I function best when my space is clean and orderly. I have spent quite a bit of money on mainstream cleaners in the past, until the past year or so when I discovered the beauty of making my own natural cleaning products. The cleaning solutions that I use at home are easy to make, affordable, effective, and safer than conventional cleaning products. Try them for yourself and long term you will see the benefits in your bank account and notice how much better you feel while using them! 

1. The Steam Mop

When we purchased our steam mop, my life was forever changed! It has reusable pads, unlike other mops that create waste every single time you use them. It disinfects with heat+steam. You only need water! I like to add vinegar since it is another way to disinfect and it is an odor neutralizer. Here is a link to the one I own: http://www.amazon.com/SI-70-Multi-Multiple-Purpose-Steamer/dp/B005555WFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453270300&sr=8-1&keywords=haan+steam+mop

2. White Vinegar

White vinegar is such a great product. It is cheap, versatile, and effective! I use white vinegar to dust surfaces, clean my fridge, and wash my floors. For surfaces, I mix 2 parts vinegar with 1 part water, and sometimes add a drop of dish soap and a few drops of essential oils. White vinegar is an odor neutralizer, so it is great for floors if you have animals. For my floors I use 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water in my steam mop and occasionally add essential oils to the cleaning pads. Do not add the oils directly into the tank because it can cause the steam mop to become clogged!

3. Castile Soap

I love castile soap! There are many different scents but my favorite is peppermint. You can use this soap as body wash, shampoo, cleaner, and even fruit+veggie wash! It is heavily concentrated, so one big bottle lasts us 6+ months. I like to clean with just the soap, but I also mix castile soap and baking soda to make a scrubbing paste.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of my favorite products to clean with. Like white vinegar, it is cheap and an odor neutralizer. I use baking soda in my fridge, bathrooms, and rugs! Sprinkle the baking soda on carpets and leave for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming it up. Baking soda is great for sprinkling in your shoes to neutralize odors.

For more natural cleaning supply recipes, check out these sources: 

Video, "Non-Toxic Cleaning Guide": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEVOYRwfrkg

Article,"My Favorite Natural Cleaning Recipes": http://www.atypicalenglishhome.com/2014/09/my-favorite-natural-cleaning-recipes.html

Article, "Make These 69 Cleaning Products for Pennies": http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/DIY-Cleaning-Products-28901279#photo-28901350

The message our society lives by most often is the more the better. More stuff = more happiness, right?

About 6 months ago I started an experiment. I was going to buy less and donate about 1/3 of my belongings. Not all at once, but slowly, over time. Here are some of the lessons that I have learned as I make progress with buying and consuming less and purging more!

1. Stuff doesn't make me happy. 

It is not the stuff that makes us happy, it is the thought of what the items will bring us. That dress will make me confident enough to do X. That car is going to make me look successful. That belonging is going to make me feel accomplished. Don't get me wrong, there are some things you need to live comfortably and there is a certain amount of privilege associated with the fact that I can even make consuming less a priority. I believe if you can afford to consume more, you have a duty and a responsibility to the planet and to your community. 

2. I appreciate empty spaces.

I used to look at an empty space like an empty drawer, or shelf, and think, what could I put here? I would have stuff tucked away in every nook and cranny. Now I think, do I need anything there? I now can look at an empty space and appreciate it. I have empty spaces in my home and I find them relaxing! I recently made a meditation corner in my office and it feels good to have the space to experiment with. I enjoy the look of my tables and shelves even more when they are not drowning in items.

3. You don't necessarily need a bigger house, you may just need less belongings.

I get it. Sometimes you just need more space. Maybe you are a homebody with a large family or perhaps you have a lot of hobbies that take up space…or maybe you just own too much crap. If you are having to put items in storage, or buying more storage containers and shelving, maybe it is time to donate or sell some of those belonings. 

4. The dream of the item is always better than actually owning it.

Imagining how that fancy coat will make you look, or how confident you will feel in that expensive car is always better than the reality of it. The truth is, that reliable but less expensive car will be just as satisfying as the expensive one and that less costly coat will bring you the same level of "happiness" that you are imagining receiving from the designer one! It is not the stuff that brings you joy, it is how you think the stuff will make you feel. 

