Is anyone else surprised at how many things they've been getting rid of lately?

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Is anyone else surprised at how many things they've been getting rid of lately?

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Started 2 years ago by themusiclivez
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Kaz in Oz
Member

I did a quick purge of my wardrobe yesterday afternoon - I needed more coathangers as Hubby had bought more business shirts. After tossing out his old ones (beyond giving away) and going through stuff that I hadn't worn at all this summer (and was very unlikely too) I ended up with about 20 spare ones. And all for 10 minutes work.

Badicoot - we wouldn't even get the wear out of those down here near Sydney. I have one winter jacket that is good for the kids' Saturday morning football games. That's about the only time it gets worn.

Posted 2 years ago #
nellieb
Member

Bandicoot, perfect point about not buying rubbish. I am finding myself more deliberate about my purchases now.

Sky, I, too, am looking at my items with "different" eyes.

Friday night I realized I had not uncluttered for three or four days, LOL! So I went on a spree and found 17 more items to donate. I mentioned it to my client Saturday and she compiled a box of things while we were organizing her bedroom...and both bins were delivered to WHAM a few minutes before they closed that afternoon!

I brought in three items this weekend (one was a gift) and was thinking, what is left for me to take out since I just purged all those things on Friday night? (I always remove one or two items for each item I bring into my home.)

I felt that I had very little remaining in my home other than furniture. Guess what? I discovered 33 items this evening! They are photographed, bagged, and ready to donate tomorrow!

What I realized is that is the little stuff that is so bothersome and takes up drawer space! And that is probably going to be what I write about on my personal blog this week (http://drawerbydrawer.wordpress.com/) because that's what takes up so much time to unclutter!

Posted 2 years ago #
Sky
Member

This was a good decluttering weekend. My DH helped me take a large paper bag full of clothes, shoes, kitchen stuff and odd pieces of china plus 2 chrome office chairs, a 3' Santa and an old sewing machine to Goodwill. We also returned some unused items back to Lowe's and took a tool back to my son.
It felt good....but I still don't know how there is always more stuff.

Posted 2 years ago #
AJ
Member

nellieb, I know what you mean about the little stuff. The big stuff seems to take care of itself, but those small things. Grrrrr. I found a solution for a few items which I like to get my hands on quickly. I have a box on a shelf in a cabinet. Above the box and the next shelf is a narrow gap but it's just deep enough to slot in a shallow kitchen drawer organiser. I can pull it out and see what I want easily.

The rest of the small stuff has been itemised and boxed with similar larger items. I'll go through everything in the middle of February (four-day public holiday) because I have the feeling I might not need them as much as I though I did when I stored them.

I should explain, as much stuff as possible is itemised and boxed in air-tight plastic bins or vacuum sealed. The humidity and insects here are not kind on things and I have lost too many things to one or the other. This is why I got to be so cluttered, items open to the elements and bugs so I would buy extra "just in case". I'm tried to get my other half to something similar because he has a few "treasures" which are getting damaged but it's one of those Sisyphean tasks.

Anyway, what was among your 33 items? And well done for finding them.

Posted 2 years ago #
nellieb
Member

AJ, here's a partial list...and I know I'll continue to find more!

An old Makita drill with a built in battery from 1988...is in the recycle pile.
Some duplicate drill bits...I have a complete set, do not need more!
About 6 pairs of heavy socks, a local group is asking for warm clothes in case we get another cold spell here in Houston (it was below freezing for several days last week) as well as a knit cap that was too large for me.
A camisole top that is way too small and short for me since I've gained weight
A new dress with tags that also is too small...and was a purchase error, not my type or style...bought on sale, no return.
A 25 year old sea shell night light that still works...which I have not used in several years
A bag of small screwdrivers, for something like glasses...and again, I have other small screwdrivers that are better quality
Two beautiful framed Asian silks that my mother gave me and I never liked...I gifted them and they left my home this evening!
Pair of prescription glasses and case that were the wrong prescription from 3 or 4 years ago
Computer tools used one time in 15 years
A bracelet
A small white board with a message from a former boyfriend still on it from 15 years ago (what can I say, I was passionate about him!)
A book
A belt
A pair of binoculars that are probably 35+ years old

And other miscellaneous stuff...all gone! Had my boyfriend take the bags with him as he works two buildings from my favorite donation place.

Trust me, I will find more even after donating 251 items since December 16th!

Posted 2 years ago #
AJ
Member

"A small white board with a message from a former boyfriend still on it from 15 years ago (what can I say, I was passionate about him!)"

LOL !!!!

