That old wartime mentality of ‘make do and mend’ …when people were truly mindful of just how valuable food, clothing & c was, has somehow been lost over time.  Now it often seems so easy [or was during the boom times] to just go out and buy something new and replace it and I think a lot of us got hooked on buying things for the sake of buying.  Shopping is enjoyable .. I like it [I likes it a lot] but this year I am trying to buy less and upcycle more of what I already have.

When we are being frugal we are mindful of the value of things and use all of whatever it is until there is no more to realistically use.  So it’s great to see a move back to people using things wisely and getting all the value out of an item before having to finally finish with it.  Seeing as I always fancied myself as a bit of a frugalista I have naturally acquired quite the repertoire over the years.  Coming from a long line of inventive homemakers I think it must be in my blood.  More importantly I think it’s good to get back to really respecting the money we earn and the true impact of what something actually costs to produce.

So here are a few quick and easy ways to be a bit more frugal/mindful in the kitchen.

5 mindfully frugal ways:

1. Limp veggies – now we all at some stage or another find a bunch of carrots in the fridge that have lost their crunch. Instead of throwing them out they can be put with any other veg that have past their prime and made into a nice vegetable stock to use as the base of a soup or stew. Remember, if you find yourself with limp food often to stop buying as much or maybe try buying frozen instead.
2. Old tin foil – You know the tin foil you have wrapped something in and have now unwrapped it and are going to throw it out? Well before you do…a] can it be used again?… if it wasn’t wrapping anything yucky or raw meat then it might be okay to fold up for another use.  b] if it can’t be saved then fold it in half a couple of times and cut it in strips with any scissors you need to sharpen. It sharpens them and productively uses up the tin foil that you were getting rid of anyway.
3. Half used bottles – gather all the half used bottles of things you may have and bring them to the front of the cupboard and make a point of using them up before buying anything else. If you particularly don’t like the brand then give it to someone who will. It not only clears space in your cupboards and drawers but helps you think about what you do buy.  Just because it’s on special or ‘cheap’ doesn’t mean you need it.  Did you know that baking soda is a terrific cleaner in the kitchen?  It brings sinks up lovely, cleans the insides of ovens and takes the tea stains off the inside of mugs when rubbed on as a paste.
4. Stretching the mince meat – meat can be expensive, especially if you are buying organically. When frying up any mince you can add some oatmeal.  I can see all your eyebrows raising but it is terrific….  I find about 20% works out right. Just remember to add a bit more liquid/stock as it gets absorbed by the oatmeal. As you don’t really notice the oatmeal is in there you can buy 20% less meat than you would normally buy!
5. Save on cling film – instead of using cling film to cover small leftovers on plates or in bowls, you can either put a bowl over the leftovers on the plate or put a smaller bowl over what is leftover in the bowl. You use less plastic cling film and save money – so mindful of the environment and mindful of your cash.

I know some of these tips are easy or obvious but sometimes they are the ones we might not think of ourselves. It’s all the small things which we do often that will add up and help us all move forward. Small changes done on a daily basis will change our habits for the long term. Mindfully moving forward to help ourselves initially but collectively to help all in the end.

be mindful and enjoy

photo from The Library of Congress via The Commons c1939

Other posts you might like to read:

• Being productive and mindful: 20 one minute to dos
• How many gurus will you notice today?
• Be where you are

As I said last week with my intentions post, I’m really concentrating in 2012 on being more mindful of my actions – both big ones and the very small ones.  There are so many small things we can do on a daily basis that alert us to being more aware of what is not only going on around us but also what we are actually doing.  So today I’m going to start off very small -to ease us all in – and do a bit of a list of a few things to try to pay attention to around the house that will

• a. help us be more aware of what we actually are noticing, and
• b. help us be more mindful of our money…. and for anyone – especially us in Ireland – that is a really good thing.

Here are a few questions to ponder:

1. After you finishing using the washing machine, do you turn the knob back to ’0′ so the little light goes off?
2. Do you pay attention to how much water you are putting in the kettle for a cuppa? …is it just enough for you are you expecting the local football team to drop in unannounced?
3. After you’ve charged your phone..what do you do ?  Do you walk away and leave the charger plugged in or do you turn it off at the wall.  Do you take it out and pop it away ready for the next use?
4. Do you shutdown and unplug your computer when you’ve finished with it for the day?
5. Do you turn the lights off when you leave a room?
6. Appliances like music systems or the second tv .. Are they on stand by just waiting for you to turn them on at the weekend?
7. Do you take your washing straight out of the machine and put it in the dryer or do you hang them up to dry before giving them a burst to just ‘finish them off’? [this is an Irish blog after all ]
8. While we are on the dryer…do you turn the light off on your dryer as well when finished?
9. Do you habitually put lights on of an evening in lots of rooms just so it looks pretty even though you never go in there?
10. Do you check the timer on your central heating so it fits in with the current weather? Often we put it on for more hours when it’s chillier and don’t bother altering it when the weather gets milder for a few weeks ..like now.

