Owning well - Saving money by investing in quality

In a society often driven by instant gratification and disposability, not to mention the planned obsolescence of electronics, the concept of “owning well” stands as a refreshing alternative. At its core, owning well is about making thoughtful purchasing decisions, opting for high-quality items that are built to last, and taking proper care of them throughout their lifespan. In essence, buy the best you can afford and care for it.  By embracing this mindset, not only can we elevate our everyday experience, but we can also save money in the long run.

Choosing quality over quantity

In a consumer-driven society, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying cheap and disposable products. (To be fair, that can be a fine thing if we indeed intend to own the item only for a short while or want to try it out before committing, though in that case, buying it secondhand or borrowing it would be preferable.) However, these “bargain” purchases can end up costing us more over time when we have to replace them.

Owning well begins with breaking free from the cycle of mindless consumption and shifting our focus toward investing in quality. When purchasing an item, whether it’s clothing, electronics, or household goods, aim to buy the best version that your budget allows. Look for well-constructed products made from durable materials that are less likely to wear out or break. Though the initial cost may be higher, the longevity and performance of a well-made item will ultimately outweigh the cost of frequently replacing cheaper alternatives – assuming the cheap item even works as intended in the first place!

When my then-fiancé (now-husband) and I moved in together, we had a cheap stand-mixer that we had bought for $30. Not only did it not actually function as a stand mixer (the paddle or whisk was stationary and therefore could never reach the entire bowl), but it died after just a year or two. We then bought a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Yes, it was almost ten times the price, but this workhorse performs beautifully and, after almost 15 years, it is still just as good as the day we bought it! Plus, it looks fantastic on our kitchen counter and brings me joy whenever I look at it.

Another example? I’ve noticed that the toys from the dollar store are always the first to break – then there might be tears and frustration from the kids, and really, it would have been better to either not buy anything, or to spend more and buy something of higher quality.

The economics of owning well

While owning well may require a larger upfront investment, it promises significant financial benefits in the long term. Consider, for instance, the cost of constantly replacing low-quality goods versus owning a few well-crafted items that withstand the test of time. You could buy dozens of cheap, trendy T-shirts that fall apart after a few washes, or a few quality T-shirts in a classic style that wear well and that you will own for years. Plus, from an organizing standpoint, I can tell you that running your home will be much more efficient without all that extra stuff in the way.

By opting for quality, we reduce the need for frequent replacements, eliminating the ongoing expenditure on subpar products. The cost per use of each item decreases with a long-lasting quality item! And overall, we consume less.

The art of proper care

Owning well goes beyond making wise purchases; it also involves nurturing and caring for our possessions. Taking the time to maintain and repair our belongings ensures their longevity and maximizes their value, even making them potential assets for resale or reuse. In the case of those t-shirts, separating colors, washing in cool water on delicate, and air-drying will help them last longer; they could even be in good enough condition that you might resell them or at least donate them instead of recycling or trashing them, extending their life cycle that much further.

Each item requires its own specific care routine, whether it’s cleaning delicate fabrics, servicing mechanical goods, or avoiding exposure to harsh elements. By understanding and following the manufacturer’s guidelines, we can prolong the lifespan of our possessions and derive maximum utility from them. I’m thinking about a pair of leather shoes that not only will last longer than synthetic leather, but will also last longer if the leather is properly moisturized and protected and if the shoes are resoled, which would not be effective on a pair of cheap shoes.

Owning well: a holistic lifestyle

In a society characterized by constant trends and rapid obsolescence, owning well can grant us a sense of stability, control, and appreciation for the things we possess. From well-made clothing that withstands changing fashion fads to long-lasting tools that facilitate our passions, owning well redefines our relationship with our belongings and the value we get from them.

Embracing the concept of owning well extends beyond material possessions. It fosters a mindset of intentionality and aligns with conscious consumption. When we actively choose to buy quality items and care for them properly, we engage in a lifestyle that values durability, craftsmanship, and long-term satisfaction. Owning well not only saves us money, but also allows us to embrace a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Conclusion

Owning well is a mindset that challenges us to break free from throwaway culture. By investing in quality items and nurturing them throughout their lifetime, we not only enrich our daily lives, but also save money in the process. This paradigm shift toward thoughtful consumption allows us to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle while reaping the rewards of durability, functionality, and long-term satisfaction.