5. I never miss what I purge. 

If I attempted to list everything I have parted with over the past 6 months I would maybe be able to recall 5 items. I never miss something after I let it go. This is ironic because as you may know, it is very hard to let stuff go sometimes! Common thoughts creep in when I am trying to part with an item- I might miss this, I might want to wear this one day, or I paid too much for this to let it go. Just be honest with yourself! If you know you truly won't use it and it is better off going to someone who will, just let it go. 

7. I have less buyers remorse and consumerism hangovers. 

You know that feeling when you are out buying that thing that you know you always buy too much of? Whether it is books, clothing, expensive junk food, music, shoes, WHATEVER it is- it feels great in the moment, but then buyers remorse settles in after the shopping high is over and you are left feeling hung over and broke. I used to get buyers remorse frequently, but not anymore! 

8. I have more money.

When you commit to less impulsive buys and spend less money on "stuff" you will have more money. In the begnining if you have the urge to go buy things, look for stuff to donate instead. 

9. It feels good to donate nice stuff. 

I used to mainly donate stuff that I felt was too worn, or that I didn't think was nice enough to hold onto. Try donating stuff that you still like and that is in great condition. People like being able to own nice things and it feels good knowing that someone is going to be happy to find a great deal on a good product. 

10. If I don't see it, it basically doesn't exist. 

I have discovered that if I can't see something, it basically doesn't exist. That bottle of whatever, tucked away in a box behind that basket of art supplies? If I can't see it, I don't know it is there. When you clear away clutter and make it easy to access everything you own, you will appreciate and use more of what you already have! 

When I decided to start a career in real estate, I had never watched HGTV. Many buyers that I work with are fans of these shows that offer a glimpse into the real estate process. The problem is, what you commonly see on "reality" television is not a true representation of the home buying process! Here are some of the false expectations that real estate reality tv set up for our buyers. 

1. You will pick one of the first three houses you see with your agent.

When you decide to buy a house, it can be discouraging when you don't find one right away. Buying a house is a process. Typically I take clients out 2-3 times and see between 10-15 houses before they find the one they want to make an offer on. When you go see houses the first couple of times, you start to get a better idea of what type ofhouse you want and what items are most important to you. Factors to weigh when buying a house are price, location, condition, and size. Typically people pick two of those and compromise on the other two categories. 

2. You make an offer and if it is accepted, TADA! You suddenly own a house. 

The shows do not let you in on what happens after mutual acceptance. Once an offer is accepted by both parties, that is when the real work begins! Title and escrow are set up, the earnest money is deposited, the inspections are scheduled and negotiated, and the appraisal is ordered. Not to mention all of the little problems that are likely to pop up along the way. It typically takes 30 days from mutual acceptance for a transaction to close, plus the amount of time it takes to find the house you want. 

3.  You always get the house once you have an offer accepted.

Sometimes an offer is countered multiple times before the seller and buyer agree on the price and terms of the contract. Once you get through mutual acceptance, the inspection happens and there are times where even once that is negotiated it still does not work out. If the deal falls apart from the inspection, appraisal, financing, or any other issues, then you start again from square one. Do not be discouraged! Buying a house is a big deal, and it can take a while. In my experience, the second house is always better than the first one that fell through!

4. Is the house falling apart? No Problem! Just knock out a few walls and install some new support beams, and you are good to go.

I have one word to respond to this… financeable. Just because you are okay with the rotten facia boards, sunken in ceiling or the massive holes in the walls, does not mean your lender or appraiser will be! Especially if you are using an FHA or VA loan; they have certain requirements that will need to be met in order for your financing on the property to be approved. Another thing to keep in mind is how much money, time, and energy you want to spend on fixing things. If it is something simple like removing wall paper or painting, that's one thing… but do you want to invest in a total fixer upper? If you plan on living in the home for 15+ years, then maybe! If you are looking for your 5 year starter house, possibly that isn't in your best interest financially or emotionally!