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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel I am constantly fighting a battle against "stuff"

224 replies

Notcontent · 26/12/2013 23:39

I should preface this by saying that i don't have a big house. Just a standard 3 bedroom.

But I feel like I am constantly putting things away, rearranging stuff to find new inventive ways to fit things in and in general trying to keep clutter to a minimum. Of course my dd is a huge contributor to the problem. I sometimes feel like things breed and multiply in her room!! Grin

I did a quick post Christmas Day tidy up today and already have a bag of stuff to take to the charity shop (to make room for new things).

If you don't have a huge house with masses of storage, how do you cope?

OP posts:
nickeldonkeyonadustyroad · 28/12/2013 23:21

pickle I had to close the shop because it was haemorrhaging money all over the place. the lease ended in october, so I just cut and ran.

actually, even the process of closing down and clearing out the stuff made me realize how much stuff I never got rid of! we practically filled the scouts' lorry (not van, lorry!) with paper and cardboard that I never got round to sorting.

nickeldonkeyonadustyroad · 28/12/2013 23:23

I'm being a WAHM travelling bookshop now. or trying to be. it's less ztressful and I just don't have to do anything!

TheDoctrineOfSanta · 28/12/2013 23:40

A week, Data?

Glad you are doing OK Nickel.

winkywinkola · 28/12/2013 23:47

Size of house makes no difference. Still filled with shit.

My kitchen is not great but I am precious about my workspace.

Everyone dumps toys, tools, batteries, sunglasses etc on my space. And they still expect meg to work effectively.

I have a box I fill with the crap. On the 1st of every month the box's contents are tipped into the bin. Everyone is given one week's notice before this happens.

As a result, I have one, clear functional room.

There is no hope for the rest of the house.

Solo · 29/12/2013 01:26

MintyChops and Sicily Me too!!! and it is the utter chaos at home that does it! I'm convinced!

AdmiralData · 29/12/2013 01:38

Yes, a week. TheDoctrine - I am utterly ruthless >:)

ARealPickle · 29/12/2013 05:48

Wow a week is ruthless! There's quite a lot we don't use every week, but do use - craft, toys, clothes. Quite like the idea though, and we are further decluttering. I think there's a danger my children will be left with very little at this rate (tiny house!)

ARealPickle · 29/12/2013 05:49

Nickel -Thanks did the update, lovely to hear how you are doing. Hope it all works out really well for you.

BalloonSlayer · 29/12/2013 07:35

My new years "resolutions" are to:

  • have a good wardrobe clear out. No, those jeggings that only go on as far as my knees turned out NOT to be DD's. Shock You will NEVER be thin enough. Get rid!
  • think about the kitchen cupboards I never seem to open and get rid of the stuff inside (slow cooker anyone?). Move our overflow of tins/packets/DH's beer into these kitchen cupboards.
  • Buy less tin/packet/jar food over January and live on our overflow collection instead. We have a good size kitchen - we SHOULD be able to keep all our food in it FGS!
  • Sort out some old DVDs for friend at work's DS who is a couple of years younger than our DS.
  • Get some vacuum bags and remove all spare/summer duvets to the loft apart from one to be kept in the house in case of rows vomit emergencies.
  • Put sentimental baby clothes and toys in box in loft marked "Baby clothes & toys keeping for sentimental reasons" thus freeing up space in DS2's cupboard
  • Find somewhere else for chargers to live other than in kitchen cupboard
insomniarules · 29/12/2013 07:40

Same here, however some of stems from DH being rubbish at decluttering whereas I'm all for getting rid of things we no longer need but I don't like to give things away without checking he's ok with it.
So things don't get chucked unless I make him do a sort out with me and it's very hard work.
Our garage is impenetrable, the living room is awash with plastic toys and all bedrooms have little carpet showing.
I've given up trying to keep on top of it, I will instead start training the DC to put things away themselves. They need to learn very soon.

myrubberduck · 29/12/2013 07:43

I have fantasies about getting rid of my hoarder dh and 2ds for the day and secretly hiring a skip.... I would tell them we had been burgled by the crap and tat burglars

RedHelenB · 29/12/2013 08:18

Embrace the stuff!! DS really enjoyed watching his Thomas dvds after I thought he'd outgrown them (meant to get rid before Christmas but never got round to it!)

BalloonSlayer · 29/12/2013 08:43

I have made a start!

I have emptied a half-bottle of white wine (used as an ingredient LAST CHRISTMAS) an unopened bottle of ginger drink best before 2010, and an opened bottle of Baileys (bb 2011) down the sink.

There is an opened bottle of Baileys bb 2014 still in the cupboard. Wonder if it will be OK? May test it tonight. And "declutter" it one way or another.

Lovebargains · 29/12/2013 18:19

I read a good tip. Sometimes we hold onto things because we have spent a lot of money on them. It is not going to bring our wasted money back by holding onto them. I have tried to follow this and given to the charity shop today several unworn items of brand new clothing and bags. I did feel a twinge when I had done it but I know it is for the best

quirrelquarrel · 29/12/2013 18:33

Oh, I love chucking stuff away.

And buying.

am on a self imposed amazon ban until my loan comes in tho

ooooh does anyone want to hire the starving student that is Quirrel to come and help them declutter? I would be ruthless!!
to be honest it would be such a pleasure I could probs be persuaded to pay you Grin

carlywurly · 29/12/2013 18:48

Ooh I love a declutterer. I schlep at least a big bag a week to the charity shop. I used to be a major shopaholic until one day I looked around at all the stuff I couldn't fit in my wardrobe and felt physically sick at the excess. Toiletries and books were other problem areas.

Since then , I've sold enough on ebay to fund 3 holidays and now only buy things if I both need and love them.

I think one of the key things is not to acquire more stuff. My credit card bill is about half what it once was and I have savings for the first time ever.

nickeldonkeyonadustyroad · 29/12/2013 18:56

balloonslayer Shock chucking away wine!! Shock

it doesn't go off, no, the alcohol preserves it. alcohol is a preservative

cherrypez · 29/12/2013 21:41

Nickel, I think I used to be a customer in your shop. Was it in a town beginning with S and close to Iceland? And had Gruffalo soft toys?

nickeldonkeyonadustyroad · 29/12/2013 21:48

yes, that's me :)

ARealPickle · 29/12/2013 21:59

I keep feeling guilty I'm not ebaying. I've got some more to pass on but I just don't have time energy or space. ..

MrsPear · 29/12/2013 22:04

We moved in March from a 2 bed to 3 bed flat. It came with 3 hallway cupboards and a shed. The house looks quite normal and not overcrowded but the shed. Oh my god that needs a big sort out.

MrsPear · 29/12/2013 22:07

Ballon sayer - my chargers are on top of a tall bookcase in little plastic baskets - stops ds2 eating them!

RhinestoneCowgirl · 29/12/2013 22:11

Hi can I join in?

I've been trying to sort out my fabric stash today. Sorted some stuff into the ragbag (will go out in recycling box on Tues) and have freecycled some bundles.

Have also removed some excess mugs from kitchen cupboards, which will be going to a mate who's been smashing crockery recently Grin

Feels like a neverending struggle tho, and haven't even started on the DC's tat.

TalkieToaster · 29/12/2013 22:13

Where do you live, QuirrelQuarrel? Are you prepared to come to Liverpool? I have a room we don't even use because it's that full of clutter.

quirrelquarrel · 29/12/2013 22:18

Liverpool, home of the Beatles museum, you say?.....hmmmm Grin
I could be v. easily persuaded, in all this huge pool of holiday I have....if you're serious PM me!