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Is a clutter free home a clutter free mind..does it work for you.

(30 Posts)
bikergran Fri 28-Sept-18 14:49:58

Today my head and mind is in a shambles..just come home from work.
When I went out this morning I had £15 tucked away in my phone case..somehow during the morning around 7-30 ish when I was buying my lunch for later.. must have pulled it out along with my card and obviously someone has picked it up.

Yesterday I lost my ID badge for work .emptied drawers pockets( I had washed my uniform so emptied my pocket and always put pocket contents in a dish to put back in
later)
My house is a bit untidy as in drawers/cupboards etc but the look of the house is tidy (well tidy enough) smile
I seem to be rushing/dashing about trying to look afetr everybody which I really dont mind.

But do you have filing cabinets/folder/labelled boxes...could you go right now and find your V5 for your car/your car insurance or the bit of paper with that important telephone number on.

I am determined to sort my mind out as well as just throwing things down on the worktop then miss laying them.

I found my ID badge in a bag I had took to work but then thrown some duster in the bag...grrrrrrr...

What works for you..? hints n tips welcome smile

Have you ever lost an amount of money,I now have to work 2 free hours to re couperate my loss
Off out now (If I can find my car keys) confused

FlexibleFriend Fri 28-Sept-18 15:12:25

I have a good memory so yes I could find my v5 in a nano second, I know where my car keys are at any given moment but I don't have filing cabinets or labeled boxes etc But I did once chuck 80 quid in the kitchen bin while dashing about but retraced my steps and found it again hours later. These days I live alone so have only my own clutter to deal with which is generally put away quite rapidly, it's harder when you live with others to stay on top of everything.

Charleygirl5 Fri 28-Sept-18 15:16:51

I have specific places for my car and house keys. I would love to be clutter free but I doubt if that will ever happen. I have no idea where anything is- it will be in one pile or another- who knows? Any offers?

paddyann Fri 28-Sept-18 15:17:09

I love a clutter free house,we dont have ornaments at all,well one Buddha and sometimes a vase for flowers but nothing that needs dusted .I like a good clear out and reglraly chuck stuff out ,behind my OH's back because he is a bit of a hoarder .I dont get attached to "things" which helps.I still lose things though,I bought a charm for my neices birthday and for the life of me cant remember where I put it,no doubt its with the bracelet bought for GD's birthday 2 weeks ago which has also gone awol .Be a nice surprise for them when I find them .

Anniebach Fri 28-Sept-18 15:21:29

Clutter doesn’t bother me, explains much ?

winterwhite Fri 28-Sept-18 16:12:54

I always know where things that matter are and put down keys, bag etc in the same place. It's the things I move about with that are the trouble - esp. my glasses wh I put down wherever I happen to be, or my diary

OldMeg Fri 28-Sept-18 16:21:45

Hate clutter.

Grandma70s Fri 28-Sept-18 17:38:43

Houses with no clutter can be a bit boring, because clutter often shows your interests and personality. What do you do in an empty room? There should be books and papers about, pictures, the occasional ornament. Well, that’s what I prefer. I like to walk into a room and immediately know something about who lives in it.

I do tend to be a bit untidy, but recently when my son was checking some financial stuff for me he said my financial records, papers etc. were quite well organised.

Fennel Fri 28-Sept-18 17:47:32

I can't stand clutter either.
Goes back to a time when I was overwhelmed with work, family etc and felt I had lost control.
I was the only person in our office (about 20 people) who always had a clear desk.

bikergran Fri 28-Sept-18 18:52:40

hmm well only myself to blame for clutter....I am quite minimalistic where furniture/photos/ornaments go(only have 1 big ornament couple of candles on stands)

I have a brief case with all docs in car/certificates etc etc .
I think it was being gormless and loosing the money this morning that started it off..Ive been watching my pennies so was mad at myself for being sloppy tut..

Tomorrow I may start to de clutter...thing is I need everything tut..ok well we shall see.

Situpstraight1 Fri 28-Sept-18 18:56:06

I’m not clutter free at all, but I do know where things are kept, a place for everything and everything in its place!

Plus I know which cupboards to open carefully or stuff will fall out onto the floor, but all important stuff is safely filed away.

Grannyben Fri 28-Sept-18 20:06:08

I have enough pictures, ornaments etc to make my home homely but, no excessive clutter. I live on my own so sorry that my daughters will be left to clear everything when I "pop off".
I think trying to declutter a whole house at once can be overwhelming. Start with the bathroom, a nice spring clean and get rid of those toiletries you don't use or need. Once you've got your first room done you will feel better about tackling the others

cornergran Fri 28-Sept-18 20:23:39

Depends what is meant by clutter. I keep things that mean something to us, ornaments, pictures, glass, that type of thing. I don’t think of them as clutter as they all have a place and are part of our home. I guess others could view them as clutter hmm.

