storage is vital to everyone. Giving up my bulk items from Costco would not benefit my family. It feels good to have these items, especially in hard times. Thanks for great vids.
I used to keep my magazines like “Country Living” for years to re-browse. I did that for a long time and finally I realized I had all my magazines from the beginning when I first subscribed in the 80’s onward. I ended up moving and bringing them all with me! I did reach a point when I knew they had to go so I bundled them in packs of 12 by years and sold them. They got to be enjoyed again by lots of other folks. Before that, I thought, maybe I will just take out anything that inspires me and put them in file folders by category in one of those plastic file boxes. I recently found that box in the basement and realized that I hadn’t looked at all those folders in years. I recycled it all and now when I get my new issue, I enjoy reading through it and then pass it along to friends and family who also share it with their friends and family. I still get excited when I see a new issue in the mailbox and I enjoy it with no clutter guilt!
I love Pinterest to replace magazines
I probably bought some of your magazines online 😉. Lol. I used to love Country Living magazine but that was one that had to go. I still browse them at the store on occasion. I had all of Mary Engelbrites magazines as well. I cant believe I used to have time to read so much. Lol
@@karendouglass4669 I never thought of that. Thanks.
My library has magazines you can download from their app, maybe your library does the same! My mind was blown, I love reading magazines, but I know that I tend to hoard them if I buy them 😅 But I like the idea of passing them along too!
I'm a Country Living fan but now I take the magazine (and others) out from the library.
I agree with so many of these. Love that idea about school pictures. Although the bulk store I started up again a few years ago when I realized that it was worth the cost of the basic membership just to buy OTC daily allergy meds there! I’ve learned to only buy things that I will actually need. We cook a ton - So buying certain foods in bulk stores is helpful.
I have a charm bracelet that I started the year I married I get a special charm that reminds me of the trip. I now have 47 years of memories that hardly takes up any room and my grand daughter loves looking at it.
Instead of dryer sheets I’ve switched to dryer balls, the fabric ones can absorb a drop or two of essential oils as well!
I lost my house in a fire almost 10 years ago. That 'purge' was a blessing in disguise. You really don't need things that you haven't seen or used in years. I've tried to keep my house more clutter free since then. Although, I do buy coffee mugs for souvenirs. I love the fun memories as I drink my morning coffee.
Lol Cass, my husband did the same thing with the wet saw. We done a job that required laying tile in the bathrooms and he had to have a wet saw to work with. He too ended up buying one and hasn't used it since. It made me laugh when u mentioned the exact thing we went through. I love your videos and all your amazing advice. Thank you heaps for everything!! We ❤ U bunches 💓
I did this years ago. Saves time and money especially the last one of theme sheets and comforters and clothes. But I will buy the theme blankets my kids keep them for years and snuggle with them. The only thing on the list I have is an air fryer. But I use mine daily or every other day. I'm a post it girl too. And I write my appointments on my daily calendar in the kitchen. Im visual so I look at it everyday so I don't forget something important. Thanks for sharing
"Why do these even exist?" A lot of those weird kitchen cutting tools are really great for people with disabilities. Not everyone needs them but they're the only reason I can eat prepare food some days. 👍
The problem is they are marketed to people who don’t have disabilities. 🙁
I'm glad that these devices help you to take care of yourself.
@@mandaa4 Yes, the marketing and tons of cheap plastic are the problem.
@@mandaa4 Part of that marketing means that they will often end up being more affordable than if they were marketed solely as a "medical device" or something. It also makes them more approachable for, say, someone who is disabled or elderly but is afraid to "mark" themselves as such--they may be more likely to get something they need if they don't have to confront their pride by buying a product "meant for" disabled people.
