Has anyone gone minimalist at home or at least had a huge clear out ? I need help and advice!

[anothernewusername1]

Currently emerging from the fog of what has been a horrific 12 months - I am currently unemployed due to involuntary redundancy and am going to stay out of work over summer holidays so the DC won't have to be in full time childcare for once.

DH and I both feel we could do with a life overhaul, and we are hoping to drastically reduce the amount of STUFF we have. With 3 Young DC (9,7 & 5) we don't think we could achieve minimalist status, but would really like to have a good proper clear out.

WHERE TO START? I've read Marie Kondo but feel I need more practical MN suggestions for getting on top of it. Would like to try get it done before kids break up.

DH works full time and I have 9-3 three days a week when all DC are in school. And although I can chip away over the summer holidays would like to get the bulk done before they break up. So I have three weeks!

Has anyone done this with much luck? Do I need a skip and all the bin bags? Are there any other ways to sell stuff rather than eBay? We have masses of stuff. Supposed we could do a carboot.

I feel this will benefit our Mh drastically after a shitty year, so am dedicated to the purge!

Sorry you've had such a rotten time. I've been decluttering over a long time and am constantly amazed by how much we still have. I've done a charity sack load tonight. It's lovely to see it all reducing.

I sell small but branded clothing items on eBay, anything bulky on local selling sites. Most other stuff is charity shop, recycling or bin only if broken or worn out.

I have had luck selling stuff at baby and children’s markets.
Start by doing one room at a time. You don’t need a skip but may find you need a trip to the tip once or twice per room.

Do you live in a city or busy place? Where I am it's very usual to put stuff out on the front wall and it's usually taken within a few hours.
Helps resist the temptation to pile stuff up to get rid of, but then bring it back in again.
Be ruthless, if it's not in your nature get a friend to help.

If you’re on Facebook look for a buy/sell/swap group on your area, easier then eBay.

Car boots are good if you’ve got a lot to get rid of but do your research. Check there’s toilet facilities, you’re going to be stood in a field for hours! Also be warned, the vultures are poised to strike the minute you pop the boot. They will swarm all over, sticking their noses in your car and haggling you down to pennies. Best to take someone to guard the car while you set up.

I had to have a massive clear out to make room for DS so I was very strict. If I hadn’t used it in a year, it was no longer useful or I’d forgotten I owed it it went!

Thank you @carlywurly the light is now at the end of the tunnel! And what was abject panic at the thought of job hunting we are lucky I can wait until September thanks to redundancy pay out and am looking forward to time with DC.

Thank you @hidinginthenightgarden @Countrylifeornot we are rural so sadly can't put things out on street. I find we have loads of stuff that's "too good to give away but can't really sell". I think it's more the attachment to it.

Going to start on the easiest room tomorrow. Will clear my boot out before school run and fill it then straight to the tip.

Have podcasts I've not had time to listen to, I'm actually excited!

Need to get in the ruthless mindset which is the hard part.

@AngelaJ18 the year rule is such a good one. We have under the stairs abyss full of really useful things that we haven't used in ages, or ever!

Will start making a carboot pile but wouldn't be able to do a carboot for about 6 weeks and would love to get the stuff gone. Will defeat the point if it's all in bin bags round the house so will try to rope a friend in sooner. Most of my mates would would do a Sunday morning shift for a free bacon sandwich and a brew!

When we had a massive clear out we ordered big bags from British heart foundation (you can get 100s of them) after you fill them, you can book them to come and collect in their big van!
(Clothes, toys, books etc)
Good luck!

OP what sort of things are too good to get rid of but won't sell? We might
Be able to give you ideas. I second fb marketplace for small stuff. Gumtree for bigger items

Charity bags are fab as well like pp said.

It's very rewarding after!

@SonEtLumiere the pre defined storage place is a brilliant idea. Seems so obvious and simple now you've said it - but we've so much stuff that ends up here, there and everywhere.

One in one out is a good plan once I'm finished too. Thank you

@Spookydot brilliant idea. I will go online now and see if I can get some sent. Arranging a pick up will also force me to fill them and have them ready so I'm not letting anyone down. Thank you

One thing that really helped me to get rid of stuff that i was just hanging on to for sentimental reasons was to take a photo and keep the photos.

@worriedmammaof2 mainly lovely books that I've amassed over the years, loads of kids stuff, so many clothes, and so much outdoor stuff.

We love going to carboots so have so many outdoor toys/bikes/games etc that we've picked up super cheap.

I think with the charity bags though I'll be able to be more ruthless.

Don't have Facebook but might set one up for the selling sites. Always seems too much effort for anything under £20/30

Thank you!

