De-cluttering, still at it, still no end

I've has visits from 2 different auctioneer/valuers. It was interesting;
I have little of real value but a lot they can sell for ne when I'm ready.

I'm still sorting through what I may keep.

Both men noticed the same things and some old benches I thought had little value, are desirable!
Whereas my ercol chairs, bought 2nd hand, and painted white will not fetch much at all. They need to be in pristine condition.

My wonderful victorian mahogany sideboard and bookcase are much less popular than a few years ago 😒
In fact none of the brown furniture will be desirable. Everyone is looking for small stuff - and so will I.

I have managed a few car trips to the tip but think a skip will be needed quite soon.

MayBee70

Clutter isn’t necessarily gadgets. Mine is mainly things from my children’s childhood. My kids never wanted to visit my parents because there was nothing for them to play with whereas they liked going to their father’s parents home because he had old toys there; Bayko, Meccano etc. So I hung onto toys. Also my mum threw everything of mine away when I left home: my books, my toys. I spent decades trying to find some of those books and, each time I found one the emotion I felt on reading those words and seeing those pictures was overwhelming. Pre internet, the book search I used told me that many people told them that they reacted in the same way. It was as if I’d only put the book down five minutes ago, they were so imprinted in my mind. It left me not wanting to throw anything away. I’ve got a shelf full of Ladybird books and lots of old Fisher Price toys. I just love them; I find them aesthetically pleasing. I have no need of them but can’t bring myself to part with them.

Clutter is anything which you do not need/use/enjoy having.
And can certainly include gadgets!

RosieandherMaw

Don’t shoot me down in flames but surely the necessary “companion” to decluttering is not buying /acquiring more stuff - whether that is charity shop shopping, filling the freezer, knitting, buying or sewing special garments eg for gardening (my gardening clothes =my old clothes) or buying gadgets when most kitchens could start up their own shop!
Eg I am constantly being told I should buy an Air Fryer, maybe, but along with my Kenwood, Magimix, soup maker, slow cooker, pressure cooker and (defunct ) ice cream maker, I fully intend to resist.
Yes, shopping and buying are pleasurable but if we are trying to cut down we shouldn’t be topping up at the other end!

I've resisted an airfryer so far!

The thing about yarn is, you can start a project to use up some of the stash but then find you need a few balls of a different colour to complete it.
Anyway, yarn is like sheep, it breeds.

The toys went to friends for their DGC and some to the charity shop but I nearly went and bought some of them back again.

Another vote of thanks to Karmalady for setting this thread off again. I also would pop in and out for inspiration and motivation.

Due to ill health and general malaise i have also lapsed.

And so back to the 3 items a day approach....2 cushions and a bra went in the bin today! Feeling accomplished and motivated to carry on

(We also have accumulated bits and bobs for our grandchildren - i generally have a one in one out approach as they grow out/bored of toys between visits, but some sentimental items remain. They are visiting soon and I am hopeful that they will take some/most of it home with them )

The first and biggest downsize, we had to get rid of ercol furniture, all in pristine condition and not old. Windsor and brown. We rehomed the table and 6 chairs for free, to an Italian couple with a big family. The large dressser could not be re-homed and we actually had to pay someone to take it away, what a waste that was, it cost 000s but it had to go

The lesson was learned and more ercol was bought over the years but now all in modular pieces in a light oiled oak, to go into any property, in any room

My friend had had two deaths during two years, the last being her dear mum, who had lived in the family home for 69 years and never threw anything out. My grieving friend has to make journey after journey to clear her mums house. It is so not-fair to impose that on an AC

Allsorts

I have tried and took three bags of clothes to a charity shop, I should never need to buy any more. I have about 20 handbags, none of them big enough to get all my stuff in, so virtually unused, why did I get them.
It's what to do with my Ercol furniture, it's in mint condition and I love it. I won't be taking it though. Also boxes of ornaments , not to my taste, Lladro etc. And copper, kettles etc all presents. Too good to just throw but I couldn't sell on line as get in a muddle buying on line.
Going to get ruthless now with my cooking utensils and gadgets

There are people who love Ercol furniture. You could try advertising it on Gumtree or eBay under “collection only”.

De-cluttering isn’t easy but you simply have to part with a lot of stuff you really would like to keep. I find it quite depressing🥲

RosieandherMaw

Don’t shoot me down in flames but surely the necessary “companion” to decluttering is not buying /acquiring more stuff - whether that is charity shop shopping, filling the freezer, knitting, buying or sewing special garments eg for gardening (my gardening clothes =my old clothes) or buying gadgets when most kitchens could start up their own shop!
Eg I am constantly being told I should buy an Air Fryer, maybe, but along with my Kenwood, Magimix, soup maker, slow cooker, pressure cooker and (defunct ) ice cream maker, I fully intend to resist.
Yes, shopping and buying are pleasurable but if we are trying to cut down we shouldn’t be topping up at the other end!

