Simplifying Life

System

I have a drawer for these family mementos. Yes it takes up a drawer when i am short of storage space but some things you just cant put a price on.

rhonda_jean

Hello everyone. This is an interesting thread. And thank you for the link to my blog earlier in the piece.

I live in Australia. I have downsized, decluttered and simplified and have lived simply for the past few years. I have never been happier than I am now.

I think the stumbling block for some of you is that you're trying to do too many things at once. Simplifying is a slow process, it will take it's own time. If I may make a suggestion to those of you trying to slow down and live well - choose one thing and work with that. It might be decluttering, budgeting, changing the way you buy groceries, switching to green cleaners or learning to bake your own bread. Just work on that one thing until you're happy with it and then, if you feel inclined to, start on the next thing. Doing this will slowly build a simple lifestyle.

One word of warning though. Living simply will probably be more difficult than your current lifestyle when you first start. Now you are using your money to buy convenience. That will stop, because when you live simply you do as much for yourself as you can and that money you used to spend on buying convenience foods, chemical cleaners, sliced bread and new clothes will be spent on reducing your debt.

You might find you just want to declutter or grow vegetables and not go the whole hog. Think about what you want to get out of your life and then make the slow plans to make it happen. But whatever you do, it won't happen overnight or even in a month. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. : )

Linda32

Jolaaled wrote: »

Can i ask you all about clothes and shoes: how long do you keep these without wearing them, before you chuck them. I read somewhere, that if you haven't worn an item of clothing fo 2 yrs, then get rid. Does anyone have any such 'rules' that seem to work?
I'm just worried that , as soon as i chuck something, that is just the thing I want to wear!

Yes I have rules with regard to clothes. I wear them in strict rotation. Don't save anything "for best", as it never gets worn otherwise.

I have clothes for the allotment which are really clothes which have been relegated to that position if you see what I mean. Then I have work clothes which are also best clothes for going out to the pub etc. (apart from my black work trousers)
When I put my clothes away I pair them up into outfits and work left to right in the wardrobe so the next outfit on the left is the one I wear that day. :T During the winter I have old tops etc which are either faded or have holes in these I wear "underneath" as a layer.

Summer skirts and tops are put away under a [strike]garment cover[/strike] old bed sheet at the back of the wardrobe until May

rosieben

rhonda_jean wrote: »

Hello everyone. This is an interesting thread. And thank you for the link to my blog earlier in the piece.

I live in Australia. I have downsized, decluttered and simplified and have lived simply for the past few years. I have never been happier than I am now.

I think the stumbling block for some of you is that you're trying to do too many things at once. Simplifying is a slow process, it will take it's own time. ....

Hi Rhonda Jean, I appreciate what you're saying. I have sometimes felt frustrated that I cant do all that I want to do NOW. But I've come a long way and keep reminding myself of that. My plan for 2008 is to continue to declutter and not buy anything new unless I have to.

Over the last year I've become addicted to the Old Style threads on this forum; they're full of good ideas for eating healther home made foods, and once your store cupboard is in place then this works out so much cheaper. I've reduced my household spend by half :j - nothing more satisfying and it really does make me feel more in control of my life.

I love your blog, although dont visit as often as I'd like. People like you are an inspiration, thank you! :T

ceridwen

Hi again Rhonda

Definitely see the point you are making. This is the reason why I have commented earlier in this thread re organic, incremental change and being on a "journey".

It is frustrating at times not to have the time to just go "wallop - right thats it all changed overnight" - but partly I am "human" and partly (like others) I have demands on my time (in my case from stuff that has to be done - ie having a paid job).

We all work at a pace that we - and our time (or lack of) can accommodate.

annie123

just taken me 1/2 hour to read this thread.

my mind, body and home all need a good clear out.

Just looked up at my bookcase ...books stacked laying down to fit more on double deep so hanging over the edges, and noticed an unread book

clear you clutter by karen kingston. :rotfl:

Dont know where it came from or how long its been there, a quick read then out it goes!

BallandChain

This thread is so addictive I am still here reading it! A few points have been made that I already use. If you haven't used it in a year then get rid as chances are you won't use it. Also when we had a house I used to put things on the bottom step to remind me to take upstairs, and likewise dumped things on the landing to take down.

I've moved around a couple of times this year so I was already prepared as I had done decluttering for the past few years. Yes it really can take time so don't feel like it has to be a rush. I still declutter now, you'd think I'd have nothing left to get rid of at this stage, but I do!

When we moved it took a couple of car journeys and no removal van as the cost of the removal would be more than what our possessions come to!

Linda, that's a great idea about rotating your wardrobe, I'm gonna give that a go as I probably end up wearing one thing more than the other. Everything is crammed into one small wardrobe space clothes, coats, tops,etc for two of us and I wish I just had a little more storage so I can see what I've got. Also it's a bit of a battle trying to get to the shelf in the wardrobe and I haven't got that much stuff, honest.

Caterina

ceridwen wrote: »

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

Yeh and the beauty of it that a few weeks/couple months later usually they do a 'leftover jumble sale' where everything goes even cheaper and you can fill up a binbag for £1!

Today at a friend's tea party I heard about a retired professor who had a whole lot of junk in a big house, so he got fed up with all the clutter and sold his house and moved to live in a small canal boat to rid himself of the unnecessary extras! Talk about drastic!

Caterina

Jolaaled

Caterina wrote: »

Yeh and the beauty of it that a few weeks/couple months later usually they do a 'leftover jumble sale' where everything goes even cheaper and you can fill up a binbag for £1!
Caterina

Try and resist the temptation, Caterina!

carolbee

maybe we should have a daily 'simplfying life' thread, like the one here on OS? we can share with others what we are doing, I have found this very helpful and realise how much more I can do, without discarding what I want/like to have around

I for one feel really positive about decluttering home, life in general and my head!

Happy New Year to all 'simple folk' on here, I am really enjoying this thread