Not quite a horder - decluttering
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Teka- out here in the west, most houses don't have either a cellar or an attic. It is a good thing in some ways, a space storage challenge on others!
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I think my last frontier would be my DH's stuff. That will probably have to wait until he is gone. I have no idea how many books and CDs he has, but it is really a lot. I only want to save my books if I want to re-read them or if I think they would go out of print. I do read books again and have a collection of books written by Native Americans that might well go out of print.
We have both a cellar and a half attic. The attic has suitcases and linens. I've gotten rid of most of the clothes.
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I took some fall clothing I had put aside from the closet clean out this winter to my consignment shop this week. About 20 or so peices and she took all but one! I have another load to bring and then should be done with the consignment trips for awhile. Consignment stores have been good to me this year!
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Love that sign!! I feel that is my job too.
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BTW: I really do recommend The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo It is a different way to look at the task of de-cluttering. Gave me some good pointers. Still more to do, but once I get the bedroom tiled and all the bedroom furniture painted (which I'm doing myself), I will get back to de-cluttering.
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Hi ladies- after a bit of a break this summer, I am back at doing more clearing out again. I am taking in my second round of clothing from the closet clean out earlier this year (fall and winter stuff) this week. Also have some household/kitchen thing I need to pass along and going to pack up and take to the Habitat Store. Got some boxes as Staples yesterday for those items yesterday. I have come to realize purging is an all year long process. Each time we bring things in, it means other things need to go!
Teka- good job on putting things together for the dump!
Glennie- going to get that book!
Happy Fall decluttering ladies!
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Will be interested to hear what you think of the book.
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I've been slowly trying to go through our stuff and I have warned the husband that it might be a long time to get through it. My biggest problem is with clothes. I am at my highest weight ever and have struggled with my weight through the years. I have so many clothes that don't fit. I know that I need to lose weight and I had been unable to get around very well for several years and recently had both knees replaced. I am now able to exercise again and hope to get back down to a healthy weight. The clothes I have that don't fit are not in unrealistic sizes. We are out of storage space and the closets and drawers are just stuffed.
I read an article in a magazine one time that said that you should get rid of all clothes that don't fit and not beat yourself up over this anymore. It was written by a lady that was overweight and had decided to accept herself as she was and be happy. While I am glad that this lady is happy, as a breast cancer survivor, knowing that it is important to get excess weight off to help prevent it from coming back, I also know that you feel better without the excess weight. I just kind of feel like keeping those clothes around allows me to from time to time see if I am making progress towards getting back into them and hopefully I will get back to them and then not have to spend a lot of money to buy new clothes. One of the other cons to having all of these different size of clothes around is that it does make it hard to find what does fit because all of the clothes are smashed together.
I just wondered what others thought and have done in this situation. Thanks!
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cowgal: I suggest maybe some under the bed storage boxes,,, or some other type,, then group the clothes by size. Decide what is realistic. Are there some really really small sizes that you do not feel you will get to again? Then donate all of that. With the other sizes, my thought is to keep 4-5 pieces of good quality pieces. Not junky, trendy wear, but classic dress/skirt/blouse/pants that stand the test of time. Nice jeans? Sort by size into the storage boxes or large zip bags and mark with the size so you immediately know what is in that bag/box. Or designate a drawer as **size ___ *** Some way to keep the sizes sorted.
I have a big walk in closet. I put the pants that were too small on one side, and put a sticky note over them. That way, I didn't get frustrated putting on too small pants when I was trying to get dressed in a hurry, but I still had a few pairs to try on from time to time.
Hope this helps!!
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I sorted mine by size and put them in plastic tubs. I had a few that will never fit again but had great sentimental value. They are in a box called sentimental memories. Look at each size and pick out pieces you can build a wardrobe around. Nice sweaters, pants, skirts, jackets. Get rid of things you never liked when you were that size, or T shirts & blouses that are too worn to wear out to church or work.
