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Original poster

Out with the old and in with - NOTHING! Further adventures in minimalism.

995 replies

MrsPennyapple · 12/04/2013 21:34

Following on from the Minimalist Journey and Minimalist Quiche threads. The journey continues...

OP posts:
MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:10

hobnob I'm not sure what to suggest bc I find visual clutter very difficult to deal with, so for me I wouldn't want open storage (like baskets) bc to me it still looks messy. We're living very small but I have avoided shelves for the very reasons you talk of so I think you're right to address it.

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:12

hobnob would a low down cabinet similar to this but in cream or something fit which you could slide baskets/storage into?
www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80100190/

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:14

Nice article on simple food here: lifeshouldbethecatsmeow.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/simple-food.html?m=1

SilentMammoth · 22/04/2013 12:18

Found a baby comb on the sofa this morning and was about to sticvk it in the basket to take upstairs. ThenI realised that actually, in five dc I have used it maybe twice and it has certainly been tidied up a whole lot more than used. Simple. Slung it in the chazzer box (am loving this expression!)

The clutter issue is a total red herring isn't it? It's not about stuff, or space or finances or small houses. It's doing a 180 degree turn in your own head and thinking; is this relevant to the life I am/want to lead?

hobnob57 · 22/04/2013 12:18

Thanks for the link. Because of the sloping roof furniture is difficult to put along there. I had thought of an expedit unit on its side, but I think the roof would push it too close to the door. Awkward space. And then what happens to the Big stuff that doesn't fit in the baskets like the elc garage,etc? At the moment they are on the floor under the lowest shelf. The shelves were custom made (by us!) to fit the space so they are useful in that respect.

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:21

Found this great quote on Miss Minimalist just now:

?Too many people spend money they haven?t earned, to buy things they don?t want, to impress people they don?t like.? Will Rogers. Organised Simplicity.

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:24

Silent I know what you mean, for me it's looking at each object and seriously thinking, 'Do I actually, really, really need this?' I'm not into storing stuff. Really, what is the point?!!!!!!

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:26

I think I'm going to look for something I don't use in the kitchen to make myself feel better about my new steamer Blush

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 12:41

Just found this blog via Miss Minimalist, it looks great! www.minimalstudent.com/about-3/

FreshWest · 22/04/2013 12:48

hobnob I know plastic boxes are not pretty and I'm not sure of your budget but we used Really Useful Boxes to store dd toys, jigsaws etc. They come in a variety of sizes and stack as well. I link to their homepage but we got ours (pink!) in Homebase. I just looked and Amazon (amongst others) have some too.

For dd's dolls and teddies etc we used a plasterers tub from b&q, doesn't sound glamourous but you can get them in all different colours here and toys can just be flung in Grin

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 13:21

Just decluttered glass Pyrex tub with damaged lid which I don't use, couple of small plastic take away tub things and a lock and lock box which was missing a lid. I then went upstairs to bathroom and got rid of pot of bathroom paint from pervious owners here and some polystyrene coving stuff to go around ceiling which had been left in airing cupboard. I also found a foundation brush I have no intention of using so that's gone too.

BeCool · 22/04/2013 14:37

SilentMammoth - yes yes yes, its that penny dropping, the world turning, the brain flipping over - the I GET IT NOW moment of bliss!!

We can talk decluttering tips till the cows come home, but I do believe it's that internal change, that for me is what it's all about. Which is why when you read about people trying to do this when their partners aren't "there" yet, I feel for them. It took me 45 years to have that moment. If I was still with exP it might not have happened, or it would be something else to argue about (he never threw anything away and had 30 checked shirts!).

I aspire to one day. be like MinimalistMommie :) Better to have internal wrangling over the steamer (something you need and will actually use) than to just start bringing random stuff in again without thinking.

BeCool · 22/04/2013 14:42

great link thanks MM

sommewhereelse · 22/04/2013 15:07

MinimalistMommi, I think your conscience can be clear now!

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 15:56
Grin

somme I think your right!

