Community Chat

[hoosieroriginal]

The other day I heard about this young guy who packed up his whole house and then whatever he didn't pull back out of the box in a month he got rid of. Not going to pack my whole house up, but today I started getting rid of EVERYTHING I have not used in over 30 days (except for summer clothing). I have a ton of bags to take to Goodwill. I think generally you just feel better about yourself not hoarding things you don't use. Years ago I also remember moving an older couple in my apartment building and seeing all the stuff they gathered over the years. I was embarrassed for them! The thought of my kids seeing anything like that should anything happen to me always made me a person who purged what I didn't use. But now I'm going to more of an extreme in the process. Tomorrow is makeup and face stuff in general. I am now using a few Skinn products and Wen and that's what I'm sticking with from now on.

[151949]

I like to keep things neat and I do houseclean once a year. When I do that I clean out every drawer, cupboard and cabinet in my house. I throw a lot away and change the liner paper. Then reorganize what is left.

I am always amazed at the people who post about throwing things away that still are unopened boxes or clothes with the tags still on them. That sounds like very irresponsible shopping to me.

[jeanlake]

I'm ready to down size / right size almost everything in the basement. Husband grew up poor, so it's tough for him to let go of things. We're going to bump heads after the first of the year!

[GCR18]

On 12/26/2014 ury said:

I'm ready to down size / right size almost everything in the basement. Husband grew up poor, so it's tough for him to let go of things. We're going to bump heads after the first of the year!

That was my father. When he passed away, we got rid of every last thing in the basement. The exception was a small box with tools. OP, I agree. You feel so much better when you have what you need and know where it is.

[sidsmom]

On 12/26/2014 Hoosieroriginal said:

The other day I heard about this young guy who packed up his whole house and then whatever he didn't pull back out of the box in a month he got rid of. Not going to pack my whole house up, but today I started getting rid of EVERYTHING I have not used in over 30 days (except for summer clothing). I have a ton of bags to take to Goodwill. I think generally you just feel better about yourself not hoarding things you don't use. Years ago I also remember moving an older couple in my apartment building and seeing all the stuff they gathered over the years. I was embarrassed for them! The thought of my kids seeing anything like that should anything happen to me always made me a person who purged what I didn't use. But now I'm going to more of an extreme in the process. Tomorrow is makeup and face stuff in general. I am now using a few Skinn products and Wen and that's what I'm sticking with from now on.

WOW! What a healthy way to start the new year! 2015 is YOURS! I'm inspired!

[toodles11]

I am trying to do this with my basement. There is so much down there that we no longer need or use. Unfortunately, I need lots of energy and the right frame of mind ( I don't need it and I don't want it) or I will keep most of it.

I have done pretty good this year with limiting what I buy and bring into the house. I just need some help getting more stuff out of the house.

[AnikaBrodie]

I plan to do this soon with our walk-in closet and the closet in our guest room. There are items in both closets that haven't been worn for some time by either me or DH. Our church started a once a month free clothing ministry for people in need recently and I will give a lot of items to them for distribution. 99% of the clothing items are gently used so I'm sure they'll be in high demand.

[Financialgrl]

Dad was a child of the depression and he lived here for 8 years. He threw nothing out and I always followed behind him tossing out stuff. When he died, I'd found small little "stashes" he'd hidden. I'm guessing it was his way of holding on to some things. I went nuts cleaning out stuff. I realized the other day that when I initially cleaned, his death had been relatively new and I'd held onto some things I now feel comfortable tossing.

I bought a way too large house when I moved dad in (wanted us to have enough space so we were not encroaching into each other's space. Friends and I were discussing just the other day that, come spring we are all checking out the various over 55 communities to get into a much smaller place, downsize to a 2 bed, 2 bath place where all the shoveling of snow and yard work gets done. My only fear - it'll probably take forever to sell the house cuz I live pretty rural.

[Still Raining]

For me the wakeup call was cleaning up after my parents. I will never to that to my kids. So I am really lean now and it is a wonderful feeling. Honestly if it has not been used in a year, you do not need it. It does not matter what you paid for it, it does not matter what your dreams were when you bought it, and it does not matter if you think that someday you may use it. Get rid of it and do not replace it.

[Financialgrl]

On 12/27/2014 Still Raining said:

For me the wakeup call was cleaning up after my parents. I will never to that to my kids. So I am really lean now and it is a wonderful feeling. Honestly if it has not been used in a year, you do not need it. It does not matter what you paid for it, it does not matter what your dreams were when you bought it, and it does not matter if you think that someday you may use it. Get rid of it and do not replace it.

Agree. We were lucky - when it was evident dad could not live alone, we threw out all the stuff he "saved in case someone might need it some day", cuz that's what children of the depression did. I cannot tell you the amount of stuff that got hauled off to the dump. When dad died, because we didn't allow him to continue collecting things, it made life SO much easier.