Minimalism

66Mustang

Anyone into this?

Not as in the decor theme, rather, having as little unnecessary clutter as possible?

I am constantly scanning my desk, shelves, drawers and cupboards for things I don't need to try to simplify my workspace, going through paperwork to throw things away, going through my computer to delete what I don't need anymore...

Even other little things, I go through my wallet and throw out receipts and old loyalty cards. I will throw things out of the car that I don't need.

I sometimes worry I am overdoing it (see below quote) but I like to have less clutter so I can get to what I need to quickly and simply.

Anyone able to relate?

I will leave you with an Einstein quote...everything in life should be made as simple as possible...but not simpler.

Hannah_Alumni

Looking at the hundreds of books around my house...

Can't relate 😂

Jimm_Scope

Minimalism is something I think is good but something I will never accomplish, like the hare chasing the tortoise.

Except I just stayed at the starting line.

OverlyAnxious

Yes, absolutely.  I want things I need on a regular basis to be easily accessible. 

66Mustang

@OverlyAnxious do you ever find you go too far? I have just gathered literally about 500 pages of PIP/ESA/benefits/support related stuff from 2012 - 2023 and am about to burn everything that's not relevant or from the last 3 years but I don't know if I'll need it. I never have needed it so far.

Sandy_123

I try to throw away items I know I'm not going to use or need  otherwise they are sat in draws for nothing. 

OverlyAnxious

66Mustang said:

@OverlyAnxious do you ever find you go too far? I have just gathered literally about 500 pages of PIP/ESA/benefits/support related stuff from 2012 - 2023 and am about to burn everything that's not relevant or from the last 3 years but I don't know if I'll need it. I never have needed it so far.

Don't think I've gone too far yet...

I had a paperwork clear-out earlier this year.  Most things for PIP & ESA dated before 2020 I shredded.

66Mustang

Biblioklept said:

I get too scared to throw things out. I thought I was good at it and didn't think it was an issue but I realised paperwork is a particular issue of mine (and old hardrives ) I can't bring myself to let them go but need rid of the clutter so my plan for paperwork is to scan it and have digital copies for peace of mind but then can clear space

Same here but with flash drives!!!

I have my whole digital life dating back to about 2008 on various flash drives in a certain order so I can look back to anything from my past  

Doesn't cause too much bother as unlike paperwork it's just a little pouch with about 10 flash drives in it.

However much of it is irrelevant and could be deleted!

66Mustang

Meant to add I do it because it means my current computer can be nice and tidy.

I guess it's the digital equivalent of having a tidy desk but drawers full of ****.

Jimm_Scope

I have issues throwing things away.

Pretty sure I have 15 year old cables to things I don't even own anymore.

WelshBlue

My wife wants to de-clutter ... thankfully I'm still here ...

When we had a new kitchen fitted we got rid of 6 bin bags full of stuff just from the kitchen.  Why did we keep it ?  More why did she keep it 

I've a rule now, if something has been moved into the loft and is there more than 12 months ... it goes.

Not so much now but in the past my wife's friends used to give her school photos of their kids to display, used to drive me bonkers having kids not my own hanging up. 
Or these knick knacks with Friends on them everywhere.  On sideboards, hanging from windows etc ... they're middle aged not 12

My wife has called me miserable more than once.  I can't argue ...

66Mustang

@WelshBlue I don't know if thats a bit creepy having someone else's kids on display, not saying you are creepy more that it's creepy they would want you to have them on display...if I had children I think the last thing I would do with pics is give them out!!

WelshBlue

@66Mustang ... you're right it is creepy.  I never could understand why, and was banned from asking 
I'm not always the most tactful

As for me being creepy ... some would reinforce that !!

66Mustang

Ha ha  

poppy123456

Hannah_Scope said:

Looking at the hundreds of books around my house...

Can't relate 😂

Hmm you remind me of someone i know... i think you and my daughter should meet one day I mentioned the chairty shop a few weeks ago and you should have seen the look she gave me lol.

rebel11

The world of 'food' could do better, if they cut all the 'rubbish' out, the E's etc.

That would be 'Minimalism'.
 

Hannah_Alumni

I think we'd end up buying half of The Works and Waterstones between us Poppy!

I'd have given you the same look! To be fair, books make excellent insulation so I'll be warm this winter! haha. 

I do actually have to go through my collection an do an un-haul, which is something I do every year. But may need to be sooner with so many new releases towards the end of this year.

Jimm_Scope

The world of 'food' could do better, if they cut all the 'rubbish' out, the E's etc.

While many E numbers are indeed additives which are artificially made many are also entirely natural. E numbers are just a list of codes for substances in food. Vitamin C for example is E300. Monosodium glutamate (E621) is naturally found in tomatoes. But yes, many processed foods are quite far removed from what they were.

 It's a shame that many people are almost forced to use them because they are much cheaper and they don't have the money to have a choice.

66Mustang

Are people forced to buy the bad foods, though?

The supermarkets are always selling veggies off cheap, £0.19 for a pack of carrots, £0.69 for half a dozen apples. Foods with lots of bad stuff in seems more expensive to me. For the price of a ready meal you could buy 3 random veggies and boil them up, a lot more nutritious.

I accept that meat, fish, eggs and dairy are expensive but you don't need those every day, we probably have meat twice a week and fish once every two weeks.

66Mustang

PS meant to add I know disabled people sometimes have to rely on ready meals, I'm on about able bodied people who are on a low income. Apologies if any offence caused.

Jimm_Scope

@66Mustang it's also a factor that the processed foods are much easier to prepare and cook.

With vegetables you have to put more work/energy into cooking them. If someone  is working a minimum wage manual-labour job that can be a tall order at the end of the work day. Now add in other factors, like cooking for an entire family, being disabled, worries around energy costs etc. etc. Then there is also the factor of  what actually tastes good. Often food bad for you does indeed taste good, sure you can boil veg. But boiled veg isn't exactly an appealing idea, as someone who personally loves cooking the only plant I boil is potatoes and that's because they're about to become roasties.

Perhaps forced is the wrong word, but when you're poor, fatigued and want something nice at the end of a crappy day often you forgo what is actually better for you in the long run. Often to make that thing as appealing as the processed food takes more money and effort.