On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

There were so many great comments this week and I do apologise if I missed some of them. They come in thick and fast these days and I have trouble keeping up at times. I know though that if I don’t get a chance to respond one of my wonderful 365ers will step in and encourage or give advice. Thank you all for making 365 Less Things such a great community.

Loved these two comments (here and here)  from Deb J. She has taken her mom along on the ride to declutter and has not only changed herself along the way but has transformed her mother altogether when it comes to letting go.

Wendy B is not only decluttering her own home but has transformed the local Seniors Centre as well recently. She proves in this comment that communication is key to a good declutter. You can read the condensed version of Wendy’s Senior Centre declutter in the comment strand starting here.

Jude tells us in this comment how she applies the simple approach to all the bigger tasks she tackles.

Loved this comment from Wendy B on Fewer v Less. She makes me laugh on a regular basis.

In this comment Maggie asks for help about what to do with her much loved popcorn tins. If anyone has any suggestions please help Maggie out.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

Gemma from Miami has developed a site dedicated to thoughtful gift giving. Although not all of the gifts are entirely clutter free there are a vast number that are the perfect way to say I love you, happy birthday, Merry Chirstmas… without the clutter but jam packed with fun, indulgence or adventure. Take a look for yourself here at www.meaningfulgiftideas.com

Katharine sent me this link to share with you. It deals with more than just material clutter. Enjoy! well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/making-progress-against-clutter/

Here is a link to a TEDx Tacoma video that enforces the idea of one small step makes a big difference. My husband and I actually attended TEDx Tacoma while on our vacation in April.

I had to share this post from Spendwisemom as she is really speaking my language here. A bargain is only a bargain if it is useful to you or exactly what you want or need. Settling for second best just because it is cheap is often a recipe for discontent. I still love a bargain but only on things I really need.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter rarely if ever used craft items.

Today’s Declutter Item

When I wrote today’s mini mission I really had papercrafting items in mind but then I had some mending to do and while choosing thread for the task I suddenly came to the realisation that I had far too much thread. Considering the amount of sewing I do these days I really don’t have to keep multitudes of the same colour tread or colours I have no fabrics to match. I will give a friend first choice at these and then the rest can go to the thrift store.

Cotton Reels

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Getting some items crossed off my to do list. Things backed up while  I wasn’t around and it is nice to feel like I am getting on top of it.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

We’ve discussed minimalism in decorating, but not everyone here is a minimalist. Here are two decorators’ take on the style.

This post about a family of four camping out of a Prius really spoke to me. We camp several times a year, and I’ve insisted that our van is a necessary component to success. Maybe not.

Zen Habits has 15 tips for decluttering that are great.

On the front page of her blog, Gretchen Rubin has written 5 Tips for Resisting Impulse Shopping. Sounds good to me!

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter an area where your items may have spilled over into someones else’s space. For example ~ Your clothes in your husbands side of the closet.

Today’s Declutter Item

Before sending this crossword dictionary off to the thrift store I had asked my dad if he would like it because his copy of the same book was getting very tatty. He said no as he didn’t mind his tatty and beside he had a lot of extra info written in the margins of his. So guess what? He called me the other day asking if I still had it because his had fallen apart. Too late dad that window of opportunity was already closed. I had already decluttered this book ahead of my scheduled vacation and he was about a week or two late.

Crossword Dictionary

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

It’s Friday at 365 Less Things, and since Colleen is still in the U.S. (Seattle, Washington now) I’m sharing with you my favourite comments from our wonderful and chatty readers and my best web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did. -Cindy

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Dizzy made short work of the process of decluttering here.

Wendy gives hope to those to those who live with reluctant declutterers.

Faith made us all laugh with her bold retort to givers of unwanted gifts.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

I’ve always enjoyed the Minimalist Packrat, although this is a guest post, which combines Feng Shui and decluttering. 

Another post from the Minimalist Packrat, this one on collections and use-it-up decluttering.

In case you needed more motivation to buy less and think more about your choices, check out this montage of pictures  from someone who refers to his garage sale hobby as “junk in my trunk.” You got that right buddy! (Originally, this link did not work. Scroll down one entry, and you’ll see the photo collage.)

On the other hand, I liked Mr. Junk’s take on selling goods. Yeah, he says it harshly, but he tells it true.

Frequently Colleen and I are asked how to sell on Ebay. Here’s how they say it should be done.

Today’s Mini Mission

Take a quick look in the garage and find something to declutter. It’s that simple. Don’t fuss don’t hesitate just find that one thing and get it our of there.

Today’s Declutter Item

Yes there is still craft clutter to declutter but I am on track to get it all under control by June like I promised Lena. Here is my latest offering.

