The Little Book of Lagom

We will all experience difficult situations at some point in

e will all experience difficult situations at some point in our lives, but it is how we deal with them, and not the situations themselves, that has the most impact on our stress levels. A great way to change your mind about problems is to find a positive within the negative.
This can be hard at first, especially in situations that can have quite a strong and lasting effect on your life. Even finding a small positive will make a situation easier to deal with

It’s important to remember that although there is an element of frugality in lagom, it isn’t about abstinence but achieving a healthy balance that works for you – remember, ‘not too much, not too little, just the right amount’

o reduce clutter, think before you buy. The next time you see something you want to buy, ask yourself the following questions:
Can I live without it?
Will I wear it/use it? If so, where and when?
Can I afford it? Would I prefer to have the money in my account or this item in my house?
Have I got the space for it?
If you’re still not sure, the best thing to do is sleep on it, then go back and buy it the next day if you’re convinced you must have it.
Tip
Have a rule that if you buy something you must get rid of something, so you’re never adding to your amount of belongings.

reduce clutter, think before you buy. The next time you see something you want to buy, ask yourself the following questions:
Can I live without it?
Will I wear it/use it? If so, where and when?
Can I afford it? Would I prefer to have the money in my account or this item in my house?
Have I got the space for it?
If you’re still not sure, the best thing to do is sleep on it, then go back and buy it the next day if you’re convinced you must have it.

Clothes are a weakness for many of us, but do you really know what you’ve got, and how much of it do you actually wear? Begin by emptying and sorting one drawer at a time or one cupboard at a time. For some items you won’t need to give much thought to whether to let them go, but others can be tricky. This is when you should ask yourself the following questions:
Do I love it?
Do I wear it?
Does it project the image I want to project?
Does it itch or scratch?
Can I actually move in it comfortably?
When did I last wear it? (Will I shrink back into those jeans, like, ever?!)
Be honest, and soon you will have a large pile that can be sorted into categories: to be given away to friends and family, sold on eBay or other sites, shwopped* or taken to the charity shop.

Can I live without it?
Will I wear it/use it? If so, where and when?
Can I afford it? Would I prefer to have the money in my account or this item in my house?
Have I got the space for it?

will need:

Peel of two lemons and one lime (perhaps have that G & T first, or make lemonade)

1-litre (approx.) glass bottle with a lid

1 litre white wine vinegar

1 spray bottle

Instructions:

Fill the container with the white wine vinegar and add the lemon and lime peel.
Leave the filled container to stand in a cool, dark place for a week or two until the vinegar becomes cloudy and the smell isn’t so pungent.
Decant some of the solution into a spray bottle and then it’s ready to use on floors, surfaces and in bathrooms, wherever you would normally use spray cleaning products.

Lagom is a Swedish word meaning ‘just the right amount’ and comes from the proverb ‘Lagom är bäst’, meaning ‘Just the right amount is best’.

It’s a win–win, because not only will you make someone else feel special but by doing so, you’ll feel good too!