Yesterday presented many opportunities to fall off the non-consumerism wagon.
We simply ask "what's true to do?"
Due to the uncertainty of the day, we packed an extra set of clothes so we could attend a friends child's funeral without constraints. As it turned out we ended up with a handful of my fabulous work mates at a hotel in the city.
A couple of beers later decision number 1 why don't we grab a hotel and stay over night? We talked about it and decided to jump the 7:15 train and get home for an early night.
Then on the train ride home decision number 2 do you want to get Mexican? We rationalised (a lot!!!) and decided the left over pasta was a better option.
I think we saved around $200... all because we didn't allow impulse to drive our decisions.
It is such a fine line. A few beers, a romantic notion of a hotel room, a sleep in etc. Too easy to say yes to. This time last year we would have definitely said yes to this. Now with our new focus, a dash of awareness and a clear intention, we are on our way to shifting many dysfunctional parts of our lives.
I am so proud of our decisions. I love our journey together.
Cheers from Deb (darn chuffed)
What went out - 5 items
1 pair of jeans, a top, a dress, and 2 gorgeous quality, but out of date sport coats (Jerry's).
What came in - 0 items
Nothing again...yay!!
INSIGHTS
(1) It is easy to say yes when you collude with your partner after two beers....LOL
(2) There's no place like home... thanks Dorothy
TOTAL: OUT - 770 IN - 67
TOTAL CASH sales from gone-ski items = $48
Have you ever had a closet so full you can't find a thing in it?
Less is definitely more!
Now that we are thinning out the crap, we are finding things we have been missing for years. Because we are tossing out the 'stuff', we are left with only the things we love and need... and we are not fighting through overfilled closets to get to them.
The truth is, we have a long way to go however it is becoming increasingly obvious that we have so much more when we have less.
Minimalism isn't really my thing... I don't think (scratching head now...hmmmm). You never know, maybe (reflecting now...I won't be a minute).
One thing is for sure, as we clear out the clutter and slow the flow in, we are living a much fuller life.
It is also obvious there is less for us to attend to at home. Less shuffling things around, less cleaning of 'stuff', less shuffling through piles, and less visual noise in the space.
I said to Jerry tonight that it will be interesting to see what our home is like at the end of this year. We are attempting to do this for 365 days. Perhaps we will end up with a few stools and a card table...LOL.
Cheers all from Deb Field (newly appointed queen of shift happens)
What went out - 8 items
Books - pregnancy ones and a few I will never read
What came in - 0 items
Love it when I write zero
INSIGHTS
(1) Empty space enables so much more
(2) The demands of the material world are meaningless and empty
(3) The desires of the heart bring sustainable joy
TOTAL: OUT - 753 IN - 66
TOTAL CASH sales from gone-ski items = $43
The gone-ski piles made a run for the exit.
Donation pile ready to go
We packed all the goods into bags to ensure they remain in good condition for sale at the charity shops. They're in the car ready to be dropped off.
All quality items went up for sale
We used a local online Facebook community of around 29,000 people to register our quality gone-ski items for sale. So far we have sold $48 worth of goods. The money is going into a tin can to be used for holidays and family fun stuff.
A couple of principles we followed:
- Take good photos
- Be descriptive
- Make it a fair price or even a bargain
- Hashtag your items so you can find them online (I used #debsgoodsforsale).
- This enables people to look at all your stuff in one viewing
- Take any fair offer
One example was a 1996 Guinness Book of Records. I don't recall anyone opening it. We put it up for $2. A young guy jumped on it and said SOLD. He came straight over. Turns out he is collecting every year and was so happy he gave us $5. Fancy that!
You never know what is gold to someone else...so test the market.
The way I look at it, these items will go to someone who wants them and in return we get a small return on our time and energy. This prevents them going into a rubbish tip or sitting around cluttering the charity shops.
What went out - 2 items
A couple of things from Sammi's room
What came in - 0 items
Nothing to report
INSIGHTS
(1) One mans trash can be another mans treasure
(2) One mans trash can simply be trash
TOTAL: OUT - 742 IN - 64
