Simplifying Life

ceridwen

huxley wrote: »

:j Hi, spent far toooooo long reading through all this thread but loved all of it. Over the years life has thrown us many curves that have meant we have had change or simplify our life, to some it seems that we are going without or in need of sympathy but actually for the most part I consider us lucky. Yes I would like to have good health again but when that started to go I found out who true friends were, when my DH was made redundant from a well paid job we took a big step and he became selfemployed financially we now live on a very tight budget but he has a lung condition, the change to working outside has improved his lung age according to the hospital by 10+ years, now thats something worth every penny lost in income.Through joining my locat LETS group I have met many people that normally I may have never of come into contact with, who have different intrests, hobbies and skills and help add to the tapestry of life and of course this site which has been a wealth of information, smiles and has helped me appreciate how much I do have. Oh dear I'm waffling that's what comes of having weird sleep patterns! What I realy just wanted to say was thank you to everyone and maybe we shouldnt just think of it as simplyfying our lives but enriching them as well.

This is a post I personally rather like and - for the benefit of those wondering what LETS is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Exchange_Trading_Systems

SammyD_2

Is it just me, or does anyone else find that trying to moneysave and to simplify is very difficult - I used to try to shop at Lidl as well as my usual Sainsbury's - but meant had to have bags organised for Lidl, money in right bank account as not credit card there, and twice as long shopping, as two shops to go round.

Library and toy library - got books/toys, but having to have them back on certain days with work and kids made for major stress, not a simple life. Found it easier just to buy...

Ebaying - I did make some money, but found the whole process less than simple - hours uploading, pfaffing round with photos, getting to the post office etc.

My simplify tactics are now: a 14 day menu. Same every two weeks. Avoid buying things if at all possible. No credit card tarting. Keeping track of what had to be paid when on five cards was just too difficult. I don't send cards.

[Deleted User]

This is another bit about de-cluttering:

I bought 9 case logic cases, to hold 120 each, so they all matched and can be stood neatly in a row on a small shelf on a unit near the tv, like a set of smart black files. I got rid of all the dvd and cd cases (sacrilege to some) and popped the cds and dvds into the files. They are all arranged and are in some kind of order. I opened up a LOT of room by getting rid of the cases

I did keep some lovely sets of 10-20 cds, which are in cardboard sleeves in neat cardboard boxes, but they sit neatly in a drawer below the tv

Years ago , I kept the cds on show but they looked messy and attracted dust. Doing it the case logic way was good for feng shui and made the room feel lighter

Greenshieldstamp_2

Hi everyone,

There is a quote (originally used for design I think) saying 'Less is More' and I believe that applies to what we are all trying to do as well. We are gaining more by doing less materialistic things and appreciating what we have and what is important.

It is quite strange that we have become so tied in to doing things that everyone else does. That is what is so good about this site, it encourages you to think and question what is right for your own situation and when it is right.

I have enjoyed looking at the pictures of the yurt - love that little wooden house in Wales - not sure I could manage to be decluttered enough for that yet though, but I have a much better idea of where I want to head in 2008.

By the way has anyone any tips for decluttering those cupboards which seem to be magnetic? I am thinking of the shoe/ coats cupboard by the door which gets tidied out but nevers stays that way. I think the clutter here must be magnetic!

Have a good Sunday

carolbee

just taking a coffee break from de-cluttering the bedroom and catching up with this wonderful thread.

I wonder if Martin realised just how this site would affect its users in all different ways of life.

I think to myself ' I will just have five minutes and a cuppa', look at the posts which interest me, which then have links .... you know what I mean!

thanks for all the interesting posts on this thread, I too have the clear out mentality especially at this time of the year when I am full also of good intentions, but have a good reason this year to keep to the weight loss one, as my son is getting married in about 18 months, this is my motivation! I am decluttering my body too.

a very happy New Year to all

ceridwen

re the "magnetic" cupboard - personally I put stuff that needs putting back upstairs at the bottom of the stairs (to take up next time I go upstairs) and vice-versa (ie stuff thats going downstairs or up in the loft) on the top landing for next time I do that.

