Category Archives: Decluttering

A Big Project

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I have been debating for some time about how best to arrange my photographs.  I have about 1500 prints in albums, a shoebox full of prints, hundreds in digital format on my computer and the prospect of this number continuing to increase.

As it stands, we rarely look at the albums, never sift through the shoebox and occasionally look at the ones on the computer.  We mostly look at the holiday ones which are actually sorted and categorised which makes it easy to select what we want to view.

2011-12-30 01So my project for 2012 is to have all of my photos sorted and filed.  I have started by scanning the photos in the albums.  The first 650 are done and I hope to have the 5 albums scanned by the time I go back to work after the long weekend.

I have had fun looking at some of them as I go along.  Here is one you might like.  Note the boxes stashed under the change table.  That was one of my storage solutions for my ‘stuff’.

I plan to keep a full set on the computer as well as a couple of USB sticks kept in different locations as well as uploaded to the web.  Hopefully this will minimise the chance of them all being wiped out by a disaster.

Our current television is networked with the computer so it is easy to view the photos directly on the screen in the lounge room.

I will also be able to put together a selection of relevant photos on DVD for Missy and Belle so that they have a record for themselves.

So, what am I hoping to achieve?

1  The photos in a sensible order and easy to access format so that we can view and enjoy them rather than having them stashed away gathering dust.

2  Not leave an uncatalogued jumble for someone else to sort out when I am gone.

3  Declutter the albums from the bookshelves.

This will all take time but I am pleased that I have made the decision to do it and I am clear in what I want to achieve and how I will do it.

Alongside working on my photos I will be continuing to streamline and simplify both my home and my life.

I have just downloaded a new book to my Kindle.  It is Simplify by Joshua Becker.  I found it on his blog, Becoming Minimalist.  I am off to read it shortly and will let you know what I think.  It is good to see as many perspectives as possible on a subject and minimalism is no exception.

Do you have any big goals for 2012?  I would love to hear what you have planned.

NOTE:  Friday Favourites is on holidays but will be back next week ready for 2012.

One In,One Out

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One of the principles that is often espoused in discussions around decluttering is the idea of “One In,One Out”.

Just before Christmas I bought a new iron as mine had ceased to work as it should.  Since it can still be used (sort of) it would be easy to put it away ‘just in case’.  Just in case what?  Just in case my brand-new one does not work properly?  No, it had to go, so I have given it away.

One of my Christmas gifts was a new frying pan so I have given away the old one.  The original is a cast iron Le Creuset pan which we were given as a wedding present.  It has given wonderful service but is very heavy and can be difficult to lift so it was time for a new home.  I listed it on Freecycle on the recipient is very pleased with her ‘new’ frying pan.
This is my new Neoflam pan.  I have yet to use it but am sure it will be perfect.

2011-12-29 02Have you received new or upgraded versions of existing items as a gift?  Is it time to consider whether you really need both or can one be passed on via Freecycle, Ebay or some other means?

Decluttered At Last

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Tonight I want to share the result of some of my decluttering.  Here are the bookshelves in the study.

2011-12-21 01I have finally got them pretty much as I want.  It has taken ages to do and the study is still not finished.  There is still ‘stuff’ on the desk which will stay there until I deal with it and make a decision because if I put it away it will never get properly sorted out.

We have quite a lot of books and find it hard to part with them.  I have managed to be a bit ruthless this time and hopefully we will not accumulate too many more as we both have Kindle e-readers now.  I would recommend them to anyone who is trying to limit the physical books that they have on the shelf.

Do you have any technology that helps to reduce the clutter?

How Much is Enough?

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The essence of minimalism and the inherent decluttering is having enough.  So, the question is, “How much is enough?”

I know it is more than enough and there are still some items that are rarely or never used but this is my linen cupboard.

Linen cupboard
Here is a reasonably comprehensive list of what linen I have.  This includes the contents of the cupboard and what is currently in use.

Bath mats x 4
Bath towels (our use) x 10
Bath towels (guest use) x 4
Hand towels x 8
Face washers x 18
Beach towels x 3
Travel towel (microfibre) x 1
Chamois x 1
Kitchen hand towels x 5
Tea towels x 24
Tablecloths x 12
Placemats x 16
Serviettes x 28
Doilies etc x 15
QS sheet sets (our use) x 3
QS sheet sets (guest use) x 4
Single sheet sets (guest use) x 2
Single bed bedspread x 1
Extra pillowcases x2
Aprons x 2

I also have a summer and winter doona for our bed which we use according to the season.  Apart from that we use the same linen all year.  We keep an extra woollen blanket for cold nights and there are 3 sleeping bags which open out flat and double as extra bedding for guest beds if required.

The guest beds are always made up as we regularly have family staying with us for a night or two.

I have achieved this  pared down linen cupboard as a result of trying not to ‘collect’ linen and only buy what I actually need.  As time goes by this will become less because there are some items which I will not replace when they are worn out.

How much linen do you have?  Do you calculate it per person – eg: 2 towels etc?

Minimalism – Everyday Maintenance

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Minimalism and decluttering should not simply be an excuse for a massive clean-up followed by more of the same – buy, buy, buying of stuff.

Downsizing, voluntary simplicity, minimalism – whatever terminology you wish to use – is a complete change of mindset which requires constant vigilance to ensure that clutter does not creep back into your life.

I try to do something every day to streamline my life and enhance the way we live.  Yesterday I unsubscribed from 2 email mailing lists so that is several more emails that I do not have to delete every week.  It is much easier to eliminate things at the source rather than constantly trying remove unnecessary intrusions, regardless of their form.

There is so much we can do to simplify our lives but it is important to remember that we did not acquire all of this ‘stuff’ overnight, so it is a ridiculous goal to attempt to clear out the excess in our lives in a short space of time.    Slow down and appreciate the benefits of the space (mental and physical) you create with every small step.

By creating space you are able to embrace special opportunities that present themselves.  I am looking forward one such occasion tonight.  The Duke and I are going to a show with Belle and Missy.  It will be great to spend time together as a family doing something that means a lot to all of us.  This possible because we have plenty of space in our schedules which is often unusual this close to Christmas.  Over the past few years we have eliminated many of the Christmas functions which we attended due to a feeling of obligation rather than a real desire to celebrate.  Now we do exactly what is important and meaningful to us and a lot of the stress has been removed.

Have you simplified aspects of your life?