Simplifying Life - Mark II

mary43

I'd like to join you in that - Happy New Year to all - keep up with the inspiration.................who knows, by the end of the year I might be 'clutter free' :j

pagangirl

Happy New Year to all on this thread - hope its a good one :beer:

Have spent day 'simplifying' life. Sorted out 2008 paperwork, bills etc into 3 heaps- keeping, recycling, shredding. Then sorted previous years keeps into keeping, shredding. Now sorted 2008 paperwork into keeping file by date IYSWIM, and can now find what I'm looking for ! Been meaning to do this for ages - new year, new start - well I'm making most of time before I go back to work on Monday ! Now just left with 1 bag recycling, 1 bag shredding and feel as though I've really achieved something.:T

Ceridwen - I did just that earlier last year - walked out of a job I'd been in 15 months and absolutely hated (government dept). Got Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit straight away, had to lose 2 weeks on Income Support but then again don't own my own house - so not sure how that would work. Was out of work 4 1/2 months, but found new job in NHS which I love - downside is it's only 12 month contract and we're not sure about the funding, so dunno if I'll have a job when contract runs out.

Mary - any news on your mum? I still have a few bits of mum & dad's - haven't got rid of everything, but mostly small stuff like mum's wedding/engagement rings etc. Have charity shopped loads of stuff from auntie who died 1998, didn't want any of it anyway - but mum's house was only rented and when she died the stuff I had to bring here & sort out was unbelievable !:eek:

Ceridwen have you started your new diary yet?

mary43

pagangirl - you are doing well ! I've not done much today but did clear my other desk top - now I can actually see it !! Found some 'freebies' I'd sent for - lipstick and lip liner that I meant to put in grandaughters christmas basket, two packets of lenor, cat food for our 3 moggies (now been devoured), loads of photos waiting to be put in a freshly organised album (when I get around to it) and a whole load of paper for recycling/shredding. Oh and £2 plus small change...........bonus !! Tomorrow I'll do the kneehole under computer desk.........heaven knows what lurks under there.....................lol And must sort out paperwork in the letter rack before it topples over..............lol

No news of mum yet and I'm trying to keep doing little things to keep my brain occupied, plus think of what will need organising if we need to rush down there - somewhere else for kids to stay, somewhere for us to stay down there -normally b & b, endless phone calls to cancel appointments etc.

Right..............now to sit down, unwind with OH and watch some tele I think:rotfl:

ceridwen

Hi PaganGirl

Yep - started the diary.

My main diary (ie the little carry-round one for social life and appointments) is looking a lot clearer than previous ones - as its not cluttered up with all sorts of to-do notes on the notes pages and post-it notes stuck in if space runs out.

So - have duly noted down when things like dentist/haircuts/etc are due - as I've been known to overlook these things before now. I'll instantly be able to see pretty easily when anything in the house is up for servicing too.

I'll be writing spending down at the top of the page - so I can keep track on that. Nowt in that bit yet - as it was a NSD yesterday i.e. No Spend Day.

I have written a list of all those irksome little tasks that come up - mend this, mend that, dye shoes, etc - and put that at the back of the diary - so I feel thoroughly ashamed of myself if theres any of them to carry forward to the next year:D - and a New Year Resolution is to do one of those tasks per weekend until I've knocked them all off and cleared the list.

The private blog (used as an online personal notebook) is coming in handy too. Rather than writing things down in paper form and then crossing out, reorganising, tearing-up, deciding I want lists of things in alphabetical order for ease of reference (aagh - I give up!) - its much easier to type this stuff up on line and slot it all in in the order I've decided on. So thats helping. I've put in there as well the websites/blogs that I personally am interested in - but most other people wouldnt be - so I can have a quick clickthrough of them at intervals.

I have now written down on paper the most important info from my private blog and my gardening blog - so that if owt happens to either my own computer or the Internet as a whole then I have kept the record of the work I have put into this - but it was a lot easier to get this info down in writing clearly and in a logical way, with first having got it all in order online.

The journey continues...

mary43

Have today ploughed through my papers, filed a load of stuff away, paid some bills, sent couple of 'sympathy' cards plus letters to two friends. Now have a pile of stuff to shred - will do that later on. Put box of left over wrapping paper and stuff I'm keeping to 'create' things for next christmas upstairs in spare room...........must be careful otherwise that'll need a de-clutter !!
Finding it easier to do small bits at a time..............doesn't look like I've done much but I can note it down and put large red tick by the side of it...........makes me feel I've done more than I have...............lol
Tomorrow I might be able to get the plate hangers I need then I can hang my decorative books on the wall -make the room look different and might spur me on a bit more -hopefully.

Cat_Addict

Decorative books? Sounds intriguing!

mary43

Sounds a bit odd I know but they have a sort of wooden back and front and have leaves on them, some are like those skeleton leaves you see in craft shops, some have a particular pattern on the front made from raffia or something like that. Usually hand made paper inside them.............for me they're too nice to use........I'd just spoil them (also makes me sound like total loony...................lol) Anyway, hanging on the wall they'll look a treat I think and give me a lot more pleasure than some of the things that are taking up wall space.
Hard think to explain but hope you get the gist of what I mean

Cat_Addict

Sounds lovely - I imagine it makes the room look cottagy and cosey. I love that sort of thing.

Lalaladybird

Ceridwen's "simplifying life" threads are really interesting but too long for me to follow. I am desperately wanting to simplify my life this year and wondered if we could create a tips only thread, no chat? Would that be ok? If so..... show me yer tips

pagangirl

ceridwen wrote: »

So - have duly noted down when things like dentist/haircuts/etc are due - as I've been known to overlook these things before now.

........I have written a list of all those irksome little tasks that come up - mend this, mend that, dye shoes, etc - and put that at the back of the diary

........Rather than writing things down in paper form and then crossing out, reorganising, tearing-up, deciding I want lists of things in alphabetical order for ease of reference (aagh - I give up!)

Have also been known to keep lots of notes, lists etc. then cross out/re-organise/tear up (and miss appointments) - you sound like me (Also lady of certain age - do you think age has anything to do with it) ????