Decluttering Thread 5 - Slowly Does It

[Pigtailsandall]

We filled the previous thread quickly! I'm still in the middle of my annual leave and working through my old sentimental items so I need to keep the momentum going! It's taking ages.

@incessantnamechanger
@EllieQ
@nordicmum
@IndianSummer78
@Realfastfoodie
@nordicmom
@CornedBeef451
@thingshavegottogo

@stealthninjamum
@pissedoffneighbour22

Sorry for anyone I missed! Hope you find us!

Hello - please can I join? I think I need this thread desperately..... Need to do mega refurb on house (basically ancient wiring/plumbing/plaster all coming off walls etc.). Will need to get everything out into a container so builders can strip it back and do all the work. Has really hit me that I need to tackle the vast amounts of clutter. I find it SO SO hard. Hate waste, have emotional attachment to stuff (probably really unhealthy) and also suspect some stuff might be valuable-ish, but have no idea of finding out either way. I have adult children and still have my own old A level files with essays etc. That is how bad a case I am. Beyond hope?????

Welcome 👋

Ps. Container storage sounds like an epic motivation (financial) to cut down. Every box you fill costs you money….

I have been lurking for a while, probably several threads. Just reading about everyone else decluttering motivates me to keep going. I am in the maintenance part now. I did Marie kondo a few years back which personally really helped.

Now I try and get one thing or one job out the house each day really helps me feel in control. Keep going everyone! It makes a massive improvement to your everyday life and cleaning takes a fraction of the time it used to.

Some things I found out recently that helped.

Currys/PC world take in electrical recycling. So all those wires and old tech that you don't think is worth anything. They make it work again and donate it to people who need it or strip it and recycle it. I've taken loads of stuff there.

Dunelm now take fabric recycling. They take everything. So old school uniforms, rags, bedding. Just took 4 black bags when I was shopping. Some stores also take homeware too. Unfortunately not my local one.

I have both these shops in the same retail park so got rid of loads!

Thanks for kind helpful words everyone . I will come upwards from this valley again like I always do . Right now just feeling super low I’ve essentially stayed in bed all day except for a shower and some cleaning /tidying upstairs but I have gotten some admin done and booked a few things. Tomorrow I’m out get my hair done and I’ll meet a good friend before it so that might cheer me up a bit . I have been considering making some life changes . I feel like I need an occasional change of scenery before this house starts to feel like a prison . There is a possible solution I just haven’t gone further with it after the initial steps . Might help me in the long run though .

I think I also need to get my hormone levels done. I know I’m perimenopausal at least and going on hrt sooner rather than later might improve how bad I feel .
I have booked a movie this week , and an Anniversary dinner out with DH while we still have the resident baby sitter in form of DS here before he leaves for Uni . I know when I’m depressed I need to make plans for future .

I don’t know if anyone else on this thread has a weakness for Christmas… I do. I like the bargain threads too but they can be a massive temptation for over-consumption. Anyway, this is the eco-Christmas ideas thread… maybe an antidote to the over buying risk? I added my post as I’m trying really hard not to go overboard at the same time as truly embracing the magic (all being well I will have a three year old and a nearly newborn so it’s a good time for magic….!)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4893953-eco-christmas-ideas?reply=129122825

@Nordicmom hair and meeting friends sound like a good way to give yourself a lift. I’m at the moment trying to concentrate on not bringing things in whilst trying to chip away at getting things out. You seem to have vast amounts of dog toys, expired food and uniform . Would reducing inflow help these things stop piling up?
I have sold items within hours of listings going live on eBay -so excited. This will be four more out by the weekend. Some games unopened so a great pre Xmas treat for someone

One more empty cardboard box gone. Total is 1138

I do find a "in" list helps so see what's going out vastly outnumber in "ins" so today I went into dds room and her summer things are overfilling her draws again. But I KNOW it's working as I have thrown out over ten times of what I have replaced.

I'm looking her school uniform and some looks too small for her, but it's OK. She has too much. I have not bought any more uniform for her, so I can calmly think that I need to get it all together, look at how much of thing I have, decide on my number limit ( its high for me, four kids, so need lots of comfort room for washing). If it's too much uniform, smallest stuff can go. I don't then need to rush out and buy more. I need to stop and wait for all of the skirts to be too small. Get rid, then replace.

This is revolutionary thinking for me. Normally I buy ahead, forget what I bought, buy some more, loose it, buy some more....

I need to remember I can slways get uniform. When it's needed. No need to stash ahead.

