Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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callmecarina wrote: »My mother is also a paper hoarder. Because she donates to charities, she's now on virtually every mission, charity, whatever mailing list out there. The solicitations come in bunches and she's so afraid of identity theft (nevermind that her info is ALREADY being sold and resold) that insists on cutting out name & address from every one of those solicitations and shredding it. So the amount of time involved to actually do what she wants is horrific and overwhelming and her desk has mounds of this trash piled and falling off. (She was hospitalized last year and I stole piles of this junk mail and disposed of it.)
Oh my god, this is my landlady (and friend)!! I had offered to help her organize and I went by her house twice to help. She hoards these charity mailers, but I did manage to convince her to throw most of them out the last time I was there. But she is insistent on shredding her address, even though her info is out there already...
I haven't helped her with that in a while. I should go over next week and do another round. Thanks for reminding me!
ANGEL WINGS!!
ANGEL WINGS INDEED!0 -
Kudos to you for a great job!! (It sounds like you have conquered Kondo challenges)
I also cooked enough for a couple days of food last night and cleaned up the mess immediately afterwards. I feel amazing, and I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of this "adulting" thing. Lol.
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Cleaned out the expired meds today. They are soaking in a Ziploc bag of water, I will throw them out in the morning.4
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Cleaned out the expired meds today. They are soaking in a Ziploc bag of water, I will throw them out in the morning.
Great work!
I threw out a bottle of NoDoz this weekend that expired in 2009! Ugh! Obviously I rarely used them, but that’s still pretty bad. Going through all items is helpful, because it’s so easy not to “see” things we don’t use, even though they take up space.
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IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »Cleaned out the expired meds today. They are soaking in a Ziploc bag of water, I will throw them out in the morning.
Great work!
I threw out a bottle of NoDoz this weekend that expired in 2009! Ugh! Obviously I rarely used them, but that’s still pretty bad. Going through all items is helpful, because it’s so easy not to “see” things we don’t use, even though they take up space.
Exactly! I am constantly amazed by things I'm finding, that I look at all the time.2 -
Thank you for this lovely post!
I have started with the toxic people. Ongoing project.
I'd like to do stuff now. It sounds liberating!3 -
lemonita12 wrote: »Thank you for this lovely post!
I have started with the toxic people. Ongoing project.
I'd like to do stuff now. It sounds liberating!
I've been so much happier every day. There's a peacefulness that comes from it. I have a long way to go, but even 15 minutes a day, makes a huge difference.4 -
My coworker is now using Kondo as a verb. As in “I Kondoed my scarves last weeend.” She just Kondoed me into dumping the contents of two file cabinet drawers. They were filled with stuff from the last person who had my position eight years ago.
Then my other coworker started pulling stuff out of our recycling bin! LOL!
We watched this on Weds. I was aiming to have my gf see it and want to clear her stuff - and she does!! woohoo! so we are doing step 1: clothes tomorrow. Excited!!
We are both excited to Kondo the kitchen and make the drawers all neat and tidy6 -
My coworker is now using Kondo as a verb. As in “I Kondoed my scarves last weeend.” She just Kondoed me into dumping the contents of two file cabinet drawers. They were filled with stuff from the last person who had my position eight years ago.
Then my other coworker started pulling stuff out of our recycling bin! LOL!
We watched this on Weds. I was aiming to have my gf see it and want to clear her stuff - and she does!! woohoo! so we are doing step 1: clothes tomorrow. Excited!!
We are both excited to Kondo the kitchen and make the drawers all neat and tidy
Great job - sounds like you are being motivating in a very positive, supportive manner. Any chance of before and after photos? sharing is caring0 -
I have been reading this thread for a while now, constantly thinking, "Yep, I must sort my house out." I rarely get time to deal with "stuff" as I like to get out and about a fair bit plus I have four children, two of whom are home educated full time, one who has just started college and needs support with the transition from HE to college and one who is very much a "needy" adult who is in her last year at college and preparing for university.
