Not quite a horder - decluttering
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I posted this before but just came across it again; a nice reminder:
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Well, got some of the kitchen table cleaned off, then the heat and humidity kicked in and I did very little else yesterday. BUT, progress has been made, and I am choosing to focus on the progress.
MrsM--I do take a lot of breaks, in fact I use the FlyLady approach with a timer and do 10 minutes on, 15 minutes off. Working on getting back into shape after being sick for so long, so I can't do 15 minutes on yet, but I started out at only 5 minutes, so, again, Progress! Love the 10 Questions, copying them and printing them out to have on hand as I work.Will be a big help!
Hang in there, Teka, we'll get through!
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NM- cleaning off a surface brings me much joy. Let the process continue!
Going to tackle the garage shelving this week to do some purging and reorg.
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Still unpacking and settling in. Have box by the door for "donate" items. Funny how I culled out things before moving, and yet, still doing it!
The 2nd bedroom is now painted, so I can get that room organized. the main bookcase is in there. Photo albums are already on the shelves, (I culled them prior to moving) so whatever space is remaining is for books. If they don't fit,, they get donated!
I don't really recommend moving as a way of de-cluttering,, but it is really a kick in the butt to get moving on it,, especially when you move to a smaller space.
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My mother past Monday morning. For the past several days two of my sisters, my brother-in-law, and me I've been trying to dig through the mounds of stuff at the house. Plus, move all of her stuff from the assisted-living back to the house and plan the funeral.
It's exhausting. There are boxes and bags full of greeting cards, old bills, empty envelopes, magazines, flyers, canceled checks, credit card statements, and tax forms. No rhyme or reason. Just all jumbled up in the same box or bag. Which means that we have to go through every single piece of paper, every receipt, every envelope, every card. Some of the stuff goes all the way back to mother's childhood. And that doesn't even count the multiple boxes of books. Books and books everywhere. and clothes!
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Poodles - sorry to hear about your Mom. It's so hard to lose a mother. And the job sounds monumental. Glad your sisters are helping.
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(((HUGS))) Poodles, so sorry you lost your Mom.
Your mother's house sounds a lot like my parents' house. It is overwhelming. Thank goodness your sisters are helping. Sending strength for the journey (through the clutter).
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((Poodles)) I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mom.
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I have been lurking on this discussion. Full disclosure, I am a professional organizer. I love
all the ideas and encouragement that comes forth.
That being said, I want to recommend, to anyone who is overwhelmed, the services of a professional. Some professionals will teach others (friends, family) how to help in a non judgmental fashion.
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What makes this so hard is that none of us live in the town where our mother lived. We are scattered to the four corners of the nation. At most we can gather two or possibly three at a time but it is very rare for us to be able to all be together at the same time to do this work. Thankfully, we all get along well and we are all in agreement as to what needs to happen with the house. It's the the minutiae that is dragging us down.
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Poodles, Sorry about the loss of your Mom. The house sounds overwhelming. When my mother passed, we had an auction. The guy running it got a cut of the money and took care of whatever was left. By far the easiest way to go. DS says he's going to grab the photos and drop a match on his way out. He thinks they're all together - hahaha.
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I would totally do that if there was any sort of organization. I can't toss boxes full of paper that have social security numbers, current bank account numbers, old photos, Etc. The big stuff is easy--you want it, take it, it's yours. There is absolutely nothing in this house that is worth anything. It's all cheap furnishings, and lots of it. Some thrift store is going to be VERY happy
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Glennie--moving does sound like a hard way to get decluttered, but it would be a good motivator!
Poodles--I am so sorry to hear of your mother's death. All that sorting must be exhausting, especially now. {{{hugs}}}
Poodles--if the social security number on the paperwork is you mother's and you have reported her death to the Social Security dept then it shouldn't matter if someone gets hold of it. Anyone checking it would figure out pretty quickly that it's not valid any more.
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When my husband's old maid aunt died, his sisters and I boxed up/threw away/donated stuff. I can only say, they were ruthless, too much so. I was so glad I was there to save some civil war era letters, etc before they went in the trash. It wasn't my family, but no telling how much is lost in these cases. I brought all of the genealogy info home and scanned it, then put it in acid free carriers in a Rubbermaid container. Don't know that anyone will ever want it, but if it ever gets thrown away after I'm gone, there's at least a scan of it.
Paul's aunt had saved a dress of her mothers, which was in really bad shape, and other stuff that DID need to be tossed, but we put some stuff in a box to look over later before trashing, in case we changed our minds.
My family, while they had a lot of old family items, would have been way too anal to keep anything that wasn't neatly stowed. After my grandmother died, my mother and aunt took all of the photographs from my grandmother's and great-grandmother's house, and put names in pencil on the back, and split them up. It was very helpful for the next generation family historian (me) and I would highly recommend it.
Now, if I can only whittle down my yarn stash....
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NativeMaine - I think that anything with SS#, name & address still needs to be shredded. My Dad has been dead 10 years and someone got hold of his info & figured out he was related to me. I am now getting numerous catalogs addressed to him at my address - although we never lived in the same state. Tracking it down I found that his name is actively being sold, likely from one of his old credit cards. And this is even AFTER I did shred everything. Since I'm obviously not him, I can't get a credit report to see what else might be happening.
I'd like to be wrong, but I think burning or shredding is the only answer. Last time I heard, nefarious people are still getting names & dates off of tombstones too.
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Hi ladies- stopped at one of my consignment stores yesterday where I had brought in some household stuff a few months ago, and came away with some $$$ again (like $70). Also dropped off some donations to another place in the same area. Still purging.......
