Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?

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Replies

  • snoo61
    snoo61 Posts: 549 Member
    I'm really enjoying packing because I can honestly look at every single thing we own and say, "Are you worth taking with us?" and the answer is a pretty straightforward yes or no. I LIKE cleaning out closets. My sewing room still has things in it, but it's mostly furniture. I have the walk-in closet piled with boxes, ready to be carried out on moving day.

    Next comes the library. We are bibliophiles.

    I love bibliophiles! You are inspiring me to declutter like I'm moving this month!
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,747 Member
    yesterday I finished going through my tops & putting about 70% in the donation bag. It wasn't easy but I rarely wear them. I'm going to have to buy more tops as time goes by so I don't wear the same ones over & over again. These included the "nicer" ones I have hanging that I wear to church, going to lunch with a friend etc. I will probably go through the hanging ones again
  • @Evamutt: A way I've heard to sort out what you wear and what you don't, is to turn all the hangers around. Then after a month or two, the ones that you've worn and hung up normally will be on hangers with the hook facing you; the ones you never touched will be obvious, and you can weed accordingly.
  • snoo61
    snoo61 Posts: 549 Member
    Man! I LOVE this thread so much. You wonderful people are helping me and so many others with your replies...THANK YOU ALL and {{{{ Hugs }}}}

    Life is so BUSY and GOOD (all the time, even when it "seems" like it's not). Decluttering and keeping the house, my mind, body, spirit and soul simple/clean and clutter free is EVERYTHANG, it really is. It's so wonderful to be in control of my life and atmosphere.
    Decluttering "operations" for the next few/SEVERAL weeks:

    1.) re-organizing slimming down my perfumes and bath products and "pretty-fying" those areas.

    2.) now that my closet is much more empty, making it cuter and designing/"pretty-fying" some kind of area for my shoes

    3.) cleaning the shutters in ALL the rooms

    4.) getting rid of more books to make a dedicated/lovely looking but practical space for my candles and incense.

    5.) start selling some stuff. I been telling myself for a LONG time, that I don't like/HATE to sell stuff, because it's a PITA (pain in the "attitude") I've talked myself into just giving stuff away or tossing it. This is/will be a BIG ONE for me. I'm going to humble myself and DO IT!

    6.) I super decluttered the attic last year, but there is still more I can get rid of.

    7.) de-clutter the kitchen pantry once more

    8.) slim down my fur-baby's toy & stuff collection...stuff it doesn't play with and is just collecting dust and taking up space.


    #3 and #4 DONE, and DONE to the maximum honey and looking sooooooo GOOD. I not only got rid of a TON more books (again, books that I previously widdled down a LOT, to only have my absolute favorites) I recently widdled down even much more, so much so I now only have THREE tall bookcases in the library, instead of 6 or more bookcases loaded/filled to the max with books (and this is AFTER doing several major decluttering/getting rid of a mega ton of books (ALL of which I loved) over the past couple of years AND before I became COMMITTED to decluttering and living a more simplifed and slim and trim lifestyle of eating/drinking and living--I used to have at least 15 or more TALL/filled to the max bookcases in my home--my "biblophila" was (and had been for YEARS and YEARS) was completely out of control, my book collection was :open_mouth: UGH and YUCK/OVERWHELMING it was, FOR REAL ). No more, BOOM!!!!!!!!

    To only have THREE bookcases in my library now is nothing less than miraculous and WONDERFUL! Of the three remaining bookcases, one is dedicated to/for my candle and incense collection and looks absolutely positively, unequivocally GORGEOUS...SUPER GOOD LOOKING AND PRACTICAL. Wow, just wow. I also got rid of a lot of pieces of furniture and "stuff" that I also loved, but in the desire to live even more simplified and minimalist, I just have been decluttering and getting rid of so much "stuff"--the entire house now looks so clean and spacious and different and even BETTER than before. Ya girl over here as been as busy as a bee and again, life is GOOD! YAY+BOOM=WOWWWWW! :triumph:


    Lastly...in the weight blastification department, all is SUPER GOOD. I'm now in maintenance and have been going from 134lbs-136lbs and loving it! Here's today's weigh-in pic:

    ymp8gj7le5aq.jpg


    <3o:)<3 I'll be checking in every now and then as as always...LOVE you winners so much!





    Congratulations New! You are knocking it out of the park!
  • LAT1963
    LAT1963 Posts: 1,375 Member
    The socks have ears....
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    RubyRed427 wrote: »
    HI friends, I am back. I have been swamped with work but maintained the apartment; it's still neat. I just bought a house; a cute 3 bedroom ranch on a 1/3 acre of land. The best thing is since I downsized moving into this apartment last year form a big house, I won't have nearly as much to move. But as I pack this spring, I will de-clutter some more. I will have a lot of storage in the new house- lots of closet and pantry space in this 1966 ranch. IT has a new kitchen and is all freshly painted light grey which I love. I can't wait to make a craft room in the basement.

