Sounds like you are doing good...keep it up. :top:Quote:
Originally Posted by wimbly11
Printable View
Sounds like you are doing good...keep it up. :top:Quote:
Originally Posted by wimbly11
I'm working on this task in 2016 as well. I'm currently doing the bowl full of lemons 14-week challenge, and purging the house as I go. Eventually I want to go back and use the Kon Marie method on the whole house, but I'm still reading the book at the moment. I found the book, although quirky in places, has really helped change my perspective on those things that I dislike but keep either because I spent $$ on them or because someone gave it to me.
I took about 4 garbage bags worth of stuff to value village this weekend, and I have a small 'sell' pile that I've posted. Our city uses the Varagesale App and it is super easy, but I'm getting annoyed at people not picking things up.
That's a good way of describing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by beckie.c
I'm with you Wimbly. It is really hard with kids to declutter, mine grab things out of the donate pile lol. What works for me is watched an episode of Hoarders which also spurs me on to clean my house like crazy. It is so easy to accumulate 3 coats when we only need one or more sets of shoes than we really need....so whenever I bring something into the house I try to get rid of something else. Also trying to use things/clothes etc. that I keep in reserve for special occasions...use them and enjoy them!
Another thumbs up for the Mare Kondo method. What's dif about her approach is she says to declutter by category (and in a particular order), not by room - so you can see all you have/own. I started the 1st category - clothing - several months ago, but got interrupted due to a family situation and have yet to finish - almost there but not quite. But my closet is now roomy instead of having clothes crammed in there, and my dresser drawers are neat and organized - and I've been able to maintain them with just a few blips here and there since. Donated 6-7 bags of clothing to a local charity.
Thanks for this thread, wimbly. Maybe it'll help me finish off decluttering the rest of my clothing and then move on to the other categories.
p.s. Google Marie Kondo - if anyone want to know more :)
Silk
Marie Kondo's work looks interesting. I'm tempted to read her books.
This is a slow process with life getting in the way. But every item leaving the house is an accomplishment! I have a small box ready for donation, instead of waiting and letting things pile up I'm going to drop it off tomorrow on my lunch break when I'm on town so it will be out of the house!! Goodbye box of random crap!! :)
^^I googled Marie Kondo Silk and Beckie. love the way she folds sweaters, you can see them so much easily than laying them flat! not Marie Kondo but love this method of folding a fitted sheet too. Great thread Wimbly! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTyH2nuFAw
Was curious and googled the sweater method. I do this with my tops, well somewhat. I roll them so I can see them all instead of stacking. So much easier!! Here's the video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkGTu-4IPpg
Decluttering can be very hard when someone else is involved, unless you both have the same want and same views it can feel like you are getting no where.
I found in our house the middle ground was to try to sell whatever we get rid of, seems to give a sense of not just losing the item. It is weird I know but hey if it gets the stuff out of the house so be it.
We`ve been holding garage sales every summer for at least 20 years. When my in-laws passed , we cleaned out their house. We gave away tons of stuff but some we kept, dunno why, but we did. When my parents passed, we cleaned out their house and kept just about everything. Over the years, thats what we`ve been selling. And still we have stuff. The kids moved out and took some stuff but left others. So ive learned to keep a couple of boxes handy and when i dont want or need something, i put it into the box. When the box is full i bring it to the local center. This Christmas, i went through all our Christmas décorations and have a box full of that to give away. I find the hardest things to give away are the ones which hold memories. Like for example, we have this old old Christmas Angel topper. The wand is broken, the hair is gone, it has broken in several places but it was the one my parents bought when i was about 5 or 6 years old and always put it on the tree. That angel is 60 years old! I would never get rid of it and i know one of my kids will take it and love it.
the hardest things to get rid of are the ones that hold memories, but the rest, well if you havent used it in one year, get rid of it! Lately ive been eyeing my kitchen cupboards. I need to declutter the kitchen cupboards of mugs, soup bowls, chip and dip bowls, etc.
I have been de-cluttering for months. The hardest things are the items that my mother had. I wish following her death I had cleaned everything out but I was so overcome with grief as we shared a house together. I am finally able to get rid of her things but get stuck on silly things. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
This is a good read on letting go of sentimental items...Quote:
Originally Posted by barbis9
Some of the silly things are the ones that hold the most memories. If they bring on a smile, then hang on to them. Dont get rid of them until you are ready because you will always feel that you should have kept them.Quote:
Originally Posted by barbis9
Quote:
Originally Posted by wimbly11
Which book is good on sentimental items?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnowFlakey
I have donated a lot and some of the things I regret. I have no problems with getting rid of my things......but if my mother bought it than it is an issue. I just feel really stuck.....and have decided to take a break from it.
Arg, where did my link go? lolQuote:
Originally Posted by barbis9
Let's try this again
http://www.theminimalists.com/sentimental/
Made great progress this weekend. Finance spent all Sunday in the basement, moving, organizing, sorting. Getting it ready so we can insulate. I filled another box to go which I will drop off this week. A few more baby steps in the right direction!
^^thnx great link! got rid of some toys, books I've already read and things I don't wear anymore!
I wouldn't have problems with that but Mr P would , he hates mess unless it's his vitally important stuff which never ever ever has to be moved...Quote:
Originally Posted by lecale
Decluttering is a subject close to my heart. Living in this house for 8 years has involved major bouts of decluttering. You see, we bought MIL's house from the estate when she passed away, and even though my SILs got rid of a lot of stuff, there was a lot left behind, a good chunk of junk that belonged to hubby.
Anyone notice how it comes in waves related to the seasons? It's no coincidence that with Spring coming we're starting to see magazine articles about cleaning and decluttering, along with store sales on supplies. I've seen this in myself when heading to the basement on a dark January night with the intent to declutter, that I'd only stand there overwhelmed and unable to make one single decision. Lo and behold, one month later, I'm able to go in there and tackle a good chunk.
