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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:
BeCool · 02/05/2013 12:21

MM I use an ikea plastic kids cup to measure porridge - perfect size for us.

MinimalistMommi · 02/05/2013 12:22

bec wow! I'm in awe! It sounds amazing what you have done!
Is your Mac a laptop or a monitor screen thingy? I wish I could see pics of your space...are you going to let your DVD's go? We use LoveFilm so have no need for DVD's ( aside from children's Disney they watch at weekend) and I've never missed them.

MinimalistMommi · 02/05/2013 12:26

BeCool we are very lucky to have a small-ish cupboard under our staircase that the scooters get rammed into. That was essential for us as we're in a terrace, you walk into straight from the street into our front reception room so everything has to be put away straight away.

Grin about your porridge measurer...while my scoop was sent away Wink I was weighing porridge and it was such a pain!

clearsommespace · 02/05/2013 13:42

Becstar, we moved in to this house over the Christmas holidays and I did think about where I put stuff. I then found this thread about a week after I'd unpacked all the kitchen stuff. I am continually finding better ways to sort and store and of course things that should never have been put away in this house at all.

MinimalistMommi, we haven't adressed board games yet. DH loves board games and I would say we have a disproportionate amount of storage space devoted to them. But we do play board games more often than we watch a movie and unlike movies and books, they are something that you do use over and over again. They do need sorting because there are bound to be some that aren't as good fun now that we've discovered better ones so we will probably never find time for. I suspect we'll end up with box of games that we need to play again to decide whether to keep or get rid of. (I am still plugging away with my books in this way.)

Why is it that your DH's games aren't getting played?

issimma · 02/05/2013 13:56

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MinimalistMommi · 02/05/2013 14:05

Sorry clear the games are the DC's. We just don't get around to play them as we spend a lot of time outdoors with DC's or the DC's are playing or reading.

ISpyPlumPie · 02/05/2013 14:06

Have made a decision about baby clothes. I'm increasingly feeling that our family is complete (in a happy, contented way) so there is just no need to store masses of outgrown clothes. Even if things do change, and DC3 arrives further down the line clothes can easily be acquired and the value of the space in the meantime is greater than any saving we might make on clothing at some unspecified and uncertain point in the future.

I was also at an activity at Sure Start yesterday, and the group leader mentioned that there is always a big demand for baby clothing for local families who are struggling. It makes me Sad and Blush that there are children going without while things sit pointlessly in boxes in my house therefore I have started to sort as follows:-

  1. Anything that will realistically sell at the next nct nns. If it doesn't sell, it will then be donated.
  1. Clothes that are in good condition but either things we get masses of at the sale, or brands that tend not to sell so well. These will be donated to Sure Start.
  1. Anything stained/damaged - to be binned.
  1. Keepsakes. I'm trying really, really hard not to let this spiral out of control. Ultimately, I'm going to try and aim for just Christening outfits and something in the smallest size for each boy to show them how little they were. Feels a bit hardcore to go to that straight away though so am going to limit it to one overnight case and no more.

Have done one bag already. DS2 has just dozed off after his feed so if he can be persuaded to sleep in his cot for a bit I'll tackle another.

MinimalistMommi · 02/05/2013 14:08

ISpy great decision about the baby clothes!

clearsommespace · 02/05/2013 14:30

MinimalistMommi, I think I was projecting onto you about DH's not wanting to get rid of furniture because it's storing all their precious games. Grin

MrsPennyapple · 02/05/2013 14:46

Do I need a butcher's trolley? Maybe, maybe not. Can't afford one anyway, so no danger of re-cluttering!

Someone the other day asked how many times you'd relist an item on ebay if it doesn't sell - I relist as many times as I can be arsed, generally :) It's setting up the listing in the first place that's the real hassle, so it has to be something that I think will sell for me to even bother. I have in the past sold something on the third relist attempt, and then two people both want it and you get quite good money. So I'd say don't give up on it after one attempt, if it's worth ten minutes to list, it's certainly worth two seconds to relist. I only list / relist when it's a free weekend, so it's no bother really.

I persuaded DP to get rid of the George Foreman thing a year or so ago, he used to swear by it for sausages and bacon, but I didn't think it cooked them very nicely. It was on its last legs, DP would have replaced it, but I convinced him that the grill does a far better job, and we have never missed it.

If I'm just making porridge for DD, I use one of the measuring cups that came with the breast pump! One of oats, one of milk, one of water, makes just the right amount of porridge for a toddler. I will have to rethink that soon though, she's eating like a horse at the moment and growing like a weed.

Welcome to Flojobunny. My approach for piles of paperwork is this:

Sort into four piles: Bin it / act on it / file it / don't know.
Sort the "Don't know" pile first, because everything will need to go on one of the other three.
Next, work through the "act on it" pile, doing what you need to do. You will then move the items to either the bin it or file it piles.
Bin / shred / recycle the "Bin it" pile (being careful with documents that have your personal details on, obviously.)
File the "file it" pile.

