Simplifying Life

Sola

Ishtar wrote: »

I don't want to have to shift stuff in boxes that will stay in boxes until I'm in my box (if you see what I mean:rotfl:).

I hear you - we have a loft full of boxes from when we moved in 7 years ago, and we haven't opened them once. We obviously don't need whatever's in there (mostly books) but DH gets worried whenever I start a decluttering splurge so I'll have to be a bit sneaky and just do the boxes one at a time. I reckon I've got easily 1000 books that we won't miss.

Penny-Pincher!!

I am away on holiday ATM, but have already started making a list of stuff we dont need/want for when we get home.

PP
xx

Penelope_Penguin

apple_mint wrote: »

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

Have you tried Green Metropolis? You pay £3.95 per book that someone else has a surplus, and are paid £3 for every unwanted book you sell. You don't make much, but unwanted books are being redistributed.

HTH, Penny. x

MoneyGypsy

Hi,

thanks to those who gave me tips on what to do with the old clothes after I've given stuff to charity and used others for rags.

I didn't realise that the clothes and shoe banks were for those. I thought that they were just for stuff that could go to a chrity shop. Also didn't realise that the charity shops can sell the rags.

This place is a mine of information.

LOL and Happy New Decluttered/Simplified Year.

:j :j :j

saversarn

Great thread- as soon as my head returns to normal I am so going to enjoy reading and picking up valuable info from here. Ah the simple life eh!!

Janeryan

Jolaaled wrote: »

This is a brilliant thread and is making me think differently.

My little house is crammed with stuff....stuff everywhere..and i struggle to keep tidy. I want a more spacious and tidy home but, try as i might, i can't get rid of stuff.
I am genetically wired up to hoard!

I want to make a start tho and this thread is making me stronger.
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!

To wean myself off of worrying that I am about to chuck out something that next week I will wamt(even though I haven't worn it for ages!) I put all the possible throw outs in a bag(so they are no longer accessible) and then I forget all about them for about 6 months-I then take the bag to the charity shop without looking in it!

Also it's a good idea to get a friend round and have a "lets make a new outfit" session as sometimes you will find that you will want to wear the item again just in a different way!

I also swap or give clothes to my frined on the proviso that I suddenly have the urge to wear it I can "borrow" it back!

Ellidee

Happy New Year to all Simplifiers (sp?) and declutter-ers ! See my new sig too XX

lilac_lady

Charity shops will have to reduce their prices. This has been said before on MSE. I was shopping for a book and some were priced at £3 when they had originally cost £6. Is a 50% reduction on new prices fair or am I getting too stingy? If I lead a simple life I want to save while I'm doing it.

groatie_queen

A Happy Serene and Simple New Year everyone!

A month ago I took action on my clothes. I'm the original Second Hand Rose - I love recycled clothes that are stylish, have stood the test of time, were mainly passed on to me or bought in charity shops, and thus save the planet to some extent. My only 'new' clothes purchase in 2007 was some merino thermal base layers, bought with Christmas money, so I can turn the heating down but not freeze - like Ceridwen I hate being cold!

Two 'simplify' rules I have applied for years clothes-wise are, have nothing that needs dry cleaned, and keep to a limited palette: in my case mainly black, turquoise through to teal, and rose through to maroon. Allows easy mix and match within those colour palettes.

The purge:

1) Divided out the 80% that don't get worn often, went through them and sent 80% of them to the local charity shop.

2) The 20% I reprieved, plus the original 20% of favourite clothes, I had a further 20% cull.

The predominant question was, 'does this fit my current lifestyle?'. I was surprised how painless the whole procedure was.

Result - I only have clothes I really do wear, plus room in my wardrobe to see them now.

Quelle relief.

I'm now applying the 80 /20 principle to all my belongings, a bit at a time. Even if initially it is only 20% that goes, rather than 80%, if this process is repeated and repeated over months and years, eventually I'll be left with the creme de la creme and my life will be more fully an expression of the authentic me.

Those of us who have been bereaved and have inherited belongings - my experience was that I could only let go of some things when I was ready, and that this can take its own time. Nine years after my mother's death, I am down to just a few things of hers that resonate with me and are keepers, and a few which I don't wish to hang on to, and I know that I will be able to send them on their way with love and blessings when the time is right. I know I would have done myself damage if I had tried to force this particular letting-go.

Best wishes

GQ xxx

FrenchMaid_2

Sola wrote: »

I hear you - we have a loft full of boxes from when we moved in 7 years ago, and we haven't opened them once. We obviously don't need whatever's in there (mostly books) but DH gets worried whenever I start a decluttering splurge so I'll have to be a bit sneaky and just do the boxes one at a time. I reckon I've got easily 1000 books that we won't miss.

Lol my dh gets worried as well when I start decluttering!!! He holds on to the most random things...