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

[MrsPennyapple]

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

Artemisia I had piles of stuff sitting around for eBay for THREE YEARS and then ended up sending it charity, the only reason I'm doing the odd bit now is bc I'm in the position where I'm unable to declutter bin bags of stuff bc it's all gone already. Do not feel guilty, feel proud of what you have achieved!

This morning I took a few bags and boxes I had lined up to a local organisation for DV victims who are starting afresh. They were really pleased with what a could give them. I hope I can find more for them.

Also did a load of paperwork and took the kittens for their first vaccinations.

This afternoon I'm taking a bridesmaid's dress to a shop which rents and sells second hand dresses for formal occasions. Hopefully they'll be interested. If not, it's going to the charity shop.

Clear great progress!
I'm not doing much actual decluttering recently, more just keeping on top of the house. I prefer to declutter though

Morning all

Lime - love those hymn lines!

Artemis - 3 different ways of thinking about it:
a) better to have got momentum going by donating so that then you made some money on ebay - as MM says it was only when she had cleared the decks she was able to start selling.
b) despite needing money you have not just thought about your own needs but have been generous to charities too which is a fab thing to do - it's not like the clothes etc were wasted!
c) having donated so much unworn stuff, you are much more likely to think hard before you buy more new stuff. If you have been able to sell it all, you might have gone on buying more because you were kidding yourself about "getting money back". So long term you have probably saved more money.

In other news our paper recycling bin has now been emptied and I have been able to get rid of weeks worth of paper and cardboard - still got one box to go though - couldn't physically carry it out with me yesterday!

Feeling very pleased about getting rid of old glasses and meds as they have been sitting in a bag in my cupboard for years a while waiting for me to get around to it!

Need to keep focused and motivated today fat chance !

Thanks everyone! I do feel better... it is also true that some of the stuff I am selling on eBay now I have had for 5 or more years and never used so god knows how long I would have had the other stuff for

I guess I am just so angry at myself for over-buying so much in the first place, I don't know what I was thinking, bringing home more stuff to hoard in my already bursting wardrobe.

A I feel that about my university days which was when I over spent - I swear my student loan went on mobile phone bill and Benefit makeup I just wasted so much money. Minimalism has cured me of that now, it takes a lot for me to buy anything, I even think long and hard about buying some Method wood cleaner for the wooden floor in my bathroom
You are welcome to think I'm crazy

I wasted so much money. It is so awful to think about. But...onwards and upwards.

Another money waster banging her head on the desk here - but learning!!!!

You buggers have ruined shopping for me I went yesterday intending to get myself a birthday treat... but I didn't need anything So I had to trail round after DH who needed t-shirts and sunglasses

Today I have got rid of some of the children's books that were beyond repair and the ones I hate reading and did a one-in one-out on GooGirls new shoes.

Miss Minimalist blog, Kendra writes: " I love being free from the ?rules? that ?made? me keep things I didn?t want. I love being able to admit I made a mistake when I bought something and give it away or sell it, rather than trying to make it work for three years. Because I?ve quit denying that I made those mistakes, I?m learning from them and when I do buy something, I make a better choice."

I feel like I over spent when I was in a previous job where I earned much more money (2 1/2 times more) than I do now ( although obv I paid more tax and NI too!) I had lower basic outgoings too then but somehow I didn't manage to save much. Once my salary reduced I found I could manage on a lot less money quite easily and without really missing too much!

Nagoo - I think it is still fine to get something like a birthday treat even if you don't absolutely need it. If, for example, you get a new top, get rid of your least favourite old top. I'm not sure that being minimalist means you have to wear things out completely, always. If you donate an old item of clothing when it still has life left in it, you bless someone else via the chazzer and make money for charity and enjoy a new item! 3 wins!

I am less likely now ( for finance as well as minimalist reasons) to buy "bits and pieces" when out, especially bits for the home. I am slowly working on my wardrobe ( always did a fair bit of editing anyway tbh) to identify which things I really enjoy wearing, and which things work with other items.