There's a thread called Wednesday weigh in. We post our losses and gains each Wed. You don't have to say what the numbers are, just whether they went up or down.
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cowgal those are good suggestions from Wren and Glennie. May I suggest going one step further--this is a step that I am presently doing--really only save things that are in excellent condition and where they are classic styles and will fit your present day life style. Like you I gained weight during chemo and I have not lost all of it. I have managed to get into some blazers that I owned before but I am sad to realize that it is time to get rid of the lovely flannel trousers that I will never wear again. I will never go back to being a size 4 and I'm many sizes larger.
As well, I made a discovery in the past year about how much less clothing I need than I realized. For complicated reasons, I now have two residences--my hubby accepted a job in a new location and I travel back and forth. To prevent myself from having no clothing or from having a heavy suitcase, I started buying 2 of everything and was fussy about the clothing fitting me as I am today and not as I hope to be in 6 months. I found with a few pairs of black slacks (some woolen for winter and others thinner for summer),three jackets that go with everything, some nice silk blouses, 3 dresses (yes only 3---one very dressy and the others more versatile), plus 4 pairs of washable every day slacks and 4 washable every day tops (for going for groceries), I have more than enough clothing and I am well dressed for the many "events" I need to attend. I was surprised to realize how much happier I am with fewer items of clothing, all of which look good on me. So if you can bear to get rid of those smallest sizes, begin there. It was hard for me to admit that I will never wear my smallest clothing and to only keep things that are one size down from where I am. But if you can do it, it will free you up.
I also really liked Wren's sentimental memories box idea. I have a pair of jeans like that as well as a sweater that my sister made for my father. What a great idea about how to store them.
Let us know what you decide to do cowgal. And thanks Wren and Glennie for giving me ideas.
Mandy
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I heartily endorse glennie's recommendation of the book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up". I've read many books on the subject; this one is the best. She suggests keeping things that spark joy. It is also a great way to shop. I look at things and realize they spark no joy and I am making many less purchases which equals less clutter.
She also gives great tips for folding clothes. And I love her suggestion on organizing a closet. Go from darkest and longest clothes on the left, and work your way to the right, like a reverse rainbow, blue, green, red, orange, yellow, then white. I rearranged my closet and it works much better. I also did dh's closet and it was an incredible improvement as he crams too much in there with no clue what he has.
I agree with the philosophy of getting rid of clothes that don't fit. Both dh and I have taken tons of clothes to Goodwill. You really don't wear all the clothes in your closet that do fit.
Anyway, I make some adjustments to the ways offered in the Tidying Up book and it is really immensely beneficial.
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Oh goody a fun thread I can totally relate to! As a recent empty nester and a confessed collector I have been trying to declutter slowly but surely for the past 3 years. We have a large house that got stacked up a whole lot over the years so the job is formidable for sure! I have has several yard sales, found online sites that buy CD's, books and movies. Donated, given away and trashed a lot. Yet we still have a ways to go..... I agree that downsizing your closet to only the things that fit and you love make it much easier to find a good outfit to wear. Wish I had done it years ago! Jazzy that is funny! I have yet to conquer that final frontier as that is where we store all the outgoing crud! LOL! Next weekend we start and make a trip to the dump!
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Wish me luck this weekend. I'm going to an event called Zero Landfill. Decorators and designers bring things they can't use, like bolt ends of fabric, carpet, textiles, etc. You have to sign up to get a ticket and bring your own bags. Everything is donated and free. They say art teachers get stuff for their students for the whole year. I would like to find material to make a sofa cover.
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oooo, good luck!! Free stuff is excellent. Although sad that art teachers NEED to do this,,,,,,
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Wren- Zero Landfill, love the name. Re-use, recycle, repurpose. Good luck finding the fabric!