Unfortunately, until you've attacked it head on, there's no way to really make it any easier, you do just have to brace yourself and start. Once you've got the piles sorted it's so much easier to keep on top of.

OP posts:
issimma · 02/05/2013 14:50

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educatingarti · 02/05/2013 15:06

I don't know - I go and work for an afternoon and the thread just fills up!

MinimalistMommi - "I think I'm the only person who keeps all her veg in the fridge! My bread also lives in the freezer and I get out a slice when I need it."
Nope you aren't the only one - though I have to say that my carrots and one remaining potato are sprouting nicely in the fridge but I don't have another convenient place for them. My middle floor flat is pretty warm - don't really have "cool" places. My "naice" trug (personalised myself with wooden heart and yellow checked napkin lining it) is full of not-so-nice starting to go black bananas!

I have to work! I want to declutter! I still have a suitcase dilemma! I still don't have time to post about my suitcase dilemma but will try later!

Sunny Thanks for asking after Dad. He is doing better now he is at home but is still pretty disabled. He was pretty disabled before he was in hospital, but now does seem more frail. However, he is now eating really well so hopefully should but some weight back on!

MinimalistMommi · 02/05/2013 17:29

educating I solved my suitcase dilemma by getting rid of mine....not sure what will happen if we go abroad though. I imagine we will borrow one/two/three from MIL!

MinimalistMommi · 02/05/2013 17:30

LOL clear Grin

Sunnywithshowers · 02/05/2013 19:10

BeCool the dreaded tights are done. I have only kept 5 pairs - the ones that I've either bought recently, or are bleedingly obviously my size. I've also pitched a load of uncomfortable socks and more 10 denier black tights than I've ever worn in my whole life.

I also got rid of more books earlier - woot!

issimma · 02/05/2013 19:59

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LimeLeaffLizard · 02/05/2013 20:19

Haven't posted much, but I'm still following this thread and finding it inspirational.

It is really hard to find time to do much atm. Managed to go through my bag collection earlier this week but at the cost of DS3 making a mess in the other room.

I have realised that I hoard packaging - particularly good quality / nice boxes. Got rid of some of it.

I went shopping today but was very restrained and managed to only buy school shorts and new pants for DS1! and a playsuit for DD

buildingmycorestrength · 02/05/2013 21:38

I do the box thing too! Sadly pointless.

clearsommespace · 02/05/2013 21:56

DH saves boxes but I have to admit, they are coming in useful for all the things I am selling in my clearout!

MyPreciousRing · 03/05/2013 07:06

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Sokmonsta · 03/05/2013 08:02

Hand bags and shoes. Tough one. I have a collection of 'day to day' handbags in 3 different sizes. So depending on what I'm doing, depends on which one I use.

I then have a small black and small brown handbag, which go with a few pairs of shoes so sufficiently 'match' for a casual night out. Then I have formal dresses for black tie events. I have one pair of pewter shoes with matching clutch. That goes with at least two dresses, black shoes and clutch which goes with several dresses and then a red dress complete with matching shoes and clutch.

Apart from my formal wear, my handbags are all Radley ones which I have either bought because I really like (and therefore use) or gifted but are of a good size for day to day use.

Once we get the loft sorted I'm copying another poster (apologies I can't remember who) and racking my formal wear in the loft along with the matching shoes/bags as they will get used and loaned out to friends who may come with us to these events but not want to cost of kitting themselves out. Dh will do the same with his dinner suits and shirts (whether he likes it or not)

buildingmycorestrength · 03/05/2013 08:04

I have a pair of platform flip flops that I will never wear. They are possible dangerous.

But if I let them go I am admitting that I'm not 17. So bugger it, they'll just stay in the box.

Shoes and handbags don't change size, though. So if I suddenly lose weight (which I am! Hurrah!) then maybe I'll wear different clothes which would look good with random handbag from 4 years ago.

Do I even belong on this thread? I'm full of 'good reasons' to keep things I never use or look at, even though I totally get the bigger picture of minimalism. Maybe this is a cry for help.

clearsommespace · 03/05/2013 08:27

I am naturally a handbag minimalist. Like make up, it's one of those things I've never really done.
So I have one dark coloured hand bag for winter day time use. One small back pack for when out and about with the kids, and a light coloured 'ethnic' shoulder bag for summer days when I don't need to carry much.

We don't get out to formal events much but when we do either I don't bother with a bag or borrow one of MIL.

clearsommespace · 03/05/2013 08:59

Buildingsomecorestrength, I don't think anyone minds those of us who are only at the beginning of our minimalist journey being on here.

And congrats on your weight loss!

MinimalistMommi · 03/05/2013 09:23

I have one small blue bag from 'White stuff' which is casual not formal and a casual larger Cath Kidston bag. I have no formal bags.

My shoes at the moment consist of a pair of flip flops, a pair of black ballet pumps and a pair of ankle heal boots which look lovely with skinny jeans!