A bit of de-cluttering. Now and then

Joseann we have a shop in our enarest town that sells what i could best describe as restaurant supplies. all those paper and plastic things a restaurants needs for special events - St Valentine's day - for example as well as day to day stuff. It is a trade not retail shop on a trading estate.

We just walked in asked for for a roll of bubble wrap and they went and got us a roll.

"If it does not slot into my storage, then it is clutter and that makes me think from outside the box."

I use this approach too karmalady, it's called 'The Container Method'. Anything can be a 'container- a box, a drawer, a cupboard or a shed! When it's full that's it, so if I can't resist a new jug and yes I only allow myself one cupboard, I know that another will be heading for the charity shop. It's getting easier (gulp)
It's just like dieting , not too hard when motivation is high but maintaining ........

Callistemon21

Three drawers decluttered this morning.
One step at a time.

If my DC are left with a lot to sort out so be it, I keep asking them to declutter their own stuff and wanting to send a lot of our stuff to the charity shop but they want some of it - just not now!

I made a resolution before the clocks changed last October, that once they did, I’d sort out/declutter one drawer or cupboard every day.
So far I’ve done 2 (small) drawers.

We don’t have masses of excess stuff but I know quite a lot could go. And re house clearance once we’re gone, I’ve told dds (and will put it in writing) that apart from the list of anything valuable, plus of course anything else they might want, please FGS, sod the expense, just get a house clearance firm in.

Dh and I have cleared 2 relatives’ houses and I wouldn’t wish that task on anyone.

Doodledog

I've done the Big Declutter, but as someone with probable ADD I need to force myself to keep on top of it, and avoid the Doombags* and boxes that are always my downfall. I am currently at the point where I need to have a second go at the wardrobes, and sort through a couple of boxes that have appeared on the landing, as well as two baskets in the sitting room. I know I need to sort them out, but this is the sort of decluttering I find really difficult - it's even worse then tackling a cupboard or wardrobe.

*Doombags/boxes are repositories for 'things' that have no obvious home, but I don't want to throw away. I don't want to list their contents as it's private, and anyway, the places that other posters would put them are not necessarily going to work for me. They are just miscellaneous items, really. Some could probably be thrown away, but are of the 'might come in handy one day' variety. My house isn't untidy, incidentally - it's just that I tidy up by putting things in doom bags if they don't have a designated home .

Are we related?! I have doombags and doomboxes too. In the process of moving house and being absolutely RUTHLESS in sorting stuff out. If I don't want it, it's going. Unheard of for me, usually. Have taken SO much stuff to the charity shop I am genuinely proud of myself! Haha. Good luck with the sorting. I'll be there in spirit because I know how hard it is 🤗

I am 93 and four years ago moved from a 5/6 bedroom house, with 1 acre garden to a tiny one-bedroom flat with a handkerchief-sized garden. My husband an I both had "collections" and it has taken some time getting rid of these! I really would advise anyone reading this to start de-cluttering now as it is really a chore sorting and disposing things as one gets older and the ones with "sentimental" claims are the worst. My daughter and a friend helped me as did Marie Kondo's De-clutteting book. So many things did not "bring me joy" any longer and charity shops benefited. Recalling what items had cost brought some bad moments but I thought giving them away was like donating cash and that helped. I do try to watch out for clutter now but still find some creeping into my home and have regular de-cluttering sessions. It really helps my mental attitude to Life.

I seem to have inherited a lot of things that could be described as heirlooms and wonder who will want them when I pass on. I also have a lot of small items that are mementos of people now gone before me so just sentimental for me. My parents lived thru WW1 in London and my father was reared by his Victorian grandparents so the virtues of thriftiness were well instilled. So it hard to part with things that might be useful someday especially if you are into DIY/crafting.

I feel your pain! Im doing exactly the same as I want to downsize in a few years....

Hi, I suffered badly clearing out Dads stuff. Took me every evening and weekend for 8 months. It was soul destroying. Anyway I am keeping my own stuff as low as possible so my own chidren are not faced with this. Absolutely everything and anything goes on the Olio app, saves landfill!!

