I need help with my declutter task

laughing_cow

I've got way too many clothes and am constantly trying to declutter as I live in a small flat. If I buy yet another black top, I've made the rule that I have to get rid of one in it's place. This is an advantage as it sometimes stops me buying a new one if I can't decide which old one to chuck out!

As for chucking out I use the following criteria:
1. I look at items I like but never seem to wear. If it's because I've got, say, five other tops that I'd wear before wearing that one, I get rid. There's never going to be a day when all the other ones are in the wash.
2. If I'm holding onto something I love because I'd wear it if I my knees were less fat/arms more toned, I put it away and vow to exercise. If after six months nothing has changed, I get rid.
3. Have I worn it this season? Will I wear it the next? (I'm not being fashion-poncey by using the word season eg if I get to the end of summer and I haven't worn that white cotton skirt). If no to both, get rid.
4. Does the colour actually suit me? I came to the realisation recently that the reason some of my lovely clothes are neglected is that I never look as good in them as others. One light blue top in particular made me look like death warmed up. Admittedly, I didn't actually declutter with this one - I kept it and dyed it bright green :rolleyes: - but that's great as I feel I've got a nice, new top for only the cost of the dye.
5. Does it need mending? If I still really want it, I make myself repair it immediately. If I can't be bothered to mend it right now, I get rid - if it's not that important, then neither is keeping it.
6. How many old clothes do I need? I recently cleared out a load of I'd kept to do the decorating/cleaning - stuff I'd never venture out in public in. No-one needs to have five pairs of old trousers to do the gardening, unless it's your full time job.
7. Is it out of fashion? If it's a cheap one-summer-wonder top lying unworn, it goes. If it's a pricey one, I keep it if I love it, hopeful it will come back in fashion, or I EBay it.

The only exception is if I've bought something classic and good quality which still fits. I bought a beautiful, expensive dress a few years ago for a posh evening wedding. I've only worn it five times. I know I will wear it again as it's not dated and I always get compliments about it - I just need to get invited to more swanky do's! :rotfl: I recently saw one on EBay which sold for what I'd paid for it five years ago, so at least my investment is holding

I usually put anything designer or high street names on EBay and all other stuff to my local charity shop. It's a lovely shop with quite young funky staff who are always grateful for donations. I took a lot of stuff over today - although unfortunately they had a cute Jigsaw skirt in the window, so I came back with that - oh dear, not in the spirit of decluttering!

I am small (generally 8/10) but can sympathise with weight fluctuations as I've been there many times. Three years ago, at size 10/12 I very quickly went down to a size 6 after an operation and a split with my partner in the same week. My weight stayed down for quite a while so I bought lots of tiny pairs of trousers, none of which I could get past my knees 18 months later - I've had to come to terms with the fact that now I'm 37 it's unlikely I'll be crossing the threshold of size 6 again. :rolleyes:

Finally, I use my old t-shirts and vest tops as dusters/cleaning cloths and have chopped up several items into small bits to stuff a cushion!

Good luck with your decluttering. I almost feel as though I've got more outfits after doing mine because I can actually see what I've got rather than just a load of squashed stuff!

