De-cluttering, the never-ending process

Calendargirl

Callistemon21

I wish my DD wouldn't keep saying "Oh, don't throw that out, I'd like it one day"

Well, if we downsize they will have to take it or do without 9ne day.

Why not say, “Here, take it now then”.

She would have it, and you would have got rid.

Of course, it’s soooo much easier for Mum to store this ‘stuff’….

Because they live on the other side of the world. I could crate it all up and pay a few thousand £ to send!

The charity shop it will probably be in the end anyway 😁
Or a skip.

And one did say "I couldn't possibly take it before ......"
😲

Soon after my husband died, I shredded all his courting letters to me from 1968-69. They were for my eyes only and it was important for me to be aware of how upset the children would be at their loving messages to me. I had to let them go for me to be able move on to my solo life

I have other things, small things that he carved from wood and on my mantlepiece. More neutral, less heart wrenching

Sorry Callistemon , didn’t realise they lived abroad.

My DD also lives away, in Oz, so I know what you mean. Even if she wanted stuff, it would not be very practical getting it there.

And my DS, who lives locally, will just skip stuff, so I must try and get rid of surplus stuff myself.

They just fill "their" wardrobe here with more when they come home, Calendargirl
Although both had a good clear out of stuff to the charity shop 🙂
DS says he'll be ordering at least three skips.

Don`t put it off, my lovely neighbour had a stroke this weekend, out of the blue. He has an OH that he does so much for, she lives 1/2 mile away, he is 80

My paperwork is still not done, I try and do it every few months, it needs to be up to date. That is first and formost today. His dd, who lives away, will need to step in and sort things. How on earth can someone get in touch with banks etc unless details are set -out in a file of some sort. Also it makes me appreciate how very important it was that I did my power of attorney for well being and money.

Ive had a weekend of decluttering paper work and very cathartic it was too. I have a bin bag to dispose of. I’ve put all my ‘pre/after death’ stuff (POA, will, birth/death certs, list of contacts/passwords required etc) in a big envelope now in a secure place ready for my family. Nothing worse than having to search for all this info after death! I shall now move on to my clothes - maybe not today as the sun is out 🌞

well done marmight, I know that feeling, it does help lift a load. I have not updated mine properly yet but I only did it last november. I have added and subtracted saving accounts since then. Btw, I am findig that the regular savers at >5% have really helped me to come to terms with not over-buying anything.

There is no money to spare at the end of the month and I have been very determined not to dip into savings, which might be needed for care one day, even if only help with house chores. Never say never, a reality shock for me when my fit healthy neighbour had a stroke last weekend. No-one from his family able to care for him now

I am still plodding, very slowly as it is more a case of use it ie knitting 4ply right now. Just a couple of things binned this week

I have 4 spinning wheels, all different for different methods. I am dithering so much re the first wheel, which is vintage and which I lovingly retored with my DH help. I bought it via a hospice shop at £100 over what I would easily get for it. I am inclined to drive to that place one weekend, it is a furniture shop. I know I could get money for it but donating it would just be a charitable donation on my part and it would be done and dusted. I am attached to it and so hard to let it go

That reality shock via neighbour has upset my psyche. At 75 I am at the far end of life. I know I go cycling up hills am strong and healthy etc but maybe cannot do that in five years and lack of aerobic will do me no good at all. I have to carry on with this givig away

My decluttering doesnt involve having things to give away much. It is much more about things that have reached the end of their life.
The few things to give away I see if family want them.
I went through the entire main bookcase. Only found 10 books I no longer wanted.

All may be a different matter when I get to the attic. But there are things up there like older suitcases near the end of their life. No on will want them. And old style bown furniture bits. Again, no one will want them.
Old bags? Ditto.

Oh my goodness we so need to do this! Unfortunately my DH is not very good at getting rid of things and is very good at procrastination. We keep saying we are going to do various things like declutter but somehow it never happens. As most of the clutter is his there isn't much I can do about it. It is very frustrating. In his defence he was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer last year and I do think that this (and the treatment he is on) has slowed him down significantly and I feel guilty nagging him.

Back again after very slow progress but still it is progress. My main aim now is to be using stash, particularly what is lurking in my fibre storage cupboard. One unhappy pure wool 4ply hand knitted 2 coloured stripey jumper frogged and I have re-knitted into a two coloured gansey jumper, it was a lot of knitting and I played yarn chicken but finished it today and it is gorgeous.

In the meantime, I have not specifically gone on the de-cluttering hunt but have re-discovered bar soap and got rid of some containers for liquid soap and cleansers

I am proud of myself tbh, in not adding to my storecupboard stash and am slowly using up the dried foods such as figs and lentils. Am still training myself to shop local eg for butter, which is a good price here

Tapestryfrog, I am so sorry about that life-changing diagnosis. That plus de-cluttering must be overwhelming. One little step at a time and in your place, I would concentrate on paperwork to start with. It must be so hard, trying to do it all is nigh on impossible, it needs to be small chunks and not seen as a whole

My fibre crafting equipment is non-negotiable for downsizing. I enjoy spinning, knitting and sewing so much and love my quiet days with the radio on for company.

Glad this thread is back.
I was going to post something eventually if no one came back.

tapestryfrog - I agree with what karma has written.
Sorry for the diagnosis.

I am in a bit the same situation as you, op.
Doing things slowly.
I can see more space in a bedroom than I have seen for ages.

Coming up to the major jobs of paperwork reorganisation. And loft.

I have just finished sorting my duplicate knitting needles to give away. It was not as easy as I thought as I have a mixture of metric and old sizes and so had to look up a conversion table. Not much of an effort at decluttering really!

