De-cluttering, the never-ending process

*the fantasy being that half a stone would be enough!

Doodledog

I've just checked the Turtle Doves website, and yes, they take old cashmere garments in exchange for fingerless gloves - thanks again, Maria69. I will send some off and get some Christmas presents in return . I'm sure I have three that don't fit, which is their max per customer, so that's a pair for me and one each for my daughter and DIL's stockings.

I bought the gloves as gifts a couple of Christmases ago and was so impressed I bought myself a pair. I'm toying with the idea of sending a cashmere jumper that is a little small and getting another pair. It's cream with a navy 'dotted' horizontal stripe, I think a pair from it would look lovely, but on the other hand I'm still fantasising that I can lose half a stone and get back into it

I've just checked the Turtle Doves website, and yes, they take old cashmere garments in exchange for fingerless gloves - thanks again, Maria69. I will send some off and get some Christmas presents in return . I'm sure I have three that don't fit, which is their max per customer, so that's a pair for me and one each for my daughter and DIL's stockings.

A successful decluttering day for me today and looking forward to doing some more at the weekend.

Maria59

Doodledog there are companies who recycle cashmere and you get a pair of cashmere gloves in return. I can't remember the name however I'm sure Mr Google will know

Turtle Doves?

I know they make wristbands and things from old jumpers, but I didn't know they bought them - it makes sense that they will, really. Thanks for the tip

Maybee, I love the sound of your collections! How about starting a new thread where you post photos of your favourite things for us all to enjoy? 🙂

I used to collect children’s books too but I’m gradually taking them to charity bookshops as I know none of the family will want them - I will keep my most loved ones until the end!

Doodledog there are companies who recycle cashmere and you get a pair of cashmere gloves in return. I can't remember the name however I'm sure Mr Google will know

We're doing well. Keep it up, clutter chums!

that's annoying about the discount code, Cal - I once got rid of a lot of dinner plates and literally the next day my daughter asked for them as her partner had dropped a pile of hers and broken them.

I have a pile of books to be collected by the Anglo people, and am going to clear out another wardrobe tomorrow. It houses a lot of jumpers and cardis that no longer fit. Some are cashmere, which I hate to get rid of, but bought ones can't be unravelled because of the overlocked seams. Hand knitted ones can be, but I have so much yarn already waiting to be knitted up that I may as well let them go to someone who can use them.

After the wardrobe is cleared the next step is under the spare bed, and then I can start on the yarn. This evening I plan to finish off my son's old room. That is basically sorted, but there are still some 'homeless' items lying about. They should probably go out, as if they don't have a home they can't be essential, really.

I have been sorting through 35 years worth of things.
Well, I have had some declutters through the years, but not a complete one.
Prior to 35 years ago, I didnt have that much stuff at all.

And more clutter went out today !
I'm working my way through a lifetime of things .
The only person , who can sort it out is me .

karmalady

The people at recycling said that almost everyone who has `downsized` comes in with more stuff after moving, hardly anyone removes enough before the move

I do like the concept of 3 things a day, that is perfectly do-able for me. 200 items gone by 2024 would be good. I shall find 3 things today and start now. I can carry on with small chunks of de-cluttering, rather than giving up if I cannot find big amounts

I shall do the rounds of cupboards and drawers first, one by one

I threw out more magazines, brochures, catalogues etc, they went this morning with the recycling

Then just went to order something online and could have got a discount code from the back of one of the catalogues!

