Simple Self Improvement

 'Hunted Home & Vintage' in Lobethal. So tempting to buy something    Image:M. Vonow It's easy to use shopping as a recreational activity even if one doesn't have lots of money. There are garage sales, op shops, markets and various internet sites such as Gumtree.These days there are bargain shops that sell all types of new things at low prices. It can be easy to justify purchases when they are within your budget. Garage sales There was a time, long ago, when I went to garage sales most weekends. I think I have been to only two or three in the last year. I bought a pretty outdoor decoration for $1 a few months ago and I am glad I bought it. I think it looks so lovely when the sun shines through the blue glass.  This blue glass hanging decoration brings me joy                   Image:Marie Vonow Op shops I love op shops but am mostly avoiding them now that I a...

                                 Dawn                                 Title added to image by Mabel Amber from  Pixabay The things you do to start your day in a positive way depends on whether you are a lark or a night owl, your personality and your living situation. What works for the lark is unlikely to work for the owl. If you are an introvert your needs will be different from those of an extrovert. If you have young children in your care (or you are a carer for an adult with a disability or someone who needs support due to ageing) your situation will be different from someone who lives alone. There are many other factors that will influence what you are able to do, let's be practical here, and what you will ...

                                                                  Title added to design by ElisaRiva from Pixabay There are numerous 'forces' that can attract clutter to one's home! From time to time you may find things you didn't buy or ask for have somehow made their way into your castle. The freebie Have you ever ordered something from a mail order catalogue and received a free item such as an alarm clock because your order was over a certain amount? You didn't order the extra item. Occasionally the freebie is something you find useful. Sometimes you may be able to give it to someone who can make use of it. However, many times you don't need it and the it...

Shops in Adelaide                                            Image:Marie Vonow In the days leading up to officially starting this personal shopping ban challenge I must admit I was tempted to do a bit of 'binge shopping' at a couple of op shops. Also, I kept thinking about a salmon pink cardigan I had seen at KMart that I liked. I managed to resist temptation and now, three weeks later, that cardigan doesn't seem important. How does clutter accumulate? I have thought a lot about how much stuff one accumulates even when trying to declutter and keep from accumulating new clutter. It occurred to me it isn't surprising stuff accumulates over the years. I married and moved into my first home (apart from my childhood home) in 1975 which is now 44 years ago. Now, say I acq...

A small piece of one street art painting at Smithfield            Image:Marie Vonow Looking at street art is one of the simple joys in my life. I am glad there are artists who create street art for all to enjoy. There are a wide variety of styles and topics, surely there is something for everybody. Smithfield (South Australia) At the Smithfield railway interchange, a ten minute train ride from 'my' station, there is bright street art depicting the local history. I didn't know anything about Smithfield's history until the street art motivated me to do a bit of online research. Anne and John Smith                                     Image:Marie Vonow The Smiths I guessed  Anne and John Smith were early settlers and that Smithfield was name...

I love browsing in this type of shop                                     Image by free Photos from Pixabay Hi there. Well it's nearly a week since I started my personal shopping ban challenge. And I am surviving. As I have mentioned in some of my posts, I like a bit of retail therapy. I enjoy going somewhere different and looking at the shops there. This inevitably leads to a purchase or two. I am not in debt over these unnecessary purchases so what's the harm in it?  As an associate said, it helps the economy.  The trouble is it's rather like mindless snacking where I find myself eating, not because I am hungry but because, well because I can, or perhaps I am a bit upset or think I deserve a treat. With mindless shopping I sometimes end up buying things I don't use much or at all.  It has become a habit to buy something when I walk into an op shop and that o...

It can be tempting to buy things one doesn't need.                                  Image:Marie Vonow I recently came across a book called The Year Of Less, how I stopped shopping, gave away my belongings, and discovered life is worth more than anything you can buy in a store. It was written by Cait Flanders. Image:Marie Vonow The title of this book intrigued me. After reading it, I didn't immediately think, 'Wow. I'm going to stop shopping for a year too!' A couple of weeks passed. I started thinking about how often I buy things I don't need and, I am embarrassed to admit, by the time I get them home, sometimes don't even want. Many people shop for the sake of shopping a lot more than I do but I certainly buy stuff I don't need. I may buy something because it's pretty, sparkly, because I've earned it, I deserve it, I need a treat or it's great value. I ...