Simpler Life Series 6: Lighten that Load

Have you ever noticed how much stuff we carry as women?  (You male readers are thinking yeah!, right?) We have purses and bags that we simply must carry everywhere we go.  I know some of the stuff you have in those bags is important – like a wallet and lip balm.  Is that all you’re carrying, though?Our bags have the most amazing ability to gather clutter, and it’s easy to ignore… unless you have to carry that stuff absolutely everywhere.  

When we moved to Germany, we had to start carrying everything.  We didn’t have the luxury of tossing our purchases onto the passenger seat of a car.  I was so embarrassed the first time I had to carry a package of toilet paper on public transportation.  Then I started seeing that everyone was doing the exact same thing at some point.  They were also wobbling home with too many groceries in their saddle bags and bike baskets like me, too.

Sometimes my grocery bags feel so heavy that I’m not sure I can make it home.  I’ve gotten better about how much I buy in the first place.  

I’ve also learned a really important rule:  walk out of the house with the least amount of stuff as possible.  Old receipts, extra pens, previous shopping lists – all of that stuff is gone before I even walk out of the house.

purses

Having a relatively empty purse (or just putting your wallet in your coat pocket) has got to be the most freeing feeling on any shopping trip.

This week in our simpler life series, what if we worked on simplifying our loads?

Please share any solutions or problems you have on this topic in the comments.  I swear I’d give all the loose change in my purse to the person with the most interesting thoughts if I didn’t just spend it on a subway ticket this morning.

(Image from Made by Rae)