A Simpler Life 2018

Lilith1980 wrote: »

It's still sooo cold here, but at least the snow is melting!

I took a load of clothes, books, and costume jewellery to an Age UK cs today. The lady in the shop was so grateful. I'd put all of it on various sites for selling but nobody wanted it, which was good in a way as I got a lot out of giving it to charity weirdly enough.

I've meal-prepped the lunches for next week. It only takes about an hour and saves so much time in the mornings.

I've been watching various minimalism blogs on youtube as I'm really into decluttering at the moment. One I particularly like is the "Minimalist Ninja". She talks about a range of topics and I'm very impressed with what little possessions she has. To be honest, even though we've got rid of so much in the home it still feels cluttered to me. I feel like I want to clear everything out! Maybe I just need to tidy up! Anyone else feel like this even though they've got rid of loads of stuff?

I understand how you feel. We are a family of 4 so have to be realistic about how much stuff we do actually need, the weather in the UK dictates a lot of clothing per person for instance, and the footwear takes up so much space too. Both kids are in school so we have tons of books hanging about in their rooms but they need them so they have to stay. The list goes on and on.

Morning folks

I think the whole zero waste movement is very interessting, but unfortunatelly most people will not be able to do it to the same extend as for example Bea Johnson or Lauren Singer (she is Trash is for !!!!!! on youtube if you want to check her out) Unless you have access to a bulk store and a farmers market it isn't going to work...
BUT... Like with everything else every little helps and we can all do our share to avoid unnecessary packaging and reduce the amount of waste we create. I often watch videos on zero waste and see things that I can do easily without too much effort but just didn't realised it would be so easy.

Sibrie, good luck on establishing some routines! Can you maybe set up a reward system? Say every time you come home to them having tidied their things away, done their homework etc. they get a star and after x stars there will be a fun activity. Depending on their age it doesn't have to be something big, but for example a movie night on Saturday, with popcorn and stuff, pretending to be in the cinema (as opposed to just plainly sit down and watch the movie) or, once the weather is better, a picnic.

Wizzbang I think people should respect when someone says "no presents" or "gift cards only" and if they really think they have to give them something to unwrap, why not make some jam or pick up a special chocolate somewhere... I have this one friend who always brings stuff for me when she is on holidays, fridge magnets and that like... I've told her many times to not bother with bringing me something but she doesn't want to hear, so it goes straight to the bin...

re Lush I am sure there are companies with less chemicals in their products, but all in all I can really recomend them. The price might seem high at first, but especially shampoo and their face soaps last much longer than any liquid product. I wash my hair (about 4 inches over my shoulder) daily and the shampoo lasts almost three months, so that is a little over 2£ a month which I think is pretty ok. I am pretty sure I paid the same or even more with the last liquid shampoo I used, plus I binned about 10 plastic bottles a year...

I decided to do some more decluttering in the next week. Sometimes I feel like decluttering but not like going through whole drawers and shelfes systematically. So I just have a look at certain spots, like my bathroom cabinet and bin stuff and make a tally and see how long it takes me to get to 50 things. Will change winter to spring decoration later on and I guess some things will be sent flying when I have a look at my decoration and candles.

So, I am off for my walk although it is still grey and dim. Once I am home I will have dinner - leek and tattie soup I bulkcooked yesterday - and then the rest of the day will be spent reading and knitting.

Have a nice Sunday everyone!

Lilith1980 wrote: »

Wizzbang - I'd be really interested to read your blog but I can't seem to click on your signature to get to it

You need to click my name to go into my profile and I believe the link will be in there. Signatures are just text. Sorry if I used the wrong term.

I am currently buying GF fresh baked loaves from Sainsbury's in-store bakery. They are £2.30 each and are AMAZING - taste almost like real bread, except you don't get the same level of flavour that you do from wheat, but no GF bread can replicate that. I clear the shelves every few weeks, slice them and store them in the freezer to take out as needed. Like all in-store bakery bread, they state they only keep for a day but they last much longer. They are baked in their plastic wrapping, so no cross contamination is possible. They seem to have rolled these out to most stores now, after an initial trial a few months ago.

If anyone is interested, I also have a gluten-free blog but I can only link to one in my profile. I got so sick of buying mediocre GF food in the shops, that I thought I'd share my successful recipes with others. I am a keen baker and always have been, but switching to GF can be trial and error!

https://glutenfreeness.wordpress.com

P.S. You can also ring your local Sainsbury's and ask to be put through the bakery. Then place an order for GF loaves. Otherwise they only seem to bake 4 per store, per day and it's a shame to have a wasted journey.

Hello, please can I join in :wave:

I've just finished reading the thread (phew!) and have taken in some of the lovely ideas and recipes.

I'm what is termed a "millennial" and the same age as bluegreen143. I'm the product of a mum who taught me to be independent and have the career I want, as she did. I'm incredibly grateful for that, but it came at the expense of not learning how to cook from scratch (because she didn't know) or the basics of sewing, knitting etc (something my mum does do very well). I am getting there with cooking

My mum was part of a family who had little money as a child (late 50's). It affected her and her siblings in different ways - one has the heating up high permanently, one insists on keeping up with the Jones and my mum, well, she hoards food stuffs as if war is looming. As a result, she loves to buy me food presents weekly (I moved out nearly a decade ago), I appreciate her and her intent, but does lead to waste. If I say I don't want anything, she will just get what she thinks I would need/like.

Anyway, back to the point of the thread, I really want to live a simple life. I love things to be tidy and fairly minimalistic, i'm also really starting to wake up to the effects of plastic in our environment. I feel I'm making strides iro of the above but I have an upcoming "problem". I'm approaching a big birthday and I don't actually want anything.

What do I do and what do I say when people ask me what I would like? Several family members have already said they refuse to get vouchers etc for a major birthday, but I don't want something I won't appreciate and will end up giving away. Do any of you lovely people have any ideas or inspiration?