For me to get rid of things, it has to be effortless. I like the idea of making money off my cast-offs, but frankly, I don't find the investment in time worth the money I'd get, along with having to handle these items some more. You know what I mean? I'll come across a stack of magazines that I completely forgot I have, but the minute I see it, I decide it's a keeper. Until the next time I come across it and decide it's a keeper. I have magazines dating back form the early 1990s that I still do this with.
Anyhoo, I now keep a box meant for giveways in my basement. Every time I come across something that's no longer needed, I put it in the box. And on "treasure weekend", the box hits the curb. Treasure weekend are two weekends a year that our city allows us to put what we don't want to the curb for anyone to pick up. They work. It's unbelievable what people will take because it's free.
Someone was asking about keeping empty boxes appliances come in? Because I have the room, I keep them. Putting them in the box makes them easier to give away. And of they happen to be broken, some people are handy enough to fix them and are glad to get them for free.
Wimbly, if your fiance is like my husband, you'll have to take matters into your hands and start yourself. My husband ended up in the hospital last year, and while he was there, I got so frustrated with the state of his office that I went in there and gutted it of the clutter. Just gutted it. He had pieces of papers for appointments dating back to 2008. He kept all the ATM receipts for withdrawals from 2010. He had two complete sets of Game of Thrones even though he has the same set on his kindle as well. Boxes that I personally packed when we moved to this house had been untouched. A Rubbermaid container meant to store winter closes (or summer) had one sweatshirt. And on, and on, I came across old stuff that should have been thrown away because they weren't useful anymore.
To exact my revenge, I took pictures before and after, and showed him that evening. A look of panic came across his face and before he started raging, I told him: "Honey, I didn't get rid of anything. Yet. If you need something back, just tell me and I'll put it back."
And you know what? By the time he came home, there was not one thing that I took away that he wanted back. As long as he doesn't lay eyes on something, he doesn't remember he has it.
I've read Marie Kondo's Art of Decluttering and didn't like it. The majority of her book talks about clothes and books. An easy target, even now in this age of ebooks and computers. Then there's a mantra "keep things that bring you joy" is way too simple and new age for me. And I won't even get into her idea that a pair of socks works hard and needs to be thanked before being put away.
Someone mentionned Flylady? That's how I got started with getting my house under control (excepting the clutter). I was getting the emails, but you can also go on her website, and get the same information. Her idea of a "control book" was invaluable to me in setting up routines. She also had one or two books, one of them entitled "Shining Your Sink". I don't remember them being overly religious.
A less religious alternative is "Un your Habitat", but it's essentially the same thing with daily challenges and routines.
He's the same ways. Receipts. Gum wrappers. You name it, he has it stuffed in a box somewhere. I've thought about slowly chucking things that I know for sure are junk and just not making a big deal of it. It's garbage. He knows its garbage. But doesn't want anyone doing it but him (but he won't lol). I think little by little I'll make a few things "disappear". I would never throw out his things, I'm taking literal garbage that he has stuffed in totes and boxes lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by blueeyetea
^^^you are not alone blueeyetea, I too keep appliance boxes, this has come in handy when I need to have them repaired or if there is a warranty with them. when the warranty is up, I toss them. I also keep favourite crafting magazines but weed them out every spring. Love the idea of keeping a donation box on a full time basis!
I have CP come pick up my extra stuff regularly: http://ofcp.ca/donate/collection/Quote:
Originally Posted by seylz_gurl
They will come monthly if you can give monthly. After you donate once you are on their telemarketing list, so once a month you will get a call that annoyingly enough is one of those where it's silent until you're connected to the call center :( so I accidentally hang up on them a lot. I usually call to schedule a collection.
It's so funny, once I put the box out the neighbour's usually knocking to ask if they can look and see if there is any "good stuff".
^heh, heh, I guess if they can use the stuff why not lol. Good idea re CP ....I usually pass on my kids clothes to friends or family if sizing works and there is life left in them. Clothes never seem to sell at garage sales or on kijji anyway.
I complained earlier in the thread about them not showing up but actually it was right after xmas, a lot of people were decluttering and they had to send the truck out again the next day! so I did get rid of that stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by seylz_gurl
They are most interested in textiles (clothes, bedding, etc.) but they do take electronics (marked working/not working) and housewares.
I don't like the idea of kijiji buyers coming around because 1) they are a pain, on their own time and 2) I don't want anybody casing out the joint because my neighbour always has toys (quads, boats, etc.) and I don't want to be the one that is bringing strangers around all the time if something disappears.
Unless it's an official document - I've been throwing it out. He's incorrigible. Just the other day I was helping him look for a set of keys he lost, and I went through a box he keeps by the door where he throws his wallet, keys and change at the the of day. It's full of paper. I was pushing old notices under his nose and asking how useful was an appointment notice from 2008. Or a credit card bill. Or a financial statement.Quote:
Originally Posted by wimbly11
Myself, I admit I have a lot of stuff - especially craft supplies and books, but it takes me 5 minutes, 10 minutes tops to find what I'm looking for. My husband, on the other hand, I've found tax declarations datings back to the 1980s. If he hasn't looked at it in all that time, it's gone to the shredding box.
And I'm not even talking about the complete set of glasses from the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games, still wrapped up in newspaper. Boxes and boxes.
I have a hard time what that, so I've been organizing them. They have their respective box in the basement. On the other hand, I don't buy as many as before, and no longer get subscriptions. When I do buy, I try to get the electronic version. With most of the knitting magazines, once the magazines are out of print, you can buy individual patterns.Quote:
Originally Posted by seylz_gurl