Help needed to throw things out

La_Fenice

I try to work on the 'one in, one out' principle...

get a new pair of shoes - out goes an old pair
new set of towels - get rid of old ones

etc. etc.

don't always manage it but I do try and it helps to keep things from getting out of hand

Caterina

Yesterday I have taken another little step in the quest to get rid of clutter (and another step into the madness of my environmental paranoia too ):

While cleaning the bathroom I have chucked out ALL the samples of skin creams, lotions and potions that I had accumulated over the years. My bathroom looks almost empty without all these tubes and sachets! This was done not only to declutter the objects but also to remove chemically toxic stuff (I have been reading a lot recently about parabens, triclosan, hormone disruptors and stuff like this contained in cosmetics!). I don't want my daughter to use all that crap just because it is sitting in a basket in the bathroom.

I think that to declutter we need some motivation to do so, it is a bit like stopping smoking: no point trying to do it until we are ready to go ahead and take the plunge.

Clutter is addictive but once we are rid of it the feeling is so good! Just like giving up smoking and being able to breath better.

Some people swear by having a friend help them declutter, as they are more detached from the objects that need chucking.

Caterina

percyflatcap

I'm touched at people taking the time to try to help
I'm even planning on starting tomorrow

bogof-babe
I noticed you liked my name, it's how the kids by me refer to me, they laugh because I wear my cap indoors

Magentasue

It might be easier to get some empty boxes and start packing up stuff you don't need. If you can't throw it away, fill the box, seal it and date it. Keep going a bit at a time. Give yourself a date within the next six months, sooner the better. On that date get rid of the first boxes. If you needed anything out of that box, you'd already have found it. If it's still sealed, you don't need it.

I did this with kitchen stuff - packed up all those bowls, casseroles, plastic containers and put them in the loft next to the Christmas decorations. I took it to a charity shop unopened - the way it was so easy to put things in my cupboards and find them again convinced me that less is more!

silverlady_2

Hi Percy

Thank for this thread, I have just sorted out a load of old newspapers, mags etc to recycle when I go shopping tomorrow, and it didn't hurt a bit

I think, if you are like me, you look at the big picture and don't know where to start.
That's why I have started with newspapers and junk leaflets that have arived in the last week or two. I'm not attached to them so it's easy to get rid, hopefully I'll get into the habbit of throwing and then it should get easier.
Why wait to tomorrow? Throw something today, even if it's only one item, every little helps
Good luck

La_Fenice

bogof-babe
I noticed you liked my name, it's how the kids by me refer to me, they laugh because I wear my cap indoors

oh dear, just realised I've been thinking of you as 'percycatflap'

sooo sorry...must pay more attention in future :-[

percyflatcap

well I'm sure you didnt mean to offend
and I found that quite funny ;D ;D

Squidgy

I misread to!

I would say definatly have a friend round to help you, DO NOT ask a family member. You will be too embarassed to tell your friend exactly why you need that 2 year old TV guide and (hopefully) will just throw it away.

The dated box idea sounds good too.

I used to be a hoarder, but hubby got fed up with it and "encouraged" me to throw it all away. I did mention the fact that he had about 2 decades of football programmes in boxes in the loft, but he assured me that someday in the future they would be worth something. (I didn't believe him, but couldn't bear to disillusion him!)

Good luck x

VickyA_2

Can I join too? I come from a family of hoarders, and so I've inherited the trait. My boyfriend is appalled by it. I have so many magazines, cook books (3 Jamie Oliver ones that I've never cooked from) etc etc. It probably doesn't help that I'm now a student teacher, so I get really excited over empty yoghurt pots. I've got two weeks off for Christmas, so I'm going to try to let go of some of the magazines. It's also books that I'm adicted to - the "bestsellers" that are on "offer" in various book shops, but when do I get round to reading them? Hardly ever!

Squidgy

oh, I could never throw away books, you are very brave. You could try releasing them

I'm not too bad with mags, I automatically rip out the bits I want, then throw them away stragiht after I've finished with them.