minimalist – Page 2 – My Minimalist Lifestyle

Revising My Monthly Budget for year 2023…🥳

Hello everyone!!! It’s been awhile I’m away from blog! Haha..so, here we go. Let’s start with financial planning for year 2023..hahaahaha..yes…for 2023!! Let’s plan for future! LOL

Okay, I’d checked on whatever resource I have, google, youtube…etc. So, I found the rules 50:30:20. It’s kinda interesting to check on. So, I made some calculation and hey yaa!!! I managed to get more savings! Yay!!! Way to go…minimalist lifestyle 🥳🥳

Monthly Budget follow rules 50:30:20 …

For rules 50:30:20, this is the percentage that you need to allocate your monthly income. There are 3 categories, the 50% should be the Fixed Expenses that you will need to pay such as bills, rental, car, internet, tuition fee etc (compulsory to pay). For the 30% of your salary should go to Variable Expenses that you have options not to spend such as eating outside, movie, theme park, present, etc. The remaining 20% should go to your Future Plans such as emergency savings or any possible investment. Well, after the calculation, I had found out that my Fixed Expenses is 54% (slightly higher because I included insurance with investment under this category 😄), my Variable Expenses is 18% (I dont have much things to buy, just lil bit entertainment like movie/eating outside) and for Future plans I have 28% 😃. I think this is good enough. As a minimalist, I always conscious on what to buy so that I don’t waste my money for clutters 😃

Okay, how do I calculate all of these? Haha..im using a simple ratio calculation 😜

Let’s take example, income salary RM2000 and to follow rules 50:30:20 (%).

In this example, when you calculate all your bills (plus other compulsory to pay) and it total up for example RM 900. So, a simple ratio (900/2000) x 100 = 45%. So for those who has salary RM2000, how to calculate is to manage the Fixed Expenses below RM 1000, RM 600 for Variable Expenses and RM 400 for Future plans. 😃

Where to store your monthly receipts for Tax Relief ?

Okay, I usually save in cloud, so easier to trace it. So, Im using Google Drive most of the times. Perhaps, you can have some other storage as well like One Drive. It is not really advisable to store in phone, as Phone can easily spoil then you will need to factory reset and all will be gone.

Okay, next I’m gonna explore how to diversify the savings and investments..till then..to be continue…

Love, Sofia

Organizing “Gadget” for An Organizer Freak 😂

HeLLooOoo everyone!! What’s up? It’s finally here!! So called – My organizing “gadget”…haha..🥰

So, I bought 3 different sizes of Rattan Box storage, to keep my blankets and other stuffs like my hairband, hair clip, sleeping mask, detox patches etc.

Tadaa!!! Cute rattan storage in different sizes – S, M and L 🥰

The reason I don’t buy big basket for my blankets, is that because Im living in a small room – to keep virtual clutters away 😃

Oh, and another things, the grey storage is for my undergarments. I like it to be well organize, soothing in my eyes 😍

The other Organizing “Gadget” I have in my room 😃

1. The Square Storage Box (with zip on top and side) – for *Towels* and *Bedsheets*

2. Medicine Kit – all first aid medicine including Covid-19 swab test 😃

3. Make Up storage – unfortunately, I don’t have much make up. Mostly for my skin care serum, hair serum, backup Parfum, Massage Oil, body lotion, hand lotion, nail clipper, haircomb, contact lens casing etc 🥰

4. Clothes Dust Cover – other than Virtual Clutters free, this cover helps to keep away the dust in wardrobe. Coz, I noticed there are dust at the bottom of the wardrobe and I need to clean it, weekly 🤪

5. Parfum and pins storage – Okay, I have lot of parfums, but these 2 are the most often I used. Easily to pickup and put back, to minimizing the virtual clutters and as a deco too. 😃

6. The humidifier essential oil – Okay, okay, parfum freak in the house..whoott whoot!! 😚 So, I have my fav flavours which I often used – Hotel version: *Banyan Tree, Grand Hyatt, Westin, and Hilton* and typical essential: *Orchid* and *Lavendar* flavour. I do have more such as *peppermint*, *Oranges* etc, but I keep it away in wardrobe to avoid virtual clutters. ☺

7. From the back, Hotel version : *Hilton hotel, Westin hotel, Grand Hyatt hotel, Banyan Tree hotel. Orchid.* From the front: *Lavendar*.

