"The Life Changing Magic of Tidying" continues to magically change lives (PT 2)

[BeCool]

Come fold your loved clothes, and feel the spark of joy in every object you own (or thereabouts).

Continuing our journey on from the Original thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/2178442-The-Life-Changing-Magic-of-Tidying-Marie-Kondo?msgid=50091328#50091328

On the plus side - managed to clear out the Shelf of Unwanted Presents this week - stuff that couldn't be re-gifted as I can't remember where it all came from in the first place so that's all gone to the charity shop. I now have a space to store the garden chair cushions over the winter .

On the negative side - I've had to collect two boxes and about 30 lever arch files of paperwork to sort through, scan and shred, which are taking up far too much space . I will have some nice folders when I'm finished (i'm going to replace my existing mismatched and battered filing system with some of the new matching folders) and will freecycle the rest rather than keeping them for just in case. I mean, no-one anywhere ever has had a filing emergency that needs a lever arch folder RIGHT NOW THIS INSTANT .

Clothes on shelves and in drawers are staying nicely folded/rolled though, and as all the books now have a space in the bookshelves, I can legitimately moan at DH when he doesn't put them back .

ProveMeWrong Thanks for the links re toy rotation - I ended up reading loads last night on her blog - including the link she shared about good (loved & lasting)/bad (shiny & passing) toys - its made it easier to cull a few more toys. I'm definitely going to whittle down our toy collection so it has more of the loved & lasting ones! :)

LeapingOverTheWall I love your thoughts on Lever Arch Emergencies... although it makes me wonder why last time I decluttered files I put about 20 of them in the attic in case we needed them...

I don't know if anyone remembers that when I took a bag of 'nicer' clothes to the charity shop I saw a mum wearing 'my' cardigan that afternoon... well today she was wearing my t-shirt too! (It was a v distinctive Orla Kierly one). Its funny as I thought it'd make me miss it/wish I'd kept it, but actually it was nice to see it being worn instead of hanging unworn/unloved in my cupboard.

I think mindfully deciding that you have 2 pans which are 2 small/non-stick that need to be recycled, and actually need 1 22" non-stick quality pan that you will cherish & love using is exactly what MK is about. Quality things that'll be used & loved - not junk that'll annoy you on a daily basis!

Leeloo that's great that would give me such a buzz to see someone in my stuff from the charity! I remember when you posted about it before :) that's what I want for all my charity stuff, a loving new home!

I downloaded the music magpie app last night and had great fun scanning my old CDs. One of them even came up for £3 but as the sleeve is ripped they won't pay for it :( but got about £20 for 70 CDs. Have to wonder if the £20 is worth the hassle for most people but I did find it enjoyable

Im working this week so not done as much decluttering as I like. But my decluttered areas are staying nice. The new way of storing clothes has meant that the DC don;t pull out an entire drawer looking for one item! I also love it when DH asks me where something is and I can lead him straight to it instead of having to hunt through piles and heaps!

I did sort through one box of toys that had been stored on top of a wardrobe and not played for in months. I kept a few now to be stored in a much more accessible cupboard, but added most to our table top sale pile. Unfortunatly DS3 spotted it and retrieved one item! Oh well, still have a spare storage box now! And if it stored accessibly he probably will play with it.

more decluttering & organising done, very pleased with myself!

Leeloo well done you've made your clothes happy again!and you're so right about the pans, I need to let one go or buy a new one and recycle both

I'm redoing paper, your stories have all made me think I can go leaner!

Ohhelp

yes, sometimes they do, but only things that can be wipe cleaned, as they are big on health & safety andwon't take anything that has to be washed to be sterilised cleaned (like furry toys)

Since starting this I've cleared so much from the loft that one day I might have considered taking to a car boot. I can now find everything I need up there and have moved some things like suitcases up and out of the way. I still can't get over my shift in mindset and can't wait for the whole house to be tidy! She's right about not tidying but just returning things to their place, found myself doing some stuff on autopilot already as they're not where they belong and I know where that place should be!

back from photograph hell
forgot to take pic! sorry. would've felt mean anyway - oh sorry mum need a pick of how bad it is... er, no.

cleared 4 drawers, countless small albums for charity, and 10 photo frames, 2 massive sacks rubbish.

funny, dm was saying, oh I wish I had the space to put hairdryer ina drawer. she felt she couldn't throw pics away, We just kept the best of the best, one from each holiday, and really nice ones, found some hidden gems. dm & df dancing looking so in love, ones of my DG beaming at camera, all lost in the melee of crap. Not any more.

interestingly she was holding a LOT of stuff for my Dsis's well the pair of them can have it back or I WILL BIN IT ! MU-HAH HAAA!! freedom from crap woooooo!!!!!!

