Making do with less
Comments
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Before my DX I had as my goal of this year to get rid of stuff...Lots of stuff! Then of course my plans changed in March. It is still my goal...But will be slower. I have about 50 boxes of fabric (I am a fabric-holic) And I need to go through & get rid of at least half of it.
All the boxes are heavy & cant really lift them right now....Hmmm looking around I guess I have at least 60 boxes...
And I was going to get rid of lots of other stuff too. Clothes, Books we arent interested in, Misc. Im really sick of the mess & clutter. I do feel it adds stress to ones life also.
How is everyones DeCluttering going?
Pam
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Well, I'm glad to see we haven't given up the de-cluttering. I suspect some of you are doing much better than I am. It seems that the urge to purge comes in fits and starts.
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Hello!
I just LOVE this thread (Thank you, Tina!)-- I come back here on a regular basis and read about what everyone is doing. Although I started out doing some major de-cluttering, I haven't made much progress lately-- just a little dab here and there. Thankfully, I am off all next week and not planning on going anywhere (can't afford the gas
), so let the de-cluttering begin!! I plan to work next Monday and Tuesday on just sorting out stuff and taking it to Goodwill or somewhere other than my tiny little home. You all have given me renewed inspiration! Whoops, I am totally with you about eBay contributing to hoarding tendencies-- me too!! In fact, I have boxes of items in my computer room that I intend to list to sell, but haven't had the time. A lot of it is stuff I have bought on eBay and really shouldn't have. If I just took them to Goodwill, etc., that would instantly de-clutter one room!
Pam, same here about the boxes of fabric-- If I live to be 200, I still wouldn't have time to sew all the fabric I have stashed away in my sewing room. My husband and I are empty nesters, live in a small manufactured home, and use only part of our space because we are so cluttered. It is totally insane, and I plan to make a huge turnaround. Wish me luck!Good luck to everyone, and have fun de-cluttering!!
Mary Jo
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I've been generally pretty decluttered since I moved to this little bungalow from my big house. But I always had the 'escape valve' of my teensy guest cottage out back. It serves as my detached guest room and bath when I have a visitor, but I also can stash stuff out there when I find don't have a convenient home for it. Because, honestly, how often does one have guests? And then you go out and straighten and clean anyway, right?
Well, my 23 yr old daughter has been my 'guest' since May. Normally she lives/works in Orange County (90 min away) but had a very complex open knee surgery and has been living with me during her recuperation - and in the guest cottage. Moving in her excess meant moving mine out. One weekend she even had a friend visit overnight - then I had to get every bit of extra out of there. Have I mentioned it is teensy!?!
Now add to that a new Pug puppy. You know what that means - everything up off the floor or it gets chewed. Yeesh - it's like having an undisciplined toddler in the house! Enforced picking up after yourself reigns at our house. We're trying to keep up, anyway.
The puppy, Dinah, is sure to find any item we leave out within reach. What a way to declutter!I have two boxes in my car for Goodwill - now to get them dropped off!
Lisa
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Hi Gals:
I haven't posted here lately b/c my older daughter had a baby in May and I was there with her for three weeks and then we had a family reunion of sort and both of my daughters were here with me along with my 4 grandkids (3 and under - down to 7 weeks) sooooooooooooo, needless to say the decluttering was put on hold. But now all are gone back to their homes in Milwaukee and Chicago - so once I get the house back together again
I am starting up on the decluttering once again!!! It's great that we can continue to inspire each other to keep at it.Take care,
Pat
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Well, I have the perfect de-cluttering incentive. House guest coming next week for a few days. All that paperwork will have to be picked up and filed and the guest bedroom put in total order.
God works in strange ways.
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Making do with less is being foisted upon me. I'm without transportation. My truck is in the shop needing new brakes. The fluid leaked, all the rotors are shot, and they said it'll cost $1100. I'm going to be cleaning house today and saying lots of prayers.
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I don't know if anyone might be interested in this, but it doesn't cost much and might be of some help.
I can report that the pantry is cleaned out and re-arranged and the two hutches in the DR are completely EMPTY, awaiting a new decorating urge! A fresh start! Since my old, old house had almost no storage/closets, I bought one of those hard plastic storage units for the garage and made it into a butler's pantry for seldom used/special occasion dishes. I am so happy.
