Allison Baggerly: [00:00:00] Welcome Deanna to the Inspired Budget Podcast. I’m happy to have you here today.
Deanna Yates: Oh, Allison, thank you so much for having me. I am thrilled to be here.
Allison Baggerly: Okay, so tell me a little bit about yourself and how you ended up with your own business, and did you ever plan, Did you ever plan to have your own business?
Deanna Yates: Okay, so let’s get into that. Um, so my name is Deanna Yates and my business is Wannabe Clutter Free. And I have a podcast called The Wannabe Minimalist Show. Did I plan for this business? No, . That’s just how life. Goes, mm-hmm. . So, um, I grew up in a very entrepreneurial house, though both of my parents did have their own businesses.
My dad did construction and concrete coating, and my mom had a hair salon. And so I grew up around these concepts of owning your own business and all this kind of stuff. My husband, on the other hand, grew up in the opposite. He grew up in a home where, Uh, [00:01:00] both of his parents had, you know, followed that very traditional career path and so they always encouraged him to, you know, get the regular job and all those things.
And so we started a business together, , you know, because why not? Um, and so that was long, long ago, and, It’s like it’s a good test for your marriage. Oh, I feel like, yeah. Oh yeah. So this was technically, we started this before we got married, which Oh really? You know, maybe that’s crazy. I don’t know. Um, and so we basically started a software, so he does, um, software development. And my background was in marketing and I have a very buried background, so it’s said all sorts of things, but mostly marketing.
And so we started a company and I had worked in property. So we started a company to help small landlords collect rent online, just as the big landlords could. Oh, perfect.
Absolutely great business. Um, and it was going well. However, once our daughter [00:02:00] was born, we realized there was a ton of liability in that business. Mm. , we were transferring millions of dollars Wow. In rent. And you know, something happened, it was the two of us in our kitchen, right? Mm-hmm. like this isn’t, We did not have the funds to cover anything that went wrong, so we ended up letting that business go. And um, you know, kind of. Wandered around. So this is a very long answer to a question of, no, I did not think I was gonna be in this business. Cuz you know, that’s just life though. It, it kind of ebbs and, and flows. And then once Covid hit, I had always wanted to have some sort of blog or, you know, something going on.
I just, I’ve always wanted to have some sort of additional income or additional side projects, right. Side hustle type of thing. And. So this was more started off like a craft blog or like home making kind of stuff. And we traveled a lot as a family. Um, we were very lucky we got to travel in Europe for about a year and a half.
Not all, just around and around. We [00:03:00] definitely settled. We were in Germany for the most of that time, and. It was, yes, it was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend if anybody ever gets a chance and somebody says, Would you like to live in a different country for a while? Absolutely. Say yes. You’ll be terrified. But do it. Please do it. Ended up deciding to come back to the States. Um, it was a, a choice we made. So my daughter’s nine now, so we were in first grade when Covid hit and all that ensued there and the fun and the chaos.
And so I ended up. Starting this business kind of during that time, I had started a podcast. Um, I can’t exactly tell you why at this point when I’m looking back, like, why did I start a podcast? Who, who was I to think I could start a podcast or, you know what? I just thought it would be fun. Turns out I love speaking way more than I love writing.
So it’s a perfect medium for me if you can’t tell. And so, you know, I’ve just had a lot of fun with it. With blogging I had a, I struggled. I struggled to write. I struggled to be consistent. I struggled to show up and [00:04:00] serve. And with podcasting it’s just so much fun. I just love getting to meet new people.
I love getting to go on other shows like I am today. I love having people on my show and I just love kind of chatting about this world of living with less and how much freedom it gave us. Cuz that’s what I realized was having less allowed us to say yes to more things. It allowed us to say yes to traveling for that year and a half. It allowed us to do things that a lot of people don’t get to do because they’re bogged down by their stuff. And, um, so I think that’s what we’re gonna talk about today. Um, so I’ll let us get back to it.
