Simplifying Life

ecoelle

Rememember you can use envirophone for mobiles i got £6.50 for an old one of mine as long as they work and it doesn't cost you a penny, make sure you register with your real name though or they send you a cheque with your username on it!

lightisfading

Yeah I looked at envirophone but it's an old one and only worth a couple of quid, would rather give it away to someone who needs it

ceridwen

....in homes across the country the cry goes up "can I chuck it?" by the sound of it. Think we are all working on the paperwork today by the sound of it......I'm still finding the comment earlier in my thread re "the bookcase gets it" amusing. Having my lunchbreak from going through my paperwork thinking "right - the filing gets it" lol. Think part of the reason I dont want to deal with this is the fears it raises:
- darn, I've accidentally thrown the receipt for something thats still under guarantee (hope it doesnt go wrong on me now)
- money things: hope I've not overlooked anything to do with my income at any point in life
....etc etc :think: thinks..... "feel the fear and do it anyway" to quote.



Working out an easier - I hope - system. Colourcoded according to whether I've plonked it under:

- my body
- my house
- my income (now/on retirement)
- my possessions (guaranties/instructions for use)
- leisure

food now and then back to the dejunking.:cool:

(NB thought for groatiequeen - keeping contact details of people - I use an index card box - easy to throw out cards as things change.)

Rowan9

groatie_queen wrote: »

A Happy Serene and Simple New Year everyone!


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

Thanks for posting this. It has helped me enormously. My parents died 12 and 14 years ago and I still have 'stuff' of theirs that i feel guilty about letting go but don't really want to keep. Although i have cleared out masses of their things over the years, there are still other things waiting to be sent on their way. Your post has helped me to see that i can give myself 'permission' to wait until the time is right.

mary43

I can't yet let go of my Dad..............he died 8 years ago and I've got scraps of paper he wrote on, boxes of pen knives (why did he have so many), cig lighters that dont work, the wallet he carried all around italy in the war, manuscripts he wrote for musical arrangement, an old 78 jazz record (must have meant something to him), his old drum sticks that ended up being used by him as plant supports...........and this is the worst...........when the wooden cross that first went on his grave started to rot away I got another one made. After Mum went into a care home and the house had to be cleared my brother put it with all the 'stuff' for me in the garage. Mum had kept it and I just couldnt leave it behind so I've now got it in our garage waiting for OH to pop in the ground in the wild life part of our garden...........since then mums paid for a headstone so don't know what happened to the cross I had re-done.
One day I'll be able to 'let go' of parts of him, but not yet.............it just wouldn't feel comfortable for me.

Oh and also got his old kit bag and bits of leather that were in it, his dog tag from the war, old battered brown suitcase that he took with him when he got his first job with an orchestra in Jersey...........got his initials on it..........how could I throw it away ?

thriftlady_2

I'm trying to simplify my meal planning too Judi I'm a bit of a cookbook addict, which not only means that I spend money on cookbooks it also means I buy lots of different foodstuffs in order to try out the recipes (or my versions of them anyway).

Today for example, I have in my fridge; feta, gruyere, stilton, cheddar, a bit of boursin, chorizo, ham, bacon, smoked slamon, creme fraiche, yogurt (hm), avocado, peppers, bag of washed salad leaves, French fruit syrup for adding to water (pour les enfants;) ), olives, capers etc etc.

None of these foods are bad as such, but I feel they are 'clutter foods' -no one needs 5 kinds of cheese (actually it's 6 I forgot the Parmesan) do they ? Why do I need bacon and chorizo, and all those exotic salads as well as my local veg ? It isn't only the fridge either -there are 3 kinds of grain in the cupboard not including rice and pasta, and 5 kinds of pulses.

I'm longing to clear out the clutter and simplify it. I think if I didn't have so much choice I would eat less. I also want to provide my kids with simpler snacks. They are getting a bit too used to a full biscuit and cake tin -it may be all homemade but it's still sugary and fatty and spoils their appetite for mealtimes. I'm thinking things like soda bread, fruit bread or oatcakes would be better.

I found this simple, frugal meal plan -Stonehead's Meal (scroll down). I like this, I'm going to try something similar. I shall endeavour to buy only local fruit and veg although I shall allow myself lemons, oranges and bananas. Instead of allowing myself to be led by cookery writers, I shall be led by what's in my kitchen and what's in season.

BallandChain

Ellidee wrote: »

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

I didn't know that but who buys the 'rags'? What happens to that stuff afterwards? I'm just curious as there is probably stuff I've thrown thinking it was no good for anyone.

rosieben

mary43 wrote: »

I can't yet let go of my Dad..............he died 8 years ago and I've got scraps of paper he wrote on, boxes of pen knives (why did he have so many), cig lighters that dont work, the wallet he carried all around italy in the war, manuscripts he wrote for musical arrangement, an old 78 jazz record (must have meant something to him), his old drum sticks that ended up being used by him as plant supports...........and this is the worst...........when the wooden cross that first went on his grave started to rot away I got another one made. After Mum went into a care home and the house had to be cleared my brother put it with all the 'stuff' for me in the garage. Mum had kept it and I just couldnt leave it behind so I've now got it in our garage waiting for OH to pop in the ground in the wild life part of our garden...........since then mums paid for a headstone so don't know what happened to the cross I had re-done.
One day I'll be able to 'let go' of parts of him, but not yet.............it just wouldn't feel comfortable for me.

Oh and also got his old kit bag and bits of leather that were in it, his dog tag from the war, old battered brown suitcase that he took with him when he got his first job with an orchestra in Jersey...........got his initials on it..........how could I throw it away ?

I really feel for those of you who struggle to 'let go' of inherited possessions. It is so hard, but do it in a way and at a pace that you can deal with.

I would plead a case for not throwing it all though. I'm doing my family history and I would so love things like letters, photos, dog tags etc for some of the people in my family - that would be real treasure for me! Sadly my mother didnt value things like this and burnt huge amounts of photos, cards, letters etc. and I could cry when I realise how much was lost.

If you're not interested in documenting your family history yourself, maybe someone else in the family is interested? Even if not now, as kids grow up they may develop an interest - I didnt start until I was 40 and I just found out that a nephew in OZ is really interested so I will pass anything I can onto him when I am ready to let it go (my kids arent interested).

I'm talking really about small personal things, of course and these neednt take up much more space than a shoe box. If you decide to pack items away please include some notes about who they belonged to and any background you can give, however brief.

Can I make a plea for old photos too - please consider writing any information about the subject, date etc on the back of the photo. I am so frustrated as I have acquired a HUGE pile of very old photos from distant family and no idea who any of the people are! I believe its best to write on a small label and stick that to the back of the photo, rather than writing on the photo itself.

Sorry for going OT and apologies if I seem to be making a plea for retaining clutter! :rotfl:

mags50_2

I totally agree with you Rosieben :j

I do my family history too and treasure old photo's and small possessions that belonged to mine and hubby's families.

Another thing to help us genealogists... talk to us... tell us the stories from your childhood.... it helps to 'de-clutter' your minds too!

rosieben

thriftlady wrote: »

...
I found this simple, frugal meal plan -Stonehead's Meal (scroll down). I like this, I'm going to try something similar. I shall endeavour to buy only local fruit and veg although I shall allow myself lemons, oranges and bananas. Instead of allowing myself to be led by cookery writers, I shall be led by what's in my kitchen and what's in season.

Thriftlady, thank you for the lnik - loads of interesting stuff on that site.

Will you be starting a simplified menu thread? or posting on this one? hope you will do one or the other, I found your war-time thread so interesteing :T