Truth
I get it about greeting cards. I kept the ones from our wedding for YEARS before finally throwing them out. What I do now is take photos of special ones I receive and toss the actual card. However I do love giving cards, especially to my far flung family and friends. I feel it’s nice to get snail mail that’s not a bill, especially if the person is going through a rough time. I use dryer balls rather than dryer sheets. I do buy audiobooks and Kindle books by favorite authors because I’ll reread them. I do borrow from the library as well. Magazines- I don’t buy the physical magazine, but the couple I enjoy, I can buy via Kindle for $5 a year.
Great tips on "Don't buy anymore"! Smart, Smart, Smart! I was a cool Mom to my children's friends but not to my children, but now I am a cool Grandmother to my grandchildren, according to my children!
What a great episode! I realized that I, too, have made all the same decisions over the years. In addition to magazines, we no longer subscribe to physical newspapers. We are also moving away from plastic cups, dishes, containers, and using glass or metal instead -- only possible because our two wild boys are grown up and out of the house!
When I used fabric softener on a sponge for a few months it left a coating inside my dryer that wouldn’t come off!! It’s a great idea and worked well but I switched to will dryer balls instead. They work the same!!
The fact that someone ADHD is a profesional organizer gives me hope. I’ve had to learn to be organized otherwise I’m not functional and I do it as a need not cuz it’s fun for me 😭love that this is your hyper focus ♥️
I’ve given up buying impulse items! I keep a list on my phone of things I want for myself or for my home. If it’s not on the list when I got to the store I don’t buy it. The main thing this has cut down on is home decor! I can appreciate something and think it’s pretty, but if Im not actively redecorating my bookshelves, I don’t buy things that sit around and take up mental and visual space. If I see something I just LOVE I think about it for a few days and then if I still want it I can add it to the list, but then when I see it on the list it’s in the context of the other things I want and I can decide what’s most important right now.
My husband started the buying tools for projects and then when we moved and C-vid was dictating our employment we started our own business and got our money back on use of every tool and then some😱. I feel like that never happens, but it's the one time I'm so glad he didn't declutter along with me when I got rid of my craft room 😳.
I love audiobooks as they are not cluttering up my place...They stay on the internet....Also the library does not have the newest audiobooks... they have the older books...I like the newest audiobooks...I also like greeting cards as they are meaningful to me & my friends & family ..Thank you Cas for all the good useful ideas 😇🥰☺
"unitasker" is a word that Alton Brown also uses to refer to kitchen gadgets with only one very specific use!
Just a cya: that dryer sponge hack has actually caused a lot of house fires. The softener is meant to be diluted and rinsed in the washer, putting a sponge loaded with it into the dryer coats the sensors on the inside of the dryer, making it unable to sense how wet or dry the clothes are and sometimes running for so long that the clothes catch fire.
I get those little balls and they last a long time. Slowly getting my hubby from buying the dryer sheets. Most of them have tooooooo much perfume on them.
I cut dryer sheets in half. Does the same job for 1/2 price.
I was coming to the comments to thank her for all the suggestions and with the house fire warning lol. And boop, a fellow concerned busy beauty already beat me to it. 🥰😊
Dryer sheets are bad for the dryer as well, it coats the lint filter. Add fabric softener in the washer and or use dryer balls.
At my ex's he never used fabric softner so when I was over there I didn't either. Couldn't tell a difference .
I agree with everything except tool rental. Most of the time, it costs the same to just buy a tool (my angle grinder and wet saw come to mind) vs. renting it for several days - and often several weekends since I also work full time. True, I don’t use them that often but they are there when I do. I appreciate you mentioning greeting cards. I stopped buying them a long time ago because it’s stupid to spend $5, $6, $7 on a piece of paper that is going into the trash. My friends don’t agree and that’s okay!
We buy a Christmas ornament from each trip we take. Then when we’re putting up the tree we talk about our memories of the vacations. Fun.
I honestly thought that one of the things on the list would be the home decor signage pictured ("Gather", "Family", etc). We tease a friend for having every room in his house labelled, and having words to tell him how to feel.
and all the house "rules"!!!
But she was standing in front of signage of some kind.
