Getting rid of "stuff"

@paddyanne we have a local Oxfam shop which does nothing but books and music. They tell me that they can use virtually every cookbook that they receive.

I find clearing out therapeutic but DH can't bring himself to throw anything away. He has a garage full of things that "might come in useful one day". These include bits of wood, wire, pieces of old carpet, a chair with two missing legs, and enough jam jars to make industrial quantities of jam.

My lockdown clear-out has focused on sorting over 50 years of photos. I've kept family photos to pass on to DDs and have heavily pruned holiday albums to reflect some of our travel experiences (in case we feel like a nostalgic trip). Hundreds of photos of unidentifiable lakes, mountains and beaches have been binned. Very satisfying.

One day I will throw out the jigsaws we have accumulated during lockdown (currently on our sixth 1,000 piece one). We think of them as "A Story of Lockdown" (subtitled How We went to Pieces).

thanks ccI have and tend to stick to a few although the nice ones are great just to browse through .I'll start working through them today

I have hundreds dont know what happens to words on here they disappear

Well done Luckygirl it’s good to move house without too many “trappings“. We have moved lots and got rid of more “stuff” each time. Certainly concentrated our minds when we cleared parents houses.

I am in a local neighbourhood network called “Nextdoor”. It has national links, and I have given away and sold quite a few things on there. Doesn’t cost anything to post and goes to reasonably local people so transport not usually a problem.

Our house seems to be the narrow end of a funnel, the crap from deceased relatives houses is all here, when my husband died in March I went through a lot of stuff, albums of people I didn't know, eg the adopted family who raised his aunt who died in the early 70s! Why did every man of a certain age who served in India during WW2 have a photo on a balcony during leave in Candy, Ceylon (then)? Do I need his old school reports? They're not exactly a testement to hard work!
There are all kinds of old cigarette and tobacco tins in the garage that came from my father's garage, it goes on forever and I can't bear to throw it out.

When my Mum died, we sorted everything into 3 piles-keep, charity shop, and dump.

I am such a pack rat.
It’s horrible.

I’m working on it. I never feel freer, I just feel what if I’ve made a giant mistake lol

Paddyanne take a photo of your favourite recipes (which you can later print out if you prefer to use a hard copy recipe) and then you can bin the books.

Please, please do not use these bags
catlady I use them to fill up with stuff to take to the charity shop. It gives even more satisfaction to do that. [wmile]

No one would want any of my cookery books - the ones I use are disgusting as they are covered in fat, gravy, curry and various other splashes. Or they have scribbles all over them saying double that, none of this etc.

catladyuk thank you for the help we did realise that some are fake. We always use the local Air Ambulance one that we know is bone fide.

I have spent lockdown clearing out. We are in the process of having our home refurbished. We are on our third skip (new cloakroom, new flooring, the old ones have to go somewhere) and probably took forty boxes and bags to charity shops. My husband has strong hoarding tendencies so it was very hard work. It looks lovely now and, best of all, all the excess is no longer here.

Therein lies the problem Suedonim I rarely use recipes but I love reading cookery books and looking at the pictures .Now and then I do cook something from the but as cooking has always been a hobby I like to improvise ...a lot .

Well done Luckygirl. I’ll bet you feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
I’m so going to do this. I have things stored in boxes and crates which have been cluttering up the place for years.
Now do I just chuck them without as much as a little peek inside or shall I throw caution to the wind and toss the lot unseen?
How brave am I feeling???

I do wish we could have a clear out. My problem is DH. We got rid of lots when we moved here six years ago but he keeps expressing regrets for things he was forced to get rid of. We still have far too much stuff. Dare I say, I will have such a clear out once he has died. My own hoard is nothing compared to his. The loft if full of stuff that is never touched, apart from jigsaw puzzles which we rotate from time to time,

Annie hip.
I know just what you mean,

I am a chucker and Oh is a hoarder.

I can’t abide having lots of Stuff!! Hanging around, so I constantly feel stressed every time I look at his Stuff!!
It’s no good, he won’t get rid of it, so what’s to do.
Usually, when a certain item is needed for repairs of some sort, he can’t find the appropriate tools. I wonder why?

Some local churches will direct you to places where goods can be used. We have a local Share it initiative that helps families in need. Our local charity shops in the north are now open

My husband was a hoarder and since his passing, pre lockdown, I cleared our garage. I did many trips to the local tip and hired a skip. I was amazed at the things he had kept and being a lover of car boot sales, had purchased and never used. What a job and I’ve still not finished. I must admit, chucking stuff in the skip was very cathartic and seeing the floor of the garage was satisfying. Now I just need some motivation to finish the job.

Ha, picture books, Paddyanne! I’m not going to admit how many craft books I have, from which I will likely do no projects whatsoever.

Some cook books are eminently readable. I love my Nigel Slaters, for instance, and my ancient Mrs Beeton’s is highly amusing for some of the gruesome suggestions for meals.

We had a talk at our WI from The Clutter Fairy. All trotted along expecting a good laugh, but the laugh was on us. Totally serious business but also a fascinating insight into why things build up, came away with a whole new take on STUFF.
I got a gift voucher birthday present for 3 hours of this lady, and we got rid of a car load. Catharsis and a huge relief. Now, since lock down eased, having a visit each week from a young friend helping me to work on the same ethos, I have craft clutter, books, papers, antique bits... too much clobber.
Parting with some of my Mum's things was hard but my friend is so understanding and non-judgemental it's actually like antidepressants without the pharmaceutical side!
Anti cluttering books didn't work but my practical friend encouraging me is a complete Godsend. I'm very arthritic so I'm rather limited in shifting things. JICYW, she's part of my family bubble so I am being very careful.
Also we're not taking ANYTHING to the tip that can't be reused and recycled, so it's a fantastic feeling. Take heart, Gransnetters, there is life after dealing with the deluge.

Ladies
You inspired me
I filled a 90l bag of clothes

Now to figure out how to get it out of my house

I have a bag of bags too

I have a some fabulous books that I wouldn't even start cooking from ,I dont have 3 days spare to cook a chicken but its interesting and the finished result looks amazing.Same with the French Laundry book results look fab but so many steps and hours to get them .I have original Prue Leith Dinner party books for the late 70's that I used a lot and I see twice baked souffles are back in fashion so maybe I should get them off the shelf .

Charity shops may not be open but Freecycling /Freegle is. Just join on line - - your local one or close. Post what you have to offer. Those interested will respond by email. You select one request. They collect when convenient to you. You post ‘it’s gone‘ to update all those who were interested. No money changes hands. Please check it out. All sorts of stuff can be offered in virtually state. And, if you are looking for something you can post a ‘wanted‘ advert. Saves stuff going to landfill, etc. Good luck!

Our charity shops are open but only take in a limited amount.

Re Freecycling there was a recent thread about the problems of those who arrange to collect then don’t turn up.

Still, I guess it is worth a go.