Simplifying Life

ceridwen

carolbee wrote: »

Greenshieldstamp wrote: »

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

:think: Reckon the charity shops nationally could be handing me a bit of "commission" at this rate - all this decluttering going on:rotfl:

The library might also like any books people throw out.

My being "virtuous" thing for the day is I am mending various clothes that I do wear often - which has been combined with watching DVD "Tales from the Green Valley" (about a group of people who spent a year recreating life of 1620 in a remote farmhouse). Very interesting and some "food for thought" there in various ways. The DVD is on loan courtesy of a very MSE-type Christmas present from a friend (a voucher for 3 months free films from Lovefilm).

Coffeebreak nearly over and back to the mending/sorting out my sewing basket.

Think we are all entitled to a glass or two of wine tonight as "reward" for our "labours":beer:

ceridwen

Re earlier post on bits being kept "just in case":

- odd socks = to be worn anyway - who is to notice that socks are odd if one is wearing jeans or trousers and some "fuller" styles of footwear

- old clothes (not good enough ones to pass on) - rags for cleaning

- bills/paperwork - was looking at one of those eco-gadgets the other day that one compresses paper (any paper) in to make a "fuel log". Gather these "logs" burn for about 1 hour. In my centrally-heated house I wouldnt find any use for them - but those with open fireplaces/woodburning stoves would.

[Deleted User]

I hoard candles. Well I buy them when they look cheap. Almost all are nice yankee candles, I do burn a candle or two most days in the winter but it is going to take about 3 years :eek:

They aren`t going to be given away but I have got to stop looking for yankee bargains

I showered this morning with a drop or two of moulton brown and so much regretted getting sucked into the qvc tsv, time after time, I WILL simplify showering by (eventually) only using shower products free from SLS and good old fashioned soap. Everyone who gets a birthday present from now on will get a bottle of moulton brown tucked into their gift. When I get through my mountain of moulton and my tonne of Liz Earle, I will have free`d up a whole shelf in a cupboard

Caterina

The church across the road from us is having a jumble sale on 5th January - time for declutter in our family household (hopefully I won't go the next one and buy back the stuff I gave away this time round!).

Caterina

ceridwen

Caterina wrote: »

The church across the road from us is having a jumble sale on 5th January - time for declutter in our family household (hopefully I won't go the next one and buy back the stuff I gave away this time round!).

Caterina

Now thats one sensible vicar! Having it at a very "suitable" time of year;)

Move_To_Portugal

Wow, great thread!

OH and I have just finished de cluttering our bedroom, with our wedding, Christmas and me having a bad back it had started to resemble a tip. We are quite frugal already and hardly buy anything and yet have accumalated lots of extra stuff. I'm not sure where it all comes from.

We have a bag of stuff for the textile bin, lots to car boot and some for ebay listing.

In 2008 I plan not to buy any of the following:

• new clothes
• books
• cd's
• bedlinen/towels/linen

I'm now going to sit down and mend two pairs of work trousers.

mtp

Jillinoz

Ellidee wrote: »

A good tip for deciding how precious something is to you is to ask yourself ' If I was to emigrate to Australia would I pay to have it transported ? ' Not sure where I heard this .

This actually happened to me and, believe me, it was kill or cure as far as my hoarding and collecting habits were concerned. I moved to Sydney to live with a week's notice six years ago and all I could take with me was a backpack of clothes and other essentials. Three months into my move, I arranged for a tea chest of 'stuff' to be shipped from my home in the UK - at huge expense. Opening the box 12,000 miles away in Australia was my reality check as far as me being dependent on and defined by 'things' goes. I realised that it was insane for me to have spent several hundred pounds to have shipped a kettle to the other side of the world. Albeit a very fetching 'designer' stainless steel kettle.

HopeElizzy

For me simplifying would mean I would have to stop hoarding.
I think I've become worse since I had my first child 5 years ago. I am so sentimental that I keep all sorts of things to do with the children. I know there is alot of stuff in the loft and the garage. Clothes my littlies were given as presents when they were born are bagged up and stored in boxes, all their artwork is boxed up in the garage, cards they had for their first birthday, their first christmas, the list of stuff is endless and I know if I don't stop by the time they leave home (if they ever do) I will have disappeared under all these things.
Does anyone have any suggestions........?
Something I can do is fill a charity bag every time one comes through the door - my clothes and books are something I can get rid of!
:TThank you everyone for this interesting thread.

ceridwen

HopeElizzy wrote: »

For me simplifying would mean I would have to stop hoarding.
I think I've become worse since I had my first child 5 years ago. I am so sentimental that I keep all sorts of things to do with the children. I know there is alot of stuff in the loft and the garage. Clothes my littlies were given as presents when they were born are bagged up and stored in boxes, all their artwork is boxed up in the garage, cards they had for their first birthday, their first christmas, the list of stuff is endless and I know if I don't stop by the time they leave home (if they ever do) I will have disappeared under all these things.
Does anyone have any suggestions........?
Something I can do is fill a charity bag every time one comes through the door - my clothes and books are something I can get rid of!
:TThank you everyone for this interesting thread.

Maybe you could take photos of the childrens artwork, cards, etc and "store" them on Flickr on the Internet. Re the childrens babyclothes - perhaps get pleasure from seeing them in use again (gifted to other babies).

rosieben

HopeElizzy wrote: »

...
I keep all sorts of things to do with the children. I know there is alot of stuff in the loft and the garage. Clothes my littlies were given as presents when they were born are bagged up and stored in boxes, all their artwork is boxed up in the garage, cards they had for their first birthday, their first christmas, the list of stuff is endless and I know if I don't stop by the time they leave home (if they ever do) I will have disappeared under all these things.
Does anyone have any suggestions........?
...

As you said, you cant keep everything else you'll be crushed under the weight. You need a plan!

When my kids were little I kept special things for them, they each had a big tin chest in the attic and I kept report cards, special things they made at school, special christmas cards, favourite toys and a few bits of favourite clothes.

When they grew up and left home they each sorted through their chests and threw 90% of it away!! :eek:

My dd kept a few things connected with my dad, and she kept her beatrix potter books, not much else! My ds threw almost everything away, and continues to be a minimalist to this day (he's 34 now)!

So, I would suggest you keep special things, favourite outfits (limit this to 1 per year after the first year!) and then be prepared to look the other way when they toss it all in the bin in 18 years time!!

My dd does keep a lot of dgd's artwork, and cards but clothes she passes on so others can get some pleasure from it. She has also kept a few special toys, and a few toddler books but is quite ruthless about not keeping every present from granma etc, which I absolutely agree with