Voluntary Simplicity Movement - Page 2

lrjohnson · #21 (**permalink**) 04-14-2006, 10:56 AM

About a year and a half ago we did a huge purge. A ton went at a garage sale, a ton was tossed, a ton was donated (included every item that didn't sell at the garage sale). Excess kitchen items, books that had not been re-read in years, gifts that we hadn't ever liked (though we appreciated the thought), furniture we disliked, excess household items. It felt absolutely great, and I don't miss any of it. Some of the stuff had been though 3 or 4 moves for no reason except that it was a useable item-even some food. I had not let go of a perfectly good ladle, even though I had three great ladles. (With this and other items, I chose the best and gave away the rest.)

That purge was so stisfying, I still periodically try to do mini ones. Less clutter means the house is cleaner. I try to keep what I love, or use, and not thew other stuff. It's a work in progress - I still have a lot of "stuff" - but it is very freeing for me to de-junk.

debtfreeme · #22 (**permalink**) 04-14-2006, 12:13 PM

i kind of did this when i though about movign to Phoenix last year. i wne throguh boxes of stuff i had hald on to in my moms storage shed. Out of 60 boxes i ended up with about 10 left. I did this all in one week. I was not working that week as i thought i was leavign CA so i spent eah morning going through ten boxes, either i was keeping it and it got packed or it go tossed into another box. I got rid of over 8 full boxes of books. it was the best feelign and since i thought i could only afford to moove a little bit of stuff i had to be very hard on myself and just say, out it goes. each afternoon i made the rounds to eitehr dump stuff, sell it, donate it etc. The library here made good money off me in the amount of book it had to sell. Each day they had two to three boxes of books to sort through. it was such a freeing feeling.

Tightwad Kitty · #23 (**permalink**) 04-15-2006, 12:35 AM

I like that idea of Princess Perky “How about the opposite, ditch 100 things keep the rest..for now.” This is what I am doing at the moment is downsizing my wardrobe and dropping off what I want to give away each week to a Charity Thrift Shop.

stngymama · #24 (**permalink**) 04-22-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

About a year and a half ago we did a huge purge. .........

[I just found this thread]
We did the same thing, putting everything we stored in our shed(s) out in the yard, a la Clean Sweep. There were lots of so called sentimental things, as well as the usual riffraff, that we decided we just didn't want the burden of keeping anymore.
I think the motivator was the passing of first my Mom, then my Dad a year or so apart. They were [rich] packrats, products of the Depression. My poor brother, who was their executor, took several weeks of 12 hour days to sort through everything. Much of it ultimately being given or thrown away.
I decided to look at my life and think about what kind of legacy am I leaving my kids: We wrote a will, organized/simplified our paperwork (well, tried to), and did a major purging. I don't want my kids to have to sort through years of detrius that they care nothing about. Goodwill and Salvation Army were very lucky that year!
Having witnessed the worst urban fire in American history and a pretty catastrophic earthquake, we are also always mindful that we could lose everything in minutes. What then would we really miss?
Voluntary simplicity is extremely attractive; wish I did indeed, only want what I needed!
How are the rest of you doing?

PrincessPerky · #25 (**permalink**) 04-23-2006, 05:23 AM

My FIL is doing that, he just had to clean out his mothers house last summer, and now is doing his own to save his kids the trouble (one of those kids being my husband, so glad he is doing it), I figure the earlier I do it the easier it is, make it a habit to reduce, and all that cornyness.

contrary1 · #26 (**permalink**) 04-23-2006, 09:41 AM

I've got things so pared down now........it feels great. My moms house (no, that would be houses) are another story. She thinks she has pared down, but Oh, my goodness..... She says she is leaving the whole mess to me!

She can't get rid of any more of the stuff. Too many memories....or, she has an inflated idea that the stuff is worth $$. So, I'll just let her keep her stuff for now. It will be weeks of work when she dies..........I tease her & tell her I'll be talking AT her when I'm working at her place!!! She just laughs.

stngymama · #27 (**permalink**) 04-23-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by contrary1

.....Too many memories....or, she has an inflated idea that the stuff is worth $$.......

