A Simpler Life 2018

tryingtobethrifty

Hello! Do you mind if I join? I thought last night that today I would get back to Kon Marie-ing the house. I did it last year but you really need to keep on top of it, so thought I'll just pop on to the Old Style thread as haven't been in ages and started reading this thread. Well, that was 1am last night and I have now finished reading it all, poor kids have been deserted most of the day. I must say this is the nicest and friendliest thread I have ever read with lots of handy information too.

I sorted my kitchen out today, gave away some cups, plates, jug and teapot. There are 5 of us so I only keep out a certain number of plates etc and cutlery. Then hide right in the back of the cupboard more for when we have guests. I find if we limit how many plates etc we have out we wash up more often and keep a tidier kitchen.

Tonight I'm just pottering about on the computer as my kids have been building a den all week and they're away to sleep overnight in it (with dad).

[Deleted User]

I am slowly decluttering my kitchen cupboards I am hoping to move in around two years time and I seem to have accumulated far too much junk in the cupboards.Mainly unused china and crockery Its daft as there is only me and the occasional visitor My house is pretty small with no dining room so why I have kept all this junk I don't know Both DDs have no use for it so its going to the CS as they may get someone who needs it. I did the glasses cuboard over the top of the cooker and its great now as a lot of glasses were got rid of Now its time for the crockery to go

RicardaRacoon

Evening everyone

I've been away for a few days with my sister in the camper van. It was quite simple living. The place we went has a tourist card that offers free travels on all the public transport plus free entry into most of the museums and the zoo for quite a resonable price. The first day we went on a sight seeing bus tour and visited a castle, the second day we went to the zoo and the third we went for a hike. In between there was a lot of walking, sitting in the sun, eating ice cream and some shopping. In the evening we sat outside our van, reading or knitting, enjoying the view. Aw, it was bliss! I feel miles away from work!
I'm proud to say that we didn't went shopping just for shoppings sake, we only went to about 5 shops and all I bought, besides some special cider, was a tea stainer (one of these big ones to put into the teapot) and a little basket to hold tomatos or fruit that I don't want to be sitting in the fruit bowl with the other fruit.
I guess the biggest motivation to not buy more was my recently decluttered flat. I saw some lovely cups and nearly bought one, but then reminded myself that I'm only allowed 10 teacups and one had to go to make room for a new one... Well, in theory I have two cups I'm not too fond of, so I could have parted with one of them, but funny enough I had forgotten about them... So now new cup for me...

kacie, I decided to make my bed in the morning about two or three years ago and it was a matter of two or three weeks where I had to make an effort each morning, but then it became part of my routine and I don't think twice about it.

MrsS I bet you're looking forward to coming home into your own life!

Welcome, tryingtobethrifty. It is a wonderful and supportive tread, isn't it? We all have the same goal, but different approaches, motivations and ideas.

Jackie, I don't know why, but the kitchen seems to be the place where things accumulate the quickest... I moved in 2013 and decluttered loads (mostly things I bought when I moved out because my Mum had them and then found I don't need them and haven't used since moving out...). A year later I got a new kitchen and had to pack everything up and did another round of decluttering and started wondering why I have 3 bottle openers and whether they had been there a year earlier... - and if so, why did I kept all of them???

I just cooked myself a healthy lunch for tomorrow (spuds with a quark dip and some veg) and will now go for a walk and then sit down and write a shopping list for tomorrow. Will have to live very healthy to make up for all the ice cream, crisps and bacon sarnies (yes, this is the "part-time-vegetarian" speaking... Feeling slighly guilty...)

Have a lovely evening and a good start into the week everyone!

