Decluttering my world

Decluttering.  GOD IT FEELS GOOD. It feels right.  I picked up a book on de junking your life from a charity shop.  I guess I felt i needed a boost in motivation.  And It totally worked.  The book drummed home the notion that junk is bad for your life, on so many levels.  In every way it sucks your life energy away.  If you collect and live in clutter and junk, if you watch it on TV, if you eat it..... its just BAD.

I got a rocket up my decluttering mojo. 

I had started to notice that the understair cupboard was getting out of control again.  So it was time for ACTION. 

now you can see the floor 

used jiffy bags and the excess clutter from the kitchen - to go

And for facing up to some realities.  Like the 2 massive bags of used jiffy bags and cardboard envelopes that I had been saving for selling ebay stuff.  I realised I was through with ebay (for itty bitty stuff anyway).  The last experience was a bad one: f some fussy shopper complaining about £1 she had spend on a used pair of kids pyjamas.  The whole thing was becoming more of a hassle than anyway of earning money.  And the book was clear that junk addicts are always saving stuff up for some elusive car boot sale, and I knew I was guilty.  However, because I am also rejuvenating my GREEN values, I need to recycle where I can.  And I am very glad to have rediscovered FREECYCLE.  The used jiffy bags were snapped up by an active ebayer.  And instead of the sale of baby stuff I have been meaning to set up since about 2 years ago (and the definate decision that I am NOT going to have any more children too, of course) I gladly offered the couple who are expecting a baby, ALL of the new born clothes and equipment I had. 

new born stuff to go

What was really lovely, was how nice they were, and how their reasons were ecological not just financial.  They got the cot, the baby towels, lots of clothes, a changing mat and various bits and pieces.  It felt really, really good.  And another mum collected the unused pull up nappies I had left over  - no longer needed since about a year ago. 

left over nappies to freecycle and 2 bags for the charity shop

And the charity shop I bought the decluttering book in? It got a fair amount of costume jewellery, some sets of body creams and brand new make up stuff I have not even opened, a load of clothes, some kitchen equipment  -  yes I tackled that cupboard too....   Loads of stuff actually 

getting rid of the financial clutter

Another area I am finally decluttering is my finances.  When I wasn't working I spent quite a lot of time seeking out the best interest deals and so on, squirrelling away money here and there, and opening up new accounts and new credit cards and so on.  And that, along with a decision to better align with my values in all aspects of my life.  I am in the process of switching our current accounts to the cooperative bank (the only ethical high street bank) and our savings into the triodos bank, which is properly ethical and also ecological.  Its going to take a while this, there are so many and they are all tied up to each other in ways that I keep remembering (my tiny numbers of share dividends pay into that account, the paypal comes of that account, itunes, amazon, all of that stuff.  Anyway.  Step by step, (I have a list!) I shall be disconnecting from Barclays, Tesco, Sainsburies et al and switching over to more ethical banking.  Am quite intruiged by the idea of funding circles for future investment purposes.  It seems a much better way of operating.  Sod the bankers and their greed over riding everything else.  I want to put my money where my mind and mouth is.  I know it was someone wise who said, that if what you think and what you say and what you do is all the same then you are a happy human being.  It might have been Gandhi. 

Anyway. so a shed load lighter I am.  And still some to go.  Am not, for example going to be hanging on to the cardboard boxes that inhabit the loft.  All the baby stuff is going to go.  And probably a lot of other things from up there too.  I know its in the loft and I don't actually see it. But energetically.  Its hanging over me.  And its going to GO! yay!

Lastly,  and on a TOTALLY different note.  I watched Fire in Babylon  - which is a documentary about Cricket.  I am not at all a cricket fan - but it was a brilliant and highly inspiring and entertaining true story.  With music.  I advise you to rent it and watch it.  x