Allison Baggerly: Oh my gosh. You have an incredible story, number one and number two, I think it’s so wonderful that you just started a podcast. You just did it. Because I think that a lot of people will stop and they won’t do it. And that was me for, for a while. I was like, Oh, do I wanna do it? I don’t know. I don’t know. It sounds like a lot of work and it is. I mean, it can be, It can be a lot of work depending on how much you hire out and how prepared you are. But for me, I started it because I was, I was lonely and I wanted to [00:05:00] connect with people. So it sounds like you do really well with connecting with others too. And when you’re just writing articles, you miss that connection piece. And so that was, that sounds like, uh, sounds like you and I have that in common. So I think we’re gonna have fun today then.
Deanna Yates: I think so.
Allison Baggerly: Okay. So you love Living on Less and you started an entire podcast just about being minimalist and you talked specifically about capsule wardrobes, which before we hit record, I was like, I probably need this because I have a lot of clothes. Um, I always have, you know, I feel like, I don’t know when Capsule wardrobes became popular. I think I first heard about it on Pinterest.
When I, when I used Pinterest. I don’t use it anymore, but, you know, and, and I love the idea of it, right? Like, I’m like, Oh, that sounds so cool. That sounds so, like freeing. Yeah. But for some reason I’m like scared to let go of things. So, um, walk me through Exactly. And, and any listeners, but you know, I’m gonna kind of use this as like a [00:06:00] personal coaching session.
Deanna Yates: Please do.
Allison Baggerly: What a capsule wardrobe is and why you think that people should, should turn to one?
Deanna Yates: Okay. So I think the good point is that we have all actually lived with a capsule before, whether we realize it or not, and we’re gonna talk about that in a second. Um, I wanted, So it probably started, I think Courtney Carbo was really the one that made this the most popular with her capsule. Like the 3 33 project. Right. . 33 items over three months. Like I think that’s where a lot of us started on this capsule journey. And that was probably 10…
Allison Baggerly: I don’t know what that is…
Deanna Yates: …12 years ago.
Allison Baggerly: What is that?
Deanna Yates: Ooh, interesting. Okay. Don’t worry about it. It’s okay. Because I think some people think that that might be a little limiting. Like they feel like, Oh, I have to, So. Only so many pieces and it kind of freaks them out. And it feels like a lot cuz it’s like a, you use that for three months and then you transfer. And so I think there’s a way to, it sounds like do this without having to do that. So let’s get into that.
Allison Baggerly: And also when you have, like me, I live in Houston, Texas, like we have very [00:07:00] few seasons. So I have like literally three, three long sleeve shirts and that. That’s it. That’s all I have are three long sleeve shirts. One’s a sweatshirt. I mean, cause I don’t need it. We, we don’t need it. So the idea of like transferring in like every season, every three months changing, I’m like, but no, I wear that all the time.
Deanna Yates: Okay, perfect. So then we get to start the slate clean, which I love and actually a capsule wardrobe. Kind of my gateway drug. It was kind of like what got me into living with less. We can go with that. Um, so I think we’ve all done a capsule when we’ve traveled, right? Think about packing for a vacation. When you pack for a vacation, do you pack your crappy T-shirt? No, of course you don’t. You don’t pack that, right? You pack the good stuff, you pack the best stuff. The stuff you feel the best in, the stuff that looks amazing and the stuff that you just want to be in. Right? And that’s [00:08:00] kind of how I like to start a capsule’s kind of from that perspective of like if you were to go on vacation to where you live, what are the pieces you would put in your suitcase? And I’m not even gonna make you go crazy and do a carry on suitcase. I did a carry on suitcase for five months in Europe, but I’m not gonna make people do that. No, you could have a regular size suitcase if you’re just starting out. Um, but I do think that we have this idea that we need a lot of stuff to have a lot of variety. And I don’t think that you. I actually think that you can live with 12 articles of clothing and make 72 outfits. Now I have more than 12 articles of clothing, but I do like to give the extreme moments. And your face right now is classic. I love it. It’s so great.
Allison Baggerly: 12 articles like, Can you fly here and pick out my articles for me and then take to rest away?
Deanna Yates: I’ll tell you right now the 12 you need. Ok. Let’s do it. Oh my gosh. So you. Um, basically . I love your face. It’s so good. I’m sorry it’s too good.
Allison Baggerly: I [00:09:00] if you walked into my closet. I mean, it’s, it’s not that I have a lot of stuff. It’s not that I buy a lot of stuff. It’s that I, I, I feel like also like I change sizes and then I hold onto things. Cause I’m like, Oh, but one day, right?
And then, um, And then I, I don’t know. I feel like if I go on a work conference, I need nice clothes, but I’m not, I only go on a work conference like twice a year, so, Oh.
Deanna Yates: So you could easily start with your work clothes and make a capsule just with those, Like, if you’re really concerned about doing all of your closet, you can start in an area where you’re like, I know I don’t need a lot.
How can I maximize what I have? Okay. So, Okay, here we go. I’m ready. So the 12 items, so I actually have a download. Okay. Um, that. How like a French inspired capsule wardrobe, and it is making 72 outfits out of 12 pieces. Okay, So the 12 pieces are two outer layers, right? So like a blazer or a cardigan or something that would help you transition from, you know, kind of chilly mornings to an afternoon.
Okay. Or, [00:10:00] you know, if you’re going out in the evening or something like that, you’d like an extra. So two outer layers, six tops. Um, and now the point is everything has to mix and match. And that’s the secret. That’s, that’s the secret. So we gotta stick with like a, a color palette that works. It does not have to be all neutrals.
Mm-hmm. , you’re in this beautiful, bright pink color, which looks great on you. Thank you. I’m in mind. Not my normal black, cuz I love black. I wear black all the time. I was told by a color specialist I shouldn’t wear black. And I was like, That’s fun. Forget you. Thanks for coming on
So two outer layers, six tops, and then four bottoms. You could have a pair of shorts. You could have jeans, you could have capris. You could have a skirt. You could have a dress as one of your bottoms that you can like then put the tops, tops on. You know, and then I like to try to get down to three pairs of shoes.
People think I’m crazy, but I promise. If you find the right shoes you can. So I like, you know, [00:11:00] obviously like a street shoe I wear vans I love kind of like a, like a sneaker street shoe that’s a little edgy. Um, I like a flat, like a ballet flat or like a. You know, it doesn’t have to be ballet flat.
It could be like pointed toe. It could be something that can kind of dress things up, but it’s still very comfortable if you wanted to walk lots of places. And then I love a boot, um, or like a heel.
Yeah. And so you can kind of, if it’s summer and spring, you’re gonna go toward the wedge if it’s fall and winter, you’re gonna go toward the boots. Mm-hmm. , you know, this doesn’t have to be a year round capsule for you. This could be, maybe you’ve got something more springtime and then that kind of flows into, you know, fall.
So you, this doesn’t have to be a year round wardrobe either. This can ebb and flow. So you can start, you know, you can have your springtime pieces that are maybe a lighter color palette
you know, and then it can kind of flow into maybe your winter and your fall, which get a little bit deeper and darker. And you have the heavier items. Mm-hmm. And you have the boots. And even though we both live in climates without, [00:12:00] Seasons, Right. I still like dress, you know Winterish. Mm-hmm. . And it gets chilly here actually in the morning in San Diego.
So I definitely, that’s why I have more long sleeves than you do. Mm-hmm. . Cause I have to wear a layer or a long sleeve in the morning or in the evening.
Allison Baggerly: this is my next question actually that I have on our like outline I guess is um, actually, well one of them was what are some warning signs that someone desperately needs a capsule wardrobe?
And I feel like as you were talking, I was seeing warning signs in my own life, like . Well, like for me, I feel like I walk into my closet and I, I almost feel like when this episode airs, I need to like, take you in my closet, but by that time I’m might have a capsule wardrobe, so I won’t have anything to show you, but it’s okay.
I feel like when I walk into my closet, I have so many options, but, um, And I feel like some of them, I don’t feel good in.
Deanna Yates: You want [00:13:00] to feel good in them. Oh, the fantasy self. Oh, these are hard. These are hard pieces. Okay.
Okay. So. I like to think about how I wanna feel in the day, and I think clothes really can be a little bit of a superpower. I am not a fashionista. Mm-hmm. , I, trust me, you see my stuff. You’re like, what? Okay. But I do think that there are pieces that we feel good in. I love this shirt that I’m wearing.
Mm-hmm. , it’s, you know, it’s cotton and, but it’s got, it’s got a nice kind of flowy feel to it. Mm-hmm. . So if I feel. I didn’t really eat the best, you know? Mm-hmm. I don’t feel like I got a gut in it. I don’t, it’s not a tight fitting shirt, but I feel like it gives me a good silhouette. I like how it feels.
