Tommy&Stuff

Minimalist Lifestyle

[tommyandstuff]

Style Tips for the Wanderlust

With summer coming to an end, we know you're searching for your next chance to soak up the sun and enjoy some relaxation. Putting together travel outfits can be stressful—we know, so let us help you with that. There might be a few things you never considered before stuffing that stylish carry-on,

Make sure to check out my Travel Tips on the Fashion Collective! Travel like a minimalist!

[tommyandstuff]

MANDAL Bed Frame - Review

The first thing I wanted to upgrade when moving into the new condo was my bed frame. I knew that if I wanted a stylish living space, the first thing I had to change was the centerpiece of my bedroom, and I had to approach this purchase with a minimalist lifestyle in mind. Of course, one of the first places I checked was IKEA.com, and although I wasn’t expecting much, I was pleasantly surprised. I found the MANDAL bed frame, and fell in love with it. Here’s why:

1. Fine form

My favorite thing about this bed frame is its shape, and while it was a very tedious process to put together, it was totally worth it. The color option I chose works perfectly with the color theme of my room, and the birch wood matches my floors, which gives it a floating box appearance when you look down at it. Minimalist art generally features large and basic geometric shapes, and the boxy bed frame combined with the similarly boxy mattress make a very simple yet elegant silhouette.

2. Storage space

My old bedroom was very cluttered and disorganized, and I can definitely attribute that to a lack of storage space. Everything aside from my clothes were in plain view because I had everything either placed on a shelf, or on a table, and when this space became crowded, my things would find a home on the floor somewhere for a few weeks. Now that I think about it, I didn’t even own a proper dresser. Luckily, with the MANDAL bed frame, I won’t need one. It comes with four enormous sliding drawers on the sides, which is not only a great place to store under clothing and loungewear, but also eliminates the need for a box spring. Remember, space efficiency is everything when it comes to minimalist interiors, so it’s better to buy furniture with secondary functions like storage. I know some feng shui fanatics are cringing about under-bed storage, but I can confidently say that I feel a lot more relaxed with the wide open floor space it provides, and absolutely no visible clutter.

3. Quality for the price

I bought a full-size bed frame which is $399 plus tax, and it was actually the first thing I saved up for using the Daily Budget app. It’s really not bad for a bed frame. Especially when the frame is made of a very sturdy yet lightweight birch wood. I have no trouble repositioning the bed, but it also doesn’t slide around if I dive onto it. Yes, it was Tommy tested.

[tommyandstuff]

Shop the image: Calvin Double Clothing Rack from Urban Outfitters; Classic Nylon Lyla Weekender from Kate Spade

The Secret to a Minimalist Wardrobe

One of the biggest trends I’ve noticed on Instagram and Pinterest lately are the minimalist wardrobes. You know what I’m talking about; the clothing rack in the corner of the room with what seems like nothing on it. Have you ever wondered how such a small selection can function as an entire closet? Well, the short answer is: efficiency and versatility; and that is minimalism at its finest.

Most shopping veterans know that when planning a new outfit, you have to take into consideration what you already own. The first thoughts they have are: Do I already own something similar to this? Do I have anything that I can wear this with? They would also consider at what types of events they can wear the item, and how often those events are held. It sounds a bit tricky to have to consider all of these criteria when you’re shopping for a new outfit, while still limiting the amount of clothes that you own; and it is tricky when style is the only goal. 

However, shopping like a minimalist means both style and versatility are at the core of your decisions, because fewer pieces with more combinations of outfits is what makes those seemingly skeletal closets work. Shopping for versatility saves money, storage space, and time; and there’s a little trick to it.

Look for Neutrals.

I’m actually a big fan of bright and vibrant colors, but a lot of the time it’s better to shop safe. Neutral colored pieces will go with just about anything, so if you have more of those lying around, throwing together an outfit takes no time at all. You also wouldn’t be sacrificing style as wearing a lot of a neutral color can be a bold statement too. Compliment it with a different shade and you’ve got yourself a look that not only matches, but also comes off very chic. Conversely, if you still wanted to wear a bright color, that neutral can be the perfect compliment to make it pop.

