Simplifying Life

JoJoB

Oooh, Queenies thread looks ace. :j

So many good ideas and ways of looking at things on here. Have a week off work from tomorrow so plan to carry on freecycling ( just put my bike on there - I know i'm not going to go anywhere on it for over a year so why not bite the bullet and make some space in my hallway? My husband's bike is next - he's been on it twice in two years!). It feels terrible getting rid of such useful things, but they are only useful if they are being used!

I am loving freecycle so much, just got a baby monitor from there. So far the only thing I have bought for impending baba has been 2 vests for 25p each from a charity. I am quite proud of my begging and borrowing - something I would have been quite embarrassed about in the past. Now it's a badge of honour after joining this site lol.

Thanks guys, you've changed my life!

Charis

bails wrote: »

I've been feeling that life has got more instead of less complicated, partly through all the fantastic ideas I'm learning on the boards here, which has also been a bit overwhelming. things illness-wise and am terrible for overrunning, often by hours, on here especially!).

Bails, I know exactly what you mean. I have decluttered an enormous amount and come to a standstill with all the little things which I keep putting to one side. It takes a l-o-n-g time to set up a system and make a place for everything. But the initial investment of time will pay off eventually.

I have a habit of writing things on scraps of paper or in notebooks, then it's a nightmare to find them all. On the Zen link (ZTD) that was posted here last week, he recommends that you keep ONE notebook which you take everywhere with you, even if you are in hospital or in your bedroom. Notes should be decanted into the right place every evening if possible. Remembering to take the notebook everywhere is quite hard, but it means that I can now find my notes about everything (can't remember anything these days).

Right, I thought. These notes need homes to go to. I have One Note on the computer (a kind of PC based notebook). I can open separate 'books' for each 'subject', tagged for each set of 'pages' then take my notes and screen clippings and dump them straight in, likewise digital photos. It could be done without One Note but it looks prettier this way. Careful to keep at least one backup lest my life should disappear following a hard drive failure, I decided to go paper free. Download statements to my hard drive instead of hoarding the paper ones. Three or four of my providers already do this as well as the banks and credit card firms. So far so good. Instruction leaflets for most appliances can now be downloaded as PDFs, then searched much more easily when I have a problem. :T

If I live for ever I may eventually get everything on the PC, back up drive and various discs. Scans of the children's art from 20+ years ago, which they can now give a home to, greetings cards and letters, especially from my older relatives, saved to look back on. My memoirs, scans of various piles of coursework that are currently gathering dust. Scans of photos of my four children (thank goodness I didn't take so many film based photos then). Those originals can also be divided between the kids. Plus I can burn CDs so each offspring has a copy of all the photos and pictures. That will free up at least two cupboards.

I did nothing today as I have been at a tutorial but this is a long term job so I won't beat myself up about it.
Now, if I can just find my notebook.... :rotfl:

Three_Dancing_Dragons

mary43 wrote: »

So, now I''m peeved. OH has been cleaning (much needed) the kitchen out and is now set on doing something with tiles or something behind the over. Stainless steel out the question due to price...........don't feel like doing whole new piece of board with stencils -took me ages last time............so looks like we're going to have to trawl DIY shops looking for wretched tiles.........can't see any to choose on Focus Do it all site and thats our nearest one and OH is a right pain to shop with...............:mad: even worse if we can't find what he/we want.

Is it possible to buy some cheap plain tiles and paint on your own design like the 'chinoisery' wall tiles Fired Earth does at the moment for a customised splashback?

rosieben

Hello TDD, good to see you here :j This is such a great thread, loads of ideas from everyone.

