decluttering hell

[ErnesttheBavarian]

OK; I need to do a mega ruthless declutter. I can't. I just can't. I am a paralysed. I would happily get on the phone and book someone to come round to help, but I live in Munich and such a thing doesn't seem to exist.

So - how do people with mild hoarding tendencies and little housework abilities manage to transform their tips. Or does anyone who is brilliant at it plan to come to munich and want to sort me out while you're at it

Ooh I love decluttering I'd happily come if I could. First off accept that it won't happen over night and even small progress is good progress.

I read a lot of minimalism blogs for inspiration and motivation. I wouldn't call myself a minimalist by a long shot BUT the philosophy of it really helped me stay focused and gave the process a meaningful purpose. Reading about the benefits of owning less was very motivating. I'm about 6 months down the line now and the house is completely done and I'm just working on the garage and garden.

Just start somewhere. Either pick a room or go by category e.g clothes or books. No shifting things from one pile to another with plans to sell at some later date. I found that once an area had been decluttered It was good to go back to it a couple of weeks later and declutter it some more as its hard to be completely ruthless in one go sometimes

I really can't do it though, for the following reasons -

1. I can't see the Wood for the trees. I look and don't have a clue wherte to start.

1. I don't know what's ok to chuck (Kids stuff)

1. I don't know, literally, HOW to chuck it. I couldn't bear to just throw out stuff that is still in good condition and nice, like toys, books etc. But we don't have charity Shops here, so I am just wtf do I even do with it?

1. Motivation to get started or maintain.

We have so much shit it is untrue :( !

I am a terrible hoarder so am joining the thread for ideas. If I am merely tidying up I tend to go round the perimeter of a room with a bin bag, either throwing things away or putting them back in the right place, and that's quite effective. But I have far too much put-away stuff that I seem incapable of getting rid of for nostalgia reasons, or the old 'it might come in handy one day' chestnut.

I pick up stuff and put it in a bag or pocket. I have dozens of bags around the house full of stuff that I don't know what to do with or where to put it. I can literally think of 6 bags, and where they are while I'm sitting here now. No idea what to do with the stuff in them. We just have so many bits and Bobs. I lug 2 really heavy bags into work every day. Full of crap, but I don't know how to empty them out, so I Keep bringing them both it's a bit weird and frustrating. And they are HEAVY?! wtf

I'm ok with "stuff" it's clothes I struggle with.
I have had stuff that's too small for ten sodding years. It's only a size too small but I'll probably never get into it again but it's really nice stuff so I struggle.

You say you don't have charity shops - are there any charitable organisations in your area that might be able to to make use of the things you don't need? Women's refuges take clothes, toys and furniture that are in good condition, for instance. Could you advertise it anywhere as a freebie?

Are there no Facebook groups or thrift shops? Can you network with friends to try and find out?

Honestly, just get rid of everything...

No really. I have tried everything, asking People for tips on how to get rid of stuff. I've given some stuff to colleagues. I've even 'fly tipped' some stuff (cusions, books) at work to try and get rid of stuff, but it's just drips and drabs. and (as with my pockets and bags) I feel overwhelmed with stuff and don't know what to do with it.

It's dd birthday coming up and I'm dreading the influx :(

I have the same problem! I have an ikea child's bed taking up space but I can't even give it away - so frustrating! Have you tried asking local churches? Germans must get rid of things too.

would a yard sale work? Or even a "help yourself" table? Ebay? Freecycle/Freegle in your part of the world? What about churches, do they do charitable collections?

Could you organise a mass clothes or toys swap amongst friends, and be careful not to take anything yourself?

Failing that, you might need to just chuck, do you have general rubbish collections you could put stuff in? I know the feeling about it;s too good to chuck, but if it's not helping your lifestyle or health (physical or mental) then it is just rubbish, I'm afraid.

I'm ok with "stuff" it's clothes I struggle with
That was me. Then a contact said 'There are companies that buy clothes by weight. Sell them!'
This encouraged me to find every unwanted, under-used item of clothing and bag it for sale. The man's coming round soon to take them away and give me money. I love that.

Read Marie kondo book. It will really help with where to start etc.
I did it and it has revolutionised my house!

I think once you've managed to identify where things can go, the actual getting rid will be easier, at the moment it seems like you don't have the exit points for stuff that there are in the UK. There must be some way of getting rid of things, the Germans seem to organised and efficient not to have something

skip hire even?

I read the marie kondo life changing magic of tidying up, which i highly recommend. It has changed my approach to keeping things, just hold the item and ask yourself 'does this bring me joy?' Do it by category, i.e. All coats together, all shoes together...it's pretty scary when you see all the same type of item in a pile! In terms of actually getting rid of stuff...that's more tricky, i had a go at selling some of the better stuff, (ebay, facebook groups), but if it didn't sell, i charity shopped it, but as you don't have any, i would try and either freecycle it - are there any facebook groups near you? Or approach charitable organisations, like refuges etc. Ultimately I found it better to chuck things out, even though it was a 'waste', than keep the clutter. Mentally i feel much better without a loft full of stuff that i thought i'd use 'one day'. There has only been one thing that i got rid of that i wished i'd kept and even then i used something else instead and it didn't cause me a problem. Read the book and start straight away, you won't regret it!

Marie Kondo is what you need, especially if you have issues regarding throwing things away. It truly is life-changing.

kids stuff I have one cupboard set aside for this. I put things that I think they don't play with any more in the cupboard. If they haven't asked for the toy 3-6 months later it goes to the charity shop.

Urgh my house is full of stuff we don't need. It's mentally draining isn't it!
My friend have me a great tip once when you don't know where to start. Stand in the door of the room you're going to start in and walk forward. The first thing you come into contact with tidy or sort, then continue until you've gone round the whole room.
It really works!

I agree with rexthedog

If you are in Munich, you have these wonderful resources available, get in contact with them and make sure you use them

www.awm-muenchen.de/privathaushalte/sperrmuell/sperrmuellabholdienst.html.

Recycling collection service, does what it says on the tin.

But the kondo book for a start!

Do people do jumble sales in your area? Or can you put a table outside your home with items on it and a sign saying 'free please take'

Be ruthless with toys. If they don't play with them regularly, get rid.

It is addictive. Once you start making proper progress.