Decluttering

Thanks.

Our local charity shop wouldn't take soft toys, not even My Little Pony or a Care Bear.

Allira

We've got lever arch files, box files, now redundant - does anyone take them or do they have to go to recycling or landfill?

Teddy?? Oh, poor Teddy, hope he'll be ok.

I see them in several charity shops. I take mine to a small shop that supports about 3 local charities.

Teddy will be welcome there too.

We've got lever arch files, box files, now redundant - does anyone take them or do they have to go to recycling or landfill?

That is a bit I have not go to yet.
I plan to offer them to relatives and friends first.

After that, I dont currently have a Plan B for them!

We've got lever arch files, box files, now redundant - does anyone take them or do they have to go to recycling or landfill?

Teddy?? Oh, poor Teddy, hope he'll be ok.

We had a great de cluttering today. Mainly linen, bed linen, duvets, a few clothes and a big teddy, some books and some lever arch files and coat hangers.

My car boot is full and it will all be dropped off tomorrow.
Feel so much better!

Last 3 trips to David Lloyd for swimming, I have dropped a bag with various items at a nearby charity shop. Can I keep this up, I wonder?

Today I got dh to agree that the good quality winter coat he hasn’t worn in years, and certainly never will again, can finally go. But that’s going to the Sally Army shop, which means a special trip.

loopylou I would suggest starting in a place that will a difference to how you live every day. A cupboard or shelf that drives you mad for instance. Don't worry about major decisions of 'throw away or not' - just get rid of the obvious broken/unwanted items to make space and get a bit more organized.

I started with the table beside the chair where I watch TV. I had to keep clearing it off to find somewhere to put my teacup. While I was watching TV one day I took the shelf out, cleaned it out, and started going through everything in it. Threw out broken bits and rubbish. Returned some bits to the place they should be. Put the rest back. Did the tabletop.

Every now and again I go back through our loads of books, or through clothes, or bed linen, or ornaments or whatever other clutter there is and clear a few more things.

It's not a race or a competition. You don't have do everything immediately. There are all sorts of schemes you can follow like '10 minutes a day' or '5 items a day' if it helps you. Some of us have been doing this for years and we're still not finished. But there won't ever be a finish point if you don't get started.

I've done quite well today, my old garden table & 2 chairs collected & off to new home, packed up my microscope which I haven't used for 30 years ready to post tomorrow, took another 4 garden chairs & old pillows out of the loft to the tip.I've given up on a car boot sale for now, no-one volunteers to help, so I have 3 bags of clothing for the charity shops tommorrow. Can't say that there's noticeably less stuff about, but I'm feeling optimistic that I'll get there.

MissAdventure

I often ask myself that.
I used to keep everything so clean, tidy and organised.
I didnt even think I had so much "stuff".

I swear it multiplies every day!

I used to work part time ( although sometimes I’d get called in to work longer). My son lived at home, his girlfriend was here most of the time. I had two dogs and a cat. I wasn’t in the mess I’m in now. I think a lot of it started when I was looking after my grandchildren and accumulated toys for them. Then my daughter passed on toys from her two for my sons younger children. Still using up pandemic stockpile food and can’t keep things in the garage which leaks. I know I buy things compulsively and internet purchasing has made it worse. Then there was my phase of upcycling furniture. Couldn’t resist buying things from charity shops or car boot sales to paint. It’s just built up over the years and seems unsurmountable.

loopyloo

Just bouncing this thread up.
Everything is a mess here. Where do I start? How did my life get into such a mess? Will make the bed.
Then will start in the hall....
Should I try and find a local therapist.?

Start in the smallest rooms, is the advice I read.

I work slow.
And I am determined.

But after 4 and a half years, I only have a few months left to finish.

Whne I come across a difficult part, I think, well I could move that. And I could do that bit of it.

It all starts to add up.

I often ask myself that.
I used to keep everything so clean, tidy and organised.
I didnt even think I had so much "stuff".

I swear it multiplies every day!

Just bouncing this thread up.
Everything is a mess here. Where do I start? How did my life get into such a mess? Will make the bed.
Then will start in the hall....
Should I try and find a local therapist.?