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This seemed to be a good time to bump this thread what with the economy going to hell in a handbasket. Anyone want to trade tips about squeezing that nickel so hard the buffalo $hits?
My first tip is to give up your subscription cellphone plan and get a pay as you go such as tracphone. If you buy an hour every 3 months, that's only a bit more than $6.00 per month for the privilege of carrying it around in your pocket for emergencies.
Go back to a cheap service land phone for home. Besides, it is more apt to work in bad weather.
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Hi Tina!
I haven't been on this forum in a while, but I signed on just to check out this topic and I'm so glad you bumped it!
You made some very good points about phone plans (and some great humor about the nickel!) The irony is if we didn't have to get internet service through our phone line, our land line would only be $16 a month instead of the $93!
One thing I have done to save lots of $$ is to eat breakfast at home instead of stopping by McDonald's, Burger King, etc., and to pack a simple lunch for the same reasons. I figure I am saving at least $7 a day even if I ate the cheap fast food deals. And it's better for my health and weight. Another thing: I'm trying to quit my green-tea-a-day habit-- I love Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus but at the local convenience store it costs $1.69 a 20 oz bottle now. I have been brewing tea at home to save money and just splurging occasionally on the bottled stuff.
Looking forward to hearing others' ideas on how to beat the recession, depression, or whatever it is...
Mary Jo
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I love the idea about saving $$-I need to think about what to share on that topic.
I recently had no choice but to de-clutter my basement. We were victims of the recent storm flooding in IN, and lost a LOT of stuff we had in the basement. Our house was on the market, and we had it staged to look like an extra bedroom, play area, workout area, and utility room. A lot of stuff was ruined. I cried when I saw my son's books were ruined-"Guess How Much I Love You" was a special one because we read it every night from the moment I was dx'd, and it's gone.
Rain sucks, just like cancer!
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Mary Jo, hi. My land line has the unlimited calling (in US) option, plus my internet connection, DSL. My monthly rate comes to $70 something, I think. Barebones phone with no long distance is under $20.00, but I *do* spend a lot of time on the phone with out of state friends and relatives. I only got the tracphone a year ago for a trip and have re-upped it since then. But, I let go a second landline for my business (at $29/month) and now use the trac for that, so it's a good savings monthly. I would not consider a subscription service. BTW, what I do with the tracphone is use it as the number for incoming calls, then do callbacks from my landline. So, I get double duty out of it. Talk about Yankee.
Glad to hear you are brewing your tea. I never understood why anyone would buy it pre-made in a bottle, but, then again, I grew up having tea every night with supper and my mother always made a pot. Always brewed tea for iced tea, also, never powdered or in a bottle. I guess it's what you grow up with and are used to. Besides the savings, the quality of home steeped tea is far superior.
One of my biggest gripes about dining out is how, if you order hot tea, many places bring you a mug of hot water and a tea bag on the side. No way will that ever produce a decent cup of tea. Water must be at full boil when it's poured over the tea, then steeped for the amount of time you like, usually three to four minutes.
When you want a quick bit at Mickey D's, try the dollar menu. My favorite is the McChicken. Can't go wrong for $1.00.
Whoopsie, I had no idea you were impacted by that flooding! That's horrible and you have my sympathies. As if life isn't hard enough. DH and I were looking at pics on TV of that mess and shaking our heads, saying what a tragedy it all is. Counting our own blessings. I hope you have been able to recover to a large extent. Losing family mementos is one of the hardest things.
Today I'm going to the movies to see "The Women." Going to the bargain matinee. $$ No popcorn or soda and, on the way home, my friend and I will actually do Mickey's with a 2 for 1 coupon for the Southern Chicken sandwich or something like that.
Also have been using the library much more instead of buying so many books. It's working!
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Everyone worried about home heating this winter? I'm in the Northeast, where we rely heavily on oil heat which is now the most expensive heat. Thermostats will be turned waaayyyyy lower this year all over the region. What to do to keep warm? How about being like Scrooge and going for "garments?" (Remember him admonishing Bob Cratchit in Christmas Carol? Be stingy with the coal?)
