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[jlkz]

@AuntG

Key to next chapter, vis a vis holiday decor items:  select one important item that you really love for the major lived in rooms.  

Create a focal,point for it....put everything else in a large, lidded storage bin that is labeled for contents.  Place on the floor of a little used closet if donating it right away causes you great anxiety.  I have donated some beautiful items to nurses stations where my mom spent the last few years of her life.

hth

[jlkz]

@AuntG

Key to next chapter, vis a vis holiday decor items:  select one important item that you really love for the major lived in rooms.  

Create a focal,point for it....put everything else in a large, lidded storage bin that is labeled for contents.  Place on the floor of a little used closet if donating it right away causes you great anxiety.  I have donated some beautiful items to nurses stations where my mom spent the last few years of her life.

Here is the one item from our great room....no tree finally!

hth

[jlkz]

This past week I stayed in doors recovering from pink eye in both eyes.  Went through one 4-drawer filing cabinet and decided that medical and dental files from 1999 on did not need to be taking up prime space.  

Got my and DH’s files into one large lidded plastic bin, labeled it and took it down to the back basement for storage.  Kept 2017-18 close at hand.  

Now all the other files have more room but still need to be refined !

[IMW]

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.

[KathyM23]

@GCR18  i can't imagine giving up a clothes closet!

[RedTop]

The big goal for our summer was to do a basement and garage purge so that the other 3 people living here, take inventory of what they have and decide whether they want or need it, and then reorganize what they decide to keep.  

What little I had in the basement has been tossed, donated, or burned.   Outside of my car, nothing in the garage is mine.   

My husband has done great with purging his collections, and the girls have made noticeable progress.   The basement is in better shape, but still has things on the floor that need to be stacked on the shelves.    The garage hasn’t been touched yet, but most of the stuff out there is trash or recycle.

[jannabelle1]

What used to be important to me, just isn't so important any more. We all have different lifestyles as we age. In my 2nd marriage, DH and I don't really entertain now - we have family events at sons' homes, so I don't need (or want) more things to entertain or decorate with. We slowly but surely go through items that need to go to other family members if they want them or just need to be donated. Our goal is definitely to continue to downsize....we're in a town house that doesn't have a basement, so we've already done a lot of purging out of necessity. My needs and requirements aren't on a grand scale anymore - I'm quite happy with less is best now!

[151949]

I wonder if "less is more" mentality is common as we grow older, or if it is just the tiny house, minimalist trending currently that is making us all want to get rid of stuff.

[Zsazsa]

We have a new home... more square footage than the last home ... but less than the first home. We still have too much furniture... though we have given away/donated many pieces. I’m trying to ‘live in the space’ a bit before making any more furniture decisions. 

Decoratives, clothes, kitchen items, etc. ... now that’s another story...

We no longer have a basement.... which is truly a relief because I am so OVER the worry of water in the basement... a frequent problem in our area,  in spite of thousands and thousands of dollars spent on numerous flood control systems. 

I have five vacation days in August... the plan is to make a huge dent... i’ll report back in the coming weeks.

[OnlyShopsOnline]

My goal in purging the basement is to see empty spaces....but also to get rid of things I know I won't use.  I just did the same thing in my laundry room.  I have some cabinets there with holiday dishes, antique glassware, etc.  I've gotten rid of things I know I will never use.  And, I've reorganized so everything is within one space.

But, we plan to stay in this house until we reach old age.  And, I still enjoy decorating for the different seasons and holidays.  In no way is my goal to be minimalist.

I'm also changing my Christmas theme in my kitchen this year.  I'm tired of gingerbread men, and am going with something a little simpler.  My daughter will take what she wants, and the rest will be donated.

Also, we're in the process of having a four season room added, and remodeling our basement.  Once those spaces are finished, I'll know what else I won't be using, and finish my purge.