Poodles- so sorry about your mom friend. Hugs
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Irwells--It is sad how much historical stuff can be lost that way. Local historical societies would probably love to get that stuff. I've got some items like that--my paternal grandparent's wedding license, my father's High School diploma, which is a wooden plaque, and a hand-mademodel sail boat that he and his father and brothers made, all to go to the historical society in the town where he was born and raised when I am ready to let them go.
MinusTwo--you are probably right. I keep thinking the world is not so crazy a place as it has gotten to be.
Jazzy--I never thought about consignment stores. I've got a lot of junk that is perfectly good, but I don't use it, don't need it taking up space. Getting a little money back for it would be kinda nice, and make it easier to get rid of. Hate throwing away perfectly good stuff. I'll have to see if I can find something like that around here!
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NM- some of the women here have commented they have not had much luck with consignment where they live, but here in New Mexico, it is really doing well. I recommend you find some stores and go check them out to get a sense of them before you take things in. Some of the places I have gone to don't want my stuff, others gobble it up. I bet I have made a good $1000 back on clothing I don't wear, household items I have no room for, etc. the past few years. If you have any clothing that does not fit but still in good shape, those are usually taken. But they cannot be too old, usually 5 years max is what they take here for clothing styles.
And sometimes you can come away with trade for something you can use! I have gotten a few things for the house and closet from consignment that are really awesome! If I get something and don't use it, I recycle it back to consignment. I love the whole recycle, reuse, repurpose, concept and consignment is great for this!
Good luck!
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Jazzy--I did a quick internet search, not many consignment stores in my area, so I'm going to go back to finding someplace like Salvation Army where I can just drop off donations. I do like the recycle, reuse, etc concept, too!
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So far in the 48hrs since I returned home I have put out 14 bags to go to thrift, 2 bags to trash, and saved exactly one extra set of sheets and a small box of pictures. My DH proudly showed me the bag in which he placed my balled up wedding gown. I still haven't gotten up the courage to look at it. Grrrr...
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Poodles, you have been busy!
Speaking of wedding gowns, I got married in a short white dress back in the late 80s. A strapless (ahead of my time) lace thing with three tiers of ruffles on the skirt. It's been in my closet all these years and I finally donated it to Goodwill earlier this month. It had yellowed and over the years, I always tried to think of how I might turn it into a pillow or something, but nothing ever caught my fancy. I don't miss it!
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When my Mother died at age 90 (I was 60), she still had my wedding dress in one of her closets. But then she saved every paper all three kids produced from nursery school through high school. And all of our baby teeth. And on & on. I keep swearing I will NOT do that to my son.
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MinusTwo, I completely understand. We are determined to not leave our kids a big mess. Today I tackled the pics for about an hour. Culled at least half. Then on to one bedroom and the basement. So far, 22 bags & boxes went to thrift today and 5 bags to the trash. Not to mention a mattress set, 2 sinks, and 2 countertops to be picked up tomorrow. Why, oh why, have we been keeping all this stuff??
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MinusTwo,
I have a file drawer full of standardized test results, report cards and school projects that I haven't given my girls. If I get around to it, I'll scan it for them, but neither one has enough room for that in addition to other stuff they'll inherit. I have scanned almost all pictures that weren't our immediate family, as well as all of our genealogical info.
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I've arranged to give away my LARGE, heavy duty patio table & chairs & cushions & umbrella. I used to have a pool in the back but after 5-6 basal cell surgeries, I filled in the pool a number of years ago & stay out of the sun. I sit on the covered front porch now. So why keep this set? I found a young lady who has been in her house only a year and hasn't had the funds yet to purchase outdoor furniture. She is a single mom with a HS son. They are sooooo excited. Me too!!
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MinusTwo- how wonderful to be able to give your patio set to someone! When I built my house 13 years ago, some friends gave me a used set I used until I bought a new patio set last summer. I passed my set along to the friend who also housesits for me for her new home. Feels good to pass things on, however we can!
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I concur. When I pass things on i always imagine how much pleasure they will bring to a new family. I sent almost 100 perfectly good canning jars with rings to thrift today. I used to can a lot, back when we had a big garden AND i didn't have a glass top stove. I haven't canned anything in at least 5 years. I can just picture how thrilled someone is going to be when they see this!
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One of my Aunts died last week and I have been helping her daughter clean out the garage and house. We filled a 15 cubic yard roll off dumpster, took 1 car load of clothes and 2 car loads of "yard sale" stuff (good stuff but no use for) to a local shop that gives the clothing to those in need, and "sells" the rest for whatever the person can give. They use the "yard sale" items for a yard sale to help raise money for overhead costs. I didn't even know this place existed, one of my other cousins told us about it. Aunty was a bit of a hoarder, in some ways. My cousin found 18 pairs of reading glasses yesterday. There were 5 shovels in the garage. I now have more motivation to clean out my own home, and a bit of a friendly challenge. I'm going to see if I can get rid of at least as much stuff from my house as we have gotten out of Aunty's by the end of the year. Currently I need to fill my little 2 cubic yard dumpster 8 times to get ahead!
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Native, Sorry about the passing of your Aunt. How nice of you to assist in clearing her home. It sounds like good incentive to unload more stuff of your own that is no longer needed.
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NM, I'm sorry for your loss. You have my full sympathy on clearing out the house. Between dealing with my mother's vast hoard and my own 30 years of stuff i am really get fatigued.
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