Getting rid of "stuff"

OMG i need to do this too, not tht i am moving, just that over the years i have amassed so many thngs. Good for you and i hoe the move goes to plan and you are happy in new home. One day i may get around to it, watch this space................

Luckygirl. So agree with you. Well done !

At the beginning of lockdown I intended to clear out all the drawers in the desk, hall table and dresser in the dining room.
I did one drawer!

Well done Luckygirl, keep up the good work.

You've done better than me.

We've just done that Lucky. Weve cleared the garage and the roof and it's like a weight has been lifted.

Can you keep a bowl or something from the Waring and Gillow set - for sentimental reasons?

Brave, is all I can say. Good for you. I'm another who needs to blitz the place. Where does one start ?

Luckygirl I do know what you mean, we've had one big downsize and moved again and so much 'stuff' has been got rid of and I don't miss it at all. Life feels fresher and lighter. Why do we hoard things? I've always kept things 'in case' but the in case never happened!

Fresher and lighter - that is definitely it!

Luckygirl - I am the queen of skips, which I love because you really can get rid of all the stuff that got chucked in garage and shed waiting for a trip to the tip, as well as all the bits kept “just in case”. It is a wonderfully cathartic process which will leave you able to start this new phase of your life exactly as you wish.

I so hope this move goes smoothly for you and hope to hear that it is progressing well.

Luckygirl I hear you! Lately, we've been getting rid of the contents of our garage from our downsizing move 3 years ago. We've been putting our stuff on our local fb selling site. It's been great fun, people have been pleased to get a bargain and we are slowly getting some space in the garage. There's a long way to go yet but it's giving DH something interesting to do - co-ordinating the sales and collections. He's really enjoying himself.

Well done Lucky! As I said on a similar thread I used to be a hoarder for sentimental reasons or in case it 'could come handy'. Now, apart from a handful of sentimental items, it's all slimmed down, as my DH wants to be 'ready to move at any time!'

Great news Luckygirl. We cleared our parents home after mum died. What a task, we found all kinds of things like Mother's Day cards one of us had made fifty years ago. We kept some momento's but had to clear so many photographs, books, china etc. It really made me reflect on trying to curtail the collection earthenware jugs I'd find cheap at car boot sales. To save every birthday card anyone ever sent me.
So pleased its going well for you Lucky

At the start of the lockdown I was thinking now is the time to get rid, that lasted maybe a week which I did start going through a few cupboards, I then got fed up and I have put it off,although have done odd bits, but I do need to knuckle down now

Last year we decided to update whole house, some thing I must admit I would never attempt again. Along with all the mess I decided to throw out things I had not used for over 20 years but stored, the idea was if not used in a year into the skip it went, along with current furniture. I project managed the whole process, but what kept me sane was throwing stuff into the skip. Most satisfying thing ever, 9 months of ditching and a future of clutter free. I still think why on earth did I purchase so much junk and the waste. Some stuff did go to the charity shop.

I find it difficult to get rid of stuff, but as I plan to emigrate in 3 years I have used this time at home working to go through the house one room at a time and I don’t move onto the next until I’m satisfied. It’s really hard but it’s slowly going especially shoes, clothes and handbags lol

We have just spent our time in lockdown clearing the loft and garage. So far 95 boxes/bags/packages have gone. Getting started is hard bit then it becomes a habit to go there every day and do a little bit more. It is amazing what you can get rid of from the doorstep ! 53 years of memories, but it feels good to have got this far. Good luck to the others who are at the same task!

I am a big clearer outer. I love emptying cupboards and ruthlessly chucking the plastic boxes without lids/single spoons/bits of twisted wire/cracked mugs/random plastic bags etc. looking at the tidy organised result I feel satisfaction. (I know that sounds a bit sad). But sometimes I regret my enthusiasm.
My son in laws parent kept every toy and book from his and his siblings childhood. Now and again they go into the attic and produce an original star wars toy or complete set of something or other for the grandchildren. Its those moment when I think-hmmmmm I was a bit hasty

We got rid of our excess two years ago when we moved and it felt wonderful. Alas, old habits die hard as I fear it’s beginning to accumulate again!

DH is a huge fan of “I will keep it- just in case” Whereas I am of the ilk- “just bin it!!” I went to the shed yesterday and found a rusty old shovel head, attached to a sawn-off broom handle with a rusty nail!?!?!?! I picked it up and it fell apart-surprisingly!? When I told DH he said,”that’s ok I will fix it!?
I also found a foil tray in which I had cooked a chicken ready meal months ago, I had put it out for the rubbish, he had washed it out!! Why? What for?
I have learned now not to tell him what I am throwing away or taking to charity as he has been known to go through the bags and take stuff out! I wait until he has gone out then put it in the car boot!!

Part of my desire to be clutter free is that I am naturally very untidy, really hopelessly untidy. So if I don’t at least have clear space in cupboards wardrobes etc to put things away, I’d never be able to have guests again I’d be so ashamed. Complete opposite to one of my siblings with a huge house and not a drawer or cupboard that isn’t immaculate, actually my DIL is like that too.

We have done this too but now I have a huge bag of some really good clothes with nowhere to send them. I dont think any of the charity shops are taking things yet. We certainly haven't had any of the usual bags for collection.

Just photograph what has nostalgia value and move it on.

I just wish the charity shops would hurry up and open.

When we moved into our current home 20 years ago ( after months sorting the previous property and it taking 3 furniture vans to move the stuff we had left) I suggested to DH that we should put our new home straight onto the market not to sell it but to force us to keep our “collections” under control. We didn’t and 2 decades later are feeling buried. So well done for starting what we can just never get on top of.

I tear my hair out at my husbands hanging onto everything. Since lockdown he's taken to making model aeroplanes. Kept him occupied but he then doesn't look after things and I refuse to dust his collectables ! He has magazines all over the place and never sorts these and his mail out to store tidily. He's the 'where is it I left it there ?' Type. I need to feel organised so this makes me so anxious. 42 years married and still a work in progress !