To feel quite shocked/disgusted at all the stuff we have?

[Olbasoiltime]

We are redecorating soon, and have been using the last bit of the holidays for a clear out. Obviously quite a lot has come into the house over Christmas, but as I've been clearing out today, it's really hit me how much we HAVE

We aren't particularly well off, most of our things are good quality second hand or have been given to us, our house is small but tidy and we only buy toys Christmas /birthdays. We don't have a lot of "tat", or so I thought.

Yet somehow DD has SEVEN coats. Three pairs of winter boots. Their bookcases are groaning at the seams. One of my big closet shelves is just filled with blankets, from fleecy kid's character blankets to big quilts. We have about five towels each.

We've spent all day choosing what to keep and bagging up the rest. We then sat down to a Sunday roast and I just sat there thinking WTF. We're the "poor relations" amongst our friends and family, but my kids have coats for every day of the week? And I know from past jobs (not social work but similar line) that there are children in this country who walk the streets in January in little more than a tshirt and who have no books and toys at home

I feel a bit sick and guilty. I never thought my kids had "too much" or that we got them more than we needed, but clearly we have and it's crept up on us. Then when I really started thinking about all the stuff people all over the UK have bought for Christmas and how much of it goes to waste...

I'm actually not even sure what my aibu is about, self digust I suppose. I feel that this year we obviously need to work on stepping away from commercialisation/buying stuff. Get back to basics somehow? Ugh I don't know

Do dogs homes accept soft toys?
I remember putting soft toys on facebook and a lady wanting them for her dogs.

Thanks, Glitter. Another excellent suggestion particularly as they are now a bit dusty to give to any pfbs.

The trouble with decluttering is that 'the thing' you have kept for 2 years that you cant remember what its for but kept 'just in case' - you now decide to throw out....guarenteed that 2 days later 'the thing' is the very 'thing' you need for something that needs fixing/using.
Never bloody fails.

I think we have loads of stuff but when we moved house the delivery men said we were quite minimalist. We don't have much in the garage and the loft is empty (expecting to convert it one day so don't want to get in the habit of using it for storage)

We have 3 DDs under 6 and will possibly try for a final baby next year, so we do have lots of clothes and toys in storage ready to pass on if needed. However items like the double pushchair, various slings and Jumperoo I have sold and re-bought and will sell again. They have a good second hand market and limited lifespans so good quality used ones are easy to find when needed.

I do need to have a rummage and a sort of various clothes items - when yousee something in daily use it can look fine but pop it away for a few months and you notice the stains etc, plus it's easier and less emotive binning it

Willow of all the many things I have discarded/rehomed over the years I can hand on heart say that has only happened once or twice, and those items were clearly not that significant as I can't remember what they are!

Its happened to me more than once or twice It never fails when I declutter.
Probably why I hoard stuff then have an almighty clear out every year!

I decluttered then my inlaws came to visit from London bearing books they didn't want any more and cuddly toys that the kids might like and some stuff that they just didn't want any more!!! I have enough stuff in my house that I'm trying to get rid of without having to then deal with other peoples!
I was talking to a friend at work about this and her inlaws do the same to her, it's weird.

Linnet Were they bringing stuff back which had belonged to your OH? I have days where I'm tempted to take stuff to my kids which is cluttering up our house but which apparently cannot be thrown out!

Linnet, it's not weird, it's actually a thing. In laws feel guilt for getting rid, so instead of getting rid they pass the things on to you, so it becomes your guilt. I watch my Dh do it. He had an old phone kicking around in the drawer, I wanted to bin it, he said he'd find a use for it. Next thing I know he's given it to our 12 year old daughter, who already has a phone! She gave it back to me. He dosent have a use for it but can't bear to let go as it's a waste!

Your local council might have small electronics recycling, Glitter! Small covered skips near supermarkets, etc, just for electronics, just like the ones they have for shoes and so on. Takes the guilt out of getting rid of broken and/or unwanted electronics!