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Original poster

KONDO Thread 9

999 replies

Iqueen · 12/07/2015 09:43

Kondo your Home and your Life. Live the JOY!

OP posts:
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23
Sum314 · 28/12/2015 20:40

"I can't think of a single item I have regretted kondoing- if there is something then I must prefer the space its absence has created."

Thanks stiffstink, that's very helpful! Brew

Thevirginmummy1 · 29/12/2015 07:12

I'm re-engaging! Kondoed loads at the beginning of the year but then it all stopped! Loved what I did then but now time to start again I think - especially post-Christmas now there are kids toys everywhere! We're also planning (more) renovations and decorating in the spring so need to have the rest of the rooms as organised as possible to (hopefully) keep me sane!
I haven't regretted anything I've thrown out in the first phase (think I did clothes and paperwork). I gift aided my charity donations and was pleased to get a statement showing what my donations had made for the charity. Made it even more worthwhile!

IAmNotDarling · 29/12/2015 07:26

I shared kondo with. Friend who has a very messy house. I think that I scared him initially but after a few videos he got it or said he did to get me out of his house.

MangoBiscuit · 29/12/2015 10:48

Thank you kermit!
Sum314 If more socks than you technically need is the right amount for you, then that's the right amount. I still bulk buy some things, which is very non-kondo. But bulk buying certain things saves me money, and time, which makes me happy. What I don't do is store those things all over. They have to be kept in one place, so I can keep track of exactly what we have.

I have only kondo'd one thing that I can remember needing later. It was part of a socket set that works with my electric drill, but I didn't recognise it, hadn't used it, so out it went. Had to replace it the other day, and found a reduced ratchet drive handle and set, with the adapter part I needed (was reduced too). Got stuck in to the job, and my drill gave up! Would have been stuffed without the rest of the set I'd had to buy. Some sort of Kondo karma! Grin

I also did as MsUrsa suggested, and re-did my clothes. I'd been intending to re-do ever since I finished, but haven't found the time. In last years NY sales, I exchanged an unwanted gift for a jumper that I loved as soon as I tried it on. It has been called my joyful jumper ever since. So I hugged it, and went back through my stuff. Made it much easier to get back into trying to feel that spark. I have a small bag of things to go, and my drawers and wardrobe have that lovely fresh, airy feel to them again.

Sum314 · 29/12/2015 11:06

ha ha Brew at kondo karma!

NotCitrus · 30/12/2015 01:03

Stop the press - MrNC has just chucked out a couple carrier bags worth of screws and widgets, and taken another half dozen out to the shed!
I'm devoting much of January to decluttering, partly of certain areas to become able to Kondo, but with no job and 12 child-free hours a week, Kondoing toys should become much more feasible!

I think I mildly regretted a few things that have gone, but definitely preferred the space they made avaible and the money some made for me. Thought I missed a tray the other day, but a rummage yielded one left recently by Compulsive Buying Friend which is actually better - rectangular and easier to store.

Been moving my entire kitchen contents, so have list of food items that should be used in January. I need to spend as little as possible as the redundancy money won't arrive until start of March!

Thevirginmummy1 · 30/12/2015 08:29

I've just remembered something that I Kondoed and then regretted.... Carrier bags! They're now a useful, valuable (and dwindling) commodity. I felt so refreshed when I got rid of my bag of bags but now I scrabble around for one every time I go shopping and get resentful if I have to give somebody something in one!

Starface · 30/12/2015 08:46

Hello y'all. I did a massive kondo for 6 months. Then life happened. But actually I've only a few bits left to move on and electronic filing to do. It improved life loads.

But I came on to say one thing. I kept old payslips. Going back years. I decided to do this largely to prove pension contributions as I don't trust systems much. However, I've since become aware of a totally unexpected tax rebate connected to a training course i did. The rebate applies for up to 1999. Many of our workplaces only have records going back 6 years. So others wanting to apply for earlier need to prove it. Payslips and p60s make this immeasurably easier. The rebate is huge (over 10,000 for some) so this would be huge not to get.

Essentially I am saying whilst I love kondo, remember chucked paperwork is chucked forever. My tax rebate will bring me much joy. I seem to endlessly chase tax - I think it's only about 20% of my working life that it's been correct. No wonder I don't trust systems to get it right!

Sum314 · 30/12/2015 09:50

Wow. I wasnt going to throw out payslips and bank statements. I think i would have ignored her even if i hadnt read your post!

I am only on page 15 but i think paper takrs up little enough space!!

Some of the ideas that she debunks early in the book seem like good ideas. Eg throwing one thing out everyday.

I almost feel scared. Im reading her book and i am gearing up to chuck out a lot of my things but i also feel that it is very extreme. And permanent.

Sum314 · 30/12/2015 09:52

The virginmummy1, I have a cloth sausage bag for carrier bags so I keep them all in the same place! But thanks for the tip there. Useful to know what if anything people have chucked and then later needed.

Sum314 · 30/12/2015 09:54

Are there any clips of english people doing the konmari method!? ashamed to say last night I found the americans very very very waffly. they could marie kondo their words.

Sum314 · 30/12/2015 10:56

i've watched the clips on this thread. Brew

DamsenBerry · 30/12/2015 14:27

Could anyone please post a link to the kondo book? I have no idea what it is, but i gather its something to do with de cluttering and keeping tidy? I need this!

