I know we're all decluttering, but I'd like to hear about what else any of you are doing to make your lives less stressful and more enjoyable.

I am grocery shopping weekly instead every two weeks- that sounds more complicated, but the trips are shorter and it's helping me be less wasteful with food.

Anyone else?

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

I'm also trying to shop less. It seems that I always needed to run to every stuore, just getting a coupe of things at each one. Now, I ask myslef, do I really need to pack up the kids, leave the house and drive over there just for those things? More often than not, the answer is no, and I stay home!

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Pain is temporary, quitting is forever....

I try to toss trinkets. Hope this makes sense...but I can't stand dusting the little "free" trinkets that I have accumulated over time. It saves a lot of time if I can reduce the amount of things I dust. I like nice clear and clean surfaces. If I don't need it and it doesn't really hold sentimental value then I get rid of it!

Also, as far as dusting goes I NEVER buy black furniture/tables or tables with glass surfaces. You can see the dust on these items in a matter of minutes after dusting once!!!

I'm trying to shop less and be creative with what I have.

I vowed not to buy toys (even at a yard sale) unless it was a holiday or birthday for the girls. I have a few rubbermaid bins of toys that I could rotate when they get bored. I decided to ask for no birthday gifts from the guests when my daughter has a party in March. She has become a toy hog. She will be 4 in March. She is not neglected by any means but I want to simplify!! She will get a present from us and her grandparents. We are only getting her 1 present.

I also vowed not to buy clothing that they really don't need. Just because she likes Ariel doesn't mean she needs that Ariel t-shirt. Even if it is at the yard sale for $.50!

For birthdays, mothers, fathers day for family.. I make dinner, have a cookout or have my daughter help the grandmothers plant a new flower that we bought for them.. They all have so much piled up also.

I also simplified our meals but have rambled long enough

I don't tend to buy extras for myself so that is why I haven't cut that back.

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This is a great question!

We canceled all the kid's activities except for one each. (And that one had to be once a week or less).

I go grocery shopping only once a week and only to one store (the one with the best sales that week). I used to drive around all sorts of places.


I make a menu so I buy enough and not too much and we're not tempted to eat out.

We have a strict bedtime for the kids so we have guaranteed quiet time every evening.

I have an easy cleaning schedule, ie wash floors on Mondays and Thursdays, laundry on Tuesdays and Saturdays, vacuuming on Wednesdays, bathrooms on Tuesdays and Fridays. This way I don't get overwhelmed with doing it all on the same day.

We put the TV in the basement so it's not on all day in the house.

We got a "TIVO" (called something else where we are) so we can watch the shows we taped when we want and we never have to watch commercials. I can watch Oprah in 38 minutes after the kids have gone to bed. And this way the kids aren't tempted by what they see on commercials.

We have a one gift policy at birthdays and Christmas. The kids get one nice gift each. We get one nice gift each. We don't cheap out but it makes for simple celebrations.

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You're on the right track. Wish I could be as disciplined as you, but I am working on it! Anyway, what kids and adults need is time with people, not all those things to clutter up space. I regret now getting so many things that we did not use, but at the time were a great bargain at garage sales and thrift shops. Well, live and learn...

TWO major things have changed in our lives:

1. I have not been to any stores in a month (except to return something..) I can't believe how nice it is to not be racing around with kids in the car! Also, I am not tempted to eat fast food, because I'm not passing the McDonald's, and we're not getting hungry while out running errands. Instead we're relaxing at home, there's plenty of time to get things done, read to the kids, and when we're hungry I make healthy lunch from home. What a difference!

2. I took my son out of preschool. We were being "held hostage" by trying to get there each day. Here was our schedule: Drop DS#1 off at school by 8am. DS#2 doesn't start preschool until 9am, but there's not enough time to go home, unload the kids etc... so we are "held hostage" for an HOUR Mon, Tues, Weds and Thurs!

So, after an hour of waiting, I drop DS#2 off at preschool at 9am, get back to my car by 9:10, get home by 9:25, JUMP into the shower, do make up, hair etc.. and it is 10:10 by the time I am done. I have to JUMP into the car, race to the preschool to pick him up by 10:30! We race home, the kids are hungry and I have to hurry and feed them so I can get DS#3 down for a nap (so that he has time for a full nap before picking up DS#1 from school.)

Notice, with this schedule, there is no time for cleaning the house or anything... it is all racing around, 4 days per week. So, I took him out. WHAT a difference!!!

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

It boggles my mind as to why anyone would want to scurry here and there all the time because it seems most of the time spent is parents saying 'Hurry up, let's go," instead of connecting with meaningful conversation!

Kellytime, both this things are HUGE accomplishments. You are doing amazing! I remember when I first started staying away from stores, it was so difficult. I was really tempted and I wasn't sure what to do instead of shopping. But I was thrilled with the amount I saved and the less clutter I had just by staying out of stores so it's now become a way of life. I also found that it improved my relationship with dh tremendously because he was already a saver. Suddenly we had more money, more time and way less stress.

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We are also saying 'no' to too many activities.

I'm cutting back on my computer usage. Really I am. I AM! Okay, I'm trying.

We don't watch TV during the week. We watch mostly during weekend evenings.

Doing more crafts and physical activities. It seems that society is geared toward entertaining ourselves by shopping or consuming in some way (eating out, etc). We're focusing more on doing an activity for ourselves. Life is not a spectator sport.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."