Utilizing small spaces, small budgets.

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There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal when it comes to food — for so many reasons — which is why I do most if not all of my cooking at home. Naturally, when I knew I’d be limited to a single countertop with a microwave and mini-fridge I knew I’d need to make some adjustments. Today I thought I’d share a little more about my ‘kitchen’ and how I’ve been using the space to suit my needs and cooking habits.

When preparing to move, you should always consider the extra expenses for appliances you may need as well as new cookware and dishes, and set aside extra savings. There are many things you can and should buy second-hand or at the dollar store, but the main thing you should always have on hand is a set of nice dishes. Not only is it best to have good quality dishes to serve food on when hosting company, but you should do it for yourself. The same goes for pots and pans, mainly because you’ll want something that will last and function for a long time. Aside from those however, you can save hundreds on your utensils, mixing bowls, storage containers, etc. if you know the right places to look.

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This is the one drawer under the countertop and I have to say, I am quite impressed with how well everything fit into it. There really was a place for everything I have. The cutlery tray was already there, and had a little cutlery in it already, but I added more of my own (the red-handled 16-piece set) which I purchased for $4.00 at a Dollar store in town. each of the cooking utensils I was able to buy at a different $ store this summer, each piece costing under $5. The knives I found at my local thrift shop, and each was in very good condition. Cleaned and sharpened they’re like-new! For things like these, all you need is something functional. Don’t spend more than you have to on small items that will work just as well. Also — don’t buy more than you know you will need. Make a list of all of the essentials, and don’t buy anything simply because it looks interesting and you think you may cook with it in the future. This will lead to clutter, and it will cost you money that could have been spent on better things.

~ The tin in the corner is full of some extra cookie cutters my mom let me keep, so I was lucky to get something for free.

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And this is what I have to work with! As you can see — very tight space. The microwave had to be moved to a little side table so that I could use the countertop for my toaster oven. Some things, like baking, are just too necessary. It takes some getting used to, but with a little improvisation and a learned comfort of working with food, the options are endless.

You’re also forced to consider your storage space when grocery shopping, which actually helps keep you from overspending. It’s a great added benefit.

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And here is where I keep my dinnerware. The white porcelain set I found at Canadian Tire for a great sale price, while everything else — vintage blue melmac set and glasses (behind cupboard door) I found at the same thrift store as the knives, and for less than $20 altogether. The cat mug I’ve had for a few years 🙂

Sunday shopping, bread, and more!

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I thought I’d post a little update this afternoon. Well, I suppose it’s getting on into the evening now, but it’s been an eventful day. I started off my morning with a breakfast of scrambled egg and tomato omelette. Then it was time to do my laundry and a little light cleaning.

My meal plan was organized so that I’d be stocked with enough groceries to last for the week up until today and it worked out. I still have some ingredients left over which saved me from having to buy more but despite that I somehow ended up going over the budget this trip. Some of the fruit can be frozen to last into next week, and I’ll be more careful to compare the prices of everything before putting them in my basket from now on.

Instead of spending extra on bread this week, I decided to get a jar of instant yeast and make a loaf myself. It’s rising right now, actually — almost time to bake. Here is the recipe I used.

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~

Also, I learned a very important lesson this week: you should never leave prepped onions in the fridge. Especially if it’s a small fridge. Of course, prepping food can make your life worlds easier. Whenever you want to cook, you have a container of pre-chopped veggies to whip out and no cutting boards or knives to clean once you’ve finished making the meal.

Yesterday as I stepped out the door on my way to work, I immediately noticed a smell coming from my jacket. I have to admit it put me in a bit of a panic! Nobody wants to get on the bus smelling of onions! Fortunately I was stopping in to visit my family before work and they let me use the washing machine. By the time I arrived home last night (after two more long bus rides) the bowl of onions had been sitting in the fridge for almost 24 hours. And what a smell that was. Instead of going to bed, the place needed to be aired out and I stayed up. Opened the windows. Plugged in my essential oil diffuser — thank goodness for that! If I didn’t have those oils it would’ve taken twice if not three times as long to get rid of it. It took a bit of research, but I found some quick methods for removing odours that I could use without having to make an extra trip to the grocery store.

