Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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Madwife2009 wrote: »Garage cleared, the pile of recycling was the biggest ever and probably more than that of the other 73 houses put together. One bag of textiles, seven bags of plastic, four boxes of paper and three boxes of cardboard. Oh, plus a box of jars and tins. The council took the lot, which surprised me. One carload of stuff to the charity shop. Sorted out a load of stuff to put on eBay or Facebook this weekend. Big chest freezer cleaned and put in the garage.
Tomorrow the big fridge/freezer leaves my kitchen, then that can go on FB as well. Then I get my dishwasher and table back.
So awesome, so wonderful...WOW and BOOM and SUPER YAY YOU!!!!0 -
brenn24179 wrote: »did not want to face the fact I have so many toxic people in my family and food distracted me. It has been a lot easier to lose the weight when I accept and distance myself. I guess taking care of myself with people and food, so people declutering for sure.
Girlllllll....HONEY----BOOM! I so understand 100% what you are saying and DOING! I can say FOR SURE, that "people decluttering" (as you say), is one of the MAIN/IMPORTANT reasons and factors for the weight melting off of me like butta, for real! YAY YOU..."people decluttering"--the answer is YES!1 -
Today we had ReStore pick up an outside grill today that a neighbor gave us two years ago. It is huge and has only been taking up space as we never used it once. It is such a great feeling to let go of something like this.
@Madwife2009 , you mention FB. Are you using the FB marketplace? I have been curious about this but don't want to post anything if it gets shared with my friend list. Any thoughts on this?
Absolutely marvelous--YAY YOU and big ole BOOM!
Question...what's ReStore?2 -
Just a brief note to say a HUGE and heart felt THANK YOU to everyone of you who have contributed to this thread. I'm so grateful to you ALL from page 1 to this page--y'all have help me and so MANY others so much...THANK YOU again and again for your posts/help/inspiration/encouragement!!!!
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Today we had ReStore pick up an outside grill today that a neighbor gave us two years ago. It is huge and has only been taking up space as we never used it once. It is such a great feeling to let go of something like this.
@Madwife2009 , you mention FB. Are you using the FB marketplace? I have been curious about this but don't want to post anything if it gets shared with my friend list. Any thoughts on this?
@znaoiec - I'm not sure how it works, I leave that to DH. He's sold a few things on it. I can ask him though, if his friends can see the stuff he sells. You could always set up a second account on FB, I suppose (I try to avoid FB so my knowledge is sketchy).1 -
@znaoiec - DH says that friends can see any items for sale as one of his friends commented on an item he sold. DH also suggests setting up a second account (DH says that he has two accounts).
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Cleaned out my plastic canvas drawer today. I didn't realize how much junk I accumulated there! In all fairness, it probably wasn't junk, to me, when I put it there. I'm working on a Barbie nursery, an organized drawer makes it so much easier to find what I need!3
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Another bag of things donated - this time boots. I liked the boots but need orthotic insoles in my footwear. Decided it was easier to get rid of the boots rather than trying to sort out wider insoles for them. And I haven't worn them for at least a year so I was just hanging onto them for no real reason.
I don't miss them.
Big fridge/freezer is halfway to garage. It was an awful job to get it out of its position as it had been forced into a doorway and it was wedged solid. But DH persuaded it to move. We now have to fix the damaged walls - the previous owner also removed the plaster from the walls, down to the blocks.
The previous owner was not the best at DIY...6 -
@Madwife2009 Thanks for the info on FB. I will mull this over.
@NewLIFEstyle4ME ReStore is a resale/thrift store that is through the charity Habitat for Humanity (they build houses for people in need). They typically carry more 'hard' goods like furniture, lamps, appliances. They also have construction materials (cabinets, fixtures, doors etc) from people that have done remodels. We keep checking out their section of ceiling lamps that they have from people that have done remodels. They are way more current than our own and we are seeing if we can find just the right light. They were wiling to pick up our grill and will repaint the base and put in a new grill rack to make it a little nicer and then resell. Their store is a few stores down from our big Goodwill thrift store which sells more soft goods like clothes etc. For people who like to thrift, we have two very nice stores in our small town.
Also, I wanted to say thank you for starting this thread. As I mentioned, I have been following this thread for quite a while. I lost my weight two years ago but have always felt the clutter and weight are connected. About a year ago, I started working on the mental clutter and now I am staring to work on the physical clutter that surrounds me. It is a process but every step I take feels so positive.