Crystal Collections: To Re-Use?

Okay, Im pretty okay for the rest, there is only something I don’t find the purpose to be displayed on my table – My Crystal Collections.

Well, I used to put some essential oil onto it, coz I thought to make it as a crystal diffuser. But it turn out, not so good compared to wood, plus my crystal out of shapes and colors 🥲

I’m thinking to re-use it for something better and useful, if you have any good idea, you can comment below, thanks 😉

I think, some has changed color and shapes. I used to have emerald green color, but now its gone 😭

Okay, that’s all for today…to be continue…

Love, Sofia

Hey Coffee Lover!!! 😘

Hello friends!!! How are you today? Happy weekend!!! WoOooooHoooo!!! It’s finally weekend.

Okay guys, I used to have Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS on my workspace desk in office, however due to shifting workplace, I don’t have a place for my Piccolo anymore. 😢 Staying with your parents, meaning your space is very limited to your room only. Living with maximalist, means “Sorry, no space for you!”. Hahaha..so, I have to keep all my Piccolo and ‘his’ babies in my small pantry (small wardrobe).

So, what I did, I kept all my coffee capsules in container to preserve the aroma (I hope so). Next month, I need to do an appropriate setup for my Piccolo in my room 🙂

Till then…see u in next post…

To be continue…

Love, Sofia

How Minimalist staying with Maximalist under 1 roof 😃

Hi everyone!! Today’s topic is a bit bizarre to discuss, but yet most of times happening and is an issue for minimalist out there, including me 😄

So, we all know how minimalist characters, we love simple things, and keep things that only really means to us. But hey, how bout if you got no choice to live with those who are maximalist? Well…well…well…you are not alone! I’m living with my parents and my mom is maximalist…😀

I should say, it’s kinda depress to see a lot of unwanted stuffs everywhere in the kitchen, in the living room, in the garden, but yet you just can’t throw it out coz it’s not yours and its your mom’s stuff, plus you are staying in their house. You are not…alone…😂 🤪

Well, you actually really can’t do much, but for me, I will take some my little space, in each of corner in the kitchen especially for my own stuff. My mom, not allow for me to have my whole 1 cupboard, but she just allow me put my things in 1 container at the places. You heard me right, its plural ‘places’. She gave me, one corner in the fridge, 1 corner in the spices, at the other corner for my dry ingredients like my takoyaki flour, bonito flakes and other dry stuff, and another corner for my sauces like honey mustard. To be honest with you, it gimme a lot of headache to find my stuff, so I keep some in my own cupboard, in my room. Like a small cupboard pantry 😃

My Small Cupboard Pantry for dry food packets 😃

This is one of the cupboard or some call wardrobe. But, I have 2 wardrobe, well..I’m living in a family whom all members are maximalist, except my dad and me. So yeah, I have 1 big wardrobe, and 1 small wardrobe. So the big one, as you can find in my other post, is solely only for my clothes, handbag, duvet cover and bedsheets, towel and scarf. And another 1 small cupboard, I keep the sort of unwanted stuff that need to sort, like cables, candles, essential oils that Im barely use, projector, gun glue and sort of stuff. So, I keep one rack for my dry food stuff, like coffee, sauces in packet, jelly packet…etc..