    You are such an inspiration to me/others Rubyred and I am am THRILLED to hear how you're doing and your mega fabulous accomplishments. Super ULTRA YAY YOU--{{{{{ <3 LOVE and BIG HUGS <3 }}}}
  • snoo61
    snoo61 Posts: 549 Member
    RubyRed427 wrote: »
    HI friends, I am back. I have been swamped with work but maintained the apartment; it's still neat. I just bought a house; a cute 3 bedroom ranch on a 1/3 acre of land. The best thing is since I downsized moving into this apartment last year form a big house, I won't have nearly as much to move. But as I pack this spring, I will de-clutter some more. I will have a lot of storage in the new house- lots of closet and pantry space in this 1966 ranch. IT has a new kitchen and is all freshly painted light grey which I love. I can't wait to make a craft room in the basement.

    You are an inspiration! Glad life is going so well for you!
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    snoo61 wrote: »
    I got the 2019 business paperwork packed away. Went through the 2009 paperwork, threw most out. Have a pile of papers to shred, but am working on that every day. Shredder gets emptied every time the garbage goes out. I know its maintenance but I'm thrilled with myself for actually keeping up with something.

    YES girl...you're doing fabulous and I'm soooo HAPPY/THRILLED for you {{{ <3 Love and Hugs <3 }}}
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    Gisel2015 wrote: »
    No organizing or de-clutting for me for awhile. I tripped and fell down at home and broke my right wrist (radius and ulna). I'm on a full arm cast, miserable, in pain, limited, and frustrated :'( . Hard to type with my left hand. I will check-in when I can but I do/follow your postings.

    :confounded::cry: <3

    Man oh MAN...I'm so sorry to hear this my boo! I will definitely be keeping you in my thoughts AND prayers! Hears to a speedy recovery and hoping that you will be feeling beter soon!

    {{{ <3 Love and Hugs <3 }}}}

    tenor.gif

  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    Boyfriend recognized that he wasn't going to use it, didn't want to move it, and that I wasn't anywhere near the point of being able to do free weights. So he and I took his weight bench apart and we took it to a sporting goods resale shop, and let it free to go to someone else. Now all the big stuff that I didn't know what to do with is out of the garage, and I can pack it up. That way the stuff in the garage is ready to move, but also I can stack all the boxes that I have packed in there, and it makes it easier to stage the house. (Also easier to move; we can just open the garage door and let them have at it.)

    You are doing soooooo well--mega YAY YOU!!!
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    Here's something I've done today, that I really should be doing more regularly--cleaning my Keurig coffee maker. Keurig recommends descaling your brewer at least every 3 to 6 months depending on your water source.

    GUEST_ce1bbf8a-5874-4dfc-bf82-c7176174f9f2?wid=488&hei=488&fmt=pjpeg

    I found these kits at Marshalls for $7.99
  • snoo61
    snoo61 Posts: 549 Member
    GreenValli wrote: »
    I definitely am not even close to a hoarder, but I do have an attachment to a lot of my stuff! We had to move in December because the owners of the house wanted to move back in their 4 bedroom house we had been renting. It was too big of a job to be able to get rid of enough stuff. Hey, I am still a working gal! We had to find a new place, too. Our garage was full, too, including a lots of educational materials from many different classes I have taught, and various levels, too. We found a 2 bedroom condo but no garage available. I was determined not to have to pay for a storage unit. I donated so much. Donated to my grandson's school, Goodwill, Salvation Army, the local library, and church.

    But here it is March and I still have bins and boxes on our patio outside. Cannot find a lot of things I truly need. I know somehow we lost a lot of things I wish we had. No hats, lost our umbrellas, my big roasting pan, some of my clothes, etc. We hired movers to move the big major items and big boxes, but moved the rest ourselves. Exhausting! Wish I had gotten rid of more things before I had to deal with the chaos of stuffing everything in a large house into a small condo.

    So think if you will live in the same place where you are now forever. If you say "no" or "maybe", do consider decluttering seriously!

    I am hoping to move in the next couple years. I'm trying to go through everything in the house, because I really don't want to move anything we don't use or want.
  • Currently we have a rule: I stack boxes in the open room (currently the library) at the top of the stairs. People are to grab one and bring it with them when they come downstairs. They are none of them big or all that heavy; I'm careful about that. But that does mean there are a lot of boxes.
  • cory17
    cory17 Posts: 1,503 Member
    snoo61 wrote: »
    GreenValli wrote: »
    I definitely am not even close to a hoarder, but I do have an attachment to a lot of my stuff! We had to move in December because the owners of the house wanted to move back in their 4 bedroom house we had been renting. It was too big of a job to be able to get rid of enough stuff. Hey, I am still a working gal! We had to find a new place, too. Our garage was full, too, including a lots of educational materials from many different classes I have taught, and various levels, too. We found a 2 bedroom condo but no garage available. I was determined not to have to pay for a storage unit. I donated so much. Donated to my grandson's school, Goodwill, Salvation Army, the local library, and church.