So, let us make a conscious choice to own well, cherish our possessions, and redefine our relationship with the material world. It takes practice! By doing so, we can find fulfillment in having fewer, but higher-quality, items that accompany us throughout our life. Invest in quality, care with intention, and savor the rewards of owning well!

Ikigai and purpose

There’s a Venn diagram that’s been popularized to explain ikigai. I don’t want to post it, because as it turns out, it’s totally inaccurate, but you can see a detailed version of it here. I’m not an expert on the concept, but I wanted to blog about it because it seems to come up for KonMari® Consultants and their clients, what with Marie Kondo being Japanese and all.

According to Ken Mogi, author of Awakening Your Ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day, “ikigai” literally translates to “reason to live”. While it can give a sense of purpose to individuals, it applies to small moments (like the glimmers I talked about in my September newsletter) as well as to big life achievements. There are five pillars to ikigai:

1-      Starting small (focusing on the details)

2-      Releasing yourself (accepting who you are)

3-      Harmony and sustainability (relying on others)

4-      The joy of little things (accepting sensory pleasure)

5-      Being in the here and now (finding your flow)

I made the Venn diagram below based on the one created by Andres Zuzunaga to describe purpose. (It was in 2014 that Marc Winn used it and replaced the word “purpose” with “ikigai”, at which point it became viral, but the meaning of ikigai was thus very much westernized.)

I very much like Zuzunaga’s Venn diagram for purpose, and even though it’s a simplified vision of work and labor, it can help people align their actions with their values. For me, being a professional organizer falls right in the middle of that diagram!

As Helena Escalante explains, ikigai “is about being mindful and present, enjoying the little things that make up the moment we are living in, and finding our flow as we get lost in the appreciation of the details.” It does not have to do with money or one’s career, and it’s not necessarily about what the world needs and or what we’re good at – it’s more about what we enjoy enough that it motivates us to keep going. It can overlap with purpose, but it is not limited by it.

I hope this post helped to clear up some confusion!

The ongoing cost of ownership

Sometimes, people are reluctant to get rid of items they own because they paid a lot of money for them. I’m talking here about items that are no longer useful or loved or important, but are kept simply because the owner perceives them, rightly or not, as valuable. After all, why would you get rid of something if you paid a lot of money for it? Well, I can see that point, but… Have you ever thought about the ongoing cost of ownership?

First of all, an item takes up space. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a grand piano or a diamond ring, it takes up space in your home, and you pay for space. If it’s a piano, the amount of space is significant! Think about what else you could do with that space if the piano that you don’t use weren’t there. Could you turn that room into a dining room? A home office? A reading nook? Do you have so many unused large items that you are essentially paying rent or a mortgage for a room you don’t need? Are you getting your money’s worth from your space?

This photo was taken by Geert Pieters for Unsplash.

Plus, any object needs to be managed. You have to clean it, clean around or under it, maintain it, repair it, insure it, pick it up and put it away… It costs you time and energy, in addition to mental bandwidth! Managing this item will cost you, and you need to make sure that the cost is worth it in this season of your life.

Then it comes down to the sunk cost fallacy. When we have invested heavily in an item (because we paid a lot of money for it, because we believe that someday we will use up all those scrapbooking supplies, etc.), we are reluctant to let it go, even when we know that letting it go would be more beneficial than keeping it.

This photo was taken by volodymyr proskurovskyi for Unsplash.

There are two quotes on this topic that I’d like to share, and I say variations of these things to my clients often. First, Peter Walsh wants us to keep in mind that just as “inexpensive is not a good reason to buy something, expensive is not a good reason to keep something.” Also, Cassandra Aarssen says, “Remember that the money you spent on your item is gone. You will not be richer because you store this item in your home, and you won’t be poorer if you let it go.”

