A branch off of the" What have you purged today" t... - Page 5

DecorDiva · ‎03-02-2014

@IMW wrote:
I want less stuff. Easier access, less wrinkling due to too many items in cramped space. Easier maintenance of apartment, etc.
I’ve come to love empty spaces, gives me a feeling of expansiveness.
This week I let go of 6pair of brand new denim and co pants. The cotton is too rough on my skin. With my neuropathy everything bothers me.
Let go of a suit, 2 skirts and 2 blouses. All were in new condition and fit me. I knew I would not be wearing any of it.
It took me years to let these clothes go....I am glad not to be holding on to the past, it stops me from reaching for the future.

@IMW- what a beauiful thought! I''m going to write it down and post it where I can see it.

ZoetheCat · ‎11-30-2014

For me, the urge to live with a (little) less started several years ago when hubby and I installed a closet system in our master closet. I was really startled, and quite embarrassed, by the excessive amount of clothes, shoes, handbags, etc. that I owned. It really made me think about how much is too much. I still love clothes, and I buy things here and there, but no where near the level I once did.

About a year and a half ago, I was able to retire. Since my husband was still working, I made it my mission to spend my “work” days doing house projects. I have stripped wallpaper, painted nearly every interior surface, stained front and back decks, etc. In doing all this work, I have found that I want my spaces to be airy and less cluttered. So, I’ve donated many items that just didn’t appeal to me at this stage of life. I love our home, and I now only want to be surrounded by things that are meaningful to us.

My husband retired a few months ago, and, together, we are working on our huge yard, tending to the garden, and just trying to tackle the multitude of projects that were neglected because work got in the way. We are in our mid to late 50s and would like to do as many of these projects as we can while we are still able. I also suspect that at some point he will go back to work on a part time basis. We live in New England, and he will go batty during our long winters without his yard and garden to distract him.

The interesting thing I’ve noticed is that while we have been getting rid of “stuff,” we have also become much less interested in other things that used to mean a lot to us. We rarely go out to dinner for example, whereas that was a weekly activity in the past. We used to have a boat, but we sold that a few years back and don’t miss it in the least. As sappy as it sounds, we really just enjoy the simple things now. A walk on the beach, a great dinner that we prepare together and enjoy on our porch, a visit with family or friends. I guess we’re just in a different season of life.

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

This was on my FB page from a friend today...she is in the midst of "purging & downsizing".

As for @Mominohio original question: My end goal is to have my guest closet free of anything I haven't used in years. I've stopped impulse buying in all areas, ie, Q, home decor, etc. and honestly, life without shopping is sometimes "boring" but I'm loving I haven't bought anything that is a "want vs need".🙂🙂🙂

#8 I'm sure is true for most of us! I know my kids don't want that job to sort ...

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

One thing I just can't part with are paintings. We had many more walls in our old house as the current one is open concept. I have a decorator friend who purchased oil paintings for our home for us. Every one was very carefully chosen because they are expensive, and they are all original oils. In our home now we have used some but I still have a closet full of beautiful painting that I have no space to hang up, but I love them and can't part with them. A few I occasionally trade off with ones that are hanging - gives a little bit of a new look.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

My ultimate goal is to have a home that is easy to care for. Too much of anything can just be too much.

I started reading Don Asslet's books long before clutter control seemed to be discussed. I had to because our living space was small and it was a necessity.

My husband jokes I need to remember I am not entering a convent and I am allowed to have "stuff." He still thinks this is just a fad designed to have people throw out stuff so they need to buy it again. He humors me, though, and gives me a lot of space to keep clutter-free.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Trinity11 wrote:
My ultimate goal is to have a home that is easy to care for. Too much of anything can just be too much.

I started reading Don Asslet's books long before clutter control seemed to be discussed. I had to because our living space was small and it was a necessity.

My husband jokes I need to remember I am not entering a convent and I am allowed to have "stuff." He still thinks this is just a fad designed to have people throw out stuff so they need to buy it again. He humors me, though, and gives me a lot of space to keep clutter-free.

My DH is a hoarder and so he tries to tell me the same thing.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@151949 wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
My ultimate goal is to have a home that is easy to care for. Too much of anything can just be too much.

I started reading Don Asslet's books long before clutter control seemed to be discussed. I had to because our living space was small and it was a necessity.

My husband jokes I need to remember I am not entering a convent and I am allowed to have "stuff." He still thinks this is just a fad designed to have people throw out stuff so they need to buy it again. He humors me, though, and gives me a lot of space to keep clutter-free.
My DH is a hoarder and so he tries to tell me the same thing.

That's a difficult situation @151949. My husband is so used to me getting rid of extraneous possessions he has given in after 43 years of marriage. I did ask him recently why there are 4 televisions in our finished basement. I called the township 800 number for large items removal and they are coming tomorrow to pick them up. I try not to be a nag but I am sure at times I am.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@Trinity11 wrote:
@151949 wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
My ultimate goal is to have a home that is easy to care for. Too much of anything can just be too much.

I started reading Don Asslet's books long before clutter control seemed to be discussed. I had to because our living space was small and it was a necessity.

My husband jokes I need to remember I am not entering a convent and I am allowed to have "stuff." He still thinks this is just a fad designed to have people throw out stuff so they need to buy it again. He humors me, though, and gives me a lot of space to keep clutter-free.
My DH is a hoarder and so he tries to tell me the same thing.
That's a difficult situation @151949. My husband is so used to me getting rid of extraneous possessions he has given in after 43 years of marriage. I did ask him recently why there are 4 televisions in our finished basement. I called the township 800 number for large items removal and they are coming tomorrow to pick them up. I try not to be a nag but I am sure at times I am.

We've come to a compromise. He gets the garage and his den to keep as he likes - the remainder of the house is out of bounds. Just this morning he was walking up the hall carrying a pencil and a big stack of paper - he scribbled a huge line across the wall all the way down the hall because he didn't watch what he was doing with the pencil.We don't have washable paint so I cleaned it off and tomorrow it will have to be repainted.In his opinion I'm making a big deal out of nothing - but he's not the one left to get it back to normal.

Snoopp · ‎02-02-2015

My purging has been painfully slow and not as successful as it could have been due to my wanting to keep things that should probably go. I tend to sometimes put sentiment to some objects that are of little practical use to me. Moving is my goal but I plan on having to do another purge on a smaller scale after the move; this is not uncommon from what I have seen. I also want less clutter to keep cleaning easy.

Anyway, I have too much on my plate and will keep plugging along and do what I can. One thing I've done is to pretty much stop buying any new home decor for now.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

In order to successfully purge you have to let go of the emtional bond to inanimate objects. The memory is not in the object - the memory is in your head. You won't lose the memory by letting go of the objects. Believe me - I've let go of a lot of my parents & grandparents things but I can still plainly remember them. Actually, I think my Mom is always in my head giving me advice.