Tadaaa…one of the rack is for my dry food stuff

Haha…well, when you got no choice, built choices on your own 😂 so, another thing I have is, a small minifridge under my desk 😂 Yes, you heard it right..under my desk coz I got very limited space in my room. But soon, when my house completed, I will make it as my serum storage 🙂

My Micro Fridge for some drinks and small treats 🥰

Its very tiny fridge, obviously not for meat or vegie 😂 but for a small can or drinks, or some small treats.. should be okay 😊

Okay guys, thats all for today..oh yea..by the way, today is Eid-Adha, wishing all Muslims Happy Eid-Adha ❤

Till then, to be continue. I will show you how to make Homemade Takoyaki at home tomorrow..Wee!!! I love takoyaki, I believe most people love it. See u tomorrow!!

Love, Sofia

Let’s pickup the dumbell, again!!!!! 😅

Hi everyone!! Hope you doing good. Today remarks 1 year since I left gym and exercises. It is just recently, I notice that I need to start pickup up back my dumbell. Yawww!!!😄

Im afraid, if I reach 40 and then been dignosed with diabetes or hypertension. No way!!! Health is treasure! I want it back. 😀Well, when I’m an auditor before, I frequently having migrain and hypertension. So, I left the job coz I don’t feel its worth it coz impacting my health. Yes, Im a health conscious its just a matter of time to exercise and time to prepare food that I’m struggling with now.

Today, I started squeeze in some time, afterwork before the night shower..to pick up my fav dumbell, switch on the utube video and do 20 minutes (no jump, no lunges, no squad exercise-my body is just not ready yet for those, lets start something simple) 😂 To be honest with you, it only last for 15 minutes. But its okay, lets have a 15 minutes consistency rather than nothing, guys!!! 😃😃😃

Well, after being ‘scam’ with the gym trainer , as a minimalist I think the best is to keep motivated and discipline. To start with, you can guy a pair of fav dumbell (as the weight u comfortable with), and yoga mat.Its not that expensive too, medicine was 😉 my fav dumbell was 4lb (~1.8kg) each. I bought a pair 4lbx2dumbell= 8lb (~3.6kg) 🥰

Switch on utube channel, then there u go. Just slot some 1 hour time in your schedule for exercise. I think the best for me is between 6-7pm. I’ll be off at 6pm, then shower at 7pm.

Guys!! Let’s go on healthy way, being healthy is lifestyle, not sometimes but all the times. Let’s start a long healthy lifestyle and maintain our health. The medicine is very expensive nowadays, we shall take care of our health!! 😇

Till then…to be continue….

Love, Sofia

Friyay morning rountine and Learn Trading….😀

Hi everyone!! Good morning, hope you have a great weekdays. Weekend is just around the corner, yeppie!!

As a minimalist..or I shall say..towards to the minimalist of living…here are Friday routine. For me, Friday is always a special day, as I assume it as my pre-weekend day..hahaha!! 😄

I woke up today around 6.15a, and straight make my bed. Took a shower and do a prayer. Then, I opened the curtain to allow some fresh air in.

I will need some storage for my blankets..sigh

I switch on my fav soft music on my laptop and speaker swiched on, then I do my laundries. And then, later I make my breakfast “Keropok lekor goreng” and my americano ice..nyummy 😋. For those who don’t know what is “Keropok lekor goreng”, okay this is our tradisional food. It was made mixture of fishes, some flour and lil salt i guess. I bought online and it was my fav snack 🥰

When eastern meet western..Americano and “Keropok Lekor” 😋

Okay, before we start works, lets blogging…so today I gotta learn how to trade guys..I’ve working for a trading company, but never trade before. It wasn’t easy at all guys. But I try to learn using a demo account. Hahaha..it keep my heart beat faster…even with demo account.

Wanna know more bout the trading stuff…stay tune…coz I need to learn the basic stuff first..hahaha….to be continue…

Love, Sofia

Get back to the Office…Essential things to consider as a minimalist

HelloOooo!!! Hello!! HelloooOooooo everyone 😀 How is your Monday, Everyone?!! Hope it’s gone..smooothly…another 4 days to goo…wooHoooOoo!!!

