The Great Declutter Part 2

Gers

I too used to think that a collection of well loved and well used books indicated intelligence, social status etc - and now know it's not true.

Our many many books were moved initially from the living room into the bedroom - the living room was made very dark by the books so it was fairly depressing. We had 5 double width shelves put up in an alcove and that wasn't enough space. Then I started to declutter:

Round 1 - all university textbooks, or anything associated with my degree course - were offered to my university which happily took them all. I won't read them again and they weren't needed to prove my intelligence in that subject, my degree certificate should be enough if anyone's interested!

Round 2 - all paperbacks. Emotional attachment was the issue there, however we realised that they hadn't been re-read and were unlikely to be re-read as so many more interesting new books were out there crying for attention. Piles to the local WRVS at our main hospital, some other piles to charity shops and some other odds and ends given to friends.

Round 3 - current - all remaining hardback books gone. Along with assorted old clothes, electrical stuff and other unwanted/unused belongings. This has been forced by some immiment building work but it's a relief, a deep heartfelt relief to have some space back.

As I wrote in the decluttering thread, I feel I've decluttered my guilt about it all.

From my perspective it's not the owning of books which proves anything, it's knowing what's inside of them which helps make a person more rounded and knowledgable. We have a perfectly good library service which I will, from now on, make better use of.

As for the OP -think that she's been misread!!

Penelope_Penguin

gabyjane wrote: »

The house..iv'e had enough!

i could go on but seriously had enough! Is it me or is a clutter free house a stress free house?!!

We have an existing thread with lots of tips and support to help you declutter I'll add this later to keep ideas together.

kezlou

Hi OP,
I'm the same about books, but recently, shockingly i gave some away. We have bookshelves in front room/middle room, all full and overflowing. My boys have rooms full of book and need more shelves so i know its just inherent with us. We love to read and will quite happily read the books again. oh and we all have books in the bathrooms ready for when we go in. I know were really bad.

But clutter wise, we have too much stuff. For the past few months ai have tried to be ruthless but still it comes back. Last week for recycling i threw litterallly a black bag full of paper out. At the same a huge bag of clothes which someone didn't pick up from freecycle. We have have a spot free in our room. Last month we literally filled the car up with monitors and general crap. but still we have far to much stuff.

It also doesn't help with the fact were all untidy but we are getting better.It just takes time. Food wise, i used to be like that but we are running general things down. I t took us six months:eek: to run down the toothpaste, shampoo etc Now i just buy one a week, its hard but you will get there. Same with pasta, rice etc. Just go right week were having x,y and z as y is close to its sell buy date. Then slowly but surely the amount of food will go down. Same as the cleaning products.

Books : - as we have them in this we use them as entertainment, work etc but i am inclned to agree with you. But at the same time books in this don't get moved really, the kids do but not mine as we just like to browse like a libraby. My family hate it and say i should put ornaments on there instead, be more minumalist. no sorry not for me, i like books, odds and ends, children's paintings on my wall etc

But i would ask your partner to cull the books, as if you do it you'll only get complained at for giving a good book away.

ALIBOBSY

We do declutter every so often, but I would and could never live in one of those sterile clutter free "magnolia" homes. But luckily my OH is like me and also loves his books etc.
At the end of the day its an individual choice so you and OH need to find a happy medium between what you both want.

BTW we store book in the garage (and every where else lol). The stuff in the garage is in metal filing cabinets (free from work when they were chucking them out) and they have bben fine, although every so often I have a switch around and swap the books inside/in the loft for the ones in the house on the shelves.

ali x

BTW I have about 20 tea towels lol, but with 4 kids use them for spillages etc as well as drying pots-no dishwasher.

pippo

Oooh, me too please!
Going to try the 100 things in 10 days!
Looking around though it will take 10 months at that rate to make an impression!!

I've started with deleting 357 emails!! I now that doesn't really count, but maybe it is indicative of my usual way of life!!