More Craft Items (Brads & Eyelets)

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Colleen hasn’t said anything about her vacation, but she is in the United States.  In fact, she’s in Austin, and we had dinner last night and are out doing “girl things” today. So exciting! This is the first time we’ve met. Anyway, I am vetting the choices for the next few Friday Favorites. Let’s see how I do! -Cindy

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

GreyQueen’s comments about making sure one is prepared for death may have been better than the post that inspired them. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=2464#comment-20734

Spendwise Mom definitely knows how a well-organized kitchen should be managed. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=2420#comment-20726

Spendwise Mom (again!) sums up the need to declutter beautifully and simply. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=2327#comment-20724

Brenda really toots Colleen’s horn in this comment, which is why I liked it. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=2329&cpage=1#comment-20806

Lynn asked about how many “dainties” a gal really needs. I think my answer is worth a read. I wonder what your take on underclothes is. http://www.365lessthings.com/?p=2329&cpage=1#comment-20806

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

This is a fascinating article by a woman who is obsessed with decluttering. Way beyond what is healthy and normal, in my opinion. See what happens when the opposite extreme rears its ugly head and tell me what you think.

A virtual store in Korea – no goods, no clerks. You just tell your smart phone what you want, and it will be delivered to your home or office. Interesting but a bit eerie.

Decluttering the refrigerator was the theme of this week. Ugly House Photos is always good for a laugh, and it won’t take you but a minute to see why you really should clear the front of your refrigerator. . . and everything else in your house.

Today’s Mini Mission

Today is the day to declutter the inside of the freezer. Maybe it would be a good idea to plan tonight’s meal around using up bits and pieces in there.

Today’s Declutter Item

The shirts these ties match are long gone but the ties themselves remain. Well no longer.

Ties that match shirts no longer owned

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

I like the second last paragraph of this comment from Dizzy. I also liked the expression Dizzy used in this comment ~ This blog really is brain changing!!

I enjoyed this comment from Judith about finding the right homes for some antique medical books. Well done Judith.

Loved this comment from Sanna, it is honest and enlightening as to the feeling some have about their stuff. Thank you for sharing Sanna. I also loved Idealistin’s suppostive response. But then this response from Cat’sMeow was the one I could relate to the most.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

I googled “minimise stuff” and came up with this article. It is really about reducing in a green way but there was so many good tips I just had to add it. And as you know I don’t mind drawing attention to improving everyone impact on the environment.

This article was my second choice from googling “minimise stuff”.

Next I googled “less stuff more life” and came up with this article.

Here is some more encouragement on book decluttering. I know I visit this topic often but that is because I think books are the single most difficult of all of the clutter varieties for many aspiring minimalists, and I use that term loosely, to part with.

Here is a link that Moni shared with us that I didn’t want you to miss. Thanks Moni for the link. What a sad story.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something you didn’t use much. This item could represent guilt clutter or at best a waste of money.

Today’s Declutter Item

Cycling jersey sold on ebay. One of those things that just didn’t get well used.

Cycling Jersey

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Last Saturday I asked my readers to suggest blog posts they would like us to tackle here on 365 Less Things  and this one from SHIRLEY DO was the most unique yet sensitive of them all. For the full benefit of this comment please also read the responses from Shirley’s fellow 365’ers. Sadly it may be you one day who is faced with this decision and it pays to be prepared. If there is anyone out there who has had experience with this situation and is keen to share there experience and advice please let me know as I would be more than happy for you to write a guest post about it.

Lynn had a great bag purge read about it here.

Lena gets it and she is so young. Check out the revelation she recently had here.

This is the attitude I want from anyone who insists on buying me gifts. Thank any Spendwisemom.

This comment from Katharine is a good example of how hard it is to let go of certain things and how important it is that you do.

And this comment also from Katharine outlines a very good point to all you crafters out there. I know we have had this discussion before and many of you are also this wise but that isn’t always the case the topic is worth revisiting.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

A new give away site for my Australian readers. Hopefully it will catch on a become popular as sometimes I find Freecycle to be a little difficult to access at times. www.freetreasure.com.au

Here is a link to Project 333 for anyone interested in giving it a try.

Here is a blog I don’t think I have linked to before ~ www.extraorganized.com. Check it out.

Here is a documentary about planned obsolescence that you might ~ I was going to say enjoy but I really think be appalled would be more to the point. The link was sent to me by Chrissie in Germany. There are a lot of subtitles but you (my English only speaking readers) will get the full picture even if there are sections where English of any kind is missing. I will also warn you it is long. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5DCwN28y8o

Today’s Mini Mission

If you have excess tools that are unnecessary double ups or just never used why not declutter those today.

Today’s Declutter Item

This was the closest thing to a tool I had to declutter today. It is a stationery tool I suppose so it counts, right? I discovered on closer inspection that not only did we not need this but it also does not work properly so it was a complete waste of space in our home.

Two Hole Punch

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Autumn / Fall ~ I love the mild months when the days are cooler and sunny at the same time. I would like to live in a place where they have two seasons Autumn and Spring. But I am grateful for the fairly good weather we get nearly all year round right here where I live now.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Here is a comment I wouldn’t want anyone to miss from Julia St. Charles. I particularly loved the last paragraph.

Lena gives some great advice in this comment about offloading CDs.

Becky has a tip for gardeners and using old tatty sheets in the comment.

