How does decluttering make you feel?

[Elllieuk]

Maybe I'm having a Britney moment but I feel like just getting rid of all my clothes and starting again, and getting rid of stuff all round the house. It's hard to get rid of clothes when I've spent so many years getting them but I never feel like I have anything to wear and they're not good brands or anything (mainly high street and primark etc). Looking to hear some inspiration from those of you who have decluttered (clothes and or house) and did it have a positive effect on you?

8 need to get the decluttering high again. I can't really remember anything I regret throwing out. Maybe a fleeting, I'll use the read beaker for that, then u remember u threw it out but that's not regret, it's adjustment!

Decluttering is hard to get started but once your underway it feels great.

Everything's suddenly easy to find, the place is easier to tidy and clean. It's like being on holiday in a hotel where you just have what you need without wading through all the accumulated stuff you no longer use.

However, instead of throwing away - give to clothes bank, charity, jumble, boot salers. Let others benefit from the things you no longer need. Double feel good factor.

I got going the Xmas before last with a hypnosis video to galvanise me. I'd been lying around watching hoarder videos which was supposed to motivate me, but I just thought, I have so little stuff compared to them@ then I listened to the hypnosis declutter video overnight and I got up out of bed the next day, had a cup of tea and tidied for ten hours 😅

I'm fortunate that I can park easily right outside 2 charity shops and a clothes bank so it makes the donating easier. Very hard for someone who doesn't drive/ have a car.

I've just ordered a skip and am hoping for this feeling!!

This is true.

If advertised on freecycle many people are happy to collect. Also I'm sure local WI's and scout/guide and similar will be happy to collect if holding jumbles/fetes. Lot's of these org's easy to find on facebook etc

I'm not a hoarder and I don't really buy much stuff but I think that's the problem as opening my wardrobe everything has memories and is a bit stuck in the past. I think I need to accept I'm a bit older since I bought most of it and have young kids and my body won't be snapping back any time soon! Then just buy some nice new key pieces. I have got rid of some things but find it hard to get rid of most of it when I think what if I need this or I do like this one but haven't worn it in ages etc... then end up getting stressed and putting it all away again, hence me feeling like I should just get rid of all of it (to avoid thinking about each item) and start again 🙈
I liked the comparison to it being like on holiday when you only have the necessities with you.
Inspiring comments everyone thank you!

Uncomfortable. I hate it.

I love decluttering. Currently have a whole hallway of bagged up clothes, shoes and DS's toys now though. Debating whether it's a charity shop run (no car) or worth listing on marketplace or vinted. Has anyone ever tried a yard sale?

So sorry to hear this. Having experienced loss last year also, if you try to move on DH's things and can't make decisions about what and where it should go it just means you're not there yet. Don't rush it. The time does come, and in stages you will find it easier to let certain things go. Good luck with the move! Xx

I too have a husband who de clutters by putting things in bags and saving them for well you never know when its needed days..its never needed! It is so cathartic to get rid of the junk, I have a plan to start next week when my daughter goes back to school to start in one room and go through the whole house. I will do it at my own pace and it will take me a few weeks. I have had enough. It brings me peace every time . I am so excited to start.

Our house burnt down 10 years ago. Everything was written off.

When we returned it had all been renovated and decorated, but we didn’t have many possessions. We vowed to keep it that way.

10 years later the house is full of shite again.

I've decluttered my house, and minimalised my wardrobe this summer. It feels amazing. And my house is easier to clean and keep tidy! And I've made a few hundred quid on vinted. Win win. No downside.

Doing the garage today!
I have unopened boxes in there that have moved countries with me

I try and do 10 minutes a day

I have some space in a wardrobe where I have 8 cardboard boxes and I sell as much as I can on Vinted. It’s out the way and it’s honestly made me a fair bit of money. I’ve said to my husband when I’ve finished the house and cleared it and put everything up for sale or got rid of it I’ll give it so long and then donate the rest

it felt so good when I finally sold the kids baby clothes (my youngest is 21 months and I still have 0-3 month clothes) and it gave me a bit extra so I could buy other clothes they needed.

I can’t wait to get rid of all the other kids stuff we’ve got but can’t bring myself to donate it with how my bank account looks at the minute 🤣

I don't feel good. I feel panicky.

I think it's because df used to just do that from time to time and I'd arrive home to find everything he thought as useless binned.
What he valued wasn't the same as what I valued.

I feel lighter & calmer. I really hate clutter. It just makes the house feel messy and stuffy.
I even decluttered my wardrobe. Dh is luckily very tidy & quite minimalist.

My dear mum is the opposite, she likes having all her nik masks on display, she finds it very hard to throw anything out, even if she’s not used it for years. The result is a kitchen full of every appliance you could think of, every bit of space in the house is full. Clothes in the loft, not worn for years. My dad has resorted to (every so often) having a secret visit to the tip or clothes bank.

Nik masks 🤣🤣 oooooo

• nik naks

I've done 2 types of decluttering. One is driven by the desire to make the space nicer, be able to find things etc, and this is positive. I've also got rid of stuff during existential crisis moments, and that has been where the regret comes from. Still, out of many things chucked I only truly regret 1 (a cuddly toy), so overall its good. My house is still a tip, and I'm gearing up for a big pre-Christmas purge. I tell myself that some day my house will be lovely.

I moved house and before I moved my motto was if a item of clothing hasn’t been worn for 12 months it was going. I had to be really strict with myself. I had bags of vacuumed packed clothes that I didn’t even open they went straight into the charity bag straight away

I then bought new hangers so they were all matching and I bought the exact amount I needed for the clothes I had left (4 wardrobes full so you can imagine how much I had before my clear out) my theory now is if I buy something new a piece of old clothing goes to charity/in the bin

It’s makes it easier to keep on top of. I always make money from Vinted too through clothes and toys. I do one room a day so I don’t get too overwhelmed and it takes around a week. The feeling of everything having a place is amazing ☺️

I really must try vinted selling.

I love it. I regularly de clutter. I have a small wardrobe due to the layout of bedroom so clothes, i often get rid of. However tbh i buy cheap as inevitably one of the dcs get something on me that stains or something.

Toys regularly get sorted, got rid of tatty, donate decent stuff that's not played with

Everything else is minimal as i struggle with too much visual stuff, ie ornaments etc.

I go by 'if its not been used in 6m - get rid!'

Good luck with the decluttering op but for the love of God please don't throw usable stuff away like some on here. Environmental vandalism that is. There is always someone that will pick up or take free stuff.

I love decluttering, it just makes me so happy, which I know is also very sad...I have just spent the summer holidays decluttering and deep cleaning every room in my house, nothing better than emptying a room and cleaning all the furniture before putting it back and then deciding what gets to go back on the shelves or in the cupboards and what gets to go to the charity shop/Facebook Marketplace or the tip.