Stuff is too hard to get rid of

[Clutterbusting]

I want to be free of my stuff. I’m drowning in it. My house is a mess and all that happens when I have a sort out is it gets moved about. I spend money on storage solutions when I need to just get rid.
I want to but where to? Charity shops are picky and I have A LOT to shift. Selling takes too long and I can’t be wasteful so a skip is out. What can I do?
AIBU to think this is just too hard?

I am not putting a car on the road to contribute to that environmental problem.

This is an excellent point, NearlyAHoarder.

@FryingpanintoFire

I am not putting a car on the road to contribute to that environmental problem.

This is an excellent point, NearlyAHoarder.

So is the skip being delivered by a donkey!

www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/donate-clothes-by-post-for-free/

@freckles20 well done! MK says clothes first because they're the easiest to do.

Next category is books. Do you have many? We have about 1000 with more in the loft. But I did discard 300+ and more to go when the boxes come down.

What went:

Hobbies & pastimes we don't do (sewing, knitting, mosaic, calligraphy - all the guilt inducing books)

Out of date books - reference books, old college text books etc. Info is online!

Duplicates, too much repetitive stuff on one subject

Paperback novels that were ok but didn't captivate me. There are libraries!

When the books are down, wipe and dust the shelves, dust & replace the keepers in attractive order and pull them all forward to the front of the shelves so they are all even

All this fretting about the environment is piling difficulties in the way of improving the MH and living conditions of people genuinely struggling because they are drowning in rubbish in their own homes.

@SocialConnection thank you for your help. Oh dear, I've realised you are right- it's going to get harder from here!

I culled my books when we last moved, and have relied on a kindle since then (although I do prefer physical books). So I don't think books will be too tricky.

I'm feeling frustrated as life in general is getting in the way of my decluttering momentum.

I'm thinking of booking another session with the decluttering lady. She was fabulous, and we got so much done. Having someone physically encouraging me seemed to stop that voice in my head that nags me not to throw things out- her encouragement drowned out any hesitations.

I hope you're getting on ok OP and everyone else who has been inspired by this thread.

freckles
The declutterer worked so well for you that it would be great to book her again.

I strongly agree with mathanxiety that people are suffering because the task is too great if they try to rehome their stuff in charity shops etc. Hire a skip (if affordable) and get rid of it in order to improve mental health and enjoy your home again.

[quote JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn]@ThumbWitchesAbroad if you're in UK try Ziffit App - they buy books. You don't get a huge amount but they'll take your books for you.[/quote]
Bit late but thank you for this. Excellent service, scan , box up , they collect , done.
I've made £20 from clear out of books, cd and dvd .

@mathanxiety

All this fretting about the environment is piling difficulties in the way of improving the MH and living conditions of people genuinely struggling because they are drowning in rubbish in their own homes.

Excellent points.

All this sorting works if you're already of this mindset or if you have someone to stand over you help.

I am pretty tidy and organised. My house appears clutter-free. Until you look in one set of wardrobes where all the 'to do' stuff is. And I'm struggling to be motivated to start on it.

So if you're already living in a heap, it's so much harder.
I do think, in that case, a skip is the answer.
And then great care in what comes in after.

My mum is a hoarder of sorts I hate clutter. And waste too.

However I have a set of rules which I try to follow, I have general clear outs every month picking one room at a time (bigger when I'm in the mood)

1. If it has not been used in the last 6 months it goes.

2. Big item or thing soon value or high use - FB market Free if I just want gone/ V cheap if I know it's worth a bit but cheap enough it goes in a week.

3. I keep an active black bag for clothes/ shoes / kids toys and jewellery type bits but the door once full (every few weeks) dropped at a charity shop on a daily drive to the market.

4. if it broken bin it - no excuses

5. When redoing kids things I do ask for pictures (we are fortunate as above I'm generous) I like to show my man he is helping others when he gives up his things for a good cause.

6. When buying something if you have something that does the same job you don't need it until that items no longer works.

7. I have also recently made the conscious choice to only use chemical free / vegan type products which has also made me more conscious of purchases to avoid waste - waste clothes purchases - waste junk being brought - extra unnecessary toiletries.

most importantly keep practising the above and it will become habit - I have slight OCD I need order (however I can find order in chaos)

And then great care in what comes in after.

YYY to that, @Nanny0gg.

What is good about a huge clearout is that you see in front of your eyes the huge pile of stuff you know in your heart you will never use, and nobody else ever will either. You can keep that sight in your head if you are tempted down the hoarding path again and ask yourself if this is really something you want in your life. My advice would be to take a photo of it all before waving it off.

If you try to 'do good' with the junk you are kidding yourself that there was an upside to the misery you caused in your own life, and it might be easier to excuse subsequent hoarding tendencies on grounds that you are only a temporary custodian of it all, that it will do some good for someone later. You have to replace the term 'perfectly usable' with the term 'junk' in your own head in order to develop a new relationship with stuff.

So true.

The time for small bags of clothes in the Salvation Army container, or a box of bric-a-brac to the charity shop is after all the present stuff has gone.

Then it can be done with small amounts on a regular basis and far less acquiring stuff in the first place, whether it's buying or having stuff dumped by relatives.

Use Freecycle. People will take ANYTHING that is free. I use it all the time after fighting with myself “do i really need these?!”. It is hard when items are associated with good times and happy memories but if they are just lying unused give them to someone in need. Embrace the space you will gain.

We did do well a few years ago selling toys on eBay. We got about £50 for a playmobil fire station set . It was in good condition - several vehicles, lots of figures. Lay it out and photo it and find a big box to post it in. Same for the police set. Sold transformers and got a lot for the prime figure - sold a job lot for over £100 as 2 bidders wanted the prime.
Other less popular stuff went to the tip in plastic recycling I’m afraid.
I’d start with toys and then do kids clothes. Tescos have Salvation Army collection points for decent stuff. The rest should be bagged up and taken to fabric recycling at your tip. Any old duvets, pillows, towels - animal shelters.
Boxes of China, glassware - charity shops.
Books, dvd s - Tesco have collection points.

@Maray1967 - can I ask you if you came to this thread by way of the "You might also like" box that appears on some of the threads? I'm only asking because the previous post to yours (that MN Admins haven't removed) dates from January 2022.

It's pretty easy once you start.
On a dry day put a as much as you can get out of a shed out the front.
Put up free on Facebook marketplace, freckle, etc.
People will come and get stuff.

Papers, magazines, old bills, receipts, fill up a bin bag or two each week and dump.

Throw it in the bin easy.

I can’t remember- but quite possibly!

Dunelm Mill will now take any material, fabrics, textiles etc for recycling.

Charity shop will take rag too, just tell them so they needn't sort it.They get money for it and for books they can't sell.Put bundles on facebook for free or small amount and someone can collect.Even broken washing machines I have sold on Ebay

Unfortunately, this is really unethical way of solving your issue. It will all end up in landfill and won’t serve anyone else. You can but it a bulk on freecycle or sell it as bulk on eBay. You can also put it outside with a sign.
It will teach you in the process how to get rid of unneeded stuff in the future. You won’t learn from putting in in the skip.
Hopefully, you will become more considerate when buying new things too and also learn how to avoid unwanted gifts.

good luck!!!

Genuine question @N1no - how do you avoid unwanted gifts? I have family members always offloading crap on me unasked, plus with two children there are constant gifts adding to the pile that I'm constantly sorting and trying to reduce.
We just moved house so I got rid of a huge amount before the move but things still arrive.
Drives me mad!