Simplifying Life

mary43

originally posted by Aril
A simple pimple type contribution today from me really. I think I am going to list my 5 blessings and stick them to my fridge to help me regain my perspective and refocus on what is important to me

What a lovely idea Aril.................just might do that myself:T

dND

Here's another little bit of reading - as if we have time after catching up with all the other postings:rotfl:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7189947.stm

On the point about the differing amount of TV advertising in France and the UK, I find it far less over here. OK there is some on the public service chanels as well as the commercial but nowhere near as much and if a programme runs for 2 hours, which they do between 9 and 11, there are no ad breaks.

ceridwen

JAMIEDODGER wrote: »

hi guys, i have three 'simplicity' books i have finished reading and i wondered if anyone wanted them

i have:

voluntary simplicity by duane elgin

timeless simplicity by john lane

affluenza by john de graff


i am happy to post to whoever PM's me first, you dont have to have all three just pm me the one you want (if any lol)

jamie

Hi Jamie

Just had my book today - the Voluntary Simplicity one. Aaaaah.. thanks again.:D and...folks...she wouldnt even let me pay the postage on it either! Aint us OS'ers nice people!

I shall look forward to starting my read of it this weekend. Shucks....feels like Christmas chez Ceridwen.:T

vivw_2

ceridwen wrote: »

Hi Jamie

Just had my book today - the Voluntary Simplicity one. Aaaaah.. thanks again.:D and...folks...she wouldnt even let me pay the postage on it either! Aint us OS'ers nice people!

I shall look forward to starting my read of it this weekend. Shucks....feels like Christmas chez Ceridwen.:T

Received my one also today....thanks so much Jamie.....just goes to show that there are some really lovely people around

ceridwen

dND wrote: »

Here's another little bit of reading - as if we have time after catching up with all the other postings:rotfl:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7189947.stm

On the point about the differing amount of TV advertising in France and the UK, I find it far less over here. OK there is some on the public service chanels as well as the commercial but nowhere near as much and if a programme runs for 2 hours, which they do between 9 and 11, there are no ad breaks.

Well.....theres a debate going on there in that article and I'm not quite sure what way I would come down there. I do see the bit about the compulsive spending some people go in for. I am thinking of someone I know who will spend literally hundreds of £s on a pure whim on some consumer item that has just caught their eye - and its a pretty frequent occurrence. So much so - that they borrowed quite a bit against their house to fund this - and have now lost their house as a result of this basically. My mind is boggling how someone can get themselves into this position. Someone else I can think of also spent all sorts and is now in the position of having to force themselves into work - despite having a terminal illness and clearly being too ill to do so (as they obviously made no arrangements for any emergency situation that might crop up- and I feel sorry for them that this emergency has indeed occurred).

It is difficult when someone is "off-ish" to you and even more so when life belts you over the head with a sledgehammer not to go in for retail therapy - hoping it will act as a salve. The first few (thousand?) times one falls for it and spends a bit of money on something one neither needs or even particularly wants in the hope of feeling better.

But - in the end - and hopefully not too expensively later - one learns that that solves nothing - that there will be knockbacks (both big and small) at intervals and you have to accept your feelings will hurt for a while and learn what particular (non-material or at least cheap) things you can do for those hurt feelings and remind yourself knockbacks happen to everyone, tomorrow is another day and good things also happen sometimes. Today for instance there was a mini "knock" at my feelings on the one hand - but I've had a present from someone I've never even met (aka Jamie Dodgers book) and am still thinking "who? - me? - but that was some very nice things that have been said about me" about a couple of comments on another Board, but I was very pleased.

dND

I agree about the debate there Ceridwen. I think there is no single answer as everyone is different (thank goodness). But I do feel we have been pushed into the buying culture. From a countries economic point of view it is a good idea. The more people buy, the more has to be made and the government takes it portion of tax at every stage along the way, from taxing the raw materials to taxing your salary to pay for the item which of course you are paying VAT on as well. So buy,buy,buy is a good thing as far as the government and big business is concerned.