@GrapeJelly Have you seen the insurance commercial where the guy has them throw the signs in the trash?? 😂😂
Guilty! My husband is always making fun of me and brings up the commercial.
I was going to say, she can get rid of some of those signs. I watched a design video that said they are "out".
When mama daughter was 24, I finally became cool again!
Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have been decluttering my bathroom today for at least four hours. That turned into a deep down cleaning of the bathroom. I am tired but oh so happy!
I subscribe to a digital e-card service that lets me send a fun card and message to friends and family for different holidays and lets them know I remembered but does not give them clutter that they have to handle eventually. I also like sending digital gift cards as gifts--no package, no wrapping, but you can still customize it, like give them one to their favorite store or restaurant.
I hung on to my old toaster oven (that replaced my microwave years ago) until it finally conked out-just in time to get a toaster oven with the air fryer option! Woo hoo!! AND I love my instapot, multifunction at its best!!
My traveling souvenirs are a Christmas 🎄 decoration for the tree...every year they come out for a month and happy memories 😊 ❤
For souvenirs- I love getting a Christmas ornament for big trips. Decorating the tree becomes awesome, lots of memories.
After we did KonMari; I told my mom if the greeting card isn’t pretty enough to be displayed/framed it isn’t worth it so we don’t buy them anymore.
Now she buys me only the most beautiful greeting cards that are like art pieces on my shelf now 😂 she understood the assignment 😂
I save cards and place them..especially ones from one no longer with us..and place in a scrapbook/photo album
Oh my God, I can’t buy cute novelty cards anymore? JK I can buy anything I want
Sounds like a conundrum there: will you recycle or keep all the gorgeous cards?
I used to keep all of the cards my inlaws baught us ... every birthday every holiday for every child (3) no matter how old that child is (even the baby would get a card) they were always the fancier cards or the ones that played music... it literally added up to almost 2.5k in cards !! Guess who would have liked 2.5k Instead of cards we eventually threw in the firepit.
I had a laugh when you said you don’t buy gadgets. My friend was really excited to tell me she’d bought a Soup Maker! I’m afraid I weed on her bonfire because I replied “Isn’t that a saucepan!?” She’s still my friend fortunately 😂😂 Love your videos x
We absolutely love our air fryer and use it everyday. My super picky eater daughter started eating vegetables because of it (asparagus, green beans, broccoli, green peas, kale chips, etc) and it is multi purpose too (to toast, heat, broil, fry etc). And we use our old small one for travels.
I’ve been considering one but getting kids to each veggies is like the best selling point I’ve ever heard. Any cooking tips? Which air fryer do you have? Bc I’m about to go look on Amazon now.
@@beccaschlomann7592 we have the Philips Viva air fryer. I spray a little bit of Avocado oil and sprinkle some onion salt, pepper, sometimes garlic powder etc (any flavor you prefer). I set it to a low heat setting, like 220-270 so it doesn’t burn then cook for around 15 mins or depending how you like it (it was trial and error for me)
@@geraldina8504 thank you for the reply! I’m definitely going to have to check it out! 🥰❤️❤️
We have a convection oven (the oven that has a "fan" to move air around) so no need for an airfryer.
@@beccaschlomann7592 hey let me know how it works for you❤...we still have our old tiny air fryer (Dash brand) and we just just keep it for use when we go on vacation..comes in quite handy heating pizza slices,etc💕
Ok, so we are going to the mall and my oldest daughter tells me that if I see her in the mall with her friends, not to say hello! I was a bit offended but I said ok. Later, when around the corner she came with a group of friends, they saw me and come running up to hug me LOL You become less and less lame, till they are off on their own. Then one day you are brilliant again!
Yes, Ms.Clutterbug #6 I start to cry because I am that person. I have ADD and my home shows it . Thanks for sharing, means a lot.
After high school, closer to college graduation and getting married is when my mom status improved! Hang in there! Parenting teens and very young adults is challenging! P.S. I think you're cool😘🥂💕