Anyway, I have found some great fleece tops for indoor wear. Although I've bought similar from LL Bean, I have found the Lands End Polartec 100 anti-static stretch fleece superior. The half-zip turtlenecks are very lightweight but warm and ***they actually don't collect lint and pet hair***. I have about a dozen of them from last year, so I'm all set, but wanted to pass that on.
I also just bought one of their vests made from the same material. I am prepared!
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Hi Abbadoodles and Whoopsiedoodles! Are you all related?
Whoopsie, I am so sorry to hear about your flooding problems and so very sad about your son's book. But you have the wonderful memories of it to hang on to. I hope life gets back in order for you very soon!
Abba, I know what you mean about the hot tea in restaurants. Nothing like homemade tea. And what great ideas about the fleece wear and thanks for the info about the Lands End being the superior fleece. I need another vest-- they are great for indoor wear, especially at work, where they are really cutting back. I hope you enjoyed your movie and your 2 fer 1 dining! The McChicken is a great deal!
We live in a small manufactured home, almost totally redone by my husband, including thermal pane windows and new flooring and insulation. We installed a wood stove in the corner of the living room, and it literally heats our entire home. We have a huge wood pile out back and plan to keep warm pretty economically. I feel for the elderly and disabled who cannot pay the astronomical heating bills this winter and who cannot have the "luxury" of cutting and burning wood.
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I have a decluttered back patio thanks to Ike. Ike went up the coast as it turned out, but we never know such things beforehand. I still had some lawn furniture in the garage from three years ago when Rita was kicking around. It's still in the garage.
What I really need to declutter is my paperwork. October 15th is precariously close, and I still haven't filed my 07 return. I hate having it hang over my head, yet I can't seem to get it done either.
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I live in a 3-bedroom apt. with hubby and younger daughter. She has her room. He and his models have his. I have the last bedroom with hospital bed.... have to sleep upright.
Now hubby's room is stuffed to the gills. Daughter seemes to pile things. Clothes, clean litter, but never achieves actual cleaning.
My room is stuffed too. I have 3 dressers. All full. A hutch with my angel collection.
Books, books, boooks......
I no longer buy books. So my daughters send recommended reading...
I started two hobbies, looking for things I can tote to hospital... quilting (not so portable when the 3 layers get put together..... but I havent got that far on my first quilt (8 out of 9 squares complete). The other is scrapbooking and card making. These dont seem to take up much space. Yet the room is stuffed.
I am trying to read the books and return them or give them away.
I have drawers with bandages for LE. I have a suitcase under the bed, packed for hospital but it is huge... my boss gave it to me.. a huge duffel bag on wheels.
Once my husband gave up the living room space from model cars, he started collecting guitars. Grabbing 4ft of wall space... now referred to as the music room... 7 guitars and 1 keyboard. But it is less cluttered than before.
I guess I am in the same boat. But I keep thinking, if I die, what will the family have to go through to pack and distribute that stuff?
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Dreamwriter, we're all gonna die sooner or later. I have been pitching stuff for the past couple of years, even before the latest bout of bc, just because I couldn't stand living with so much anymore. Yes, it will make it easier to clean out this place when I am firmly planted, but I would like to live the rest of my life with less to navigate around and weigh my down in the here and now.
That being said, if your angel collection truly gives you pleasure, there is no reason to get rid of it. I only advocate getting rid of useless things.
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Oh my.....I looked around my small quilting room today, and cringed......Books, a largish TV, fabrics, cabinets....a large el shaped work table (two long doors)...a comfy small recliner....a microwave...There was a small fridge 'till I brought it to my office....cd's....SO MUCH STUFF....I did clean it out a while back, but.....I keep buying fabrics, books and quilting gadgets....
Is there any hope?
My husband is so neat....He never throws clothes around, or leaves his socks on the floor...Never leaves "things" lying around...It's ME that makes the house messy....I try, but just can't seem to keep it straght....And...glasses..I leave various glasses all around (pop, wine, water, milk...)...
No..No hope..
Sandy
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Hi!
