Simplifying Life

ceridwen

Hi daisyroots

Sorry to hear your Christmas present was a postponed operation! What a nuisance!

Still - you are taking a very positive slant on this - best thing I guess! Well - it will be nice to have a bit of free time anyway.

Best wishes with the operation when it does come up.

Can relate to your comment re forgetting everything of a more "duty" type nature. Its not unknown chez ceridwen if life is all getting a bit much to just take the phone off the hook, switch off all main lights (to appear to be out) and on with the soothing music/candles/etc.

Happy Christmas.

love

ceridwen

do_it_today!

Hi :hello:
Great thread!
I have simplified my life so far by....
getting rid of...
my 2nd car/ clothes/shoes/ books/ CDs I no longer use
using contents of cupboards more instead of automatic shopping
avoiding Primarks
Not buying bogof creams etc when I still have 2+ half used jars sitting at home
closed dormant bank accounts
stopped recreational shopping
stopped compulsive magazine buying
stopped relying on hairdressers to care for my hair
got rid of unused furniture - given to charity
got rid of half finished projects unused kitchen utensils
uneaten / drank food and beverages
consolidate paperwork into smaller files
say no to social events that I really do not want/ to have to attend
unsubscribed from freecycle - email overload - couldnt cope!
grown some veg in the garden - (pulling your own up beats queing in the shop!)

I still feel like there is loads more to do ie (cut down my work commitments)

but its a start

do_it_today!

Also just to add - I sort my mail straight away and am concious of the paper I bring into the house ie all those freebie glossy magazines at B&Q/supermarkets/etc

I still have loads of stuff and would love to get rid of 60% of it!!!

Jolaaled

Thanks to this site, in particular, the o/s forum, i have been able to cut my out-goings significantly over the past 5 years. I worked out, that i could actually afford to work less and have now cut down from working 5 days a week, to 4.

Altho money is very tight, as i earn 20% less that i used to, I now have a 3-day weekend, which is just so fab and gives me time to pursue my home baking and gardening stuff and to study more (i'm doing my masters part time at uni).

Life is far simpler and basic and deliciously frugal. I love it! Thanks MSE. You have helped me change and my life.
You rock!

JoJoB

carolbee wrote: »

I thought I was beginning to simplify, but reading some posts, realise I havn't even started!

innit I am in awe of some people here! But to focus on what I have mangaed to do:

Cleared out an entire room full of boxes of stuff. The room is now empty and i am free of 50 bin liners and 15 years worth of junk!
I actually make an effort to put all my paperwork in one place so I don't have a fit looking for stuff at tax return time.
Did my tax return before the last minute deadline (for first time ever!)
Only jewellery is my wedding ring
Have no car
getting rid of flat and mortgage

Just need to work on the excess cake situation

liuhut

ceridwen wrote: »

- a second anything (or anyone)

Do you think that they include children into that :rolleyes: Sorry, just had a bad day with DD2!

ceridwen

liuhut wrote: »

Do you think that they include children into that :rolleyes: Sorry, just had a bad day with DD2!

:rotfl: :rotfl: hmmmmmm.....:idea: wonders if liuhut is going to start up a "loan a kid for the day" scheme in the New Year...could be the best contraceptive device ever:D

liuhut

ceridwen wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl: hmmmmmm.....:idea: wonders if liuhut is going to start up a "loan a kid for the day" scheme in the New Year...could be the best contraceptive device ever:D

Now that is an idea...my DD2 would certainly put people off although she has been an angel today...I wonder why

liuhut

Just wanted to say thankyou to Ceridwen for the website links. I have added them into my favorites to read thoroughly later but this is what I have been mulling over recently an its warming to know that it not me against the world but others that think the same too. I feel calmer already! we are planning a year in Oz taking the kids and really want to show them a life away from the rat race.
This has all come about from a comment made to one of my friends from an aquantance that commented that I must be skint as I dont have a new car....what the f, how materialistic is that??? I really dont what to live in a world like that!!!
Any way great thread and thank you all so much for posting

Elaine_Wilson

I've been trying to clear my loft today and have taken a break from the work to read this thread. How uplifting it is.

You've all given me plenty of ideas about what I need to do. So, what have I achieved so far? In simplifying my life I have already ...

Reduced my working hours
Eliminated the television
Embraced the old style concept in much of my life
Started decluttering (it's a long job but I'll get there)
Become a rawfooder (at home, at least. It's impossible to eat raw out around here)

On that last point I set myself the target of making a decent Christmas meal using only raw food. As I live alone it wouldn't have mattered if I had failed but I am pleased to say that the spread looked (and tasted) wonderful.

I still need to grow more of my own food and that is my goal for 2008.

I loved teacup's list. Especially the one about random acts of kindness. This has got to be incorporated into my action plan for 2008.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread.