My Preference Quality Over Quantity:

Who doesn’t like shopping? Everyone does even if they preach otherwise. I can recall the time when, from needle to furniture, everything was purchased by my mother and markets were somewhat alien places for the rest of us. Then after Masters, shopping germs grew in me and now you can assume safely that every minute I am connected to Internet, my wish list prolongs. 

 

 In the early days (almost a year and half), I always believed why buy expensive things when you can get 2 or even 3 in the same price at slightly compromised quality. Honestly, it was for me the better utilization of every penny I spent. So, I was quick in buying low quality, inexpensive items that falsely seems the right thing to do with a limited budget. I suffered from dissatisfaction of impulse buying, not having enough, over spending, eating up my savings, and above all crowded closets. In other words, I faced the syndrome of having closets full but didn’t have anything to wear. 

WHY I STOPPED PREFERRING QUANTITY OVER QUALITY?

a.    Quality items discourage the behavior of impulsive buying. Otherwise, discounted prices tempt and you end up buying something only because it was cheap not because it was needed. Result? Crowded drawers and still not enough space to store. 

b.    Less is always more: I would quote example of clothes. Last year I purchased several inexpensive dresses that soon either lost their color, got ripped from places, or became so lousy that I didn’t like them wearing at all after two three times. I had them hanged in closet but hardly ever touched them during due seasons. As a result, I had to give proper attention to my closet to keep it maintained but on occasions I used to be totally blank as to what to wear. 

      Opposed to this were the dresses that I purchased with hand on my heart and a dent on the pocket. But they were stylish, had amazing cuts, quality fabric, and I used them for no less than 5 years. If I average out their cost on 5 years, they turn out to be far inexpensive than the cheap clothes that didn’t endure even a season. Many of them are still in tip top shape. Now, I have started preferring trinkets that may not be many in numbers but I absolutely love them. Less is always more.

c.    Fade away careless attitude: When you know, you pushed yourself to limits to purchase something; you go extra miles to take care of it. I always feel lazy after 9-6 day job. If I am wearing cheapo dress, chances are my inner voice will convince my mind that it’s not worth changing dress and I’ll sleep in the same. Believe me, it disgusts me equally. But, if I spent fortune on something, I’ll try to take extra care of it. Quality items always compel me to live a heedful life. 

d.    To plan properly: It’s the extension of the first point I made. Impulsive shopping can cost you a lot as it deprives you of the benefit of planning, making price comparisons, and sleeping over your decisions to determine if you actually need that item. Also, you don’t think through whether it goes along with your style or not. And, you buy one shampoo after the other, one moisturizer after the other, more foundations, more handbags, and more clothes and so on. Spending more on a thing doesn’t make it a quality item. Similarly, with proper planning you can buy classic items on sales. Just little bit of research will make all the difference.

MY RULE:

Rules discipline our behavior and help us stick to our goals. After opting for quality instead of quantity, I know I might not get everything I want. I have set a new shopping rule: 

1.    I set aside 30% of my disposable income from every source as savings which I don’t touch. By disposable income I mean that after tax income that I am left with after contributing in household expenses. 

2.    Rest of the 70% is my shopping budget that I hold back for two months. I now shop every two months. During this time, I window shop, I research, I make comparisons, I sleep over my decisions, I ask friends, I wait for sale, I evaluate my personal style, I read magazines, I look for reviews, I scan blogs. At the end of two months, I have sizable budget and a completely planned list. 

I confess that my shopping has shrunken from 100% to 50% but every item that I now purchase is I absolutely love. Plus, I have complete control over my savings.  In my next post, I’ll share my wish list and shopping list template with you. Till then;

 

Pictures Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4 

5 Amazing Beverage Station Ideas:

I always drool over cold drinks and hot beverages alike – especially soup. Beverage Station lets you find all the ingredients at one place, augments the flavors of the drink, lets you sip peace of mind, and functions as the handy entertainment center for your guests.  

1 - TEA TROLLEY:

It’s amazing how we often find excuses for not putting our best, not getting things done and not using our creativity. We often blame lack of resources, small budget, and limited time for not being able to achieve our goals. Guess what, you want a beverage station? A tea-trolley is good enough. The top surface can hold all the machinery, middle level can hold the tackle boxes, containing beverages sachets, and water bottles can be stored at the bottom. Cool! It’s functional, it’s mobile, and it’s loaded with everything needed to serve your guests. Most of all it just needs minutes to get clean. 

