Just Say No

Step one in the great Living With Less project is to be more deliberate in bringing items into the house. Reasonably easy to do while shopping, but what about the "free" stuff handed to you at various events? This weekend, David and I attended an RV show. The first 100 people through the door were gifted with free RV toilet paper. While in line, we decided we didn't really need nor want RV toilet paper to use in our imaginary RV, so I said no thank you to the t.p. man. He kind of looked at me funny, but we went on. One of the RV salesmen offered me a yard stick. Again, no thank you. "But it's autographed!" he protested while he still held out the yard stick to me. Smile, repeat no thank you! While we walked through the junk being peddled between the RV and boat section, a woman stuck out her hand with a small packet. "Would you like a sample of Scentsy!" It wasn't a question so much as an assumption. "No thank you!" She looked a little taken aback, as if shocked that I wasn't interested in a sample. Had I not been paying attention, I would have come home with RV toilet paper, a yard stick, and a Scentsy packet. I don't need any of those things, but they would have been mine to dispose of in some way, or to keep around cluttering up the place.

Today three boxes of housewares, a bag of clothes, and four coats made their way to an organization where hopefully they will be used by someone who needs them more than I do. One of my favorite declutter/minimalist type blogs is http://www.365lessthings.com/. Every week, she gives suggestions for mini-tasks like cleaning out your glovebox or pen drawer. Right up my alley!