How to: Save Money at Home | Making This Home

Line Drying our Laundry

July 19th, 2010

We didn’t have a dryer in Germany. All of our clothes dried on this rack from OBI for about 20 euros.

It filled a big chunk of our living room every time we set it up.

Then our laundry took over 24 hours to dry on wet winter days. Nobody gave us funny looks; line drying clothes was the norm.

Now we live in the Rocky Mountains (where there isn’t intense humidity) in the heat of the summer. A lot of our neighbors are using dryers. But not us. The dryer here is just collecting dust because living in Germany reintroduced us to the laundry habits our mothers and grandmothers were doing for years. I love it! Here’s why:

Q & A : No New Clothes : Part I

March 9th, 2010

High fives to everyone who has been rethinking clothing purchases. I hope you’re loving it as much as we are. It seems you have a lot of questions about what Martin and I have gained from going on this No New Clothes Challenge and some concerns about where you’re struggling. So I’m rolling up my sleeves and pulling out the dirty laundry to see what we can share. Here goes nothing. Part I.

Home Haircuts – Where Do You Stand?

February 26th, 2010

A recent discovery of this old photo got me wondering (that’s my aunt cutting my hair over 20 years ago while my grandma sat by):

where does your family go for haircuts? Are you an at-home kind of family? Or do you make an appointment at your favorite salon or walk in to your local “chop shop”? Sometimes, the way we decorate and organize our homes defines simplicity. But when you get right down to it, the habits we create (or get brave and attempt for the first time!) really define simplicity far more. They’re the way we live.

Meaningful Valentine’s Gifts for your Guy

February 10th, 2010

if you’re not a chocolates and flowers kind of couple just like us, it doesn’t mean Valentine’s Day has to be any less sweet. We’ve found that the secret to a successful Valentine’s Day isn’t in seeking traditional gifts like heart shaped boxes – especially when it comes to most guys. So if you’re looking for a way to share the love without commercial products or the standard DIY coupon book, here’s a list of ideas wI turn to year after year.

No New Clothes: Inspiring Thoughts from Readers

January 27th, 2010

Sometimes when we set goals for ourselves, it’s nice to know we have a group of cheerleaders supporting us. If you are interested in joining the No New Clothes Challenge and stop clothes shopping (except for necessities), then you’re in luck. There’s a whole slew of us ready to support you in your journey toward simplifying your closet (you know – in case the men in your life and your wallets weren’t whooping and cheering loudly enough already!).

No New Clothes Challenge: Purging the Extras

January 15th, 2010

This morning, I dropped a bag of old clothes into a clothes recycling bin on my route to school. It felt amazing to donate some items taking up precious space in our bedroom. I’m sure you know the feeling. Clothes seem to come into our homes in new bags – which feels good. They also tend to leave – which feels even better. As many of you know, we’ve been discovering something else about clothes lately…