NoMore314 · 30/12/2015 14:32

It's on amazon! you'll find it easily. I didn't see it in my book shop but when I asked, they had it.

Right. Brew This is it. I'm about to start. With tops. I may not follow all of her rules though as I like hanging things. And I will listen to music when I do it. And have a cup of tea. But I will genuinely try to think about whether I love each thing or not.

What about my dressing gown? I don't love that but it's the ONLY one I have!!?

NoMore314 · 30/12/2015 14:36

Also, in the future I may not watch my weight so I may well go up a size again. That wouldn't bring me joy! But should I keep some bigger clothes because it makes me feel relieved to know that they're there.

bedunkalilt · 30/12/2015 15:02

I'm joining! Been watching from afar and intrigued by the Kondo approach. Haven't read the book, have just been reading threads, articles etc to get an idea. I used to be on the minimalism threads time back and did a lot of decluttering and prioritising, so we're in an okay state as we carried on with the minimalist ideas, but I need to think more about why I keep on to some things and what I do actually love/get joy from. Also, folding! Totally need a storage style overhaul.

Just did the kids' clothes. They're 3 and 1 so at an age where they rapidly outgrow and we keep receiving clothes as gifts, and some of DS1's stuff will be good for DS2. So I need to figure out how to manage that. However already done 2 large bin bags, one of clothes the other of random items I had in their cupboards like flannels. Plenty of usable (even new) stuff which I can find another home for, but I know I just won't ever put on them on the DCs because they're too fussy or white or things like that.

Admittedly 2 things I couldn't let go of, both are baby blankets. Very little I won't let go of but that was too hard. I've decided to look again in a month or so once I've done more of the house, I think that might have been too brave to tackle on first day of Kondo Grin

Will be slowly making my way through threads and links...

NoMore314 · 30/12/2015 15:32

Right.

I've cleared out a whole load of tops and jumpers and ugly cardigans and t-shirts and pyjama tops. I did relegate some t-shirts to the pyjama box but I threw out some pyjama tops. (I just wear anything to bed. BUT I'm thinking of buying some more feminine pyjamas now.

I can't face any more today. That was hard enough. Just one big black bag. I thought about offering my mum the chance to go through it but no that's a no no right. Just.................. be gone.

More tomorrow. Or maybe later, maybe after a cup of tea. I was thinking as I was doing it that I only like about 80% of my mugs and I could throw out the boring ones.

Shoes will be harder though. I need them all.

NoMore314 · 30/12/2015 15:35

Actually, before I throw any more out, I will watch some cllps of t-shirt folding. I now have a drawer with long sleeved tops on one side and short on the other side and I will find out how to roll them nicely. I may cull a few more as I go along. It was an initial discard. There is room for more discarding.

NoMore314 · 30/12/2015 15:44

Bedunkalit, you're lucky, you're a bag ahead of me! I'm new here too. I got the book yesterday. I like the bit where she asks you to ask yourself questions, so indulge me here. Obviously I like tidy spaces and order but I like the part where she asks you to ask why to every answer. You want it tidy? why? why?

So here goes. why do I want to de-clutter? I want to de-clutter so that I will appreciate my house more. Why do I want to appreciate my house more? because I remember the feeling of joy when I moved in here first. My house is smaller than average but even so I remember how incredibly grateful, calm and optimistic I felt when I moved in here. Why do you want to feel grateful, calm and optimistic again? because the last time I felt like that, good things happened to me. Changes anyway. What good things do you want to happen? I want a better paid but still part-time job and I want a great man. Not a mediocre one. A great one. Bring it all on. too much to ask marie Kondo? Flowers I'll be grateful.

bedunkalilt · 30/12/2015 15:59

NoMore Thank you for sharing! It helps to read what other people are doing and why Smile It's a good point, I always enjoy moving into a new property which helps as we've done it a lot... but I realise I like it because it's empty and new. I realise that what I really like is space. Space is useful, to move around in, to play, and I just like the way it feels. I don't want space just to fill it!

I shall continue with asking myself questions as I go...

I am now off to move furniture! Might be a bit tricky so I may be gone some time Grin

bedunkalilt · 30/12/2015 19:35

Right, I have done the biggest tasks in terms of physical exertion! Moved two chests of drawers upstairs and one downstairs - reversed furniture to be more practical for use. Have now Kondoed DCs' clothes, done our folded ones but have hanging clothes to do. Loving the Kondo fold Grin Lots of space in our drawers!

Also did books, which I have done so many times before and just keep wittling down the more I accept which ones we really don't need/want/use. Need to figure out how to get them to a charity shop as there's quite a few and we don't drive.

Clockstooticky · 30/12/2015 19:38

Hello! I'm joining! Have just kondoed the hell out of my clothes and basically now have none. It's pretty liberating, i've got about 3 things in my wardrobe, everything else is folded. I've got about 9 billion coat hangers to chuck which is exciting. What have you all done with your clothes? I'm chucking about 4 bin bags full of my clothes which seems so much! Shall I just charity shop them?

Am going to start on toys soon. I'm ignoring the proper order. I'm really hoping I'll stop buying crap clothes now and go for less of them, but quality.

Clockstooticky · 30/12/2015 19:40

Oh also, I'm trying to get OH to read it because he's a total (in his head) neat freak, but hoardes books and paperwork. His idea of tidying is piling things up and putting them on a shelf.

NoMore314 · 30/12/2015 19:42

My folding is not very good!