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Sort your life out inspiring

(45 Posts)
Diggingdoris Fri 21-Feb-25 10:37:49

I have always watched this, and I would love to be as ruthless as the families are that take part. When I watched this weeks episode, I was inspired in a small way, as the young lady had a collection of over 200 scarves. It got me wondering how many I have in the two boxes in my wardrobe. So I attempted to reduce my 129 drastically. Sadly I failed and only managed to get rid of 21 to the charity bag. I'm sure if Stacey Soloman came to my house she would say that the number of scarves I have is the least of my problems, as both DH and I come from the generation where nothing gets thrown in case it comes in handy one day.
Anyone else out there inspired by this program?

keepingquiet Fri 21-Feb-25 11:05:43

Sorry but it's just an excuse for people to go on the telly.

I find the presenter annoying but the people on it even more so. A lot of them have far more money than sense.

So no, not inspiring at all so I don't choose to watch it.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 21-Feb-25 11:16:02

The one I watched in the last series was a young bereaved dad with two children.

Life and the loss of his wife had just got on top of him, he and his children were so grateful of the help.

Cossy Fri 21-Feb-25 11:17:15

Haha It makes me think I should have a very good sort out!

Do I do it? No!

If this is the one with Stacey Solomon, I adore her! Extremely annoying speaking voice I agree, singing voice like an angel and seems a really sweet kind person.

JaneJudge Fri 21-Feb-25 11:19:46

I have been looking on rightmove this morning and stumbled upon this house

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155713709#/?channel=RES_BUY

thought I was bad. Why are those lovely plants in a storage room too? sad

midgey Fri 21-Feb-25 11:22:10

Keepingquiet all the people I have seen on the programme have had or are going very tough times and just need a bit of help. Unless you watch the programme you couldn’t know that.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 21-Feb-25 11:28:35

Although I’ve never watched these types of programmes I’m sure the premise behind them is cathartic. We in the West all have ‘too much stuff’. We could manage with so much ‘less’. Celebrities showing off their homes (I see pics in the DM then scroll on by) are just obscenely narcissistic. “Look at us how well we’ve done”. Well yes, materialistically but who really cares? Just enjoy your life please, quietly and contentedly!

I have six handbags here and I think the same number in Málaga. Why, really? I’m as guilty as anyone else. When overweight and needing to go on a diet I treat myself to shoes, purses, sunglasses, lipsticks!

If you go shopping something will always catch your eye. I’m learning that I can pick something up, look at it and admire it but put it back. I don’t have to own it.

The dichotomy is of course that we are told to support businesses, especially small independents. But where is the fine line between helping boost the economy and just adding more to landfill.

My best advice to myself re shopping is “don’t look Ethel?”.
Then I can’t be tempted to buy.
I ought to give away some of my stuff, manage with less. I mostly just use the same cross body bag for instance. I even think less can be liberating! A favourite holiday memory was flying to Ibiza for a week with only a cabin bag of clothes - swimming costume, flip flops, small towel, pjs and a choice of 43 light summer dresses for the evenings. Getting out of the shower and dressing for dinner at the end of a day on the beach was freeing! This dress, this one or that one?

Cossy Fri 21-Feb-25 11:29:26

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Although I’ve never watched these types of programmes I’m sure the premise behind them is cathartic. We in the West all have ‘too much stuff’. We could manage with so much ‘less’. Celebrities showing off their homes (I see pics in the DM then scroll on by) are just obscenely narcissistic. “Look at us how well we’ve done”. Well yes, materialistically but who really cares? Just enjoy your life please, quietly and contentedly!

I have six handbags here and I think the same number in Málaga. Why, really? I’m as guilty as anyone else. When overweight and needing to go on a diet I treat myself to shoes, purses, sunglasses, lipsticks!

If you go shopping something will always catch your eye. I’m learning that I can pick something up, look at it and admire it but put it back. I don’t have to own it.

The dichotomy is of course that we are told to support businesses, especially small independents. But where is the fine line between helping boost the economy and just adding more to landfill.

My best advice to myself re shopping is “don’t look Ethel?”.
Then I can’t be tempted to buy.
I ought to give away some of my stuff, manage with less. I mostly just use the same cross body bag for instance. I even think less can be liberating! A favourite holiday memory was flying to Ibiza for a week with only a cabin bag of clothes - swimming costume, flip flops, small towel, pjs and a choice of 43 light summer dresses for the evenings. Getting out of the shower and dressing for dinner at the end of a day on the beach was freeing! This dress, this one or that one?

How I agree thanks

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 21-Feb-25 11:37:27

🤣🤣🤣
Should proof read!

43 dresses hehe! I think NOT.
I took 3. 😂

NonGrannyMoll Fri 21-Feb-25 11:47:31

I agree with keepingquiet. A lot of these shows are just a vehicle for pandering to the "15 minutes of fame" impulse in people. We could all probably name many other pointless shows like this, from antiques speculation to miraculous bad diet solutions! Still, I guess it's one way for the tv companies to give employment to people on their payrolls without much talent who can front any old show as long as they have a cue-card...

