For my decluttering Friends. - Page 6

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

Decluttering my house will start in three weeks. I am getting laid off (happy about it) and my plan is to go from room to room and get rid of stuff. I'm not going back to work so I can take my time. Then when the weather cools done around November (I live in Arizona) I plan on starting on the garage.

Sister Golden Hair · ‎03-09-2010

casuallady,

My husband and I are also retired and it is time to downsize. So I'm working on getting all my clothes on those huggable hangers ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

I have been working hard this week and have taken several bags for donation.

Some of my clothes (good as new) are 20 years old. I finally decided to get rid of all my size 8's and 10's ${#emotions_dlg.w00t}$ With body changes, I guess I will never wear those sizes again.

The shelter is taking winter clothes, so I'm going through my coats tomorrow.

morning glory · ‎04-01-2011

Whenever I find something I know I want to get rid of I put it on a small table that is close to the door that goes to the garage. When I go to t he garage I take it out there with me.

I have a table in the garage for the things to get rid of. When my daughter comes she looks through at the things on the table first before I get rid of it. She knows to check things on that table when she comes here.

I keep a box in the back seat of my car and when I am going to away I put the things in that box. When the box is full it goes to Goodwill or another thrift store.

I recently had new flooring put in my living room and family room so everything had to be moved out of those two rooms. I had to empty all the bookcases and a hutch. I hadn't looked, really looked, at that stuff for years and was surprised how much of it I gave away or donated. There were a Lot of knick knacks and dishes and crafty things I didn't know I had and got rid of. It feels good to know I went through a got rid of lots of stuff that way but only because I was forced to since we had to move furniture.

casuallady · ‎03-09-2010

On 6/28/2014 Sister Golden Hair said:
casuallady,

My husband and I are also retired and it is time to downsize. So I'm working on getting all my clothes on those huggable hangers ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup}$

I have been working hard this week and have taken several bags for donation.

Some of my clothes (good as new) are 20 years old. I finally decided to get rid of all my size 8's and 10's ${#emotions_dlg.w00t}$ With body changes, I guess I will never wear those sizes again.

The shelter is taking winter clothes, so I'm going through my coats tomorrow.

Sister Golden Hair, It sounds like you have a plan. It definitely helps to give to a shelter or charity. Keep up the good work, and once the clothes are decluttered the rest of the house will get better. It just takes consistency.

marky · ‎03-10-2010

Even though I am far from finished with my de-cluttering, I feel such a feeling of freedom from what I have done so far. I don't have to move things in the cabinets to get to other things and it is so much easier to clean and dust without so many things sitting around in the way.

Tomorrow I plan to do some more work on that spare room. I have been having back problems this past week so I don't want to do so much as to jeopardze my healing.

I feel that my greatest progress has been in not shopping in CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Big Lots, and TJ Maxx. I am trying my best to avoid these stores like the plague. It is working. I can see a difference in my wallet. I am enjoying spending time at home more now too. It is more relaxing and I'm not constantly thinking that I need to be doing housework.

Daysdee · ‎03-09-2010

Organized shoes and have at least 7 or 8 pairs to donate. Ridding myself of any I think are too high heeled or otherwise unsafe. Have uncluttered a lot of clothing recently too, but should probably do more. I have at least 3 outfits I'm getting rid of in the fall. This is my last summer for them. I'm having someone take a lot of extra decorations that I no longer need--probably do that in the fall. Feels good to be more organized.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

On 6/28/2014 morning gloy said:
Whenever I find something I know I want to get rid of I put it on a small table that is close to the door that goes to the garage. When I go to t he garage I take it out there with me.

I have a table in the garage for the things to get rid of. When my daughter comes she looks through at the things on the table first before I get rid of it. She knows to check things on that table when she comes here.

I keep a box in the back seat of my car and when I am going to away I put the things in that box. When the box is full it goes to Goodwill or another thrift store.

