The one day I watch Oprah...

Usually I'm at work around 4pm, counting the minutes until I'm free of the office. But today, we've gotten about 6 inches of snow and I was rewarded with a snow day. Oh the joy! But the hours have flown by and in between keeping up with my work email, I haven't done much of anything except make tea and clean the snow off my car.

Meanwhile, in the land of the Oprah, the show is all about how much you can do without. And I'm a big fan of this. Granted, I realize that I live a much more simple life than the people sampled on the show, but I still am an American, so I tend to accumulate stuff.

Since going raw, I've cut a lot of things out of my life, because they just don't fit. My microwave is on it's way out. Hello, counter space! My clothes literally don't fit and keep not fitting, so I went on a shopping moratorium for the winter. I won't shop again until April 3. So, I've been clearing out my closets without replacing anything and I realized something. I don't need a lot of clothes, I just need a few versatile pieces that last. I don't know what those are yet, but I'm researching.

And I decided in January that I want to be cable free. No more monthly cable bill. I've already gotten rid of the house phone. The only thing I want to pay is for an internet connection and a Netflix subscription. Hopefully, Philly will get good free wireless soon and I can cut another monthly bill.

But watching Oprah, I'm wondering if I can cut even more. I've allocated $1,000 to upgrading my entertainment center and going cable free, with the idea that with cable costing me $100/month, it will pay for itself in 10 months. But if I cut that down to maybe a $500 or $750 investment, that's another chunk that can go to my savings or a trip.

I've still got a bunch of DVD's and quite a few books that I never watch, and with streaming Netflix, I won't need them. I think I should send them to AbundaTrade. And do I really need to keep a VCR?

My kitchen is pretty bare bones. I've been trying to be better about eating things before they go bad. I am developing quite the collection of kitchen tools, but I use them all and there are no repeats. And whatever I don't really use I pass on to the mom or the brothers. I'll take another look though. On second thought: mugs. I have way too many mugs. And cups in general. Maybe plates too.

Oh, and then there's the hall closet. Yeah, we all have one. Mine has a craft bin, tools, towels, a rug, and at least two pairs of rollerblades. I'll have to make an appointment in there before the weather breaks. And while I'm at it, I might as well throw in the living room closet. It's not atrocious, but still, lot's of stuff I don't use.

So, from the O, to me, to you, my IP's (that's internet people, for the newnews), I extend the challenge: What can you do without? How simple can you make your life?