Do you ever regret throwing things out?

[beebopper6]

Have you ever gotten rid of something in a fit of decluttering then regretted it ever since?

I really need to do a gigantic declutter but find it so hard to let go of even small things in case I'll need them again later!

I don't regret

But I do often have to re buy items I have accidentally thrown away

The pleasure of a purge is worth it though for me

Nothing except some bigger sized clothes that had become too big but now I’ve gained weight I could do with them as don’t want to buy new clothes. I’m on a diet so hopefully only temporary.

Having less stuff is definitely a lot better.

I bought a nice top in a charity shop once, a really good bargain. It was only when I got home and wanted to compare it to something similar I already had that I realised I had bought my own top from the charity shop...

The ridiculous thing is that makes it sound like I have loads and loads of clothes to the extent I don't know what I've given away - I don't! I'm just a bit daft it appears.

So not quite regret, just an unexpected donation to The Red Cross 😂

Yes. When my DParents downsized we charity shopped almost all my kids board games and the like. Some of which (15 years later) would be utterly perfect for my DSs. It was the right decision but yes, I occasionally regret it, particularly ones I was fond of that are no longer manufactured.

Sometimes, yes. There's definitely been times where I've been doing some DIY or organising and I realise that bit of wood/post/tub/tool would have been really useful in the moment and I got rid of it a few months ago.

I deal with it by reminding myself that the random thing I need right now was, in fact, only one of 100 random things in a big pile and to still have it now I would have to have kept the whole load of shit. I would never have been able to predict I would need that one random thing so the whole lot would have to still be hanging around. And that's not worth it to me.

I’m brutal and no regrets in the slightest.

Having a lovely, organised, clean and tidy home that I am always proud and pleased to have visitors over to is SO much better than hanging on to something that you might need in the future but have had no need for at all for last decade!

My old Ladybird books are possibly my only regret but I'm not very good at giving things away

I just see the occasional replacement as the cost of not keeping all the not useful other stuff around, and an extra little bit in the charity pot. Not worth worrying about.

Very occasionally I realise something that I've previously got rid of would be useful, but it only happens every couple of years and it's definitely worth it to declutter.

Rarely, I love a good clear out. Sadly I'm married to DH who has vague hoarding tendencies so it's a delicate balancing act 😆

Occasionally I've had to replace something and run the gauntlet of "I told you that would come in handy one day", but for the vast majority of items I've never given it a second thought.

We downsized to a boat. All my books had to go. Tbf I had two rooms, wall to wall shelving amount of books. But I miss the Enid blyton collection I had amassed. Thank you whoever invented kindles etc.
In the move back bank side, I’ve evidently disposed of an extension handle for the hand gardening tools - an inconvenience.

I like A Slob Comes Clean for that kind of thing.

She's really good at cutting through all the crap about just in case!

Her questions apply to everything, where would I look for it first and if I don't know where, would I even remember I had it?

If there's a place it belongs, take it there now. If that place is full, remove something and ask the questions again.

It might take a while but it does work if you get stuck.

I'm a bit more brutal so rarely have to use the questions, I just get rid of stuff and figure I can rebuy if I'm wrong.

The only thing missing at the moment is a bag of cat litter tray liners. I found them recently and was really happy as we're moving house soon so will have to keep the cats in for a while but now I can't find them! No idea where I might have put them as they were already in the place I would look first. I'm hoping they turn up as we finish packing.

@CornedBeef451 off topic I know. But - have you checked the cat litter tray/bag of litter or your normal bin bag storage place?

A bit off thread but kind of related - I did a car boot with my best mate years ago & had some of my parents’ stuff to try & sell. Being young & inexperienced, I didn’t realise that the traders do the rounds first to grab a possible bargain. I let a set of pewter wall plates belonging to my folks go for £2! Not sure what they were worth but certainly a hell of a lot more than £2! DM was not happy!

Occasionally I feel a bit of regret, but it’s for a short time as it’s gone and there’s nothing you can do.

Never. And if I ever do I figure I could buy equivalent thing again if necessary or borrow it from someone else. Not having the thing cluttering up my home is worth the risk of potentially having to rebuy.

I had a major declutter a few years ago, the loft was heaving and the kitchen had practically every surface covered and cupboards crammed with bits I'd picked up along the way. Most of the stuff was in good condition just I never used it or the kids had out grown.
I did spend time sorting through, with the mind set of did I actually use it/need it, then finally want it and most of the time the answer was no.
Pretty much everything went on freecycle sites or charity shops so not all bad but the feeling of space and being able to find what I was looking for was bliss, not to mention not having to shift everything to clean around it.
I've since moved house and can hand on heart say I've never missed anything I've got rid of.

One toy dog when I was about 8, but there’s nothing since then that I’ve regretted decluttering. Most of it I don’t even remember!

Yes, I feel the same.

All those books I bought for my children that are still for sale now.. books like The Tiger Who came to Tea... and the rest. All well looked after and treasured, taken from the loft and charity shopped. There must have been hundreds of them.
Now my children have their own children and all those books costing all that money.. being bought again.
Damn

No the only things I wish I still had where bikes from my childhood era they are worth a fortune today

Yes, the odd thing stands out, usually items of clothing but it's far outweighed by the feeling of relief when it's all been dropped off at the charity shop!

No, you can always rebuy something you miss on eBay. And in the meantime you have a tidy house.

I've taken to ebay to buy old board games I used to have and they no longer make. You can get some in good condition for £20-£30
Anyone for a game of 'scoop'?

A pair of boots. But they were asos and easily available on Ebay.

Anything I'm not sure of goes into a 'To Go' black bag and if I haven't actively gone looking for it for 6 months I take the whole bag to charity without opening it! I've almost always forgotten everything by then anyway.

I think what helped me was the phrase that "stuff isnt memories". You never forget those. It was really helpful when I had to clear out a deceased close relatives house because you cant keep everything and often the things sentimental to me were things they wouldnt have thought twice about putting in the bin.