These are all small things – some of them are *really* small – but by being mindful of the many little habits we have in our homes [I feel] this translates as us being more mindful of our impact on the environment and more immediately to us…our wallet.  All the above will save you money, not much mind but that is not the point.  More importantly it will save CO2 and if everyone started to do these small things then that means big things are happening…..it’s all win win win

Enjoy

ps…Soz if from the title you were expecting  a romantic tale of unrequited lust

A few of my previous blogs you might like to check out:

• Life is in the doing not the having 
• Delight in all the turns of your life

Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote

for the kind of world you want

During last week I posted the above Anna Lappe quote on twitter.

It got me thinking about the power that each and every one of us wields when we choose what to spend our money on.  For myself, and I am sure for countless others, not many days go by when money isn’t handed over for something – a bill, a coffee, petrol, groceries &c.  Over the course of a year or lifetime, it all adds up to an awful lot of pats on the back to other people and companies.  It adds up to a massive ‘vote for the kind of world we want’.

Often we may feel that we – the individual – cannot make a big difference; that our singular voice will not be heard amid big business and big money.  Yet, all companies need turnover and each of us that make the choice to give custom to a particular business is a part of their turnover – less support from us =  less business.  So how we choose to spend each and every penny or cent of our money is a way of us having a say in how we would like the world to be.

So next time you hand over cash or click on the ‘buy now’ button for something which is, say 10 euro/dollars/pounds, think more along the lines of you giving 10 votes instead.  10 big pats on the back to that company or person to continue doing what they are doing.  10 big thank yous to say we like and approve of how you produce your product.  It is our money and therefore our choice.

Money talks…..make sure yours says what you want it to say

Enjoy

Photo by Richard Heaven via Flickr

Money is energy.  We give energy [work] and get energy in return [money] then we go and trade that energy for another form of energy [food, clothing etc] which in turn was created by others giving their energy [work].  The question then becomes – When we give over our money energy what sort of product energy are we getting in return?

.Some other postings you might like to read:

Life is in the doing not the having

Delight in all the turns of your life

A great life is only a choice away

.

Around about this time of year, my thoughts often start to wander as I begin to recall what I have accomplished during the year and if there is anything I would like to put extra energy into and finish up before the year is out.  With you know what fast approaching, it is a good time to get jizzed up about any projects that you may not want to carry over to the new year or have to bother with during the coming festivities.

We all need a bit of a boost every now and then and with only nine days before December begins it is a great time to flick the old inner switch for a bit of extra motivation/power.

I really enjoy all the stuff that goes on during December and try to make the whole month about catching up and doing nice things with friends and family – sort of like a bonding month.  Of course other more mundane things still need to be accomplished but even with those I try to imbue a sense of seasonality into them – after all, it is about enjoying life and not just going through the motions.

photo by fRandi-shooters via creative commons

Some previous postings you might like to read:

Life is in the doing not the having

Delight in all the turns of your life

Simplicity Thursday – 5 things to do whilst boiling the kettle

In the silence are all the answers you seek

20 ways to make life harder

.

As so many of us use computers for work and play these days it is a side of life which sometimes becomes neglected in our simplifying efforts.  Usually because all our computer files and online life is stored in a neat little laptop or a rather spiffy looking white Mac; a calm exterior which often belies the jumble of old and irrelevant files, draft typings, a bookmark column that stretches on forever and a desktop resembling a holding pattern in the skies around Heathrow Airport.

Sound familiar?

As it is very easy to go off on tangents when being online or working on the computer many things get stored without giving too much thought to whether it will be actually used.  With it being so easy to duplicate files it’s possible to end up with many drafts of different projects.

Organising computer files, especially if they have gotten a bit confusing, can take a while and whilst it is possible to do it all in one go it can be tiring and is easy to get distracted.  It’s best to do it in increments of 10-15 minutes a day starting just before you start your computer time.

Here are three suggestions to help you on your way:

Clear your desktop ~ Spending time looking for a file because you ‘know it’s on the desktop’ is not the most efficient use of your time and seeing a vast array of icons doesn’t make for a calm or organised computer experience when you first turn on your computer.

~ Have a ‘to delete’ file on your desktop.  As you download things to print off or temporary things that you do not need to keep, you can place them in this folder and empty it every month or so.

~ Remove everything from your desktop that doesn’t absolutely need to be there.  The desktop is a gateway not a repository.

Get rid of unwanted or non useful files ~ although computer space is not usually a problem now, it still makes for an easier life if there is not a bunch of things on your computer that are no longer relevant.

1. start a ‘to read’ folder.  Anything you come across you saved in order to read but never got around to it save into this, if you think you will definitely read it otherwise delete immediately.  When next downloading something you think you would like to read – this is the place to store it
2. start a ‘to delete’ folder.  It’s easier to just drag unwanted files into it rather than deleting one by one.  Also if you are feeling a pull at deleting things it can give you a grace period before actually deleting
   what to get rid of -
3. Delete any old drafts you created that you have finished versions of
4. Delete all those folders you opened but never put anything in
5. Anything that is no longer useful should be deleted
6. Sort out any duplicate files and delete as necessary
7. If you have files or folders which you feel you must keep for personal, tax or legal reasons then make a special folder for them and either store it on the computer or put in on a memory stick

Organise your computer files like you organise your paper files ~ that way your thought processes are similar and it will be easier to find what you are looking for.