Just sorting out one of the spare bedrooms, it’s taken me 4 days and I’ve just remembered I haven’t done the second ottoman, but apart from that I think that one room is done. Just another 9 rooms to go plus the garage, potting shed and home office, oh and the lean to shed and the greenhouse, I’ll need extra dustbins.

Before this week I’ve basically just moved stuff around, but this time I’m being ruthless, but it’s very tiring…..but if I don’t love it, or haven’t worn it for a year, it’s out.

Greenfinch

I have just finished sorting my duplicate knitting needles to give away. It was not as easy as I thought as I have a mixture of metric and old sizes and so had to look up a conversion table. Not much of an effort at decluttering really!

As well as various sizes of the wooden ones I like, I also have my Mum's, my MIL's and GMIL's knitting needles - metal, wooden, sizes varying from about 14 to what look like poles!
I've given away a few pairs that I had bought but for some reason can't give away the inherited ones.

Callistemon I understand your sentiments entirely. My collection has come from diverse sources: I knit for charity and occasionally ask for wool on Freecycle and it invariably comes with needles where someone has been decluttering(🤣)a relative’s home.

I've just given away a big bag of yarn, it's stopped me worrying about what to do with it!
There's still more than enough to keep me going.

Yes, I should take the needles to the craft group.

I thought that I'd take an innovative take on using up my wool stash by knitting a few things! Just as I was starting to feel a little comfortable with my declutter journey an acquaintance " gifted" me with three huge boxes of books to sort, take to charity shop etc...

I did my knitting needles last year, the straight needles. I have a beautiful full set of lantern moon needles collected over years. I am keeping those for now but have not used them since I discovered interchangeables and circulars. I may well sell those lantern moons in a couple of years

I also had all the needles collected over my whole lifetime, all those long metal needles, from 1960 onwards. I found it hard to let those go, there were a lot of them so I compromised and kept one full set, all in the old uk numbers. I put each set in a cloth roll and that is how they are now stored. I gave all the spares to my local cs

I don't know why I worry so much about exactly where things are going. The main point is - at least they are going (slowly). I put things outside (when the weather is dry) for others to take, usually with great success.

There's a bin out there too, for odd bits that need to be taken to the dump. I use the clothes recycling bins now, rather than take longer trips to the charity shops.

Still, I find it quite painful to part with stuff, whether potentially useful or not. I have a real problem with reducing my store of wood. I can make new things from old bits of wood (although I may never, ever, get around to it).

karmalady, my old cycling helmet now lives upside down - inside the hedge - as a platform for the blackbird's nest. The bike, though, sits sadly neglected in the shed. I really should think about selling or donating it, soon, as I don't think I'll use it much now.

MawtheMerrier:
'We want stuff, buy stuff, inherit stuff, get given stuff, give stuff away, get rid of stuff.
What is the big deal?'

For me, it's upsetting. I'm face to face with the harsh reality of getting old. I have to recognise that I have various 'stuff' that I'm storing - for no good reason, as I'll probably never need or use it again.

Will I ever upcycle more furniture, just for fun? Will I make more birdboxes and wooden wigwams for the kids? Perhaps I'll continue painting the inside walls of the garage - if I have a really good day and some energy?

Maybe I'll paint those flowerpots, mortar the cracks on windowsills - or ride my bike this summer? Probably not, though - and that's depressing.

Nobody else wants this junk, yet, it somehow represents my previous life, before the back injury, limited energy, lack of concentration and limited strength I have now.

Of course I'm not thrilled about having a clearout if it's preparation for death - who would be?

I’m sorry, TapestryFrog, that’s a hard thing to deal with.

I have loads of knitting needles, too, some from MIL which were still in their original brown paper packaging. I weeded out some old plastic ones and put the rest into an attractive glass vase so they’re both a work of art and close at hand.

A visit to the dump will be in order this week as we’ve accumulated a lot of cardboard, for some reason.

Hetty58

MawtheMerrier:
'We want stuff, buy stuff, inherit stuff, get given stuff, give stuff away, get rid of stuff.
What is the big deal?'

For me, it's upsetting. I'm face to face with the harsh reality of getting old. I have to recognise that I have various 'stuff' that I'm storing - for no good reason, as I'll probably never need or use it again.

Will I ever upcycle more furniture, just for fun? Will I make more birdboxes and wooden wigwams for the kids? Perhaps I'll continue painting the inside walls of the garage - if I have a really good day and some energy?

Maybe I'll paint those flowerpots, mortar the cracks on windowsills - or ride my bike this summer? Probably not, though - and that's depressing.

Nobody else wants this junk, yet, it somehow represents my previous life, before the back injury, limited energy, lack of concentration and limited strength I have now.

Of course I'm not thrilled about having a clearout if it's preparation for death - who would be?

Oh Hetty: that sums up just what I’m feeling. I’m currently at my partners but going home next weekend and the decluttering is there waiting for me. I’m feeling stressed about it already. Mind you, my ex husband is retiring in a few months time andI’m hoping that we can go through the contents of the house together and maybe get our son and daughter on board.

DH has been decorating the porch, kitchen and dining room the last few days, my contribution is cleaning out all the kitchen cupboards.
It has been the impetus I needed to have a cull. Surplus crockery, glassware, odds and ends of stuff I have been hanging onto and not used for years.
Already got a large plastic box full ready for a summer car boot sale, (we try and do one a year).
If things don’t sell, they will go to the charity shop, not back in the cupboards.

😇