....enforced decluttering isnt necessarily a bad thing....as in: do we need to replace things when they go wrong? Was swearing a bit when my electric blanket went wrong yesterday - but, thank goodness, I had kept the guarantee and receipt - so have only had that blanket for just over a year, but its a 3 year guarantee - so thats back to the shop soon for a refund for being faulty goods. Net result - I'll use a warm blanket under bottom sheet and give a quick blast of sheets with hairdryer before getting in (both tips picked up from MSE) and get my £70 back I paid. Quite glad personally it did go on me now - though not too pleased that that was something else the manufacturers designed to last such a short time.

(now why wondering why on EARTH I have 4 hairdryers!!!)

malvena_2

Jillinoz wrote: »

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

It's also a good yardstick by which to measure the other half in your life and is one of the reasons I am currently single!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

System

I bought a new set of furniture for my sons bedroom. I also bought a larger wardrobe for my daughters bedroom as she had seriously outgrown the one she was using and she had began to pile things on top and round the sides. Shoes were piled high behind the door making it impossible to clean. It was a fair bit bigger than her old one and she managed to get everything in and it was easy to clean. Three months or so later and the shoes are still piled up behind the door and stuff is piling in top. It gave her a perfect excuse to buy more!

I think the key to having less clutter is to have less storage space. Having less storage space means you have to seriously address your spending issues. Also prioritising what is needed/important and what is not.

I keep thinking in my head, what if we were to move? Would we seriously want to take this amount of stuff with us?

teacup_2

yes i always think to myself apart from christmas decorations that go in the loft and other few things I dont like putting anything in the loft as I dont like to junk it up.
This year I am not adding to clutter even cleaning products am switching to stardrops as dont want to accumulate lots. toilitree drawer stuff will be used . No more clothes , jewellery, cosmetics, magazines . Will use library more and mags passed on to me. Looking into handmade pressies and cards for personal touch. Good pressies i will order on internet after seeing the great offers advertised on here ! and will save for childs birthday etc.
No more being wastefull ie with food throwing it out because havent managed to eat by use by date( I hate to ). Donate bits to friends , ebay etc.
Go to pound shop once every 2 months to stock up on dishwasher tablets which are great ( ran out over 2 months ago and been washing up )washing up liquid etc.
Do lots of moneysaving things with family !
Sort those shoes out too !!. Also tend to think if its been behind cupboard doors to long am I gonna use it !?
Put receipts away as soon as I get them!Hopefully not too many as dont intend to buy anything!

Steel_2

I've just taken stock of my life and my attempts to simplify it over the last few years to find that I've made it more complicated.

I went freelance in the belief that I could free up my time and do more things that were enjoyable. This didn't happen.

Three months after I left work we bought a run down house to do up and for the last three years we've just scraped by. The constant stress and worry about watching every penny and looking for ways to get more in has made me ill. I go from working 80 hour weeks to not having any work at all and I'm so very tired and run down.

So as of the New Year, I'm simplifying my life in the following way:

• Going back to work part-time. I can hopefully still work from home but will be taking a wage every month to ensure the mortgage and bills are covered. Anything extra I make on thre side goes on debt payments.
• Giving up gardening. I used to love growing my own fruit and veg but it has simply become a huge source of stress for me. The garden was a building site when we came here so what we do grow is not fantastic and it will take many years of rubble clearing and soil nurturing before it will be. So for the next year I'm not setting foot in the garden. Instead I'll be getting in fruit and vegetables from a box scheme.
• Dumping negative people, even if they are relatives. I'm tired of being a pawn in my parents marriage which has been failing for the last 20 years.
• Splitting my evenings and weekends equally between hobbies and doing up the house so I can enjoy a few periods of relaxation.
• Not giving into guilt when people try and push me to do something that benefits them and not me. I'm going to practice the art of being selfish.