An obvious solution, in those cases, is to sell the item. Or at least, it seems easy in theory, but is less so in practice. Ask yourself whether selling the object is really worth your time and effort. Will you post pictures of it online and field inquiries from people who might be interested, or pay to ship it to the buyer? Will you really have a yard sale or go to multiple consignment stores? Will you be satisfied with getting only a fraction of your money back after all that effort? If yes, then go for it!

Here’s another solution: look at the cost you already paid as a rental fee. You’ve gotten whatever use you were going to get out of this, and now it’s time to let it go. If you must try to sell it, give yourself a deadline after which you will just donate it. Move it along to its next owner, and your payment will be the peace this brings into your life. Besides, the money you spent on it is gone already, even if you were to keep the item! At least this way you get your life back.

This photo was taken by Fuu J for Unsplash.

The container concept

When you are trying to organize your space, it’s important to have a plan of attack. One of the most useful tools I share with my clients is the container concept, or having a space budget. In this blog post, I’ll explain what the container concept is, how it works, and why it’s essential for home organization.

The container concept: what is it?

Simply put, the container concept is the idea that every item in your home should have a designated spot, or “container”. I love organizer Peter Walsh’s famous quote, “Where is it going to live?” I try to keep it in mind whenever I acquire something. Whether that container is a physical bin or a shelf, drawer, or simply a place by the door, it’s important to assign a specific space to every item in your home. By doing so, you can keep your belongings organized and minimize clutter.

This photo was taken by tatiana syrikova For Pexels. Notice how this doesn’t look cluttered, because each object has been intentionally placed.

How it works

The container concept works by applying a few simple principles:

1 – Assess your space. Before you begin organizing, take a close look at the space you have available. Determine what areas need organization the most and how much storage you have to work with.

2 – Make a list of all the items you’ll be organizing. This will help you determine not only what can realistically fit in a designated space, but also what containers or storage solutions you’ll need.

3 – Designate a container. For each item on your list, designate a specific container or spot. This could be a shelf, a drawer, a bin, or any other type of storage solution.

4 – Stick to your space budget. This means that the amount of space you have available for each category of items is limited – if you exceed it, you end up with clutter. For example, you might allocate one drawer for all your socks, or one bookcase for all your books. By sticking to your “container” (the drawer or bookcase), your stuff is contained and can stay organized. If it exceeds those boundaries, that’s when it gets in your way and ends up being clutter – you’ll need to get rid of some items then. Sticking to the one-in-one-out rule makes this easier!

5 – Adapt as needed. The container concept can absolutely be flexible. If you find that a container isn’t working for a particular item, or that you actually need more (or less!) space for a category of items, don’t be afraid to adjust your organization plans.

This photo was taken by kelly sikkema for Unsplash. Markers and pens are corralled in this jar, so they are easy to find; it also serves as a visual reminder that there are enough pens and markers and no new ones need to be purchased.

Why it’s important

The container concept is an essential tool for home organization because it creates a structured system for your belongings. This approach prevents clutter by setting limits on how much space you have available for each category of items. By sticking to your space budget, you can avoid the temptation to accumulate more stuff than your home can handle. Moreover, by assigning a designated spot for everything, you can easily keep track of your belongings and find what you need quickly (not to mention, you now know exactly where to put it back). Apply the container concept in your home to experience the benefits of an organized space!

Swedish death cleaning

This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase using an affiliate link, I’ll get a very small commission, at no cost to you.

A lot of people get scared away by Swedish death cleaning because of the word “death” and how morbid it sounds. But death is going to happen to all of us (along with taxes and… butter exploding in the microwave); it’s just a fact of life. So what is death cleaning, exactly?

I read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death-Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson and really enjoyed it. It’s a short, light read that gives lots of explanations and concrete examples. In essence, “death cleaning” is the process of going through one’s things while keeping our death in mind. It has been a longstanding practice in Sweden (where it is called döstädning). Some people do this when they are elderly and feel like they are at the end of their life, but a lot of people do this as a matter of course earlier on simply to feel unburdened. I remember that when I was 12 or so, my friend’s mother turned 50 and went through all her belongings to declutter, because she didn’t want her kids to have to do it someday. I believe she’s about to turn 80 now! And here’s a video by Do It On A Dime on the topic, so that you can see what it might look like in the life of a busy 30-something mother (and fellow professional organizer).