2 - MAGIC IN THE DRAWER:

I have always wished for my drawers to get bigger and hold more food without getting messier. I’m amazed how proper compartmentalization makes the drawer look bigger and portions out every square for better control of beverages sachets. If you have a sacred shelf space, it’s a good idea to leave it for machinery while hiding all the other items in the accompanying drawer underneath. 3 - SECRET CUPBOARD:

Find a beverage station in the room? Couldn’t? It’s in the magical cupboard that when closed veils all the clutter and when opened works as a completely accessorized beverage station. It’s a very clever storage idea and a fancy one as well.

4 - LOADED CREDENZA:

A grandeur credenza makes a perfect beverage station as it gives plenty of room to play with. Even after machinery, loads of space on countertop is available to put décor items, pictures of your loved ones, chalk boards describing what’s being served and a fancy stack of flavored coffee pouches.

5 - DESIGNATED DRAWER:

Purpose of a beverage station is to offer the convenience of finding required tools quickly so you could really grab and go. A designated drawer works just fine with its layered gaps that can be stepped up a further with tiered organizers. I’m attracted to labeled glass jars as if they are a magnet and I’m a helpless nail. I would love opening this cabinet time n time again.

 

Have you managed to find yourself a beverage station? Don’t forget to give your opinion about the idea which you think will serve you best, till then:

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

7 Easy to Tips to Organize your bathroom on budget:

 

A bathroom is the most used space and yet terribly ignored part of the house. Many a times, it’s not given much attention as spending money on a bathroom is the least priority of many. Well, the good news is you don’t need to spend extravagantly to make your bathroom look organized, neat and up graded. With tweaking, creative use of unused items, and little effort you can transform your bathroom in a relaxing area. 

TIP 1: DECLUTTER

You can’t get an organized bathroom if you are not ready to let go of the clutter that has been sitting in the drawers since God knows when. With the mentality that we might need it someday, we keep on hoarding and that makes it difficult to put in place a system to keep things organized. It’s the time to say good bye to expired beauty products, opened bandages and broken tools. Go through each drawer and for every product decide if it’s to be kept and if it really belongs to the bathroom.

TIP 2: CONTAIN IT

Glass containers are a great way to organize small bathroom items. Every household has a nice collection of empty glass jars that can be sterilized to designate places for items like cotton balls, bandages, brushes, rubber bands, bandages, and other smaller products. Mason Jars can be hanged to the wall to keep the counter space free.

TIP 3: USE BASKETS

Organizing beauty products according to needs in baskets is one of my favorite organizing hacks. It gives freedom to return to only those products which I need to get ready in the morning or when it’s time to call it a night. In the morning, when I have more of makeup steps to follow, my makeup basket keeps everything in reach. And, at night, when it’s time to pamper my skin, I keep night baskets handy that holds all the skin care products. Trust me, it saves time, energy and keeps me from going through all the products just to find the desired moisturizer. You can also have mini baskets for manicure, pedicure and other relaxation purposes.

TIP 4: NEW USE OF OLD ITEMS

This is by far the most satisfying trick to organize just about anything. Anyone can go to market to buy organizing products but only few can think of new uses for old items lying around the house. For example, if you have a magazine rack that is lying idle in your garage, put it in use to keep your towels organized. And what could be cuter than bringing little painted flower pots to the bathroom counter to organize cotton balls and other smaller items. And, if feeling excited, turn your towel into a pockets organizer.

TIP 5: MAKE EVERY INCH COUNT

In small bathrooms, space is precious. Instead of whining about lack of space, think of creatively using every possible inch to store bathroom items. I have seen washrooms that may be smaller in space but looked extremely lavish just because of inventive way of looking at the whole picture. Have a corner where free standing toiletry stand doesn’t fit? Let’s use baskets there. Need to place your jars nice and intact? Turn to counters’ doors. Don’t know where to put your favorite decorative item? Use flush tank. Bathroom’s countertop is too small for all the items? Come up with tiered storage.

TIP 6: ORGANIZE UNDER THE SINK AREA

You can double the space by effectively utilizing under the sink area. Instead of making it a place to dump your odds and ends, turn it into a place where everything finds a blissful home. Properly labeled baskets/containers will upgrade your bathroom and will bring a smile to your face.

TIP 7: SHOW IT SOME LOVE EVERY NIGHT

Every night, give your 5-7 minutes to wipe the countertops, pick up thrown items on floor and put back everything that’s out of place. Reward? Next morning, you’ll be saying hello to a clean bathroom and getting ready will much easier.

FLOOR IS YOURS!

What’s your favorite tip to keep bathroom organized? Do you give it the attention it deserves or does it look untidy? Any creative tip that you used to add style to this area of house?

Pictures Credits: 1 /2 / 3 / 4 /5 (a) / 5(b) / 5(c) / 6(a) / 6(b) / 7 / 8 / 9(a) /9(b) / 10 / 11 / 12