I had a hard time with my husband, who grew up poor and with parents who either tossed everything or didn't keep them properly. I finally did a reality test: ask the kids if they want an item (even a hesitation was enough to put something in the "keep" pile) and if no, do we enjoy/care about it enough to use it *now*. Given we live in a tiny house with no intentions of moving--THAT part was easy!
We used to participate in an annual block-wide yard sale and always had lotsa stuff. Thank goodness, it's down to "not worth the bother", though I think a big part is that the kids are essentially full grown (clothes size, no more toys, etc).
BTW, I think my brother spent a lot of time smiling and shaking his head when he went through my parents' things. Talk about hording, there was a chest freezer that didn't work anymore, which my Dad decided (I think in a comical moment) to use for storing TP

funnyvalentine · #28 (**permalink**) 04-23-2006, 03:52 PM

join your local freecycle group. You will be able to give things away without feeling guilty that they are going to waste.

Fern · #29 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 01:07 PM

i'm preparing for a big tag sale in 2 weeks and an really enjoying the rejuvenating feeling of decluttering; hope i can sell a decent amount; leftovers go to good will or freecycle

boefixepa · #30 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 10:19 AM

I know this would be hard but what you are all saying is true. I went on a mission...lived out of what I could fit in two suitcases for 18 months. Went to a third world country...talk about living on nothing and guess what....the people where still happy! We are so blessed in this country and have soooo much. We turn wants into needs everyday. Coming back was the hardest thing I ever did. I felt so selfish, so wasteful. Get up, get out, and look at things from a different perspective and you would be amazed at how much you learn. It will help you see ways you can change without felling like you are sacrificing anything.

It can brake your heart to see the suffering going on elsewhere in the world. I know there is no way to stop it all, but I can be grateful for what I have and use it wisely.

stngymama · #31 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boefixepa

......Get up, get out, and look at things from a different perspective and you would be amazed at how much you learn. It will help you see ways you can change without felling like you are sacrificing anything.
It can brake your heart to see the suffering going on elsewhere in the world. I know there is no way to stop it all, but I can be grateful for what I have and use it wisely.

Thank You.

There is a remarkable book titled Living More With Less by Doris Janzen Longacre, which includes many "living testimonies" from individuals such as yourself who have lived in some of the most desperately poor areas fo the world. One cannot help but be moved, changed, and inspired after reading it.

kealina · #32 (**permalink**) 05-06-2006, 09:49 PM

i actually ran into this idea awhile ago and while i think it sounds great it has proven a bit hard to implement.... i agree with decluttering as a process.... it never really ends, although as you have less it does get easier... i think i've done pretty good with my own stuff but DH takes a little longer...
he grew up with a majorly packrat dad and grandpa.... he will clean but he has trouble with getting rid of stuff he thinks we'll use someday... i tend to organize but then i found i made space for more clutter.... opps...
guess we both gotta work on it...

funnyvalentine · #33 (**permalink**) 05-07-2006, 09:50 AM

I've been reallly trying to cut down on the stuff I have; books that I truly will not use again. clothing I hate, appliances that I never touch. I'm working on magazines now.....my office at my house is being drywalled, and I like it so much with nothing in it, that I'm trying to get rid of as much as possible.....

seaar2000 · #34 (**permalink**) 05-08-2006, 01:40 AM

Yesterday the girls dad and I cleaned out my garage. I literally got rid of anything I did not use. I got rid of stuff that I have had for the last eight years that I Might Need. For heaven sakes if I haven't used in by now I just threw it out to the garbage. It's amazing how nice my garage looks. I feel like a hundred bucks! The next thing I have to tackle is my basement, but that won't be for another two weeks when I have that week-end off. I'm so sick and tired of clutter. The less clutter I have the better I feel. I just pretend that I am moving and think to myself do I want to carry this with me.

funnyvalentine · #35 (**permalink**) 05-08-2006, 05:07 AM

You have inspired me to go clean out my little shed (I call it a cabana, lol). I don't think I've gone in there for a year, except for the weedwhacker, so what the heck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaar2000

Yesterday the girls dad and I cleaned out my garage. I literally got rid of anything I did not use. I got rid of stuff that I have had for the last eight years that I Might Need. For heaven sakes if I haven't used in by now I just threw it out to the garbage. It's amazing how nice my garage looks. I feel like a hundred bucks! The next thing I have to tackle is my basement, but that won't be for another two weeks when I have that week-end off. I'm so sick and tired of clutter. The less clutter I have the better I feel. I just pretend that I am moving and think to myself do I want to carry this with me.

stngymama · #36 (**permalink**) 05-08-2006, 09:24 AM

Sometimes I think frugality and decluttering are in conflict: you want to save, reuse, stockpile, yet all that takes up precious space. Quite a problem for us sometimes!

markio26 · #37 (**permalink**) 05-08-2006, 10:59 AM

let me tell you my experience with my mil... she has a home in ky... she donated her lexus, to charity, the home possibly goes to charity upon her demise... she stays mostly overseas.. she is a missionary in uguanda... but, she travels to ireland, germany, denmark, etc... she has also worked on the good ship hope.. she is a respiratory therapist too. anyway, everytime i talk to the woman, she wants me to donate money, any item, i can to charity... she did away with her computer, isp, cell phone, landline phone, tv sets, stereo's, etc.. only a portable cd player... she sends us a tape from uguanda, a card at xmas time, and the last time we saw her was in 2003, for about a half a day, and someone was with her named Faye.. she seems very happy... they call her mamamary in uguanda.. i know i am raddling on... but, she constantly asks if we are ready for the kingdom... she has great religious discipline... btw... her kids cannot stand her changed life??????????????????????

asha · #38 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 08:56 PM

Moarkio...her kids may be missing their mother and feel a but jealous?

BUT

I have lied in nearly 10 places in 10 years and have majorly decluttered. Exp letters and cards that I was hanging onto that i eflt sentimental attachment towards but only read once. I've kept a handul. Also, books, excess furniture and clothes and also old university notes that were mouldy!!

Much easier and less stressful lifestyle

funnyvalentine · #39 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 09:07 PM

Cheryl Wheeler, the singer songwriter has a wonderful quote that goes close to this; "If God speaks to you that's great; if God speaks to you and you tell me what to do, that's not great".

Quote:

Originally Posted by markio26

let me tell you my experience with my mil... she has a home in ky... she donated her lexus, to charity, the home possibly goes to charity upon her demise... she stays mostly overseas.. she is a missionary in uguanda...
i know i am raddling on... but, she constantly asks if we are ready for the kingdom... she has great religious discipline... btw... her kids cannot stand her changed life??????????????????????

kealina · #40 (**permalink**) 05-13-2006, 09:36 PM

i was rereading this and thinking about voluntary simplicity... and decluttering... i googled decluttering and found this article....not that i'll probably ever get to the point where i throw everything out but it would be nice to cut back the clutter... http://frugalliving.about.com/od/fru.../declutter.htm

here is the article...

Has the decluttering bug bit you? You might want to bite back a little!
While "decluttering" may be good for the soul, it's not always good for the budget. Have you ever got rid of something then wished you had it back? Or have you looked for a substitute for an item so you wouldn't have to run to the store to buy it and only came up with neatly organized but useless (for your need) drawers?
Maybe you're the victim of too much decluttering. Keeping a few odds and ends around never hurt anyone!

A sister in law of mine used to come to Mom's often, asking for "something to put under a flower pot" (plastic lid from a coffee can), or "some way to keep these plastic spoons all in one place (recycled rubber band). She threw out everything as soon as she could because she couldn't stand clutter, but she never had anything when she needed it.

Ok, a little decluttering wont' hurt because you don't have to save everything, but a few plastic lids and rubber bands and even a small ball of twine, can come in pretty handy at times.

For myself, I can't imagine a household without a "rag bag," and by that I mean a stash of worn out clothing, holey jeans, thin towels and ripped sheets. There's real treasure in that pile. I use them for everything from rags to dishcloths. I make potholders, rag rugs, patchwork and more. When I need a few napkins or a new table cloth, I dig into my stash of "rags." If a baby is on the scene, a piece of worn material becomes a substitute diaper until the mother gets home. Or a few piled together become a quick mat for playing or sleeping. What would I do if I decluttered myself out of that stash?

Let's say you opened the package of frozen vegetables but you only used half of it. How do you close the bag? With a used twist'em tie, of course, or a plastic bread sack fastener. Oh, I know they sell fasteners you can BUY, but why buy them? You already have them - IF you haven't been decluttering too much.

The point I'm trying to make is that when you throw everything out, you have to turn around and go to the store to buy it back at a higher price. It's the same concept as throwing out a plastic grocery sack then buying plastic garbage bags to line the trash can. It's like throwing out a bottle of shampoo you didn't like, then buying a mild detergent for handwashing clothes. It's like throwing out newspaper then buying throwaway mats to do crafts on.

Learning to look past the original use of an item to the possible use of an item will keep you frugally occupied (and entertained!) for quite some time. Try it. Look at the things you buy, and I mean, really look. What can you use instead? What was that you just threw away??

Or maybe you should look in your trash instead. Does that look like something to put under a flower pot? Or maybe you could use THAT to keep those plastic spoons all in one place...