Because of rising energy cost I haven’t had the heating on in some rooms. I also spend 50% of the time at my partners, thus not using much energy at all. The result is that I’ve looked in the old pine dresser in my living room that had a mould problem years ago and it’s full of white mould. It’s where I keep all of the things that I’ve collected over the years that I love but have nowhere to display them. They’re too precious to me to charity shop. I did have a small shelf put up in the living room that I could display things on with the intention of changing the display every so often. I always wanted to live in an old cottage and I’ve collecting things over the years to put in it but that isn’t likely to happen now. When I’ve cleaned everything I think I have a few decisions to make. I think I could open an antique/bric a brac shop. I collect old books, too, especially children’s books…

The people at recycling said that almost everyone who has `downsized` comes in with more stuff after moving, hardly anyone removes enough before the move

I do like the concept of 3 things a day, that is perfectly do-able for me. 200 items gone by 2024 would be good. I shall find 3 things today and start now. I can carry on with small chunks of de-cluttering, rather than giving up if I cannot find big amounts

I shall do the rounds of cupboards and drawers first, one by one

It's what happens, annodomini. If you (like me) were brought up to hang onto things rather than 'waste' them, it can be difficult to let go of them, and nowadays there is added guilt for having acquired 'stuff' that will ultimately go into landfill, and people get at you when you start getting rid of things. I feel guilt from both ends - part of me hears my mother's voice saying that I shouldn't throw away anything I might buy again later, and another part is berating myself for having so much that I need to get rid of it. What I am trying to do now is get to a place where I can operate a 'one in, one out' system, and not have crammed cupboards and drawers as I do now.

The next generation often doesn't want 'stuff', so it's not a case of simply passing on unwanted items to them, as previous generations did with us.

I like this thread, as on the whole it is a non-judgemental space where those of us still in that no-man's land are encouraged in our endeavours.

Interestingly, because of the algorithms driving the Internet I saw a reel about decluttering yesterday saying that if you throw away three items a day starting now, you will have over 200 fewer 'things' in your house to start 2024. That's an encouraging thought, particularly if you can exceed that number, or choose larger items that take up more space.

A year ago, planning a move from my 2-bed terrace to a 2-bed retirement flat, I got stuck in to de-cluttering...or so I thought. How did so much of the clutter manage to get into the removal van? I never realised how many pictures used to hang on my walls. Now, do I really want them? I hope the charity shops will welcome some of them. Likewise with books which my son says I will never read as I mostly read on Kindle! But I'm kind of attached to them. Honestly, If I ever drive up to those pearly gates, I will have a boot full of - let's call a spade a spade - clutter.

Ha! I will live to be 200 in that case

Thank you Doodledog for the link. At the moment I just fill a couple of carrier bags (double bagged for strength) and keep them in the car until I can park close enough to the Oxfam bookshop but it’s worth knowing other channels, especially if they collect.
However I thought of all the “declutterers” when I saw this recently

Sorry - www.anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk

Posted too soon!
anglocollections.co.uk

I use these people for books although they will take other items too (not furniture or bedding). They collect from your doorstep and sell for charity. Books are too heavy to take to the charity shop so I arrange for them to be picked up. Having a date concentrates the mind, too

Two of my items were rejected by the restoration company so I guess they will have to go to the tip. Too bulky for my car. The driver admired various vintage electronic devices and told me they are of value but I don’t want to use EBay or similar and have to post them nor do I want random people coming to my door.

I am now waiting for three different people I know to fix a date to collect various specific things. A book dealer has not replied at all and I have no idea how to get rid of so many specialist books. I had a mental target of the end of October for several things but the only one within my power to reach is my tax return!

Doodledog

Doing paperwork declutters the mind.

Shredding it is even better 😁

Doing paperwork declutters the mind.

I had planned to take a car load of decluttered stuff out to various destinations this morning but the weather is horrendous and roads semi flooded, so that will have to wait. A charity is coming tomorrow to collect four items of furniture.
I had better crack on with the paperwork today.

I made decent progress yesterday. Today I am busy from 11-1.00, which is a nuisance as it takes up some of both morning and afternoon, and I’m out this evening, but I should be able to finish the room I started and get on top of normal household things today, ready for another blitz at the weekend.

ADD makes this so much harder, but I am making the most of a ‘focus’ phase to get a lot done in short bursts.

I’m starting to feel a lot more confident that I’ll get there in time. Having space in cupboards will make it so much easier to keep on top of things when it’s done, too.