Cleaning Up

I think I've always been a good consumer. My consumption is more to do with making my life look like the one I think it should be than the one it is.

The one I often think it should be is one that I'm happy and successful, with a nicely kept house, with provisions for any drop in guest, with the tools I need to fix anything by myself, clothes for all the appropriate occasions from DIY work to funky cool to formal wear, furniture and bedding in my spare room, gear for all the sports or activities I participate in or would like to participate in, pantry ingredients for things I would like to make or didnt make, kitchen utensils for every situation... and so it goes on.

Its alot of stuff.

I've been trying to consciously cut down on my belongings - in particular rehoming things that I don't use. Ideally I'd exchange them for cash via TradeMe or Neighbourly or Facebook when the item is worth the hassle, but I've also been donating bins of kitchen things and clothes to the Salvation Army or rehoming to friends. If I do make some money out of it I specifically transfer the money out to a savings account to add it to the Mortgage at the earliest convenience thus avoiding the risk that the money is assimilated into Friday night drinks.

Significantly, I'm down to three bicycles and I think two is the right number. That will mean a different two from the three I have now though - one a road/commuter/tourer, one a mtb, probably with 130mm of travel.

In doing so I've been consolidating storage things - empty a set of drawers and find a new storage place for all the things. As the things I've been 'storing' come out I realise how little they get used and they too get rehomed appropriately.

Here's to a simpler (and cheaper) life!