Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Extreme declutter

1 reply

Player62 · 01/05/2025 02:53

NC for this.

For background, two years ago we moved to a detached 4 bed from a small 2-bed terrace. Since then, we haven’t bought any furniture except for the kids (bigger bed when they outgrew the toddler bed). If we removed the kids toys, our downstairs would be almost empty. We definitely don’t have enough furniture for the space (one room is empty). I buy clothes for myself once a year, I hate shopping and don’t have time anyway. I buy stuff for the kids as they outgrow clothes quickly.

Over the past 6 months I’ve been fighting the urge to get rid of more and more stuff. I feel like I’m suffocating and want it all to go. Ive put stuff on marketplace and freecycle. I’ve gone through my wardrobe and donated a large bag to charity. I still feel I want to get rid of more. I only have my work clothes, a few occasion dresses and some everyday clothes left, but I feel like I want it gone.

I’ve started to think about selling the house. Realistically it’s not too big for a family of four and we can afford it. DH also wfh so he’s made one of the bedrooms into an office. We have family staying often and it’s nice to have the space. We couldn’t do these things in the old house, but I miss it. I hated that it didn’t have storage space, but it was so easy to keep tidy. The current house is a nightmare to clean. Also, DH has embraced the extra space. His study and wardrobe are a mess of clutter. So is the small storage garage. He just never seems to throw anything away. I’ve been fantasising about hiring a skip.

Is this some sort of midlife crisis? I can’t bring myself to get any furniture for the house, the dishwasher has been broken for months but I can’t bring myself to replace it, and I just want to get rid of more and more stuff. Is this normal? Because I feel like I’m losing my mind.

OP posts:
JMSA · 01/05/2025 03:45

Hi OP. To me, your constant need to declutter sounds like a stress reaction. To what, I’m not sure. Only you will know.
Either that or you’re on a roll and just want to keep going! Getting rid of stuff is cathartic for sure. I can’t cope with clutter, personally.
I also think the new place sounds a bit soulless and that you haven’t put your mark on it yet. I think you should buy a couple of items of furniture that you really love.
Does the place feel like home?
It sounds like you’re missing the simplicity of the old place whereas your husband is embracing all the extra storage space! 🫠 To meet somewhere in the middle would be good.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page