Okay, everyone is getting busy to get back to the normal lifestyle, same goes to going back to the office. I found it’s kinda disturbing, after 2 years plus we’ve been working from home, right? Some will be effective when working from office, the other will be effective when working from home. But hey, do we get any choices now? Nope. 😄

Okay, so I’ve been looking into extra expenses that I need to bare when going back to the office such as transporation, food, safety essential (mask, sanitizer), dress etc. This is how, I try to manage my daily expenses low, as low as I can 😃

Going back to the office, What should I spend on?

1. Transportation

I believe this is the most expenses that we need to spend, including both fuel and season car parking. But, if you have public transport option, go with public transport. Well, it’s individual choice. For me, I preferred public transport because save a lot money, and traveling time can spend to do something. It cost me at least RM 160 for parking, and fuel about RM 200 per month. While using public transport (LRT), it cost me RM 50 per month 😃

2. Lunch

Well, this is kinda expensive too. It cost about at least RM20 per day, that makes it RM 100 per week and RM 400 per month. If you can prepare the lunch, it is advisable to do so. But hey, my current job kinda flexi, so I be going to office for half day, and going back to home for another half of the day. I save my lunch by making my own lunch at home 😃

3. Clothes

Okay, as a minimalist, I don’t buy any new clothes to go office. I just recycle what I have by mix & match my clothes. Pretty happy with this new approach, I can now control buying clothes 😄

4. Safety essential

You can’t avoid this. I spend lil bit on face mask, if you like the washable mask, you can use it. But, I do still comfortable wearing the disposable mask. Might be later, to start use the washable one, so I can save from buying disposable mask. Sanitizer, I got store in my bag, and 1 in workplace drawer just in case I forgot to bring. ☺

Okay guys, I think thats for now..try to reduce waste in future, I’m still trying my best…🙂😗

Till then….to be continue…

Love, Sofia

5 simple routines that you can start to keep clutters away 🥰

Hey guys!!! Its been awhile. How are u? Hope everything well and sounds. Well, its been a hectic weeks seems we celebrating Raya AidilFitri. If u were here in Malaysia, Malaysian people is really celebrating it for a month, but me..? A week is enough for me 😂 Guess what? I’m back to my normal routines 🥰

Okay, being a minimalist for 4 years, I can say, Im still kinda struggling, but there are some of the things that really works for me to keep clutters away in my room. (Yes, a room for now, coz Im still waiting for my new house to complete by 2025, Yay! 😉)

5 Simple routines that keep clutters away 😇
by Sofia Mustaffa

1. Wash, dry and fold your clothes at least each of 2-3 days.

Try to keep dirty clothes at least 2-3 days, then wash it. Keep 2-3 times laundy for a week. If I’m too busy for the entire week, I will keep it max 6 days, then wash. It will make the drying and folding effort less, if you make it as a routine 😃

2. Swipe your room/house everyday.

My room is very dusty. I do always swipe it on a daily routine. Then, over the weekend I will wipe the floor by hand 😃 I don’t like to step on dusty or greasy floor, and yeah!! I did wipe it with warm damp cloth by hand 🙂

3. Put things back to its place.

For me, this is a very crutial habits to follow. You don’t want clutter, so put things back to its origin place. If u are ready books, after reading put the book back to the rack where u took it from. It’s a simple rule, but very hard to follow on daily routine. Train urself, train ur mind to follow this one rule. To me, its very a good tips to keep my place tidy.

4. Clear your bin at least once a week.

My dustbin is very small. I need to empty it every 2-3 days. Trying to control buying stuff online, because most of the rubbish is the parcel packaging 😃

5. Make the bed, after you got up in every morning.

This is a “hello morning exercise 🙂” Just take 1-2 minutes of your day to make it smooth and tidy.

Okay, i think thats all to share for now..till then..to be continue..

