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[Anniecamp]

I got worn out just from reading this thread! I've been plugging away at it for several years, but health issues keep sidetracking me and I get behind again. It feels so overwhelming.

[Mominohio]

On 5/24/2014 JackieBlue said:

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.

It can be a real delicate balance, can't it? We need to store some things (like Christmas decor) but every time we add another set of containers, and it looks better and organized, we give ourselves a false sense of decluttered.

I feel like I'm storage containered to death. My house is full of them, and most are holding things we are keeping for my son when he moves out. He is almost 18, and it won't be too long until he is on his own. We have spent the last several years collecting up things for him for when he has a place of his own. We go to lots of auctions (he worked in an auction house for a while) and thrift stores, and he is completely set for his first home. He has an entire kitchen, with extensive sets of Corning, Revereware, Corelle, as well as linens, and small appliances. There is some furniture, Stiffel lamps, towels and sheets. All are major name brands, new or like new, purchased for almost nothing. I can't see getting so involved in decluttering that I would eliminate these things, just to have to replace them at a later date. I'm not wanting him to leave, or wishing time away, but when he finally gets moved out, we'll have enough room to throw a barn dance in that basement!

I have recently purchased a couple of sets of those Space bags. I had something similar years ago, and while they are so awkwardly shaped when sealed, I love how they keep things clean and dust free. I have several of them filled with linens, blankets, towels and such for my kid to take, but I am also using them to store things like handmade quilts from my aunt and grandmother that I don't use/display all the time. I also store Christmas linens like throws and pillows that are only used a few weeks a year, but want to keep them clean and dust free till next year. It keeps them clean and dust free, and they are things I'd never part with, no matter how I stored them. I do have to be careful not to just save and seal everything, and have worked hard to part with lots of things that I would have stored in them, but never use again anyway.

[Mominohio]

On 5/24/2014 Anniecamp said:

I got worn out just from reading this thread! I've been plugging away at it for several years, but health issues keep sidetracking me and I get behind again. It feels so overwhelming.

Anniecamp, I applaud you for keeping on. It isn't easy when you have health and physical issues slowing things down. I am less able to function (physically) each year, with arthritis limiting my range of motion and strength, so I want to start now clearing out what I know I should, before it gets too overwhelming or hard to do both physically and emotionally.

Hopefully your post will enlighten others to do what they need to before something slows them down and makes it more complicated.

[jeanlake]

Hello casual - I'm taking a break this morning from de-cluttering the master bedroom. We're doing a complete makeover. This sounds odd, but we're converting the small sunroom, off the master, to a closet for my husband. Wearing suits to work and having casual and sport clothing, he actually has more clothes than I do. Yahoo - I'll get our entire walk-in closet to myself. No more switching seasonal clothes in and out. The master br is on a different level than other bedrooms, so I haven't been using other bedroom closets for myself. So, how did I accumulate so much? We've been de-cluttering room to room for several months. We'll put our home on the market in May and hope to move to a 2 bedroom, 2 bath patio home closer to city center. Can't wait. Goodbye too-much stuff and clutter. Hello Salvation Army! Happy de-cluttering to all.

[geezerette]

On 4/21/2014 sarpy said:

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.

"The envelope system"--that's terrific! Now there's a 'system' for what my mom did a generation ago! I still can remember twice a month when my dad got paid, he and my mom would sit down with their little wooden box and put away money in little envelopes for each bill for the whole month. And then we lived on just that, for the whole month. I did that for years myself when I first was on my own with my first job. I still have that box--one of a few treasured keepsakes from my family, all of which probably wouldn't add up to $100 brand new.

When you think of decluttering and what is important in your life, it usually ends up being things like that, that have emotional, not financial, meaning.

[curlywhitedog]

It seems that no matter how much I donate, things multiply in my closet when I close the door and they're alone...lol. My annual change over of closets should have been done weeks ago but the older I get the bigger the chore seems to be and the longer it takes to get done so this year I am closing my eyes and purging. If I have one sweater I have 30. Who needs 30 sweaters? I'm purging shoes as well, throwing out, giving my still good shoes with heels too high for me to wear anymore to my daughter and to my sister I'm donating all my shoes that no longer fit well or are uncomfortable to wear. Fortunately, we all wear a size 6 so that works. The rest are going to Goodwill along with the clothes. In the back of my closet I found three small purses that I forgot I had...oh I was so happy to have something new for the season (not as in brand new but as in different) and then I thought "wait, these bags must be 5 years old or older and I never even missed them...why would I now put them into rotation" and into the Goodwill bag they went.

I'm about half way done, lots still to do. To paraphrase Robert Frost, "I've miles to go before I sleep"

Maria

[goodstuff]

DH retired just a few weeks ago, and cleaning out and decluttering are on high on our to-do list for the months ahead. We find ourselves with many jobs and projects that were pushed to the background while he was working. Now we have more time, and we're whipping some things into better shape -- financial planning, estate planning, home maintenance, and cleanouts. Good to take care of some of this stuff.

We have unused rooms upstairs now that our kids are grown and gone, and they've become storage places for junque -- our kids' stuff, DH's mom's stuff from when she moved to a nursing home, and more. Lots to get rid of.

[casuallady]

On 5/24/2014 ury said:

Hello casual - I'm taking a break this morning from de-cluttering the master bedroom. We're doing a complete makeover. This sounds odd, but we're converting the small sunroom, off the master, to a closet for my husband. Wearing suits to work and having casual and sport clothing, he actually has more clothes than I do. Yahoo - I'll get our entire walk-in closet to myself. No more switching seasonal clothes in and out. The master br is on a different level than other bedrooms, so I haven't been using other bedroom closets for myself. So, how did I accumulate so much? We've been de-cluttering room to room for several months. We'll put our home on the market in May and hope to move to a 2 bedroom, 2 bath patio home closer to city center. Can't wait. Goodbye too-much stuff and clutter. Hello Salvation Army! Happy de-cluttering to all.

That sounds wonderful ! I am almost ready emotionally to move to something like that only a little more country. Hubby is not ready at all.

We are actually updating our master bathroom to make it nicer for us in August, but also more re saleable. We are going to do 2 more baths, carpeting or hardwood in den, new short window treatments, carpeting in master bedroom. That's about all. By that time we should be ready, Oh yes resurface driveway.

[Anniecamp]

MominOhio, that's the truth!

[casuallady]

How are you all doing with your decluttering? I have been in a little stuck mode !!! Our daughter and family are coming to visit in early July, and it is nice to have the place perked up. We in PA lost shrubs and holy bushes due to the bad winter. Hubby has to get some of these dug out and replaced.

My goal is to work on our loft. My computer cabinet (has many compartments needs cleaned out and dusted, of course it will need redone again. I have financial stuff in there that needs filed and/or destroyed. Also computer stuff, cassette cases, receipts,... For some reason I keeping avoiding this task.

Our den needs the border taken off, and paint on 2 walls. I am looking for an inexpensive small end table for this medium sized room. I am going to give the heavy dark pine one to Saint Vincent DePauls (sp).