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Original poster

Decluttering accountability buddies?

183 replies

PrettyWitch · 31/12/2015 15:51

2016 is the year I'm going to get my stuff sorted out properly - but I might need you to help keep on track!

I have a minor shopping addiction, which hinges mostly on books and indie make up/perfume, but does include lots of other things - we moved house six months ago and after a big declutter then, it's starting to get silly again.

I'd like to stop bringing so much stuff into the house, and get rid of at least five items per day until I feel like the house is no longer bursting at the seams!

So, anyone up for keeping me accountable and getting some support with decluttering in return? Maybe we should start with a January no buy? :)

OP posts:
didireallysaythat · 31/12/2015 16:22

I'm up for a no buy January. And February. And March. I need to focus on tidying and eating better. Not buying stuff !

Original poster
PrettyWitch · 31/12/2015 17:58

Brilliant, DidI :) Eating healthier's definitely on my list too… Is there any temptation you need to watch out for?

OP posts:
didireallysaythat · 01/01/2016 18:12

Pretty no just generally BAD food which I have little appetite for versus GOOD food which I don't eat enough of. It's the cooking and preparing bit I'm lazy about.

Does sticking things on Pinterest satisfy your buying urges ? You could have a page if nice things to look at, none of which you really need to buy ??

2boysnamedR · 01/01/2016 19:11

Can I join you? I am a hoarder. I have problems with clothes ( mostly the kids) and toys.

I didn't go to the sales ( well I went to Next and M&S but I have decided just now I am going to take most of it back apart from five things).

I have the Kondo book but it's honestly impossible to group my things yet as there is far too much.

I have had a few people offer to help but it's never happened. One - people are too busy and two - I just feel like people are getting at me when they aren't.

I have just read the idea of getting rid of a thing per day and each day adding to the original target to get rid of 456 things by the end of January.

I think I can do that. But I need to get rid as I go.

Feel like a total failure and I haven't even started yet!

Lost my sons shoe about two months ago and a £350 camara. Not sure if my baby posted them into the bin or its list in my hoard! How sad is that? Sad

didireallysaythat · 01/01/2016 19:43

2boys I'm impressed at 5 things from the sales. I'm lucky in that we don't live in town, I've two kids and I never go to the shops so that's easy !

Clothes. Do you actually wear all your clothes ? If you hang them up, reverse the coat hangers of them all now and anything you wear put back with the hanger the correct way around. By the end of month you'll be able to see how much you actually wear. As for kids, once they are at nursery/preschool and past potty training we only needed 5 pairs of trousers, half a dozen t shirts and two jumpers. But we have a washing machine which helps I guess.

Would it help to start small ? Socks ?!

2boysnamedR · 01/01/2016 20:12

Reversing the hangers is a really good idea - thanks for that. I have four kids 12, 8, 3 and 16 months so I have said to myself the oldest two I am only to buy things they desperately need. The 3 year old I'm potty training but I think he has enough to get him through that.

I have three boys and then a girl so she is a major sticking point. I buy her far to much ( mostly second hand if not in the sale). I don't think if I'm honest anyone needs clothes this year but that would be very hard to resist! Maybe I need to set a limit of so many items?

I don't need to buy anything for me. I am on a career break and am due back in Oct so if I did go back I would need to shed some pounds or buy a few new office things.

It's really depressing me now. I tried to do three clothes out and 1 in last year. I got rid of about 450 things and it really didn't make a dent

didireallysaythat · 01/01/2016 22:30

When I was pregnant I came to realise that I could survive with 2-3 outfits for work and the same for home. Perhaps double that for winter and summer. I prefer to have fewer clothes that I like and want to wear. But I know it's easy for me to say that, as I've moved twice in two years so I've had the opportunity to ditch clothes !

2boysnamedR · 02/01/2016 00:06

I haven't moved in 15 years which I think is part of the problem.

I have never had to go through all my things and pack them up. Did think about hiring storage for a few months and completely clearing two rooms and decorating them. I guess that could wrong and I pay for it for the rest of my life

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 02/01/2016 00:11

We got some "temporary" storage, planning to deal with it within 18 months, before the birth of DC3: she will be five in the Spring ConfusedBlushSad

didireallysaythat · 02/01/2016 00:37

I think storage is the final thing you need to face. As obvious as it sounds, if you have less stuff, you need less storage. Sometimes I think it would be easy to buy nice looking boxes for our stuff, but in my case it's really just hiding the truth, which is that I need to reduce my stuff. Hence no buying more stuff.

