Simple Self Improvement

                                                                                     Image: Steve Buissinne from Pixabay Recently I watched several You Tube videos where people talk about things they no longer purchase. There are things I don't buy now that I did years ago when I had young children, was in the paid workforce or owned a car. As well there are things I have more recently decided I don't need to buy or choose not to out of concern for the environment or to save a few dollars. On the other hand there are many things I didn't buy when I moved ou...

                                                                      Image: Public Domain Pictures from Pixabay This self imposed shopping ban experiment is interesting. I have bought the odd item here and there but only after careful thought. I have to admit being a bit like a naughty kid in that I have got a kick out of 'breaking the rules', even though I was the one who made the rules in the first place. Most of the time I 'obey' the rules and don't buy stuff I don't need. I certainly am thinking more carefully about my purchases. I resisted the urge to buy a novel A couple of weeks ago I went into a lovely bookshop with a friend. I was ...

Adapted from image by Clkert-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay I have been doing my self imposed shopping ban for nearly 3 months now. Overall I would say it isn't proving too difficult but I have made a couple of purchases recently. They weren't essential but I don't regret making them. Op Shops I have been staying away from op shops because I will be tempted to buy things I don't really need if I start browsing. Instead I have been spending time at the library or a cafe if I have time to fill in when I am in the main street area which has a number of op shops. I did go into an op shop yesterday but that was for the purpose of donating some folders, books and a dvd I no longer wanted. Rather than looking at all the bargain priced items for sale I left the shop quickly! Yes I made a couple of unnecessary purchases There are always racks of marked down items of brand new clothing outside a lovely shop in the main street. At the moment there are some fantastic ...

 '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...

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...

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 ...

Clay tiles Whitmore Square Adelaide                       Image:Marie Vonow Having moved house at the start of 2019 and having decluttered (again!) before moving, I thought I had this decluttering thing worked out. However, for me it is an ongoing process. A different house means I no longer use some things I previously did and it means I have found it necessary to acquire a few things I didn't need in my previous house. What should I do with items I am not using now? Now, what should I do about the things I don't currently need? Could I possibly need them in the future? Perhaps and perhaps not. Should I hold onto them or set them free? Mostly, I have decided to donate what I no longer need to op shops or give away through Gumtree. I have sold a couple of items too. Thinking before I buy I am thinking carefully before making any new purchas...