Help, I can't stand the clutter.

[Roaringlogfire]

I always hate clutter but this time of year really stresses me out. We live in a small house with just enough cupboard space for our possessions so there is absolutely no room for Christmas gifts and paraphernalia.

Secondly, I feel like I'm constantly decluttering but it never gets less. Like bailing out a boat with a hole.

How do others have a minimal house with children (mine are teens) I can't decide if I'm rubbish at decluttering or
I buy too much. I am going to try to avoid buying stuff in 2022. How does everyone else have a minimalist house?

After Christmas when everything feels so cluttered with all the decorations and gifts is an excellent time to declutter because that's when you can really feel the stress of having too much stuff.
I always end up with the place looking much more minimal because I need the calm.
It's like eating too much rich food and crap over Christmas makes you want to eat better.
I think its easier to do a clear out after Christmas than before as you can assess what you can get rid of because you have new gifts to replace them.
I'm rubbing my hands together with glee now I'm in the post-Christmas clear up stage

Mumsnet has a few threads going about minimalism and decluttering in the Housekeeping section.

I find TV shows like Sort your life out on iplayer to be good inspiration. I have a box I collect charity stuff in and I het excited when I get charity bag through the door which takes everything. I don’t have the time to sort through it all. Facebook pass it on sites are good. I try to remember that everything I own is destined for landfill or recycling eventually from the moment I buy it. Alvin, a money guru of the 90s suggests if you want to buy something then write it down and if you still want it in a week then buy it - this is going to be my New Year’s resolution.

I recommend following "the LA minimalist" on Instagram. She's very inspirational.
One of her main messages is that there's no point in decluttering unless you tackle the source of the clutter: I.e. why you buy what you buy.

I know it takes time to sort through stuff that can be put to good use elsewhere, but honestly just outsource it. Either to one of thos companies that sells your stuff for you, or freecycle a batch, or send it to charity - sorting bags is what volunteers are for!

Am also drowning in stuff so am posting in the hopes of getting more tips to help me get sorted.

I want to be able to sit and read one of the lovely books I got for Christmas but there's too much clutter and I can't think straight!

When you want to buy something, think about where you're going to keep it and how you're going to dispose of it once you're done with it. If you can't think of where to keep it or getting rid of it is going to be a pita, don't buy it. If neither of those are an obstacle and you still want it, then and only then can you buy it. It makes shopping much more ruthless and your possessions much more organised in the long run.

50% of the battle for me has been:

• don’t go for. Mooch around the shops if you’re bored
• don’t windowshop in the sales online
• don’t go to the sales AT ALL.

My approach now is that there are much more fun things to do than go shopping. I only go if I need something because its predecessor has broken or worn out. We’re also a fan of present lists - it removes the guessing game at Christmas and birthdays.

We have just sold some books and games for over £100 - once DS realised he could get money for his old tat, it made the decision whether or not to part with specific items very much easier!
We used www.webuybooks.co.uk/
I am constantly decluttering, it is an ongoing thing. The house still looks overfull, but I am not a minimalist and we all have hobbies that require kit and reference books, so it is a balance.

@WhatDidISayAlan

50% of the battle for me has been:

• don’t go for. Mooch around the shops if you’re bored
• don’t windowshop in the sales online
• don’t go to the sales AT ALL.

My approach now is that there are much more fun things to do than go shopping. I only go if I need something because its predecessor has broken or worn out. We’re also a fan of present lists - it removes the guessing game at Christmas and birthdays.

Yes this is actually vg. Ive bought SO MUCH LESS since moving to a small village because the temptation just isnt there. I have a couple of shopping apps but I only open them when I or the dc need something.

Absolutely do not go shopping for fun. Only buy what you need. It's quite interesting how little you actually need and you probably have mostly everything already at home.

Decluttering is easier this time of year, out with the old and in with the new. The DC can declutter their old toys in favour of the new.

Go through all toiletries and have a ban on purchasing until they have all gone.
Stock take food before shopping to meal plan and use the random purchases in the freezer and cupboard. Clear out of date jars and tins. Run your stock down low, make some interesting food combinations and then only buy what you will regularly eat. Offers at the supermarket are only a bargain if you use them.

Clothing is easy too. Does it fit? Do you want to wear it? Does it make you feel good? I no longer hold onto clothes to fit back into if I lose weight or if I've spent a lot on it but don't really like it. Move on, out it goes. I keep a bin bag in my wardrobe for clothes I now longer love and I'm ruthless, as soon as it doesn't make me feel fabulous, out it goes. No more holding on to guilt clothes.

We were pretty minimalist and have declutteredeven more during a house move last year, selling so much on FB and eBay. If the kids sold their toys I let them keep the money, it encouraged them to let go of things they no longer loved.

Three ways

1. New replaces old. I but a new water bottle - one gets thrown away
2. As mail comes in it is processed and put away
3. declutter in real time.

I remove about 4-5 items per week discretely (DH has hoarder tendancies) in particular when I process laundry I review clothes especially socks and pants and "remove them from circulation". Dh has yet to notice /catch me

think part of the problem is the guilt. I want to either sell on, give to charity, pass on and avoid land fill if possible.

I stopped feeling guilty unless it was something especially valuable to others - if some stuff has been bought it will eventually end up in landfill - save the stress of eBay and take it straight there.
It's more important to not buy it in the first place.

I'm ruthless about getting rid of stuff.

If it is leaving the house, it leaves that day. It goes to the charity that day or to such and such that day. If I can't finish the job the same day, I don't start it TBH.

I do throw out a lot as well.

Definitely agree if you have steaming services and a kindle etc then get rid of all your CDs, books and DVDs.

But you need to get rid of your guilt. Having something cluttering up your house and annoying the hell out of isn't going to get your money back.

Take a look at the A Slob Comes Clean blog. She has a pocast and book too.

www.aslobcomesclean.com/2011/04/how-to-start-cleaning-up-when-you-dont/

Start with throwing away all the rubbish and the "duh" clutter like outgrown toys/clothes.