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Living simply isnt as easy as it might sound, especially when your house is populated with children. Remember the time (oh, so long ago!) you only needed to carry a tiny purse or wallet?
Any mom knows its impossible to leave the house without a bulging diaper bag or at least a good-size tote. Kids just attract gear like industrial-strength magnets.
So how can a family downsize, live a little more simply, and get rid of some stuff, short of reversing the polarity on whatever magnets live inside your kids?
Take some time to think back to what you had when you were just starting out. What were some of the household items you absolutely had to have? What are some items you cant live without now?
A list like this will vary from family to family, but following are a few suggestions to start with.
Tools
Sure, you may have used Christmas and Fathers Day to supply the man in your life with the coolest, shiniest and most powerful tools available at the home improvement store, but some basics will be useful in any situation and wont take up much space: the standard wrench, screwdriver, hammer and nails are essential, as the Huffington Post points out.
Sewing items
You might not know how to make matching dresses and ties for your little ones, but needles, spools of thread in basic colors, sharp scissors, and fasteners really come in handy. Dont forget to stock an iron and ironing board.
First aid kit(s)
The Red Cross recommends a family of four stock a first aid kit with adhesive bandages, larger dressings, tape, antibiotic packets, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, gloves, oral thermometer, scissors and tweezers. Keep kits in your cars as well as your home.
Flashlights, extra batteries
Having a flashlight is often not enough with a young family. Be sure to keep your flashlights put away somewhere the kids wont play with them and render them useless. What is it about flashlights and children?
Cleaning supplies
The basics for keeping your home clean dont have to take up a whole closet, just some cupboard space. Forbes notes that these include a toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner, rubber gloves, an all-purpose cleaner that you can use on a variety of surfaces, oven cleaner, a bucket and mop, and a broom and dust pan.
Spare keys
Apartmenttherapy.com suggests giving a friend or relative a set of keys to your house. You never know when you might need to call for backup. (Especially when the baby likes to crawl around sucking on your set.)
One particularly cozy chair
It doesnt have to be beautiful, but having one perfectly comfortable chair to plop down on is worth its weight in gold, particularly after a long day, Apartment Therapy observes. It can be an overstuffed chair, a beanbag or a papasan: whatever makes you happy.
A few select pieces of art
If you still have some prints you taped on the wall in college hanging around, honor them with some nice frames if you love them. If not, toss, and find something that speaks to you and warms your soul.
DIY books
Yes, you have the Internet. But a few books that show basics on home improvement, car repair and gardening will provide you with a backup of valuable information at your fingertips.
Freezer
A chest or standing freezer will give you extra space to store meats or other items when theyre on sale, and knowing you have a good stock of food will allow you to make fewer trips to the store: who has time to hit the grocery every other day?
A few workhorse kitchen items
A stand mixer and a good blender can make a world of difference as you prep meals. Dont forget nonelectrical items like a high-quality (and sharpened) set of knives, sturdy mixing bowls and a few quality pots and pans you can use for everything.
Sheets, towels and blankets
That linen closet or cupboard may very well be jammed with mismatched and worn-out sheets and towels, not to mention frayed blankets. Check to be sure that your sheet sets match and fit the sizes of beds currently in your house. Retire worn towels to the rag bag. Invest in a few new items that are well made.
A network of friends and family
Its easy to forget how helpful it can be to maintain a support network. All of us have different skill sets, resources and strengths, and its useful to trade any of these. Trade baby-sitting, share rides, help with each others gardens or home repair. When you pare down on an item you dont use very often, remember someone else might have it when you need it, and vice versa.
Videos by the Free To Choose Network illustrate some ways in which people are downsizing but still living very comfortably. The basics will vary, but simplifying can be done.