I fear I'm coming across as a saint - there's a box next to my bed that I haven't opened since we moved last. I clearly don't need the contents as I haven't needed it in the last 2 years. But I haven't thrown it yet !!

thecraftyfox · 02/01/2016 13:12

Hello. I'm joining you. I'm doing the Kondo book because I just have so.much.stuff. And all the ways I've tried in the past just don't work. I've been doing my clothes now. Gosh I have a lot of things I don't like but still wear and things I like but don't wear. And belts. And scarves. And just stuff. I am not falling for the sunken cost fallacy anymore. Although the pretty dresses I've had for weddings can be ebayed next week.

didireallysaythat · 02/01/2016 15:11

Fox I liked KM - didn't get to the end but made a lot of the way through it last year. I'm thinking about putting a few unwanted gifts in the oxfam box. I've just swapped the xmas mugs for the regular ones... And only one of them sparks joy. I might km a few more over the year. And then find a few that have that spark.

Ditsy4 · 02/01/2016 15:53

I'll join in please. I did my wardrobe last year. Hadn't heard of Kondo until I was lurking before I joined. I didn't get rid of as much as I liked but I did change the hangers and it made a big difference and a bit anal but I colour coded them. Bought different colours for tops,skirts, dress and jackets put three pairs of trousers on trouser hanger and the rest in the drawer. It is much easier to find what I want. I did bag up two bags for charity shop. Need to do another sort this year. Was losing weight which made me hang on to some. Only bought a fleece and a cardi for work since July.

didireallysaythat · 02/01/2016 16:08

I also found arranging my clothes by colour in the wardrobe really helped - looks better and makes finding things easier. My tights need a good sorting though. As does the top drawer of general mess. But it doesn't feel free unmanageable. Has anyone tried setting a timer for 10 minutes and seeing what they can get down in a blitz ? I think it might work...

2boysnamedR · 02/01/2016 16:32

I have done 15 mins on a timer and it's a really good method. Any longer than that felt too long.

Also walking around a room and finding two things to charity worked well for about two weeks. Over that it got hard.

I have just put five big boxes in the loft to sell at my next NCT sale. That should clear room to really start thinning out.

I'm setting a goal of only 1 item per month per child ( cant avoid things like shoes and uniform)

So the next real thing is my 454 things this month and start kondo my clothes.

It's not going to be easy but maybe by 2017 I will really notice the difference.

I have decided that this is going to take a long time.

Ditsy4 · 02/01/2016 17:22

No I coded the hangers not the colour of the clothes. I have thought about that but I have an old pine wardrobe so difficult to do. I have all my tops on cerise hangers etc. it started because I hadn't bought enough the first time and when I went back they didn't have them anymore. So I bought another colour and then hit on this idea. I put them back too!
Yes let's say by next year that is doable :) I did the Kondo knicker thing it works more room. I have dividers so quick in the morning when going to work.bras and knickers one drawer, socks and tights another.
I meant to ask for the book for Christmas ...wonder if the library has it then it won't clutter my house :)

2boysnamedR · 02/01/2016 18:22

I have draw dividers. I think I might start on my underwear.

Do you think it's ok not to door exactly as per the book on the first pass?

It just seems to daunting and I think I would feel better looking back in a month thinking " wow I got rid of x amount" rather than thinking in a month "I don't live in a clutter free home - I'm a failure"

Took a few bits back from the Next sale and resisted buying a Christmas jumper for my baby for next year.

didireallysaythat · 02/01/2016 20:28

2boys how does the 454 thing work ? Seems like a lot of things to get rid of. And in a month ? Would it be easier to break it into smaller goals ? Even one thing a day for a month is quite a lot of things...

2boysnamedR · 02/01/2016 22:28

Here's a link ( my maths wasn't quite right Grin )

www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/11348731/How-to-throw-out-465-possessions-in-a-month.html

I think maybe you just get desperate towards the end of the month? Maybe pull out the oven and count the dried pasta that fell down the side or crumbs down the sofa?

I am going to start it but it think I will dry up by the 15th. But in theroy it seems doable if it's anything at all. I must have around 50 odd socks alone

2boysnamedR · 02/01/2016 22:30

It's like a kick start purge. I would love to think it's doable ( denial )

didireallysaythat · 02/01/2016 23:00

Wow ! Yes that adds up to a lot of things ! I hope you have a wheelie bin or a lot of boxes and a nearby charity shop... I box up and give to oxfam (collect nectar points!). Maybe that's a reward ?!?

Ditsy4 · 03/01/2016 00:22

Oh I might try that for this month. I have one of those toy crates so I. Could put them all in there and charity shop at the end of the month. Start with one from yesterday and two for today. I have a book beside me I was thinking of getting rid of and I bet I have a couple of ramekins.

Ditsy4 · 03/01/2016 01:09

I started on my room by doing a drawer a day by the end of the week I had tidied them all.
I'm going to give that a go. Started tonight and did a book for yesterday,two ramekins. Might keep the magazine till the end of the month.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 03/01/2016 01:14

I'm ok at deciding what needs to go, but then it sits at the top of the stairs or by the back door while I think about whether to eBay/Facebook/charity shop/tip it. Then it all ends up back in the original room, or out in the garden getting blown around by gales.

I need to get a skip and just chuck it all, trying to recycle or get any money for it just delays the process.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 03/01/2016 01:15

And I obviously eat far too many Gü desserts as I have at least 15 ramekins Blush