At some distant point in the future, ins and outs should be nearly equal.

Food I periodically stop shopping and use what I can up. That's quite hard too. My larder kitchen cupboard however is 3/4 empty today.

Everything is a battle. My little rules help me fucus

@Gassylady
Yes , it seems our dog gets through toys quite a lot . He plays with them a lot and when there’s a hole or they go manky I do throw them away . Same if they’re never touched . I expect the older he gets less he will play for now I’m happy to get him a few new ones a month in a box that arrives with them and a few treats . Uniform I look through generally once a term and there’s three of them in a school year so then we take any still usable ones to the second hand sale rest go in the rag bank . DD had grown out of all the sports kit after last year when she had a growth spurt of about 5 cm in 6 months . She’s had the same tracksuits etc for 2 y but now they all went . Expired food must happen in most homes. In fact I think the percentage was quite shocking so it’s not just me . I Feel like I’m always organising this cupboard with dog food and kids snacks etc they’re like locusts leaving nothing but empty / nearly empty packaging and crumbs behind . Generally I try to do the food cupboards fully every 6 M or so , fridge is weekly . Maybe if I wasn’t in such poor health there’d be less waste in general but I’m just doing what I can to keep it all going . Interesting that those things stood out for you ! I must admit I haven’t been keeping count of what others are decluttering I’ve just been casually reading comments !

And after the last few years of a lot of decluttering I can say there aren’t piles in this house anymore even inside most cupboards it can be quite empty now but to keep it that way I need to keep on getting things out . With 4 people 2 of them kids ,although one now on its way out ,and a dog there’ll always be things going in and out , far more than in a household of just adults let alone a single person. . I’m not aiming for complete minimalism but I like order and want the useless excess out . When my kids were little and I was busier doing most things during the week by myself while quite unwell I had no time or energy to do regular declutters like I used to with one child and no illness . I was also planning and then trying to have a third child for several years so kept a lot of things because of that .Then it’s taken years to clear all that back log a lot of it was kids stuff . Now I’d say we are on the other side of all that thank god ! I have about 3 boxes to repack better in the attic and a couple of kids school / memory boxes to look through in the attic but everything else is boxes up organised and labeled in there . Rest of the house im continuing to go through periodically and grabbing things daily as I see them . The one person wanting to keep everything is DD 11 so I have to help her to realise she doesn’t need every scrap of paper etc.

Hi everyone, I’d love to join. I book a charity collection every couple of months and the day or so before they come I try and do a ruthless sweep of the house. Any earlier I start taking stuff back out the bags! Have one coming next Monday, and am determined to greatly reduce the amount of stuff we have.

I also need to sort our garage out, but am a bit wimpy when it comes to spiders and there’s a lot in there!

Welcome Sammy. I take things back out the bag sometimes. I'm quite slow with deciding what can go because I want to not be doing that taking it back out thing. I've often rearranged things thinking I have the space now, so when I remove something that's supposed to go and have to find it a new home I'm creating a bigger problem than if I hadn't put it in the bag in the first place

Nordic I aspire to be like you at the maintenance level of decluttering. I think it's noticeable because so many of us on here seem to have hoarder tendencies. It's inspiring to see how easily you let go of things.

Also I think what someone's decluttering journey looks like depends on finances. If someone is maintenance decluttering and has the finances to replace as necessary then tatty things are going to be got rid of at an earlier stage than if a person is skint and needing to keep hold of things because replacing isn't as easy or there's a chance it'll be needed in the future. There'll be less coming in as treats too, when finances are stretched it tends to be only necessaries being bought.

I don't count in's because it would look awful! I'm a shopaholic trying to change my ways. If people saw my in's though and knew what I already had, people would no doubt find it wasteful. I'm ok with that because I'm not on that path, I'm here trying to declutter things I won't use, don't need and are unnecessarily cluttering up the place. I don't want to tip over into hoarder territory. That's why I like this thread, there aren't any rules and people use it in whatever way they want. I like reading about other's approaches and thought processes, sometimes it gives me ideas for my own home

I'm still at the start of my decluttering journey really, I've only been doing it this year and like Incessant I've always been a bit of a prepper with planning ahead for everything. Congratulations on your thoughts starting to change Incessant, maybe your professional declutterer is having an impact on you even though it's just talking at the moment

Two more leaflets read and gone. Total is 1140

@Nordicmom we don’t have a dog so I have no concept of how quickly they go through things. I check uniform when it goes in the washing, now they are older and a bit more careful I don’t find much needs replacing each has three shirts and three trousers and two jumpers. One set of sports/PE stuff as lessons are well spaced out so it get get washed in between. Perhaps I’m just really tight because most stuff now lasts a school year. We rarely have expired food. I have a strange kitchen with very little cupboard space for food so a few years ago I bought an open shelving rack. It does mean that I can see what we have and don’t just keep buying more and shoving it in.
I love to read people’s lists for inspiration it makes me think have I done medicines recently or I need to check on swimsuits. It helps to keep me ticking along. Indiansummer has recently mentioned leaflets a couple of times and that has made me realise I have a pile of those on a bookshelf that I will be checking through today.

Ah @Nordicmom that sounds tough. I think we women sometimes feel so conditioned to look after everyone else before ourselves - I am actively trying to do less of that. Last night, DC and I sat at the table while my husband set the plates and served food and fetched drinks etc. and I had to actively sit down and let him get on with it instead of fussing and doing it all myself. And it did feel nice.

Welcome all the newbies, it's nice to have this group for accountability and support. I'm in the maintenance stage too, but we do have some pocket of clutter. Husband went through some of this books yesterday, finally, and we put some outside on the street. 11 got picked up. I think we have more, and I'll have another sweep tonight. Just clearing a few books makes such a difference.

Out recently
11 books
1 laundry basket through Freecycle
set of old insurance documents
Sold 3 more items through Vinted: a swimsuit, a dress (which I loved, but which after years of use didn't seem to sit on me well anymore) and a kids top. All together £15 so not a huge profit, BUT I have almost enough now to buy a new mobile which I really need - the old one is on its last legs

Total is 1520

I agree, I definitely get inspiration from others’ lists! I also definitely need to keep a check on things coming in or I would be a hoarder. Nesting has been quite heavy on baby clothes!

Wish me luck today. I’ve got people coming for 2 duvets covers plus pillow cases, one mattress topper, some bubble wrap and a few other bits!

I think this thread is really helping me @Pigtailsandall, I find myself clearing stuff into the bin (junk mail or post we don’t need to keep, little bits and pieces that just hang around etc) without even needing to count!

Habits are incredibly powerful.

Car loaded up with old (really old and terrible condition) books - plus some kitchen knives that are surplus to requirements and that have seen better days. Also managing to chuck out some chipped/cracked crockery.

What to do with records???!!!!

@Donteventhinkofcallingmecis - Oxfam take records, definitely. They sell them online and through their specialist music shops https://www.oxfam.org.uk/about-us/faq/oxfam-shops-uk/music-shops/

@Realfastfoodie - thank you thank you. Have been tying myself up in knots about my dad's old record collection. Finally - a solution!

Hello all, I dropped off these threads when I started my new job a few months ago.
I’m still working, but getting a bit more used to being back in ft work now (on shifts) so finding more energy to declutter.

In the last few months I have:

• re-assembled all Lego sets that had books and passed it all on
• put all remaining Lego in one box under the spare room bed in case the DC decide they want it at some point
• passed on the HUGE Thomas collection DS2 had amassed when he was obsessed to a local SEN group
• cleared out loads of DS2’s books that he was obsessed with
• cleared out lots of DS2’s cuddly toys (some still to get rid of though)
• cleared out OOD meds (mostly DS2’s)
• passed on loads of DD’s clothes
• gone through my desk and got rid of loads of old craft stuff I don’t use
• probably other stuff I’ve forgotten

I’m aiming to swap DD & Ds2 round with their bedrooms as her room is tiny and he doesn’t have friends over for sleepovers, or want as much stuff as she does, so most of the clearing out has been from his room.

I have a school blazer and PE kit being collected today.
Have to chase some non repliers about some toys ready to go.

I have bought more storage boxes for food so need to tidy the food shelves but not a priority.

DS1 uses a loft room for his Xbox and PlayStation but he never uses the PS so has said I can set it up for DD downstairs, going to use that as an excuse to go in there and have a good sort out and clean! But was waiting for it to cool down as is boiling up there.

Oh, and we got a puppy. Bit of a PITA but cute, more DH’s dog than mine officially. Cats unimpressed!

You are welcome! Oxfam are actually quite good - they seem to have their recycle/reuse/sell “supply chain” sorted! I believe you can donate records in any of the shops, I haven’t had a problem.

It’s hard passing on much beloved items belonging to parents or family more generally isn’t it?

wow @LivingInaBuildingSite this is amazing! What a list!

I’m feeling very happy, 2 for 2 on collections today!