I’m the same with cd’s and vinyl as I am with books. Can’t part with them unless I really don’t like them. I’ve even got loads of audio tapes from when I used to tape everything but I don’t think they’re playable any more and I haven’t got anything to play them on. The tape player is still with the stereo stuff but I don’t know how to connect it.I need to get my SIL to go through my record collection. I did give him a Kate Bush LP when he discovered her a few years ago. I’ve still got a CD player in my ancient Yaris which I’m hoping will last me a few more years so I have to still buy them. Last night the mini dehumidifier I use to dry the kitchen floor broke and today the burglar alarm man said the lightning strike that wiped out our street when I was away has destroyed it, so that has to be replaced. My Humax recorder keeps having funny turns and I’m wondering if the lightning affected that too ( the tv engineer that I use seems to have retired so I’ve go no one to check it out).I got off lightly as most of the street lost their internet connection, I’m convinced the new electricity meter is going to be a disaster. And the kitchen tap needs a new washer. So I just curl up on the sofa with the dog, put a box set on and pretend it isn’t happening!

Doodledog MrA used to buy CDs so he didn't have to play his original vinyl so we have two copies of everything plus the jukebox 😕 On top of that his Dad left him all his vinyl which no one is interested in but it is still stacked up in a spare bedroom getting dusty and he won't let it go, I think because he would feel disloyal to his Dad. It's a battle I think I would lose at the moment so I'm attacking the DVDs instead.

Yes, I got one of those Brennan things, and spent days uploading CDs to it, but he won't part with the hard copies or his 1980s stacking system and speakers 😡.

He hears me playing my music, which sounds better through a small modern speaker than his does through ones that wouldn't be out of place in the Albert Hall, but won't be convinced to do the same.

My husband has cupboards full of records, CDs and a huge stacking system housed in a mahogany cabinet with enormous speakers 😢. I have an Apple Music subscription and a portable speaker. We are different species.

That sounds like me and MrA 😅 I finally got him to get rid of his big cabinet when he discovered a 'jukebox' that will store all his music and he can operate it from a remote control. Even so, his cabinet sat there for three years, empty apart from cobwebs before I could convince him to take it to the tip. I upcycled a pine cabinet to hold the TV and all his jukebox bits and small speakers so at least it is out of the way and the room isn't so cluttered.

I also zipped nearly a thousand DVDs onto a hard drive so we could get rid of DVDs but many are still cluttering up the shelves so that's still a work in progress.

* I meant ‘the telling off’ bit.

To Doodledog.

Then well done you!

I remembered, and have tried to work by that.
Sensible advice.

MissA moan as much as you feel the need to. You have just cause as life for you seems tough at present. You manage to make me chuckle even when you’re moaning. I bet you’re good company in RL. 💐

That was me . If you aren't sure, but can replace something for less than £20 in less than 20 minutes, get rid.

Someone said, possibly on the other thread, not to worry about things you have dispensed of, that were under £20. As easily replaceable. Something like that.

The beach shoes were £10.

Oh, I'm sure! The 'you might need that one day' thought is always at the back of my mind.

I am so bad at sorting and clearing out, which is why I hate it so much, and why I let it build up - not to Hoarder Next Door levels, but to a level that irritates me. My vice is cramming things into Doom Bags (carriers or purpose-bought receptacles) instead of properly tidying them away, and then having to deal with the Doom Bags separately. I've tried the 'touch everything only once' method, but it doesn't come naturally.

I can't pretend to have enjoyed the relentless getting rid of things, but I haven't missed anything that went out, and I feel much better for having done it

I have enjoyed it, which helps.

A bit more to go yet.

There is only 1 thing that I miss. Which I threw out recently. Some beach shoes for pebbly beaches. I didnt know what they were, so out they went.
About two weeks later, I went on a pebbly beach. Came home and googl ed for shoes to wear on pebbly beaches, and realised what I had done!
No biggee of course. But it still manages to irk me!

I hope you feel better soon, MissA. Arthritis must slow you down too, MayBee.

I don't have piles of things, and the house is not cluttered in that sense. I have found that since I reorganised everything a couple of years ago it is much easier to keep on top of things. It's been the opposite of a vicious circle, whatever that is . As I'd decorated everywhere and got the kitchen and bathroom sorted out, I felt more inclined to have people round, and knowing that people are coming round makes me more inclined to tidy up. I also felt able to have a cleaner in once a week, as she can clean more easily when I have tidied up.

I can't pretend to have enjoyed the relentless getting rid of things, but I haven't missed anything that went out, and I feel much better for having done it. I didn't get a personality transplant though, so I do need to keep on top of it, and have a quarterly 'chuckout' on a smaller scale. The pre-Christmas one is always tricky - winter items (whether they are big coats, thick jumpers or blankets) take up more space than their summer equivalents, and there are presents to factor in as well as a greater chance of having overnight guests.