I'm so glad this thread is still going! You all would have been proud of me last Saturday. I had a meltdown because of the clutter in our "computer room" which is a spare bedroom redone by my husband a few years ago. It is a small but beautiful room, lots of light and good exposure, but it was piled full of the boxes of "yard sale stuff" and "things to sell on eBay". Well, when I was through with my meltdown, I carried every single box out to my truck and hauled them all off to Goodwill!! The room is CLEAR now!!! It was just that simple. I can't even remember what was in those boxes! I did it all while my husband was gone, and when he got home, he was amazed!!! I plan to repeat the process this weekend, hopefully in my sewing/quilting room. I get so depressed looking at my sewing room because it is so cluttered that I can't get to any of my fabric to create anything. But I'm going to fix it very soon. I will part with what I know I will never use and organize the rest. (YES Sandy, there is hope-- if I can do all that, there is hope!)
I am a messy one too, and my husband used to be very neat but he has picked up my bad habits (or just thrown up his hands in disgust) I'm getting better, though! And books-- I have lots of books too! Thankfully, my daughter-in-law and her mom are both avid readers and they are very grateful for books that I give to them.
Best wishes to all,
Mary Jo
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Re: books: Even in my small town we have a Book Cellar(Seller) which accepts books in trade for other used books. If one doesn't have time to ck out the books, you are given a card with the trading value of the ones you bring in. You get more if you turn them in for trade, but you can also get cash.
I only buy books on sale, or trade them with friends or drop them at the book cellar. I haul in bags and bags at each trip. Keeps my bookcase up to date and not overflowing. Now, I love books and would cover the walls in books shelves and fill them, but I just cannot keep them all. Besides, they just collect dust and rarely are ever read again.
You can also find trade places for CD and DVD;s with the same set up.
Just an idea.
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Every time I don't buy a book or a magazine, I consider it another little victory.
Once upon a time, I bought every book I wanted to read. Now, I check online with the regional library system to see if it is available through interlibrary loan. If it is, I order it. Every once in a while I read something from the library but I decide I want to *possess* it, so I look for it on amazon through a secondary seller at a much reduced price.
As for magazines, my new policy is to subscribe only to those not carried by my library (where I can sit comfortably for hours in their cushy chairs and read). Some magazines that I find interest me only once in a while, I don't subscribe to but purchase an occasional issue. Even though that might cost as much as the year's subscription, at least there is less paper around the house.
My little victories. Yes. One book at a time............
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Mary Jo.....A few weeks ago....while I was doing rads...a quiltingfriend came to take me to the hospital for my treatment....The treatment was postphoned due to machine needing work...She took one look at my quilting room and declared it a work morning!
Maggie took charge! We got rid of all kinds of junk.....and she helped me organize my fabrics. We did a lot of labeling, and thowing out, and the room is now more functional...At least I know where most of my stuff is now.
However....It HAS been weeks, and my room is a disaster again..Though my fabrics are still organized, things are out of place and the room could use a good cleaning....I try, but neatness is not my best quality.....I'd rather read, quilt or watch TV than clean.....
My DIL is a cleaning machine...She LOVES to clean, and no respectable speck of dust would dare invade her house. When I know she is coming over, I DO make an effort to straighten things up a bit...But...She knows not ot expect much in my special room.....Especially when I am actively working on a quilt.....I'm sure you understand!
Sandy
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abbadoddles....Magazines....I generally guy quilting magazines...I tear out the patterns and articles I want to keep, and put them in plastic sleets in binders.....After a couple of times, there is still lots of "magazing" left...So I save them up, and give them to women in a sister quilting group in another state....They have said they wanted them anyway.....
There are only a few magazines that I keep....Mostly Quilter's Home Magazine....It's very different from most quilting magazines...It's more of a magazine for quilters....Lots of cool articles, recipes, a few patterns....It's done by Mark Lippinsky....very funny, very gay, and a great quilter....I won't give t hose mags away for anything....
I also have a tub full of fairly conservative Catholic magazines that I have saved up over the years....I'm not sure what to do with them...Some are on the expesive side, and contain really interesting articles....Maybe I should go through them, choose the ones that are the best ones, and pitche the rest....I don't think my church library would take them, since most are pretty old.
