Comments on: The Road To The Simple Life http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-road-to-the-simple-life Save Money. Save the Environment. Be Happy. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:01:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Barbara Albrighthttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-16258 Barbara Albright Sat, 13 Aug 2011 19:50:24 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-16258 "Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify. Simplify." - Thoreau I taught high school English for years and hope above anything else that I left positive impression from Thoreau in those young minds. You sing like a modern day Henry David. Love it. “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify. Simplify.” – Thoreau

I taught high school English for years and hope above anything else that I left positive impression from Thoreau in those young minds. You sing like a modern day Henry David.

Love it.

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-3907 heather Fri, 15 May 2009 10:49:32 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-3907 Leah, You're getting there! Simplifying and decluttering is definitely a journey, not a destination. Before I became a full time writer I was a professional organizer; I worked with some clients for a year or more, helping them trim down bit by bit. So, it's not something that happens overnight. But, keep at it! I promise that if you do some every day or every week, you'll start seeing results. :) Leah,

You’re getting there! Simplifying and decluttering is definitely a journey, not a destination. Before I became a full time writer I was a professional organizer; I worked with some clients for a year or more, helping them trim down bit by bit. So, it’s not something that happens overnight.

But, keep at it! I promise that if you do some every day or every week, you’ll start seeing results. :)

]]> By: Leah Shttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-3889 Leah S Fri, 15 May 2009 02:26:33 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-3889 I haven't been able to get #3 to work very well for me yet. In the past month we gave away a TV that we paid $800 for 4 years ago. Gave away a dumb purchase of $125. Gave away a working car (value around $1,000). Thrifted two crochet blankets that have at least 300 hours in them. Planning to get rid of three computers that have at least $5,000 spent on them. Plus countless of other items, like a sewing table, bookshelf, dozens of books, 50 yards of fabric, clothing and so on. And yet I'm still wallowing in clutter! I currently live in a 650SF apartment and we're preparing to move to another apartment this month. I think at this rate, I'll just move the stuff I want or use into my new place, and whatever is left can get trashed. I'm pretty sure I'm not a pack-rat - I can see the bottom of my closet floor, I can access all my cupboards and shelves. I guess I'll just keep trying. :) I haven’t been able to get #3 to work very well for me yet. In the past month we gave away a TV that we paid $800 for 4 years ago. Gave away a dumb purchase of $125. Gave away a working car (value around $1,000). Thrifted two crochet blankets that have at least 300 hours in them. Planning to get rid of three computers that have at least $5,000 spent on them. Plus countless of other items, like a sewing table, bookshelf, dozens of books, 50 yards of fabric, clothing and so on. And yet I’m still wallowing in clutter! I currently live in a 650SF apartment and we’re preparing to move to another apartment this month.

I think at this rate, I’ll just move the stuff I want or use into my new place, and whatever is left can get trashed. I’m pretty sure I’m not a pack-rat – I can see the bottom of my closet floor, I can access all my cupboards and shelves. I guess I’ll just keep trying. :)

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-2223 heather Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:05:14 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-2223 Rando, That's great! Alice's blog over at "Living the Rural Dream" (http://www.livingtheruraldream.com) is really fantastic. She and her family truly are living their dream, and I feel refreshed every time I go over there to see what they're up to. Good luck on your journey, and keep us posted! Rando,

That’s great!

Alice’s blog over at “Living the Rural Dream” (http://www.livingtheruraldream.com) is really fantastic. She and her family truly are living their dream, and I feel refreshed every time I go over there to see what they’re up to.

Good luck on your journey, and keep us posted!

]]> By: Randohttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-2220 Rando Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:18:14 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-2220 This was a great article with a lot of good information in it. I was also interested in the post made by "LIVING THE RURAL DREAM" because I have a 3-yr plan in place to downsize from a 1600 SF home into a 35 ft motorhome full-time. There is no better advice than hearing from those that have actually done it! This was a great article with a lot of good information in it. I was also interested in the post made by “LIVING THE RURAL DREAM” because I have a 3-yr plan in place to downsize from a 1600 SF home into a 35 ft motorhome full-time. There is no better advice than hearing from those that have actually done it!