  1. Baking soda: pouring baking soda into little containers and placing them around the house, in spots where the smell is strongest helps to absorb it. I put a little dish of baking soda on the couch, and put the cushions over it to help remove the smell from them. I placed the box of baking soda just inside the fridge door, open. I shouldn’t be surprised, but it is working — and well — most noticeably with the couch.
  2. Vinegar: The same thing, strangely. I don’t know the science behind it, but apparently the vinegar acts in a similar way absorbing odours from the air. So I placed a couple small bowls around my suite, including inside the fridge.
  3. Essential oils: used with a diffuser to disperse fragrant mists. I’ve had to move it around, and the mist carries perfumed scents which drift and settle, covering unwanted smells. This has worked the best out of everything I tried.
  4. Perfumes: I would not recommend using anything strong, as it will be hard to get rid of once it dries. I have a couple very mild candy and marshmallow scented perfumes which I sprayed on the blinds and bamboo screen which had also soaked up some of the onion.
  5. Fresh air: just leaving the windows open is one of the best ways to freshen up a room. Even if it’s cold out, just bundle up for a bit so that you can get back to having an odour-free space.

Keeping busy.

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It’s funny how much more there is to do when you’re living on your own. Before moving, I hadn’t realized just how much there is to think about every day when you’re fully responsible for taking care of yourself and the place you live in. The past few days I’ve been actively pursuing a second job which I will need alongside my casual work hours back in my hometown. Even on the few days where I hadn’t much left to do aside from light shopping and errands, I found myself busy with little cleaning duties to take care of around the suite. Even the small things you don’t notice right away, like baseboards and cupboard doors, can carry a lot of dust and residue. It’s always a good idea to clean them when you have a little free time to save yourself any trouble (and larger messes) later on.

Where I live, my kitchenette does not have a sink, and so I do my dishes in the washroom. I’ve found a useful system to keep everything clean and organized, and the mess contained to this small space so that I can easily wash up after preparing food or eating a meal. It can be time consuming as I have to do everything by hand, and transport my tub of dishes once cleaned to the kitchenette to dry and put them away. But once you get into a routine, it becomes part of your lifestyle and you don’t think about the process too much. Honestly, I do not mind it at all!

First, I fill the washing tub with hot soapy water. ~ I can’t believe how well it fits in the sink too – I didn’t check to measure the sink before buying the tubs.

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I set the clean tub to the side, with a dish towel to soak up water from the clean dishes — and begin washing! It’s easiest to wash everything, set it beside the sink, and strain the soapy water out of the tub before rinsing. I forgot to take a picture, but I bought a large tea-cup strainer to catch food particles from the washing tub as it drains.

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Next, I rinse and dry the dishes. I take the clean tub out to the kitchenette to make it easier, of course.

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Then wash/rinse and put away the tubs…

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And sanitize the countertop (with a different cloth). I use Lysol kitchen spray, because it cleans nicely and doesn’t leave residue behind. It smells lovely as well!

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A house on a hill.

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I first made the decision to move out this past spring. After I’d completed my first year at University, I realized that my chosen area of study might not be what I want to pursue as a career; I still have some self-discovery ahead of me before I figure that out. The one thing I’ve been completely sure of for a long time now is how much I need to be independent. Living with one’s parents is a privilege many young people don’t have, but it’s hard to live and act as an adult when everything is already provided-for. I would find myself slipping into lazy habits and procrastinating no matter how many times I’d try to change. Living in a small town didn’t help, where most of my neighbours were either older or younger, and my friends were busy in school. So, I stopped spending on unnecessary things, worked more, and put aside money for rent, groceries, and other expenses. I started browsing advertisements online to get a sense for the rental market, and when I felt I had a decent chunk of savings to work with, I started searching for a place of my own.

I cannot say enough how important it is to keep checking those websites every day. Every day. Every few hours even, if possible. That way, you’ll see something new as soon as it comes up. The rental market isn’t at its best right now, so most of the time, anything available will be rented within a few days of it being advertised to the website. I’m still amazed I managed to find the place that I did. I can’t help but think it was just meant for me to find, and that God led me to it!

Originally I’d planned to stay at home at least until the winter, but this place came up and the day I went to check it out I knew it was for me. I’d be moving in, mid-October  — and that was a bit of a shock — but you have to make exceptions sometimes, you know?

Luckily I’d begun collecting household items early on in the summer, mainly from thrift shops and what I could find at the Dollar store (which by the way, is an amazing place for decent kitchenware — I’ll post about this later). By the time October arrived I had almost everything I would need. My suite was already furnished so all I had to bring was a table and some extra storage, as well as a toaster-oven and hotplate for the kitchenette, and my dishes. Clothes, bedding, household supplies and other miscellaneous belongings were easy to pack up and my family helped me transport everything over on Sunday morning.

It’s only my third full day here on my own, but it’s already feeling like home. I can’t wait to see what the next few months will bring!

 

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