Here is a clever tip from Anita that might be useful if you need a little help weeding out your unused linen.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

Here is The Minimalists opinion of DVD collections ~ Letting go of your DVD collection

If you don’t meditate it is high time you started. Read up about it, the more you learn the more likely you will find the information that works for you. That might seem an odd thing to say but I have found personally that some explanations on meditation didn’t gel for me but the more I read the more I understood how to switch myself off. The practice is different for everyone I think. Now enjoy this link with good reasons to start. Jeff Munn Coaching ~ How-to-start-a-meditation-practice

This article from www.dailymail.co.uk ~ How-selfishness-ruining-society-turning-children-monsters is sad but true. The author (Sue Gerhardt) and book they mention is the one I am reading at the moment.

And just for a laugh to lighten things up after that last article here is the latest Unitasker offering from unclutterer.com ~ The Shirt Shuttle . Seriously!!

Here is a little credit card advice from Spendwisemom ~ Reduce the number of credit cards you have. And here is some extra free advice from me on the subject. If you can’t afford what you want don’t buy it.

Today’s Declutter Item

Is it any wonder my daughter decluttered all this stuff. At 22 she has surely matured past wanting any of it. Four years makes a big difference in the lives of the young.

More of the items my daughter decluttered

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Finding time to rest my mind. It has been a busy week for me and I needed a little brain space today. I sat and meditated for a while with some soothing music. Even a small rest can make a big difference when done properly.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Sanna is so right in this comment. The less little stuff you have the smaller and or fewer the furniture needs to be to fit it in.

Sanna is sending us some great comments this week. I like her strategy for not indulging on an whim in this comment she left on Saturday.

Elspeth runs us through her thought process as she was decluttering clothes last week in this comment. Decluttering is more than just getting rid of stuff it is about adopting smarter thought processes when it comes to stuff.

Read this comment from Chelle and then could you all reassure her that she is more than good enough.

Melissa has got it right in this comment.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

This link is about simplifying life in general but there is some mention of deleting unused stuff ~ www.marcandangel.com – 60-ways-to-make-life-simple-again

This short post from A Guy Named Dave talks about the importance of stuff. And he is right stuff is important it only becomes a problem when we can’t get enough of it.

Rowdy Kittens ~ Our downsizing story

Mnmlist ~ Finding yourself in spareness

Today’s Declutter Item

My daughter is still cooperating with decluttering her stuff. Everyday this week she has gone through at least one box of stuff. Some boxes are big some are shoe box size but every box counts.

Yet more of my daughter decluttered items

Something I Am Grateful For Today

My son because he makes me laugh. He found my computer sitting on this spot and added himself to this space. I had to edit what he wrote of course because he is very naughty.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Connie talks us through her ah ha moment on decluttering clothes in this comment.

Check out this comment from Ann she is about to get her 15 minutes of fame. Go Ann

Many of the readers including me already enjoyed and responded to what Gail had to say in this comment Josh’s guest post.

Spendwisemom makes a good point about moving your belongings in this comment.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

Some of you may think this post from The Minimalists is a little harsh but I think they are right on target. I saddens me when people feel they can’t let an occasion go by without celebrating it with material gifts. What do you think? ~ The Minimalists.com - The Commodification of Love

Here is a great article that Cindy sent me the link to. It has some great decluttering tips. ~ www.houzz.com ~ Decorate with Intention: Clutter Clearing 101

I thought this post  from thechangeblog.com was going to annoy me after reading the first paragraph but then it realised what the message was and it only got better from there. ~ Theres no magic system to fix your life

Here’s one for all the garage sale lovers reading this ~ joshmartinink.net ~ The monster within confessions of a packrat

Today’s Declutter Item

Arm mounted iPod carriers are probably handy if you exercise at the gym or jog. We exercise by walking together and chatting. We really have no need for this so off to the thrift store it goes.

iPod Holder

Something I Am Grateful For Today

The meet & greet function that I have been organising is over. It was quite successful which I am happy about but I am also grateful the it is behind me. Why do I insist on getting myself involved in these things.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Cat’sMeow left this comment on respecting her fewer possessions.

Willow’s also left a great comment on respecting fewer possessions.

Hooray for Ideealistin she is obviously being a good influence on her mother. Read about it here.

Deb J gives good reason not to hoard paper in this comment in response to Cindy’s Weekly Wisdom.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

I particularly liked suggestion 5 in this list from The Change Blog ~ Make a change in your world

Calico ginger drew my attention to the Australian web site that give lots of great suggestions as there where donations of all sorts of things can be made. ~ www.givenow.com.au

Here is a good blog post about the stress of too much choice. tinybuddha.com ~ Why too much choice is stressful and 7 simple ways to limit it.

Today’s Declutter Item

This is my donation of foreign coins that I dropped off at the Commonwealth Bank today. You might be surprised at how much space they were taking up in my drawer. Each country was stored in its own separate pouch. See the coin with $1 written on it in blue marker. This is a US $1 coin. It is so rare to see them in circulation over there that I think someone wrote the $1 on it so they wouldn’t mistake it for a Quarter. I found that amusing.

Donation of foreign coins

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Coffee with a friend and successfully running several errands including dropping off my donation of foreign coins at the bank.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow