Simplifying Life

bails

luxor4t wrote: »

Lovely thread, Ceridwen!

This will be my 'new life' resolution - not just for the new year! Ill-health has made me simplify everything, but I can't say I have missed anything except human contact.

It was upsetting to realise how few 'friends' even sent a text message during the several weeks I was housebound - but it was also lovely to find who was prepared to maintain contact. I shall be re-organising the way I do things from now on - not necessarily dropping people but definitely changing the 'acquaintance' and 'friend' categories so that I shall have time to spend on those people who do matter to me.

Luxor, this happened to me too, it certainly helps you re-evaluate who you spend your energy on. Loving all the ideas I've read so far, pages to go yet! Thanks for this thread Ceridwen.

mary43

Tis a brilliant and inspiring thread and certainly got me thinking. I always have a bit of a 'tidy' around this time, don't know why, I just do but this time Im being more thorough about it. It's taking me longer but I will get there. Six stackable canvas storage boxes are now in order and labelled so I don't spend hours trying to find something (Normally happed after a 'tidy' up), started on the drawers in the cupboard this afternoon.........didn't get so far with them so will have another go tomorrow. There's stuff in them I forgot Id got and while theyre full of 'stuff' my card making things -a recently started hobby - are crying out for somewhere........one of the drawer would be ideal.
Desk drawers are another pain.............I'm doing my family tree and have a habit of printing stuff off that I've found and shoving it in a drawer - result is three drawers crammed full. No room for other more important stuff.

When I've done my computer room I'll start on the spare bedroom and try and find the bed underneath the bags of clothes I havent worn that are waiting for OH to take to charity shop.

As for people............can't think of anyone I'd want to offload. I do have a friend who is constantly bending my ear if there are problems but having been in her position myself and glad of someone who'd just be there, I'm not about to ease her away but instead of phoning regular, we write to each other once a week sometimes. It's always good to get a letter and as a result we make each other laugh by what we've written.

So thanks for this thread. It's really made me re-think not only my clutter but my life.............whats important and whats not. One person I shall ease away from is my brother though. I know he's family and all that and while our Mums so ill we have to be 'nice'to each other but whenever he gets the chance he ridicules my lifestyle and anything my kids do........right down to what presents they bought my Mum for Christmas. No.....he has to go. I can do without him.

Right..............sorry .......bit long, got carried away. Now off to spend some quality time with OH who,poor soul, recently spends many lonely hours on the sofa.........................lol

ceridwen

bails wrote: »

Luxor, this happened to me too, it certainly helps you re-evaluate who you spend your energy on. Loving all the ideas I've read so far, pages to go yet! Thanks for this thread Ceridwen.

Of course - I could be "really wicked" and point you in the direction of the other main thread I started - ie "the living on $12,000 a year" thread on this forum. That would keep you in reading matter for weeks........:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=499372

rosieben

ceridwen wrote: »

Of course - I could be "really wicked" and point you in the direction of the other main thread I started - ie "the living on $12,000 a year" thread on this forum. That would keep you in reading matter for weeks........:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=499372

blog link alert!!!! :rotfl:

ceridwen

....and theres me off on another theme scanning for blogs again........:D

System

Another few thoughts from me. I am also a funny size. Short being only 5ft and a size 16. I have recently dropped from a size 18 and of course i am finding nothing fits me properly. Last week i emptied my wardrobe of clothes. My wardrobe is only small anyway and ironed clothes go in and come out needing another iron. I saw a mixture of colours. Lovely colours that flatter my skin tone but to be honest, being short and fat bright tops and dark trousers make me look cut in half so i felt i had to get to grips with my wardrobe. I tend to wear bright coloured eyeshadows and lip colours too and i just felt that i was a mixture of colour....... So i replaced the trousers that had seen better days and were hanging off me with black ones that fit. Bought a couple of black jumpers/sleeveless tops and have teemed them up with a few of my favourite coloured shirts. Threw out a boat load of coloured shoes that dont really go with anything that i wear and replaced them with some black ones that will go with everything. I feel that i have a lot more organisation to my wardrobe now and not only do i feel and look slimmer, i can wear the colours that i love on my face.

Hardup_Hester

I have 'One Notes' & I keep all me MSE recipes in it.

BallandChain

Congrats on the weight loss Judi. Wouldn't it ge great if we could have clothes that don't require ironing? ....Ceridwen, I bet you can help there!

If I can get away with it I don't iron my clothes and someone mentioned Comfort Iron Easy (I think that's what it's called) on one of these threads. I wonder if that helps.

ceridwen

BallandChain

...amused that you think I might be able to help on the clothes that dont need ironing front! All hints welcome there myself! I dont iron bedding/towels/teatowels/nightdresses. But I'm only just off the starter block compared to someone I was talking to the other day - she said she doesnt own an iron and hasnt for years:D

Am thinking it might be worth an experiment in hanging up all possible clothes on hangers before drying them off (on a clothes airer of course) to check out whether they still look as if they need ironing.

BallandChain

LOL Ceridwen, I brought you into the discussion as you always have such good ideas. I tend to put the bulk of the clothes on a clothes horse and trousers I put on a hanger and hang up on the curtain rail. Towels get tumble dried as they are a pain to dry.

I know they do shirts for men that do not need ironing and wondered if you could get clothes for women like that.