Simplifying Life - Mark II

TinyDancer_2

Did a bit of cleaning today to help with gaining the minimalism vibe in the house today, cant believe i had so much papers thats were full of rubbish in the house.

MoneyMission

Me - definitely a minimalist. If I could put my kettle and toaster in the cupboard every time I'd finished using it I'd be a happy lady!!! I do realise that its not practical though!

My in-laws have rooms in their house that you can't even get in to. Makes me jittery every time we visit. I just want to throw stuff out - boxes for things they no longer own, 7 broken telephones, mountains of used carrier bags amongst other things. I had to train OH very hard when we moved in together as he had tendencies towards hoarding too. I leave the in laws to it now as they like all their clutter. And there's the nub of the matter - its personal choice what people do or don't surround themselves with (unless you marry me obviously!!!).

I know its my issue but I just can't bear clutter.

mummybearx

My oldest sister is a minimalist. She doesn't know it, she thinks its just 'tidy', but it's not, it just the total basics in her home.

Her boyfriend once joked that the oldest thing in her house was the newspaper he bought yesterday, and she replied that she had already thrown that out :rotfl:

I on the other hand, have lots of stuff everywhere! A cabinet full of nick nacks, reminders of places we have been or things that have happened, candles in jars, paperwork, shoes, jackets litter the racks in the hall, cookbooks everywhere in thevkitchen...... Stuff everywhere really.

But I like it. We both like it like that tbhh. I always try and be tidy and organised, but honestly it's just too much hard work! :rotfl:

System

If I could put my kettle and toaster in the cupboard every time I'd finished using it I'd be a happy lady!!!

Well i dont have a toaster but yes, i put my kettle away when hubby is working away. I only drink 2 or 3 hot drinks a day so the kettle is hardly used. Of course when he is at home the kettle is left out because its on almost constantly as he drinks coffee like a fish.

Hermia

valk_scot wrote: »

My mum was a bit of a minimalist. That's why I've gone the other way I think, I got totally and utterly hacked off with her throwing out my things because "You don't really need them". I put a padlock on my bedroom door when I was sixteen..

So yes while I've got no problem with minimalism, please don't assume you've got the right to inflict it on unwilling family members. Let them keep their own rooms in the way they want, even if it is hip deep in the kind of clutter that makes your toes curl.

My mum was a bit of a hoarder and I think that is why I aspire to a minimalist lifestyle. I just find it very calming to be in a clutter-free space. I find 'stuff' so oppressive. I hate objects, like ornaments, that have no practical purpose. I love pretty things, but they always have to have a purpose too. I do a major declutter twice a year. I once read about a woman who could write down everything she owned on one sheet of paper. I don't aspire to be that minimalist, but I can never understand people who have cupboards of stuff that they don't use or don't like.

bluebag

Oh Gosh I wish !!! I really, really, really wish. I am hopelessly drowning in what I call kipple. No use to man or beast, but the effort involved in just thinking about sorting it all makes me want to lock myself in the cellar and throw away the key.

I'm dying of envy here.

lessonlearned

MoneyMission wrote: »

If I could put my kettle and toaster in the cupboard every time I'd finished using it I'd be a happy lady!!! I do realise that its not practical though!


o

I can now finally do this:D

I am currently on a mission to seriously declutter, and the kitchen has been one of my main targets this last couple of weeks - not done yet but a big improvement.

Another load to the tip yesterday and six bags to the charity shop this morning.

It feels great and my house seems to be getting bigger!! - so much space freed up.

Angel_Jenny

I have a lot of stuff even if I cleared out the things that I don't want / like I would still be miles away from minimalist.

I like pretty knick knacks!

mogwai

I'd love to be a minimalist and have dreams of ebaying/carbooting every so often but I have too much stuff to deal with in one go!

Too much stuff does make me feel a bit restless sometimes and thats when I have a mini clear out but I think I need to do better. DH is a total minimalist when he was living here on his own it always looked like hed just moved in!

My mum is a total hoarder think thats where I get it from but I am fighting it! I find my mental state is so much clearer when theres less stuff around..

Lavender_Rose

After a torrid few months due to redundancy/stress/anxiety and depression, I finally feel I am getting better and one of my main aims this year is to lead a more simple and fulfulling life.

For me this means spending more time doing the simple things in life - walking, cooking from scratch, gardening, re-discovering old style skills such as sewing, spending more time with my family. It also means doing less of the stressful things - buying (or feeling I should buy) stuff I don't need and ditching high maintenance 'friends'. I have also got rid of a lot of clutter in the last few months which has been very therapeutic. I don't need stuff, what I need is peace and room to breathe.

I was wondering if anyone out there longs for a more relaxed and simple life?