How does death cleaning compare to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you might wonder? Well, you DO pare down to just the things you love, but with the greater goal of making life easier for those you leave behind. It can be so overwhelming dealing with someone’s estate after they have passed, so anything you can do to make that transition easier for your family will be appreciated. An important extra step, though, is to take care of paperwork pertaining to your estate. Make sure you have your affairs in order: an up-to-date will, instructions for funeral arrangements, all relevant paperwork and passwords in a secure-but-easy-to-access location, etc. Even if you don’t have heirs, it WILL be someone’s problem (here’s an example).

In some cases, there might be things you are keeping for the purpose of handing down to your grown children. If they have their own home, consider passing things on now instead of after your death! Not only will it make life easier for everyone, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of seeing your things get used again. And if your kids don’t want those things? Well, at least now you know, and you can find a better place for them.

You can also create a box with things that are deeply meaningful to you, but would be insignificant to anyone else (or that you would prefer no one sees). Label that box clearly with instructions for your loved ones to dispose of it after you are deceased.

In summary, Swedish death cleaning is an act of kindness meant to avoid burdening your descendants with your stuff. It does require you to adopt a minimalist mindset so as to create a simple lifestyle that is easy to manage and that leaves more room for joy. In that way, it is meant to make your life better.

Minimalism, Marie Kondo, and The Home Edit

My last post was about minimalism, and today I want to elaborate on the relationship between minimalism and Marie Kondo as well as compare it to The Home Edit.

I remember that when Marie Kondo opened her online shop (initially selling household objects and with broader offerings now), many people criticized her for “selling out.” I believe that those critics did not understand her philosophy. You see, the goal of the KonMari Method™ is not to get rid of as many objects as possible, but to mindfully choose which objects to keep.

One of the first steps of a tidying festival is to imagine your ideal lifestyle; this might look different for everyone, and some people will definitely be more comfortable keeping most of their belongings. The thing to keep in mind is that you should be surrounding yourself with only objects that you love (which is where the carefully curated objects in her store come in, if they speak to you). In practice, this means that many people will realize along the way that they had been keeping objects that they did not love or which did not serve them, and so they will discard those objects and end up with much more curated belongings. This can overlap with minimalism, but it is not the case for everyone.

Marie Kondo’s official website maintains that KonMari is not minimalism. That being said, if I go back to Joshua Becker’s definition, minimalism being “the intentional pursuit of the things we value the most and the removal of anything that distracts us,” I feel like Marie Kondo’s philosophy is indeed compatible with minimalism (though, again, not asceticism).

I want to make a quick comparison here to Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit. To simplify, their method is based on the appeal of a ROYGBV aesthetic as well as, ideally, the purchase of certain objects sold by the organizers (either directly from their website, or through their exclusive collection at the Container Store). It is also premised on having a LOT of backstock – and therefore enough room to store it! Their Netflix show, Get Organized with The Home Edit, was advertising all that product, whereas Tidying Up with Marie Kondo was all about using organizing products you already have on hand. The KonMari reveals were much less spectacular – more down-to-earth, if you will.

Critics also like to talk about the wastefulness of the KonMari Method™, what with all the “discarding,” but again I have to say that I disagree. While there can be a substantial quantity of items donated (those in good condition) and trashed or recycled (expired makeup, papers that are no longer useful, etc.), I would argue that the KonMari Method™ did not create those items. It merely moved them from their temporary, cumbersome place in your home to a more appropriate place – the problem really began when useless objects were manufactured (before they were even purchased!), and this has to do with our consumerist culture. The KonMari Method™ actually encourages mindfully acquiring new objects, thereby reducing the likelihood of buying useless things in the future.