Shop my neutral picks:

Cotton Denim Jacket from COS

Oversized Sweatshirt from COS

Clean 90 Laceless from AXEL ARIGATO

[tommyandstuff]

Downsizing and Decluttering 

Recently, I moved from a three-story, five bedroom house to a single floor, two bedroom condo. We lived in this house for fourteen years, so the amount of stuff my family and I had accrued was absolutely ridiculous. At one point, you couldn’t even walk around in the basement because that was where we put everything we weren’t using; and that basement is cavernous. Clearing out that house was no small feat, so I’ve compiled a short list of tips for any of you who are also looking to drastically downsize.

1. Learn how to let go.

My father and I began clearing it out months before we decided to put our house on the market, but it still took a lot of effort as it got closer to the day of the move. When we finally had a buyer, the pressure was really on because progress was slow. I knew what the problem was too: It was hard for me to throw away things that I’d had for a long time because I felt that they had sentimental value. I needed to sort that out quick.

Discarding is the best thing you can do to facilitate your downsizing project, so really take the time to understand it. Therefore, when I say “learn how to let go,” I mean go pick up a book and read about it.  At some point before we had a buyer, I came across a book in the Best Sellers section at Barnes & Noble titled, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. It’s such a great read, and along with the downsizing project, it launched me right into the thick of my minimalist lifestyle transition. (It is my life doctrine now, and you can purchase it here.) Her process, self-titled the KonMari method, is a lot more complex than it sounds, but it’s not complicated at all.

According to Kondo, it is best to discard by category; not by location. So cleaning one room, or one drawer at a time is going to prove futile. It is best to gather all items that are similar into one place, like clothing or books and magazines, and lay all of it on the floor. Then, you determine whether or not you should keep each item based on one criterion: does it make you happy? It’s more complex than that, but when you read the book, you’ll understand that certain things are easily replaceable if you ever happen to need it.

Also, you must discard in a specific order. This order was determined by difficulty, so that by the time you get to your sentimentals, you will have a much better understanding of what brings you joy. Each category has subcategories, and the order is as follows:

Clothing & Accessories: Tops, Bottoms, Dresses, Underthings, Hanging items (i.e. suits and coats), Accessories (Shoes, Bags, Scarves, Ties, Umbrellas), and Activewear.

Books: General Reading (fiction or nonfiction read for pleasure), Reference books (Dictionaries, Study Guides, Cookbooks, etc.), Photobooks (like design books or art collections), and Other.

Miscellaneous items: Linens, CDs/DVDs, Toiletries, Makeup, Jewelry, Electronics/Cables, and Household Supplies (i.e. detergent and floor cleaner)

Kitchenware: Cooking Utensils, Eating Utensils, Pots & Pans, Dishes and Glasses, Electronic Appliances)

Papers: The rule is to just throw it away. Keep only necessities like tax documents. Manuals and the like can be found online.

Specific Hobbies: (i.e crafting supplies, sports gear) Throw away anything damaged or overused, and minimize it to one container/area.

Sentimentals: Only you will know what these are. This is going to be difficult, so make sure you take one item at a time and handle them with care. Consider keeping just a picture of the item, or if they need to be altered.

2. The internet is your friend.

This tip goes hand-in-hand with learning to let go as it can make the discarding process a lot easier. There are some things we don’t want to get rid of simply because we spent a lot of money on them, but what if you could recover some of it? Why not make money off of things you no longer need? My mom utilized Yard Sale on Facebook to sell a lot of our furniture to people locally. We had this enormous dresser that we definitely couldn’t fit into our new condo, so my parents were willing to let it go for cheap. We just needed it gone, but they definitely wanted something for it. After it was posted on Yard Sale, we almost immediately had a buyer. Even better, the couple that wanted to purchase it was willing to drive out to us, and haul it up the stairs from the basement and out through the garage on top of paying for it.  They get a high quality dresser for cheap, and we got rid of it; everybody wins. We even used the money to eat out a few times, and that is ridiculously helpful during a move.

