I've written a few times about how as a family we're trying to have less stuff in our lives. We've moved across the country into a smaller home and have the stuff laying around in boxes to prove it as well as the overflowing trash cans each week for the trash man, and I have to admit this has been a great decision.

Less Space

Our last home wasn't huge by any means, but it also wasn't small. We had to buy a bunch of furniture to fill the emptiness of the rooms and during holiday seasons, if we only bought a few decorations, it was almost as if we didn't decorate the house at all.

Now, even with selling most of our furniture, with the exception of the few organizational pieces we're buying, it almost feels like we have too much stuff. It's amazing how you think you need a big house only to realize that means you just have to buy more stuff to fill it with, which leads to this spiral of wanting more and always having less money.

I have to admit I can't wait for Christmas because I feel like our house will fill like a winter wonderland. It will go from just having enough decorations to fill the main areas of the house, to every room of the house will have the Christmas spirit without having to spend any money.

More Time

I actually had time to wash and wax my wife's car today (picture below) and that was after getting the lawn taking care of and all the weeds pulled in our flower bed. At our last home, it took us a good weekend to just get the weeds pulled and the mulch put down for the flower beds we had and then another few weekends throughout the summer just to keep up with it.

I even took a break after washing my car to let the kids play with the new sandbox that grandma bought for my daughter on her birthday. It was nice to be able to just sit and watch them play, and be able to play with them as well.

I can't wait until the quarantine is over and we can take some weekend trips as a family without feeling guilty because there is something we need to do back at the house or to be able to just spend the day swimming in the pool and grilling out.

Unique Experiences

My wife got me a weekend getaway for Christmas and it was the most awesome Christmas surprise I've gotten in a while. We went to a concert, saw a bunch of movies at the theater, and took a lesson where we learned how to give each other a massage.

We've agreed that we're no longer getting each other anything for Christmas or our anniversary, but instead planning a weekend away and we get to surprise the other person. Since we got married in July, it works out as this gives us about 6 months in between trips and gives us some time to make all the plans.

That beats getting someone something that they use a few times and then it just sits around taking up space until you throw it away or sell it. If you have an idea for a great place to good for a weekend would love to hear in the comments below.

I would love to know from others what they've done to tighten the strings on their budget to try and save money and live more frugally in the comments below.