Meanwhile, on the second episode of Get Organized with The Home Edit, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin were in Rachel Zoe’s closet – which they had ALREADY organized over a year prior and were just touching up – and they dealt with it by… relocating some items to her off-site storage space AND adding storage to the closet. So, certainly not a minimalist approach! I mean, I understand that Rachel Zoe is a fashion designer and needs to keep certain items for reference, but in my opinion, those should be archived in a warehouse or something, not in her personal closet. She’ll need to deal with it at some point, like after the next few seasons’ worth of designs come into her space.

I really enjoyed this Refinery 29 article comparing Marie Kondo and The Home Edit. This quote jumped out at me: “But if Kondo’s method elevates objects in a uniquely Japanese way [based on Shintoism], allowing us to consider and value them, The Home Edit elevates objects in a uniquely American way: by putting them on display. Here, of course, is where the product is necessary. Our many things, from Clorox wipes to designer purses, go on display. Their closets and drawers and pantries become their own sort of shrine to consumption.”

That being said, Marie Kondo will be joining in on the fun! Next month, the Container Store will be launching her line of sustainably sourced products. I can’t wait to see what they look like!

 If you are interested in either method (KonMari or The Home Edit), be sure to get in touch!

Minimalism

As I start my journey into professional organizing, I’ve noticed that there’s a chasm between what the word “minimalism” means and what the general public envisions. I bet some of you are already picturing a monk’s room, devoid of all material possessions. While that may look peaceful to some, it can lack warmth and comfort, not to mention that it is not at all practical for most people! However, I’m here to say that what you’re thinking of is actually asceticism, not minimalism. The Oxford Dictionary defines “asceticism” as “severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence.” That’s not what I preach.

I like the way Joshua Becker, of Becoming Minimalist, defines it: “Minimalism is the intentional pursuit of the things we value the most and the removal of anything that distracts us.” This essentially means that it’s about removing clutter from your life, whether we’re talking about clutter that is physical (my specialty) or not (overloaded schedule, for example). He says that “minimalism isn’t about removing things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things you love. It’s about living more by owning less.”

You see, removing distractions allows you to focus on what is most important to you. You own your stuff, not the other way around! When you aren’t distracted by clutter taking up your mental bandwidth (what we might call “visual pollution”) or by objects taking up your time (maintaining them, cleaning them, putting them away), you are then able to focus on what you actually want to do.

I’m aware that some people are vehemently opposed to minimalism, because they see it as “just another boring product wealthy people can buy”. However, to me, that’s missing the point. It’s really just criticism of a certain aesthetic that, granted, we see often, but is not minimalism per se. Minimalism will look different for every household, but to me, it always seeks to improve one’s life by simplifying it.

Of course, that’s easier to say when minimalism is a choice, but it’s not pleasant when it is forced upon us. Did you know that over 60% of Americans can’t deal with a $500 emergency? And that was BEFORE 2020 hit!

In Quebec, where I’m from, I often heard the concept of “voluntary simplicity,” which doesn’t seem as widespread in Anglophone culture. It’s essentially about mindfully choosing how we spend our money and being satisfied with less. In an article titled “The Voluntary Simplicity Movement: A multi-national survey analysis in theoretical context” (published in the Journal of Consumer Culture), Samuel Alexander and Simon Ussher say that “the Voluntary Simplicity Movement can be understood broadly as a diverse social movement made up of people who are resisting high consumption lifestyles and who are seeking, in various ways, a lower consumption but higher quality of life alternative.”

In my line of work, I’ve seen that the initial effort (decluttering, organizing, and changing habits) is time-consuming, but the rewards are reaped later and are well worth it. Don’t let people scare you with tiny living and drastically down-sizing, because that’s not at all necessary! Simple living is the way to go.

If you want to read more on the subject, in addition to Becoming Minimalist, I also recommend Be More with Less. That blog is run by Courtney Carver, who created the fashion challenge Project 333, which I believe was the original capsule wardrobe. If videos are more your thing, there’s the lovely Minimal Mom on YouTube. And let’s not forget Minimalist Baker, whose food blog has recipes call for 10 ingredients or fewer, 1 bowl only, or 30 minutes or less to prepare.

As always, I’m available to answer your questions on the topic!