Another option, is to simply donate or give these things away. I had a few books, toys, and videogames I got rid of through Craigslist. What I was looking for instead of money, was a new home for my stuff where they would be used, and I was only able to part ways with some of it because the act of giving felt right. I’m not gonna lie, it was a little bit like Toy Story 3.

3. Storage units are for the strong-willed.

This tip goes against everything I believe in. However, I’m listing it because storage units can be an effective temporary tool; especially if the storage unit is close to your new location. We used a storage service to keep only the things we planned on having in the new condo as the unit had the square footage to host the furnishings of two bedrooms. This is where everything can go wrong. My parents took the initiative to pile everything up in the storage unit, and stuff it to the point where they were playing tetris. So while my possessions were only limited to eight boxes, the stuff my mom wanted to keep (Yes, I blame her.) spilled out into the rest of the condo and into my room. It was so bad that I could not sleep in my room for almost a week after we moved in, and my parents couldn’t sleep in their bedroom for a month and a half. And that is just one of the problems with utilizing a storage unit.

The service we used came with a deal. The first month was free, and every month after that is $200 for 1150 square feet of storage space. While one or two months seems like a fair amount of time and money to transport all of your items, it is very dangerous if you are not prepared. These storage services feed on people who aren’t committed to clearing out their storage spaces, so tread carefully. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather put that $200 a month towards my student loans. Luckily, my dad is all about saving, so clearing it out was our top priority after moving in.

4. Rent a dumpster.

I’m listing this tip last because towards the end of your move, you’ll probably still need to do some last minute house purging. Have a dump installed somewhere on your property for a few days and just dump it all. This really saved us in our home stretch because we had a lot of larger things we still needed to get rid of like old mattresses and a broken treadmill. Do yourself a favor, and let the dumpster service figure it all out for you. It is worth the small investment.

I hope that any of you looking to downsize find my tips helpful because I know I could have used some advice back then. Do you have any comments or tips you would like to add to my list? Tell me by clicking the inquiry link!

Good luck with your move!

[tommyandstuff]

Shop the image: iPhone 6S; Kate Spade Silicone Cat iPhone 6 Case; iPhone 5 user? I gotchu.

Daily Budget - Review

Along with my lifestyle transition into minimalism came the realization that I should be more efficient with my money. I used to drop big cash on clothing if I had it, and while I was still being somewhat responsible, I realized that I wasn’t saving up for the future. I found that the amount money in my checking account would reach a cap amount of $2000 and almost never exceed it. Luckily, as I learned that I needed a more durable, versatile, and less cluttered wardrobe, I spent less on a variety of clothing, while still investing in pieces that can go with almost anything. If I had to guess, I think I cut about 75 percent of my monthly clothing budget this way.

But for some reason, I still wasn’t saving all that much. It occurred to me that when I saved money in one area, I would feel like I had more money to spend on other luxuries like dining out and shopping for other things. Then, I admitted it to myself: I was terrible at saving, and something had to change.

What makes Daily Budget different from other budgeting apps?

I talked about it with my co-worker in the conference room one day. She said, “There’s probably an app for it,” and there are. There are a lot of them. So as I was sifting through all the search results in the app store, I noticed that many of them, like Mint and PocketGuard, require linking your bank account which made me feel a little uneasy. (I'm paranoid about these things.) Luckily, I found Daily Budget, which does not require your bank account, and had great reviews.

It’s a little bit different from other budgeting apps in that the focus is not in the total amount that you saved. Actually, it doesn’t even ask for how much you have, and it doesn’t need to. Instead, the emphasis is placed on the amount that you allow yourself to spend. You simply input the amount and frequency of your income, how much you want to save, and then all of your recurring payments. It calculates the difference in your income with your goals and spendings, and then divides it into daily intervals to give you the amount you’re allowed to spend in a day. Whatever you don’t spend gets added to the next day, so if you don’t spend anything today, you’ll have a lot more to work with tomorrow. However, that also means that if you overspend one day, you’ll just have to keep your wallet on lockdown for a little while.