Love, Sofia

First step to build a healthy lifestyle ☺

Good morning, everyone!!! 😃

To build a healthy lifestyle needs courage, mental strength, and continuous discipline. It’s not easy, but when u starts, u can go with the flow. Each person has different kind of courage, try to understand yourself what u need the most. For me, all I need is a healthy food intake. It works for me to have beautiful and quality tableware to be used in daily routine 🥰

My fav color for tableware. I just buy 1 complete set for myself. U don’t need much. Buy a beautiful and good quality one for urself, to gain ur interest in preparing ur dish. Make it a hobby to prepare ur dish, so that u will aware what kind of food to put onto the plate.

Well, for me sometimes, I don’t eat the prepared food straight coz of busy schedule. So, I do have separated container for my food 🥰

Its stainless steel container with lid. U can used any kind that suit yourself, as long as its separated container. This because, we need to take into consideration of category food we took. Its recommended to have half fiber (quarter fruit, quarter vegie), quarter protein (chicken/beef/fish/lamb), and quarter carbs (rice/noodle/pasta/bread).

Okay, after I prepared my tableware, I need to get incharge and plan out my meals. Try to find some recipes that suit ur calorie intake. Im gonna try calorie counter apps, coz I dont need excess calories. Let’s starts!!!

I’m using LifeSum apps, to calculate necessary calories and gonna start on next Monday. So, there are 2 additional routine I’m gonna add-on, first is to trace my calorie intake, secondly is to add-in 30min exercise on my daily routine. If I can’t make it, I will reduce exercise time to 15min, as long as I can add-in exercise habits on my routine. ☺

I start with apps to count my calorie in and out. My body works this way. 🥰

U can use any free apps. I just use the free apps and didn’t subscribe any apps. I wanna keep my commitment low, so I don’t waste any cents 😃

Okay, till then…I will plan out my short term goal shortly to achieve by end of this year. Not much, but to ensure all achieve by end of this year 😘

Till then, to be continue…

Love, Sofia

I’m debt free!!!!!!! Way to go…minimalism 😍

Hey!! You guys!!! I’m finally debt free with some extra 35% of my salary to save and invest on. Wow!! It’s a great achievement so far and the best thing happened to me. Alhamdulillah. 🥰

Minimalism somehow helping me a lot in my real life, in term of financial, relationship, space, happiness, spirit etc.

Minimalist to me means, you only do, what you think the best for yourself, and leave those unnecessary stress. Think wisely, before you act. Giving example, when you want to go shopping, you need to think if it’s really needed or just something you want? What your priority is?

In term of relationship, what you can do is to think what things that can give you happiness? Is this relationship trouble you, or makes you happy? You can measure it by how much you laugh and how much you cry. If you have been cried a lot, then you should move on from the toxic relationship. If it makes you laugh a lot, then you should stay and enjoy the relationship.

Same goes for financial. You gotta audit your credit. What things are your assets and what things are your liabilities? Minimizing your liabilities by limiting your commitment. Giving example, I had settled my car loan, and at same time, I had my raised 30%? You need to look forward your priority. Does your car giving you headache by repairing all the time, or your car just fine and running well? If it’s running just fine, then you shouldn’t think on spending your raised in that unnecesary commitment. Most people will simply upgrading their car when they had some raise/increment. This is really not necessary most of the times.

In term of groceries, is the best to have groceries checklist. But, I believe most of us just too busy with our daily routine and don’t have much time to make the list. Then, you should buy things which is your priority, the one you needed and left behind what you want. At times, it is very hard to decide. Well, my kind of minimalism is my happiness is my top priority. Giving you some example of my current situation. I’m living with my parents house and we have lots…of cusion. I love boho kind of cushion, I did bought but limitted to only 3 instead of 11 cushion that I put in my cart. So those what I want, I limit it and cut it..by buying only 3 and it perfectly suit my bed 🥰

So long, that’s all for now guys..

To be continue..

Love, Sofia