NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

pm2326

purpleshoes wrote: »

My flat isn't massive but its not tiny either. I have very little storage space, shelving etc, so for years everything went into my (huge) electrical cupboard, the cupboard of doom. I had to empty that when my new kitchen went in so after that was emptied, I thought, the rest has to go, the spare room of doom. I sleep in my box room and any surplus crap went in my big bedroom, but its getting decluttered too. I'll never be as minimalist as some people and Im happy not being so, but I really do want to get rid of excess baggage as it were.

The not buying it is good for me, because what on earth is the point of having too much stuff and then buying more. Its amazing what one person can accumulate in 20 years of being in the one home.

Ive given lots to charity over the years and am continuing to do so and Im being ruthless with stuff, if I havent worn it or used it in a while its getting sold or given away.

Compared to what my flat was like this time last year, even after the room of doom got decluttered, Ive shifted a lot. Its very easy to be tidy on the surface and have tubs and boxes full of stuff, its given me massive satisfaction getting rid of some of the stuff Ive cleared out and not buying anything to replace it.

Ive also emptied what was my food stock cupboards, almost and Ive almost emptied my freezer as well.

The thing that gets me sometimes, isn't being tempted, its sheer boredom. Not that I dont do anything with my life, I work and I do a lot of fitness stuff and I go out, but in down time, I used to spend a lot of time mooching about the shops, even if I didnt spend much it was always the drip drip drip.

I just need to put my energies into getting rid of the clutter and think about what I can do to replace the mooching time. I have a cineworld card and Im going to make more use of it than I have been lately, that's a start.

I also have a room of doom, but it's slowly being cleared of all the carp in it...I tend to dump stuff in there when I cant decide whether it has a use anymore...trouble is when it gets in that room it normally stays there for months or years!

I've collected a few bits and pieces together along with 2 sets of heavy curtains which are now in a charity bag ready for collection tomorrow, I'm also donating a big box of crockery my parents gave me years ago as they had a bit of a clear out (my dad's idea of a clear out was moving stuff from their house to my house :rotfl:)

Still have more bits to go through but least I can see a bit more of the carpet in that room now :T

purpleshoes_2

pm2326 wrote: »

I also have a room of doom, but it's slowly being cleared of all the carp in it...I tend to dump stuff in there when I cant decide whether it has a use anymore...trouble is when it gets in that room it normally stays there for months or years!

I've collected a few bits and pieces together along with 2 sets of heavy curtains which are now in a charity bag ready for collection tomorrow, I'm also donating a big box of crockery my parents gave me years ago as they had a bit of a clear out (my dad's idea of a clear out was moving stuff from their house to my house :rotfl:)

Still have more bits to go through but least I can see a bit more of the carpet in that room now :T

I can see floor in mine. Ive just worked on it a bit at a time, what actually got me started was losing a book that I really need, a set of accounts, my mum had actually hung it up in a bag in my wardrobe in my bedroom, so I looked everywhere and during the looking I was like !!!!!! is all this stuff, do I actually need all of this, the answer was no. I also took out most of my books from the cupboard of doom (not doom like any more, really tidy) because they were just sitting on shelves, hadnt read half of them.

Use it, wear it, read it, or it goes. I still need to do another cull on clothes, am really going to have to make an effort to wear more stuff, but I have organised a clothes swap day through my meet up group, but I'll be happy just to give my stuff away and not take anything back.

Im also working my way through body sprays, body lotions, random bits of toiletries Ive picked up when in hotels, the free stuff that Ive not got around to using.

I suffered from anxiety for a long time due to various life stuff and part of the reason I had so much stuff was that there were days where I could do the basics and that was that. Had a couple of years from hell and all current stuff thats going on aside, I actually feel better, I get up in the morning, out, workout, work and I have energy left over spare to declutter, some years I had very little left over to do anything.

Regifting is good for the soul I think, it makes me happy that my cast offs will be of use to someone else.

vulpix

Wise words Greyqueen.

My 5 bed house is for sale and I am on a permanent declutter.Sold 4 things on fb today in fact.We have a loft of doom and a garage of doom,I keep on top of the house,I go through the cupboards regularly.My husband has trouble letting things go.He just loves clothes ,shoes and electrical stuff.Give him his dues he has got rid of lots compared to what he had.

When the snow has gone I think it will be time to oust stuff in the shed.How many garden chairs can one family need?We have 14 that I can think of and 2 benches!

I am killing myself by patchwork (when I am not killing myself by wardrobe.) I used to have 1 wicker picnic basket with sewing stuff,it has now grown to the basket and a banana box.When the patchwork is done I will reduce it all till it fits in the basket again.

My mother has a 3 bed house stuffed with things like sacks of material and wool and ornaments etc etc Her loft is full.Luckily we emptied and got rid of the garage,the shed and the green house some years ago.