Three_Dancing_Dragons

Hi Rosie, this is what I call a 'thread of doom'. Have just spent the entire DAY reading it. It's exactly what I'd like to do - I'm a Quaker myself and am supposed to be putting the testimony of Simplicity into practice already. (Well I never said I was a good Quaker... :rolleyes: )

Anyway. Forget the 'shoulds' and do the 'cans'. This year I'd at least like to get some fresh herbs growing in pots if nothing else. If I can eat economically (and ethically) and use the proceeds to take a big bite out of my debts that will be a major achievement. Full on black-thumb gardening might have to wait another year. (I can hear the sigh of relief from the plants). How I'll moneysave my way to finally outfitting the house to the standard I would like ... I have no idea. Is it possible to save more than you actually earn?

rosieben

Three_Dancing_Dragons wrote: »

Hi Rosie, this is what I call a 'thread of doom'. Have just spent the entire DAY reading it. It's exactly what I'd like to do - I'm a Quaker myself and am supposed to be putting the testimony of Simplicity into practice already. (Well I never said I was a good Quaker... :rolleyes: )

Anyway. Forget the 'shoulds' and do the 'cans'. This year I'd at least like to get some fresh herbs growing in pots if nothing else. If I can eat economically (and ethically) and use the proceeds to take a big bite out of my debts that will be a major achievement. Full on black-thumb gardening might have to wait another year. (I can hear the sigh of relief from the plants). How I'll moneysave my way to finally outfitting the house to the standard I would like ... I have no idea. Is it possible to save more than you actually earn?

I tell you, if I hadnt been in from the start I'm not sure I'd have the stamina to read through the entire thread :eek: but some very useful info and ideas.

I'm looking forward to growing more veggies this year, there's absolutely nothing to compare with stepping outside your door and choosing tomatoes, cucumber and salad leaves for your lunch :j Sadly I'm not so good with indoor plants, I'm currently [STRIKE]killing off[/STRIKE] taking care of 3 houseplants my dd left in my care when she left England and its a terrible responsibility. One is an Aloe Vera, a huge plant, and I'd really like that to survive as its big enough to take a leaf off for treating stings and such

ceridwen

Hi Three Dancing Dragons :hello:

....but hopefully a thread that casts some light on the way forward!:D :lovethoug

rosieben

Three_Dancing_Dragons wrote: »

... Anyway. Forget the 'shoulds' and do the 'cans'. ...

I think thats a pretty good strategy for life in general and a very good startegy for simplifying

mary43

Couldn't agree more rosieben............if we're not careful we can set ourselves goals that are way out of reach then end up beating ourselves up over it.
After ploughing through Queenies thread I'm fair worn out...............lol

Originally posted by Three Dancing Dragons

Is it possible to buy some cheap plain tiles and paint on your own design like the 'chinoisery' wall tiles Fired Earth does at the moment for a customised splashback?

Thanks for that. I'll have a look.I did wonder about painting some but not sure my artistic skills are up to it.I gave a lot of my stencils away but I'm sure to have some kicking around somewhere........in fact its just reminded me where they are...........lol:T

Well, today I've earmarked as a 'leisure day' so no de-cluttering. I intended to yesterday but then had change of heart........got to be in the right mood for it really so today I'm playing with the kids paint set my son bought me as a joke for last years birthday. Some of the designs need a hairdryer to puff up the paint. Hadn't got one till a week ago so now I can have a go and see if I do one good enough to give him for his birthday................lol We have this thing about buying each other one silly pressie.........christmas it was a 'sew a teddy' kit.............so that'll be next............lol

:j

lightisfading

rosieben wrote: »

I tell you, if I hadnt been in from the start I'm not sure I'd have the stamina to read through the entire thread :eek: but some very useful info and ideas.

I'm looking forward to growing more veggies this year, there's absolutely nothing to compare with stepping outside your door and choosing tomatoes, cucumber and salad leaves for your lunch :j Sadly I'm not so good with indoor plants, I'm currently [strike]killing off[/strike] taking care of 3 houseplants my dd left in my care when she left England and its a terrible responsibility. One is an Aloe Vera, a huge plant, and I'd really like that to survive as its big enough to take a leaf off for treating stings and such

Aloe Vera is one plant that genuinely thrives on neglect - leave it somewhere sunny and barely water it at all (ie when its bone dry). During winter I almost never water mine and it's far healthier than when I do!