MinimalistMommi · 22/04/2013 15:59

BeCool Blush about steamer. It's actually very tough for me to shop now which is sort of a blessing but can be quite difficult when there are things we actually need!

issimma · 22/04/2013 16:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeCool · 22/04/2013 16:20

hiya issimma!

MM that is so where I want to be. I struggled last week (and still now) with my inner shopper pushing ALL my buttons. I don't want or need anything. In fact I want/need less and less. But the old inner shopper isn't giving up without a fight. It's like a constant scream for attention inside ATM. The 'new' me just strokes her hair and says "calm down dear" in funny way. Awareness is a huge help.

dawntigga · 22/04/2013 16:27

You see, I think I could be truly minimalist if I had a house the size of our street.

The Cub's birthday has been and we managed to get him a big present and some really good quality smaller ones. However, the plastic tat seems to breed.

HasMuchSnotTodayTiggaxx

LittleCatZ · 22/04/2013 19:46

Cristiane after a day at work I'd also love to take time off to make more progress Sad especially as I'm away this weekend - will try to enjoy it instead of thinking of all the time that I could be de-cluttering!
I did manage the boot of the car yesterday still crap inside the car though so I'm counting that as progress and I found new homes for useful stuff in boxes.
Also cleared out a bag today as DH is babysitting for a friend with younger DC. This means I may spend my evening de-cluttering if I'm not too tired.

sommewhereelse · 22/04/2013 20:05

LittleCatZ, set the timer for 15 minutes. If you are in the swing of things, you may do a little more.
I shall be doing that as soon as I've got the eldest in the bath. He is a reluctant bather so I have to run it and make sure he gets in (despite him going to secondary school in less than 6 months).

Original poster
MrsPennyapple · 22/04/2013 21:03

Cheery waves to Issimma and Hobnob :)

The pile of stuff on my dining table seems to have come back. I still seem to have this stuff that doesn't really have a home, but it's mostly stuff I use every day so just lurks around. Like my household diary, my wedding notebook, some post I need to deal with... Well, tomorrow is child-free (woo hoo!) so I shall sort it out then. It winds me up no end.

I can feel a trip down the chazzer coming on too, I have some junk a donation to drop off. I reckon I can find a few more bits to chuck in there before it goes though.

OP posts:
BeCool · 22/04/2013 21:57

Two bowls no longer in kitchen! Hooray.

SilentMammoth · 22/04/2013 22:07

Yay!

I need a quiet day. We've had a lot of visitors recently, ostensibly to meet baby mammoth but also dh has just admitted he got a lot of people round because hefelt I was so down. I know he meant out kindly, but I need my space without having to make small talk. Tomorrow we have workmen round and I'm going to shut myself in the kitchen and declutter a certain cupboard. Meh.

ISpyPlumPie · 22/04/2013 22:23

Can I join in? I've just read this really inspirational thread and I think it could be what I need to spur me on with sorting out our clutter.

I have two boys aged three and four months, and am on ML atm. If you came to visit (and provided DS1 had been at nursery rather than using random household objects as part of a v important imaginary game Grin) you'd think that my house was reasonably clean and tidy. If however you opened pretty much any drawer or cupboard, you'd be met with an avalanche.

The problem is that I only seem to get to do housework in short bursts so often stuff things out of sight to 'tidy' and so I can clean surfaces. Of course it's not really tidying as lots of things are not in any sort of order. I have good intentions about sorting a drawer or cupboard an evening, but while I'll get rid of any obvious crap, I don't have any free space to properly put away what's left. More crap than quickly finds it's way back into the space I've cleared. I know I just need to take the plunge and start sorting (loving the 20:10 idea) then once I know what's left I can start to allocate a proper place to everything.

I find parting with anything to do with the DC particularly difficult. This is partly practical (just in case we do have DC3) but also due to sentimental hoarding. I'm going to try and deal with it by only keeping a limited no. of special things for memory boxes, selling some stuff an nct sales so we can use the money on fun days out etc (better to do stuff than have stuff) and donating the rest to charity.

Managed to sort the coat cupboard in the porch yesterday which is a start - one bag for the charity shops and out of season coats back in wardrobes.

Sorry for the mamoth first post. Looking forward to continuing on the journey towards minimalism with you all.