De-cluttering, the never-ending process

Being an ex military wife I can’t remember how many times I’ve moved and not just in this country but overseas too and back to uk and I’ve just done my last move 6 weeks ago I’m moving no more I’m happy with my bungalow

the thought of that fills me with dread, Nannashirlz. We've only had three houses in the 43 years we've been married. Having said that, maybe if we'd moved more often I wouldn't have so much 'stuff'.

Anyway - three bags to the tip and five to the charity shop today. I am about to book a collection for the books to go next week, too. It's been a slow process, but I'm starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.

I've just been reading about the 20/20 rule of decluttering. The gist is that you can safely declutter anything you are keeping 'just in case' if you can replace it for less than £20 within 20 minutes of your house. According to the authors, that should cover 99% of 'just in case' items, as 'just in case' rarely comes to pass, and it would certainly apply to the vast majority of the books I am hanging onto. Hmmmm.

Well it wouldn't for me!

The books?

I know - I hate getting rid of them, but I have bookcases in every room, and they are all full. If I ever want to read another new book I need to thin them out. My children both read, but don't hang onto books - they read them and pass them on. They don't have reference books either, as they can Google everything they need to know. It's a different mindset, and I can't quite get into it, but it makes sense.

Doodledog

I've just been reading about the 20/20 rule of decluttering. The gist is that you can safely declutter anything you are keeping 'just in case' if you can replace it for less than £20 within 20 minutes of your house. According to the authors, that should cover 99% of 'just in case' items, as 'just in case' rarely comes to pass, and it would certainly apply to the vast majority of the books I am hanging onto. Hmmmm.

Interesting.

I can now see that the last job will end up being the loft. Shudder.
I have had a couple of goes over the years. But need to be more ruthless this time around. Need to do it thoroughly.

Not at all sure how much could be replaced for under £20, Not a lot I dont think. But have not thought of the loft in those terms before. Hmm.

Glad I have done the books.
I quite like decluttering. But books held me up.

I have only moved the once.
And didnt have that many possessions when I did. Which was more than 30 years ago.

Books are so nice Doodledog, to hold and to read and I empathise. Passing them on would give someone else that same pleasure. I think that many books are meant to be shared on and on down the line. The books I don`t let go are all technical in some way, materia medica, specialist crafting and there is a thick tome about woodworking. They are all staying with me.

I liked that 20/20 concept, it makes good sense.

I think it’s a good test of how much you want to reread a book if you have to buy a new copy to do so.

Today I am doing my son’s old room, which has become a dumping ground like all the bedrooms. He is working near us next week and planning to stay here overnight, so I plan to get it finished for then. If I get the wardrobes sorted out (more overspill in those) and sort the ‘to be sorted’ pile it will be a good start.

If I’ve loved a book I feel as though it has become part of me and can’t part with it.

I know. It’s not easy. But the truth is that I rarely reread, as I always have a queue waiting. If I wanted to read something again I could get a new copy, or read it on Kindle. That doesn’t work with cook books or poetry (for me, anyway). I like to flick back and forth in those, and use actual bookmarks rather than electronic ones.

I am still considering the book issue, as I am still working on son’s room.

I declutter and then stuff seems to appear from somewhere. But I have been quite ruthless of late. Lots given away on Freecycle, some sold for small amounts on Facebook, stuff to charity shop, At least I feel others are getting use from things rather than them going into landfill. It IS difficult to do but we have recently renovated our main bedroom and are being ruthless as to what goes back in. It is quite minimalist and, to be honest, makes me love being in there.

I am so looking forward to having it all done and the bedrooms decorated. I struggle to do it, and as most of the clutter is mine, Mr Dog can’t really help, other than to keep taking the bags to the relevant drop-off places, but it will be worth it in the end.

My decluttering is a perpetual thing :

Chatting to a young guy the other day - I discovered that he is a passionate baker and I've given him my huge collection of Bake Off books .
He was thrilled and I'm delighted that someone is going to use them .
And someone else has been given masses of bed linen which I wasn't using so a cupboard has been emptied .
Over the weekend , if the weather is OK - a young girl with a blank canvas is getting a lot of extra plants .

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.

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.

Doing paperwork declutters the mind.

Doodledog

Doing paperwork declutters the mind.

Shredding it is even better 😁

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!

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

Posted too soon!
anglocollections.co.uk

Sorry - www.anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk

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

Ha! I will live to be 200 in that case

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.