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Original poster

simplifying my life

50 replies

ionesmum · 23/08/2002 23:19

We have a tiny house with no space and so much stuff! Books mostly (like I ever get time to read!) but also ornaments, clothes etc. I need to simplify things so that dd has some space for her things! Also I'm aware that I'd like to lead a simpler life in general - I'd like to spend less time faffing about in the kitchen and more time having a life. Any ideas, anyone?

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Original poster
ionesmum · 26/08/2002 12:22

Yes, MABS, but do you put your shoes on when you shine your sink?

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lilibet · 26/08/2002 20:09

Just read fly lady! ' dont allow yourself to be side tracked by the computer' ! she knows me!

ks · 26/08/2002 20:17

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ks · 26/08/2002 20:20

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lilibet · 26/08/2002 20:38

ah! did wonder what you were talking about kia! I'll try that one.

Azzie · 27/08/2002 06:28

Ionesmum, one thing I find v. useful (and someone else has mentioned it here) is to plan the week's menu then write a shopping list and do one shop (or even one Tesco Direct ) once a week. That way you have the food you need, and don't have to think about what to cook each night - you've already made the decision. Another small thing I've found handy (which sort of came from FlyLady's site) is to have a ringbinder with plastic sleeves in it, which has all my essential house docs - coffee group rota (most impt ), refuse collection times, phone numbers of plumber, electrician etc, important letters from school/nursery, takeaway menus, details of how to get places we're going for weekends away, odd scraps of paper with recipes scribbled on them etc. This lives in one corner of the kitchen, and has stopped me spending ages scrabbling around looking for important bits of paper. It also gives me the comforting illusion that I am in some sort of control of things.....

ExpatKat · 27/08/2002 14:57

As promised, some newly-remembered tips from the lady who helped me organise my life a little.

-For incoming post, get a 3-tier tray system. Top tray is for "to be opened/read" pile; middle tray is for stuff to be acted upon (i.e. bills to pay; rsvp's etc); lower tray is for filing.
-Have a "commitment notebook" listing really important things that must get done. For example, I had been in this country 3 years without opening my own bank account (was relying on DH for cash, to my embarrassment) because I was simply too overwhelmed by the hoop-jumping required by the local bank. In this "commitment notebook" I wrote "Open a bank account!" as well as other basic important things such as "get a diary and refer to it daily." I found that having this notebook was surprisingly effective--more effective than the overwhelming to-do lists I write myself daily, because this notebook focused on a few important things and helped kick-start me into action.

Re. Fly Lady: I agree with others who found her mailings ovewhelming and irritating. But some of her tips on the website itself are v. good, as others have said.

Original poster
ionesmum · 27/08/2002 20:06

Thanks for all the further advice. Haven't had the chance to check out the other website but will do. Azzie and ExpatKat, thanks, such fab advice. I'll buy a notebook tomorrow - I've just posted my friend's b/day present - her b/day was the 6th and it's been on the mantlepiece all that time!

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Mog · 01/09/2002 16:18

One thing I read recently. If you asked a typical family of four in India and one in Britain to empty the entire contents of their houses onto the street what would the differences be. A bit simplistic I know but it does make you think about the amount of stuff we accumulate.

Original poster
ionesmum · 01/09/2002 16:51

Hmmmmn. Good point.

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robinw · 02/09/2002 07:23

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ionesmum · 02/09/2002 10:59

Good advice, Robin. Sadly we don't have a loft - we sleep in the roof! Dd seems to be acquiring more books than me ATM, and as for toys...!

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Philippat · 02/09/2002 11:31

Despite having a job where I look after 12,000 objects and artworks (all beautiful or useful, well, sort of...), I'm crap at sorting out at home.

However, here's the 'professional's advice: my techniques are stuff everything into the garage, shove paperwork into large box behind sofa then relectantly rush through it at self assessment time, purchase numerous storage solutions from Ikea that then clutter up the place, pack things in bags to take to Oxfam but then forget to take them.
Best solutions for cutting down on faffing in the kitchen is only eat ready meals and lower your cleaning tolerance.

But seriously, this is what works at work: 1) be ruthless, don't take on or store stuff you don't need (if necessary get someone else to make that decision); 2) Find ways of storing things as visibly as possible so you're not storing stuff you don't realise is there; 3) Get everyone you know to help with a big organise once a year. Then if all else goes wrong, get the Heritage Lottery to build you an extra store!

robinw · 02/09/2002 18:48

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Original poster
ionesmum · 02/09/2002 22:10

Philipat

Robin, it's so hard, isn't it? I can't bring myself to part with any of the clothes that dd has grown out of, I keep telling myself that it's in case no. 2 comes along but I'm sure that if he/she does I'll just start all over again!

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robinw · 03/09/2002 07:07

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Original poster
ionesmum · 03/09/2002 11:22

We hadn't planned no1 !

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aloha · 03/09/2002 12:01

I leave all the books I buy for my holidays in the house we rent, so they will be a nice thing for someone else to find. I recently threw away 6 bin-bags full of old magazines, and am beginning to realise that my the time I can fit into my old clothes again, they will be out of fashion and I might as well give them to the charity shop now (sob).

Original poster
ionesmum · 03/09/2002 22:25

I've just managed to get back into my favourite velevt jeans! Makes a change from maternity trousers! I have sorted out a load of stuff that I was hoping to get back into before I was pregnant.

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jenny2998 · 03/09/2002 22:34

Ionesmum, I haven't been able to part with any of our baby clothes either. I have, however, just managed to get rid of loads of magazines I've been hoarding for years, and....not buy any more!

Original poster
ionesmum · 03/09/2002 22:52

I'm a magazine freak too. I've been very ruthless and have only kept some back issues of Country Living, which I don't buy anymore as it's changed so much.

BTW aloha, my velvet jeans aren't fashionable any more but I can get into them so I don't care!

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jenny2998 · 04/09/2002 21:47

I've binned all the magazines (well, recycled them actually). I usually go through and keep the articles which I might want to read again, but nope, completely ruthless. Binned them without even looking at them, AND I wen through and binned all the articles I'd previously saved and inevitably never looked at again

star · 04/09/2002 22:02

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jenny2998 · 05/09/2002 21:25

A few links which might be useful Ionesmum

hometown.aol.com/DSimple/index.html
www.improvingme.com/
www.december.com/simple/live/contents.html
www.simplifylife.com/default.html
www.ivillage.com/home/syl/

Don't know if it's what you're looking for but they might help.

Oh, and sorry, I can't do links.

Original poster
ionesmum · 05/09/2002 21:45

Thank you

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