Going to start small with all the junk around this computer!!
Pipx

Purpleclutterbuck

Well this thread has certainly been an interesting and enlightening read!- it has really been a revelation to me as I always assumed that no-one has as cluttered a house as I have and yet I realise that there are people out there!Yeh! I am not alone or an alien!:o

There are also people who have already achieved the next stage of interest and enlightenmight - that of a tidy, immaculate, everything in its place, domain (sorry home!) and to them I say well done and yes- I am a little envious – but its good to have to have something to aspire to so keep up the good work. :T
I can only declutter at a very slow rate and every cleared/tidied up corner/drawer gives a great sense of achievement –my house is tiny and I would love a garage or anything to store my numerous excess spray cleaners, tubes of toothpaste and bags of pasta etc etc
My problem is I like to make the best use of everything and keep things as I know they could be made into something useful – I like a good bargain and I like value for money– in today’s climate of job losses and escalating prices and not knowing what’s going to be round the next corner I want to hang on to stuff AND I want to know where that something is in the house so my problem is actually organization and lack of space!
Just like Kezlou –I get rid of stuff and it still keeps coming back (bit like losing weight really!!!!!;):mad:;)) and to quote Alibobsy

“At the end of the day it’s an individual choice so you and OH need to find a happy medium between what you both want. “ How very true!

I went right back to the original OP and I re-read the post and yes Gabyjane – I agree that a clutter free house is a stress free house and I think that you had just had enough at that particular moment- it happens to all of us about something or another at different times – don’t worry - I think its therapeutic to type out problems and observations and I for one am grateful that there is a forum where we can vent our spleen:eek: (and talk about good things as well ) on any amount of different topics and get back some answers, suggestions and feedback which we can choose to use or not

As for the books – some people love books , some people don’t have any feelings for them – sorry I can’t give loads of advice on what to do but there have been some good ideas already suggested!

My OH loves his books and I love craftstuff/gumph -I think we tolerate and respect each others likes and dislikes and we would both love a tidy house !!!!!!!!!:p
Right that's it ! I'm taking a black bag to it all - I'm signing up too!:rotfl:

mummyslittleboy

gabyjane wrote: »

Ok just to reiterate what i said a few posts back..i am not throwing any of it away! I am just decluttering so the books..some of them have gone in the garage not in the bin..it is a new house and so i think they will be fine..i will also add 90% of them are cheap £1 jobs from the charity shops the decent ones stay in the house. I did say to dh what happens when the bookcase fills completely..he said 'good point'!!

We have a very tidy house and although i have said clutter it is not on show, my point was when we opened the cupboard we have far too much of each thing so need to sort out!

They should be fine in the garage as long as its not damp in there if you have lots maybe get a cheap bookcase for the garage as then if there is one he wants to read it is easier to find.

I have lots of multiples of rice/pasta and tinned food but find it comes in handy if I am a bit short on shopping money one week and I don't have to worry about replacing it the following week.

Maybe keep a comfortable amount it cupboards box the rest to go in the garage and write a list of the contents of the box stick it to the top and that way you know you dont need to replace these items untill the ones in the box have had to be brought into the house to be used.

Gers wrote: »

I too used to think that a collection of well loved and well used books indicated intelligence, social status etc - and now know it's not true.
From my perspective it's not the owning of books which proves anything, it's knowing what's inside of them which helps make a person more rounded and knowledgable. We have a perfectly good library service which I will, from now on, make better use of.

As for the OP -think that she's been misread!!

I have to agree if you came to my house you wouldn't see books on display apart from in kidsrooms then books are kept in plastic storage boxes under the bed and any they dont want to keep are passed on to my friends daughters who are a couple of years younger. DS has a shelf and one storage box under the bed he likes looking at the pictures and the book I am reading to him at the time is usually kept on the chest of draws so it is easy to find at bedtime.

I go to the library and get books, if I want to read it again I get it out again. It doesn't mean just because I dont have loads of books that I am less knowledgable it is just my personnal choice.

mummyslittleboy

7, shoes put in shoe bank
8, pile of carriers to supermarket carrier recycle
9, 3 bags of rubbish decluttered to the bin
10,11,12,13,14 clothes DD had out grown decluttered to friends house:D

I need to wire up old pc to sort that so that it can be decluttered to ebay so will try and do that this week.

Purpleclutterbuck

Erm.... So sorry about the long post about absolutely blurb - not really helpful at all - oooops:o

Boobylou

Hi all,

I would like to join in too please
Dejunking 100 things in 10 days sounds great and will motivate me to get on with it.