It’s comfortable. I feel confident when I go out into the world in this shirt, knowing that I feel put together. It’s slightly elevated T-shirt. Nothing crazy. Absolutely nothing crazy. I think it’s from the gap, like it’s nothing crazy. So. But that doesn’t mean that. [00:14:00] So like this aspirational self, Let’s get back to that.
Allison Baggerly: I feel like a lot of people have this aspirational self. By the way, I hope I’m not alone here.
Deanna Yates: Oh, you are so not alone. And the thing is the marketing, you know, agenda, basically. Mm-hmm. is constantly telling us that if we just wear this thing, we’ll be this person. Or if we just wear this, we’ll feel like this.
Again, we’re not, we’re all humans and we all have our own likes and dislikes and different body shapes and different hair color and eye color and skin tone, and you know, things that are going to look great on you. Mm-hmm. are not gonna look great on me. And things that you feel comfortable in, maybe I wouldn’t feel comfortable in, or vice versa.
Like, Yeah. People always tell me, Oh, you should wear a maxi dress and I. Heck no. It is not something I wanna wear. That looks fabulous on you, and you rock it. You look amazing. Mm-hmm. , I put that on and I feel like I should just be laying on the couch, you know, watching a show, like I just, it just doesn’t jazz me up.
Like I need something a little bit edgier. I wear jeans more often than I probably should, you know? And things I just, I don’t know. Like, so things that fit me aren’t gonna fit someone else. And so this is why we have to look in our closet and really look at. What do I do on a regular basis? Okay. You know, what kind of lifestyle do I lead?
I’m a mom of a nine year old. I don’t go into a corporate job anymore. Mm-hmm. . I don’t need my corporate wardrobe, but I do keep a small amount of things right. I have my black cigarette pants. I have a couple really nice work shirts. I have a blazer and I have a skirt. Mm-hmm. . So if I needed to, I could do a whole week worth of clothes right there.
Just from those, because I’ve got my cigarette panel. Wear it with both shirts. I’ve got the skirt. I wear that with both shirts, and I’ve got the blazer I can throw on. And you could throw that on with the T-shirt. Yeah. You know that good and you’re good to go and you’re good. And you know, so if you need to, you [00:15:00] can wash those items in between.
Mm-hmm. . But this is a way that allows me to keep some things in my closet without taking up a bunch of space because I don’t ever actually have to wear those things. Yeah. But I keep, keep them in there in case I do. So I wouldn’t have to run out and get something and be panicking. Right. And buying something that I didn’t really like because I was just in a rush.
Allison Baggerly: Right. I’m like so motivated right now. I feel like, yay, this is my weekend project. But here’s my question. I know that for me personally, as someone like I love to spend money, I enjoy shopping. Mm-hmm. , I enjoy clothes shopping. Um, I have a couple of questions. Number one, Obviously like I can see the financial benefit.
Mm-hmm. to not having all of these things because once I have, or, and even just like slowly over time creating this, um, and then you’re obviously saving money cuz you’re not having to fill this up. But then my other question is, I know a lot of my listeners and that really wasn’t a question, I guess it was more of a comment, but I know a lot of listeners.
They turn to shopping out of like an emotional need or they enjoy it, right? They enjoy clothes shopping. What do you recommend to those people who just enjoy it and you’re like, Hey, you’re taking away one of my hobbies, or You’re taking away one of the things that I like to
Deanna Yates: do. Yeah. Well, huh. There are definitely ways to enjoy shopping without necessarily having to purchase the item.
Okay. So there is something called the endowment effect. And once you own something, you value it more than it actually is worth. Okay? And so I think that’s one reason we have a hard time with the things in our closet. Hmm. Because we value it. We put our experiences, we put how we felt when we bought that thing, and all that kind of stuff on there.
Now, if you’re somebody who really [00:16:00] enjoys shopping, I wanna challenge you to. Do you really enjoy the act of shopping? Do you enjoy having the stuff? Those are two different things. Mm-hmm. or,
Allison Baggerly: or I even wanna say mm-hmm. , are you looking for something to fill
Deanna Yates: your time? . Yeah. Oh, boredom is a huge one. Mm-hmm.
