Out with the old and in with - NOTHING! Further adventures in minimalism.

[MrsPennyapple]

Following on from the Minimalist Journey and Minimalist Quiche threads. The journey continues...

Excellent progress all! And welcome One. Today I am going to try to find some time to get in the 'library' and make some progress in there. I need to sort and organise office stuff / papers and move some bits around so that it looks nice and calming in there. I also need to label the boxes of kids' books. I find this room difficult as it requires thought to get it right and I have small kids around all day (who like to pull things off the shelves undoing my work). By the end of the day I'm too tired to give it the thought it requires. My mum is around for a couple of weeks though, so I'm hoping she can distract them whilst I get on with it!

Little and often, little and often!

Ok, feeling very unmotivated this morning, need to do a few 20/10's today on just basic jobs I need to get done!

The DC were with their Dad over the weekend & I was away for 2 nights staying with friends (which was bliss). I did come home on the Sunday morning for some cleaning & organising with my friend/cleaner. Unfortunately I had dreadful sinusitis all weekend (still do) and was feeling dreadful on Sunday so I didn't get as much done as I would have liked - but my friend did crack on without me (I do pay her :)) and the place is sparkling.

What was different is that I was really excited to be getting home to clean & tidy!! New experience for me. So flat is in tip top gorgeous condition. Not much going out the door but still bits and bobs are.

My goal this week is to keep the flat in lovely condition and spend an hour each evening, after the DC are asleep, cooking a healthy meal, cleaning up after the cooking & day and getting ready for tomorrow - before I slump on the sofa and watch EE.

So happy to find this thread! getting lots of inspiration here so
Spent a weekend decluttering, 2 huge bags of kids toys to sell/charity shop, big box of books to go to charity, finally thrown out some old clothes that I was in denial about. Feels lovely!

Next challenge is sorting out the kitchen worktops, finding a space for the slow cooker that's been sitting on the counter for 2 months now and organising the cupboards.

But, I do have a problem. Our bedroom is really cluttered. None of it can be got rid of, but I can't find anywhere to put it. (books, paperwork, work stuff, summer/winter clothes etc) We have a triple wardrobe that's packed full, 2 giant bags and big boxes on top of the wardrobe, blanket box that's packed to the brim. Can't fit much under the bed as it's a really low bed.

Problem is, we really can't afford any nice storage for our bedroom, and I don't want to have lots of plastic boxes. Is there anything I can do?

My dining table is buried under a pile of birthday present for the dc. I've lost my to do list and the twins have emptied a pack of drinking straws everywhere. However they were having fun so it can be their new toy until I'm done today (£land straws and a cardboard box, might get rid of some more of their toys lol)

Welcome Nishi - the thing is if you don't ahve a home for something, something has to give. I would focus (indeed I did) on finding a home for everything.

You now believe this to be true:
"None of it can be got rid of, but I can't find anywhere to put it. (books, paperwork, work stuff, summer/winter clothes etc) We have a triple wardrobe that's packed full, 2 giant bags and big boxes on top of the wardrobe, blanket box that's packed to the brim. Can't fit much under the bed as it's a really low bed."

A triple wardrobe for 2 people or more? That is a lot of clothes esp as it doesn't include out of season clothing. There is work to be done here - don't despair. maybe some reading on minimalist wardrobes would be inspiring and helpful? I'm not suggesting that you get down to 10 or 33 items in your wardrobe, but you can declutter your wardrobe considerably. It has taken me several sweeps of my wardrobe but I have reduced it dramatically and aren't longing for anything I've got rid of - in fact I've forgotten all about it even though some pieces I held onto for years!!

The main thought I found useful in letting go, is I will always buy new things and I can only wear and store so much. So I don't need 10 long sleeved tshirts and I choose not to give over precious space to the excess - I kept 4 (not really minimalist is it?) and know if I get a hole in one, or fancy another colour I can buy a new one (and throw the old one into recycling).

TEN pieces!! crikey!

paperwork - keep only what is really important & get rid of the rest. If in doubt scan documents and keep as a PDF. I've reduced from small filing cabinet to a Muji expanding file about 5 inches thick.

Switch all bills, bank statements etc to online.

So, after first lucky sale the Facebook local selling group wasn't working for me (they expected things to be dirt cheap) so I've gone over to eBay now as I do have plenty of time to list things while the children are in school so I'm going to see how that goes!

MM Facebook selling is hit and miss for me too, the page moves so fast that things disappear off the main page within minutes. I also state on everything "To be collected from..." but loads of people still ask if I can deliver. Er, no. I'm not going to pay £5 in petrol to sell something for £7.

Nishi Welcome! I'd be willing to bet that the stuff in bag / boxes on top of your wardrobe doesn't get worn or looked at very often, as it's not easily accessible? I'd get those down and have a good look through. Chances are you'll find some things you forgot you had. If you can then condense the remaining items so that you can get rid of a box, that's a big motivator.

My next big task is to get out some of the clothes saved for DC2, and sort them into girl / boy / unisex, so that when DC2 is born I can immediately get rid of what's unsuitable. Disclaimer: I wouldn't care about putting a girl in "boys" clothes but I wouldn't put a boy in a dress, and having previously had a DD, the majority of the stashed clothing is girly. (Is it wrong that I'm almost hoping for a boy solely so that I can get rid of some of the clothes? )

Maybe I won't be giving eBay ago...just been reading about the massive postage hikes...looks like all my decluttering in the future will be going down the charity shop like it has been doing for the past three years...