I know what you mean, I just can't see the 'space' in my wardrobe to fill IYSWIM. I did buy lots of nail varnish

Nagoo, we overconsume stuff. I'm sure you can find a birthday treat that doesn't involve ending up with something material.

However if you're in this to use the planets resources wisely, it becomes complicated. Spas are ridiculous waste of energy, cut flowers are grown in hothouses and then transported to other countries....

Nagoo in that situation I would have treated myself to a Vanity Fair magazine (the only magazine I buy these days and rarely at that - I couldn't bear to throw them away in my previous life so now it's one in one out) or book, propped myself up at the nearest champagne bar (I'm thinking Westfield Village) or fancy coffee place (I mean FANCY not the usual Pret) and indulged myself in a leisurely treat (Oysters? Cake?) & nice drink while I waited on H to complete his shopping. I would really love that as a special treat.

So - I am actually managing to get stuff done today. I did a batch cook at lunchtime plus have just got a load of washing on the line - why does life always feel that bit better when you have got washing out on the line?

Already needing to get rid of another load of paper recycling! Grrr!

Right back to work - lessons to write up and prepare before I teach!

Somebody slap me with the clutter bug! I went shopping today to get some bits for Emily for her holiday with nanny and grandad next week. She did need clothes as I pared her right down to 7 tshirts, one pair of 'good jeans' and a couple of skirts plus one pair of non school shoes, 10 pairs of knickers, 5 pairs of non-school socks and 5 vests. Which is obviously no good for a week away when I know my parents won't go to a launderette.

So I got her a skirt, t shirt, pair of jeans and some leggings. Plus a dress, another pack of vests, knickers and socks. And a pair of cheap trainers (boys as they didn't have any girls suitable so if she doesn't wreck them James can have them when he's bigger).

But I also got the twins a winter hat/gloves set and James 4 shirts for preschool next term.

In my defence, the 4 shirts worked out at £1.50 for all (half price plus an extra 25% off in Sainsbury's. and the hat sets were £1.60 each. But I'm supposed to be bloody getting rid of stuff, not buying more!

That's the thing with kids clothes isn't it - they are either too big, or too small, or being held for next child!! They get through them at an amazing rate!

The weird thing is, that I earn more now than I did when I bought all this stuff, and yet I wouldn't dream of doing it now. The painful procedure of clearing it all out and of having to use my savings to pay off a fairly large credit card has definitely taught me a lesson.

I am much more careful about what I buy now and have bought clothes, brought them home, had a try on session with existing clothes then brought them back several times recently as I am no longer willing to pay for things that aren't absolutely right/necessary.

Minimalist Mommi Things are still selling but it is noticeably less busy on eBay than it was - I sold a huge amount on there two summers ago to fund our first trip to the USA and made about £550 over 3-4 months selling old tech, clothes, shoes, books etc. It's very quiet on there now and I am not sure that what I did then would be possible now.

clear I am off to see Bill Bailey tonight. I would rather spend my money doing than having :)

I am going to do the dreaded cupboard under the stairs this week.... Hopefully I will find a load of stuff I forgot about :)

What about garden decluttering. I have a mental block over old frost damaged terracotta pots. I cannot seem to get bring myself to smash them so at least they can serve a useful purpose in the bottom of other pots. BUT I want only nice looking pots, I do like a country garden look but these are the equivalent of an old loved chipped mug. Help, someone help me put them, and me, out of our misery...
I am having a huge garden declutter but this I need a push with.

Btw, instead of spending an age shredding up a huge pile of paperwork, I shove it in my compost daleks. Something satisfying about gas bills being turned into fertiliser.

Nagoo I am so jealous of you seeing Bill Bailey! Come back and let us know how it was.

There are some of DD's books that I hate reading. I never thought I'd be glad to read Tabby McTat after doing it every night for about 3 months, but she had a box set of Beatrix Potter books bought for her, and has suddenly started requesting (demanding) these as bedtime stories. I hate them, I hated them as a child, and cannot for the life of me understand why everyone raves about her. Come back Tabby McTat, all is forgiven. (Although I will continue to accidentally turn two pages at once whilst I can still get away with it.)