Right? We just feel like we need to be busy all the time. Mm-hmm. . And so that’s another one. So I would challenge you to, instead of going shopping, invite your friend out for coffee, right? Mm-hmm. , see if you have somebody you could go do something else with. See if somebody wants to go on a walk. Yeah. You know, go check out a different, you know, nature area.
Try to give yourself a pause, like I get that maybe, and maybe it is shopping. Maybe you will do all these different things and you’ll try it and you’ll say, You know what it really is shopping. That’s what I really like. Mm-hmm. . Well, then they can work with you to get a budget line item put in mm-hmm.
That says, I have this much to spend every month. No problem. And I can go guilt-free shop. Yep. If you. Have that decision fatigue. So that’s what I see. Like people come to me because they’re like, I am overwhelmed. And I’m like, mm-hmm. . Yeah. It’s cuz you’re making decisions all day long in your house. Oh my gosh.
Yes. And so you just wear yourself out mentally. Uhhuh, . And that’s one thing that a council wardrobe can really help with. And I think that’s one of those, um, signs that people need help. One of those warning signs is when you look in your closet and you say, I have nothing to wear, but you have a hundred things in there.
Yeah. That the clothes aren’t the problem. Yeah. You have clothes. There are people in this world that would be thrilled to have the clothes that are in that closet. So what is it about those clothes that don’t work? And maybe they don’t, Maybe they’re all old clothes. Mm-hmm. that don’t actually work. So I’m not sitting here saying, Well, you have a hundred things.
You’ve gotta find something in there, . Maybe you don’t actually have anything in there that is quite [00:17:00] possible. Mm-hmm. , maybe you’ve been living really frugally because they’re on your budget plan and they don’t want to be spending the money. Clothes are worn out and so they go into their closet and they go, No, I feel bad in all of these clothes.
Mm-hmm. , that’s possible. Yeah. So we really have to look at it from different areas. But if you have decision fatigue and you can’t walk into your closet and go, Okay, I love this, I love this, I’m good. If you’re just bored with what you’re wearing, that’s one thing. Okay. But if you are struggling to find something, you stand there and you have that moment of like, I have nothing to wear.
Mm-hmm. , when really you do have things to wear, right? It’s because there’s just too much. There’s too much. There’s too much, there’s options. Visually, there’s too many options. Maybe the color palette is a little chaotic, like visual clutter is a big thing. And so I love looking at a color palette. So, and that doesn’t, like I said, have to be neutrals.
I mean, mine obviously is black, white, gray, stripes, denim. Good. I’m good. Little thrown in there. And I’m happy
Allison Baggerly: I like pinks and red and navys
Deanna Yates: and perfect. Yeah. So you pick those colors that work for you. Mm-hmm. , and you could do. Two different capsules. Mm-hmm. , you could do three different capsules. I like that.
You know, it doesn’t have to be really limiting, but you can say, Here’s my pink capsule and I know, Oh, everything in this, these 12 items go together and I know I can make 70 to a different combos. Wow. With these 12 pieces, here’s my blue capsule. I can all of these work together. You know? So you can have different ones and it doesn’t have to be so restricting.
To just those things. I mean, I’m the wanna be minimalist. I want to live with less stuff. Mm-hmm. , but not everybody does that. And so you can still use a capsule wardrobe in a way that fits with your lifestyle, that fits with your values, that fits with you, know, what you need and, and go from there. Like what I [00:18:00] wear now is way different than what I wore 10, 12, 15 years ago.
My lifestyle is totally different. Mm-hmm. . So our capsule wardrobes need to evolve with us.
Allison Baggerly: Yeah, for someone who has a lot of clothes and the idea of going down to 12 pieces is it just sounds mean. It just sounds me. Um, I will say that when you were talking, I was thinking, Okay, well could I do this for like, I mean, you know, when I, I work from home.
I’m a mom too. I’m wearing right now workout shorts and like a nicer t-shirt, but because you can’t see that I’m just wearing workout shorts and I’m barefoot. So I think, Okay, can I have. One for my, like at home, working one for. You know, be going out with friends or date night, and then one for like more business stuff,
Deanna Yates: for sure.
Okay. Yeah. You can do them by lifestyle, you can do them by color, you can do them however you see. Mm-hmm. , if you travel to different destinations, often you can say, Well, this is my, you know, this is my European vaca one. Mm-hmm. This is my, you know, US road trip one, I mean mm-hmm. , I mean, that’s what’s so lovely about them is you can have them be.
