Kathi and her friend Tonya Kubo, leader of the Clutter Free Academy Facebook Group and Clutter Free for Life, are here for Part 2 of the How to Best Manage Your Home During a Time of Crisis series. Last week we talked about the principle of use it up. To continue the conversation, Kathi and Tonya are talking about the principle of “wear it out,” all while nerding out on philosophical things. Friend, we have all justified purchasing wants over needs. Together, let’s explore some questions that we can ask ourselves to help discover a better way:
- How can I make my purchases last longer?
- Are there things I can delay or do less often?
- How can I extend the life of or repurpose things?
Ready For Anything
Bad stuff happens all the time, but this doesn’t mean we have to live in constant fear.
Ready for Anything: Preparing Your Heart and Home for Any Crisis Big or Small gives finite simple steps for being proactive rather than reactive—helping you prepare your mind, heart, and home for any unfortunate circumstance. Full of stories and humor along with facts, tips, and lists, Kathi’s book offers a down-to-earth guide that will show you how to face the unexpected with confidence, relying on God’s strength and plan rather than giving in to fear and anxiety.
Her step-by-step plan is easy to implement and will help anyone become a better steward of their resources as well as be the neighbor who can help in a crisis rather than needing help. Kathi’s goal is to equip readers to be the frontline of helpers in any crisis, from a natural disaster to a friend’s job loss.
Order your copy of Ready For Anything today.
GIVEAWAY: For a chance to win Kathi Lipp’s book Ready For Anything, answer the question “what is something you are going to make last 10 percent longer?” in the comments below.
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Meet Our Guest
Tonya Kubo
Tonya Kubo is the illustrious and fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter Free Academy Facebook group and the Clutter Free for Life membership program. A speaker and writer, Tonya makes her home in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters, and one very tolerant cat. Visit her at www.tonyakubo.com.
Transcript
- #655 Finding Grace in Your Imperfect Space: A Conversation with Hilary Bernstein - February 4, 2025
- #653 Say Goodbye to Insomnia: How Decluttering Can Reboot Your Rest - January 21, 2025
- #652 The Clutter Free Lifestyle: 10 Habits That Actually Work - January 14, 2025
Recently found your podcast via the Grit n’ Grace podcast and have started with the Use it Up, wear it out, make do series. My mom (& grandma) always used that expression & I’ve mostly practiced it. She also did sides-to-middlen’ when the sheets wore thin where you bring the sides in to seam them together and then cut down the middle, hem to form new sides. I’m super picky linens so I always mend them because they’re so hard to find. My husband has his shoes resoled or half-soled when the heels are still ok. Grandma made many many rag rugs out of old pants that we all still use and cherish. Mom dressed impeccably & loved clothes so we took all her things to the church after she passed away and all the ladies came to help themselves. I’ve aged -out of the sundresses I always wore due to weight gain, flab & wrinkles so I refashioned them into beautiful skirts. During COVID I’ve planted the purchased scallions & they’re growing, saves a trip to the store. Also cleaned out of my closet, my grandgirl got first pick & now on to a family of girls from church. So even if I’m not wearing them out someone is. We are very fortunate and don’t have to do these things due to finances, but it’s just the way we’ve been taught & helps us be good stewards of God’s blessings.
I found this series of podcasts SO inspiring, thank you!!!! I have all the volumes of The Tightwad Gazette and each time I read them I am enlightened as to how I can be a better steward of what the Lord has blessed us with. I am making our dining room furniture last at least 10% longer, while our dining room table is scratched up and very dated a table cloth and table runner cover up the minor damage and imperfections just fine and a little more glue on our breakfast bar stools keep them from falling apart completely. Thanks again for the inspiration and making my house chores much more enjoyable because I’m listening while cleaning!
One thing that I want to make last longer is my linens. I have some great linens and I want to use them until they are worn out!
I am going to make my suitcases last 10% longer. I am going to buy durable suitcases and use them until they are worn out!
I have been thinking lots about this! I am going to make my home decor last 10% longer. I can switch things up around the house without having to buy anything new!
Hi Anna! Thanks for your comment. Congratulations, you have won a copy of Ready for Anything! To claim your prize, please fill out this form and we will get it out to you asap: https://form.jotform.com/200663868431155
Thanks! KL Giveaway Team
My 5 year old son has been really into creating comics. He made a new “Supa Villian” and a paper model of it. Then I used an old sock that didn’t have a mate, to sew him a stuffed animal based on his model. He loves that his mom made it and I love that I didn’t have to buy anything to create a treasured to for him!
My car was 16 years old. A/C hadn’t worked for 7 years but it ran just fine. Had to replace it only because got rear ended. Our other car is 15 years old. Will be driving it until it quits. Wear it out is my motto. Sink handle broke. Got replacement from company and fixed handle and insides with YouTube video.
I’m with Tonya on the fridge. Ours has lasted 23 years and for the last few years I’ve been so scared that it would die during the holidays that I’ve been bugging my husband to get a new one. Then our range (the same age) did die. My husband had fixed it in the past, but this time we couldn’t figure out what to fix. We had the money for a new one because we hadn’t bought a fridge. I’m still scared it will go during the holidays but for now I’ll keep using it. Don’t bother to enter me in the book drawing, I already have it.
I’m a great believer in wearing it out – but it’s nice to have permission not to wait until my clothes actually have noticeable and unfixable holes.
By the way, in the discussion of the shoes, do you mean “re-soled” or “re-sold”?
After listening to you gals chat, I know I can definitely make the minivan last 10% longer! I never wanted to be a minivan mama but when my husband bought us one I said I would “let” him drive *my* small SUV to work since I wouldn’t need it while driving the van, but it is still my SUV on the weekends. Now I’ve been talking to him about when we can trade the minivan in for a large SUV now that the kids are almost out of car seats, but of course the minivan is just fine – we don’t NEED a new vehicle. I just want one. So I can definitely use it up and/or wear it out more!
I think this whole “shelter-in-place” concept has caused a lot of us to make due simply b/c we either weren’t allowed out of our homes or the shops weren’t open. We’re all learning some more skills on how to live simply and it feels like a good thing. I too found that I was purchasing unnecessary (“I want this”) items just b/c I was already in the store for needed things.
Tonya, I love your curly hair! This is coming from a straight-haired girl who usually wants what she doesn’t have. Right? 🙂 Kathi, I was thinking about your jacket w/ the marker stain. Depending on where the stain was and how big it was, another option might be to add a cute iron-on patch or pretty stitching over the stain.
Thanks for sharing your tips, ladies! We all appreciate and love you! 😀
I am not going on line or out shopping except for bare essentials….when I go online or into stores, I tend to buy….The paint, decor and furniture in my house can last until it starts falling apart. I’m going to be content with what I have and not crave more “stuff” It makes life simpler…thank you for your suggestions.
I so much enjoyed this episode. I love the entire concept of “use it up; wear it out; make do; do without”. Wear it out this week – I used my black belt until it completely cracked and tore apart and finally had to get a new one at a discount retail shop. 🙂 One thing I have wanted is a new comforter for my bed but the one I have matches my decor and although it has a few picks in it (from our previous cat), it is fine and no need to get a new one. So for me…..my wear it out challenge is to use that comforter until it looks too ragged or falls apart. hahaha Thanks for always being so awesome – both of you!