Simplifying Life - Mark II

FairyPrincessk

Like any path--one step at a time! Since you already cook mostly from scratch, maybe you can think about other small steps--eliminating expensive cleaning products or switching from paper products like kitchen roll to re-usable. Or perhaps mastering a new skill in the kitchen and incorporating it into your routine--like bread making or preserving.

It might also help to take stock, not of what you don't do, but of what you do do (if that makes sense!) Are you constantly in the car taking the kids to activities, going out to the shops etc? Can you replace some of these with more home-based activities that take less money, provide a calmer life and feel more rewarding?

What about sewing or building things for your home?

You might like reading this blog:
down---to---earth.blogspot.com

she and her husband aim to lead a simple life and she blogs (and has a forum) where others share their similar goals.

good_advice

How much are you prepared to give up? clubs, subscriptions, phone contracts and tv packages? Going out where it costs money? shops, dinners, bars or travel?

How does every one start? = I started with checking bank statements and looking to see if I could get any cheaper when letters popped through the letter box. That was a wile ago when I had more time and less work.

It does take time to make things simple. We do not holiday abroad any more. We maybe once a year go on a mid week break dog walking holiday.

Learning to look around the home and use what you have before going to the shops.
This is a hard one. Even my family struggle here. Society is very much for promoting buying unnecessary STUFF.

Decluttering every few years and checking HOT SPOTS. Dumping grounds. Ours is very much our large conservatory. Only yesterday I stopped several large cases going in there! Dumped on us full of clothes we do not want! Most will be going to the CS.

savingqueen

OP I know where you are coming from. I feel the same. We have made lots of lifestyle changes, mostly little ones over a long period of time. We still have many more we would like to make. I don't think we will ever get there as always learning and finding more things to aim for - I think that's a postive thing though.

You are already doing well cooking mostly from scratch. Pick one bigger thing or a couple of smaller things and when you are comfortable doing those, move on to the next challenge.

My current aims are decluttering (taking a long time in very small steps but all in the right direction) and spending less on expensive days out/activities with children (have a group of friends with kids who usually do this with.) I have cut my coffee shop habit right down (but not completely out as haven't chosen to at this point)

Future aims include amongst other things more sewing - currently do simple repairs, odd basic kids fancy dress etc but want to progress to making soft furnishings etc.

Why not write it all down? Make a list of all the stuff you have already done (bet there's more than you realise), a list of what you would like to do and in what order. Obviously the list will be tweaked as you progress. Think about your priorities - are they doing things that save most money, improve your quality of life most, things you enjoy doing the most or???

good luck!

tootoo

Thank you for the replies.

A move is a dream but not possible at the moment financially.

I think I'll take one step at a time, thank you for the advise.

I brought a sewing machine a few months ago and I'm making use of this.

Cheapskate

How are you all doing with simplifying your lives?

I'm VERY slowly getting rid of carp we don't need, have politely refused to do things for various people (for the first time in my life, and you should have seen some of the looks! :rofl:) and am getting to know my littlies more as we've been housebound some days due to the weather. Not as sad as it sounds, that last one - we've just been so busy for long that we've not had time to just sit and be IYKWIM!

A xo

Cottage_Economy

Hi Cheapskate and Curlytop

Slowly but surely making progress over here.

The washing/ironing thing is still working out well, but I still go to wardrobe most mornings wondering what I'm going to wear and suddenly realise that a) the options are limited because I had a clear out and b) everything I need is actually clean and ironed. Cue snoopy dance :dance:

Have turned my attention to thinning my kitchen stuff, moving a lot of the crockery either into the cabinet in the conservatory or down to the charity shop. We have a ten place setting dinner service we were bought by our parents as a wedding present, but it doesn't have to be out in the kitchen. I've kept four of everything out and am storing the rest for when friends and family descend for the usual feasts.

This means my washing up pile had reduced as there is no longer anything clean to reach for - instead i have to be less lazy and do the washing up.

This weekend I spring cleaned our bedroom. With three cats it was becoming increasingly like something Miss Haversham would have been proud of. I sorted through and cleared out everything under the bed and on the bedside tables, hoovered, dusted, then moved the bedstead to scrape off the cat fur from the carpet and hoover under. Got the windows open and blasted that fresh air and sunlight through.

I saw the dust mites pack their bags and leave grumbling :rotfl:

CurlyTop

Hi Cottage

Great news on hearing that things are coming together for you. I decided to have a go in my cupboards in the kitchen at the weekend. Decided that the cheap metal bakeware was a false economy so have thrown that which is fit for the bin and will replace if I need them. Some I'm sure I won't miss, such as very small little cake tray and then one slightly bigger. Threw out a chipped pyrex bowl because a) it was chipped and had no lid and b) never use it and I have another one intact with a lid, so a no brainer really.

