Discardia_ More Life, Less Stuff - Dinah Sanders [48]
For bonus points: Now that there's less clutter, take a moment to wipe down all the shelves. Mmm … happy bathroom!
Cast out the snakes
Here’s one the techies among us are encouraged to revisit every St. Patrick’s Day (or whenever you think of it): Cast out the snakes. You hereby have permission to put all those old audio and video cables, which you've accumulated over the years and are hanging onto “just in case,” in your charity box and get them off your island. While you’re at it, throw in all the devices you no longer use and chargers for devices you no longer own.
That trick works on the computer, too. Take a few minutes today to look around on your hard drive and find those things you never use and don't want taking up your active space.
Here are some examples of things that you can often delete or back up for your archives:
All the not-so-good pictures from that digital photo session;
Programs you never use;
Really old backups for which all the data have since been added to multiple subsequent backups, or changed so much as to render this version no longer useful;
Saved chats with that guy or gal with whom things never worked out; and
90% of most people’s Downloads folder.
Follow the appropriate instructions for uninstalling programs on your computer—and do be careful about system files. If you don't know what they do, get help before deleting them.
Do you really need that car?
This tip is most relevant to city dwellers, but those in the country should also mull over how much vehicle they really need—and how many. Leaving aside the fact that the industrialized world has been hitting snooze on the climate alarm for 30+ years, overemphasizing cars in our lives has a significant impact.
How much do you spend on car payments, repairs, insurance, parking, and tickets? Every time I look at that number for the places I’ve lived, my average is about $500 a month. I thought about the hassle of driving, parking and protecting a car in the city and I opted out. I could rent a car every weekend and still come out ahead, but I found is that I don't really need one very often. I have a membership with our local car sharing service and use it between zero and three times a month. I take a cab an average of two or three times a week. Otherwise, I walk, take public transit, and carpooled when I still had a commute. I save money, get exercise, avoid stress, and dramatically reduce the impact I have on the environment.
What would your life be like if you lived in a vibrant neighborhood where you could walk to shops, restaurants and entertainment? What if your commute gave you time to read, catch up on email, or just stretch your legs? For all that talk about cars helping us stay connected and giving us flexibility, I've found quite the opposite to be true. I'm freer and less isolated the less time I’ve spent in my personal metal box on wheels.
Discardian Erik Bates eased into things by choosing to experiment with not driving for one month—then two—before deciding about getting rid of his car. Circumstances forced a bolder approach for Discardian Helga Murray. She didn’t replace her car when it broke down, and found that switching to public transit turned out great. She enjoys local sightseeing and exercise, saves money, and has less stress, more endurance, and more energy. She rounds out her walking and public transit ridership with infrequent use of taxis and her car sharing membership, plus once a year or so renting a car to go out of town.
Helga says, “I love not having a car. Still don't have one five years later, not planning on getting one, unless for some reason I move out of this area and have to go somewhere without public transportation. Since a city with good public transportation is a minimum requirement for me, I don't see that happening any time soon.”
Even if a car is a requirement for you right now, keep an eye on how you use it and see if you could drive it less or share rides more.
Why be where what you want