100 Item Challenge inspires

Today I was chatting to my good pal, Emma, she has admitted to embracing the 100 Item Challenge without even realising it.

Emma recently moved and in her new house has converted the attached garage to turn it into a play room for her two sons, well more of a teenagers as a chill out room for the TV, Playstation etc.  She had to clear all the boxes that held 'stuff', she had automatically kept the boxes of 'stuff' because she always had, but now she had no where to put it, the thought of trekking all the boxes to the small attic space was not a prospect she wanted to consider.  So she was forced to go through the contents, needlessly to say, 3 car boot sales and a raft of small ads later, she has money in her purse and no boxes to cart around.  Emma stated 'It was time consuming, and I dreaded doing it.  But, now it's done I feel somewhat lighter in mind and cash in my pocket.'

She has focused her sons mind about what is important, the youngest at 10 years old is into lego and has that is his main toy and is really into computer games, her oldest at 14 years old is just interested in computer games, so that is great for having clear bedrooms.  Her boys are happy with their lives and enjoy many school run activites that keeps them busy, they have the clothes they like and wear and have fulfilling lives which involves friends and not just accumulating toys and whims.

Emma is a property specialist, and with the housing decline she has noticed the change in lifestyle changes, clients of hers were remortgaging and spending money on expensive accessories and luxury items they didn't really use, just show off to friends to impress.  Now people don't have the money to spend and are using what they have, focusing their attention on improving themselves and living life rather than striving for something bigger, better and more expensive.

Has the economy made us reflect on what is important to us?  Are we focusing our minds on how we live?  Will we be going back to the days of family life like 'Little House on the Prairy' or the 'Waltons'

G'night John Boy!