Simplifying Life - Mark II

[Deleted User]

Hope everyone has been enjoying the lovely couple of days we've had - life seems much easier when there is some blue sky and sunshine- am missing it today though.

The links cottage economy gave us have provided me with a good few evenings entertainment- and more blogs to follow- thank you.

Looking forward to a cosy evening tucked up watching TV.

GLx

Cottage_Economy

JackieO - my crocuses are up too and I have small bees going between them collecting pollen. Ok, well just one bee actually but he was very industrious and filling his little saddlebags full of yellow pollen. I was very surprised to see him out so early and a bit sad I hadn't more flowers out for him to collect from.

I've just spent two wonderful days in the garden. I'm filthy, knackered and very happy. The patio and patio bed is weeded, the chairs are out, one large veg bed is now ready for planting next month, all the containers have been fed and where needed have been repotted, and the fruit trees have been pruned and fed, as has the soft fruit.

Back to work tomorrow and then only two days before I can get back out there...I'll be counting the minutes.

Before that happens I have to effect some kind of miracle with my hands and nails to make me look presentable...

Cottage_Economy

goodlife10 wrote: »

Hope everyone has been enjoying the lovely couple of days we've had - life seems much easier when there is some blue sky and sunshine- am missing it today though.

The links cottage economy gave us have provided me with a good few evenings entertainment- and more blogs to follow- thank you.

Looking forward to a cosy evening tucked up watching TV.

GLx

The trouble with all those blogs is that they in turn link to others on their blogrolls. Drowning in blogs!

Cottage_Economy

Read a nice article this evening that approaches simplification from the viewpoint of what NOT to do, rather than what to do.

The Art of Adding by Taking Away

Chickenopolis

Thank you Cottage Economy - good post.

Cheapskate

I'll second that thanks, very thought-provoking article. When you think about it, it makes complete sense, very logical!

A xo

Cottage_Economy

Lightbulb moment - yesterday I identified the source of why I get frustrated with simple living sometimes. Because in my mind I've mixed up living simply with living modestly. I would like to lead a more modest, less gadgety life but gadgets save me time and energy and while I'm working full time and doing freelance work I 'perceive' this state of affairs as being simpler than being without them.

I use a steamer to cook hardboiled eggs instead of doing it on the stove because I use no gas just electric and its cheaper. I use a microwave to cook/steam veggies instead of the stove for the same reason. But I'm drowning in labour-saving devices and have less space as time passes...

I tried to explain it to my husband this morning but he looked at me confused and said: well don't eat eggs then.

Not sure he got what I was trying to say.

Cottage_Economy

I've been making efforts over the last couple weeks to simplify my approach to things and this weekend it all came together.

I'd been having problems with having to do loads of washing all the time, leading to a near constant amount of clothes drying around the house and eventually huge mounds of ironing, which I would leave for weeks until I had two hip high baskets full balanced against a wall.

After sorting out my wardrobe and household linen cupboard, I cleared the ironing pile of everything that remained (over 4 hours ) and stuck to wearing my restricted but adequate wardrobe for living and working. It was then clear why I had previously had problems - I had been compounding having too many clothes with wearing a lot of clothing just once or twice before putting it in the wash. A pair of trousers or a skirt would be worn for half a day and then washed. I've now stopped that completely, mainly because if I carried on I'd have nothing to wear!

This weekend I did one clothes wash yesterday, dried it overnight and spent 45 minutes ironing it and putting it all away this morning. Tonight I wash the week's towels (three) and bed linen, which will dry overnight, and I put that away and that's that.

Such a weight off my shoulders, a weight I hasten to add that I made for myself.

CurlyTop

Hi Cottage,

Know what you mean about the washing and ironing, it can get overwhelming.

I used to be the same, wear something for a short time and then put it in the wash. Now I tend to get 2 days out of a pair of trousers for work and then throw them in the wash, same for other clothes. I only work in an office so I'm not likely to get hot and sticky or my clothes too dirty. Same doesn't apply for DH as he works in a shop and lifts boxes about, so can get a bit hot.

However, there only being two of us, the washes for the week are 3 one week and 4 the next (1 x normal clothes, 1 x towels, 1 x bedding, the 4th wash is made up of dark clothes every other week). I tend to do on a Friday and batter the drying so I just iron on the Saturday for about 1-1.5 hours so its out of the way.

Glad to hear you're getting there with the simplifying. Keep it up.

tootoo

But how on earth do I start?
For me I'd like to pay off the very small debt we have and then start paying off our mortgage, declutter the house, and live simply.
But where do I start?
Any tips or guidance?
I cook nearly always from scratch, I'd like to grow more but I'm a little restricted with space in our garden and don't have time for an allotment as I have little people to look after....
How does everyone start out on this path?