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-1977 heather Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:43:42 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-1977 Michele, That's a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing it with everyone; I'm definitely going to have to do that. :) Michele,

That’s a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing it with everyone; I’m definitely going to have to do that.

:)

]]> By: Michelehttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-1973 Michele Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:22:07 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-1973 When my husband and I moved from London to Finland, we got rid of virtually everything we'd acquired over the years and I completely agree it's a liberating feeling! One of the most enjoyable things that helped us on our way was our going away party. We put everything we hadn't already donated, but still wanted to get rid of, in one part of the room and let our friends help themselves. It was lovely to see that our friends could find some treasures in our old things and it made leaving behind some memorable possessions much easier. When my husband and I moved from London to Finland, we got rid of virtually everything we’d acquired over the years and I completely agree it’s a liberating feeling! One of the most enjoyable things that helped us on our way was our going away party. We put everything we hadn’t already donated, but still wanted to get rid of, in one part of the room and let our friends help themselves. It was lovely to see that our friends could find some treasures in our old things and it made leaving behind some memorable possessions much easier.

]]> By: RenaissanceRoninhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-1942 RenaissanceRonin Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:16:21 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-1942 Hi Heather, Remember that one of the neat things about Shipping Container homes is the idea that you can "build" your furniture in. A dining room table and chairs dominating the landscape? Nope. A Dining nook built into a corner, that also provides a lot of storage under those cushioned benches. A huge sofa and chairs crowding your living room? Nope. A built in "sectional looking" seating arrangement, with storage under the cushions, and a storage table too! A big ole bed floated in your sleeping space like the Titanic? Nope. A built in Captains bed, with drawers underneath, and in the headboard. You don't have to live like a monk, to live in a "shipping crate" (as you call them! I hope I've set you straight on that one!) LOL! Think of that downsizing as "organizing." Ingenuity will allow you to have lots of stuff, and places to put it... That is all... *radio silence* Hi Heather,

Remember that one of the neat things about Shipping Container homes is the idea that you can “build” your furniture in.

A dining room table and chairs dominating the landscape? Nope. A Dining nook built into a corner, that also provides a lot of storage under those cushioned benches.

A huge sofa and chairs crowding your living room? Nope. A built in “sectional looking” seating arrangement, with storage under the cushions, and a storage table too!

A big ole bed floated in your sleeping space like the Titanic? Nope. A built in Captains bed, with drawers underneath, and in the headboard.

You don’t have to live like a monk, to live in a “shipping crate” (as you call them! I hope I’ve set you straight on that one!) LOL!

Think of that downsizing as “organizing.” Ingenuity will allow you to have lots of stuff, and places to put it…

That is all…

*radio silence*

]]> By: heatherhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-1930 heather Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:29:46 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-1930 @Alice- I know what you mean; I'm finding that art is practically impossible to get rid of. I think we're going to have to do the same thing, either get a small closet-sized storage unit until our mini home is done or beg relatives to put it in their basement and then come get it. :) @Margaret- That's awesome! It really is freeing to get rid of all that "stuff". @Mel- Thanks for writing in! It's pretty amazing how many people are starting to get interested in shipping container homes. They're so cheap and versatile, it's hard not to love them! @Alice- I know what you mean; I’m finding that art is practically impossible to get rid of. I think we’re going to have to do the same thing, either get a small closet-sized storage unit until our mini home is done or beg relatives to put it in their basement and then come get it. :)

@Margaret- That’s awesome! It really is freeing to get rid of all that “stuff”.

@Mel- Thanks for writing in! It’s pretty amazing how many people are starting to get interested in shipping container homes. They’re so cheap and versatile, it’s hard not to love them!

]]> By: Melhttp://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/03/the-road-to-the-simple-life/#comment-1922 Mel Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:35:21 +0000 http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/?p=1122#comment-1922 Excellent post! Eliminating clutter is an excellent way to achieve peace and bliss. Also, I want to thank you for posting great information about shipping container homes. I'm truly inspired! Excellent post! Eliminating clutter is an excellent way to achieve peace and bliss. Also, I want to thank you for posting great information about shipping container homes. I’m truly inspired!

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