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Original poster

Has anyone regretted a huge, ruthless declutter?

42 replies

IfIonlyhadsomesleep · 25/08/2013 12:31

Just wondering because I'm considering getting rid of pretty much everything that stays still for too long. All craft projects except the current ones, lots of toys that are unplaced with but would need to leave by stealth because otherwise they'd suddenly become favourites, baby clothes that I thought I'd make into heirlooms one day, virtually all the clothes in my wardrobe because I've got stuff for the things I do and the work wear I had eight years ago doesn't fit, magazines that I might do the projects from.
In fact I'm not sure what to keep. I just know that our house is overwhelmed by stuff that we hardly use.
Do you think in six months I might feel bereft?

OP posts:
Vivacia · 25/08/2013 12:36

Oh god no, but I am a bit of an extreme.

A good middle ground is to half chuck stuff out. Put it all somewhere awkward such as a shed or in the loft and if it isn't fetched back in within a set time frame (say, end of November?) chuck it.

Vivacia · 25/08/2013 12:38

Wardrobe - chuck the wrong sizes out. I just got rid of a load of size 8 stuff and feel tonnes better. I kept one pair of trousers and a shirt (just incase!) but to be honest I'll probably chuck those too. It's lovely opening a wardrobe without stuff falling on you. It's lovely opening a wardrobe and just seeing nice things rather than guilt trips.

Vivacia · 25/08/2013 12:39

Also, toys, magazines etc just decide to halve what you've got rather than throwing them all away. And next time, halve again.

Jan49 · 25/08/2013 12:40

I have decluttered tons of stuff over the past 4 years. We probably own about one-third of the stuff we previously had. I've never regretted anything. I wish I'd got rid of a bit more.

But Vivacia's idea of keeping some stuff for a while is a good one.

SPBisResisting · 25/08/2013 12:42

I declutter all the timw and never regewt it. As viv says its nice to see neat and tidy stuff not guilt trips

morethanpotatoprints · 25/08/2013 12:46

No, but I know several who have given things away and regretted it years later when they were worth a fortune.
So remember that it might be an old painting you despise now, but it could be hard cash in a few years time. Grin

VerySmallSqueak · 25/08/2013 12:47

Yes. Definitely.

But it has to be done at times and inevitably it's always the next week you want something you hadn't wanted for years.

Sorry - it's not what you want to hear you know.....

RhinestoneCowgirl · 25/08/2013 12:48

I'm decluttering all the time too. Doing some today actually as DH has taken the DC out.

DD is 4yrs and v 'creative'. I did feel bad the first few times when I bagged up her artwork and just chucked it, but she's just so damn prolific I can't keep up with it all. And I thought to myself, did my mother present me with crates worth of paintings that I'd done at preschool when I left home? No she did not, she kept a (very) few special items, including my GCSE art coursework which is still hanging in their dining room.

GetStuffezd · 25/08/2013 12:48

Only when I chucked out my passport and my folder with all my professional certificates in it! Angry
Otherwise it feels great.

LonelyGoatherd · 25/08/2013 14:10

No. Get shot. I declutter constantly (and there's still loads of Stuff). Can barely remember most of the things that have gone.

BadPoet · 25/08/2013 16:55

No, never. I am in the middle of one just now (and am being more ruthless than ever, and I've never found it hard to part with stuff) - it feels so good to open drawers and cupboards and see only the things we actually use.

Meglet · 25/08/2013 17:00

yes. I got rid of some clothes after I'd had the dc's. Looking back DD would probably have liked them when she was 18.

Since then I've never chucked any of my clothes out (unless they're only fit for the rag bin).

And there was the time I binned all my concert ticket stubbs Sad.

Elsiequadrille · 25/08/2013 17:03

No never. Including the magazines I never will might do crafts from.
Be ruthless, you won't feel bereft.

mrspaddy · 25/08/2013 17:03

I would get a few memory boxes.. Allow yourself one for each child, you own special things. Photograph your projects, make scrapbooks. The dump, dump, dump. You will feel better. I compromised. I kept my school badge and signed shirt, got rid of the rest for example. You won't regret it. Much cleaner house, quick to tidy, organised.

specialsubject · 25/08/2013 17:11

nothing on that list is worth keeping. To the charity shop!

MasterOfTheYoniverse · 25/08/2013 17:13

Been round the world both as a child and as a fully fledged expat.
Keep time capsules for your children. they'll want a trace to reminisce and pass on their experience to their children.
Ditch the junk. be ruthless. possessions weigh you down. totally pointless. its the emotional associations that are worth keeping.

TeacakeEater · 25/08/2013 17:23

No and once I lost all my stored book collection to water damage. Was livid at the time but now I'm thankful!

TeacakeEater · 25/08/2013 17:25

I do make an exception for children's toys as it won't be forever and my one has too good a memory.

elfycat · 25/08/2013 17:25

We've done several medium sized declutters. It felt like we were getting rid of too much to begin with but after it had gone I realised I still had too much stuff. The obvious stuff that had left was true clutter and stopped me seeing even more clutter underneath. None of it was needed.

DH just took 4 car loads down the dump (mainly recycling) and we freecycled some more and the garage is looking tidier even though we found room to put the bikes in there. We could do another clear out tomorrow and still never miss any of it.

FourGates · 25/08/2013 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

delasi · 25/08/2013 23:02

We have been decluttering for 3 years Shock Rarely buy new stuff to take its place yet stil have more to go. My home is far from empty, you just don't realise how much stuff lies around gathering dust until you tackle it

I did have a dinner set that I went back and forth a couple of times on whether I should have parted with it, but I have no regrets and I'm so glad to no longer have this stuff taking up space. I do own things that serve no purpose beyond the sentimental, but they are few and very special so they are not what takes up space and become a hassle to move!

If you think it's valuable but unnecessary, store or sell.

VerySmallSqueak · 25/08/2013 23:04

I wish I still had my autograph book from when I was a kid.....

YoniBottsBumgina · 25/08/2013 23:33

I'm doing one currently as we are moving abroad. The only thing I'm regretting is that it takes so long to go through everything!

I don't think I've ever done as big a declutter TBH. I'm converted, though - I've made DP promise to make me do this once every 6 months or so!

YoniBottsBumgina · 25/08/2013 23:36

I've found all sorts though - sweets and medicine which expired in 2011 (and you know how long the dates usually are on those things!) loads of stuff that I put down on the day I moved in here nearly 4 years ago and have not seen or looked for since. Gone!

noisytoys · 26/08/2013 09:59

My life is a constant declutter our flat is far too small for the amount of people living in it (1.5 bed flat for 4 people). Nothing is ever missed, in fact I would like to get rid of more but DH won't let me Hmm