KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Igamogam

GreyQueen wrote: »

Definition of a diplomat? Someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you'd actually enjoy the journey..... :rotfl:

Going to adopt this for 2017:D

GreyQueen

Go for it!

I occasionally have Deep and Meaningful Thoughts. They appear randomly speckled through the dough of life, like sultanas in a scone. Most of my thoughts are shallow and trivial, of course. Along the lines of; Is it time for another cuppa? Can I eat one more Quality Street without being sick? Aww, isn't that robin on the step sooo cute?

My current level of D&M Thinking is involving consumerism. I'm pretty pants at it, truth be told, having not been innoculated with good shopping bacteria at an early age. Plus, I have a middling fear of crowds, following being trapped in one where several people were crushed to death about 30 years ago; I was never quite the same after.

Some people are blogging about not buying clothes, or things, or new things (secondhand things being OK) for various amounts of days and months and years. Some others are writing books about living on a pound a day.

I thought I would start 2017 by running an inventory of my freezer, which is one of those cuboid tabletop models and is rammed. And that I would eat that down, and make as many meals as possible from a mixture of storecupboard and home-grown foodstuffs.

Also, I will finally read the thirty-odd to-be-read books and then rehome them, and not buy any clothes at all, because I definately don't need them, and will restrict the amount of time I spend browsing in charity shops, which is where nearly all my Stuff originates.

After all, if I don't need it, it's still rampant consumerism if I shop secondhand, is it not?:rotfl:

On the back of an article about how much of a lifetime one spends Shopping, I also thought I would log how many times I visit shops, including to buy groceries, in 2017.

I think this analysis of my life will prove interesting to me, to see where all the time goes. If nothing else, I'll be able to get more gardening done.

silvasava

Just talking to DH (as best I can as he's suffering from bunged up ears and can hardly hear anything) about a number of 'projects' for 2017. My friend is having most of my dining suite when her DS gets married in April - then DH can demolish the wall between dining room and kitchen. We also need to do some construction work in the garden but I think I will try to break it all down into small manageable chunks - well that's the theory anyway!
GQ - Monnagran used to have as her signature 'Diplomacy is the art of letting someone have your way' I liked that too.

PollyWollyDoodle

I like your way of thinking, GQ. I don't make New Years resolutions- pointless in my view, but I do set myself some aims. I have had a year of not buying new books, which was no hardship really as the chazzers are well stocked and the library is free. I try not to buy new clothes but sometimes I've needed specific items that I just can't get from a CS. Maybe this year it'll be 'shop less often'.

VJsmum

Also liking your thinking, GQ

I kind of did some of That this year. My aim was to clothes shop ethically (ethical brands or charity shops), if at all. Epic fail was trousers as so few styles suit me. But I did only buy two pairs. I think I gained two knitwear items, three long sleeved tops and two trousers.

Still working my way down the book stash so no plans to buy any this year. Free kindle books or chazzers only if I do.

Also going to inventory and eat down the TWO freezers.

Sorry GQ you can't have anything on your own :rotfl:

GreyQueen

Every journey is better with companions, VJsMum!

Have gutted out one of the many cardboard boxes floating about the parental sitting-room and reduced the contents of the large collapsing box into the dinky turquoise B@bych@m box fetched from Sainsbugs today. Lots of stuff hit the recycling stream, and the rest taking up less than 50% of the room it took previously.

One surface I cleared a few hours ago has already been re-kippled - didn't some famous general say no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy?:rotfl:

I will be heading off jhome ust after breakfast on Sunday and will have to do all that I can tomorrow, pack, and be ready to just fall out of bed, eat and run on Sunday. Will aim to get the most bang for my decluttering buck, knowing that there are three clutter-bunnies (and two cats) who'll be busily undoing it as fast as I work.

Never mind - we did find the window key, yayyyy!!!!!!!!!

maryb

If you're not buying clothes, does that mean you've got to the weight you wanted to be GQ? (Google playing up big time but insert relevant cheering smiley here!) Or do you have a stash of clothes ready? Either way, looks like you should be negative shopping when current wardrobe leaves the premises

GreyQueen

My weight-loss has stalled since early October due to falling off the dieting wagon; stressed overeating. I will resume normal service on 1st January - after I've eaten as many cakes as possible at the parental home, of course.:p

I don't have a problem with tops fitting and I do have a drawerful of trousers (casual) and several pairs of formal trousers which are presently one size too small. I went from 16 to 20 and am now at 18. It will be joyful when I get back into my 16s and the present trousers will likely be worn up by then as I have deliberately not replenished my clothing in the larger sizes.

Apart from office smart-casual, I live a very simple life with gardening duds and some casual clothing and don't ususally have to go anywhere fancy from one year's end to another, do it's all good.

Plus I have enough socks to equip an army of centipedes and enough of the unmentionables not to need to go anywhere clothes shopping with intent for some time.

maryb

Here's to de-shopping the size 18s. I need to de-shop some adipose tissue so I don't have to go up a size.

Shereen

Dear Kondoites. I am a rare poster, but a regular reader from way back in the early 2015 thread. I wanted to pop on here to thank you all for the inspiration you've provided me again this year.

I didn't quite realise the impact it all had on me until we had to get the bathroom replaced in November. Suddenly everything couldn't be in its place, and there were heaps of hotpress and building-related stuff all over the house. I couldn't get over how stressed the clutter made me feel.

And then at the end of November I broke my right hand. Of course it was the right hand, as I'm right-handed. This meant I couldn't finish painting the bathroom. Which meant the painting pruck is still sitting in the hall. Which meant the new pictures aren't hanging on the wall, but propped up in the book room. And every day things like folding stuff to slip them back into their place in the drawer was impossible. *twitch*

My hand's doing well, I'm not back at hospital until the end of January, but I'm not allowed to lift anything for a while yet. So I'm doing what I can to corral things in the right room, and trying to learn to let it all go until I can get back into my organised groove.

At least the "for the charity shop" pile behind the door in the spare room has been ticking over nicely.

A huge thank-you to all you inspirational posters and see you in 2017!