Home

[sarpy]

springers: You are right. I just heard DR talk about the envelope system. It sure worked for us. Nice to know that there are other people who used the system.

[Sooner]

On 4/21/2014 Ranchergal said:

I'm also de-cluttering. I've downsized to a smaller home and it's now getting cluttered. I'm concentrating on getting rid of clothing, cookbooks/books, and cookware that I no longer use or haven't used in two years. I know we feel overwhelmed with so much to do after the long harsh winter, but most everyone is in the same boat with us!!

I could have written this post too! It is so HARD to get rid of stuff!

[casuallady]

For my decluttering friends. I have been gradually cleaning out, but today we made a major jump in our decluttering our home. We are freshening up our den (about the size of a medium bedroom) actually it is our 4th bedroom and on the 1st floor. We have a TV with an entertainment center. It has lots of space for books, DVD's,... along with VCR. We had lots in there. I removed everything except the TV Box and VCR. I couldn't believe how much was in there. Lots got pitched by hubby, and the rest went back in (about a 3rd left). There was a wooden magazine box loaded with golf mags, all got pitched. We have a decorative chest in hall with more golfing, fishing, advertisement magazines,... Took out huge garbage bag of stuff to garbage can. I took all pictures and a shelf off walls and only one large picture, one decorative item and 2 small pictures go back up. We will give the 2 dry wall walls (other walls log) a fresh coat of paint, and take down a wall paper border.

Also will clean the rug. Nothing new except the paint, but it will look so much better.

[springers]

Great job, very freeing. I was thinking of getting rid of vhf movie tapes (keep thinking if future gk, heck my boys arent married 20/22). What if, ??? Drives me

[casuallady]

On 5/22/2014 springers said:

Great job, very freeing. I was thinking of getting rid of vhf movie tapes (keep thinking if future gk, heck my boys arent married 20/22). What if, ??? Drives me

I know how difficult pictures and tapes are to manage. That is one area that I haven't completely conquered. I ran into videos of our 2 oldest granddaughters from California (we are in PA), anyway our daughter mailed them since we could only get to see them a couple times a yr. We are keeping them, will be fun to look at. They are now 16 1/2 and almost 15.

[expatgal]

I did a major decluttering/re-organization of my master closet a few months ago. I thought I would never get finished, but loved it (and me!) afterward. I just looked at my closet yesterday and realized I needed to do a "refresh". Of course, there are added purchases so it's time to to MAINTENANCE. Once you do a major declutter, you MUST MAINTAIN!

[casuallady]

On 5/23/2014 expatgal said:

I did a major decluttering/re-organization of my master closet a few months ago. I thought I would never get finished, but loved it (and me!) afterward. I just looked at my closet yesterday and realized I needed to do a "refresh". Of course, there are added purchases so it's time to to MAINTENANCE. Once you do a major declutter, you MUST MAINTAIN!

The maintenance is as important as the actual decluttering project. It is just so difficult to get it all done, so maintenance is the part we need to do. Our home is 18-19 yrs old, so everything needs to be done. Good luck to all and keep posting so we don't loose momentum

[Mominohio]

Maintenance of the newly decluttered space is probably harder than the actual declutter.

One has to make effort to go through the space on some kind of a regular basis and keep it cleaned, straightened, and not add new things to the space.

Not adding things is the hardest for some of us. I love thrift stores and garage sales, and that is why I have to declutter to begin with! The last several months, I have pretty much ignored garage sales and thrifts, and I'm proud of my self for doing so. The two times I have stopped, I only bought some birthday cards (always need those, and I have a small drawer specifically for cards and letter supplies, when full, no more purchased) and a 6 piece Tupperware modular mates set that looked like new for 90 cents each piece. Who could resist that for such a price.

I am now going through closets that I did this winter, and ridding them of a few more things. Sometimes it is less painful to not get rid of things you are unsure about, and when you still haven't used them in several months, the momentum of your first purge propels you onward to do even more.

[JackieBlue]

I really like the idea of organizing socks & undies in shoe boxes! I'm going to try it. Great thread.

[JackieBlue]

On 4/18/2014 AuntG said:

Keep plugging away. Sometimes I think those space bags and plastic storage containers make things worse. I've tossed all but eight storage containers that I use to hold holiday decorations (I put a few things out for all the holidays, but the majority are for Christmas decorations).

I agree with you AuntG about storage containers & bags making things worse. It's true in my case. I'm learning that I feel better donating things rather than buying more containers to store items in.