Simplifying Life - Mark II

Cottage_Economy

stoppinshoppin wrote: »

I absolutely love this thread!

Hope you don't mind me joining in.

My life is getting simpler - my hubby retired early two years ago and I work 20 hours a week. My job is stressfull but I would be hard pressed to get the same money in another job.

My youngest is in last year at school and will hopefully go away to Uni in Sept., so I will be to declutter some more. It may also be possible to downsize. That said, I will miss him dreadfully as we chat all the time.:)

I follow blogs such as Be more with Less and Miss Minimalist but I struggle to live up to the minimalist ideal.
Love reading about like minded people xx

Hello:hello:

I couldn't live up to a minimalist ideal either, but i'm getting better at sorting the stuff i cherish from just the stuff i happen to have.

I found this on youtube the the other day and although it looked beautiful and i'm full of admiration for them, i could not live in a place so tiny.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lDbrUk2xYBo

There's loads of other interesting clips down the sidebar as well that are part of the series.

stoppinshoppin

Thank you so much for this link! So inspirational!

To save before buying is really hard, even when we bought our first house at £23k in 1982, it just had to be a mortgage. We are only in our second home, now mortgage free and the neighbours are wonderful.

CurlyTop

Cottage

Ha ha, you made me laugh. I too, say I'm not gonna look at the Daily Mail anymore but then find myself hooked in. I think sometimes its just to see how stupid they sound. They are forever contradicting themselves!!

Don't even go there about the decorating. I learnt from my mum what to do and have passed it on to my siblings. My DH has softer hands than I do. He wouldn't know one end from a hammer if it hit him on the head (well maybe not quite so but you catch my drift). I've always done our decorating and have enjoyed it until ill health kicked in.

I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting your cleaning time down. Admittedly it did take longer when I lived at home (there were 6 of us so the joys of bed changing there in one go!). It used to take me 2.5-3 hours but with a few tweaks, things have gotten easier. Through the week I clean as I go, but its not that much, more a case of washing pans after cooking, throwing dishes in dishwasher, wiping down worktops each night and generally leaving living room tidy, no cups or newspapers lying about and cushions plumped up. Nice to come down of a morning and not feel that you have to start tidying up before you can sit down.

Eckhart Tolle - Oprah Winfrey used to feature him quite a bit. When she was on, used to watch Dr Phil. He so makes me laff although I must admit a few of his sayings I find myself using 'you choose the behaviour, you choose the consequences' and 'you can't change what you don't acknowledge'.

I'm hardly surprised you never relaxed in the bath if you have your eyes open and are looking around the room. Takes a little getting used to but close your eyes and just be. Just enjoy the heat of the water warming your body or take a magazine in with you. You'll soon get the hang of relaxing.

Am just off to plump my cushions before I get in the bath that DH has run for me, then off for an early nights sleep. Am zonked.

Rowan9

Hello stoppinshoppin - it's good when you find a thread with like-minded people.
I haven't read Miss Minimalist for a while. Might have a peak.

re Eckhart Tolle - I listened to a short presentation on you tube, maybe 4 mins, and he was speaking in a loud whisper. This has been my only experience so I'll have to have another look/ listen. I've ordered another couple of his books from the library.

Lovely evening here. Sun slowly going down.

One more walk in park with doggie and then back room with candle and meditation & early night. It helps me get off to sleep really quickly. I'm awake sometimes in the night though.

Have a good evening all
W

RevolvingDoor

CurlyTop wrote: »

Eckhart Tolle - Oprah Winfrey used to feature him quite a bit. When she was on, used to watch Dr Phil. He so makes me laff although I must admit a few of his sayings I find myself using 'you choose the behaviour, you choose the consequences' and 'you can't change what you don't acknowledge'.

:rotfl:That is so funny as I almost said "How's that working out for you?" today to someone online.:p

Cottage_Economy

Found another great simple living blog last night, but was a good girl, put the computer down and went to sleep early instead of sitting up for two or three hours avidly reading it and then being knackered today.

http://wholelarderlove.com

I've been reading it for the last 40 minutes and it's definitely a keeper...

dreaming

How come simplifying life in the long term seems to complicate it in the short term?
13 and a half weeks to go to finishing work and I am rushing round trying to get everything in order, and planning what I need for the house (new interlined curtains for winter/new sofa cover/new front door). Looking at investments as well to see where to put my severance pay. Then trying to make the most of the good weather this weekend - visiting friends and gardening. On top of that the cat was bitten and needed to go to the vets. It was almost a relief to go back to work this morning for a rest.
All these things will be much easier when I am not cramming them into a 3 day weekend. Work is ramping up now as we have the new people (replacing us who are not relocating) starting and we are training them. Mind you since I cut down my TV package I have had more time for reading which helps me relax so that was a good move.

[Deleted User]

Its been great to catch up on everyone's posts they're so inspiring.
I am continuing to try to simplify my life, have reduced debt by large amount (must update my signature) over recent months.

DH and I are both in our early 40's with a 12year old son, so expensive times still to come! However we have plans to
* firstly pay off rest of debt (hopefully within two years)
* move from our detached home with large mortgage to a small terraced property (Its been on market for 1year, with no joy. We have just changed agents, made improvements and reduced the price, so fingers crossed. We hope to half our mortgage.
* save up an emergency fund
* continue paying our pensions
* ultimately I would like to cut my working hours from fulltime to 4days per week to allow me time to do more cooking from scratch, cleaning and bargain grocery shopping.

DH and I have reduced our outgoings and paid off large amount of debt by not going out for meals, having takeaways, shopping trips and not being pressured into taking DS for expensive days out to theme parks etc. We took him to the beach on Friday and. Had a picnic. We all had a great time.

We also sold our large, fuel guzzling car and bought a little run-around. Again thast allowed us to pay a few thousand pounds of debt.

I have also taken up knitting and crocheting - its been fab- makes me slow down and relax. I know it sounds sad but I've had a great time knitting dishcloths- and they are so much better than the bought ones.

I am really enjoying trying to live a simpler life I used to think it was only possible if you lived in a remote cottage and lived off the land. I have now realised there are different ways of living the simple life, and whilst ultimately I'd love to live somewhere remote and be self sufficient this won't be possible for many years, if at all.

So, my life is now much simpler and I aim to continue simplifying things where possible.

I enjoy frugal queens blog and find her very inspiring.

Hope you don't mind me sharing my plans I've been so interested in reading all yours.

GLx

mini10

I'm loving this thread! There's so much to learn and read.

I am usually a lurker - but this thread is so motivating.

I am really keen to live a simpler life and as goodlife above mentioned in their post, it is possible to live a simple life with some thought and adjustment.

Right, off for more read, gonna start at the beginning of this thread.......

Willowpop

A long time lurker making a little step into this thread!
Helloooo everyone!
We have recently juggled a load of debts onto zero percent credit cards and I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel in about 6 years. Such a nice feeling...
Tomorrow I am going to go into the shed and open a load of boxes in theremmmwe live in a flat and our neighbour upstairs left his bath on and flooded us. Thankfully we were in so got our stuff out of the way of the waterfall, but the floors had to be redone. The stuff in the shed is stuff we absolutely need so didn't chuck it out.
That was almost 2 years ago and we haven't 'needed' any of it. One big freecycle/charity shop bonanza coming up and less clutter taking up space.
One day we will be able to move to the West Country...one day!