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StitcherAre you also one of those who goes “I’ll keep this, just in case” and then years go by and you still haven’t used it, but when you revisit the item, you keep it in again just in case? If so, consider this a wake-up call: you don’t need all of this stuff! In this episode, Jen and Jill join Dawn Madsen of The Minimal Mom to share her life living with kids while maintaining a minimalist lifestyle.
You shouldn’t look at the situation you wish you were in, or the season you thought you would be in, but to where you are right now to determine the things that you own.
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- Listeners like you. If you’re listening to this episode on August 20th, 2024, the day it comes out you are our BFF, best frugal friend. I know we have a lot of besties but if that Tommy Tugboat book taught me anything it’s that you can have multiple best friends. So we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you that tonight is our pre-order launch party because you are who we want to celebrate with! The link to the party is in The Friendletter. If you don’t get the friendletter then the Zoom link is right here. We hope to see you there at 7pm EST for games, giveaways, and great times.
Also known as The Minimal Mom, Dawn Madsen and her family have lived as minimalists for over 9 years now. Passionate about the message of simple living, she reaches over a million people each month on YouTube sharing practical tips and ideas to simplify and declutter.
Why You Don’t Have to Have All of This Stuff!
Falling into the routine of picking up the same things, wearing the same clothes, and using the same dishes can slowly become a vicious cycle. The more we keep, the more there is to clean, and the harder it is for the homemaker. When Dawn recognized this, she knew she had to make a change. So she decided to start by clearing out 80% of their stuff.
Nine years later, she’s determined to never go back to her old ways. The freedom of maintaining a home with less clutter is liberating, and Dawn has noticed that her kids are happier. The positive changes in herself, her children, and her husband have been apparent and eventually, their home became a place where everyone is thriving.
The Most Important Place to Start Decluttering
Dawn thinks the kitchen is the ‘heart of the home’. She shares that when it’s cluttered and messy, she tends to avoid being in it, losing motivation to cook or even clean. That’s why the kitchen is the most important place to start decluttering. After all, once you can do this in your kitchen, how much easier will it become to the other areas of your home?
And when addressing clutter, Dawn suggests listening to what your kitchen is telling you. What items are sitting out, what doesn’t have a home, what is and isn’t working, and what needs to get out to make space for the things you prioritize in your current season.
The Minimalists by Heart
In managing the household, Dawn reassures us that kids are minimalists by heart; we just need to model this behavior for them. When deciding which items to keep, she recommends starting by reducing things they have outgrown by 50%, boxing them up, and setting them aside.
She also reaches out to moms of neurodivergent kids, suggesting that simplifying their bedroom first can help their kids realize they may want a minimalist space for themselves as well.
Get Organized with Dawn!
Want to hear more about minimalist homes? Catch Dawn along with 100 other more speakers (yes, including Jen and Jill) on Get Organized Summit to talk about ‘Hushing Your House’. If you’re struggling with decluttering, this is for you!
What's one "just in case" item you've realized you don't actually need?
For Dawn, she has a facial steamer sitting in her bathroom that she doesn’t even use! Chargers for Jill that gets her “maybe someday I’ll need it.” That’s why she has an abundance of cords that she’s scared to get rid of. While Jen, it’s definitely boxes for electronics (they’re too pretty, but she will throw it!).
More from Dawn
Youtube: @TheMinimalMom
Instagram: @the.minimal.mom
Bill of The Week
Thank you Dawn for sharing your bill about back to school shopping and your kids spending choices!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
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Frugal Friends Forever!!
“Somehow I came upon this podcast at the beginning of the year and I have been listening to it regularly everyday since. So many useful tips, reminders and helpful information on living frugally and being intentional with your money. I cannot list all of the ways this show has helped me. I still have over 100 episodes to listen to. What am I gonna do when I run out?!?! Thank you ladies for teaching this old dog new tricks!!! Muh!!!!!”
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