Mumsnet Talk

I've been decluttering and tidying, inspired by the minimalist thread here. Over the weekend I have decided that I have too many:

Mugs
Tea lights (Do I need 50?)
Bags for life/cloth shopping bags (I tend to pick them up as freebies at events, I seem to have enough for several lifetimes).
Espresso cups, I love them but could now open a cafe.

In 2013 I resolve not to buy any more of the above until I am down to my last one (or set) and I am not going to accept any more free bags when they are offered.

What are you overstocked with?

Sounds like fab idea! Perhaps we could do a swap of overstocked items...

Ramakins - 12, these double for party food but no more.
Cushions - a cull, then a one in one out policy.
Serving dishes - there were still heaps left in the cupboard on xmas day, oval, square, deep, lidded, not necessary
Books - big task, shuts eyes to double stacked bookcase.

Yy to mugs, and was given another at Christmas :-(

But the car is full of clothes and books for charity, and I'm sorting out the cupboard with all the crafty stuff in so I don't keep buying sellotape when I can't find the umpteen rolls we already have.

May need a handbag cull as well...

Oh I'd forgotten Sellotape, that should solve itself now I have sorted out the stationery and I have my 5 rolls all in one place. I culled the handbags and they went to the charity shop the other day, as have clothes and the books have gone either to the charity shop or they are stored under the bed and have been listed on amazon.

We too have loads of mugs, but I've surreptitiously started getting rid of them. I never buy them, they are usually gifts.

I should be more ruthless about my mugs, but I feel guilty getting rid of gifts.

I have just got rid of loads of mugs. I was given 8!!!! for Christmas! Bloody things. My goal for 2013 is actually not to buy anything all year. Just food/essential toiletries and shoes if dc need them. I am going to buy bunkbeds for ds's but apart from that nothing (hopefully!)
I want to spend less money on shit, also trying the minimalist thing. This should mean more money and time for experiences, and maybe me, dh and 4dc will get a decent holiday. It's a tough one, but I am going to give it a try!

Good luck AuntieShirley I think the depressing thing about decluttering is looking at all the money I've spent on stuff I'm not particularly fond of even.

We are going to decide this year whether we TTC or ebay the baby stuff

Good luck Nagoo (whatever you decide!)

I'm with you, I've got things like mugs coming out of my ears. And as for the playroom <sighs and shakes head>.

It's DD's 3rd birthday at the end of Jan. Would it be really mean to ask people not to bring gifts for her party?

Looks like mugs are a popular item. Local charity shops should prepare for a rush. Is there anywhere else that would take them?
I have also discovered while sorting out the kitchen that I have 12 tea towels, realistically that's about 8 more than I need.

Stuffed toys. We have billions of them. DDs can choose a few favourites then the whole lot can go. Mugs too. I think we have breeding mugs. I never buy any but we always have loads

I've given away my eyeshadow collection today. I don't need them. The toys are fitting in the cupboards, and I am going to cull the baby cups later on

I've just disposed of a couple of bags for life by taking stuff to the charity shop in them. I'll need another trip at least and maybe some mugs could accompany another.

Well done on the eyeshadow!

wasabi It's DD's 3rd birthday at the end of Jan. Would it be really mean to ask people not to bring gifts for her party?

Nope, not mean, IMHO. But people will probably ignore you... unless you think of something else to 'request' instead? At risk of outing myself, last year for my DS's 3rd Bday, i requested ... fruit/veg seeds (if people insisted on a present).

NB I know that this seems really grabby, but really did not want any more shite!

For me: No More Makeup, unless it's something I use all the time and I have run out, ie foundation/mascara. Will need to do another cull of all the rest of the makeup/beauty products that I still have...

No more kitchen implements. Or cookbooks.

And really will continue to wage the war on little plasticy toys, that provide 5mins of entertainment, only to be discarded. But never actually allowed to be thrown away...

Cookbooks is a good one. I just don't use 80% of the ones I have. And I always look online now anyway for recipes.

Oh dear, tea towels. But I love them; I just can't help buying them. Really should do a cull though.

And I have too many candles, even though I hate them. People keep buying me the sodding things. New year resolution to actually burn them or re-gift the ones that I can remember who gave me them.

Hazel the seeds idea is really good. We're well into our gardening here. I will probably wimp out though. Why is it so difficult to not ask for presents? You think people would be happy not to spend cash but yet I worry about offending people!

Wasabi how about requesting gardening accessories if people ask? Wilkinsons usually do a range, but it might be early yet, or something like this: link

Rhubarb you can send me a teatowel I haven't got enough at all. They don't get used for dish drying in my house, more general 'being a cloth' duties, and I never have a clean one! Where have they gone?

Also if anyone has a dessert spoon mountain, some of them will be my runaways.

Community halls or PTA or other associations often take mugs.

clothes for the kids to grow into - bloody drawers full,
crappy bastard tupperware,
make up,
nasty overperfumed toiletries
On the other hand I adore mugs almost as much as children. Each mug has its own unique character and I could happily take on all your unwanted mugs and love them all. Candles too. I can never have too many candles.