Start with the easy stuff. Although Kondo says to do it in certain order, I sometimes think starting with one room is good, get that sorted and it gives you the impetus to keep going. Make the new room beautiful and sacred and keep it that way. Find everything a home, make that new room and each object's home lovely (nicely stored, nice boxes, nicely folded) and inspirational. Go back in a week or two and declutter anything else you couldn't handle getting rid of the first time. Work through one room or whatever each week.

@Jon65 thank you - that's a great idea. I instantly thought 'what use would a photo be'. But I'd probably utilise a photo more than the actual object!

Freecycle or Freegle for stuff that is too good to bin, ours are really busy. And it will go to a person that can use it rather than landfill.

Old clothing I put in a bag and label it 'rags' and drop to the charity shop, have checked they want them first.

Choose one room, and start with that. And narrow it down into thinking one cupboard/shelf etc at a time.
Try local selling sites for stuff that you think would sell. Charity shop the rest. And don't be sentimental about it! If you/your DP are tax payers, make sure you register for gift aid at the charity shop you donate to, and they will get more from your donation.
If you want to get rid of furniture, British Heart Foundation have furniture shops and will collect. I have found them to be very reliable when used.
If you can't face eBay, do you have any family teens, or neighbours, who would be willing to do it for you for a % split?

Have three piles. One to bin, one to keep, one for charity. Be ruthless. Touch the items once. Make an instant decision. Don't keep things to sell unless you are doing it tomorrow. You'll end up creating another pile of stuff. Set a timer and on your first day, just do an hour. Have a cup of tea. Do another hour. Eat something. Repeat. Regular breaks are the key so you don't get overwhelmed.

I love decluttering.

Personally I found Marie Kondo too perfect and unattainable for the state of a messy family home.

I listened to Dana K White (Decluttering at the speed of life) on Audible and loved it. She's a self confessed hoarder with 3 kids and you instantly feel she's with you.

I started a room at a time over the Summer and promised to do 30 mins each Sunday when DH and DS were out at swimming. I'd often carry on a bit longer but felt I made real progress each week. I wouldn't do a massive clear out day in one go, it can be so overwhelming.

I found going straight to the tip/charity shop with stuff was a top tip. Getting rid is liberating!

That was last year and I do need to do another run around the house this year. I still practice tips like 'duh clutter' most days. That's going into any space and chucking the most obvious stuff eg rubbish, unwanted receipts, broken toys. Things that should obviously be in the bin!

Good luck!

You need to get ‘the rage’. I was doing this on and off for months then one weekend I just got truly sick of looking at the same stuff over and over and just started firing stuff into black bags. I had two piles only - bin or charity. Would have loved to have sold items but just wanted everything gone. You will absolutely, 100%, expand to fit the time you have so you need to set a hard deadline ( that’s what worked for me anyway).

I LOVE @Spookydot’s idea of arranging the charity collectors to come to your door. The sooner the better. Why waste 3 weeks doing this. Get it done by the weekend and enjoy your summer!!

I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard year OP. Onwards and upwards . I promise you, you’ll feel so much better when you’ve this done. It’s hard to explain but I’ve the house I’ve always wanted now. Minimalist, clutter free, always tidy. Everything just feels ‘lighter’ ( if that makes sense). Good luck!!!

I agree with Rystall. Just get it done. I wouldn't bother about eBay, too long and you have to post, but if you have anything big (bikes, scooters, old pram) you could put it on FB marketplace at a low price, or free, depending what it is. Depending on area, it could be gone very quickly and you might get a bit of money. But things like clothes and books, just charity shop them, honestly.

One of the most helpful things I did was to change the way I saw space. For ages I would see an empty space, and wonder what to do with it- should I use it for storage, should I put something pretty there? Now I just leave the space, because actually it is perfect as it is- it represents more room to move, more money in the bank, more time that I don't have to spend cleaning.

How are you getting on OP?

Such a wealth of advice on here! Last week was a total write off. My charity bags arrived (in abundance) over the weekend and I'm mentally/physically ready to tackle everything this week. To be honest - the majority will be going. Took me a few conversations with DH for us to both accept that it really does mostly need to go. The pp who said that finally having the home that she'd dreamed of and it making her feel so much lighter has really inspired me. That's exactly what I'm hoping to feel like!

I'll update you once I've had a good stab at it next week. Not expecting miracles week one. But hoping for a huge dent in the horror story that currently is my home!!

THANK YOU ALL. you've genuinely offered amazing advice and helped me get in a decent head space to tackle everything.

Thank you for asking @worriedmammaof2