Stinky sports clothes

Let me guess, the title disgusts you before you have even read the post! Well fear not my friends, it will be worth a read, I hope!  Here is a little background info.  In my spare time, I play soccer and long distance run.  I have for most of my life and both are big passions of mine as well as keeping fit and healthy, which sometimes with my busy life in a binge habit. However, there is one aspect of it lately though that has caused me way more stress then should be allowed.  Finding the space/time to air out all my gear.

Obviously, sports clothes do not smell good when you are done with them and for me at least they are covered in sweat. Now I live in a small 1 bedroom apartment as well as share laundry.  So, you can imagine the elephant sized stress I feel whenever I come home from a run or game. Trying to go with my minimalism journey, sprawling all my gross clothes around my living room for the night until I can wash them is not my idea of a great place to be.

It's actually a hilarity at the same time, because I've started using my balcony too now that it's summer. (Sorry neighbours, I honestly feel bad for you).  But it makes me laugh every time I see a soccer sock flailing in the wind out my highrise apartment window!

The reason for this post though is to see what you guys do with your sports gear? Do you have a special way to store it or to let it air out? am I seriously the only one that finds it stressful? I wouldn't doubt that haha.

The troubles of traveling

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

Throughout my life, I have traveled to a few typical places in relation to where I live. Such as Mexico, a few states in the US and other parts of Canada. Other than that, I haven't really explored the world, which I would love to do one day.  

Currently the BF and I are planning a small-ish trip to the other side of Canada, and as simple as it should be, planning trips is a lot of work.  Not only cost wise, but just the time it takes to get everything together. Now, maybe others out there are just better and more efficient than I, which could be totally possible but there are so many things you have to take care of.

First is flights.  I personally LOVE flying.  It's on my bucket list to actually have pilots license, but that's a story for another day. Booking flights are so frustrating to me, because the price can vary so much depending on where you are going, the day of the week you book, and the airline you book with.  It's just so tough to try and find a good deal. In my experience, I have always booked through Expedia which considers every airline and provides you with the cheapest options. But I do hate the feeling of booking a flight, checking the same flight a week later, and finding out that the price dropped. Not cool bro. 

Next is hotels.  I have had pretty good luck with hotels, but I'm not a fan of trying to find a hotel that a) is around the location you want to be in and b) in the price range you want.  I'm always scared to show up to the hotel and it look nothing like it did online. I have heard horror stories of that. But I suppose you can't go wrong with the big chain hotels.  Those are usually my go to anyways.

Trips are normally expensive regardless, but trying to make it as cost efficient as possible is definitely a challenge. Should be interesting over the next few days to see how much I can actually save compared to what I would normally spend on a trip like this.

Do any of you have tips on trying to be cost effective while traveling?

Books

As I'm sitting here, watching How to Deal on Netflix, I noticed that I have a lot of books sitting on my shelf across the room. Fictional novels, personal finance books, even some books on how to train in the world of soccer.  Then I realized that I have an issue with buying books brand new.

There is nothing better than a crisp, brand new book. I swear I can spend hours at a time in a Chapters book store reading and exploring wide varieties of the unknown.  At the same time, I can spend a ton of money while I'm there.  Books can range from $15.00-$45.00 per book, which as amazing as they are, is a little much, especially if you buy books all the time.

One thing I've learned on this journey is that I need to shake the need to have new and untouched.  There is nothing wrong with amazon, the used/new online bookstore, as well as local libraries.  We can actually get library cards for free in my city right now, so I really should be taking advantage of it.

Just another way I can learn to save just a little bit more. Old or new, books are such a calm and relaxing thing for me. Definitely have to make that a priority.

Do you take advantage of used or borrowed books?