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More decluttering

(121 Posts)
MissAdventure Sun 28-Jun-20 13:56:48

There was quite a good thread just before Christmas, which came to a halt as we began filling our homes again.

Then there was the lockdown.

So, I'm starting a new thread in the hope that some like minded people will join in.

MissAdventure Fri 21-Aug-20 22:25:10

I have a 3d jigsaw puzzle of something or other on the floor, half completed by grandson.

It's been there about 18 months now.

Callistemon Fri 21-Aug-20 22:25:41

I did get rid of a lot of stuff at the end of last year but not summer stuff in a size below.
Then came lockdown.

Susan56 Fri 21-Aug-20 22:26:00

A bit late replying Maw.Our tip reopened about six weeks ago.There were huge queues the first couple of weeks but more or less straight in and out now.

We have put a few things on a local Facebook page and they have gone very quickly.

Shandy57 Fri 21-Aug-20 23:28:13

I sold during lockdown and moved into a rental. My young adult daughter had just left home and already moved into rented accommodation, and had already taken her favourite possessions. She hadn't expected me to sell during lockdown and was very unhappy about it, and our relationship is now quite strained. I assured her I would pack up her bedroom. I think her bedroom amounted to about 30 boxes and many bags of clothes. She has just been on a flying visit to sort it all out and take what she wants to her new flat, and put everything she no longer wanted into boxes, including her books.

I was surprised it was such a very large amount of 'decluttering', but didn't open any of the boxes or bags, I have just delivered them all to the charity shop. I was upset to see she'd left the bed linen I'd bought her in the donation pile. All she wants me to keep for her is in one box, along with her violin, backpack and a box of records.

She'd also left a bag for me to put into the recycling bin. I felt upset when I looked - is it just me being old? She has thrown out all of her school art work, her poetry, school 'award certificates, plus every card we'd ever sent her whilst she was at Uni, as well as photo albums friends had made for her. There were also two cards from her late Dad ... I'm not sure whether to get them out.

MissAdventure Fri 21-Aug-20 23:37:39

Oh, what a shame.
I suppose though, that some people are just less sentimental about stuff.

I had a cushion on my bed which I didn't like, but kept because it belonged to my late daughter (what an awful sentence to ever have to say or write)

I threw it out a while back, though.

Shandy57 Fri 21-Aug-20 23:44:39

MissAdventure, so very, very sorry for your loss. I wonder if my daughter threw so much out because she is starting a 'new life' in a new place - she has just got her first job. I'm also moving away from here and will only be able to buy a small property.

MissAdventure Fri 21-Aug-20 23:55:03

Thank you. smile

Well, your daughters idea of starting anew does seem sensible, when you put it like that.

If you dig out things from her "get rid" pile, you'll only end up having to find storage space in your new home.

Shandy57 Sat 22-Aug-20 00:47:27

I have a box with all of her school reports/childhood drawings/posters from plays she's acted in - I think I will retrieve the two cards from her Dad and put them in there for her to find when I've gone smile

Jane43 Sun 23-Aug-20 13:25:41

DH is currently trying to sell his old hi fi system because he doesn’t play music so often now, when he does it’s either in the car or sat at his desk computer upstairs. So he decided to make more room in the lounge and advertise his amplifier, speakers and expensive hi fi housing cabinet. We have been astounded by people responding to his ads, not in a good way. The housing cabinet went first at a really low price to somebody who lives a 45 Minute drive away and he asked if DH could deliver it to him, obviously DH said no but he did arrive and paid the full price. The Yamaha amplifier has just been sold to somebody who tried to knock £10 off the price to cover his travel costs, DH went down by £5. We now have a set of Mission speakers to go which DH never told me how much he paid for but were very expensive. He also had two scammers yesterday who offered the full price for everything but couldn’t tell him what the items were, we believe the next step would have been to give us a money order for a higher amount and give them the difference. Thankfully we don't have anything else to sell and the speakers will probably go up in the loft which we have been trying to clear.

MissAdventure Sun 23-Aug-20 13:41:14

I have a hose pipe for sale on Ebay.
No takers, so it was relisted, and now has a bid on it (a princely amount of £3)

Someone has contacted me and been quite indignant because he didn't bid the first time, and he now wants it..