Personally I am not acquiring more stuff.
Even munching through back of cupboard stuff and freexer.

Got rid of 3 pieces of old furniture. Likely to get rid of 3 more when finished the total declutter.

I did have the notion of not buying more clothes.
Do have enough for now.
But saw several people out today with their new gear on.
Dont think I want to stay in the clothes I am in now, until I die.

I thought of buying a good quality (but not too expensive) capsule wardrobe and getting rid of most of the other stuff!

I almost died 8 weeks ago after a sudden and shocking collapse. No way am I leaving this for MrB to cope with. Don’t need it, it’s gone, either tip or charity warehouse. I’m finding it cathartic 😊

RosieandherMaw

Don’t shoot me down in flames but surely the necessary “companion” to decluttering is not buying /acquiring more stuff - whether that is charity shop shopping, filling the freezer, knitting, buying or sewing special garments eg for gardening (my gardening clothes =my old clothes) or buying gadgets when most kitchens could start up their own shop!
Eg I am constantly being told I should buy an Air Fryer, maybe, but along with my Kenwood, Magimix, soup maker, slow cooker, pressure cooker and (defunct ) ice cream maker, I fully intend to resist.
Yes, shopping and buying are pleasurable but if we are trying to cut down we shouldn’t be topping up at the other end!

Personally, I am not a shopper and I can get all my clothes, bar winter coats into a standard wardrobe and goodsized chest of drawers and I have empty drawers and cupboards in very bedroom bar our own, but when you are down sizing from a house with 2,600 sq ft of space to one with 1500 sq ft, It is not just a case of decluttering.

It means clearing rooms of furniture because there are fewer rooms in your new home, and they are smaller. It is getting rid of furniture, paintings and ornaments that are integral to your current home and have been much a much loved part of your home for decades. Furniture etc that you will really miss when it goes, but has to, because there is no where to put it in your new smaller home

A few years ago DD had a fire in their large outhouse/barn where they stored big toys, garden seating, tools, Christmas decorations etc. They lost a lot.

The family and friends were rallying round to replace things and even cash from my sister. DD told her aunt not to bother but to give the money to a homeless charity.
"We have so much". She said.

Downsizing on that scale is miserable, MOnica. Bad luck. A horrid phase. I still mourn furniture that we had to dispose of and sometimes still feel unreasonably hurt that the adult DC didn't want things. Oh well...

Thank you teabagwoman.You May be right.

I have just received notification from Anglo Doorstep Collections that they will be in my area next week. I have used them twice before when decluttering and they are always prompt and efficient. It has given me motivation to do some decluttering during the weekend.

When my partners mother died he gave her G Plan sideboard to a charity shop just as MCC furniture was becoming sought after. I hope they got a good price for it and it wasn’t snapped up by a dealer.

I've just sold my teddybear that I had since I was born (present from a long-departed uncle). Poor thing is probably in some postal depot tonight but hope he gets a good home.
DH said "Hands off my teddy" so Dad's Ted is in an old suitcase in the loft.
I have done quite a bit in the last few months but DH would much rather I left the loft stuffed to the eaves than sell or give away anything, so I have his silent disapproval to contend with as well as my lack of willpower.

I've just sold my teddybear that I had since I was born

That, for me, would be a sale too far.

Allira

^I've just sold my teddybear that I had since I was born^

No one would buy my teddy.

He is very shabby and the stuffing is coming out of his feet and tummy, but he is over 70 years old.

He sits on a little unit in the corner of our bedroom, one of his glass eyes is damaged, he probably has ‘bear cataracts’.

I only thought recently that I must tell DH that if I go first, Teddy could go alongside me in my coffin.

We shall be company for one another on our final journey.

(Hope this doesn’t sound too morbid, but what would the family do with him anyhow? Just skip him probably)

Your Teddy sounds in better shape than my Teddy Calendargirl 🙂

After I read valdavi's post, I too thought that I might ask for him to go on to the next journey with me!

I had a cruel unsentimental mother who made me give away all my dolls and soft toys when I was about 11 to the next door neighbours' small children. I could see them from my window burying them in the sandpit.
I think I'm still traumatised!

You’ve all inspired me to get started declutter.

Grammaretto

I had a cruel unsentimental mother who made me give away all my dolls and soft toys when I was about 11 to the next door neighbours' small children. I could see them from my window burying them in the sandpit.
I think I'm still traumatised!

I knew a little boy who had all of his cudllies taken away from him when he reached a certain age ( can’t remember what it was but wasn’t all that old) because he was now ‘too old for them’ .

Grammaretto

That sounds like the horrid boy next door in Toy Story!

Not sure if I posted this on another thread but a little girl came to visit us a few weeks ago and I apologised that we had few toys left, not even any Sindys.
She told me that was ok, she'd given away her Barbies because she's too old for them now. She's eight.