I recently had new flooring put in my living room and family room so everything had to be moved out of those two rooms. I had to empty all the bookcases and a hutch. I hadn't looked, really looked, at that stuff for years and was surprised how much of it I gave away or donated. There were a Lot of knick knacks and dishes and crafty things I didn't know I had and got rid of. It feels good to know I went through a got rid of lots of stuff that way but only because I was forced to since we had to move furniture.

Your process for removing unneeded/unwanted things from your home is spot on. By sitting them in the garage for a short time, offering them up to your daughter, then taking them in to the thrift store, you are giving yourself time to let go, be sure you aren't being hasty and have regrets later. I do something very similar.

I think the quickest way to stop the decluttering process is to get rid of things too quickly, then have regrets later. It (for me anyway) causes a knee jerk reaction to stop cleaning out, afraid I will later regret what I'm removing. Most of the time, once the things are out of sight , they are forever out of mind, but I like to do some of it slower, looking at it sit in the garage for a short while lets me be sure.

Mary Bailey · ‎03-09-2010

I took a carload to Goodwill yesterday. Everyone else had the same idea. Donations were stacked from the conveyer belt to the curb.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

I HAVE A CONFESSION!

We went to the Longaberger Homestead a couple of times this past week or so, as they were having 50% off everything in their store. It is now pretty much an outlet (so sad, but I wrote another post about that, and the changes there over the years) so things are already well reduced from the catalog and party prices, plus another 50% off.

While I have no interest in any more baskets, I have always loved their pottery and dishes, but only had one piece I found second hand, because of the high cost. I'm afraid I broke the "no buy" rules needed to keep on track. I bought a lot of pottery pieces, casseroles that were originally $90 for about $31, wrought iron serving and display pieces at a fraction of the original prices, beautiful mixing bowls etc. I kind of went nuts! This was my first backslide since I started this winter, and I'm going to have to look hard to rid myself of some things to allow these in, as I'm really trying to follow a "one thing in, one thing out" rule when I buy things. I'm sure I can replace some Temp-tations pieces that aren't looking that good now.

I have another small challenge coming up. My great aunt passed away last summer, and her kids are cleaning out her house now. I have been offered several of her things, some Fenton candle sticks and cake plate and possibly some old furniture and things, and I'm so excited to have them. I will try to keep up with my rule to remove as many things as I bring in of her loved treasures.

If I can succeed at removing a piece for each thing I bring in new, I will maintain the progress I have made. I have been pretty good (other than the trip to Longaberger) about not shopping, and haven't really missed my stops at the thrift stores each week. Most of my spending lately has been on clothing for an ever growing teenage boy. Between food, clothing and shoes/boots for this kid, I've had my fill of shopping without adding to the clutter here!

ripkenfan · ‎10-27-2013

I am currently in the process of decluttering in my apartment as well and can relate to many of you who have posted.

I will start by saying I am a pack rat child of two pack rat parents, but I am trying to rise above it!

I just finished going through my closets and focusing on getting rid of the clothes I don't wear because they don't fit or I just don't like them for whatever reason. I took 9 bags of clothes to Goodwill and I and my closets feel so much lighter. Plus, I know that someone who needs and can use these clothes can now, rather than them continuing to hide in my closets unused.

When I was a traveling trainer, I had a beautiful set of Sag Harbor skirts that I wore and loved. Alas, I no longer fit in them, but I have had a hard time letting go of them because they don't make them in that material (one that lasts and lasts) anymore. I was hoping for some miracle to get back down to that size, but have finally given up on that dream. So, each time I declutter, I get rid of a few more skirts. I seem to be able to let go of more stuff if I do it a little bit at a time.

I live in a pretty big apartment, with a lot of great, deep shelves to put a lot of stuff away where it won't ever be seen by the light! I'm working a little bit each day and am really starting to see a difference.

About ten years ago, I took a week of vacation and went through every closet and every drawer and was brutal. It felt good to get rid of so much stuff that I really wasn't using. At that time, I couldn't really afford a vacation, but wanted to get my apartment under control. It was a good investment of time.

I'm much better now at not accumulating clutter, but am eyeing every item to make sure that they are used and not just stored in my apartment.

Good luck to everyone in their decluttering. I've learned that it is really an ongoing job.