Marmight Fri 21-Feb-25 11:51:37

I pre-judged Stacey Solomon but having watched some of these programmes have completely changed my mind! She comes across as a genuinely caring presenter. Yes she has an accent but so do we all. I’m sure mine would annoy at least someone. Who are we to judge? Yes, the programme is for entertainment but those I have seen have helped troubled families who just needed a push in the right direction during their time of need. I was reduced to tears during the last one - the lovely young Mum with 200 scarves - preparing for the future for her husband and daughter for what will be the inevitable outcome of her devastating cancer diagnosis.
I try to live by the principal of one in/one out, somewhat unsuccessfully. When shopping these days I have to be firm with myself. Do I really need it/would it improve my life/would it suit me as I’m no longer the 25 year old I think I resemble/can I afford it and mostly I manage to walk away.
I think Stacey would have a field day with my large collection of knickers (55 at the last count) 😂

AGAA4 Fri 21-Feb-25 11:58:15

JaneJudge

I have been looking on rightmove this morning and stumbled upon this house

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155713709#/?channel=RES_BUY

thought I was bad. Why are those lovely plants in a storage room too? sad

My ex sil is an architect and said we should ignore what's in the room and just look at the dimensions.
All I would see in that house is mess.

petra Fri 21-Feb-25 12:09:35

JaneJudge

I have been looking on rightmove this morning and stumbled upon this house

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155713709#/?channel=RES_BUY

thought I was bad. Why are those lovely plants in a storage room too? sad

All those cleaning products in the manky toilet and obviously never used judging by the black mould/ dust on the piping/ skirting board.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 21-Feb-25 12:18:30

Eurgh!

petra Fri 21-Feb-25 12:21:27

AGAA4

JaneJudge

I have been looking on rightmove this morning and stumbled upon this house

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155713709#/?channel=RES_BUY

thought I was bad. Why are those lovely plants in a storage room too? sad

My ex sil is an architect and said we should ignore what's in the room and just look at the dimensions.
All I would see in that house is mess.

The first house we bought ( 1971) we viewed at 5 in the afternoon. 5 beds and not one made up.
One property we bought had been empty for 7 years and used as a crack house. The 10 years prior to that it had been Sketchleys offices.
Fortunately we both have very good imaginations and see through the crap.

Parsley3 Fri 21-Feb-25 12:44:08

I watched the episode with the bereaved dad and his two wee daughters and I understood why life had got on top of his abilities to sort his house out. Stacey and the team were so supportive to this family and the girls were delighted with their new bedroom. If I needed the help of this programme to declutter my house I don't think I could summon the courage to apply. There used to be a programme years ago with Aggie and someone who cleaned really dirty houses. Basically, I do find a before and after scenario to be quite entertaining.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 21-Feb-25 12:53:12

And I suppose these reality programmes are cheap as chips to make for entertainment.

Calendargirl Fri 21-Feb-25 12:59:40

There was a divorced mother with teenage children on a while ago.

The ex husband popped up a lot during the programme, think it was to show how their co-parenting worked.

She reckoned she was quite hard up, but seemed to be able to have afforded many, many pairs of shoes. Think Stacy encouraged her to declutter them.

The house was a tip, but don’t think it needed Stacy and co to do it really.

They always seemed to be out, and think a bit more time spent on basic housekeeping would have sorted things out.

Calendargirl Fri 21-Feb-25 13:00:24

If we went back in a year or two, wonder how tidy the houses would be then?

Jaxjacky Fri 21-Feb-25 13:02:33

I’ve only seen snippets of these programmes, but generally feel very sorry for people who’ve got themselves in such a muddle.
I’m Mrs Minimalist.

CariadAgain Fri 21-Feb-25 13:03:20

One of the thoughts I tell myself these days about possessions is "I'll only need them for an estimated 11 more years" (ie bearing in mind how long the average British woman lives for).

Put like that and I find it helps with not buying too much "stuff". Though I can understand to some extent why people would land up with "too much" - as if "Life happens" then it's easy to take one's eye off the ball.

Hence things went a bit uncontrolled with house renovation (in an area with that darn "Pembrokeshire Promise" prevailing - which means a lot of workman letdowns) and various bad neighbour issues (which took a LOT of doing to get under control). But it had to be done - and my house would be so much worse and more difficult to live in if I'd let the neighbours "dictate" (as they tried to).

Now all that is over and there are a list of about 10 health issues left to deal with and get rid of = I'm decluttering away (now I can actually focus more on my "life"). But....boy it is easy to pile up Stuff if there's other things to resolve and you can't really focus on your life until it's been dealt with. It is so easy to think "Darn neighbour has taken up 2 hours of my time dealing with them" and just put your feet up after checking you are bang up square on the legal position regarding them - rather than getting on with Your Life. So I can easily understand why a bereaved father would have problems keeping things under control.

w1u7 Fri 21-Feb-25 13:18:35

I found this week's episode terribly sad. In the end I had to stop watching it. I just kept thinking how is that beautiful little five year old child going to cope when her mother dies!!

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 21-Feb-25 13:27:43

I’m sure I could not have watched it.
Heartbreaking.

keepingquiet Fri 21-Feb-25 20:07:59

w1u7

I found this week's episode terribly sad. In the end I had to stop watching it. I just kept thinking how is that beautiful little five year old child going to cope when her mother dies!!

I don't find shows that focus on people's tragedies like this entertaining at all.

There are ways of helping people without exposing them to public examinations of their grief or mental health problems.

I remember something similar a few years ago where a lady kept birds uncaged in her home- people came in and cleared it out only to find months later she had reverted back.

People's problems aren't solved by being on TV- they need targetted and consistent support for issues which have impacted on their ability to function.

MayBee70 Fri 21-Feb-25 20:13:51

keepingquiet

Sorry but it's just an excuse for people to go on the telly.

I find the presenter annoying but the people on it even more so. A lot of them have far more money than sense.

So no, not inspiring at all so I don't choose to watch it.

I think the last thing the poor woman with terminal cancer was thinking about was getting her ‘fifteen minutes of fame’. I found it almost unbearable to watch but was incredibly moved by her courage especially as it was a situation faced by my SIL’s mum when he was 11 sad.