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

The Simpler Life is in sight but it may have to be in prison - now that DH & DB are driving DSis’ stuff back to my house & there is no buffer between DSis & I - I might just commit murder :rotfl::eek::rotfl: :whistle: She does talk for England & France - whatever happened to sitting in amicable silence

Anyway that aside, today we will be cleaning & tidying & decluttering the last bits before departure next Wednesday :T:T:T:T

I am sooo looking forward to sleeping in my own bed :rotfl: & resuming my own decluttering with a vengeance but also will have to declutter mountains of DSis’ stuff. The thing I am dreading most is seeing my home completely chocker with boxes & crates & furniture after all the hard work I put in before coming to France - I could cry

But hey ho - on the bright side DH & I will not be subsidising DSis anymore The house in France was way too big for one person & ill health meant DSis couldn’t go out to work

Good luck to everyone on their quest for a Simpler Life

From a cold & overcast France

MrsSD

Siebrie

Hi MrsSD, If your sis has been alone for some time, there may be a simple need for her to talk to people about the things that went on in her life until she feels they are 'up to date'. You may have to be a bit upfront about it if it bothers you; I usually explain the rules of communication again, that it is an exchange and we take turns With a broad smile I usually get away with it, and it really helps. Talking too much will chase people away, only the people who really care about you will stay, but not always gladly.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Thanks for that Siebrie :T The unfortunate thing about the chatting is that prior to coming to France I was phoning DSis two/three times a week an hour at a time & for 10 years:eek: Last year we had four visits & have been here this time for 5.5 weeks 24/7 :eek:

On a brighter note, I am so looking forward to sleeping on my Tempur mattress:rotfl: and being in charge again - not having to run everything past DSis Every time I make a decision on my own (even binning ood food) I am informed I have done it wrong :mad: - it is wearying beyond belief I just have to bite my tongue until it bleeds (a lot easier now the antibiotics are kicking in & I can move my jaws properly :rotfl:) count to 1,000 & wander off for a walk :rotfl:

But I must remember it is more difficult for her after all she has lived here for 22.3 years ! & the last 8 years on her own, as her DS has his own place & is an infrequent visitor

Sorry for whingeing but I do feel better for having written it down & not burdening my long suffering DH who is now beginning to look a little frayed around the edges

Next time I post will be from home :j

MrsSD

Siebrie

But I must remember it is more difficult for her


Maybe you need to inform her that it is also difficult for you? Have a sit-down session to go through houserules, evaluate every x months (making it a regular event takes the emotions more or less out).

Molillie

This thread reappeared! (clearly I haven't kept up) will enjoy reading all your comments.

I'm also starting to post on the No Clutter to be Seen thread, to make me get on with things, as I've been off task this year.

Now I'm trying to decide just how many fleece blankets and towels the dog needs. I've been using sports towels on her, the microfibre sort, and also my own retired normal ones. I'll not buy any more of the microfibre because of the water pollution issues, but they show no signs of wearing out anytime soon, and I think some could probably be donated for other dogs.

Molillie

Jackie O, I'm with you on the crockery and glassware, I did the mugs, and they are easier to keep under control now I know no more can come in, and if I'm given a new one, an old one must be donated. I'm also on the track towards moving in a couple of years, so would like to get the house to a really good state before that.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

:j:j yahoo. :j:j I am home :T Unfortunately as well as bringing my DSis back I have also brought back a stinking cold with a chesty cough so although I went to bed at 2.00 a.m. I couldn’t lie down without coughing & then when I sat up I couldn’t (warning tmi coming up :rotfl::o) cough up the phlegm - sorry So got up, made a Beechams & am now sitting up reading & posting
Siebrie thanks for the suggestion but I think I will leave it for a while & see how it pans out My DSis suffers from both selective hearing & selective memory :rotfl: she also snores :rotfl: so we may have to pad our bedroom walls :rotfl:

My Simpler Life is a bit farther out of reach & after a bit of a hissy fit (from me ) I tidied my kitchen & now just have to put DSis’s French plug microwave in the loft as it is taking up half my limited workspace One nice thing - my DSis loves how we decorated her room :T

I know I should go to bed but instead I will have a 2nd Beechams & start writing a shopping list & a prioritised ‘To Do’ list :rotfl: might as well do something useful & quiet :rotfl: as I can’t sleep

Glad others are having some successes in their journey to a Simpler Life :T

MrsSD