Any combination that works for you. Yeah. But I just love that, at least that framework. Two outers layers or two layers. Okay. On top then six shirts and four bottoms. Okay. Now the shirts could be a tank top, it could be a mm-hmm. , a button up shamrock shirt. It could be, um, you know, a blouse, It could be t-shirts, it could be a sweatshirt.
It can be, I mean, the sweatshirt you probably have is the layer, but Right. It can be any of those things depending on. You know, your climate. And then like you said, those bottoms could be a skirt, they could be pants, they could be jeans, they could be, you know, joggers, they could be shorts, they could be whatever, whatever.
But that framework at least gives you some way to say, okay, this, this, and this. And then the point is, each shirt matches with each pant, you know, bottom option. And then so that gives you one that gives you half of them. And. Once you put those outer layers on top mm-hmm. , it doubles it. Right? It doubles it.
So it’s like, that’s okay. All of that works together.
Allison Baggerly: All of this is in your free guide. Okay. And we’ll link to that . Um, my question is, as you have been, you know, Just implementing this into your own life and helping people do that, what are some of the benefits that you’ve seen? I mean, [00:19:00] obviously I see the benefit like financially for sure, of you’re saving money, you’re spending less money on, you know, caring for your clothes because you don’t have as many of ’em.
So you’re spending less money on laundry detergent. You’re spending less money on clothes in general. You are probably buying nicer clothes that are lasting longer, so that also helps. But other than like financially, What are some of the benefits that you have personally experienced in your life by just kind of making this change and going minimal with your clothing?
Deanna Yates: Sure. So like I said, it was the gateway drug for me, right? Mm-hmm. . So I think the mental ability, like of just having less and not stressing when I go into my closet mm-hmm. , like knowing like, okay, well we’ve got, we’re going out with friends, well I’ve got this, this, or this. And, uh, Like, I feel great in all of these things, and honestly, nobody really notices.
Okay. If you kind of wear things more than once, they don’t like the word.
Allison Baggerly: Ok. That was, that was also my concern, ,
Deanna Yates: like regular human life, it’s good [00:20:00] for the environment. So if you need something to like, make yourself feel like better if you’re like, uh, but I’m wearing that. That’s good. That’s good for the environment.
Be a good human and help the planet and wear something more than once. Yep. Social media has like conditioned us that we can’t get photographed in this thing more than once. Yep. Well, I think that’s why I also have gone to a very, uh, more neutral palette is like, well, if you photograph me in a black T-shirt, it’s a black T-shirt.
And if you’re gonna complain that I’m wearing a black T-shirt more than once, I’m sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t be friends if you’re judging me that much. So I think that’s the other thing too, like people. Like, I think clothing is way more for ourselves than it is for other people. Yes. Like yes, but
we forget that.
Yes, we think it’s also matters to other people, but really they’re just thinking about their own clothing, not our clothing.
For sure. Can you remember what your friend were to dinner last month when you went out with them? No. No, right. No,
Allison Baggerly: no, no. But I can remember what I [00:21:00] were because I, You were, Cause I needed to know, like, okay, do I feel good in this?
Can I sit well in this? Do I, you know, like, does it look cute enough for me to be able to be in these pictures and, and do I feel confident in it? Things like that. And
Deanna Yates: the same thing is going on in their head about their stuff, not yours. Yep. And so we have to think about that too, like clothing is for us.
And I think that was a big aha moment for me. It was like, if I feel good in it and I feel confident and comfortable, then all that’s great. Yeah. And having less stuff allowed us to do really cool stuff like mm-hmm. travel and go live in a different country every month and not have to, you know, drag all this stuff along with us and, um, and so I think if we can.
And it makes me feel good like it does. Mm-hmm. , like there is that side benefit of, well, maybe I’m helping the planet. I’m not buying as much clothing that’s ending up in the landfill. And I mean, there’s all these statistics about how, um, I just had an um, [00:22:00] Sustainability, uh, you know, kind of fashion expert on my show.
