Right then... I am about to start kondo-ing advice please.

[princessconsuelabannahammock]

I have read the book and agree with most of it even if I do find her a little bonkers. I have 2 DC but am starting with my clothes however I can't get over the what if there is an occasion where I need 3 inch strappy patent! sandles in bright pink - admittedly not worn since DC and impossible to walk in but I do luuvve them, they represent the me I wish I was rather than the croc wearing mum of 2 I am. I know they need to go but its an illustration of my struggle!

Also I have a wardrobe that spans from a size 20-10. I havent seen south of a size 14 in years and years but I am loosing weight and currently a generous 16. I do have a massive amount of potential storage space for these things so space isn't the issue but then no one ever felt sad going to buy a pair of jeans a size smaller.

Oh wise mumsnets give me your words of wisdom and positive stories to gird my loins!!!

We managed to get rid of half our stuff using the mk method. Just go for it hell for leather!

When I get rid of something I promise myself I will replace it if I end up missing it. So far I have never missed anything enough to buy it again. And I've forgotten most of what I've disposed of.

Thanks battleaxe that's what I was hoping. I sent to the charity shop about 400 books that I was convinced would be the main stay of my library but then I realised I would NEVER own a house with a library and I was unlikely to read a Patrica Cornwell book donated from my mother again. Don't miss them at all.

I have a walk in wardrobe (not as fancy as it sounds!) and yet I would class myself as having no clothes but it is rammed full. The thing I struggle with is that we are seriously skint and I worry I wont be able to replace them when the time comes.

I hate spending weekends doing a bit clean or failing to find stuff so I just need to keep the faith!

You'll be amazed at what you don't miss. Don;t keep anything that you "might" use "one day".

Princess- having only clothes you love will make you be more creative and you'll enjoy wearing them more.

I'm also a keen kondo-er but easing myself and my husband into it! We can do it!

Once I'd got over the association of stuff that I already have with money, I could declutter more easily. Keeping five sets of bedding when you only have space for two and four of them don't go with your wallpaper is not saving money. It's spent keeping the duvet covers is not going to reverse that process.

I'd keep the shoes though. You like them and so you should keep them.

Watching for inspiration.

What's working for me is a combo of KonMari and the unfancy capsule wardrobe. There's a lot of my wardrobe up in the loft that I haven't missed or even thought about this autumn/winter, so it's going straight to charity - I'm not even going to look in the bags! It is really liberating to have a smaller wardrobe. I haven't done this exercise for my spring/summer wardrobe, but I feel pretty confident about it. Also, it's made me less interested in shopping - I feel like I know what works for me, so I'm not tempted by new things in the way I used to be.

What they said- and keep the shoes! They clearly do give you joy!
That's what I love about Kondo- if 20 pairs of patent stilettos fill you with joy, and all your trousers make you glum- live in stilettos and flippy skirts and enjoy it! You'll find a way to make it work!
That said, if the shoes make you feel a bit sick about how life changes, they may need to go after all.
And- charity shops are good for emergency cheap wardrobe top ups as well as getting rid. You'll be fine.

On Kondo thread 10 there is a list of sub categories (about 200). If you do not have time to do a whole category this is a great way to make inroads.

Myself and many others, questioned whether it was necessary to do it by categories. At first it seems more sense to do a room or a cupboard.

I think that we have all learned that categories are the way to make progress.

This is my mantra:

Gather everything
Keep the best
Find a place
Bin the rest.

Of course you don't have to bin, but Sell or Charity Shop the rest does not scan.