Archive for September, 2008

De-Cluttering: A Seemingly Never Ending Saga, Part 2

Sep 24

Posted by Grace in Clutter | 1 Comment

This past weekend I spent part of it conquering my incredibly messy room. To cleanse myself of all the piles of “stuff” surrounding me wherever I went, in the past few weeks I’ve put up some toys that were given to me a few years ago up on eBay, and put 9 of my books on Half.com. Christophe asked me to write up how to sell things on Craigslist, eBay, and Half.com – a 101 if you will, just for those people who have never used it before. So in one of my future entries, I will write a (hopefully short) blog post about just this.

I’ve read countless posts and an excellent book by How To conquer the clutter. One of my favorite sources for organization is “Organizing From the Inside Out” by Juliet Morgenstern.

The following tips I found to be incredibly useful:

1) Ask yourself: Do you need it? Do you love it? When was the last time you looked at it?

If your answer is a yes, no and don’t remember, it might be about time the item was either thrown away, sold, or donated.  Many of the books on my shelf have not been touched in many years. They’ve taken up lots of space and dust. Perhaps some of you are in the same boat as well. Lots of items might have meaning, but did you really remember you had it until you actually saw it? This is not to say that one should throw out their great grandma’s family heirloom, but realistically, if you haven’t seen the darn thing in years and only remember it when you look at it, perhaps it’s high time you got rid of it. This applies to not only books, but magazines, pamphlets, dvds, cds, and a whole slew of small little objects that might be hiding in your closet. What’s stocked up in my closet is .. .believe it or not: letters. I still have not been able to part with them.

I have so many souvenirs – the playbills from theatres, small little pamphlets from the vacations I’ve been on, all in hopes that I will one day scrapbook my memories. Honestly, they should all go in the trash, because that trip from Europe was one and a half years ago, and there are other things in the same bag from 7 years ago. It takes up not only the space, but it constantly occupies the back of my mind as “one more thing I have to do”. Either I do something with it, or throw it out.

Shelf Book Clutter

2. Conquer one area at a time.

It’s easy to get distracted by certain things in the home. You take one piece of paper and take it to another to recycle. But you see another mess to deal with and start dealing with that mess. You walk from that mess to another mess. Sit down and just deal with one area. Sort the clutter by “keep, sell, donate, throw, recycle.” Other systems may have different labeling schemes, but the idea is fairly simple. Label it however you want, but stick to the labels. One you have cleared out one area, move to the next. One doesn’t have to do the entire home in one day, and wouldn’t even be suggested. It’s easy to get discouraged.

3. Set Goals.

Make realistic, attainable goals. Judging by the amount of clutter or excess material a room may have, you have to make realistic goals in order to reach the main objective. If a room is filled with piles of clutter, you can’t really expect for it to be clean in one day. Instead, make more specific goals. “Today, I will look at this pile of paper and decide what to do about it. If I finish that, I will organize all the outstanding mail that I have yet to open.” Start small and work your way up.

4. Organize a bit everyday.

People tend to wait for some big “spring cleaning” event before they tackle the piles of clutter occupying their room. However, if they spent just 15-30 minutes a day to clean a different portion of their home once they’ve got everything cleared out, it’s possible to maintain the same level of cleanliness.

5. Containers are your friend.

Buy filing cabinets to store your important papers – whether it be bills, your paychecks, information about your healthcare, registration information. These kinds of information deserve to be in its own secure place and it really helps if you keep this organized. A file box such as this one works fairly well, and it’s easy to take with you in case there is ever a disaster. (I lugged this with me when a fire evacuation and it was invaluable.) As for pens, stationary, if you do crafts, there are many one dollar stores that sell small container boxes for an affordable way of organizing all the small little items that are hard to keep track of. Don’t forget to buy little sticker labels, because once you’ve placed your items in your containers, it sure will be hard to figure out which container you used to place the item you were looking for!

6. Buy less.

It doesn’t help if you your area is clean and organized if you keep on buying new things that you don’t need that will adds to the mess.

7. Cut down on the credit card mailings and advertisements and paper in general.

I don’t know about you, but I used to receive plenty of credit card mailings. Not only was it an annoyance it was a pile up of wasted paper. I mentioned earlier on how to Opt Out of Credit Card Offers, and the same link applies to retail mailings.