I took off Friday which gives me an extra day to tackle paperwork matters with my mother but I hope to have Sat and Sun to devote to decluttering. I can't wait. I think I may even be having an impact on my husband, the packrat.
Happy weekend!5 -
@Madwife2009 Thanks for the info on FB. I will mull this over.
@NewLIFEstyle4ME ReStore is a resale/thrift store that is through the charity Habitat for Humanity (they build houses for people in need). They typically carry more 'hard' goods like furniture, lamps, appliances. They also have construction materials (cabinets, fixtures, doors etc) from people that have done remodels. We keep checking out their section of ceiling lamps that they have from people that have done remodels. They are way more current than our own and we are seeing if we can find just the right light. They were wiling to pick up our grill and will repaint the base and put in a new grill rack to make it a little nicer and then resell. Their store is a few stores down from our big Goodwill thrift store which sells more soft goods like clothes etc. For people who like to thrift, we have two very nice stores in our small town.
Also, I wanted to say thank you for starting this thread. As I mentioned, I have been following this thread for quite a while. I lost my weight two years ago but have always felt the clutter and weight are connected. About a year ago, I started working on the mental clutter and now I am staring to work on the physical clutter that surrounds me. It is a process but every step I take feels so positive.
I took off Friday which gives me an extra day to tackle paperwork matters with my mother but I hope to have Sat and Sun to devote to decluttering. I can't wait. I think I may even be having an impact on my husband, the packrat.
Happy weekend!
Thank you Z for this info on "ReStore" (I'd never heard of it before you mentioned it) and for your contribution to this thread. GOOD to know about another place that takes furniture and given to those in need! Also, super ULTRA congrats on getting down to size and staying there, that's sooooooo wonderful--YAY YOU. Girl, I can tell you, as you begin to get rid of "the clutter around you" something excellent and "positive" happens in and thru you that you will love and appreciate so much and anything you get rid of, you will NOT miss at all. You're doing so well and I'm THRILLED for you and so GLAD you're posting here--you're very encouraging! I'm cheering you on as well. 4 -
I love to go in the ReStore places, too. Some are great, others pretty junky! The one where we used to live had furniture & the one close to daughter does, too. But the one close to us now does not. It does have new flooring & area rugs & some even have new cabinets you can order. The fun is “in the hunt”, lol, found a shade for daughters ceiling light that had gotten broken. Only paid $15 for whole fixture & resold the light for $10, so the large glass shade only cost $5!5
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As I was decluttering/getting rid of some of my old perfumes today--that I haven't used in a long time, I found one that I haven't used in YEARS and YEARS--it used to be one of my favorite in the 1990's. I stopped using it because I began to HATE the way it smelled on me about 8 or so years ago. I was going to give it away and smelled it, sprayed some on me and...I LOVE IT AGAIN so much and it's an almost full bottle. Super glad about it.
Note: These aren't my pics, I found them on google images--just FYI.6 -
I have recently begun a decluttering of my house. I'm having some surgery in mid October and will be in a sling for potentially 6 weeks. All the friends and family who want to help out are neat freaks so I want the house in order. Can I tell you it feels lighter. If that makes sense. I have always been good working out and working out pretty hard but this is an even better feeling. My garbage bins are full, I've put at least 30 cookbooks to the curb and the neighborhood nannies are in heaven. My husband and son keep worrying that I'm giving their stuff away. But they will get it eventually. It feels great. Here's a before and after from yesterday. Took me 5 hours, my legs were sore, back too and I've bruises everywhere. Next up is all the kitchen drawers and then I move upstairs after doing the hall closet.
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DH decided to fix the kitchen walls before moving the big fridge/freezer from the kitchen. Fair enough.
Walls are now fixed, hole left has been turned into a cupboard.
Big fridge/freezer is now in the garage. Just needs a quick clean then it can be advertised.
I WILL get my dishwasher back tomorrow!7 -
I forgot! I have discovered that decluttering is, in fact, highly infectious.
I saw my mum earlier today and she told me that she's fed up of all the stuff she has. She's decided to get rid of everything she doesn't use. I asked if she needed any help... and got funny looks from DH.
