Pony mom...I also struggle with the guilt of knowing how much I spent on something. Grrrr.... However, that has helped me tremendously in some ways because it makes me think more carefully about purchases. Have you found that to be the case as well? When I'm thinking of purchasing something, I do that thing where I must either LOVE it, use it regularly or need (basic living stuff) it....if it doesn't fit into once of these categories, it doesn't come in my house.Originally Posted by pony mom
Minz, yes it does help. I can spend all day shopping and come home empty handed. There are many things I like, but don't have to own.
Once the stuff is out of sight, the memory of spending the money will be gone too....I hope.
I hear ya. ...and if I am still thinking about something days later that I left behind, I ponder that it may be a good purchase and consider buying it. I left some Teva shoes recently that were 40% off. A few days later I went back and purchased them. I love them and need them.
EJChase and Minz, You know, you have some good points there.
I am really NOT happy with the house aesthetics. It feels more like a place we just moved into rather than somewhere we've been living 14 years. I painted a room 10 years ago, and have not put new blinds and curtains up in it. Why not? It's my "art room" and I spend a lot of time in there.
Perhaps I should start a Pinterest board with rooms I like. Or a journal/scrapbook. I do have a file folder with stuff from old magazines that I've had for almost 20 years. I guess I got discouraged and thought "I'll never have this, why bother trying."
Another thing I should confess to is that neither of us really likes to clean. So the place is frankly, dirty. I find it hard to want to dust when I have to go around STUFF to get to the stuff I need to dust!
I hear ya!!Another thing I should confess to is that neither of us really likes to clean. So the place is frankly, dirty. I find it hard to want to dust when I have to go around STUFF to get to the stuff I need to dust!
DH used to have TONS of vintage stuff decorating our teeny house. He dusted all of it, that was fine. But the vacuuming . . . he had stuff in every little nook and cranny - even on the floor - decorating the house. I HATED moving all those antiques to vacuum the tumbleweeds of dog hair all in and behind and around there. Finally talked him into paring down the items on the floor.
Hi Frugalone! One of the benefits of minimalism and decluttering is that you have less to clean and dust! Woohoo! Looking at pics and pinterest boards really inspire me...I think that's a great place to start to get some inspiration. Sometimes just minor changes...like painting, adding curtains or especially removing things you don't use/like really give the room a new feel and some warmth. I really think your home, or just a room or area in your home should feel like a sanctuary for you! Kind of like a quiet nook to retreat to. Best of luck to you ... keep us posted!EJChase and Minz, You know, you have some good points there.
I am really NOT happy with the house aesthetics. It feels more like a place we just moved into rather than somewhere we've been living 14 years. I painted a room 10 years ago, and have not put new blinds and curtains up in it. Why not? It's my "art room" and I spend a lot of time in there.
Perhaps I should start a Pinterest board with rooms I like. Or a journal/scrapbook. I do have a file folder with stuff from old magazines that I've had for almost 20 years. I guess I got discouraged and thought "I'll never have this, why bother trying."
Another thing I should confess to is that neither of us really likes to clean. So the place is frankly, dirty. I find it hard to want to dust when I have to go around STUFF to get to the stuff I need to dust!
Yeah, Frugalone, I highly encourage you to pick one place in your house to make beautiful - whatever beautiful means to you (and discovering that is the fun part). One thing I think a lot about is "What do I see first when I enter this room?" and just trying to make that view really satisfying and pleasing - whether with a picture I love on the wall, a beautiful bedspread on the bed, great curtains, whatever.
I have a lot of work to do in my own home, but that is where I think I'm going to start - with just picking the 2 or 3 rooms that are the most important to me and making that "entry view" of each of those rooms, then every view in that room (e.g. in the bedroom: the entry view but also the view I have of the room in bed in the morning when I wake up) really pleasing.
Also, regarding cleanliness and dirt: hire a maid. Really. Even if you can only afford it twice a year or 6 times a year or whatever. I know it seems decadent, but for me, it's come to feel like I way I say to myself, "Hey, you haven't mastered this cleaning routine thing yet, but that doesn't mean you have to punish yourself for it. You are still allowed to treat yourself to a clean house." It's a really nice thing to do for yourself. Period. And it will give you a chance to feel how good a clean house feels, which will inspire to take those first baby steps to change the way you are living.
ejchase, there is no way I could ever hire a maid. My SO would go through the roof. Not to mention that the house is so cluttered that it would be pointless to hire anyone. They'd be unable to get to a lot of the areas that need cleaning. And, quite frankly, the place is so ugly in spots that I don't honestly know what difference it would make if it were clean AND ugly.
I know you can't make anyone else change...but I have had no luck at all "inspiring" my SO to get rid of old stuff. And there's only so much "sneaking" out of the stuff I can do. If I go too far, with larger items, it will be noticed and commented on.
I've gotten to a point where I'm afraid I just have to learn to accept it.
Though I don't want to.
My copy of Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui has arrived at the library and I've finished half of it this afternoon. I'm ready to go!
You are the breadwinner, you are keeping a roof over his head, you can bloody well claim some space in your own home as clutter free. Notice I said "some." It may be part of a room--start with that. It doesn't matter how ugly a place is, lack of clutter makes it better. Well, with me it does, anyway.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote