How do you get rid of ‘stuff’?

[ToChangeforthebetter]

We have lots of stuff. I have been working on sorting things but my bit. I find it easier to get of things that I know can be reused - toys, clothes etc. I either sell or give to a charity shop.

We also seem to have lots of ‘stuff’ that seems to hang around and I don’t really know what by I do with in most rooms.

E.g. In the kitchen, we have plastic tat, cooking things we’ll never use, various old lunch boxes etc. I think I just leave it where it is as it’s easier than having to sort it or deal with it.

I am always very aware of the money spent when throwing stuff away, but if it wasn’t about the money, I’d be glad to throw it away. I know some people say you’ve already spend the money, so it’s gone, but when it’s things I could likely get some money for when money is tight, it feels wrong to just get rid.

Emotionally, it would feel good to get rid of the stuff. I am always in a much better head space when things are organized and tidy.

I could blitz the house and just dump it all at the tip. If I take photos and try and sell it, it’s all hanging around till it goes.

Should I just throw it out?

This happens naturally luckily! When you've just cleared out all of your cupboards and wardrobes and various storage units, it really makes you want to keep it that way.

I actually read something once that said to give away all the tat, don't sell it (unless it's worth serious money - which it wasn't!)... because that lesson will save you serious money in the future - you will think twice about purchases when you consider the consequences of it taking up space and ending up being donated. I used to try to recoup money and it was like... "that cost £80 - I didn't use it, it annoyed me for 3 years because it was hanging about and not getting used... but that's all okay because I got £30 for it!" Em ... No - I fucked up buying it in the first place! (and we aren't talking one item - we are talking dozens/hundreds!)

It's hard to get rid of stuff but I did do the Marie Kondo book/series (like half of the world), it helped kickstart into minimalism and then I had a period of almost depression but now I spend less, I have less - I can clean up faster and I take care of my stuff. It's all hard though!

Then a skip per year seems a bit redundant? If you’re keeping it clear, you don’t need a ‘clear-out’?

It should happen naturally, that’s the ideal, but it’s so easy for things to creep back in. So it’s worth being really really intentional about what crosses the threshold of the house.

No, each to there own but i need to throw out broken clothes horses,a broken microwave, all sorts of tat that i nearly realised was tat last january but have fully come around to realising is tat throughout the year.... in it will go.
I know people with cars can be dropping junk off at dumps and recycling centres throughout the year but for me a (small) skip once a year works wonderfully and really inspires me to get going and get it done!

Great advice already here. Just wanted to say that that clearing out the ‘tat’ feels great and really helps you feel more relaxed and organised. I joined up to vinted end of the summer and have made a couple of hundred pounds from stuff I would still had in bulging wardrobes and exacerbating the ‘I have nothing to wear’ thing cos I cannot see anything! I wear the same cycle of things anyhow! Things with tags, new and unworn go well; if like me it’s to clear out don’t be greedy. Price low and get rid. The real benefit is that I am so much more careful now about what I buy. No more tat! Even hubby will ask
’are you sure? Or will it end up on vinted for a fiver!’

trying to apply the same theory now to the rest of the house 😜

Do you have a front wall or front yard where people go by? Stick it out with a sign saying free to collect, and stick a picture on your local fb page. Anything that's not gone by the end of the day take to the tip.
Honestly a fiver spent on tupperware years ago that now doesn't have lids is just a sunk cost, let it go.

Meant to add that i am almost addicted to vinted now and this means I almost daily do a check on my clothes to see if there is anything that should go! Takes five mins. The ‘one in and one out’ rule, for the first time ever, now actually in operation here!

Thanks all. I started on a couple of drawers. Had a bag of rubbish and ended up putting the rest of the crap back in (albeit neatly). 🙈

Black bin bag and be ruthless. If it isn't good enough to sell or charity shop then bin it or preferably if possible put it in recycling.

Trying to find motivation!

Is a cloth skip a typo or is this a thing? I've just bought a Hippo Bag, but if there's an alternative I would love to know!

My ex was a hoarder so my house is full of his crap that I need to get rid of. I don't drive so can't take it to the tip. I'll give away what I can, but random stuff (80 concrete roofing tiles that I've put on FB, Gumtree, Nextdoor etc, but no one wants) just needs to be chucked so I can reclaim my house.

We have decided to do a car boot sale. I did one years ago with baby stuff so will see how it goes.

We have set a date for it so it has given me an incentive to have a clear out and sort stuff.

With clothes I put the odd bits on Vinted. Then set a hard line for them to sell by. I'm now taking one massive bag of kids clothes to a local clothes bank. They have saved me money during lockdown growth spurts so its easier to pay that back in kind. The thing with Vinted is that if I doesn't go within a week it's unlikely to go full stop. At some point it has go out the door to make room for better stuff

The really good stuff gets sold on ebay or Gumtree. Decent stuff like vases, clothes, games etc goes to the charity shop. General stuff like tupperware boxes, odd plates, okay but not quite perfect clothes etc go to jumble sales.

Garden items and tools that aren't good enough to sell get left at the end of the drive for passersby or the scrap man to take. Rubbish goes in the bin or to the tip.

I decluttered my whole house like this. The secret is to dispose, sell or donate items very regularly. Don't save it up until you've got loads.

I put stuff like rugs, crockery, pens and whatever on a garden wall or a gate or on the pavement and they usually are taken.