8. Clear out and pack up your clothes depending on the season

Wardrobe Oxygen wrote up an excellent article on choosing the right clothes for you, and only purchasing clothes that you love and looks good on you. Typically this applies mostly to females, but may apply to males as well. Before packing up your clothes into a container for the season, evaluate whether you really like that piece of clothing you are putting away. It’s better to have a group of great fitting clothes that you love and will last for years to come than pieces that are maybe “a bit too itchy”, “a bit uncomfortable”, “sits a bit off”. Instead of occupying so much space, it might be better off just being donated.

Not only do physical places have the problem of clutter, but virtual places as well. At the workplace, I’ve found many computers to be just cluttered beyond recognition. In addition to how to list and sell things on Craigslist, eBay, Half.com, look for a post on de-cluttering your computer hard drive.

Have any other tips to de-cluttering? How do you approach the clutter in your life?

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The aims of this blog and me

Sep 22

Posted by Grace in Happiness | 1 Comment

When I first started this blog, it was because I did not find any other blogs that specifically addressed the effects of affluenza and the problem of consumption in this country. Perhaps I didn’t search hard enough, but I came away with a sense of determination of wanting to start a blog and share research, stories of affluenza, and wanting to work together to help each other move away from the epidemic to a happier, more satisfying time in our lives.

I am not free of affluenza. I feel the strong daily pulls of the media and the people around me trying to suck me in. But, having grown up with traditional Chinese parents and in recent years, volunteering with an incredible group Tzu Chi, my desires of consumption and burying myself away from the community constantly fight the other more happier, conscious side of myself. A few years ago, I read an excellent book that my wonderful brother shared with me, titled “Affluenza” that really got me thinking about consumption and the direction that this country was heading. Recently, the author David Wann wrote an even better book “Simple Prosperity”, discussing the ways to get rid of affluenza, a book of which I have just started reading, but will definitely share with the rest of you.

Let me make a few points clear. Before any one decides to label me, I am not Buddhist. Though Tzu Chi is a Buddhist organization, any one of any race, ethnicity, and religion can join. It was brought about because the leader, Master Cheng-Yen wanted to pursue to get rid of pain and suffering in the world while also educating the more fortunate. Part of this was by saving and living an extremely simple life. Her belief has caused many people to join her in her mission, and many result in living much simpler but happier lives. What I say is revelant because it is in part of my discovery of Tzu Chi that helped me to truly understand what the world could be like if people let go of their desire to consume, put their differences aside, open their hearts and connect with their community. I always thought it was a pipe dream, but I have seen it happen. Because of the strong affinity I have with this organization, I may share a few very basic teachings and principles in future entries that apply to the idea of living simpler.

Upon reading this, readers may pigeonhole me to be either left or right, or however you like to see it. I constantly encounter this at the place of my work. I choose to believe that I am neither left or right. I’d rather say I am a compassionate and sometimes too passionate of a person who wants to believe that there is a better way of life than the life so many people in this world is blindly leading with dollar signs and profit margins in their eyes. I am often surrounded by blatant selfishness, and by this, I can start to feel the poison seep into my mind and I have to catch myself.

I hope that with this blog, with all of you, we can together bravely walk into a world where we can live a happier, simpler life. I don’t want this to be a site only about personal finances, de-cluttering, or organizing one’s life. These are all components of the resulting bigger picture: personal growth and self-empowerment, of self-discovery, of becoming more compassionate, of understanding and most of all, choosing happiness – for yourself and every one around you.

Free your mind of stress

Sep 21

Posted by Grace in Happiness | No Comments

Life’s many stresses and worries often get in the way of action. Does it sometimes stagnate you, suffocate you the amount worry that occupies your mind that you feel that you can’t actually do anything? Freeing your mind from worry and stress requires a commitment to detach yourself from material matters. to  In this day and age, this is a very difficult mindset to have. How does one achieve this?

1. Pay off your debt and immediately start saving. Money is a huge factor that cause the stress in people’s lives. Get your finances in order. Especially now, with our weak economy, it is important to get all your ducks in a row. Though this is said plenty of times in other web sites, the key really is to spend less than you make. The less you spend, the more you will have. Create a budget if you need some way to control your finances.

2. Remove external influences as much as possible. Stay away from advertisements. Avoid commercials if you can. Change the channel when a commercial is on. Get rid of those magazines that will tempt you to even start thinking about wanting to buy. (This is a weakness I have, due to perusing SlickDeals all the time.) This helps not only your wallet, but there will not be the latest “wants” rolling around in your head of things you want to buy. Subconsciously, commercials and advertisements may be telling you that you’re not spending enough, that you’re not keeping up with the Joneses unless you have product A or B, therefore causing you more stress. Brave advertisements only if you have enough strong discipline to stay away from what the message of the clever marketers, but it’s strongly cautioned against from this lady. If you have friends that you go shopping with that are bad influences, find other activities you guys can do together without spending money.