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You all have some very good suggestions. I do already have them in storage bins by sizes and under beds, etc. besides what is in the closet. One thing that makes giving away clothes harder for me than in the past is that when I take items to donate, I always see a big pile of clothes at the location and it just seems like they are already overloaded with clothes. I have pondered on what you all have said and I even ordered the book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up". I've decided that I will get rid of all of the clothes from my pre-cancer days (5 1/2 years ago) except for a few items that I really love as far as the rest of the clothes, I will heavily scrutinize them. I think there is some peace of mind with decluttering and I think it will actually make me feel better to not have things stuffed to the gills.
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cowgal: I have to say that book really changed how I look at my clutter. And there is a definite peacefulness about the house when there is less clutter. Right now, my house is a mess as I'm painting all my bedroom furniture, and stuff is everywhere, and in 2 weeks, the bedroom carpet will be ripped up and tile put down. ONCE THAT IS OVER, then I can seriously get back to decluttering,, and I can't wait. This mess is making me nuts.
And maybe try taking your clothes to a different place? Homeless shelter? Is there an organization that helps displaced women who are escaping abuse or have lost their homes? We have one organization here that looks for nicer clothes, for job interviews.
Can't wait to hear what you think of the book.
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I bought new boots for winter. This pair will replace TWO pair that I have.
One in and two out.
This is declutter shopping, yes?
moo
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Onco- my sister uses that rule of thumb. For every one thing you bring into the house, two things should go out. It is declutter shopping!
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As part of my decluttering, I have been going through the larger collection of photos from my mother's home we cleared out 10 years ago. I realized I had a lot of family photos and needed to spread them around to the family. I have been sending folks things over the course of the year as I have collected them from my review of each box of photos. I also took a whole pile of photos of my young cousin and her parents in NY this past weekend during a family wedding.
Today I talked to a cousin on the other side of the family that is going through a difficult time. Her husband is very ill in the hospital and think we all feel he really may not make it. I sent her some photos a few weeks ago when he first became ill, and that I had found along the way this year. When I called today to check in with her on things, we talked about the photos and it brought back a lot of good memories. Photos that not only were part of a decluttering, but that are comforting to her right now, if only for a moment.
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Jazzygirl, how nice to de-clutter and make people happy at the same time.
I have a question--I feel as though I am buried in papers. Does anyone have an idea for how to sort through them and keep only the papers that will be needed for the future? And also, a quickermethod than shredding for destroying documents which I don't want to just put in my recycling? I have thought of using my fire place for that but it is still much too warm to burn them. :-)
Thanks
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Mandy- for larger disposal of paper items, I take my more sensitive papers to Staples to have them shred vs. using a home shredder.
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Mandy, in my town, there is a group, the ARC, which gives employment to mentally challenged folk. They have a shredding business. ARC is a big nationwide organization, so not sure if they do that everywhere, but you could see if you have a place in your town.
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This is a fun and productive thread. Good suggestions. Maybe I can get started on getting some clothes bagged for donation tonight.
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Mandy, I hate the clutter of paper, too. I did a quick google of what to keep and came across a simple list from Suze Orman, and since she's a well known financial guru, she would know what she's talking about. I will post it here. And I have a shredder and spent a couple hours shredding years of stuff, but taking it all to a place like Staples or Office Depot sounds like a good option, too.
Financial Clutter, What To Keep And What To Get Rid Of
Keep till warranty expires or can no longer return or exchange- Sales Receipts (Unless needed for tax purposes and then keep for 3 years)
What to keep for 1 month
- ATM Printouts (When you balance your checkbook each month throw out the ATM receipts)
What to keep for 1 year
- Paycheck Stubs (You can get rid of once you have compared to your W2 & annual social security statement)
- Utility Bills (You can throw out after one year, unless you're using these as a deduction like a home office --then you need to keep them for 3 years after you've filed that tax return)
- Cancelled Checks (Unless needed for tax purposes and then you need to keep for 3 years)
- Credit Card Receipts (Unless needed for tax purposes and then you need to keep for 3 years)
- Bank Statements (Unless needed for tax purposes and then you need to keep for 3 years)
- Quarterly Investment Statements (Hold on to until you get your annual statement)
What to keep for 3 years
- Income Tax Returns (Please keep in mind that you can be audited by the IRS for no reason up to three years after you filed a tax return. If you omit 25% of your gross income that goes up to 6 years and if you don't file a tax return at all, there is no statute of limitations.)
