Challenge #1 - The Dishes

BEFORE

Dun dun dunnnnnnnn!

We all have them, and we all use them so how in the world could we do with out them? Well, take a breath - being minimal doesn't mean eating from the package. It simply means getting rid of what you don't need. It means realistically stepping back to that 3rd grade class we all took of "needs vs wants".

Before I started my project on dishes I had four cabinets devoted to dishes of all sorts. I had glasses, plates, Tupperware,  to say nothing of the pile I had of those little .88 plastic kid cups from walmart! I am a sucker for a "great deal" so every time I saw one of my sons heroes on them - I just had to buy one more.

Now I was looking at my limited cabinet space being over run by dishes I didn't need!

One of the Key factors to living a minimalist lifestyle is " Only keep what makes you happy!" Looking at the stack of mix matched plates and cups from over the years I was filled with a sense of dread.  The prospect of the unbalanced cabinets, the horde that always formed around my sink and just an over all feeling of  "Nuh-uh! Don't wanna!" So I found a very simple ( and plastic so the kidlets can use them too) set of 4 plates, 4 cups, and 4 bowls. They had a horse print which really suited my interest and really made me happy! I paid 11.27 for the set.

I then proceeded to take a tote and empty the contents into it. Ever mix matched plate, and cup that I had gathered over the years disappeared into that tote.  It was like a weight lifted off of my shoulders as all this useless clutter that I didn't need went away.

Admittedly, I had to quiet the nagging voice as years of habits protested.

"BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE COMPANY?!" Then I will keep a small store of throw away plates under the counter in a sealed bin. It does not take up space, and resolves the problem of an unexpected guest.

"BUT THESE WERE GIVEN TO YOU! IT'S BAD MANNERS TO GET RID OF THEM" I don't need them. While I appreciate the token, I would much rather pass them to others in need. Good still comes of it, and it means less dishes.

"YOUR CABINET LOOKS SO BARE!" Yep! It's it lovely.

While my method is a little more extreme  then some, it felt refreshing and freeing to do so. I was the worlds worst for grabbing a clean dish instead of washing a dirty one. It was a habit that left me buried in dishes by the time I ran out.

I couldn't have been more pleased to free up eight feet of cabinet space by simply getting rid of things I didn't need!

Final invoice: 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 bowls, 3 kids plates, 4 kids cups, 2 bottles.

I can wash every dish I own in under ten minutes.  - It's a wonderful feeling.

AFTER

Coming soon .... Using the Empty Space