I'm in the middle of declutterering. Things just seem to have accumulated while I was ill and unable to keep on top of things. I'm only spending 15 minutes a day decluttering and it's, amazing how much you can get done in that amount of time. I follow the Flylady system of organising the home and not only does it work, it also makes it fun. If anyone is interested, the videos are on YouTube (Diane in Denmark - she's Scottish). 😊

Scottish as opposed to Danish 😁

If I really wanted to declutter, the first thing I would have to get rid of is my DH!! He is a hoarder!

Gwenisgreat

If I really wanted to declutter, the first thing I would have to get rid of is my DH!! He is a hoarder!

My DH admitted that he is a hoarder for the first time yesterday!
He was pulling out various leads and chargers for goodness knows what from a cupboard in the study.
I asked why he had all those leads and he said "Because I am a hoarder".
They have gone into the garage just in case 🤔
But it is step in the right direction.

He does throw out clothes regularly but tools, electrical bits and pieces, anything that "might come in useful" is kept.

We have just changed our landline to two digital phones. Can I persuade my husband that we can now get rid of the two old phones? They don’t effing work any more!

Germanshepherdsmum

We have just changed our landline to two digital phones. Can I persuade my husband that we can now get rid of the two old phones? They don’t effing work any more!

I think DH still has an old answer phone somewhere in the garage hoard.

He'll get rid of it just before it becomes a valuable vintage item 😁

Are we related?! I have doombags and doomboxes too. In the process of moving house and being absolutely RUTHLESS in sorting stuff out. If I don't want it, it's going. Unheard of for me, usually. Have taken SO much stuff to the charity shop I am genuinely proud of myself! Haha. Good luck with the sorting. I'll be there in spirit because I know how hard it is 🤗
Thank you, long lost cousin . The only people who understand the doomthings are those who also have them.

The thought of moving house brings me out in a cold sweat, so good luck with that, too!

I am feeling depressed reading all the action others are taking clearing out and decluttering. I definitely need to clear out wardrobes but cannit gather up any enthusiasm for the task.

Try thinking of leaving it for family to do when they’re grieving - that should focus the mind.

Germanshepherdsmum

Try thinking of leaving it for family to do when they’re grieving - that should focus the mind.

But they keep saying they want stuff - just "not yet"!

I’ve made sure there is very little my son would want. Just a very few items that have been passed down. I was ruthless when we downsized and none of my son’s belongings are still here apart from a few clothes. I decided some time ago to dispose of the large number of cards from family, and his childhood drawings, which I had kept - being very sentimental, he would have kept them just for the sake of it - possessions are a great burden unless they have real meaning and I have whittled those down to just a few which will be easily accommodated and cause no grief.

I've told my boys to throw it all in a skip.
Simple.
It's only important to me, of no worth, and nobody else will want it.

I give a lot away on freecycle, can’t stand clutter. Books included. Keep a few special ones.

We have a lot of things collected over the years. I am slowly going through it all. I have a bag in the cupboard for the charity shop. When it is full/heavy we drop it off. The items of more value we drop off at a particular charity shop for them to sell online.
Some things have been repurposed around the house.
Some items have been gathered together to go to auction.
Some family items are going to the local museum to go with other items my Mum has already donated. It would be so sad to see historic items lost.
Slow going, but I would rather do it this way than just put things into the bin as that is so wasteful.

Me too, Miss A. I don’t expect the children to spend weeks sorting stuff. They know what and where the heirloom-type things are. I expect them to have a fossick through all the rest, bicker over who gets various odds and ends of sentimental value - part of grieving in itself - and then hire a skip. Our own declining years can be better spent.
I admit I feel emotionally free to do this because the 3 AC live in this country and get on. With only one, or if divided by continents or quarrels, it would be a different matter. I do see that.

A fossick?
That's a lovely word.
🙂
I know my two are not at all sentimental, so I'm sure it'll all be down the tip pretty quickly.

👍 fossick = deep rummage. At least I hope it does, that’s how I use it 🙂