"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

I looked under my bed today and found a huge storage bag of baby clothes from 0-6 months. I've put them on freecycle and someone is picking them up tomorrow night. I did sort through them as there were a few things I knew i wannted to keep. I now have a small carrier bag left of things I can't yet bear to part with.

I also went through 3 bowls of various clutter in the kitchen and cleared out all but one of them which now contains useful things.

I've also mended put back a shelf on two book cases which came off ages ago because the shelf supports came out and got lost. I suddenly have 2 beautiful empty shelves - one in kitchen and one in DD's room

A friend popped in for coffee today and commented how tidy the house was looking so even though I can't yet see the difference it must be working.

I've managed another 3 bags to the charity shop this week

And konmari'd my chest of drawers ... I keep opening them to look!

Not much else this week cos I've been a bit busy at work BUT everything else that I had done already has stayed the same. It took me about 30 minutes to tidy round the kitchen, living room and bathroom, wiping all surfaces and hoovering because there's no "stuff" everywhere

does anyone else have clutter pots filled with random crap?

Yes almeci, I do! Kitchen is the worst.

same here.

Lots of them Alemici. As I say I did 2 bowls today but I've got plenty scattered about the house.

Dd has given me permisson to declutter her drawers next week. Can't wait.

Now very important decluttering question - I have a box of chocolates cluttering up my cupboard -that won't do will it? I need to do something about them surely?

I've been trying to do bits & pieces as I go when DH gets home from work.
Went through the food kitchen cupboards & fridge. I always did stack ham & thin things standing up using a letter stand I didn't use. Quite proud of that

Less proud of this- found loads of jars out of date. Best one (worst one?) was nearly last century. Not kidding- Chinese fish sauce 2003
In the BIN! Pre moving house, pre me moving in with DH probably. Yuk yuk yuk.

Come on can anyone beat 2003 for out of date food?

And talking of bowls of stuff- DH noticed one today and asked me to konmarie it. Houston we have buy-in!

So according to the book it's komono next...that seems like a huge task!

lists no that will not do!

Good point and no!

Thanks for the sleep related sympathies guys :)

Leeloo I have just started something similar for the sleep training, your post inspired me to go for it. Noticed small improvements already..this time I won't give up!

DEFINITELY get decluttering those chocs lists! You will not regret it!

No I have not missed anything I have got rid of either, I'm just so chuffed at empty boxes and more space! Oh and always quite ashamed of how much stuff I accumulated in the first place!

How is everyone doing on avoiding bringing NEW clutter into the house?

Completely agree with the poster who says they view new stuff coming into the house as something to store/maintain etc. one of my new habits is to go to the library instead of buying new books. Trying to resist new clothes, have seen a gorgeous jacket in zara though and may ask DH to get it for me for Xmas. Actually no, now I'm pushing a pushchair everywhere (don't drive) it's no good as it's not got a hood and it's one of those short trendy jackets. It really doesn't suit my lifestyle any more. I need warm practical stuff at the mo :( can't believe I just talked myself out of it :(

Keep going with the kondoing everyone, even a micro category is progress!

I've just bought a wheely bin (our council don't provide them for black bag rubbish, just recycling, but we have a horrendous fox problem and i'm fed up with having to collect up scattered rubbish at 7am in the morning in my dressing gown). It's not beautiful, but it will bring me joy on bin day

I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I have a box labeled 'misc stuff that I don't want and needs chucking' from one of our two house moves last year. Why the hell did I box it up ? I think it was because we moved in a rush and the wheelie bin was full, but really... ?

Ladies - convince me please that I really do not need to keep the 100+ VHS video tapes in the cellar. We've still got a video player as DD really likes some of the old disneys but perhaps the rest could go? Not sure where though I don't think charity shops even take them now.

I dont think some of them have been watched for 4 years plus surely we can live withoout them can't we?

Yesterday I was given a gift hamper - very nice.
This very morning I took the basket, ribbon and all the fancy packing directly to DD's nursery for art supplies & they were delighted too!

Total of about 12 hours by my front door - RESULT!! I'm so pleased that A) I was able to pass the packaging etc onto a happy home, where it will be reused (and I didn't cling onto it), and B) the swift turnaround was very pleasing.

lists try music magpie for your VHS tapes, you might get some cash for them?

lists thanks for mentioning VHS tapes. I've been clinging to a tape of a compilation of music videos from my 20's, unable to let it go.

Your post just made me realise that I can actually watch any of these videos on You Tube now (never occurred to me before - sigh!) and I will release the VHS as soon as I get home :)

Oh how the times have changed ......

itsa I threw away 5 bin bags of clothes. I have missed one item in a week but to be honest it needed replacing rather than mourning!

I think I'm buying less actually. Some things I thought I needed but I've found since I started!

I think this might actually be changing me...I needed to go food shopping today. I got up earlier so I could go earlier because I knew I'd need more time when I got back. I've tidied the cupboards and cleaned the fridge out before I put the fresh stuff in. I also shopped to a list and stuck to it except the new Christmas lights indulgence, damn you Lidl!

I got some Xmas lights from Lidl last year - they are lovely. Excited to be getting them out soon.