3. Educate yourself. Many times the unknown causes undue stress and worry. Sometimes, a little research, asking friends and family for information, and finding all about what is causing your stress can really set your mind at ease.

4. Part with all that “stuff”. Sell it via eBay, Craigslist or donate it. I find the cleaner, more organized your home is, the more free and peaceful your mind becomes. Have you ever walked into a show home and felt so at peace and comfortable? Granted, it’s decorated nicely, but these homes have no clutter since they’re new. They have no objects or things or clutter from all the possessions  But the thing is, I’ve walked into homes that are fairly clean and well organized. People have argued that they don’t like these kind of upkept homes because it looks like no one lives there, but I would argue that the people who live in that home probably has a mind that probably is much more free of stress. I find when my work and sleep areas become buried in stuff, I don’t sleep as well. Clear your closet, clear your mind.

5 Take action now. If you need to do something, or want to do something, do it. (Well, unless it’s finally caving for that gadget you “must must” have!) Don’t wait until tomorrow, or the next day. We’ve all become professional procrastinators. I know this is something I definitely lag on, especially in scheduling my dentist/doctor’s/eye doctor’s appointment. I hate going to the doctor.

6. Volunteer. I find that this has a strong influence on the amount of money I spend, and the toughness of my mind. I’ve volunteered all my life and now volunteer at a group that covers a wide area of charity (recycling, environment, education, medical outreach, international relief, clean-up, etc.) Volunteering allows one to perhaps open one’s eyes to the world around them, the living situation of the poor, and to be thankful for what you do have. One may start to realize that what they worried about just the day before, probably isn’t that important to worry about any more. Volunteering can cause one to be very busy, therefore not causing you to spend more money, keeps you on your toes, and actually makes you feel good. I realize not everyone likes to volunteer, but I think it really helps free your mind. This is a subject I’m fairly passionate about, though I do feel guilty for not volunteering more.

7. Exercise and Eat Better. Do yoga, pilates, meditate, increase endorphins. We know that exercise really helps induce endorphins and helps diminish one’s stress levels. Not only will exercise help you with your stress, but one will become healthier.The same applies with food. It is sad that certain foods may cause you to become moody, which may add to stress. With a better diet and a good exercise regimen and the affects of both on health, who can argue with this?

8. Balance yourself. This is probably one of the most difficult aspects of going worry-free. By “balancing” yourself, I mean not to disturb your chi. While talking to my friends, I find their complaints range all over the place – to their relationships, their workplace, their friends, their pockets, their job – the list goes on and on. One should either a) do something about it to change the situation or c) let it go. It’s human nature to complain. It’s even more female nature to complain because we want to vent. My male friends so often complain to me how females need to vent, and how it surprises them how they don’t want to fix the situation. I’m probably guilty of the situation too – by complaining or making excuses. (More the latter than the former). However, I truly believe that if you can’t control an undesirable situation — either try to change it, or let it go. Venting is all well and good – especially the first few times, but after that, it does nothing to help with your being. For example, for the longest time many of us were disgruntled by the actions of one of our closest friends – let’s say his name was Ben. For a period of time, a few of us would go on and on about how angry we were and couldn’t believe what our friend’s actions — and this would go on every night.  One especially was letting it affect her to the point where she wanted to yell, scream and make a few drastic reactions. However, I reached the point where I knew I had to talk to Ben. Well, I spoke with him, and Ben just didn’t get why we were all feeling the way we did. At this point, I let it go, knowing it would not go anywhere and knowing I had done all that I possibly could. Not only would I be wasting my breath if I continued, I would be wasting my energy discussing about something Ben was doing when Ben himself wasn’t thinking too much about it at all. Bottom line – don’t let things bother you when you have no control over the situation. Accept it and then move on. You’ll be happier that you did.

9. Most importantly, change your attitude. This encompasses a great many things. Desire less. Want less. Be content with what you have. Open your heart. It can be surprising the amount of stress and worry can dissipate when you simply change your attitude. This is the single most important lesson we all can learn. This not only applies to stress but in so many other aspects of our lives.

This was extremely long winded, and the things I listed certainly are not the only things one can do to try to be free yourself from stress. What are some things you do to relieve yourself from stress?