Thanks for all the advice, I am definitely going to work on a capsule wardrobe, getting rid of clothes seems to be my weak point! Wrt the triple wardrobe, I have the skinny side, and DH, DS1&2 all share the big side. DS1&2 also have a 6 drawer chest of drawers full of clothes, and I have a tall chest of drawers also full of clothes Will see if I can cut back on the kids' clothes and definitely mine too! DH is a bloody H&M hoarder as well which doesn't help.

We also have some books, paperwork and shoes in the wardrobe too.. I suppose if I free up more room in the drawers/wardrobe I can tuck the paperwork away. So far the off season clothes have gone into a suitcase which stands on end with a lovely throw over it

MrsPennyapple I just had a peek into the bags, and blimey you were right! 1 more bag of charity shop-able stuff, and one of kids toys that I'm keeping just in case (in case what?? I have no idea!) amongst important stuff. The shame!!

The other problem we have is books. I don't like having them downstairs as kids tend to pull them off the shelves or climb the bookshelves, so we have piles on the windowsill in our bedroom. Not stylish, or minimalist!

Nishi could you put some books shelves high up either downstairs or in your bedroom?

Nishi - when you have pared down the clothes why not put out of season stuff in vacuum bags - the same with things like winter bedding in summer (what summer!!)

No shame in it Nishi, we've all been where you are now!

Today I have decluttered...(drumroll please)... A toilet seat! We bought a new loo a couple of weeks ago and it came with a white plastic seat, but we bought a wooden one, and DH shoved the plastic one in the spare room, so I freecycled it. (It was still unopened and in it's wrapping, if anyone's grossed out!)

So I looked at my list of decluttered items, and it's only around 30 items, but then I have listed "clothes" as one item and "soft toys" as another, so the number of individual items is much higher. It's quite motivating to look at though, I saw some items on there and thought "Oh, I forgot we ever had that" - it brings it home just how little this stuff actually meant. I'd encourage anyone new to decluttering to keep a list, it makes interesting reading a few weeks down the line.

My 2 dds have way too many clothes. Moving forward I will shop and edit much more wisely.

I keep clothes for dd2 and get some lovely hand me downs . But they can both do with a lot less in the future so it will get more manageable.

Can I offer another suggestion for old toys/ video games...

DS has to spend a lot of time in hospital and the wards are generally crying out for things to entertain the children - usually they ask that things are plastic/ hard so they are easy to clean ( ie. not soft toys) but if you live near a hospital with a children's ward I'm sure they would be delighted to take any toys or games off your hands.

Last night I had a nightmare involving of DD going to look for something to wear for dressing up in my wardrobe and pulling out clothes I'd forgotten I owned which had slipped off hangers and were creased and covered in dust.

So I am registering to sell at a nct sale next month and will get rid of as much as possible. Dh has some some for for half term and will be sorting out a few things. Time is still my biggest issue. Will catch up later must get ready for work (still not organized enough to not need to iron before work)

I need to get on with stuff!! [gritted teeth]

Out, out, out it all goes.

Well. Into two or three boxes more ready for SUNDAY (weather permitting).

Am working in corners at the moment. To get back into the swing of it I thought a corner at a time seemed less daunting.

So far I've got rid of books, jewellery (although some to the dressing up box), clothes and general stuff. All from in or round our chest of drawers in the bedroom.

I think my decluttering mojo is sneaking back slowly.

MM I've been told to try Gumtree for big things at least. So the pushchairs and dc's outdoor toys are going on there.

This thread is great for keeping me motivated!

We rent at the moment, so can't put up any shelves, which really doesn't help! However, there is one wall we're going to need to repaint anyway so might just stick them up there then polyfiller & repaint when we move.. sounds tempting actually!

Great idea about vacuum bags - then I could stick them under the bed and use the suitcase for something else. Thank you!

My job for today is to sort through the kids' books, chuck out any that are too badly ripped, pack away the winter/xmas ones and give away any that they don't look at any more. Wish me luck!

Oh, and almost forgot - one great piece of advice I've been using lately is to never leave a room empty handed (sorry if that's already been mentioned!) So scoop up any mugs/plates when I go from lounge to kitchen, dirty laundry upstairs brought down when I come down etc. Just taking something each time you leave the room seems to help.

I also have a "random box" on the stairs, where I dump post that needs to be read/filed, school letters, stuff that needs to be put away somewhere else, stuff that's been randomly left in a corner. I just throw it all in the box to keep it out of the way, then every night as soon as the kids are in bed I go through the box and file/sort/chuck/put away. It has really helped cut back on all the little bits left lying around.

My decluttering has ground to a halt too. I need to reacquaint myself with the 'decluttered' stuff inn the garage and dispose of it and get going again in the house.

nishi what it your connection with Japan?

sok I hadn't thought of gumtree, thanks for the tip.
I've been investigating the new postage and eBay a bit and it seems that you can still sell something like a DD dress and it can be sent as a small package economy for £2.60 pp Royal Mail which shouldn't be too off putting for buyers. I have a Jojo Maman Bebe dress so it might be worth me popping it on there to see if it sells.