Tips for small
spaces...
make every inch count
Here are some tips for small spaces based primarily on our experience
in living
aboard a sailboat and somewhat on our RV
experiences. If you think you live in a small space imagine a
35 foot sailboat with curved walls.
Keep an
inventory,
updated regularly
If space is at a premium make sure you know what you have and where it
is.
We made 2 lists, one an alphabetical listing of everything on the boat,
and secondly a list of what was in each storage compartment.
Both lists were cross referenced.
Personalize this list to fit your situation.
Know what you have in every drawer, shelf, and attic.
For instance, under or behind
every cushion was a storage area of some kind.
In this picture of our main cabin we had a list of everything behind
the cushions you see.
The inventory was updated every year in the summer. Everything would be
removed and repacked, checking off as we went.
This took a full day, but was time well spent.
With the exception of spare parts, we had a rule. If we didn't use
something in a year we thought of ways to get it off the boat.
This is one of the best tips for small spaces we know. If it is not
being used get rid of it.
How these
lists can save you money
With the assumption made that you have a small space and you are living
frugally, here's how...When something, clothes, tools whatever has not
been used or worn for a year, it is costing you money.
Sell it or donate it to charity.
Turn what you are not using into cash to purchase something you need.
Go look at your clothes closet right now and look at what you have not
worn for a year. What you are not wearing may be equal or greater than
what you wear on a regular basis.
Have a
garage sale
and pocket the cash.
Get together with your friends and neighbors and consolidate your
efforts. It can be a fun social time, and not tie up your whole day.
Helps you out and the person who buys what you are selling or giving.
It's prudent, it's frugal, it's sensible.
Other tips
for small spaces
You can easily find things when you know where they are.
Don't know about you, but my memory isn't very reliable . Pulling out
the inventory list and quickly identifying where a item resides saves
frustration.
This is also great for insurance purposes. If something bad happens
having an inventory goes a long way in helping your claim get processed
quickly.
So make an inventory, it's a great step in getting a small space
organized.