On top of that we have what I call the Dallas effect (showing my age there) where we are supposed to have everything and still look like a million dollars. Add to that those interminable TV make-over shows and the pressure is on to keep updating and changing. IMO you reach a breaking point, either by going into debt or having a breakdown or worse still both.

That's why this site is so good, those who feel this blatant consumerism is wrong can realise we are not on our own and crazy - it's the rest of the world:D

Right off soapbox and back to new diary where I'm writing up all my impulse buys so far this year:eek: actually not too bad just a couple of bars of chocolate. Seriously this site is making me think about what I need and what I want to buy. Thanks everyone.:T

mary43

I see what you're saying Ceridwen and I have to admit to falling for the 'retail therapy' when life gets stressful. Luckily I keep my spending cheap.........charity shops get my few pounds (and they are only a few) but I can come out with two carrier bags full of stuff (some for me some for pressies) and feel really ''rich' for a while.
This year I limit my 'popping down town' to a once a week trip and so far, apart from a couple of books for myself everything I bought has been for pressies for others and it's given me just as much pleasure as it I'd bought it for myself. No doubt if I went out twice a week I'd spend twice as much -weak person that I am - but at the moment what I spend is within my little budget. I can never understand anyone spending vast sums of money on anything and never feeling it's right unless it bears the right price tag.

And as you say, for every little 'knock' (and lets face it life does throw us some) there is someone or something that makes up for it:T

dND

mary43 wrote: »

I see what you're saying Ceridwen and I have to admit to falling for the 'retail therapy' when life gets stressful. Luckily I keep my spending cheap.........charity shops get my few pounds (and they are only a few) but I can come out with two carrier bags full of stuff (some for me some for pressies) and feel really ''rich' for a while.

Life would be boring if we didn't allow ourselves treats. But as you say, as long as it's within your budget then there is absolutely no reason why not. Life is for living and enjoying.

Charis

Aril wrote: »

A simple pimple type contribution today from me really. I think I am going to list my 5 blessings and stick them to my fridge to help me regain my perspective and refocus on what is important to me when I've been a bit of an evil old witch to those within my inner sanctum within the last couple of days [if I'm tired the old anxiety depression tries to rear its ugly head]. Mine shall read my family/friends/good health/a roof over my head/knowing where my next meal is coming from. My logic is that if it's on the fridge I am likely to see it regularly as rummaging around in the fridge is quite one of my most favourite places to be:D
Aril

Thanks Aril. I can echo your sentiments tonight. Trying to get a lid on anxiety and depression is like trying to get the genie back in the jar. Amazingly it seems to go back in by itself, if only I can stop concentrating on the things that are bugging me. I will try the five blessings on the fridge - actually when I think about it I have many more than five. They were just obscured because I have let silly things get all out of proportion and have been wallowing in anger (and a headache) all day. The other day I read somewhere that the 21st of January is the lowest point of the year psychologically. I'm hoping my calendar is four days fast

Janeryan

Guapa1 wrote: »

I'm having what my friends have dubbed a Dee-Bay day.

Instead of a traditional housewarming, I'm having a clear out. There will be food and drink and a bookshelf full of all the things I want to give away. I told them to bring things they don't need as well and put on the bookshelf, then I have invited about 20 people round to see my flat for the first time and take something from the bookshelf. Anything that is left is going to charity. February will not come with my flat full of things I don't want or need.

What a good idea! I read in a magazine the other day(passed onto by a friend) that this prctice is called swishing and it's the "new thing" so you are right "on trend"!!

Popped into the local library yesterday and gor out "Affluenza" by Oliver James so am looking forward to reading that.

I am decluttering financially at the mo and cancelled two store cards that I no longer use.

Well done to everyone so far and chin up to all those who are struggling a bit at this time of year-at least the evenings are drawing out a bit and my daffodils are growing apace so Spring must be on it's way!