Enjoy

image credit Katie@!

.

Other posts you might like:

Work is life and life is work: it’s all balance

Look for the oneness in others today

The external journey is so passe

.

Irish west coast

Each day brings its own joys.  Some may seem more joyful than others but all things should be viewed as for the larger good.  What is happening at any particular moment is happening (otherwise you would not be experiencing it) so you may as well enjoy it.  If you are not enjoying it, stop straight away and start doing something else.

Don’t be afraid to set a limit on the cost of presents.  Others may be only too grateful that someone has decided to spend less; it also opens the way for those to follow suit who may want to spend less but do not want to say it.    Expressions like ‘How does everyone feel about setting a price limit on presents this year?’ or ‘Seeing as everyone is watching the pennies, how about we just buy for the children this year’.  If you feel uncomfortable with broaching the subject, general statements or questions like these are a good way of gauging the feeling within the present buying circle.  There is no point going into debt just to give another a present or to pretend that you can spend a lot at Christmas when you really cannot afford to.

Any type of present, no matter the cost, will look a bazillion times better (and of better quality) if wrapped well.  Similarly, an expensive present wrapped without thought or effort is often seen as less quality.  Beautiful wrapping paper doesn’t need to be expensive (especially if bought in the January sales!) and tissue paper is usually very low cost if bought in pound, dollar or euro shops.

It’s nice to put the effort in at Christmas and make the unwrapping of the present part of the gift.  Opening a lovely presented gift on Christmas day adds to the meaning behind the gift.  Taking the time to wrap nicely tells the receiver (consciously or unconsciously) that you have thought about their gift and care enough about them to present it in a special way.  A less expensive present bought with real thought and wrapped well is often more appreciated than an expensive something which will only be put in a drawer after Christmas.  Or, as I mentioned in the What is your true meaning of Christmas? post,  you might like to give a non material gift – the upside of that gift is that it doesn’t require any wrapping!

A nice idea is to match your wrapping paper to the Christmas colour scheme you have chosen, it all adds to the lux feel and the presents look extra special under the tree.

Enjoy

.

Other posts you might like:

Look for the oneness in others today

Our choices make our life

Simplicity November tip #1

.

]]> http://mindfulproductivity.net/2009/12/10/499/feed/ 1 http://mindfulproductivity.net/2009/12/03/496/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=496 http://mindfulproductivity.net/2009/12/03/496/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:11:46 +0000 Be http://logoscoaching.net/?p=496

ENTRANCE AREA

With the festive season fast approaching and the probabilty that an increased number of guests will be arriving into your home, it is a great time to sort out the entrance area.  To get rid of things which don’t need to be there or that have adopted it as their home (the  household shoe collection, junk mail, knick knacks that were put there to look ‘nice’) – it all goes to make the area not as welcoming or as calming as it could be.

As I have said before, by setting the timer your work is more focused and it doesn’t turn into a half day job complete with coffee and lunch break.

THE TASK:

1. Set your timer for 30 minutes
   
2. Spend this time removing anything from the entrance of your home that does not need to be there
   • ~~Take it to where it belongs
   • ~~Bin it
3. Now give the whole area a clean – dust and polish any surfaces, clean the window or mirror, sweep or vac the floor
4. Put back only what is absolutely needed by the front door and maybe something welcoming like flowers or a lamp.

The entrance to your home is what greets you when arriving.  It makes it nicer for visitors but more importantly it makes it more restful and calming for you – you arrive home to your space; your sanctuary.  It welcomes you after being out and sets the mood when you walk in.

Enjoy

.Other postings you might like:

Honouring your core values

Simplicity November tip #8

Often there is somewhere in your home that has bugged you for ages but you never seemed to get around to sorting it out.  It could be a shelf, drawer or cupboard but instead of tackling it you either pretend its not there or that you don’t want to move anything because you know where everything is there.  You long gave up adding to it neatly so you just shove the new bits in as quick as you can, close it and walk away.   If you have half an hour them now is the time to tackle it

THE TASK:

1. Pick a drawer, shelf or cupboard that has been annoying you or causing you stress
2. Set timer for 25 minutes – a time limit makes you work with more focus
3. Remove everything onto a bench or even the floor
4. Clean the storage unit and dry it
5. Decide how you want to store its contents.  Decide what really needs to go in there.
6. Before putting anything back ask yourself:
   • Does it add to your life or do you really need it to live according to your values and goals?
   • Does it belong here? If it doesn’t belong here then put it where it does belong.  If it has no home then ask question previous question again
7. After everything worthwhile and useful has been put back set timer again for 5 minutes
8. Use this last 5 minutes to transfer objects to where they belong, to recycle or bin them.

.