Anti-consumerism and a simple life

vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Anyone else stop buying crap you don't need and have less stuff in your life? I started this when Monello and I were on the road - anything I didn't need got gone, and I embraced multi-taskers instead of things that had only one specific purpose. I have much more room now but I still like to keep things lean. Now it's like a game - how little can I have and still be happy? Turns out the answer is "very little".

Lately I stopped grocery shopping once a week and now go when I need something. If I want a Granny Smith apple, I go buy one instead of buying them when I'm at the store and now I have to eat them before they go bad. And I get *one* apple because that's all I want right now. I don't buy anything because I might want it later unless it's on a really good sale and/or it's something I use every day like coffee and eggs.

Anyone else?
 
Sneakers

Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
PREMO Member
Not to that point yet, but I look around here and think about someone having to clean up after me when I'm gone, like I did with my mom and dad. Or more likely, when I have to move and go to a small place. I've started going thru the rooms and excessing whatever I will never had a need for again.
 
RoseRed

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
Mom, sis, niece and I established a rule several years ago. If we can’t eat, drink or wear it, we don’t want it.
 
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NOTSMC

Well-Known Member
RoseRed said:
Now that you mention it, that would be a good, and funny, gift! :lmao:
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I got an eight pack of Charmin from Lee the second Christmas we were together. I'm pretty much stuck with the cheap stuff most of the time because of where I live and the fact that my son is a wadder. I made a comment that I loved using his toilet; the paper was soooo nice. He somehow just instinctively knew that I was hitting him up for a few rolls for Christmas. It wasn't what I was hinting at, but it was beautifully wrapped.
 
lucky_bee

lucky_bee

RBF expert
My house isn't super cluttered, just average lived in for a typical family, but I do tend to shove things in closets when I either don't need them or can't deal with them at the moment. Overwhelmed? Throw it in a closet.

My goal this summer is to really clean out all the closets. I figure once all the kids are out of the house (15+/- years :lol: ) then I can worry about REALLY getting rid of crap. Or if we move before then. My husband will insist it's all me, but he forgets the garage is also a part of the house. The man's been hanging on to tools he hasn't used since the Bush Administration.
 
lucky_bee

lucky_bee

RBF expert
Sneakers said:
NEVER ask a man to give up a tool. EVER. They are cherished items to be passed down thru generations.
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He has 3 sons, 2 of them officially adults and I think the elementary-aged one knows how to use a screwdriver better than the older two put together :lmao:

the tools can stay for now, I'll need that for collateral if he goes too soon :lol:
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
I started decluttering while on Christmas break several years ago. I even joined a "simple life/decluttering" forum where each month, you can post everything that you've gotten rid of. Helps keep me motivated to make passes around my house for items that have snuck in or been overlooked for one reason or another. Several items that I'd love to declutter but husband said no. Usually I ignore him and get rid of it but there are big items he "might" notice like bikes that haven't been ridden in almost 30 years or a rocking chair that hasn't been used in over 20. I tried to get rid of a floor lamp that I bought from Amazon that didn't work for the space I wanted it (would have involved the coat rack going into my oldest's room since he's the only one who uses it). Amazon said "keep it" and just refunded the money. I was going to see if anyone at work wanted it but decided that I do like the lamp and once the oldest moves out and takes the coat rack, the lamp will get put in its place.
 
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NOTSMC

Well-Known Member
RareBreed said:
I started decluttering while on Christmas break several years ago. I even joined a "simple life/decluttering" forum where each month, you can post everything that you've gotten rid of. Helps keep me motivated to make passes around my house for items that have snuck in or been overlooked for one reason or another. Several items that I'd love to declutter but husband said no. Usually I ignore him and get rid of it but there are big items he "might" notice like bikes that haven't been ridden in almost 30 years or a rocking chair that hasn't been used in over 20. I tried to get rid of a floor lamp that I bought from Amazon that didn't work for the space I wanted it (would have involved the coat rack going into my oldest's room since he's the only one who uses it). Amazon said "keep it" and just refunded the money. I was going to see if anyone at work wanted it but decided that I do like the lamp and once the oldest moves out and takes the coat rack, the lamp will get put in its place.
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If I could kick myself in the ass for some of the things I've bought over the years and am no longer using....

I love decorating and I've gotten pretty good at it over the years. Putting it together though...I couldn't settle on a color or a style, wall art. I ended up with buying what I immediately liked no thought of whether it all worked together or not. I ended up with a lot of large Pier I canvas pieces, commonly referred to a motel art I think. Regardless, I have some beautiful pieces that work separately. The majority of them were over $150.00, hung for less than a year, then stacked in my hall closet. I finally settled on dark green for the living room with red accent pieces. Can't tell you how much I spent on ebay with antique red glass before I settled on royal ruby which did go well with the dozen other shades I bought. So all the red glass is now stacked in the closet with the "artwork".

I cannot bring myself to just give them to Vintage Values and am seriously thinking of setting up a table at the pop up yard sale by the Brass Rail and pricing them low enough to sell I hope. I really have to think and think and think before I buy now. Ain't easy I love stuff.
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
NOTSMC said:
If I could kick myself in the ass for some of the things I've bought over the years and am no longer using....

I love decorating and I've gotten pretty good at it over the years. Putting it together though...I couldn't settle on a color or a style, wall art. I ended up with buying what I immediately liked no thought of whether it all worked together or not. I ended up with a lot of large Pier I canvas pieces, commonly referred to a motel art I think. Regardless, I have some beautiful pieces that work separately. The majority of them were over $150.00, hung for less than a year, then stacked in my hall closet. I finally settled on dark green for the living room with red accent pieces. Can't tell you how much I spent on ebay with antique red glass before I settled on royal ruby which did go well with the dozen other shades I bought. So all the red glass is now stacked in the closet with the "artwork".

I cannot bring myself to just give them to Vintage Values and am seriously thinking of setting up a table at the pop up yard sale by the Brass Rail and pricing them low enough to sell I hope. I really have to think and think and think before I buy now. Ain't easy I love stuff.
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I had the exact floor lamp in my living room already and love it. I bought the same lamp to lighten up a dark area of the living room. Just so happened to be where the coat rack was. I asked my son if he minded having the coat rack in his room (put it behind his door) and he said no. Bought the lamp and set it up. It was immediate that I realized that my son was just being cooperative about the coat rack and it was an inconvenience having it in his room. Then I started feeling bad. Switched it back and repackaged the lamp to return to Amazon. Found out I didn't need to return the lamp to get the refund so I put the box away to use (hopefully) next year when son moves out on his own.
 
O

ontheriver

Well-Known Member
Most all pf the "stuff" I have were gifts or things I had to have. My girlfriends love to come and LOVE something. I give it to them. Some things will never leave here.
 
PJay

PJay

Well-Known Member
I forgot gift stuff. ♥️

Four Easter baskets this year. All things a girl can use....
 
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