Daily Budget showed me that if I pay less attention to my account balance, and just focus on the budget, I’m less likely to needlessly spend because I won’t feel like I’m in temporary excess. I got into the habit of immediately inputting every purchase, and carefully preparing myself for when I really wanted something. One of the great things about budgeting was that it can prepare your account for a huge dent in your balance; like when I planned on buying a new bed frame. All I had to do was enter in how much this bed frame was going to cost, and the start and end dates of when I would be saving. The cost was divided up between those dates and then subtracted from my budget accordingly. Therefore, not only was I able to to save enough money for the bed frame, but I also managed to save up a few thousand dollars along with it. Needless to say, I felt no heartache handing my credit card to the cashier because prepared recourse prevents remorse.

If you find that you’re all about that life, you can even download the different graph displays of your spendings (at a small price) to see trends in when you tend to spend the most. This app is soon to be released in the Google Play Store for Android, and is currently available for free in the iOS app store; so there’s no reason you can’t at least try it. I absolutely love Daily Budget, and it’s definitely upgraded my spending habits. Let me know how this app works for you, or if there are any other great budgeting apps we should be using by clicking the inquiry link!

[tommyandstuff]

Minimalism as a Lifestyle

Minimalism expresses identity by exposing only essential elements through the removal of non-essential elements. Developed in the 1960’s to contrast the complicated and cluttered abstract expressionism, this art style is seen everywhere today in interior design, fashion, music, and photography. With versatility and functionality at it’s core, this artstyle is still rapidly gaining popularity.  But have you ever considered that it might be more than just art?

What is minimalism?

I found that minimalism is not limited to a type of décor or fashion statement. It is a mindset that can encompass all areas of your life. Minimalism is a lifestyle. And I don't just mean that in the way you organize your living space, but I mean that in the way you organize your life. Minimalism can take part in the types of relationships you choose to keep, as well as the goals and daily schedules you choose to maintain.

Why strive for minimalism?

The short answer is perspective and efficiency. If you remove what is unnecessary from your life, what are you left with? You’re left with only people and things that matter to you, so that your focus is on what benefits and cultivates you. You can look for trends among those things which will make it easier to determine what you’ve accomplished, what you want, and what you still need; kind of like a vision board that still has space on it. Then, with clear perspective, you can be more efficient in how you spend your time, your efforts, and your money.

For example, a few months ago, I had to end a close friendship because it was becoming toxic. It was difficult for me at first, but once I found the resolve to acknowledge the separation, everything became clear to me. Without someone to seek validation and approval from, I had to be there for myself, and found my self-worth. It took a lot of resolve for me to understand that the end of our friendship wasn’t all my fault. Friendships work two ways, and communication is important. I did everything I could, and that was enough. I am enough. I immediately found a new job, (We worked at the same place.) I made new friends, and found support in people I never would have expected to care. I started writing more, and I found that I have an interest in interior decorating. I have plans for a variety of creative projects, and I’m in a place where I want to make more changes. I don’t think any of this could have happened if we had stayed friends. Instead of wasting my time worrying about what that person thought of me, I efficiently utilized my time and energy to make myself better than I have ever been.

Where do I start?

The best way to begin your minimalist lifestyle is to get your living space in order. Think about it. Where do you go to recharge after a long day? Where do you store your valuables? Your base of operations, no matter how often you’re there, is a huge part of your life. Starting with discarding non-essential physical objects, you can work your way up to discarding that job you hate as you gain a better understanding of what is essential to you. A book I’ve been absolutely obsessed with, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo really gets into this topic, and I would highly recommend reading it. She gets into all areas of tidying from discarding and storage to how you should treat your belongings. It’s kind of my lifestyle bible right now.

You can purchase the book at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. 

You can also pick up it’s complimentary reading, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, as well as the cute journal if you’re feeling fancy.

If you’re trying to elevate your lifestyle, or gain perspective on your life to be more efficient, minimalism is probably for you. Be pickier when you go shopping. Toss out things you don’t need. Surround yourself with only the right people and things. Find other things that matter to you, and you should be well on your way to a minimalist lifestyle.

Have any questions about minimalism? Have any minimalist lifestyle suggestions of your own? Let me know by clicking the inquiry link!