- Medical Bills and Cancelled Insurance Policies
- Records of Selling a House (Documentation for Capital Gains Tax)
- Records of Selling a Stock (Documentation for Capital Gains Tax)
- Receipts, Cancelled Checks and other Documents that Support Income or a Deduction on your Tax Return (Keep 3 years from the date the return was filed or 2 years from the date the tax was paid -- which ever is later)
- Annual Investment Statement (Hold onto 3 years after you sell your investment.)
What to keep for 7 years
- Records of Satisfied Loans
What to hold while active
- Contracts
- Insurance Documents
- Stock Certificates
- Property Records
- Stock Records
- Records of Pensions and Retirement Plans
- Property Tax Records Disputed Bills (Keep the bill until the dispute is resolved)
- Home Improvement Records (Hold for at least 3 years after the due date for the tax return that includes the income or loss on the asset when it's sold)
Keep Forever
- Marriage Licenses
- Birth Certificates
- Wills
- Adoption Papers
- Death Certificates
- Records of Paid Mortgages
* These documents should be kept in a very safe place, like a safety deposit box.
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Thank you, DivineMrsM. I am copying and saving your post for reference.
About Shredding: our Office Depot used to shred while you watched, but now that they have combined with Office Max, some of the stores are closed. The two remaining in my area do not have shredders, so they send the stuff out. This means to me that my docs are handled several times before they get near a shredder. I do not feel comfortable with that. Therefore I am going to try the salt and vinegar brine method. Tear up papers and put into a large bucket to which we add water, vinegar and salt. Probably put it in the garage. Stir and let sit. I guess you stir it from time to time until you get a pulpy mass that is useless. Then fish the material it out with a slotted spoon and spread it out to dry on a tray of some kind, probably one of those plastic boot mats would work well. (If one has a lot of documents, the brine could most likely be used for additional batches.) When most or all of the moisture is evaporated, put in with the regular rubbish.
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Hi Divine! Thanks so much for compiling your list of what to keep.
I have taken a big step i the right direction--I have phoned a shredding company. They drive a truck which contains a shredder right in front of your house and they shred the documents while you watch. Many law firms use such companies. It will cost a bit over $100 but well worth it to me (It will cost more if I have more stuff which I may). But this seems good way to destroy documents and not worry about where they are....of course I stil have to organize the documents that are to be shredded but that will take alot less time than my shredding them myself. :-)
I have loaded some heavy text books that are in "like new" condition into my car and I am bringing them to a thrift shop that will sell or distribute them to students at the nearby university (and most of these books were for courses at that university). It seems overwhelming so I decided to start in my front hallway and work my way to the living room. And what I mostly have that is excess in those two rooms are the many many books that we don't plan to read again and that just are taking up alot of space. (You cannot imagine how many books we have so this is actually a job that will take more than a week of steady work).
I guess beginning is always hard. Hopefully I can spend at least 2 hours a day on this without wrenching my back and eventually will regain my home.
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go Mandy!! Excellent start!! You can do it!
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I need this thread right now! My house is in need of decluttering! Hi, Glennie! The tidying up book looks good - I'm going to order it if I can't get it at the library. I need something to jump start the tidying process because I think I'm in that phase where it just seems like there is so much and I don't want to tackle it. I actually have some piles of stuff downstairs that we gathered up a few weeks ago, but then were out of town and it never made it to the donation spot. I haven't been on the site much for the past few months...I'm glad I found this thread!
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