Simplifying/living with less

Brighton_belle

Mojisola wrote: »

Wet gloves from playing in the snow - can't go out again until they dry? Two pairs at least!

But if they are going to get wet the moment you start playing for the 2nd time, then you might as well endure the 2 minutes of discomfort between putting damp ones and throwing that snowball. Well that's what I do anyway .
And if it is snowing outside, I'm guessing you'll have the central heating on and they can go stright onto the radiator when you come in. Unless you were my mum who wanted me to feel snug and put my damart thermal ones on the oven to warm up: made a great pair of gloves for a doll after that :rotfl:

peachyprice

Lalaladybird wrote: »

BlondeHeadOn - I feel that my role as a parent is to provide for my childrens needs, love them and teach them how to be good people. Letting them have lots of material possessions and flitting from one activity to the next are not valuable lessons IMHO. I would ask them first if we can pass on the toys they don't use much of course.

But isn't it a bit late for that though? Presumably it's been ok for them to live like this up until now, I don't think it's very fair to change your expectations on a whim because you've decided a lifestyle change is good for you.

Person_one

Bumped for incomprehensible spam, always a joy when that happens.

LannieDuck

Bah, was just about to reply when I realised it was an old thread.

FatVonD

When my DS was small I had 2 toy boxes which I alternated on a week to week basis so they seemed 'fresh'. When he was bigger I had 2 very long shelves put along one wall (low down) and bought a dozen or so cheap washing up bowls which were all labelled so clearing up was just a case of sitting on the floor and throwing into the relevant box so all the Power Rangers were in one box, all the puzzles in another. There were still a lot of toys but it was orderly so it made me happy

I'm with the OP on decluttering household stuff though, I recently sold my very expensive (but free to me) ice cream maker that rarely got used but used a whole shelf in the cupboard, I don't miss it and it made £130!

Re the scarves/gloves, OP, (if you're still here?) somebody on another thread (Poet 123) said they have one big basket full of plain socks that all the boys/men in the family just take a pair from. I think that's a great idea, could that work for your glove situation?

juliebunny

LannieDuck wrote: »

Bah, was just about to reply when I realised it was an old thread.

It's not that old, dive in! :beer:

I've been doing something similar myself.

Why are mugs such a problem?! I have at least TWENTY!!! None of them match but they were all bought at special ocasions or days out or gifts and one is from my childhood - I am struggling to get rid of them!

I think it's fine to clear out stuff, but also good to store it away if it will be used. The trick is to stop bringing in NEW stuff into the house I find.....!:eek:

snowleopard61

FatVonD wrote: »

Re the scarves/gloves, OP, (if you're still here?) somebody on another thread (Poet 123) said they have one big basket full of plain socks that all the boys/men in the family just take a pair from. I think that's a great idea, could that work for your glove situation?

My two daughters, when younger, used to wear opaque black tights for school and I wear them all winter as well (also plain black socks if we're wearing trousers). It's all but impossible to tell them apart (the tights and socks not the daughters ) so I just keep communal supplies in my underwear drawer and return them there after washing.

(ETA: BTW I'm talking about when they were great tall teenagers, not little munchkins!)

(When at school they laddered the tights all the time though, which was v. annoying! - on the rare occasions I had a nice pair I hid them!)

Danni-R

I think limiting yourself to 10 pairs of pants and 6 bras is a bit tight in my view.

If you go away for a holiday that means either finding a laundry service or hand washing. 6 Bras? My lady lumps change size so I need larger or smaller depending on how the girls are doing and 2 pairs of jeans?!

I couldnt do it. I have a small ish wardrobe but that would just be too much!

kelfen

you could put some away in a box for a few months, reduce the basic clutter and swap them near the next half-term, so not now, but May, then it feels like they've got new toys for the holiday...and gives you a chance to remove the broken ones and to have stuff replace them.

Bella73

Lalaladybird wrote: »

My simplifying is going quite well if a bit slow. The reason I am doing this (for those who asked) is simply because I am busy and want more time to do the things I want to do and by knowing exactly where things are, what I have and do not have and not spending ages cleaning etc I should have more time to do enjoyable things. I also feel calmer when I open a drawer and it only contains the things I use eg I have done the cutlery drawer, I threw away things that don't get used like loads of childrens medicine spoons and childrens cutlery because they don't actually use them.

I haven't tacked the kids stuff yet but I am still itching to so will do when I have some time. I also want to do all my clothes so that I only have maybe 10 pairs of pants and 6 bras, 10 pairs of socks and 3 or 4 pairs of pyjamas. 6 every day tops and a couple of jumpers, 2 pairs of jeans etc. I wash things so regularly that I won't need more than that and when those things are getting worn out I'll enjoy replacing them with new things.

My bathroom is very simplified now. Nothing on show except toilet roll, soap and towels. All the bottles etc are in the cabinet and have reduced the number of things used so the whole family use the same shampoo and shower gel, toothpaste etc so the cupbards are quite neat. As a family we have a box crammed full of scarves, hats, gloves. Surely we only need one set each? It just suddenly seemed like a mess to me and I spend more time trying to hunt out a matching glove and picking up the debris that falls out than actually getting them on!

So while my life may be chaotic I can go to the bathroom and have visual peace haha!

Anyone else doing this or do you still think its weird?

I would love to live like this but sadly am a bit of a hoarder (I don't mean like the ones on the telly:eek:) but have more junk than I need. Am starting to declutter as like you it's nice to open a drawer and just have what you need.

I'm starting with my wardrobe and going on from there. I have lots of things that definitely don't fit so its silly keeping them but I'll get there.