Mm-hmm. , and the statistic of like eight to 10% of the greenhouse gases is produced by the fashion industry. Wow. World. And it’s like, we don’t realize how much buying all of these clothes every year really does contribute to. Kind of harming the environment. And so, yeah. You know, it’s, it’s a side benefit to me, I think, you know, But it is something that in the back of my head, I think, well, yeah, if I, it matters, just buy a little bit less, it can make a big impact.
Mm-hmm. , So I love that. Yeah. That’s why I’m another reason I’m passionate about it, . Wow.
Allison Baggerly: Okay. So I’m going to go do this this weekend and then , I might need to get your phone number so I can text you Absolutely. To show you my before and after. Please. Please. Yeah. Um, but me, bring me
Deanna Yates: along, along on those tough decisions.
Oh my gosh.
Allison Baggerly: I would love to. So if anyone is sitting here thinking like, Yes, okay, let me go into my closet and let me get started with this and let me just hear more from you and your [00:23:00] wisdom about, you know, maybe not like going full blown minimalist. Oh, sure. But yeah, yeah. Like, you know, we need a little bit of a balance.
Where can people find you and learn more about you so that way they can listen to your podcast and get to.
Deanna Yates: Absolutely. Thanks Allison. So my website is wannabeclutterfree.com, and then my podcast is Wannabe Minimalist. So again, I am a work in progress. I am by no means perfect or extreme. So if you want just some tips that’ll just help you kind of on that journey and wherever that journey is for you, whether you’re just starting or you want a little bit more motivation, um, come on over and, uh, let’s be friends.
Allison Baggerly: Yeah. I love it. So, Deanna, at the end of every interview, I like to ask my guests three questions just to get to know them better. So I don’t want you to think too much about this. Okay. Um, the first question is, what is one thing you’re looking forward to?
Deanna Yates: Hmm. Well it is the beginning of the school year and we just switched schools.
So while [00:24:00] that part is a little difficult, I am looking forward to getting involved with the school. Um, the, the parents of the school so far have been so welcoming and inviting and I just can’t wait to kind of dive in and get to know this new group of people. Um, that’s what I’m looking forward to. I love meeting new people, so that’s kind of my happy.
Allison Baggerly: I love it. Okay. The second question is, what’s one money mistake you’ve made that you would tell everybody to avoid?
Deanna Yates: Not saving for myself first, probably like, Oh, that’s a good one. Yep. It’s so easy to spend whatever’s in your account. Mm-hmm. . So if you don’t pull it off. So now we obviously do the, you know, pull it first.
Mm-hmm. , so before it even goes into our bank account, we siphon off the money for different accounts. Right. Um, but not starting that early cuz it’s so easy to spend it when you
have out. Yeah. And then when you’re used to spending it, you’re like, Wait a minute, it hurts. Hurts. You want me to. Spending it and start saving it.
No, you’ve gotta be mistaken, right? Like that’s, that’s what feel
like it’s [00:25:00] way harder to get other people on board. So maybe you’ve had the realization that you wanna start saving so true. But to get someone else on board when you haven’t been doing that is so much harder than when you start from the beginning.
So just start early, just do it sooner rather than
Allison Baggerly: later. , I think that’s great advice, . And the third question, it’s actually just finish this sentence. Um, my favorite thing I’ve ever spent money on is,
Deanna Yates: Hmm. That’s a tough one. I’m gonna, I’m gonna cop out and say travel. I mean, it’s gotta be traveling. Yeah. I just, so many great memories from just different places we’ve been and, um, You know, we saved a ton of money on our wedding.
Mm-hmm. , We got married in Mexico, actually. Okay. So this is, this is one of my favorites. We went and ordered flowers in Spanish. I do not speak very . My Spanish is not great. Don’t worry. Um, so we went and ordered flowers in Spanish. Three, two or three days before our wedding. [00:26:00] Yeah. I mean, and just kind of hoped that they would show up, show up and be good and look amazing.
Yeah. I mean, we put them together. So I’m a little DIY sometimes, but, uh, yeah, I love, that was one of my favorite, favorite things. Yeah. Well
Allison Baggerly: then that’s a good thing that you spent money on is like your wedding and making sure that you were spending like the right amount so that way you could spend money on other things like travel.
Yeah, exactly. That’s good. I love it. Well, thank you so much for joining me and we’ll link to your website, your podcast, and your guide that I’m gonna have to go download and print.
