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A Simpler Life 2018

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  • angela110660
    angela110660 Posts: 928 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Love every comment here and feel like I am amongst friends ! If only the people I know in real life were as committed. Have made a big effort this year to declutter certain things but this is ongoing. I cook from scratch most of the time and everyone seems to enjoy it. Hooray.
    Get fed up with the news stories being regurgitated day after day so now only listen to Classic FM as news is minimal and adverts too. Can’t stand usual commercial radio stations at all. Hardly watch tv news if I can help it although OH does then wonders why he gets moody! Reading more again which is great and borrowing from library or buying at charity or online secondhand to save money.
    Working part time now but lots to do in time off linked to family members so glad I can do this.
    Best wishes to everyone going forward and subscribing to follow and glean any more ideas.
  • SimpleLiving
    SimpleLiving Posts: 55 Forumite
    Some great responses and ideas.:T I think the most important thing for me first is to declutter the house. Clutter really makes me unhappy and irritable. I have done a lot since redundancy but there is more to do. I have started to make an inventory for certain things. For example, we emptied the shed, tossed unwanted stuff (left outside the front of the house for people to help themselves) and then wrote down everything that went back into the shed. So now we knows exactly what we have and we don't end up buying duplicates! I will do the same for the loft, kitchen cupbroads etc.
    Jolly cold here today.....might make some soup...brrr brrr
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    Hello,

    Another one joining in please. :)

    We have been following the simplicity lifestyle for many years (about 17) and about two years ago started getting interested in Minimalism and F.I.R.E (Financial Independence Retire Early). I am also trying to do Zero Waste, but finding this difficult

    We have made so many changes to our lifestyle over the last few years (jobs, money being saved, house layout etc) all due to following this new lifestyle. It has had a massive impact.

    Like others I cook from scratch, do not have TV, we don't do presents at Christmas we all meet-up instead, have no clutter and so on.

    I have lots of great links to podcasts and websites for Simplicity and Minimalism if anyone is interested?
  • SimpleLiving
    SimpleLiving Posts: 55 Forumite
    Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »
    Hello,

    Another one joining in please. :)

    I have lots of great links to podcasts and websites for Simplicity and Minimalism if anyone is interested?
    Yes please Spider:)
  • VJsmum
    VJsmum Posts: 6,951 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic First Post
    Me too please.

    i have strived for simplicity for years - often failing, but never giving up.

    the house is fairly decluttered - except that i live with clutterbugs.. DD in particular but we have managed to confine it to her room in the main...

    I cook from scratch (my only concession is an occasional box of fish fingers), use up everything. I try to be low (rather than zero) waste but it's hard.

    Also love a pot of freshly brewed coffee in the morning (a cafetiere pays for itself even quicker ;):rotfl:).

    Entertainment wise - i do love the theatre and concerts and am not giving them up but mainly we walk and cycle - would much sooner spend a day in the hills than in the shops - and it's cheaper. we also rarely drive and go everywhere on foot or by train..

    The only thing is.... i do love my holidays. Can I still join??:)
    I wanna be in the room where it happens
  • SimpleLiving
    SimpleLiving Posts: 55 Forumite
    VJsmum wrote: »
    Me too please.

    i have strived for simplicity for years - often failing, but never giving up.

    the house is fairly decluttered - except that i live with clutterbugs.. DD in particular but we have managed to confine it to her room in the main...

    I cook from scratch (my only concession is an occasional box of fish fingers), use up everything. I try to be low (rather than zero) waste but it's hard.

    Also love a pot of freshly brewed coffee in the morning (a cafetiere pays for itself even quicker ;):rotfl:).

    Entertainment wise - i do love the theatre and concerts and am not giving them up but mainly we walk and cycle - would much sooner spend a day in the hills than in the shops - and it's cheaper. we also rarely drive and go everywhere on foot or by train..

    The only thing is.... i do love my holidays. Can I still join??:)
    I love my holidays too. Almost always Devon, Somerset or Wales, although I made an effort to take ds abroad on a plane :eek: for the first time a couple of years ago.
  • culpepper
    culpepper Posts: 4,076 Forumite
    Love this idea.
    Have been reading quite a bit about the Danish hygge recently , which I think fits in quite well.
    Has anyone got any tips for persuading their OH's to embrace simple living too?
  • Shropshirelass
    Shropshirelass Posts: 469 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post Mortgage-free Glee!
    I used to love Christmas, but it was always a quiet day for a nice meal and visits with the family, not the frenzied weeks of planning, misunderstandings, and worry that every thing must be perfect that it became before we took a step back.

    I thought I had heard that several stores had decided on giving up the normal tortuous Christmas music they submit us to. Has anyone noticed any quiet shops this year?

    A few years ago we suggested omitting Christmas presents for the family, except for the Grandchildren. My family agreed with relief, but OH's looked horrified, so we struggle on with them. Strangely, they are the ones with smart jobs, home and lifestyle (and the bragging rights to match :-))
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    Shropshirelass wrote: »
    ...A few years ago we suggested omitting Christmas presents for the family, except for the Grandchildren. My family agreed with relief, but OH's looked horrified, so we struggle on with them. Strangely, they are the ones with smart jobs, home and lifestyle (and the bragging rights to match :-))

    We did the same last year (after wanting to do this for a while). I got sick of people buying me stuff I did not want, or need for me to then have to take it to a charity shop in the January.

    For OHs family how about start making them presents instead of buying? This will work if you are really rubbish at something. Like knitting gloves with 6 fingers, or making chutney that taste like wet dog and old socks. This might help them change their mind. :)
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    edited 1 December 2017 at 1:44PM
    Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »
    ...
    I have lots of great links to podcasts and websites for Simplicity and Minimalism if anyone is interested?
    SimpleLiving wrote: »
    Yes please Spider:)

    I have tried to put them into the different categories to make things easier:

    Capsule wardrobes:
    https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/

    http://lightbycoco.com/ (see her on YouTube - although she has now stopped making the videos)

    http://mygreencloset.com/

    https://www.youtube.com/user/signe2605n (Use Less - capsule wardrobe and now also beauty items)

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChxkFSjTE7nLCHsDk8_pRhg (Justine Leconte fashion advive - she is fab)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3CLRL32Mcw (10 item warddrobe Ted x talk)


    F.I.R.E - Financial Independence Retire Early
    http://thefirestarter.co.uk/

    https://www.choosefi.com/ (good podcasts and website although American centric)


    Minimalism / Simplicity
    https://www.theminimalists.com/archives/#all (have some good articles, but the podcasts are awful (they are a bit annoying). They have some Tedx talks too and a documentary which are worth watching

    https://www.becomingminimalist.com/becoming-minimalist-start-here/ - Great blog I recommend signing up for his email newsletters too - very inspiring

    https://zenhabits.net/ - a slighty more spiritual take on simplicity

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXlNvlzd9M8 - Tedx talk by Colin Wright (he lives out of two bags and travels the world)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyKmpyYy14k - Tedx talk about having to get rid of parents stuff after their death

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pb-hjqdjbY - Tedx talk about a woman who gave up her stuff and followed her dreams

    http://jennymustard.com/ - One of the most well known minimalists. Has lots of YouTube talks too - really nice lady, but a bit hardcore

    http://simplicityvoices.com/ - Links to simplicity articles from different writers.

    https://www.youtube.com/user/PuggleThis - Great YouTube videos - Start at episode 1 to she her progress. She has been clearing out SO much stuff. She is very funny and has some great words of wisdom too.


    Zero Waste
    https://zerowastehome.com/ - The Queen of Zero waste (she has some good Tedx talk too)

    Enjoy!

    Spider
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