AIBU to get rid of 80% of my "stuff".

I'd have to do it in chunks too.

Definitely do not want first and kinda conflicted about last.

I'm terrible for hanging on to "stuff". I did the 30 day declutter challenge from lifealongsidelauren. It's full of useful tips (and free), she also has helpful short clips on how to get declutter without being overwhelmed by it on Instagram etc.
I found it quite useful, but I'm sure there are others out there that will help you also...good luck, I know it's not easy!!!

Go up to the search box and type in "Vinted", lots of posts about it on there that are helpful/interesting.

Half of me envies OP & half of me thinks she's totally insane.

I hate spending money so that side of me wins... the one that doesn't want to buy something to replace a thing I just got rid of, so I'd never get rid of 80%.

You could parcel off 20%, get rid of that, and see if you want to get rid of 25% of the remainder or not.

Let us know how you get on!?

It's very liberating OP!

I joined Vinted yesterday. It’s quite easy, I’ve put 30 items up and sold 12 already! I’ve not made a lot but covered packaging and my wardrobe looks better.. (I brought a pack of 100 packing bags from Amazon for £6. So much easier to pack up!)

Marie Kondo is brilliant. The 'spark joy' philosophy is wonderful in its simplicity. If the item makes you feel good, keep it. If it doesn't, chuck it. You will just know instinctively. So often we keep items because we feel we 'should'. Because they were gifts, or have sentimental value, or we spent a lot of money on them. But then we resent them everything we see them. Much better to thank them for their service, as Marie suggests in her wonderful Japanese way, and get rid.

I wouldn't keep clothes to 'slim into' unless they are things you absolutely love. I went down three sizes and thought woo - now I can wear... oh. I don't want to wear any of that any more. It was dated/not me.

I declutter in batches now, I'll do a set of drawers or wardrobe every so often. It's very cathartic. I hate cupboards crammed full of clothes (half of them rarely worn) where you can't see what you've got.

I also stopped 'keeping things for best' after reading a thread on here a couple of years ago. I don't have 'best' occasions very often and there were clothes that only saw the light of day two or three times a year - now I wear the 'best' stuff regularly.

I decluttered before we moved. It was SO liberating, it felt like a weight was gone from my life

Yes yes yes - do it! O the Marie kondo method, empty your wardrobe and if it doesn't 'spark joy' put it in a sell pile or charity shop. She's a touch eccentric but her method works for me. There are online shops for selling on designer stuff but there's also vinted which is good because sellers don't pay fees whereas ebay take a chunk and it's deflating! Jewellery you could have melted down and have a jeweller remake it in to something you like? Or sell it.

It's worth nothing in a cupboard or a box

#VINTED.
I was interested to read people's thoughts on Vinted.. Are there any threads or websites recommendations with tips (apart from Vinted itself of course, I've had a look)
Like you OP I find decluttering clothes very hard. I've watched all the You Tubes, but I also want to think I will eventually get back into them.

The trouble is I've got no budget to replace them!

and I worry that no one would buy them on Vinted, plus packaging them or people sending them back etc would stress me out. And I don't know where to start

Btw - if you clean your silver you can then wrap it in clingfilm to stop it tarnishing!

I love that @Lifeomars!

@Catza totally with you.

I do not take kindly to him joking with friends about all my 'shoes and handbags'

When I have less shoes than him! And certainly don't leave them ALL OVER THE HALL FLOOR.

He has 15 coats.

I have 3.

That sounds lovely.

That must mean he has some awareness, surely? @Catza Unless someone gave it to him?

I have done this. Life changed, old stuff wasn’t really compatible. I did it in a simple way, just made sure everything was well laundered and took it to a dress agency. Each week i’d go in , and there’d be an envelope of cash waiting. Really simple, felt good.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-Things-New-Japanese-Minimalism/dp/0393609030?ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=2679cd97-0bda-42c8-8567-c5233c372972

Selling stuff that no longer works for you for whatever reason is such a positive move! It’s very bad energy to not love and/or use what you have. I used to have a shopping problem and over the past 5+ years I started eBaying and have made thousands (I would estimate around £4k) selling handbags, shoes, jewellery, make up and so many clothes. I don’t miss anything at all, ever, mainly because I never wore it. I have a much more positive relationship with shopping now, and I invest in fewer, better things. I think there are literally no negatives in your plan!

@TimeForHygge if you want to keep your silver shiny give it a good clean then store wrapped in a silver cleaning cloth in a box. Stays immaculate.

Same here. I absolutely hate our house as it is filled with his stuff to the brim. I actually cried when he came back from visiting his parents and brought home a bag full of new clothes. We have 4 wardrobes in the house, each one of them chocka block with his stuff. I only have a chest of drawers. and yet, he seems to think I have more things than him...
We are moving house in 2 days and I have 10 boxes, 1 couch and an arm chair. I deliberately didn't pack any of his stuff as I am hoping he will finally realise something needs to change. The funnies thing of all, I found he owns a copy of "Minimalism" book 😂

Do it it sections so start with for example jeans. Lay them all out and answer the following questions do they fit? If no get rid by selling or donating. If they fit am I going to wear them? I think if you want a minimalist lifestyle of quality over quantity you need to be ruthless. Stop worrying about money spent. It's gone but you could make some back and buy things you need. For expensive items like your cartier ring find specialist groups on Facebook, don't just go for ebay and vinted there are far too many scammers. Cheap clothes and bags definitely vinted.

We're moving house 5 years since our last move. I've decided to get rid of anything we haven't used or worn in those 5 years.

I have many sentimental items that I won't part with though, I did that before and regretted it

I hate clutter though, and mess, ornaments everywhere etc

I'm a bag lover so to counteract a house full of bags I only buy a new bag if I get rid of an existing one first.

Nothing I own is worth anything as I'm not interested in designer stuff.

OP - try getting rid of anything you haven't worn/used for 5 years. Also stuff you don't really like. That should be a good start.

I don't advise getting rid of anything valuable or sentimental at this stage

I'm the opposite of a hoarder and find I chuck things and then regret it.

So if you were into something and liked the idea of it at some point I recommend keeping it (as long as you don't hoard completely pointless stuff.)

Having said that I did chuck a lot of my nice charity shop clothes and brought a few nicer things with a 50s theme.