And the rest of the year and only 114 items to go! Too easy! :D

Posted 2 years ago #
nellieb
Member

Actually, AJ, I will be giving away or selling half of what I own this year. I had one of those major breakthroughs when I realized that I had too many items that did not have meaning for me. I also realized that my furniture purchases have been influenced by my mother's taste, former boyfriends, friends, etc. What I want now for furnishings is totally different!

I desire to be surrounded by items about which I am passionate about! If the object is just "so so" then it needs to be in someone else's life who will love it.

Thus, I am on a mission! I will confess that I look around and wonder, what's left for me to move out other than my furniture? And then I open a drawer for the second or third or fourth time and realize, I don't really need all this!

Oh, and about that whiteboard...that was a tough one to let go!

Posted 2 years ago #
Kaz in Oz
Member

We have managed to fill an 8x4 foot trailer over the weekend. None of it is worth ebaying, or donating even, and we don't have freecycle here. Between the downstairs linen cupboard (finally), our wardrobe and today's effort - the garage, we have got rid of a heap of stuff. Hubby is on holidays for 2 weeks so wanted a space to do some woodwork, hence the garage got priority. He knows I'm not happy and told him that the next full-day project is the spare bedroom that I want to turn into a sewing room/me space. I am surrounded by boys and would dearly love a girly space. My stuff is in there, along with kids toys to go - storage, eBay or donate I haven't decided.
The garage and linen cupboard look great!

Posted 2 years ago #
Claycat
Member

Congratulations, Kaz!

Posted 2 years ago #
themusiclivez
Member

nellieb, that's what I discovered: I had too many items that didn't mean anything to me. And while I may spend more money now on items I really want in my home, I purchase things less. I want to be surrounded by what I love, not what I feel I "should" have. (Although the sentimental clutter is the worst kind of all!)

Posted 2 years ago #
bandicoot
Member

i am making moves on my sentimental clutter.
i have been eyeing it off for some time and it's high time to let it go.
it's really all just junk stashed in drawers.
it's clogging up my brain.

Posted 2 years ago #
themusiclivez
Member

How do you guys go about getting rid of the sentimental items? I hate the guilt that goes with getting rid of those things!

Posted 2 years ago #
bandicoot
Member

always remember....guilt is self-imposed.
guilt is a good thing to declutter as well!
right, it's going on my amended list!

Posted 2 years ago #
Sky
Member

Just yesterday, I took my Mom's old Singer sewing machine to Goodwill. She passed away 5 years ago. I have a newer portable sewing machine and hers was a large piece of furniture. I have so many good memories of her sewing it was hard to let it go but, I have no place in my home for it, it was not practical and it needed to go. I won't loose the memories by letting the piece go.

I try to remember it is just an object, it has no feelings and it isn't my Mom. I have many things of hers I will always keep.

My goal is to only have things that are useful and I love. Sentimental or not.

Posted 2 years ago #
nellieb
Member

Sky, did you take a photo of the Singer sewing machine before you donated it? That's what I do, photograph the item and then I'll always have the digital image...takes up a lot less space!

the musiclivez, I remind myself that it really comes down to just stuff! Inanimate objects that only have meaning because I infused it into the item!

I also know that it's ok to keep a few items which bring emotional memories to the surface. I have a necklace my brother gave me probably 40 years ago. He rarely gives gifts, it's one of the few things (maybe the only one, LOL!) he has given me. It is totally not in style, yet I am unable to let go of it. The necklace reminds me of many, happy times.

One other thing I'd like to bring up is that I do not have any children. My three nephews all live out of state and won't want my most of my things. Besides, it's expensive to ship items, they'd rather have money! Since I work with people who are settling their parents' estates, I have seen firsthand how difficult it is for them to let go of their parent's possessions. I do not want anyone to have to come into my home and unclutter all these knick knacks and collectibles that have little value. It's time consuming, exhausting, and unnecessary.

So much easier to do it myself!

Posted 2 years ago #
Sky
Member

nellieb I agree with you. I have 3 sons and want them to have whatever they want but....I would rather toss, give away or sell the stuff they will not want than for them to face dealing with it. My parents left me with so much and it is hard to go through someone else's possessions and figure out what to do with them.
Talk about a guilt trip!

Posted 2 years ago #
themusiclivez
Member

nellieb - I am going to keep trying to tell myself that it's really just stuff. I was going through a drawer of my "childhood belongings" and picked up a stuffed animal that I have had since I was a baby (I'm 27 now). It was an item that I held onto out of guilt because it was my first baby toy. I told myself that maybe I could give it to my kids when I have kids (an idea I rarely entertain, but this toy was filled with the sentimental attachment/guilt that I hate). Well it smelled musty and I said there is no way I will ever give my child a musty old toy, so into the trash it went. It's strange how once something is "ruined" we don't feel as guilty...

Posted 2 years ago #

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