Things you've done to simplify your life

[faithfulbird20]

Less laundry and drying will be mine for this year. I used to wash everything mostly after one wear. Especially my kids clothes. Just realised no wonder our clothes don't last and look dull really easily.

Fantastic thread!

Much of what I do has already been said. I have a present box and add things to it as I see them, plus cards, wrapping and sellotape etc.

I don't even own an iron!

Ragbag those odd socks. The likelihood of ever finding their partners is minimal. Or just wear odd socks 🙂

Great thread, you are my people.

Biggest game changer for me was to follow Obama's trick, to reduce decisions needed each day. He buys multiples of blue suits. I buy multiples of tops, socks and knickers for my own, more casual version.

Use some of the time saved for great service, eg Rigby and Peller for bra fittings.

Others have already covered: declutter, cleaner, choose that need no ironing, outsource laundry for bedding and DH's shirts.

Threw out all fiction books freeing up lots of bookshelf space and stopped buying newspapers when I got a kindle / kindle app on phone

Clearing out DMiL'a and DM's homes was a tad heartbreaking, want to avoid leaving too much clearing out for anyone else to do.

I wear odd socks

Minimal wardrobe with everything matching everything. Same for the kids.

Don't buy shit. Just don't buy it. Most things you don't need. If you think you need something wait for 24 hours, at least, and if you still think you need it then go for it.

Great tips for food in this thread, that is the most stressful area in my life ! Time to get organised.

Mine is more of a "don't" - don't buy dark grey towels. Sure they look smart but the amount of dye they give off even after years of washing means the next white load gets tinged with grey.

Can't think of much else other than a wicker basket by the front door where all recycling goes until the basket is full then whoop into the outdoor bin. Extra points if you hurl item from the top of the stairs and it goes straight into the basket. Then you know it's going to be a good day.

All my socks are the same so I don't have any odd socks

As another poster send procrastinating altogether. I've only just learned to do it at 41.

Practical stuff

Pledge fluffy duster
Meal planning
Freezer/fridge inventory
Separate work/home life paraphernalia (work hand bag with separate make up, bank card etc) I travel a lot so it's easier to pick up work bags and know I've got everything without having to 'pack'

Mine is to stop ordering stuff online, especially clothes. It's so much hassle chasing a delivery by Hermes, then it turning up and looking nothing like pictures, having to sort out a return which is different for every company, take it to the post office, checking emails daily waiting for the return email, then waiting for the money to go back into my bank. I hate it!

I agree about online clothes shopping.

@Centralperk88 Couldn't agree more.. :-(

@Centralperk88 yeah that's why I decided to buy less, wash less and stress less so that the clothes last (kids clothes). Half the time if I do return something I don't get a proper refund and it's a hassle ringing customer service.

De clutter.
Not just clothes but toxic people.

@FinallyHere sounds like the uniform project and what Steve jobs did too...wear the same turtle neck and jeans everyday. Elizabeth withey took it a step further wearing the same dress for a full year!

@Craftylittlething how do you defrost the garlic and onion? Is it in small ice cube trays or do you leave it out in the morning?

@FabriqueBelgique I like the looking at the whole year calendar idea! Especially for kids...do you have a paper one?

I like this thread.

In no particular order:

Got divorced.

Stopped doing Xmas except for children's presents. (Saved loads, no indigestion, feel healthier, only see people I like, no boxes of crap decs in the garage).

Stopped using Amazon.

Stopped buying Apple tech, definitely made life easier.

Deleted everyone off facebook, made the profile private and just use it to sign in to websites.

Got rid of the tv and just have netflix. One of best decisions I ever made.

Learned to use a slow cooker, total game changer.

Stopped using a handbag, just have a coat with zipped pockets for essentials, saves about 30 mins each day on school run and going out.

Schoolbags ready by door the night before.

Lanyard for house keys.

Delegated 1 boring house chore per day to each teen dc: if they don't do it, the mum taxi goes on strike. It gets done.

Stopped buying books and found Blinkist. Feel a bit better informed and no guilt about having unread books everywhere.

I am just marking my place to come back later and absorb all this!

Use USB C chargers - everything charges much more quickly. Just need one or two of the charger plugs and then cables for each type of device (lightning, USB B etc).

We have our house and car insurance on a single policy, and was good value even on renewal.

Lots of clips (Lakeland), beeswax wraps, medium zip bags for freezing food and keeping it neat.

@Centralperk88 - I need to stop buying stop offline for the same reasons. It's just that buzz of buying something and the parcel arriving. But I end up returning most of it.

I iron a few items every day whether I want to or not.

I just don’t iron I find that barely any clothes need it, including shirts, if they’re hung well when drying.

@faithfulbird20 I just have a bag of each in the freezer and just use straight from freezer, usually just fry with a little oil with other veg if I’m making a curry or a sauce

What MehMahMoosaid re keeping fruit and veg in fridge.
Everything will last longer if you remove plastic packaging that traps water and encourages rot. (Bagged salads are obviously different.)
Also
Apples will last for weeks at room temp, so will pears if you order British varieties (Conference) etc, not thevery expensive imported ones.
Citrus fruits (satsumas etc) will last 10 days if kept in a fridge.
Grapes -if removed from cramped packaging and kept dry - will last a week in a fridge.
Kiwi fruits - the cheap packs - often take over a week at kitchen temperature to get ripe enough to eat.
Frozen packs of raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cherries etc are often cheaper than fresh, and very good quality. Ditto mixed packs of frozen 'fruits of the forest'.
Some supermarkets sell 'ripen at home' packs of plums, peaches, nectarines etc.
Don't forget dried fruit - either to nibble as it is or to stew and maybe puree and serve with youghurt/cream, or use in cooking. Dried apricots - vastly cheaper in bulk from wholefood shops - and dried pineapple (Fairtrade) are especially good. But you can get all sorts, from mango to cherries.

Fennel (bulb), chicory and chinese cabbage last for at least a week in a fridge. So, usually, will uncut iceberg lettuce.
Cauliflower and savoy cabbage will last for 10 days in salad drawer in fridge. Sit them on a clean tea-towel to absorb excess moisture. Celery, carrots, beetroot (raw), brussels sprouts and leeks will also last a good while if treated in the same way.. Hard white and red cabbage will last for ages.
Swede , celeriac, sweet potatoes, onions and many types of squash will last for longer than a fortnight at room temp.

Bulk buying packs of 50 birthday or thank you cards on Amazon for my kids friends bdays etc. Cost per card down to about 20p.

I wash laundry once a week sometimes leave it 2 weeks. Only me at home. Jeans get worn several times before being washed but I don't wear the same pair every day. Tops get hung on hanger in utility room between wears if still clean and fresh then short wash after, say, three wears, jumpers less often. I don't smoke, have no pets and don't have cooking smells on clothes nor do I have or want a tumble dryer.
Jeans dry in 2 days and I haven't ironed anything at all in 10+ years. I have a hand held steamer that I used once on a blouse but if you fold and smooth before drying, you won't need to iron at all. My clothes all have breathable covers on hangers and cedar discs to deter moths on woollen items.

I change into 'at home' clothes after washing my hands when I arrive home and hang up those I wore to go out. 'At home' clothes are joggers/ leggings and t-shirt/top/cami and slippers (all Primark)

Much needed thread thank OP
Just caching up.

@AngelinaFibres I love your ideas