MissAdventure Wed 26-Aug-20 13:23:05

Well, the hosepipe has gone, thus leaving room for shoes in the basket where it was.

The 3d jigsaw went in the bin, and the handbag I had hoped to make a killing on has absolutely no interest on Ebay.

craftyone Sat 12-Sept-20 06:16:01

I am going to make a real effort in my wardrobe this coming week. I see that one of the local charity shops has re-opened, so my qvc marla wynne tops are going, don`t know why I bought them, got sucked in I suppose. Big, heavy, makes me look as though I am disguising my figure, they have been hanging for over 2 years, worn a couple of times and (hangs head) made from polyester. They are baggy sacks with heavy drape

kissngate Sat 12-Sept-20 07:04:53

I've had similar issues to Shandy with my AC. Neither wanted school reports, artwork and most old photos. The only one they wanted was their final year in school with teachers and year group. As for sentimental items they didnt want any, I was so disappointed and wondered why I'd kept them so long.
I've got lots of lovely evening wear to give away to charity which were bought for a couple of cruises. It seems such a shame to give them away but I've had too many bad experiences with ebay that it's not worth the hassle.

loopyloo Sat 12-Sept-20 07:37:47

When my father died when I was 17, I heard the advice from Christina Rossetti that is was better to forget, than remember and be sad. So have been trying to clear stuff out and move on all my life.
Have been slowly going through my clothes and have far too many. So can manage without doing any washing for weeks. Nothing expensive and some navy trousers from years ago , so plan is to clear stuff out and turn things round more quickly.
But I can hear my mother saying " but it will do a turn, dear". So keep it for gardening.

craftyone Sat 12-Sept-20 08:14:13

loopyloo, your mother`s saying could be coming from me. I have failed bigtime, I put the clothes in a heap and had my shower and they have all gone back into the wardrobe, I will most definitely try to wear them at least this winter, layered is key and I have layered the tops on hangers. They feel comfy enough on and look fine. I am disappointed in myself but cannot do it

craftyone Sat 12-Sept-20 08:19:24

kissngate, we put anything `useful` for the AC into a loft. 20 years later, no-one wanted anything, so we had to get a skip as we were moving to a smaller townhouse

I also got cruise clothes, only ever went on one and that was a few months after I was widowed. People put the fear into me, `you have to wear posh for dinners` I will never go on another cruise, so I steadily gave my new clothes away to the charity shop. I still have some cruise clothes left, maybe they are what I should focus on clearing

Clothing is incredibly difficult unless personalsizing has changed a lot

craftyone Sat 12-Sept-20 08:25:44

I mean, does anyone ever wear silky swishy skirts and `posh` silky tops any more? I think thebuying cost is/was stopping me. It is time for me to bite the bullet. I know I will never go abroad again and am happiest in the uk, mostly cycling and gardening and going to craft clubs. I have never been twinset and pearls. Its stomach churning tbh but I need to do it

Howjado Mon 14-Sept-20 13:24:00

I am down sizing and therefore trying to declutter. But the charity shops seem reluctant to accept my donations, "Sorry, we have taken our quota of donations for today". I rang two local animal charities offering towels and duvets. One said they had no more storage space and could I hang on to them for a few weeks and the other said they don't want duvets but would like food please. Yesterday I drove round supermarket carparks looking for one of those big metal bins that wants scrap cloth and material. I could not find one. There was an Oxfam container, displaying a sign saying "We still need your donations" but it was full to over flowing, surrounded by wet soggy bags of donated items. I did not leave mine. I feel as though I am meeting a brick wall every where I turn.

Calendargirl Mon 14-Sept-20 14:37:34

I find I just wear the same old stuff. On another thread someone said they think we over-wash our clothes, and I agree with this. When I was working, it was a clean top every day, but I don’t feel that’s warranted now, as I don’t get dirty, and I don’t perspire like I did when I was younger. So the same old tops and shorts are worn, just don’t need dozens any more.
My wardrobe is quite full, but much of it is years old, and much of it unworn now, as it’s just the old faithfuls.

MissAdventure Mon 14-Sept-20 15:37:19

My decluttering has ground to halt.
I'm not sure what's going on, but no takers for lots of almost new school uniform (on freecycle)
Ebay bits have had no views..