I was pretty much snowed in yesterday so decided to clear out the area under the stairs. It took all day, between dealing with life stuff (such as meals, playing with the children, etc) but I have managed to get rid of everything that wasn't needed. I mean, who needs VHS videos when you don't have a video player? Who needs an A4 sticker sheet with just one sticker on it? And old magazines? What on earth was I saving it for?
The only stuff I didn't throw out that I didn't really need was some artwork that my adult daughter did as a child. But I am going to photograph it and then offer it back to her. If she doesn't want it then it'll be recycled.
The area is much less cluttered now and so tidy (it was spilling out everywhere). Pretty much filled the recycling boxes. I have lots of stuff to go to the charity shop and about 100 items to put on Ebay, which will be done tonight. If it doesn't sell on the first listing period on Ebay then it too will join the stuff at the charity shop. Later on, I am going to walk through the snow and take the stuff to the charity shop. It WILL be gone today.
Then I am going to start on the bathroom as I know that there is stuff in there that hasn't been touched for about 7 years. Time for it to go.
Then after that, either my bedroom or the kitchen. Then, the big one, the lounge.
Looks like I'll be snowed in again today (apart from walking anywhere) so I will get started on the bathroom. I can't wait to get stuck into it!
Who knew de-cluttering was addictive?15 -
Madwife2009 wrote: »I have been reading this thread for a while now, constantly thinking, "Yep, I must sort my house out." I rarely get time to deal with "stuff" as I like to get out and about a fair bit plus I have four children, two of whom are home educated full time, one who has just started college and needs support with the transition from HE to college and one who is very much a "needy" adult who is in her last year at college and preparing for university.
I was pretty much snowed in yesterday so decided to clear out the area under the stairs. It took all day, between dealing with life stuff (such as meals, playing with the children, etc) but I have managed to get rid of everything that wasn't needed. I mean, who needs VHS videos when you don't have a video player? Who needs an A4 sticker sheet with just one sticker on it? And old magazines? What on earth was I saving it for?
The only stuff I didn't throw out that I didn't really need was some artwork that my adult daughter did as a child. But I am going to photograph it and then offer it back to her. If she doesn't want it then it'll be recycled.
The area is much less cluttered now and so tidy (it was spilling out everywhere). Pretty much filled the recycling boxes. I have lots of stuff to go to the charity shop and about 100 items to put on Ebay, which will be done tonight. If it doesn't sell on the first listing period on Ebay then it too will join the stuff at the charity shop. Later on, I am going to walk through the snow and take the stuff to the charity shop. It WILL be gone today.
Then I am going to start on the bathroom as I know that there is stuff in there that hasn't been touched for about 7 years. Time for it to go.
Then after that, either my bedroom or the kitchen. Then, the big one, the lounge.
Looks like I'll be snowed in again today (apart from walking anywhere) so I will get started on the bathroom. I can't wait to get stuck into it!
Who knew de-cluttering was addictive?
A good addiction to have, sounds like you’re on a roll! Good luck with your de-cluttering mission. I love the idea of photographing the artwork. I’m drowning in papers from my kids, everything they do seems precious and it’s hard to know what to keep and what to throw out.2 -
IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »
A good addiction to have, sounds like you’re on a roll! Good luck with your de-cluttering mission. I love the idea of photographing the artwork. I’m drowning in papers from my kids, everything they do seems precious and it’s hard to know what to keep and what to throw out.
Absolutely. I am loathe to get rid of it but there are boxes and boxes of the stuff. Not quite ready to get rid of it yet, these things take time!
Put the boxes for the charity on a couple of sleds and the whole family trudged through the snow pulling the sleds to the shop. Done, dusted, gone. Then, on the way back, the children had a few turns on a hill with the sleds. They had a wonderful time and it was such fun to watch the apprehension, then the fear, then the sheer joy and excitement on their faces as they shot down the hill, followed by paroxysms of laughter when they fell off/came to a stop. They want to go again tomorrow if the snow is still around. By then I'll have cleared the bathroom and we can do it all again . . .
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Madwife2009 wrote: »IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »
A good addiction to have, sounds like you’re on a roll! Good luck with your de-cluttering mission. I love the idea of photographing the artwork. I’m drowning in papers from my kids, everything they do seems precious and it’s hard to know what to keep and what to throw out.