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Invest in happiness – Part 2 – I’d rather be shopping at Nordstrom

Sep 18

Posted by Christophe in Happiness | 1 Comment

horton2bg_80799For part 1, click here

“I’d rather be shopping at Nortstrom”. I spotted that bumper sticker on my way home one day.”That is so sad” I thought. “I can’t believe people would reduce themselves to that”. I then quickly started my MP3 player, grabbed my PDA phone, drove on and spent antoher gallon of gas promising myself to not let that happen to me…

An inch passed my self-righteousness, I realized that I was really not all that different. I have owned 3 PDA’s in the last five years, four computers in the last 10 years and quite some more electronics gadgets. In college, I literally spent every dollar I made on electronics . The news was out : I was a consumer, and a pretty darn good one at that.

Life, Liberty and The pursuit of happy moments

I can track my lust for PDAs to about 10 years ago. One of my first professional assignment was a three months stint in Paris. “First time away from home, better get organized” I thought. So I found a cool Cassiopeia E-10 to hold all my life in before taking the plunge. It even had a voice recorder! I had an amazing time there. Every night, I would leave work at 6PM and just start walking down the streets of the city. About 15 miles a day, every day for three months. I spent countless hours making up melodies and recording them. And then walking and walking and more walking. This was exhilarating and one of the most satisfying introspective experience of my life.

And that is what most my own frivolous stuff purchases are about: the thrill of the moment or the association of objects with pleasant memories. It is tough sometimes to not confuse this kind of thrill with real happiness. I know that things don’t bring happiness, that only actions and relationships do. But I still fall for it (altough way less than I used to). Sometimes, after a coveted purchase, I even feel an exaltation that usually lasts for a week or so. I love the stuff fast and then fall out of love in a whim. I can even get pretty defensive with it (”Pleeaaaase don’t break my PDA…”).

No wonder advertisers focus so much on images of happiness to push their products. They hope that we associate their product to pleasant feelings. What they fail to mention, though is that stuff-induced exaltation always goes away. Stuff does not bring real happiness. I understand that this is common sense but I need to write it again. Stuff does not bring real happiness – but it can be fun sometimes -…

It is plain to see that I am not always successful at discerning what brings long term happiness. However, I always try to remember that it is not the things that make a moment happy, it is the people – yes, you there-.

Your very delayedlama.

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Baby-sitting the big financial institutions – IndyMac, Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae, and now Lehman Brothers?

Sep 15

Posted by Grace in Current Affairs | No Comments

I’ve long since thought that America was spiraling down into a world in which it is buried in debt. With the current debt at 12 trillion dollars, and now with the current state of these financial institutions, I don’t know if Americans have yet to learn their lesson. People who went and borrowed money and didn’t have sufficient funds to pay off their mortgage, the greedy companies who thought it was a good idea not to credit check in hopes that the housing market would continue to go up, I don’t think we should be bailing them out. I’m glad that Lehman Brothers was not bailed out. It’s a mistake. These people need to learn the consequences. They made the mistake, and I don’t believe American taxpayers should have to pay for the mistakes of lenders and borrowers.

When will Americans learn never to spend money they don’t have? The credit culture in America, though by all accounts was a good idea in the beginning, has created nothing but a disaster. Nothing about it has been positive. Swiping that plastic is much easier than handing cash. Cash = something real, solid, real money in one’s hand. Credit = pure plastic, fake money, debut money. It is said that most families have an average debt of $8,000.

The number of people who live paycheck to paycheck is apalling. Using their credit card to pay for something they don’t have in their bank account baffles my mind. It’s no wonder that the United States government has turned out the way it has. $12 trillion DEBT. We owe so many countries money. One day, they’ll stop buying U.S. bonds and then what?

I don’t know what people can do really, what solutions there are. I know a start would be to cut up those credit cards, and to stop spending as though there seems to be a money tree in our homes. Minimize, minimize, minimize. Find other forms of entertainment – volunteer, spend more time in the kids, go out for a hike, a walk.  I’m hoping though, that this rush of affluenza and the love affair with credit cards in this country will stop. Maybe this is the wake-up call that everyone needs. If it’s not, I don’t know what kind of state the country has to be in before someone decides to change their spending habits and their lifestyle.

Continual urge to spend

Sep 14

Posted by Grace in Affluenza | 1 Comment

My last post should have been published a long time ago. So I went ahead and published it again, along with this post. Did I make my $200 mark? No. So I keep forging on, trying to make my goal, because I’ve done it before.