Paperwork is different, it’s organised, I can find most things if not instantly within a few minutes. I’d worry if not.

You just sound overly busy bikergran. We all have daft moments, I understand how annoying it is to lose cash but don’t be too hard on yourself. Accidents happen.

Alima Fri 28-Sept-18 20:38:00

While you are decluttering biker, is there a chance you will find something worth £15 which you no longer want and can flog easily? Problem solved.

bikergran Fri 28-Sept-18 20:46:33

hmm..yes cornergran I have posted something on another thread (bereavement) how my head feels.

Alima I shall have a poke round lol..see what I can salvage.thanks all smile

Melanieeastanglia Fri 28-Sept-18 22:02:19

Although I like my house to be a home with ornaments and the odd thing on a coffee table, I do find it is easier to find things if you are tidy.

It makes the place easier to clean too. Everyone is different but I find unnecessary clutter and untidy rooms make me feel depressed.

gmelon Fri 28-Sept-18 22:39:33

Yes I have folders for paperwork.
One mine. One husband. One stuff I need to keep.
One for paperwork that needs my attention now, outstanding bills etc. Hospital and other appointment letters for my medical needs.
I have a ring binder for bank statements
I have a large expanding box file for my medical records.

For years I used to have mountains of paperwork but it isn't neccessary.

When the post comes it's either binned, shredded, or put in the relevant file.

grannyqueenie Fri 28-Sept-18 22:53:29

bikergran no wonder you’re feeling disorganised, I think coping with loss impacts on all sorts of aspects of life. I can remember after my mother’s death constantly feeling not in control of things in my everyday life I even dreamt about losing things.
Try to find an easy to manage system that works for you, it’s can be so tiring wasting energy searching for stuff. All the more so if other people are depending on you to look after them too. Try to be kind to yourself in the midst of it all. x

MissAdventure Fri 28-Sept-18 22:59:34

I think large clear folders are a really good idea for paperwork.
Even if you can't bear to look at the contents of the bill, letter, or whatever, you can at least put into the folder so its where you can find it, if needed.
I used to do that.
Now I have a table full of clear plastic folders, letters, bills, p45s, school letters...

stella1949 Sat 29-Sept-18 00:30:58

I can't stand clutter and "stuff" . And yes I can lay my hands on anything at all within a few minutes. I have a filing cabinet for all the paper work, and everything is kept in it's correct place. I have a rule - only ever handle paperwork once. I either trow it in the bin, action it, or file it. End of story.

bikergran Sat 29-Sept-18 11:37:46

grannyqueenie thankyou...only trouble is it is over 4 yrs ago!

I have hoovered tidied kitchen going to tackle under stairs another day.. I always do"understairs" if I'm bored lol
Off now to dd to help her with housework (always different doing someone elses confused

Have sifted through all my papers got 2 black bags full of burning paper that I have accumulated so bonfire day coming soon lol.

ok bye all hope you all have a fruitful day smile

BBbevan Sat 29-Sept-18 14:58:36

I have lots of 'stuff' Books, paintings, ornaments, photographs, plants etc. But they are definitely not clutter. Now we have a larger house, everything has a place and is returned to it after use. Except in DHs case where he puts it where he calls the ' logical ' place !!!. Not quite up to William Morris standard yet, but working on it.

stree Sun 30-Sept-18 13:25:14

William Morris.....along the lines of "everything in the house must be beautiful or useful"...............That`s me out then....

sunseeker Sun 30-Sept-18 13:35:34

I have specific places for things like keys, tv remote etc. but several months ago I had a clear out of my kitchen cupboards and yesterday wanted my slow cooker to make a casserole and couldn't remember where I had put it. I was also looking for my winter dressing gown, I remembered washing it and folding it but again couldn't remember where I had stored it. Eventually found the slow cooker pushed to the back of a cupboard I rarely open and the dressing gown in the airing cupboard buried under bedding (yes I know that would be the logical place to store it but no-one has ever accused me of being logical!)

Freeandeasy Sun 30-Sept-18 14:47:50

My house is clutter free, I am a minimalist. That’s just how I am. I have a large metal filing cabinet in my newly created small office (just had a loft conversion in our bungalow, so new Office is by the stairs). I file everything in plastic folders and can lay my hands on anything I need instantly. Bliss! OCD? Maybe, but it makes me ?