Simplifying Life - Mark II

oldtractor

goobergirl you can tell him we dont have a tv of any kind in our house! Best thing I ever did,get rid of the tv better quality of life now.

goobergirl

You would be carted off to the hospital for saying outrageous things like that!!

I could exist quite happily without TV but probably a step too far for the rest of my family at this stage!

ceridwen

I did succumb to temptation earlier this year and bought a tv again - as i have rather more spare time than I used to have these days. However - I wonder whether it was a waste of money - as I so rarely switch it on for anything. There are very few programmes I actually want to watch - and most of those are available on Iplayer anyway. So - hmmm....think maybe I shouldnt have spent that £200 or so (and tv licence and had to get the aerial changed - as it wouldnt pick up all the Freeview channels until I had done so).

So - I'm wondering whether I should have bothered in the event ...

Shopping - well its been a blessing not to use weekends for shopping anymore (means I can do something more interesting/useful with Saturday mornings for instance - like go for a walk). Shopping is pretty much only done these days for replenishment of food, etc and I can manage to slot that in on workdays (ie when I have to be out for that anyway).

I am trying to wean myself off an Amazon habit - for bookbuying. But now that I have all the reference books I think I could ever require - then I should be able to resist that in future <fingers crossed smilie>. I very very rarely buy fiction books - only if I can get them for about 50p secondhand and then I'll restrict myself to, say, a couple a month at most. I'm not keen on spending money just to "fill time" - I like to feel I've got something useful for my money. Hence why I'm okay about buying reference books - but not fiction ones.

goobergirl

My 'project' or target for the summer holidays is to wean myself off the tumble drier (or is it dryer?).

Having 3 young kids I know it is not going to be possible all year round but I am going to aim to only use it when absolutely necessary.

I have an old style pulley in my utility which I do use quite often but doesn't have enough room for a full load of laundry. I am off to retrieve my folding airer from the garage which has been there for some time, I am ashamed to say:o. Just pure laziness on my part as it is so easy just to pop things in the drier.

I will now keep it as part of my utility room essentials. In fact I am going to have a complete declutter of the utility room today. I've said it now so I have to do it :eek:

[Deleted User]

My tumble dryer broke earlier this year and I haven't replaced it. I can honestly say I haven't missed it, I use an airer for smaller items and hang-up shirts, tops, dresses etc from bookshelves in the spare room. There is only me, DH and DS but they make loads of washing from sports etc almost everynight. Things are much easier to iron cause I often didn't get things out of dryer before they'd creased up again. Now folding more and ironing less- that's a great simplifier for me!!

Goobergirl, know exactly what you mean about work colleagues, that's exactly how I feel but at moment my self esteem still is such that I feel very vulnerable not fitting in, am trying to work on that and see it as a positive, but after years of trying to fit in its a difficult habit to break. Good for you, its a great help to read about your experiences.

Am enjoying going to the library, I love reading so its great to read everything I want without having the expense and the clutter of loads of books!

Still planning the major cull of my wardrobe over the weekend- can't wait in fact- is that sad?

goobergirl

Lilykins, not sad at all, go for it! I am half way through the utility room, just having a cup of tea and bite for lunch then back to it.

It is difficult at work sometimes and I have felt like you in the past. I don't really remember when I stopped caring about what the other's thought, I just don't anymore. They are probably the ones feeling out of control with overspending etc but can't or won't change.

Keep on doing what you know feels right:T

sistercas

my tumble drier broke a year ago , and i am not going to replace it , there is nothing nicer than washing that has dried outside, it can be a struggle when its raining , but i have a picture rail in the dining room and i hang stuff on that

goobergirl

All washing dried outside today and ready for ironing.

Utility room and larder cupboard blitzed and is a far more pleasant place, one where things can be found easily and put back in their rightful place. That has definitely simplified my life today. However I did have the urge to splurge on Lakeland 'lock n lock' storage boxes. I resisted and will see if MIL has some spare large jars instead. I would love to have a utility room like the ones you see in the IKEA book.;)

Moved the chest freezer to the garage so now have space to store my folding airer for wet days.

Wardrobes tomorrow, OH was very quick to say he'll do his own.... He knows i'm ruthless when I get in this mood!

VJsmum

I rarely tumble dry cos i have one of these

http://www.rotaire.com/

Even on a day like today, my washing all but dried on the line. I just had to hang in the airing cupboard to finish off.

goobergirl

Ooh, I want one of those. I don't have a rotary line at the moment, I've got a straight line or lines. I will see if OH will change it to a rotary. That will solve bad weather days.