    But here it is March and I still have bins and boxes on our patio outside. Cannot find a lot of things I truly need. I know somehow we lost a lot of things I wish we had. No hats, lost our umbrellas, my big roasting pan, some of my clothes, etc. We hired movers to move the big major items and big boxes, but moved the rest ourselves. Exhausting! Wish I had gotten rid of more things before I had to deal with the chaos of stuffing everything in a large house into a small condo.

    So think if you will live in the same place where you are now forever. If you say "no" or "maybe", do consider decluttering seriously!

    I am hoping to move in the next couple years. I'm trying to go through everything in the house, because I really don't want to move anything we don't use or want.

    I am planning to retire in approx 3 1/2 years and dh and myself would like to then move out of state. He is constantly saying we need to downsize NOW in preparation. I too have an attachment to my stuff, I admit alot of it tbh is not in constant use but, but, but. When closer to that point i plan to weed out the wardrobe and job related books & equipment. I have a big china set from the first marriage that want to do something with, but not sure what. I have to honest about need vs like vs want. Think it would be simpler if I knew what/where the next stop would be for sure.

    Think you were absolutely right to try and donate & no storage. Hoping that those missing items are actually out on the patio & you're able to get all the way unpacked.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    snoo61 wrote: »
    GreenValli wrote: »
    I definitely am not even close to a hoarder, but I do have an attachment to a lot of my stuff! We had to move in December because the owners of the house wanted to move back in their 4 bedroom house we had been renting. It was too big of a job to be able to get rid of enough stuff. Hey, I am still a working gal! We had to find a new place, too. Our garage was full, too, including a lots of educational materials from many different classes I have taught, and various levels, too. We found a 2 bedroom condo but no garage available. I was determined not to have to pay for a storage unit. I donated so much. Donated to my grandson's school, Goodwill, Salvation Army, the local library, and church.

    But here it is March and I still have bins and boxes on our patio outside. Cannot find a lot of things I truly need. I know somehow we lost a lot of things I wish we had. No hats, lost our umbrellas, my big roasting pan, some of my clothes, etc. We hired movers to move the big major items and big boxes, but moved the rest ourselves. Exhausting! Wish I had gotten rid of more things before I had to deal with the chaos of stuffing everything in a large house into a small condo.

    So think if you will live in the same place where you are now forever. If you say "no" or "maybe", do consider decluttering seriously!

    I am hoping to move in the next couple years. I'm trying to go through everything in the house, because I really don't want to move anything we don't use or want.

    Yay Snoo!
    Currently we have a rule: I stack boxes in the open room (currently the library) at the top of the stairs. People are to grab one and bring it with them when they come downstairs. They are none of them big or all that heavy; I'm careful about that. But that does mean there are a lot of boxes.

    LOVE this terrific plan Alexandra--such a winner you are!
    I reorganized my living room so the couch wasn’t up against the big window anymore. It feels brighter in there now.

    Girl...I re-organized the house recently and you're right--it's amazingly wonderful how much spacious and lovely a room can look/feel just by moving stuff around!
    cory17 wrote: »
    snoo61 wrote: »
    GreenValli wrote: »
    I definitely am not even close to a hoarder, but I do have an attachment to a lot of my stuff! We had to move in December because the owners of the house wanted to move back in their 4 bedroom house we had been renting. It was too big of a job to be able to get rid of enough stuff. Hey, I am still a working gal! We had to find a new place, too. Our garage was full, too, including a lots of educational materials from many different classes I have taught, and various levels, too. We found a 2 bedroom condo but no garage available. I was determined not to have to pay for a storage unit. I donated so much. Donated to my grandson's school, Goodwill, Salvation Army, the local library, and church.

    But here it is March and I still have bins and boxes on our patio outside. Cannot find a lot of things I truly need. I know somehow we lost a lot of things I wish we had. No hats, lost our umbrellas, my big roasting pan, some of my clothes, etc. We hired movers to move the big major items and big boxes, but moved the rest ourselves. Exhausting! Wish I had gotten rid of more things before I had to deal with the chaos of stuffing everything in a large house into a small condo.

    So think if you will live in the same place where you are now forever. If you say "no" or "maybe", do consider decluttering seriously!

    I am hoping to move in the next couple years. I'm trying to go through everything in the house, because I really don't want to move anything we don't use or want.

    I am planning to retire in approx 3 1/2 years and dh and myself would like to then move out of state. He is constantly saying we need to downsize NOW in preparation. I too have an attachment to my stuff, I admit alot of it tbh is not in constant use but, but, but. When closer to that point i plan to weed out the wardrobe and job related books & equipment. I have a big china set from the first marriage that want to do something with, but not sure what. I have to honest about need vs like vs want. Think it would be simpler if I knew what/where the next stop would be for sure.

    Think you were absolutely right to try and donate & no storage. Hoping that those missing items are actually out on the patio & you're able to get all the way unpacked.

    Here's to cheering you on Cory!
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