Got to get back to work!
Sandy
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Iodine...That's a good idea...
I have tons of books that my husband has been toting from place to place for years....He keeps after me to get rid of them....Many of them are just sitting out in our garage....I have no idea what's in most of those boxes! Maybe it's time...
Sandy
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Hi there...
I am also a clutterer!! When my dh and I moved from Maryland to NC, we threw out SO much stuff!! I thought we were going to start over again, and be clutter-free! But, as it turns out, this new house, where I've been living for TWO years now, is becoming very cluttered, and it terrible, because this house is smaller, and there is less room for storage.
However, I am also a resident on the I can't get my act together thread, so you can see that I don't hold out much hope for a cure for this ailment. I am feeling kind of proud of myself, because I'm looking at this box of books my sister sent me back when I had my bilateral mast., and I NEVER read them... my neighbor kept lending me books! So anyway, I have some books my sil gave me when she finished them, and I am proud to say that I'm going to box ALL these books up and send them back to my sister, when we visit, after Thanksgiving!
This is an inspiring thread, but I think I will always be fighting the natural cluttering instinct inside me!!!
Harley
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I recently read that we are either filers or pilers. You know which one you are.
If you are a piler, as I am, try buying those clear, plastic file envelopes for all the related clippings and notes or bills, etc. Makes sense. That way, all are contained and less clutter-ish but you can still find them and you don't have to file them!
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Here it is almost two months from my last post about those filing envelopes and yesterday I finally took my own advice. Yeah.
Today, I will be filing my piles of stuff.Since tomorrow is New Year's Day, I thought it a good time to re-address the "stuff" issue. In the January, 2009 issue of House Beautiful magazine there is a thought-provoking article by Julie Morgenstern, organizer and author of organizing books. Her latest is When Organizing Isn't Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life. The article is based on that book.
One of the things she said is that "You organize to become more efficient. You SHED to get unstuck." Resonates, doesn't it? It did with me.
One of her "three clues that you're ready to shed:" You're feeling weighed down by something that's preventing you from moving forward.
Lots more like that and a really, really good Zen parable. Your local library may have the mag. Go read the article and, if you like it, request the book through ILL if it isn't on the shelves.
Best wishes for a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year, ladies. Love to you all.
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Hi Tina!
I was just thinking about this thread yesterday, when I was at the library, and one of the books I was hoping to find there was the one you mentioned (wasn't there)-- I am going to run out and buy the magazine, so I don't have to wait! I had no idea about the book being in HB mag-- thanks so much for letting us know!! The clue about being ready to shed-- that's really good.
Yesterday, while contemplating resuming my decluttering quest (I've actually made very good progress lately, but lots left to do), I found a great website called Zen Habits (you can google that or the author's name Leo Babauta) There's lots of good info there, as well as a forum with even more good info about living simply and more harmoniously.
Thanks so much for bumping this up!
Happy New Year to you too!
Mary Jo
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what a great thread. thanks for all the purging ideas. you've motivated me!
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Message to Easyquilts - before dumping those Catholic articles, books and stuff, check with your church. It seems that sometimes organizations didnt collect things to display in the future and the archives are bare.... and you may be the person to fill in the gaps. And then you can donate those things and know you are making a difference.
I just started quilting about 6 months ago. I have all of my supplies in a shopping bag. My tracing board, my ruler with all the different angles and things. A small bag of left over fabric. The current three quilts are in bags of their own - A christmas panel (just started), a sampler quilt (lives on the end of the couch), and a 9 square project that is in a small bag (Just finished my portion of the square exchange - 9 people, 9 colours). I am getting a quilting frame... dont know where I will put it but since I only have one thing in the living room..... fair is fair.\
My problem is that my room is also a storage room. The shelf above my clothes is where we keep the christmas boxes. Under the clothes is my writing box and storage of out of season clothes for me. I have the 3 dressers but eventually my daughter will move and take them with her. At which point I will install shelves for the Angels.
Wanna know a secret... I have been squirreling things UNDER the BED. It is a hospital bed, there is plenty of room under it. And I have pretty well used all of it.
I get rid of magazines and books to the ESL group in my area. Those women will read anything in English.
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