Simplifying Life

carolbee

Greenshieldstamp wrote: »

Thanks Ceridwen for the stairs suggestion for the magnetic clutter. You couldn't have known that we live in a bungalow, so I smiled at that one!

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me too, no cupboard under the stairs for us Greenshieldstamp! (with accompanying clutter)

have now started on the bookshelf in the living room, the books are shaking and are quaking on their shelves, is it me for the chop this time they ask

D&DD

ceridwen wrote: »

...the loft....and theres another thought! I've not that long back thrown out bags full of stuff from that.....but could be leeway for some more decluttering there.....I've got a (barely used) food processor up there (thats on top of the one in the kitchen!). What makes it a bit hard throwing out stuff sometimes is the thought of the money spent - for very little return (thats £50 odd down the drain on that alone).

:eek: :eek: You mentioned the 'L' word :eek: :eek:

I have a confession to make...I am a hoarder...I keep everything....I am trying to be good and declutter the house but as I declutter it mainly goes into..the loft!
I blame my Dad...:rotfl: he's just as bad now and seems to have passed it on to me :rolleyes:
Thing is I am really crafty and actually can turn my hand to most things so all my neighbours tend to donate 'useful' stuff too

I do see it as moneysaving so to strike a balance is extremely hard and something I've really NOT been able to master yet!!!!!!

rosieben

I was like your OH Judi, a real squirrel. For a number of years I lived with family and friends and moved my belongings around the country, in and out of store. I finally got a place of my own 3 years ago and I'm still decluttering the rubbish that I've been dragging through life with me. Its been like a huge weight around my neck. I'm determined to get rid of much much more. Edited to say - I was actually paying for storing this clutter!! As we all are still, when we pay rent, mortgage etc.

So far I've done toiletries and dressing table. I've found enough shampoo and toiletries to last me for at least 6 months so this is helping my grocery challenge too!

JenniO

SammyD wrote: »

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.

Trying to help:
RE: LIDL Are you sure LIDL don't even take debit cards? I shop there and really hardly ever carry cash with me. Can you go to sainsburys first and manage to scrounge a few extra bags with you at the checkout and then go to LIDL? Or permenantly carry a couple of large canvas/reusable bags in the boot?

RE: Library - Did you know that if you check out children's books using a 'children's library card, there is no late fee for returning?

RE: Ebay - I agree with what you are saying. If it bothers you that much then say only ebay things you think you'll get at least a "tenner for" or a "fiver for" and the rest goes to charity/freecycle. Just a thought? Just trying to help you maximise your time.

Can't help with the credit card issue I'm afraid.

RE: 14 day menu. You may find this a bit to stick to after a while. Why not try to work on another 14 day menu when you can and that way you have a monthly menu. You could batch cook and freeze. Try out that 'once a month baking' thing etc. And that way you are only going round and round 12 times on your monthly menu as opposed to eating the same things every fortnight.

Hope all this helps and good luck hun!

Greenshieldstamp_2

While we are confessing what we hoard!
I confess to hoarding plastic tubs and boxes which I wash and save, just in case they come in handy. Sometimes they are very useful for freezing things etc. but often I end up with a pile of boxes and a pile of lids which don't match - a different but just as infuriating version of one sock going missing.

So I commit to not hoarding plastic boxes in 2008. There, I have put it in writing so now I must do it!

rosieben

Re 14-day menu - if I plan a menu (sometimes a week, sometimes for the month) I'm not always specific about the actual meal.

For instance I will plan for sausages and then decide, sometimes on the day, what to do with them - casserole, sausage toad, sausage and onions, cowboy hotpot etc. Chicken breast, on the day, could be curry, pie, in mushroom sauce, just plain grilled or hunter's chicken. Pasta meal, this could be spag bol, lasagne, pasta bake etc. If you have a reasonable store cupboard this is quite feasible and you could repeat the ingredients but not the actual meal.

rosieben

Greenshieldstamp wrote: »

While we are confessing what we hoard!
I confess to hoarding plastic tubs and boxes which I wash and save, just in case they come in handy. Sometimes they are very useful for freezing things etc. but often I end up with a pile of boxes and a pile of lids which don't match - a different but just as infuriating version of one sock going missing.

So I commit to not hoarding plastic boxes in 2008. There, I have put it in writing so now I must do it!

I do the same, but I use some for freezing odd left overs, some for storage of small craft bits. Got a bit out of control last year so I've had to limit myself; I dont save every one now, just like to have one or two in readiness.

Jolaaled

Confession time for me too!
A list of what i hoard ( and must STOP!):

odd sox
clothes and shoes
empty containers (just in case they come in handy)
old clothes (just in case they can 'patch up' other clothes!)
Any kitchenware that i've not used in years but still might.
Almost empty cream/lotion/shampoo bottles that i'm gonna scrape out when i've time.
Old bills and household 'paperwork' going back years.
Piles of old and never now used, 'just in case' linen, .....including removeable covers off previous sofa
Books waiting to be 'amazoned'


I'm a hopeless case.

mary43

Oh dear.................I'd forgotten about the plastic boxes:eek: OH thinks I'm mad when I go to the charity shop and come home with some more (well, they were so cheap and useful, I bleat to him!)
All they do is take up space...........they're never the right size for freezing or storing anything...........well not the ones I've got.................lol
So, think they'll have to go back where they came from...................thanks for reminding me. I might have forgotten about them as they're stacked at the back of the pantry taking up space:T

aurorahelios

Wow, what an inspirational thread this is. Reading it has encouraged me to take a good hard look at my need to declutter. Started last night with my bedside cabinet, which yielded a whole carrier bag of rubbish from such a small space.

I have a single bed spare room that is so full of rubbish, that whenever my mum comes to stay she has to sleep on the zbed in the living room! On top of that every room in my house has at least one area of clutter.

I did manage to charity shop a load of stuff out the loft a couple of months ago mainly because that was becoming so full we couldn't fit anything else up there, but it still needs so much work.

Problem is whenever I try to declutter the thought pops into my head that it might be useful one day and back into the cupboard it goes. I really need to be firmer with myself.