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[Sooner]

We had to have some work done quickly and packed up a bunch of stuff to put in storage. Hubby said something about getting more shelves and I said "It's NOT coming back!" I mean that! I need to go through it, but I plan on donating at least 75 percent of it! Just couldn't get it done before it had to be out. Frankly, I DREAD it.

[drizzellla]

On 4/18/2014 marky said:

So proud for you. I know you must feel so free. I have been de-cluttering today. I have used a spare room to put everything from all the other rooms as I clean. Now I have to tackle that mess. I have decided that I am a hoarder. I have way too many candles, beauty products, soaps, and other things. I vow not to buy anything else. I also tend to buy too many grocery items. I am trying not to buy things until I run out as I have a tendency to buy multiples of things. This creates a storage problem.

I also had to clean out my mother and father's home, after mom's death recently. I kept several things and I still need to go through a lot of papers and keepsakes. It is so hard to keep ahead of all the mess since I work M-F and am still grieving over my mother.

Thanks for sharing about your success and the fun you had on vacation. I look forward to being able to have that freedom in the not-too-distant future.

You sound just like me (except I did not declutter today). From the spare room that became a dumping ground of stuff I did not want to get rid of but wasn't using. And all the extra makeup and beauty products that I had to have but haven't used because I have so much.

Also, I sold my Mom's house in less than 2 weeks. So I filled many many Rubbermaid tubs with stuff and they just sit and take up space. I also work and am away from the house 12 hours a day between the commute and work. So it seems a lot is coming in and not enough is leaving. And my son moved back home. He has quite a bit of stuff too.

I have to make some changes around here. I am glad that some of you have been able to make positive changes and I hope to follow - starting now.

[Mominohio]

My inside decluttering has been minimal lately, as I've had to declutter my yard of sticks and branches after this horrible winter. We have lots of old trees, many of which need taken down, but that takes money, and the spring clean up takes a couple of days each year now. The yard does look better, and we have to get it done before the first mow. We would usually have mowed at least once already, but had snow again early this week.

I started cleaning out the garage this past week, as it is the single most cluttered place in the house. All winter, things got left because it was just way too cold to stay out there and work. I ran two car loads to the recycle bin, we did some burning, and another small load to the thrift store. When my husband and son are gone this weekend, I'll be able to get rid of a few more things while they aren't looking!

We were trying to sell some things on ebay, and I have to say, it drove me nuts. It just takes too long, some things don't sell, I just want it to move quicker, so we will continue to move things over to the auction house. While we don't make much money on the things, it does move it out all at once. I'm just careful not to take anything too sentimental or too valuable, because I know I won't get the money it deserves.

I have put off cleaning out my paper files (a yearly process that I do) and I need to get on that, as well.

[casuallady]

This is such a difficult time of the year to know where to start (in PA) after the rough winter. The windows are dirty, the fireplace needs cleaned out and the mat thrown away, the garage, shed, the branches in the yard, the porch, and the list goes on. We baby sit grandkids 2-3 days a week, so we need to be very efficient.

I know many of you are feeling a little over whelmed, however after many years, I am trying to remind myself to break the projects into mini projects.

Lets continue to update and encourage each other.

"Happy Easter"!!! This year it will just be my husband and me, andBailey our Labradoodle. One of our children and family live in California, and won't be home.

Our son and family will be with our Daughter in Law's family. It is difficult to be with both families with a 5 yr old and 1 yr old.

[Mominohio]

On 4/19/2014 casuallady said:

This is such a difficult time of the year to know where to start (in PA) after the rough winter. The windows are dirty, the fireplace needs cleaned out and the mat thrown away, the garage, shed, the branches in the yard, the porch, and the list goes on. We baby sit grandkids 2-3 days a week, so we need to be very efficient.

I know many of you are feeling a little over whelmed, however after many years, I am trying to remind myself to break the projects into mini projects.

Lets continue to update and encourage each other.

"Happy Easter"!!! This year it will just be my husband and me, andBailey our Labradoodle. One of our children and family live in California, and won't be home.

Our son and family will be with our Daughter in Law's family. It is difficult to be with both families with a 5 yr old and 1 yr old.

Happy Easter to you as well. Sorry you can't be with your kids and grands for the day, but I guess we spent years teaching them to share with others, now we have to share them as well!

I, too, get a little discouraged this time of year, as the outside works gets overwhelming for awhile. We mow 5 very rough acres (I should say I mow, as I do most of the mowing here), and there are lots of ditches near the road to keep up as well. We sit very low, and it has been a very wet year. We always battle mud and standing water this early, but hopefully it will dry out earlier than last year. It was late July before I could get into all areas that I mow.

Big garden, berries and fruit trees will be next. I like the work, but it does get overwhelming when the weather doesn't cooperate.

I too, have had to learn to break the bigger jobs down into smaller parts. It seems more manageable. One of the main reasons I started such a huge declutter this winter was so that when this time of year arrived, everything inside would be easier and more functional. I have just come to the conclusion that I'm only going to get so far until my son finishes school and moves a lot of his stuff out when he leaves home. I don't want to rush that process, so I'm trying to make do with the amount of declutter that had happened. I can do a little more here and there, and I will. Will post more as it happens.

[Daysdee]

I'm bringing my spring/summer clothing from another bedroom closet and plan to donate some items that last year I felt they had seen better days or they are too large for me. I have way too many clothing items, but everything fits. Noticing I have too much Linea because to me his items aren't suitable for working around the house and I don't have much of a social life. I have to stop purchasing. Feels good to be somewhat organized; not perfect though.

[homedecor1]

Today I didn't have anything to do so I tackled my OBSESSION Lock N' Lock containers...OMG it made me sick the $$$ being thrown in the trash (dirty, stained, old & tired, missing tops, etc.)...next stop my full pantry ... all part of spring cleaning!

I haven't tackled my closet in over a year - first thing to go all those flip flops, shoes and sandals I bought thinking they were cute BUT horrible for my feet. My husband cleaned out his closet today - someone at goodwill is going to be excited for this nice selection of clothing (barely worn but doesn't fit!).

I try to purge at least every 3 months but there are certain things I just hate to tackle! (or give away).

[springers]

Sarpy, I think you are thinking of Larry Burkett, he started the envelope system and that is the system DR used to get out of debt. Dave quotes Larry. They both were on Dr. Dobsons radio show. Good to hear youve been living debt free (us also).

[marky]

On 4/18/2014 twinny2 said:

Marky, So sorry to hear about your loss. My mom is 93 years old. so I will probably have to do what you are doing some day too. DH & I are retired so that makes decluttering that much easier. If you plan to retire in the near future, let me tell you that "retirement" is the best job in the world.

twinny2, I started decluttering at my mother's house long before she passed away. I went to her home every afternoon when I got off work and sometimes more than once on the weekend days. It was slow going because she wanted me to stay in the room with her of course, but I vowed to and managed to throw away at least ten things every day. I threw out old mail, magazines, clothes, etc. just a few pieces at a time without her even knowing it. It did make it somewhat easier when we had to do the whole house. It was just so gut-wrenching going through her things and those of my father's, as she had kept many of his things too. I'm better now but children shouldn't have to do this. It is a difficult thing to do at any time, let alone with the grief you are going through at the time. I want to de-clutter so that my son won't have so much to do when I'm gone. I now know that a little at a time does work, so I am going to do that along with no purchases and when I do purchase, there is no need to buy multiples. It's like I have the mindset that I will never be able to go to a store again !! Stupid.

[Ranchergal]

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!!