Absolutely. I am loathe to get rid of it but there are boxes and boxes of the stuff. Not quite ready to get rid of it yet, these things take time!
Put the boxes for the charity on a couple of sleds and the whole family trudged through the snow pulling the sleds to the shop. Done, dusted, gone. Then, on the way back, the children had a few turns on a hill with the sleds. They had a wonderful time and it was such fun to watch the apprehension, then the fear, then the sheer joy and excitement on their faces as they shot down the hill, followed by paroxysms of laughter when they fell off/came to a stop. They want to go again tomorrow if the snow is still around. By then I'll have cleared the bathroom and we can do it all again . . .
What a lot of fun!
My kids are all out. Started going through my file cabinet and photos. Last month mailed each of them a large packet of things/artwork saved from when they were in school and family photos from when they were little. It was fun to go through and fun to send off. Figure they can keep what they want.5 -
My coworker is now using Kondo as a verb. As in “I Kondoed my scarves last weeend.” She just Kondoed me into dumping the contents of two file cabinet drawers. They were filled with stuff from the last person who had my position eight years ago.
Then my other coworker started pulling stuff out of our recycling bin! LOL!
We watched this on Weds. I was aiming to have my gf see it and want to clear her stuff - and she does!! woohoo! so we are doing step 1: clothes tomorrow. Excited!!
We are both excited to Kondo the kitchen and make the drawers all neat and tidy
That’s good that you are both on board with it. My hubby likes holding onto things more than me so I’ve learned to adapt.3 -
IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »Madwife2009 wrote: »I have been reading this thread for a while now, constantly thinking, "Yep, I must sort my house out." I rarely get time to deal with "stuff" as I like to get out and about a fair bit plus I have four children, two of whom are home educated full time, one who has just started college and needs support with the transition from HE to college and one who is very much a "needy" adult who is in her last year at college and preparing for university.
I was pretty much snowed in yesterday so decided to clear out the area under the stairs. It took all day, between dealing with life stuff (such as meals, playing with the children, etc) but I have managed to get rid of everything that wasn't needed. I mean, who needs VHS videos when you don't have a video player? Who needs an A4 sticker sheet with just one sticker on it? And old magazines? What on earth was I saving it for?
The only stuff I didn't throw out that I didn't really need was some artwork that my adult daughter did as a child. But I am going to photograph it and then offer it back to her. If she doesn't want it then it'll be recycled.
The area is much less cluttered now and so tidy (it was spilling out everywhere). Pretty much filled the recycling boxes. I have lots of stuff to go to the charity shop and about 100 items to put on Ebay, which will be done tonight. If it doesn't sell on the first listing period on Ebay then it too will join the stuff at the charity shop. Later on, I am going to walk through the snow and take the stuff to the charity shop. It WILL be gone today.
Then I am going to start on the bathroom as I know that there is stuff in there that hasn't been touched for about 7 years. Time for it to go.
Then after that, either my bedroom or the kitchen. Then, the big one, the lounge.
Looks like I'll be snowed in again today (apart from walking anywhere) so I will get started on the bathroom. I can't wait to get stuck into it!
Who knew de-cluttering was addictive?
A good addiction to have, sounds like you’re on a roll! Good luck with your de-cluttering mission. I love the idea of photographing the artwork. I’m drowning in papers from my kids, everything they do seems precious and it’s hard to know what to keep and what to throw out.
You are kicking it! My friend bought one of those portable hanging file folders for each child, all of their artwork for the year got put in and at the end of the year she sorted out her favourites and kept it. When the kids left home they were given their own box to take with them. I wish I had done that, but I do have a few items from my girls childhood, mostly though it was thrown out.3 -
My girlfriend once said that it’s much more expensive to have clutter around. She said you have to buy containers to store all that stuff, you buy storage shelves and some even rent units. She is right.I haven’t been on the thread for awhile but I will catch up. I took a break from de-cluttering but will get back to it soon!6
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Snowflake1968 wrote: »IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »Madwife2009 wrote: »I have been reading this thread for a while now, constantly thinking, "Yep, I must sort my house out." I rarely get time to deal with "stuff" as I like to get out and about a fair bit plus I have four children, two of whom are home educated full time, one who has just started college and needs support with the transition from HE to college and one who is very much a "needy" adult who is in her last year at college and preparing for university.
