Simplifying Life

Sola

I've just gone through my kitchen, re-arranged cupboards/listed contents, chucked out odd and knackered stuff, and added a few new bits. It'll make life easier with the home cooking I'm doing. The rest of the house needs decluttering though.

rhonda_jean

another good strategy for doing jobs you'd rather not do, like decluttering, is to time yourself. Get an kitchen timer and set it for 15 minutes. Start your decluttering and keep working until the timer goes off. Then have a rest or a cuppa and decide if you're up for another 15 minutes. This is agreat way of starting, and often that is the most difficult part.

Ellidee

OOh I like the idea of putting jobs in a hat too. Maybe combine it with the 15 minute time limit but try and do a few spread throughout a day. Something like the flyladies fling boogie !

apple_mint

I'm going to stick my neck out here :eek:

I'm part way through watching the online video (buffering is slowing me up).

My concern is when we declutter we move our landfill to someone else to manage (buyers from charity shops etc.). Instead I'm going to look at my goods differently. Much in the same way my Granny did.

Clothes .. can I recover fabric, buttons, zips, ribbons etc. Can I make something new that I need? If not, what about dusters.

Old Pots, pans, crockery. What about using them for growing things in?

Books. I may not buy any more new ones. Will I re-read them. If not, can I swop them for something I will?

Furniture .. can I make it last my lifetime? My Grandparents only had the suite they had when they married. It was a quality 'second hand' leather suite. Do I need to replace?

Jars - mint sauce / coffee / jam ... do they need to be recyled? Can I use them myself?

Just a different viewpoint

MoneyGypsy

Hi,

tried to give as much as possible to charity but some old stuff is just not good enough for that - old underwear and the like. Cut up some old clothes to use as cleaning rags but really didn't know what to do with the rest so they did go in the bin. Just one small bag full though.

Any tips for next time so that I don't even do that?

dND

apple_mint wrote: »

I'm going to stick my neck out here :eek:

I'm part way through watching the online video (buffering is slowing me up).

My concern is when we declutter we move our landfill to someone else to manage (buyers from charity shops etc.). Instead I'm going to look at my goods differently. Much in the same way my Granny did.

Clothes .. can I recover fabric, buttons, zips, ribbons etc. Can I make something new that I need? If not, what about dusters.

Old Pots, pans, crockery. What about using them for growing things in?

Books. I may not buy any more new ones. Will I re-read them. If not, can I swop them for something I will?

Furniture .. can I make it last my lifetime? My Grandparents only had the suite they had when they married. It was a quality 'second hand' leather suite. Do I need to replace?

Jars - mint sauce / coffee / jam ... do they need to be recyled? Can I use them myself?

Just a different viewpoint

I agree with that totally. In a similar vein, dumping all the old cleaning fluids in order to use greener ones doesn't make sense IMO. The landfill or sewage system has to then cope with a concentration of the product rather than dilute amounts. It makes more sense to finish up products and then replace with the more eco version.

Happy New Year all, may 2008 be all you want it to be.

Deborah

rosieben

you're right apple_mint,

I've re-used a few books for artwork, altered books, booksafe etc. Fabric, buttons, ribbon etc I save for sewing projects. Plastic containers I use for storage, but limit myself to just a couple at a time else I end up with clutter!

When my ds buys shoes I have the boxes - I use one, covered in gardening pics, for seeds, plant labels, twine, gloves etc. Another I covered with gold wrapping paper, and use that for my christmas cards, address list, stamps and pen etc (only put stamps and pen when I pull it out for use each christmas) and it looks fine on the dresser for a week or so whilst I write out my cards. Just doing up a large boot box for my family history photos. I shall collage some unwanted photos (or maybe copies) on the outside so its obvious whats in it. And the nice thing is that shoe boxes are designed to stack nicely!!

I keep jam jars etc for re-use (jam!), mini jam pots for HM ink.

After reading some of the OS threads last year I look at everything I'm done with to see if I can find an alternative use.

I have my sis :A saving ribbon, buttons, fabric, ferroro roche boxes etc for me too!

ecoelle

Loving this thread! I totally agree about 'reuse don't recycle'
I have built some shelves in my kitchen for all my dried herbs and spices and reuse jars to keep all the spices in, this means i can buy in bulk and store them easily. Always use clothes til there worn out and anything really old and unwearable in general public become DIY or gardening clothes. Local community projects are always on the look out for art and craft materials so i salvage buttons, zips and any really nice Christams cards i use as labels for next years presents. Some people think i'm bonkers but to be honest i don't care. I'm happy and feel i do as much as i can but keep posting more ideas because i know there must be things i'm not doing yet!

Ellidee

MoneyGypsy wrote: »

Hi,

tried to give as much as possible to charity but some old stuff is just not good enough for that - old underwear and the like. Cut up some old clothes to use as cleaning rags but really didn't know what to do with the rest so they did go in the bin. Just one small bag full though.

Any tips for next time so that I don't even do that?

Charity shops do get money for 'rags' ie clothes not good enough to re-sell . They are sold ,in bulk, by weight. Shoes too. HTH

Fruball

I am going to try to follow some clutter rules this year - I have things on my side in the kitchen that I always think I will either ebay or give away but to be honest they will probably sit there for a few months then go in the bin.

Must try harder