Also threw out some white bakeware things that are supposed to be used in the oven but over time there are cracks appearing in the bottom. I envisaged me taking somat out of the oven and the a**e falling through.:rotfl:

I popped into Lakeland and replaced them with the white enamel pie trays they do. Really cheap too and on offer 3 for two, only cost me £6.98. Happy days. Am gonna look to get some nice metal baking trays that will last (hopefully till I pop my clogs!!!).

Cheapskate - isn't it fab to use that word, no. Amazin. Takes some getting used to though I must admit. For someone with m.e. now, I have to put myself and my depleting energy bank first, so its been a wake up call for me. I can only say yes if I know it won't wipe me out. Still feels strange though, but allows me the time to do other stuff.

Am loving living the simple life.

Cheapskate

DH bought some big, heavy duty, plastic boxes with lids, in which will go various things to store in the garage. I'm starting with seldom used or duplicate toys, and that alone will almost clear the front room and the kids' bedroom. I will also [STRIKE]slyly[/STRIKE] subtly weed out things that need throwing away or sending to the CS! *Evil laugh!* My kitchen cupboards need gutting, too, so much old, second hand, rusty, broken stuff, clean sweep needed and a mini shop in Lakeland or somewhere for a few decent items. Can you tell we need to declutter as well as simplify? :rotfl:

CurlyTop, does it sound mean to say I enjoyed saying 'no'? I was brought up to be helpful, generous, neighbourly, etc., but this morphed into being close to a doormat, and not being able to say no to unreasonable requests, making me quite poorly at times. One way of making things simple for myself is learning to say no, then I won't feel stressed about taking on too much - it's taken me decades to realise this, but it's not too late! :j

I've had a couple of lovely (but cold!) walks with the littlies this week, we've made buns (that still need icing) and did home-made fish cakes for the first time - had a good appt with GP re depression, and am watching Sewing Bee - I am content tonight! :rotfl:

A xo

Cottage_Economy

Is it my imagination or has a load of posts been inserted between 18 march and 3 April? I think one of the mods has merged another thread, but didn't say they had so it that completely threw me.

Curlytop, I had some of the Lakeland enamelware on my Christmas list but sadly Santa did not see it on my list so I'm still using the chipped and crazed dishes, being frightened every time that one day I'll pick them up by one side and have the lot snap in the middle and everything fall on the floor!

And thanks for the heads up about it being on offer. My mother in law dropped off a money off voucher the other day so I think I'll go for a quick look now and see if they still have the ones I wanted. I also want to get a very good frying pan instead of the normal cheaply ones, as I appear to be eating the non-stick coating off mine each time I have my dinner.

Cheapskate, saying no is so liberating isn't it :T:T:T

The best feeling i ever had was being faced with someone who was determined to get me to do something that was of no benefit to me as usual (in fact slightly to my detriment) and I was equally as determined I wasn't going to give in this time and wind up knackered and upset. I wouldn't give in to their emotional blackmail either when they started using that.

They then went and told everyone I must be 'sick or something' ....yes, heartily sick of them! :rotfl:

CurlyTop

Cottage, I have this thread on daily subscription so I don't miss daily updates, but somehow have missed the ones for the time period you mention. Never mind, all caught up now.

Cheapskate, no its not mean to say no. I celebrate the big 50 this year (I know I'm sad but I'm not bothered like my work colleagues and am looking forward to it( but its taken me until being 43-44 to learn to say no. I think a lot of my problems were because I was bringing my brothers and sisters up whilst my mum was ill and I was about 13. After she passed (I was 21), being the eldest, I carried on in that vein. They still come to me now with stuff but on the whole its eased off tons, mainly because I was diagnosed with m.e. 7 years ago and they know that if they want me to do stuff, it has to be when I'm ready to do it and it doesn't break my energy bank too much. To be fair to them, although they are my 2 brothers and 1 sister, I'm proud of how I've brought them up. The boys (or should I say men) know one end of a hoover from the other and get stuck into housework. My sister, yeah she's independent but can't say more than that, we don't speak now. Sad but that's one big chunk of stress I no longer have. The stress side of stuff doesn't help how I feel, so yeah, I'm quite enjoying saying no. As they say on airlines, don't attempt to help the person next to you unless you have your own gas mask on first!!!! Nuff said.

Cottage - can thoroughly recommend the enamel ware. I got the £3.49 ones which are about 20x15cm and I've done fish pie and toad in the hole. They say don't use abrasive products but I've put them to soak in hot soapy water, scraped the thicker gunge off and then cleaned with one of those sponges that has the green scourery bit on top. Came up a dream. Check the website.

I too need to get new pans, but they're not a priority at the mo. Have streamlined stuff down in the house (not that it was heavy going to begin with) I just need some bits to dress up a couple of the rooms and I'll be done so my kitchen will be my next priority. We're saving up for a new one but it won't be till next year I would imagine.

Off work today just chilling - not been on of my best weeks, m.e. wise but hey ho. Done my Aldi shop and H&B so cuppa tea and some time for me on the computa.:T