After a very crazy week following Thanksgiving, I am sitting in reflection on purchases that were made during the sales. Although we are needing to work some on the road to minimalism, we openly acknowledge that minimalism is not our destination. If Minimalism is at the end of the freeway we are on, our true journey is the scenic byway of Optimalism. I am using the freeway to get to the scenic byway, occasionally jumping off the freeway to enjoy other byways ;)
As we are unable to move to a temperate climate, and we lack the funds necessary to have others perform our personal (i.e. haircuts, cooking, exercise), House (i.e. cleaning, plumbing, wall repair, yard, etc), or vehicle maintenance, we have many tools in our possession. Of course, there are likely some cuts that can be made in these areas as well, and as we find them we try to minimize, making it easier to use what we have.
By reflecting on the purchases we have just made I hope to take note of any mistakes made in overbuying. Here are the purchases we have made in the last week, why they were purchased, and what they replace.
3 Stargazer Cast Iron Cooking Pans (2 skillets and a braiser); Purchased to replace failing non-stick cookware, and a lead and cadmium painted Le Creuset Braiser. We are tossing 1 nonstick saucepan, 1 12" nonstick Scanpan Skillet, 2 ceramic Coated pans, Non-stick braiser, 1 Anodized aluminum Calphalon Pasta pot that lost its anodizing on the bottom ( I may call Calphalon- as this was supposed to have a lifetime warranty- but i don't think we need it - as we have a stainless steel pan that is almost as big), also on the chopping block is our one 12" Calphalon cast iron skillet - made in China, so there could possibly be lead in it...we don't want to think so, but we are unable to be sure....it may be kept as the 'last pan used' for larger meals... depending on space. so that is 6-7 pans replaced with 3 pans...not bad even by minimalism standards!!!! But I will point out that it will cost a tidy sum of money! $300!! and it would have been 30% higher if we had not waited and made use of the Black Friday sales! We have increased our joy of cooking with higher quality pans, benefited our health by taking toxins out of our diets, and reduced the number of things in the kitchen. Note that we will be keeping our 15-year-old stainless sauce pans, stock pot, and small skillet. Hopefully, we will never NEED to buy more cookware, cast iron should last forever!!
24 Window Blinds; Having moved to a new home with no window coverings a year ago, it was time. sheets and random curtains were not getting the job done! We found some blinds on sale at the local box and jumped on the opportunity we had been waiting for. There were about 10 incomplete blinds we found in the basement, after checking them out we passed on a few o to people for replacement parts, and tossed the rest. The blinds will increase privacy, increase sleep quality, and reduce heating and cooling costs. By waiting for the clearance opportunity we saved 75%!
12 Reusable Mop Pads: This one is a little tough, One pad costs as much as 8 generic pads, and 12 pads were just a few dollars more. 1 pad is not enough to finish the floor. Also, as they are quite small they are easy to store and I do not really like the idea of running the wash for just a few pads, with 12 I can just wash them once a week, saving water, soap, and electricity. Additionally, they will last a lot longer with a rotation on 12. It may not be 100% minimalism, but I do think it is spot on for Optimalism! It was a thought-out purchase of a necessary item, factoring in cost, resources, space, and convenience. Perhaps further down the road, I will weigh back in on these purchases and if my thinking has grown. I guess these are 'replacing' future purchases of disposables. By waiting for the sale they were 20% off.
1 Doorstop; Purchased to keep the blinds on the glass door in the bedroom from crashing into each other. Necessary....
Desktop mirror: Gift for my daughter, per her request 30% off. Folds flat, slightly smaller than a piece of paper to put away easily when not in use.
2 Swimsuits: for my daughter to be on the swim team- these will replace last year's (too small/worn out)
Phone case: this one is maybe a little trickier for me to justify. when I bought my phone i wanted a case to use magnetic charging and phone holders, but they were crazy $ at the store, and i could not risk waiting for an order and risk breaking the phone, so I bought a $10 case with the intention of upgrading. Over a year later, this case was 60% off on the sale and caved.....i do feel a little guilty!! My current case works, this one will just add convenience...so i guess it's a splurge...but i can pass on the old phone case- if anyone wants it....so I am not adding clutter to the house, but perhaps the guilt is telling me to return this one....
3 Magnetic Wallets: Gifts per request of minimalist kids who don't like big wallets/bags but need essentials with their phones when they go out. On sale for 30% savings- so basically buy 2 and go the 3rd for free by waiting (my daughter really wanted this at the beginning of the semester! hopefully, the wait makes it all the sweeter when she sees it!!)
Electric Mop Set: this seems frivolous- and in my unbroken body I would not need this....but...i can not hire help, the family is super busy, and I really REALLY want to clean my home without turning into the Grinch. I have been contemplating getting a tool to help, this does not really replace my wrist...but, compromises must be made, soooo when this was 50% off I decided to try it. I have sooooo much tile! and the grout from the house being rented for 15+ years is soo- needing a good scrub ( I did a bit by toothbrush, but quickly realized I could not physically complete the task!) I will also use this to clean the shower surrounds and tubs- hopefully it will make the job quick enough that I can do it all at once. i currently cannot get through a whole job, and often don't do it at all. Hoping this will be a game-changer for me :) if not it will leave the house! quickly!
Ugh, this reckoning is getting lengthy. I felt like we were doing so well, not buying and then everything sort of accumulated into this purchasing....
While not buying an item does make it "100% off" buying those items that are necessary to the comfort and functioning of life on sale is optimal. Allowing yourself to only buy things you need on sale will in fact reduces spending and overall purchasing as long as you do not buy things BECAUSE they are on sale.
This is not all we bought, i lost track, there were some new PJs for the family ( and actually we all did need actual pjs), and a few other items.
ETA After trying, the electric brush went back
24 Window Blinds; Having moved to a new home with no window coverings a year ago, it was time. sheets and random curtains were not getting the job done! We found some blinds on sale at the local box and jumped on the opportunity we had been waiting for. There were about 10 incomplete blinds we found in the basement, after checking them out we passed on a few o to people for replacement parts, and tossed the rest. The blinds will increase privacy, increase sleep quality, and reduce heating and cooling costs. By waiting for the clearance opportunity we saved 75%! 
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