I was pretty much snowed in yesterday so decided to clear out the area under the stairs. It took all day, between dealing with life stuff (such as meals, playing with the children, etc) but I have managed to get rid of everything that wasn't needed. I mean, who needs VHS videos when you don't have a video player? Who needs an A4 sticker sheet with just one sticker on it? And old magazines? What on earth was I saving it for?
The only stuff I didn't throw out that I didn't really need was some artwork that my adult daughter did as a child. But I am going to photograph it and then offer it back to her. If she doesn't want it then it'll be recycled.
The area is much less cluttered now and so tidy (it was spilling out everywhere). Pretty much filled the recycling boxes. I have lots of stuff to go to the charity shop and about 100 items to put on Ebay, which will be done tonight. If it doesn't sell on the first listing period on Ebay then it too will join the stuff at the charity shop. Later on, I am going to walk through the snow and take the stuff to the charity shop. It WILL be gone today.
Then I am going to start on the bathroom as I know that there is stuff in there that hasn't been touched for about 7 years. Time for it to go.
Then after that, either my bedroom or the kitchen. Then, the big one, the lounge.
Looks like I'll be snowed in again today (apart from walking anywhere) so I will get started on the bathroom. I can't wait to get stuck into it!
Who knew de-cluttering was addictive?
A good addiction to have, sounds like you’re on a roll! Good luck with your de-cluttering mission. I love the idea of photographing the artwork. I’m drowning in papers from my kids, everything they do seems precious and it’s hard to know what to keep and what to throw out.
You are kicking it! My friend bought one of those portable hanging file folders for each child, all of their artwork for the year got put in and at the end of the year she sorted out her favourites and kept it. When the kids left home they were given their own box to take with them. I wish I had done that, but I do have a few items from my girls childhood, mostly though it was thrown out.
That’s a great tip, thanks.
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I've done all my kitchen cupboards and bathroom closet. IT FEELS SO GOOD!! Asked hubby this morning if I could go thru his t-shirts and get rid of ones that are stained or have holes. He has 2 chest of drawers plus!! of t-shirts. He's a huge gear-head, so is always working on this car or that...alot of the shirts are in bad shape-. Can't believe he agreed to it!!!!!4
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I’ve always been an avid closet cleaner, I learned early in life that cleaning, decluttering and organizing gives me a sense of instant gratification. Things start one way and with the smallest effort the end results are visually more pleasing. Tah-Dah a sense of accomplishment.
Things still sometimes pile up, hidden away until for some reason it spills over and demands attention. I can easily name 10 different decluttering projects in my home that need my focus.
This morning I realized that I had lost enough weight to try on some of my “skinny” clothes and that it was time to get rid of some of the clothes I am swimming in. I don’t have an especially large wardrobe so I managed to try on everything in about an hour.
This was probably the most intense wardrobe clean out of my life.
It felt great to try on the few old “skinny” items, have them fit again and toss them in the donation pile. I’m not the same person in my 40’s that I was in my 20’s.
I was ok with getting rid of 80% of the clothes I bought in the last year. I had to focus on not seeing money piling up but instead on how happy someone will be to actually get quality gently used clothes.
Now the hard part, the clothes I loved. The vintage plus sized dresses I had collected over the years. The dresses that always made me feel beautiful and unique. They defined my personal style through my thirties.
I’m not that girl any more. It’s more than just being smaller. I’m older, wiser and more confident. But I loved that girl in those dresses and sometimes I miss her.13 -
Bathroom done . . . I have gotten rid of half of the stuff in there. One bag is going to the charity shop and there are two boxes for the food bank (toiletries). Just hope that they will be of some use to someone as the stuff wasn't doing me any good, just sitting there.
Have also done my handbag - not sure which was the worst to do, the bathroom or my bag!
Next stop - my bedroom. Now that's a challenge . . .12
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