If this keeps up, maybe we can all "infect" someone and declutter the world.6 -
@AliNouveau Good job with the decluttering. I too have the problem with my sons worrying about me giving away their stuff. Both are adults and live multiple states away. I keep reassuring them that I have too much of my own stuff to focus on right now to bother with their stuff. But it does make them nervous.
@NewLIFEstyle4ME Nice find with the perfume!
@RetiredAndLovingIt I have noticed that some ReStores are great and others are junky too. Recently I noticed two stores have moved into more approachable shopping areas vs industrial areas. Their merchandise seems more upscale too as though they are being more selective. It made me wonder if the organization is taking a new approach to attract more people. The old location of our local store was pretty remote and I doubt many people knew about it.5 -
AliNouveau wrote: »I have recently begun a decluttering of my house. I'm having some surgery in mid October and will be in a sling for potentially 6 weeks. All the friends and family who want to help out are neat freaks so I want the house in order. Can I tell you it feels lighter. If that makes sense. I have always been good working out and working out pretty hard but this is an even better feeling. My garbage bins are full, I've put at least 30 cookbooks to the curb and the neighborhood nannies are in heaven. My husband and son keep worrying that I'm giving their stuff away. But they will get it eventually. It feels great. Here's a before and after from yesterday. Took me 5 hours, my legs were sore, back too and I've bruises everywhere. Next up is all the kitchen drawers and then I move upstairs after doing the hall closet.
You're my total BOO and shero for posting those pics AND for sharing your WINS with us...you ROCK, period. YAY YOU and BOOM!
P.S. Your kitchen is fabulous honey--YAY YOU once more!!!!!
ETA: Girl...decluttering and cleaning up all the time/everyday is SUPER exercise for me (called N.E.A.T. exercising and is the only exercise I used in my entire weight blastification. AND you will be in my thoughts and prayer regarding your surgery in mid-October
{{{ Hugs }}}}. 3 -
Madwife2009 wrote: »DH decided to fix the kitchen walls before moving the big fridge/freezer from the kitchen. Fair enough.
Walls are now fixed, hole left has been turned into a cupboard.
Big fridge/freezer is now in the garage. Just needs a quick clean then it can be advertised.
I WILL get my dishwasher back tomorrow!Madwife2009 wrote: »I forgot! I have discovered that decluttering is, in fact, highly infectious.
I saw my mum earlier today and she told me that she's fed up of all the stuff she has. She's decided to get rid of everything she doesn't use. I asked if she needed any help... and got funny looks from DH.
If this keeps up, maybe we can all "infect" someone and declutter the world.
Girlllll...you posts MADE MY DAY and made/makes me smile from ear to ear with JOY! YAY YOU!!!
You are telling to T.R.U.T.H. when you say decluttering is infectious, because it REALLY is. May take the gang longer than others, but all aboard they become as they see YOU MEAN BUSINESS and with or without them, you're getting rid of a lot of ugh/yuck and woe that clutter is and can be. Again, it may take some family members longer than others, but around here, they have caught the "fire" of use it or lose it, clean/uncluttered is COOL.
Decluttering is a lot like weight maintenance, management AFTER reaching your goal weight. If (not when but IF) we start ignoring stuff or allowing ourselves to say/think..."let them do it" or I'll do it tomorrow, going back to our old way of thinking and living about ignoring mess and putting off tomorrow what we should be doing today...honeyyyyy--that clutter and dirty clothes and ironing forever catches you unawares big-time. For me, I have to be on it everyday, because when I don't and leave off laundry, sweeping, tossing stuff and not putting stuff back in it's place IMMEDIATELY IF NOT SOONER--BAM! Here come the clutter and ugh faster than you can say "who shot John", FOR REALZ!
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znaoiec
I'm thrilled you're here, period. {{{ Hugs and High Fives }}}}1 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »AliNouveau wrote: »I have recently begun a decluttering of my house. I'm having some surgery in mid October and will be in a sling for potentially 6 weeks. All the friends and family who want to help out are neat freaks so I want the house in order. Can I tell you it feels lighter. If that makes sense. I have always been good working out and working out pretty hard but this is an even better feeling. My garbage bins are full, I've put at least 30 cookbooks to the curb and the neighborhood nannies are in heaven. My husband and son keep worrying that I'm giving their stuff away. But they will get it eventually. It feels great. Here's a before and after from yesterday. Took me 5 hours, my legs were sore, back too and I've bruises everywhere. Next up is all the kitchen drawers and then I move upstairs after doing the hall closet.