Mr V's mother is decluttering by sending it to us,several bags per week.It goes straight to the hospice shop,she will never know.

It is my first day at the charity shop tomorrow,give me strength to resist.

Vx

mumto2monkeys_2

Checking in and not buying it still.

I'm waiting for the holiday to start the great declutter again. I began in October and halted over the winter months. Now the days are getting lighter, it is feeling like the right time to begin the journey again.

115K

I just have offloaded two bin bags of clothing/shoes to the textile recycling as I have been saving it up for the last couple of weeks.

I am determined that I am not buying more clothes as I wear the same few outfits constantly. Strictly one in, one out from now on.

I only want to buy food/drink or occasionally ebooks. If I need to buy anything at all that isn't consumable/will be used up like a candle or incense I am going to wait at least a week before I buy it as this rearranging and decluttering is getting ridiculous!:D

GreyQueen wrote: »

If you become sensitised to Stuff, you realise that most of life's woes are either wholly caused, or muchly-worsened, by our obsession with Stuff. We grasp and grab to have more than we need and spend our lives like fussy little hamsters in our fussy little hamster cages, rearranging our bedding, stuffing our cheeks with more stuff and busying ourselves with little-little things, when we could be doing something so much better with our time.

:rotfl: Funny image, but so true.

weesmiler

I had a bit of a spendy day today...

Went to town (£4.80 bus fare), returned a pair of boots I bought on impulse the day before I joined this thread (+£54.99)...got some waxing done which was £16, bought a maternity top for £7.99, some yankee candle wax tarts £5.50 as I've run out and love them, and a pink and blue hat for the baby coming (£1 each in Boots sale), I will obviously only use whichever one is suitable, and will give the other away.
The maternity top wasn't essential I suppose, but I have two in other colours and they are sooo comfortable, and I have been wearing them non stop, so I will get plenty of wear out of it, as it is suitable for work or more casual use.

I used to have a box full of yankee candles, but over the last few months I have used them all up, so I am no longer keeping a box full. I love the way the house smells with the wax tarts burning, so will only be buying when I have run out.

Hope everyone is well, I will be spending the evening watching my belly move about with the baby kicking, at least that's free, and I find it entertaining :rotfl:

candygirl

When you due WEESMILER?:D I've had a bit of a spendy day today, but managed to get DGD'S birthday prezzies, a smelly candle, jar of coffee, pancake mix n golden syrup, for £29:DDid well cos one of her prezzies had a tenner off:j

eandjsmum

Hi
Just checking in. Just brought petrol today. Yesterday was a NSD.
I have started decluttering books today and have promised to start on my box of books in the loft. I haven't opened them for years so they can just go. easy. I also have two jumpers for rag recycling.
I will start on the rest of my clothes next week.
I do have to admit that I am now beginning to see parts of the floor and ceiling that I haven't seen for years. Today I feel as if things are starting to look up. Some weeks ago I took piccies on my phone of all the clutter maybe its time to take a few more - just to compare.

GreyQueen

Well, for the past two weeks, I haven't had a watch. Or, to be more precisely truthful, I have had a watch minus watch strap, which has either lived in my handbag or sat on the pooter desk, but no watch on my wrist.

At first, I was in a torment about not having a watch. I have worn a watch since part way through my childhood. Definately since I was 10 years old, perhaps younger. I kept fretting about not being able to just glance at my watch on my wrist and always see the time. I am a bit obsessive about time-keeping, you see, so it was a priority to get this sorted.

Then, after a new watch which was defective, an existing watch which couldn't be re-strapped, and a failure to find a replacement watch at an acceptable-to-me price, I relaxed.

I can manage perfectly well with a detached watch in my bag. My works computer has a clock, and we use computer clocks for breaks etc. My home computer has a clock. There's a small digital clock on the shelf. I can manage perfectly well until I find the 'right' watch for me, I don't have to go shopping for one, I can wait to see one where I want it.

It's a vanishingly small thing in the grand scheme of things, but a personal revelation

Slowdown

Ahoy! Captain on deck and checking the shipmates are hail and hearty.

Well done all you deck hands. All are still safely aboard and no seasickness setting in yet.

I am pleased to announce NBI is alive and well in the Slowdown household, but with only one son in the house until May it's not surprising. Wait til the summer when all three are back. Then I will know about it.

I thought I could do with a new pair of trousers for work as some of mine are looking a bit scrappy. But then I realised that there are a number of rarely worn skirts and dresses in there. I need to make more of an effort with those before tackling the charity shops. DH said that I didn't need to go to a charity shop but i reminded him that wasn't the point. The point is not to buy unless absolutely necessary and then in the most ethical way. I do think the chains must be wondering where I am this year. Maybe I will spot a "Have you seen this woman?" Poster next time I'm in the high street.

Keep up the good work one and all.

Sleep easy in those hammocks you old salts!

Kind regards
Slowdown:)