Simplifying Life

mary43

There's a thread on here about avatars and I did find one for me but it wouldn't go on the site..............looked for another (bit better one) and so far not found anything that's really 'me'.
I can't see anyone elses avatars ................does that mean no ones put them on or is there another reason ?

Well, not re-cluttering today but 'simplifying' things by making appointments that needed making.............
Hairdressers so I can start spending voucher OH got me for Christmas
Counselling so I can get myself sorted out (letter arrived yesterday)
Training courses booked that I missed last year with soc.services
Letters all stamped that need sending off
Stuff filed away
Had a sort through stuff I'd bought for Christmas baskets - surprised at how little it looks when its all laid out so need to get some more ! Good excuse for some retail therapy at charity shop tomorrow:j
Dinner all prepared for tonight (OH at work so I'm head chef:mad: )

Now waiting for the rain to stop so I can nip down the craft shop........will it ever stop I wonder

Anyway I feel quite satisfied with what I've done........can't actually see anything for my efforts but in my mind I know they're sorted:T

Charis

I've been living on Ceridwen's thread about Simplifying Life for a good few days now. Having had a really good declutter, I have become aware of the number of things I own which I am always meaning to get around to using more often (various cooking aids, sewing equipment, garden tools) or getting to grips with understanding (digital camera, freeview box, television remote with 101 functions). You know the kind of things. All bought with the best intentions but now underused or not used at all.

Does anyone else have things stashed in cupboards that might make life simpler, richer or more interesting if we could only get around to using them fully? Or would life just be simpler if we kept the basic things and gave the rest away?

Charis

Pink.

Hi Charis,

As your question was inspired by and is very similar to the Simplifying Life thread, I have merged both threads to keep the replies together.

Pink

mary43

originally posted by Charis
Does anyone else have things stashed in cupboards that might make life simpler, richer or more interesting if we could only get around to using them fully? Or would life just be simpler if we kept the basic things and gave the rest away?

How very true Charis............its amazing the things that get stuffed in a cupboard with all good intentions of either using them one day but never do. I've had a look in some of mine and found things that I know I'll not use but know someone who would love them so they go in the spare room with the birthday/christmas pressies that I'm hoarding for this year.
I found a pair of binoculars I used to use for bird watching -only out of the kitchen window.........lol) but now I have varifocals and need to wear them all the time I can't cope with binoculars. Trouble is I don't know anyone else who'd use them so on the freecycle site they will go. -and that's just one item ! Me and OH are going to have to sit down and do some serious thinking -some of them belong to him and he's bound to have forgotten they're there.
Oh the bliss it would be to have cupboards that weren't crammed full of 'stuff'.................then I might get a bit of order in the other corners of my life. Thats the theory anyway.

luxor4t

Have just bought most of the year's birthday / foreseeable presents inside 2 hours, at Boots 75% sale, cash free as I used my Boots points. :j

A huge time & money saver - and very satisfying .

Found a rotating card index half price in WHS, so shall be spending the afternoon transferring our tatty address book onto an easy to use/ easy to update index. I intend to use pencil, so the cards will last longer. No more 'lost' addresses - I hope:rolleyes: !

Lily-Lu

mary43 wrote: »

There's a thread on here about avatars and I did find one for me but it wouldn't go on the site..............looked for another (bit better one) and so far not found anything that's really 'me'.
I can't see anyone elses avatars ................does that mean no ones put them on or is there another reason ?

It'll be your board settings Mary. if you want to view OPs avatars, then go to your 'user cp' then 'edit options' on the left hand side. Scroll down the the section that says 'thread display options' then tick the box that says 'show avatars'...Don't forget to scroll further down and click on the 'save changes' tab. That's it

mary43

Thanks Lily............can see them now and even managed to put one on for myself..................lol:j

ceridwen

....and dont forget - in my opinion the whole reason for decluttering physically and otherwise simplifying life - is to unclutter your mind.

My decluttering is still going on incrementally...bit by bit...eg chucking one pair of earrings and realising I never wear 4 other pairs, so out they go too or opening a kitchen drawer to get something out and thinking "I never use that thing" - so out that goes.

Yep...it feels like my mind is getting more peaceful, as well as my home.

tango

What a great thread..I agree that to declutter physically,is to declutter mentally,and that is the greatest benefit.

For the first time in my life I don't have to work....but I feel I need to now,I am so organized that it feels weird

ceridwen

...and when it comes to "stuff" - it helps to think twice (or more) before automatically replacing "stuff" that has gone wrong. eg the first time an electric blanket went wrong I replaced it (with the most expensive one I could find - figuring that maybe the reason the first one went wrong so fast was it was poor quality). The second (and expensive) one went wrong far sooner than was reasonable as well. There WONT be a third electric blanket - manufacturers obviously design them to last a much shorter time than is reasonable - so back to hotwater bottles and the O.S. idea of a blanket under bottom sheet and warm the sheets with a hairdryer before getting in. A pair of boots has also gone wrong on me sooner than they should have - they arent going to be replaced either - I dont need 2 different styles of boots and wellington boots (one style and the wellies will do).

When buying things we all decide how long it is "fair" to expect them to last - but we need to be aware that the manufacturer will usually have designed them for a much shorter lifespan and think whether we are going to feel "cheated" if we dont get the lifespan that we know is fair from a product - and, if we are, then dont get it in the first place if we can avoid it. Certainly its not worth getting rid of any items just because we feel they are a bit "old-fashioned" - if they still serve their purpose well - as the chances are that their modern counterpart wont be half so well made (I've got a fanheater, for instance, that is still going strong at 30 years old - it may not be a thing of beauty, but I bet I'm still using it years after I've had to throw out the more recent ones I got).