I often peruse SlickDeals.net for a great deal on something that I am in search for. Lately, it’s been the Logitech Z-5500, 5.1 speakers for the computer. I was searching for it because I thought my current speakers were dying, due to crackling heard everyday. But because of this, I end up reading on other things, such as Western Digital’s My Passport Essential Portable HDD and the Back-to-School promotion ending tomorrow by Apple.

The Passport Essential I actually do need, but the deal wasn’t as great, so … after placing the items in my cart not once, but twice, I decided to forget it. I told myself that a better deal would come along, and only until people rate the deal five stars would I bite. The Apple promotion is to buy a MAC and to receive an iPod Touch free (new generation). I’ve always wanted a Mac and even though I’d be selling the iPod Touch, there was no reason whatsoever for me to purchase one and especially right now. So, there again, I found myself placing the items in my cart, but  ended up just closing the browser as well.

Self-control. Self-discipline.  On Friday, I came across two excellent financial blogs – Get Rich Slowly and Free Money Finance, both blogs stressing frugality as being the best way to grow the cash in your wallet. Both blogs talk about ways to save money and creating a budget. After reading a few posts, I was convinced I would be wasting my money on items that certainly are overpriced. It also prompted me to transfer more of my paycheck from my checking account to my money market fund, so I would only have 18% of my paycheck to play around with. Honestly, I rarely ever use over 18% per month which is whyI’m thinking that’s still too much. Because the less I have in my checking account, the less inclined I would be to whip out my credit card and waffle over purchases. I’ve now added those two links to our blogroll.

Also this weekend, I went back to listing some of the no longer needed items laying around my house on eBay. Not only will I be making some extra money, I’ll also clear out some of this clutter that never seems to go away.

Are any of you feeling the urge to spend? What have you guys been doing to stop it?

Daily Struggle of Spending

Sep 14

Posted by Grace in Affluenza | No Comments

Lately, ever since right before I went on my trip to Taiwan, I bought a few in my opinion, big ticket items I thought I would need or use:

ASUS EEEPC, $399
MyPower Universal Rechargeable, approx $129
Tokina Wide Angle Lens $450
Palm Tungsten E2 $72 (Ebay)
Wrestling Tickets $300 (Anniv. present)
Plecodict Software $119

Plus other miscellaneous items in the past three months. I don’t regret buying any of the items except for the MyPower which I may end up selling on ebay. I thought it would be useful in powering my laptop, my DS, my camera, but when it came to it, I realized that the only thing I would really use it for was my laptop during an airplane flight. I used it twice. But I just don’t travel very much. I have enough gadgets to keep me fairly occupied on a long flight.

What I do regret however, is buying them in such close vicinity together at their given prices. I tried to rationalize each of the purchases – the ASUS EEEPC being a terrific travel companion when travelling in Taiwan – which it was. The MyPower Battery for the airplane (which it wasn’t). The Tokina – a lens I had told myself I would purchase after going to Europe and missing that wide view, went to Taiwan, still found I really missed it on so many shots that I immediately came back and purchased the Tokina so I wouldn’t miss it for futher trips. Palm + Plecodict – hey, I need to learn Chinese after purchasing a Chinese novel. And wrestling tickets – couldn’t think of anything else as an anniversary gift! Everything had its rationale but at the same time, none of it was rational.

I’ve often prided myself on being frugal with my money, but lately, I’ve been missing the ball and it’s frustrating to me. I list all my expenses in a spreadsheet to help me budget, but lately, even looking at the numbers add up in my spreadsheet, it hasn’t prevented me from really stopping on the gas so to speak. I always tell myself “next month, next month I will do better” when I overstep my bounds in the current month. I’m not in debt or anything, but I’ve always thought being more simple brought me the same amount of happiness. In fact, I spend so much time charging my gadgets, syncing them, organizing my pictures, correcting my pictures, uploading my pictures, burning files. Most of my leisurely time is spent organizing and maintaining instead of enjoying. I sometimes think about how much more social I might be if I had nothing at home that it would force me to go out and interact with my peers and heaven forbid, meet new people.

I find writing this right now truly is keeping in check. So today, as I write this, I vow not to spend more than $200 next month (this month I’ve already failed) not counting gas but including going out to eat.

Have any of you been having one of these months as well? Where you tell yourself to stay within a limit, but you not only go over but way over? What makes us do things we know we will regret? Where’s our discipline? Don’t we consciously know that we won’t really receive any direct happiness of long-term pleasure from what we are purchasing but just very short term or superficial?