Simplifying Life

bails

As ever, loving reading this thread! I'm especially over the moon about the journals chat and am inspired to make my own! I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the great ideas I'm learning and have been struggling to find the best way of organising it all. Also, I think I might make some personalised journals as presents for people, will help with my 4k challenge too, so thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for all the great links!

ceridwen

Charis wrote: »

I've also been decluttering since Boxing Day and have a pile of things that will be hard to shift. It does rather make me wonder why I was so sure I needed them in the first place :rotfl:
Charis

....on this thought...and I know Hester has mentioned this as well.....maybe there might be one or two other people in your vicinity having the same problem (ie what to do with unwanted "stuff"). I'll throw in a thought - holding a Really Really Free Market. Its an idea from the SF Compact - they hold one at intervals, as you will see from a blog they have:

http://sfcompact.blogspot.com

http://reallyreallyfree.org/

Your "junk" could be other peoples "treasure"

Aril

I think the great thing about this thread is that it has certainly made me take a step back and relook at some areas of my life again aswell as all the decluttering etc going on. I've reached the conclusion that I pick up loads of freebie recipes etc when I'm feeling a bit low and need a boost. However, the buzz is shortlived which is why I only do something with about 5% of them. If I am inspired by something I tend to have a go at it really quickly or not at all. In the old days I would have treated myself to a glossy magazine instead.

The journal entries are fab. I haven't had a taker for the old calendars [secretly quite pleased because I love the pictures on them]. Will be using some for file dividers in my half started OS file [which hasn't seen the light of day since 2006:D ] and cutting out the thumbnails on the back of them to decorate the folder. The rest will be recycled.

Decluttering this weekend. Have now sorted all the bits into jumble and charity shop [can do the latter in 2 trips]. Have a bag of books from a freecycler in the garage I need to go through as I know I'll never read some of them and will resorting out my metal recycling as I've been secreting it away in 2 or 3 places. I'm a great one for hiding things!!
Keep up the good work.
Aril

PS If you're finding the idea of simplifying [however you're wanting to achieve it] a bit overwhelming someone once said to me:
How do you eat a whole elephant? Bit by bit.

carolbee

I love the links from Ceridwen - I go off on a tangent here there and everywhere, thanks so much. Had a look at the SFCompact link, they suggested a get together when you swap items. I have a regular get together with friends and I suggested doing this about six months ago, every time we meet, we now bring something we don't want, and take an item if we need it, all very informal. It was great fun! Could use this idea at all sorts of gatherings (well maybe not funerals/weddings/christenings!)

I am hooked on this thread, may it run and run, thanks everyone for all your ideas.

I started the household journal idea last year, and have incorporated xmas card/gift/birthday dates lists, as well as pet details, ie microchip details, vets/kennels etc/ utility bill details. I have tried to make it so that if anyone came into the house, they would know all about everything they needed to.

JoJoB

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Hi Applemint
I'd have no use for the items on downsizer, I'm 56 & waaaay past all that. I have however made some shopping bags from old clothes, I find skirt & trousere work best.
Hester

For all those handy with a sewing machine/needle and thread you can make quite groovy bags out of worn out old jeans. Just chop the legs off and use the bum part for the bag (ie the waistband is the opening of the bag). you can use the denim from the leg bits to fashion a strap, or else buy your choice of strap from the haberdashery. They look very cool and retro and can be customised however you like - and because they are denim they are dead strong.

moanymoany

apple_mint wrote: »

At the risk of making some of you go "Uuughhhh" ... I've spent the day re-using the fabric from some of my clothes to make these

http://www.downsizer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128

I bought some online a few months ago but have now decided to make my own (I got the pinking shears and the special fabric late last year but never got round to making them).

My next task is to make some reusable shopping bags from old clothes

I decided ages ago that if I still needed ST's I would make some. I found tolerated tampons less and less as I went further into the menopause and these would have been perfect - soft and snuggley!

apple_mint

moanymoany wrote: »

I decided ages ago that if I still needed ST's I would make some. I found tolerated tampons less and less as I went further into the menopause and these would have been perfect - soft and snuggley!

I originally bought some reusables as a 'trial' and found them to be so much more comfortable. I am concerned about all the chemicals in todays ST's (what on earth could it be doing to me using these) - also a little concerned about their effect in landfill.

apple_mint

Christmas cards all taken down now and I've:

1) Cut little areas off with pinking shears to make tags for next year's presents

2) Cut a pile of white blanks for using as reminder cards / shopping lists / book marks etc.

3) Put the remainder of the cut offs in the card recycling box

rosieben

Just a few thoughts about household journals/notebooks -

I started with the Flylady household journal http://www.flylady.net/pages/cjmain.a

but then found a brilliant website which geve me my main ideas which I still follow – I’ll post the url when I can find it!!

I had tried using just one notebook for everything but found it was too much; I separated mine out according to what worked for me - household - pc -craft – gardening – projects - recipes and meal plans

If you google ‘household notebook’ you will get loads of things to check out but I would suggest a look at these –

Moggins household manual
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=214139&highlight=moggins+household

http://organizedhome.com/ this one has printable sheets

http://frugal.families.com/blog/the-household-notebook-getting-started

Remember that the notebook must work for you. I’ve had several failed attempts because I was trying to fit myself around someone else’s system.

Keep it simple at first, you can add sections as you go along. I like to prettify mine, makes it nicer/more fun to work with.

My journals will never be finished because my needs and habits are changing so dont expect perfection!

Good luck!


Edited to say - there are some interesting ideas here http://organizedhome.net/viewtopic.php?t=13495 but the older threads seem to have been removed - I have a feeling that was the one I mentioned above, Autumn's original thread is what inspired me

found a copy of it http://organizedhome.net/viewtopic.php?t=336 :j

mary43

Thanks rosie...............I think I'd prefer separate notebooks for things. Mum gave me a Birthday/Anniversary book and I use that to keep on top of birthday and christmas cards........there's also a section in it for christmas presents so I can note down who had what this year and not risk duplicating it.........same for birthdays.
OH does the food shopping and he's much more organised that me as far as that goes.
I normally sort out the household bills and could do with something to keep me on top of that, plus getting the dreaded housework in some sort of routine. I could do with a school timetable..........Monday - card making Tues.-painting .........and so on, fitting around getting the hoover out..........lol I can spend half my time thinking 'what shall I do today?' - result.........not much gets done.
My gardening journal is well in hand..............had one for a couple of years so the habits well stuck. Just need the others to become a similar habit.