Having read all of the previous thread and this one, I have to say you're all completely inspiring! I'm loving your stories of organisation and the photos too. for you all! (displayed on an empty shelf in a vase that brings you joy, obvs)

I got The Book a while back, did my tops (although not as far as putting them all away ) but I'm back on the MK wagon again. I'm going against the rules, perhaps, by just starting in our bedroom, but there is just so much stuff everywhere, I needed to be able to have one place that was ok. And it means that I can then start to ask the DC to clear up their rooms without feeling hypocritical.

Anyway, I wanted to share my mini-breakthrough… I have a dressing table with bits of (cheap) jewellery in various boxes and tubs scattered around, and I got as far as putting a nice Muji drawer organiser in the online shopping cart before the penny dropped…sort it out first, then buy storage if you need it. Because I was looking at it and thinking "will all my things fit in this?" - how will I know until I sort it all out?!

has anyone got any ideas for all the old china I seem to have acquired from relatives. It would be lovely if I could box it up and post it off like that Zapper idea for books etc.

I may ebay some but such a hassle.

Could you make candles with the porcelain if you are of a crafty nature and gift them for Christmas?

Or make them into a job lot at a local auction room? Only need to look on yell.com to find nearest one.

Or just stick it on your facebook local selling group with a photo? Especially if you suggest some crafty ideas in your post, you might get someone who bites? Worth a try for the sake of taking a photo and posting.

I have 8 empty box files and 3 empty smaller plastic files; plus a pile of plastic wallets! I've still got to do my tax file and my son's SEN files; but I can see areas of space on my shelves... Downside is, the recycling bin is FULL - I've had to put some bagged up shredded paper in the garage until the bin men have been!

Am still stuck on paperwork.

Who was talking about empty drawers? I have 6 drawers with nothing in them. Do you think they feel sad that they have nothing in them?

Ohhelp that's terrific! I think it was upsetting for my dad to clear out his mums house and put it mostly in a skip. I'm determined not to leave my house like that for my dd. She's only little, but I really feel a strong desire to change.

I hadn't thought of a library for the maps, thanks.

Oh my goodness thank you so much for posting that link to the toy organising website. Terrific! I read the whole thing & have started sorting it all out. A big load for charity/ nearly new sale/ gifting. And I've split the rest of her toys & books into three and will rotate them 3 weekly.

Actually it has saved us money, as I was going to buy the ikea stuva cupboard to store stuff in. But now I don't need to! A few skubb boxes instead & a sideboard clear out has saved at least £150. Wow!

And the trip to ikea prompted a proper look at our dining table. Was going to buy a new one- but DH had a brainwave and took off the drop leaf & her booster chair fits with us now and we don't need a new table. Another £200 saved. Wow!

And I'm so much happier with this process. And my dd can see her toys to play with. She has responded positively straight away.

I think I'm ready to restart reading the book

Ohhelp my mum could be MK's slightly bonkers sister, she is ruthless and I swear this is where my hoarding problem stems from (and DB's too) because if it lingered too long it went! She doesn't even have food in that won't be used imminently, no buying and storing stuff. A CD that has been listened to enough? Charity bag. Top she bought last year? my wardrobe charity bag. You want a wooden spoon? She'll produce the one wooden spoon that she owns that is used, washed, dried and replaced! She has issues with her newish DH owning 4 corkscrews, I know this as she must have mentioned it half a dozen times since they bought their house and is also slightly ironic as she's as much a wino as me. My house disturbd her!

Mrs I think my problem is because my mum threw out EVERYTHING of mine after I left home to go to uni. My one teddy bear, my guide blanket with all my badges in it, everything. So now I find it really difficult to part with anything as I just might need it again. My DD loves her daddy's teddy bear, it's so sweet. And I'm so sad I don't have mine for her.