You're my total BOO and shero for posting those pics AND for sharing your WINS with us...you ROCK, period. YAY YOU and BOOM!
P.S. Your kitchen is fabulous honey--YAY YOU once more!!!!!
ETA: Girl...decluttering and cleaning up all the time/everyday is SUPER exercise for me (called N.E.A.T. exercising and is the only exercise I used in my entire weight blastification. AND you will be in my thoughts and prayer regarding your surgery in mid-October
{{{ Hugs }}}}.
Awww thanks
I'm addicted I think. I was kept busy today but kept thinking of my next cleaning space.
I can't wait for Monday morning when I empty out every cupboard and inventory what I have. I have a friend who has asked for any kitchen stuff I want to give away.4 -
Doesn't my island look pretty all set up for my friends to come over for a baking lesson !!!!
I'm getting used to this
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AliNouveau wrote: »Doesn't my island look pretty all set up for my friends to come over for a baking lesson !!!!
I'm getting used to this
It super does and I LOVE that you're "getting used to this" because decluttering and living more simply is definitely something one has to get used to, if they aren't naturally organized and stuff. YAY YOU, have fun with your baking party.AliNouveau wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »AliNouveau wrote: »I have recently begun a decluttering of my house. I'm having some surgery in mid October and will be in a sling for potentially 6 weeks. All the friends and family who want to help out are neat freaks so I want the house in order. Can I tell you it feels lighter. If that makes sense. I have always been good working out and working out pretty hard but this is an even better feeling. My garbage bins are full, I've put at least 30 cookbooks to the curb and the neighborhood nannies are in heaven. My husband and son keep worrying that I'm giving their stuff away. But they will get it eventually. It feels great. Here's a before and after from yesterday. Took me 5 hours, my legs were sore, back too and I've bruises everywhere. Next up is all the kitchen drawers and then I move upstairs after doing the hall closet.
You're my total BOO and shero for posting those pics AND for sharing your WINS with us...you ROCK, period. YAY YOU and BOOM!
P.S. Your kitchen is fabulous honey--YAY YOU once more!!!!!
ETA: Girl...decluttering and cleaning up all the time/everyday is SUPER exercise for me (called N.E.A.T. exercising and is the only exercise I used in my entire weight blastification. AND you will be in my thoughts and prayer regarding your surgery in mid-October
{{{ Hugs }}}}.
Awww thanks
I'm addicted I think. I was kept busy today but kept thinking of my next cleaning space.
I can't wait for Monday morning when I empty out every cupboard and inventory what I have. I have a friend who has asked for any kitchen stuff I want to give away.
I know, I don't call it "addicted" I call it developing new and better habits. When I think about it that way, when I think about my decluttering AND maintaining my decluttered areas, when I think about my living in a more clean/organized/simplified life and home, it makes me feel stronger and more clear minded and joyful and encouraged. You're doing soooo well--YAY YOU!
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Oh, I am so excited! DH has cleared the area in which the dishwasher is going to be fitted, he's checked the fittings available and is now looking through a plumbing catalogue to find the parts he needs!
On the way to junior parkrun this morning, he told me that he wasn't going to install it today. But he is!
The excitement is just too much. We were in a rented property for nearly eight years that didn't have room for a dishwasher so I've been without it for that long. I've missed it. I hate washing up as something always gets missed and the detergent just ruins hands (as do the gloves, I found).
No more dishes hanging around to be washed! 8 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »AliNouveau wrote: »Doesn't my island look pretty all set up for my friends to come over for a baking lesson !!!!
I'm getting used to this
It super does and I LOVE that you're "getting used to this" because decluttering and living more simply is definitely something one has to get used to, if they aren't naturally organized and stuff. YAY YOU, have fun with your baking party.AliNouveau wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »AliNouveau wrote: »I have recently begun a decluttering of my house. I'm having some surgery in mid October and will be in a sling for potentially 6 weeks. All the friends and family who want to help out are neat freaks so I want the house in order. Can I tell you it feels lighter. If that makes sense. I have always been good working out and working out pretty hard but this is an even better feeling. My garbage bins are full, I've put at least 30 cookbooks to the curb and the neighborhood nannies are in heaven. My husband and son keep worrying that I'm giving their stuff away. But they will get it eventually. It feels great. Here's a before and after from yesterday. Took me 5 hours, my legs were sore, back too and I've bruises everywhere. Next up is all the kitchen drawers and then I move upstairs after doing the hall closet.
