Making a list and checking it twice (From Gazette & Herald)

Making a list and checking it twice

HOW many of the things in your house do you regularly use, and how many are just taking up space?

If there was ever time to make two piles, and add up the value of the useless items which crowd our lives, the total would be staggering. There is pressure all the time to buy, not only from advertising but from the people around us.

The other day, I heard someone singing the praises of her new iron. Apparently it makes ironing such a joy that she irons things that don't even need it.

My iron goes back to the middle ages, or rather to the first appearance of steam irons. Why not get one of these amazing new ones and bring some new domestic bliss into my life? I wrote 'iron' on the shopping list.

The benefit of living in the country is that going shopping involves quite a trek and one doesn't go every day. This is where lists are so useful.

After several days, and a perfectly amenable session of ironing with Old Faithful, I realised that I didn't need a replacement and crossed it off.

Crossing things off is the best way of dealing with lists. Let them accumulate all sorts of whims and desires by all means but then, when the time comes to go out, sit down and do some severe editing.

Isn't there food still lurking in the fridge which could be made into something interesting rather than buying more?

Things that 'need' replacing can often be given a new lease of useful life if they are cleaned or mended. Then think smugly of how much you have saved and what you have done for the planet.

Shopping is one of the few areas where we can actually make a difference to the world.

Buying at small local shops and filling up at independent garages can radically affect the area in which we live.

It may be more time-consuming and a bit more expensive, but the long-term effects are much more important and, if you are doing plenty of crossing-out, you will be buying less anyway.

Updated: 12:00 Wednesday, October 29, 2003