This weekend (this beautiful wonderful long weekend) was amazing in so many ways. My husband and I spent some good quality time with my family, stayed in their new, and enormous, house, and most importantly, did a lot of fun, new things together.
One of the best parts was that we had money to spend. It has been an oh so very long time since this last happened. However, I will say that it is much harder to stay on the path to simplicity when you have money burning holes in your bank account and you can think of about a million things you could buy and then your husband says “Let’s go shopping” <– heaven on earth. Luckily, I remembered what I really want to accomplish, and having mounds of Stuff and a $0 balance is not one of them.
So, we spent, but we spent modestly. We bought a lot things that we needed (an updated wardrobe!) and only a few things we didn’t (a beautiful new painting for above our bed and new drinking glasses…you know, since I broke half of them a few weeks ago), and came home very happy with our purchases and our balance.
But, by far, the thing that kept me most in line, especially with new clothes, was a rule that my husband implemented in the very beginning of our marriage. It was something his mother (bless the woman) had taught him:
When something new comes in, something old goes out.
When I first heard this rule, I choked: “But, but, but…then I’ll only ever have as much stuff as I have right now!” I thought that was so limiting. Now oh, my goodness, do I love this rule! Not only does it save you from drowning in oceans of things you’ve never gotten rid of, but it makes you so much more discerning when you shop. You really have to think: “Now, if I buy this, what am I going to get throw out?” It definitely took some acclimation, but it made me appreciate my new things more. Instead of simply adding to my never-ending supply of clothing, they were replacing something I had loved and used; that thought made me pay attention to them and really decide if they were worth it.
So, please, especially if you’re updating your wardrobe, utilize this simple rule. It will stop your closet from overflowing, and keep your wallet full: two very important steps to a simple life!
Full disclosure. Dad was the one that reminded me years ago that our closet was only so big. It’s been a great thing to “limit” how many clothes I have. It also helps that I really don’t like shopping:)
This was a lesson I learned many years ago while attending Womens Conference at BYU. I have never really listened to the advice until recently when I became addicted to “Hoarders.” After watching a few episodes, I began purging every room in the house. It is a great feeling to get rid of things that just clutter up your life. Of course, it helps when your children leave home and take their ‘stuff’ with them! By the way, I have your guitar and keyboard still. Love you, MOM
That’s such a good rule, and I’ve heard it before, but you’re the first person who I’ve seen actually implement it!
Loved this part: “Luckily, I remembered what I really want to accomplish, and having mounds of Stuff and a $0 balance is not one of them.”
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