to ask for your decluttering tips (esp thin/fat clothes)

[INeedToThrowItAllOut]

I need to have a massive declutter but these are the issues I face

• time poor

• subject to big weight swings (sizes 10 - 18 range) - I wouldn't particularly say I'm a yoyo dieter but have phases of being a big exerciser when I lose weight and am healthy and then lose interest and go couch potato. For this reason I find it really hard to throw out clothes that don't fit me because it is realistic that I will fit back into them and I have some nice stuff some of which is designer and very expensive.

This is a huge problem because I have so many clothes which at any given time about 40 - 60% don't fit me but I can't bring myself to throw out so they occupy dead space in my wardrobe and storage. In turn this makes me a bit depressed when I'm in a fat phase (As I am now) - it's all very squashed in and cluttered and I look at the beautiful designer dress and wish I fitted in it today.

• tendency to keep odd things that may become useful in future - often they do - so lanyards, old cables/connectors from electrical equipment, sets of glasses I don't use (in case I need them for entertaining).

• fear of wasting money by throwing things out ("I could sell that") but combined with
• incompetence selling on Ebay.

I know the usual sort of tips like start small, do 15 mins a day, one area at a time but I was looking for anything else that helped anyone.

Part of me wishes I could go minimalist and throw it all in the bin.

Please help me with your wisdom.

Due to many many many moves I had to do the last decade. I have a 1 year rule now, if I haven't worn or used something in a year and probably won't be doing in the following year it goes, if it doesn't sell in a month it goes to charity, exceptions are things with sentimental value and expensive shit. You need to be honest with yourself when deciding though and not keep things you don't really like or don't make you feel good !

I'm a bit of a hoarder and the 'just in case' stuff I've inherited from my dad.
however, I'm getting there as I just think 'if I needed to replace this could I?' I have Amazon Prime, there's not a lot you can't get at short notice, or borrow somehow. Just chuck it. You don't need a lanyard, a piece of string is ok if necessary. Get rid of the glasses - if you're entertaining you can borrow/use plastic etc. It's just taking up space.

The big problem for me is making sure I don't bring more tut back in!

Inspired so I’ve taken everything out of wardrobe. Now have to sort it and put it back. Room is a tip!

4 bin bags later.... mostly done!

OOo - some great ideas here.

I really like the idea of properly storing in storage bags clothes that don't fit to get them out of the wardrobe.

As if to prove my point about keeping random stuff, I've just bought something for my granny that has one of those tiny holes to take a loop through lanyard thing so you can carry it - not sure what you call them but like the ones you get on small digital cameras. The loop through thing is very strong but slim and attached to a much thicker cord loop.

What I bought doesn't come with one of these things but because I kept one from my old digital camera - granny is good to go. She would need one due to arthritis and grip. This is exactly why I keep stuff like this!

thin clothes have always been something I've struggled to get rid of, such is my fatty denial. the one and only time I did lose the weight, my older thin clothes were a little dated and didn't always fit exactly the same as they did before, so they weren't much use to me.

In fact, I need to bundle up a few more thin things for charity today

with regard to general detritus, my rule for keeping things for "just in case" is that if I can source it quickly from amazon or the nearest shops, and it costs under £20, then i let it go. We've rebought surprising little.