Mixed Strategy Household

Only Martians shop for value



Social effects:
Finances aren't just for the educated

Lexicon DVD players

Noka chocolates

Recognition is easier than recall.

But recording is not the same as remembering.

I have lots of little notebooks and journals, as well as other memorabilia.

I want to figure out which ones to keep, which ones to scan/photograph, and which ones to toss.

I need to figure out when to process things--whichever notebook is my current one gets thumbed through regularly, but then how to archive them?

And then, for things that get scanned/photographed, how do I trigger seeing them if they aren't physical things in a drawer that gets opened from time to time?

I kind of need flashcards, not only for my work but for my memories and ideas.

My sister's birthday is coming up this week.

Different people prefer to give gifts in lots of different ways:
* something you really need
* something you don't really "need" but that is a treat or indulgence
* something they made for you or carefully selected for you
* something flexible (e.g. gift cards)
* something you asked for
* something you would never have thought of asking for
* something you will keep a long time (e.g. collectible or heirloom)
* something consumable

This year my sister is getting something silly but that made me think of her--and that I think will give her a chuckle. Otherwise I like to give people things they ask for, things that will help them grow (e.g. books, kits), or things they can use up and not have cluttering up their world. If I know the person well enough, I might think about e.g. collectibles.

Thinking more about being an innie vs. an outie...

I am a born packrat. I have it coming down at me from both sides of the family. I have it from a childhood environment that involved small pools and waterfalls of stuff all over the house (nothing clinical or hazardous, just messy). I have it from dealing with the insecurity of dealing with adult life.

I am starting to shake it off.

I will never be a Leo Babauta style minimalist. In fact, it would probably drive me up the freaking wall to do everything using webapps and eliminate desktop icons.

While the fantasy of fitting all my possessions into the trunk of my car and touring the world is unlikely, although I am getting better at short-term minimalism (e.g. packing to fly carry-on).

I am getting better at choosing to be minimalist in things that are less important to me: can openers, crayons, light reading, office supplies.

I am getting better at remembering that if I need it later, I can probably go out and buy it.

I am getting better at culling down to be able to shut the drawer/door.

I am getting better at taking pictures/scans of things where that is all I really need.

I am getting better at focusing my packrat tendencies on collections that have value to me: my books, especially certain genres of books; my fountain pens and calligraphy supplies; my costume jewelry and scarves; my scanned class notes.

The strange thing nowadays is that for my cholesterol lowering diet I am buying things that are more processed.

I now have a tub of Smart Balance Light in my refrigerator that we use instead of butter in many applications.

I take a fish oil supplement every night (and boy am I glad it's processed to take out the Hg).

I have considered buying cheese substitutes such as Veggie Slices. There are days I really miss cheese. (I am still able to enjoy low fat cottage cheese, fortunately.) I have also thought about getting egg substitutes and making quiche again.

I guess the way I am going to have to think about it is that these processed foods are food+medicine. If I can find alternatives, great, but I shouldn't let the weirdness of buying a few niche processed foods get to me. I can work on buying more "real food" and still balance it with the indulgences that my health allows.

Just a few more months and we'll know if the dietary changes helped, or whether it is just my body totally overproducing cholesterol.

Shop Smart's March issue has an article that describes people as innie vs. outie organizers.

I have been thinking about this and it explains certain things.

For example:
I often like having things in stacks and open boxes.

I will often stack things up to have open space on a table. I might even put a line of stacks on the floor.

I also like a moderate amount of visual stimulation--artwork, patterns, colors, textures. I am paisley, where he is more of a monochrome plaid.

So, while I admittedly have too much stuff, I also have a personality that means what makes me feel cozy is also what makes him feel out of control.

It's also a matter of balance. I have trouble remembering things, so I want them out, but I also get distracted, so I want things put away. Stacks are a way of managing this.

And, while I am more out and about than he is, I also like things to be out and tidy. I tend to go around shutting the kitchen cabinets, clustering items together on tables and counters, and putting the cutting board parallel with the counter edge. Things that just fall as they may make me feel out of control. Maybe it's a matter of quantity vs. organization.

I like things like a big craft storage cabinet or pantry cupboard... one flick and all of my craft supplies, canned goods, etc. are exposed to trigger my memory. One flick and they're all out of the way again.

I also tend to leave projects that I want to get back to out on the table, etc. Otherwise, they kind of disappear. (8

What is your organizing style?

Over the years I have tried to eat more "real food"

Still have a soda habit, but I eat a lot more out of the bulk bins

D and I go out once a week; otherwise we cook at home

Convenience foods for us are canned soup and pasta sauce, whole wheat bread, shelled peanuts, chunky peanut butter, canned beans/tomatoes, frozen veggies, whole wheat pasta, baby carrots, dark chocolate chips. In other words, we mostly buy convenience foods that are ingredients.

We make up some of the difference with convenience appliances: a rice cooker, a toaster oven, an electric teakettle

Although this means there are days I stand in the kitchen feeling uninspired, in reality it means we have a lot of flexibility.

Getting out of it takes months or years of work

Sometimes you need help, though, to get on your feet--medication, food stamps

Certain people may never be able to do it completely on their own--they may need support for the rest of their lives

Sometimes there are setbacks

Changing habits is very important

So someone is trying to get rid of a beat up 1970's trailer on Craigslist for very cheap. Do I go for it?

Pro's:
lower fixed costs (around here a trailer lot lease is about half the price of a lease on a 1 bedroom apartment)
several options for location
customizability (e.g. no one will complain if I do some weatherizing, have a cat, nail, or paint)

Con's:
it's not in great shape and the maintenance would be all on me--requires good emergency fund
may be cramped (~300sf) or poorly laid out
need to pay several months of lot rent before current lease runs out
probably not very energy efficient