LilacLillie

Oh dear what a day!
It was awful. I started off optimistic, got there at 10am (started at 11am). I stayed up late price labelling everything at 50p - £1 - £1.50.
My stall was set out lovely, even if I say so myself
The stall cost £10. I made a profit of £22.48p and was selling, at the end, 5 items for a £.
People were still being fussy and picking through more than if they were in a shop! Someone even asked for 30p back on a top because she'd changed her mind, as there wasn't a size in it and it might not fit when she got home!
My hubby came over at 2.30pm and said come on lets go...............and we ain't taking that lot home.
As we were taking it all to the charity shop I started to call out 'Everything on the stall for free'. That caught attention of people.
2 ladies had a sort through and had an armful of gear each. One said to me 'Bag' quite rudely. I said I had no more bags left, to which they both just turned on their heels (with their armfuls) and walked off.
I couldn't help myself and called after them to come back. When they did I said the least that could do was say thanks, one threw her's back on the table the other said 'Thanks' so scarcastically, I was really upset.
I bagged up the left over's for the charity shop and one bag for a Nun friend of mine, who I shall see on Tuesday.
She works in a homeless hostel that men can come in off the street for a shower and a change of clean clothes, no questions asked.
Got the the charity shop, with 7 black bags of clean ( lots of new, still labelled clothes). Asked the guy to open the back door where the car is parked, like I usually do and he said 'Oh its a lot isn't it, can't you take it somewhere else. I've got enough to do today'.
At first I thought I'd misheard him.
As I'd walked through the shop I saw a black tie. My husband recently asked me to look out for a plain black tie. It was 50p and I had it in my hand, while talking to the guy. Then I realised I'd given my son my money belt to take home so didn't have any money witth me.
So I asked if I could have the tie in exchange for the 7 bags. he said 'I told you I don't even want the stuff. No you can't have the tie'.
I go in this shop almost weekly and have given them more stuff than anyone I know. I asked if I could bring the money in next week, 'NO!'. Could he put it by till next week, 'NO!'.
By now my hubby was unloading out the back, not knowing what was going on. The guy got all shirty and said 'Why don't you find another shop to take it to, you have a car'. I said are you refusing this stuff, its better than the crap you have on the shop floor at the moment, and if you don't take it I'll report you'. He threw the bags aside and shut the door on us!!!!!!!
No thanks or anything. I was left really upset. Hubby asked what that was all about, when I told him he wanted to go back and bin it all (which is proabably what the shop guy did).
I can't bear to waste and it was such nice gear. I wish I'd learnt to ebay it, as some of you suggested.
I think I'll write to the Charity on Monday saying how upset I am. I won't be taking anything there ever again that's for sure.
I did get rid of, one way or the other, and feel lighter and decluttered for a while.
So I got sunburnt, had people being rude to me and only made £22 odd in 6 hrs.....................what a day!!!!!
LL

gwinnie

Yikes, there's some unpleasant people about... Hope you have a lovely day on Sunday so you can put it all behind you!

Quasar

Well, the word "charity" does not sit well with that man now, does it? Nor do the words "grace" and "courtesy". Charm school springs to mind, but I expect the fees have gone up recently...

By the way I myself am on a major decluttering programme next week - everything will be sifted and sorted: clothes, kitchen stuff, CDs, DVDs, books, odds and ends... I don't have a car any more (don't need it here in London), but have a friendly charity shop nearby and will take the stuff little by little to them.

Right now my priority is to select what I no longer want, which will be difficult because I always feel I need everything I have :rolleyes: Is anybody else the same?

Gers

taurusgb wrote:

Oh I SO know what you mean! I'm larger than I'd like to be and I am so sick of looking at clothes that are supposedly my size, but are in reality a size 10 with more fabric and the wrong shape....let's be honest here, a size 10 dress that has a nipped in waist, floaty skirt and tight bodice just does NOT look good when scaled up to a size 18! If anybody can point me in the direction of a shop that does design for larger sizes (apart from Evans who I already know) I would be most grateful....and LilacLillie ((((hugs)))) to you !!

Monsoon now do up to size 22 and the clothes are very modern. Asda's 'George' range is good as is Tesco's 'Florence and Fred' range cos they now have the Dawn French label Sixteen47 (47% of woman are size 16 or over) which seems to have moved out of Evans.

BrokeBrunette

LilacLillie

sounds like your day was awful. What horrible, ungrateful people! :mad:

I would definitely suggest you get into e-bay. I have recently starting selling a few bits and pieces myself and it really is pretty easy. Just start off by putting a few things on then build up to more. If you need any help or advice about e-bay then pop over to the e-bay board. The people there are very, very helpful to newbies.

I hope the rest of your weekend is better than yesterday.

LilacLillie

Thankyou guys
I'm just about getting over my traumatic day................the memories will linger no doubt, till the next crisis.
Seriously though, I have learnt by my bad experience and next time I plan to do a clear out, I'll ask around first for people that can really do with the stuff.
In the meantime I'm going to introduce myself to ebay, very slowly.
LL

laughing_cow

Quasar wrote:

Right now my priority is to select what I no longer want, which will be difficult because I always feel I need everything I have :rolleyes: Is anybody else the same?

Oh yes! :rolleyes:

I justify the amount of handbags I own by recalling all those occasions where I had a wedding to go to and I spent hours looking for a bag in the right colour. Now I've got at least 50 handbags, I'm loathe to get rid 'just in case' I ever need a blue/green/red/whatever bag for a special occasion. I'm hopeless! :rolleyes:

laughing_cow

LilacLillie - sorry to hear you had a crappy day - some people are so ungrateful! There will be other charity shops that do appreciate your stuff.

For anyone in north London, the Hornsey Trust (cerebal palsy) shop in NW5 is a well organised/displayed shop and the staff are always friendly and grateful for donations, so I'd recommend it.