You're my total BOO and shero for posting those pics AND for sharing your WINS with us...you ROCK, period. YAY YOU and BOOM!
P.S. Your kitchen is fabulous honey--YAY YOU once more!!!!!
ETA: Girl...decluttering and cleaning up all the time/everyday is SUPER exercise for me (called N.E.A.T. exercising and is the only exercise I used in my entire weight blastification. AND you will be in my thoughts and prayer regarding your surgery in mid-October
{{{ Hugs }}}}.
Awww thanks
I'm addicted I think. I was kept busy today but kept thinking of my next cleaning space.
I can't wait for Monday morning when I empty out every cupboard and inventory what I have. I have a friend who has asked for any kitchen stuff I want to give away.
I know, I don't call it "addicted" I call it developing new and better habits. When I think about it that way, when I think about my decluttering AND maintaining my decluttered areas, when I think about my living in a more clean/organized/simplified life and home, it makes me feel stronger and more clear minded and joyful and encouraged. You're doing soooo well--YAY YOU!
You're right it's not addicting.
I thought of this while I showered this morning. It's like a gigantic confidence boost because it's a huge sense of accomplishment. When I run i hate it but it feels so good after. I've burned calories and I feel I want to tell the world I did something hard. Haha.
This decluttering is similar. It's a frigging awesome workout, it Feels great after and I want to show the world what I've done.
All of these things boost out confidence and make us feel better about ourselves so really we are working on our mental health2 -
I went through my closet this weekend. When I was done, I had three bags worth of clothes to donate. I have donated one bag and I will donate the other two by next weekend. I don't have a car so I can only take one bag at a time to donate. Among the things I donated were a couple of pairs of jeans that were too small. I was saving them for when I got to a thinner size. I decided that when I lose the weight, I will just buy new jeans. I found a box of belts. I don't wear belts that often but I realized that I had 18 belts. I kept 3 and put 15 in one of the donation bag. I also donated a bag of books last weekend. I still have more stuff to sort through and organize but I'm making a lot of progress.5
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My dishwasher is installed. No more clutter from dirty dishes because we're too tired to wash them!!8
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Madwife2009 wrote: »My dishwasher is installed. No more clutter from dirty dishes because we're too tired to wash them!!
Dishwashers really are a gift from the gods!!! Ours was broken for a but and man it was horrible.
I have successfully emptied eery single drawer and cabinet in my kitchen and refilled it. I learned I had way too many frying pans which are now at the curb along with some mugs and other things I don't need. I feel so clean and fresh despite sweating all day doing this. MY kitchen island has had every exterior and interior inch scrubbed and cleaned. We could sell our house at this rate!!! We won't though. Now to get my son from school and since hubs is working late tonight I'll do the hall closet after that while I figure out dinner 5 -
AliNouveau wrote: »Madwife2009 wrote: »My dishwasher is installed. No more clutter from dirty dishes because we're too tired to wash them!!
Dishwashers really are a gift from the gods!!! Ours was broken for a but and man it was horrible.
I have successfully emptied eery single drawer and cabinet in my kitchen and refilled it. I learned I had way too many frying pans which are now at the curb along with some mugs and other things I don't need. I feel so clean and fresh despite sweating all day doing this. MY kitchen island has had every exterior and interior inch scrubbed and cleaned. We could sell our house at this rate!!! We won't though. Now to get my son from school and since hubs is working late tonight I'll do the hall closet after that while I figure out dinner
I want to do a kitchen cabinet emptying as well. I haven't cleaned out my cabinets since I moved in (when I did a deep clean) and I'd say it's where I currently am the least organized.5 -
I chopped some bell peppers, and got them in the freezer today. Going back to NY next week, (babysitting) so I started packing for that trip. Otherwise, straightened rooms as I went in and out.4
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Two bags of old shoes and coats are in my car waiting to be dropped off to the needy. Got to use my drill to install rods in the closet and the closet is organized. I scribbled all the wainscoting and baseboards and some walls that had finger prints. The ground floor is officially decluttered.
Next up the hallway upstairs and the bathroom. That's tomorrow's task after I spend the morning at the hospital doing paperwork for my surgery.6
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