People who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.

These tips come from Mary Hunt’s Everyday Cheapskate free on-line column. I’ve edited down the paragraphs.

1. Carry only the keys you use every day. (I already do this.)

2. Downsize your purse or briefcase. … Ditch the bag that’s the size of Nebraska … Now carry only the items you really need. (I have tried this. The result: I have no way to carry the items I accumulate in my travels. I'd have to carry one of those fold-up net bags instead, else find myself clutching a newspaper and a dozen little bags with things I have bought. A nightmare. – this was critical in NYC, not so much in the car culture I now find myself in. Also, if I don’t put things in my bag, I lose them. And if I pare down to the "necessries", that very day I find I need the stuff I left behind. In New York, anyway, when I left Queens for Manhattan, I had to carry binder with current piano music, Recording Walkman and blank tape for recording piano session, ballet stuff: leotard, tights, shoes, ankle warmers, tape for sore spots, scissors, aspirin, energy bar, water, towel and medical i.d. in case I collapsed in class, not as weird as it sounds. Also the standard stuff civilians carry -- wallet, make-up, hair brush, tissues ... I needed a Texas-size bag; Nebraska wasn't big enough.)

3. Cut back your jewelry to a couple of simple but elegant items. It takes a lot of energy to manage dozens of pairs of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. (This comes under the category of why can’t Mary Hunt make a decision? Sheesh. I have a lot of junk jewelry bought from street vendors in New York. I get more compliments on those than I do for the Tiffany ones I was given from the New York Times when I retired. I can afford the two seconds it takes me to choose a pair.)

4. Buy only white linens. Now everything matches, (I like my teal sheets. I don’t get confused when I choose or launder my sheets. Everything fades, that's life. Besides I’d get snowblind. Anyway, having beauty in your life sometimes means taking the time to make it happen.)

5. Keep a tasteful trash receptacle where you open mail. Handle mail only once. (I already do this. The problem is when Ed has to look at it. He’ll leave it without making a decision. All of my trash receptacles are tasteful.)

6. Get rid of two guilt-creating devices: Call waiting and the answering machine. I cannot believe how my life has been simplified since I no longer walk into the house knowing that I'm obligated to return 12 calls. (I like the people who call me. I WANT to return their calls. I live to see what's on the machine when I get home. She should winnow her friends if this is a problem for her. Anyway it takes oh so much more for me to feel guilty than being late returning a call.)

We're given just 24 hours each day. So far, no one's figured out how to increase that number, but if you begin to simplify your life you'll swear you've suddenly found more hours in your day! (Yeah, yeah, yeah. Put a sock in it.)

End Mary’s Tips

xx, Teal