Clutter and hoarding - help!

elona

Maybe if we did not think of moving stuff to another home as getting rid of it then that might help.

I have recently managed to donate some books to our local library so lots of people can enjoy them and also donated a few to charity (never mind I still have loads , at laest it is a start.) :):)

Savvy_Sue

elona wrote:

Maybe if we did not think of moving stuff to another home as getting rid of it then that might help.

I have recently managed to donate some books to our local library so lots of people can enjoy them and also donated a few to charity (never mind I still have loads , at laest it is a start.) :):)

I spotted a useful thread started by freecycle over in MoneySaving for Who and Where you are, New Board! Local MoneySaving, England (OK I know they look as if they ought to be links, but they're not, sorry, the next one is!)

The title Freecycle(gain and declutter for free!)worldwide caught my eye, and I think Elona at least should find it useful!

Savvy_Sue

And after falling over it for months, I managed to get rid of a box of Jumble to the local scouts. Proud of myself because I remembered just in time that there was a sale on Saturday, then bothered because it was in my diary for next week but I had a feeling the date had changed and I wasn't sure if that was the new date or the old date, then managed to track down a phone number for one of the Scout mums and got there just in time!

But there's already a little heap of the things I missed ...

aliasojo

You would all have been proud of me yesterday! A black bag full of things that I'd kept 'just in case', that I'd gathered from our computer room, headed for the bin.

There is one thing I'd like to know though....we have wall to wall shelves in this room, where we keep files of important stuff like statements and mortgage info etc. We never have a place for other paperwork though, like credit card application leaflets or bumph from offers we might want to take up, or discount vouchers, or magazines that we've kept in case we need to check back on some advice feature or other.

We actually have several of those rectangular plastic containers full of this kind of thing, (you know...the kind that stack) and they just sit in the corner looking untidy.

Where do you lot keep stuff like this?......Or don't you? Lol.

kidtechnical

one-non-blonde wrote:

Too cold and wet this time of year for car boot sales and I find Ebay really stressful, hard work (is that just me?).

Not just you one-non-blonde! I find that ebays a lot of effor for not much of a return. I'm selling a few Dyson items just now & its been ok, I could lift the pics off their website etc, but when it comes to selling stuff (in my experience mainly baby clothes) there's the laundry, the ironing, the photoing, then putting it on the site & checking it everyday....takes ages. And Ebay seem to have changed the site so the minimum reserve price is 50, whats that about? We pay for the privilage of putting a reserve on it! I was going to put my stuff into a NCT Nearly New Sale, but I'll only get 70% so I'd like to do a car boot sale 1st then pass leftovers to NCT, but as you said it's too cold. I have found an indoor one near by but it starts at 4 or 5 am

suki1964

aliasojo wrote:

You would all have been proud of me yesterday! A black bag full of things that I'd kept 'just in case', that I'd gathered from our computer room, headed for the bin.

There is one thing I'd like to know though....we have wall to wall shelves in this room, where we keep files of important stuff like statements and mortgage info etc. We never have a place for other paperwork though, like credit card application leaflets or bumph from offers we might want to take up, or discount vouchers, or magazines that we've kept in case we need to check back on some advice feature or other.

We actually have several of those rectangular plastic containers full of this kind of thing, (you know...the kind that stack) and they just sit in the corner looking untidy.

Where do you lot keep stuff like this?......Or don't you? Lol.

If you have a scanner then use a programme like scansoft paperport and get it all onto disks. I only mention paperport as I find it easy to use, you just make the folders you want ie gas bills, water bills, mortgage etc and scan away.

Sofa_Sogood

aliasojo wrote:

You would all have been proud of me yesterday! A black bag full of things that I'd kept 'just in case', that I'd gathered from our computer room, headed for the bin.

We never have a place for other paperwork though, like credit card application leaflets or bumph from offers we might want to take up, or discount vouchers, or magazines that we've kept in case we need to check back on some advice feature or other.

Where do you lot keep stuff like this?......Or don't you? Lol.

Hi aliasojo, those 'just in case' leaflets and applications have been the bane of my life lately too

I think I might have solved it by using those cheap but strong plastic see through wallets, the type with a press stud fastener.

I sorted them all out (well, as best as I could lol) into piles of financial stuff we might need, articles we might need, etc etc, punched two holes into the bottom of each plastic file, and banged 'em all in an A4 file. But make sure the holes are punched on the right side. (I think there's a right side lol)

Still a load of clutter, but it's all in one place Tidy clutter.

Well done btw

Hope that made sense btw lol.

Tightwadways

I haven't read the whole of this thread, so sorry if I'm repeating someone - try https://www.freecycle.org and see if there's a group near you - that's how I get rid of my clutter

System

In a true money making style, dont forget to do what i do every April. I go through drawers, wardrobes, bookshelves - anything really. I save a big pile of !!!!!! that we have accumilated and i lump it all together and advertise it in the local rag for car booters. I think i made about £40 last year for little effort.

hrafndot

dag wrote:

I live in South London, and I need help with my clutter. I can't find stuff, and I'm falling over stuff.

I don't need someone to tidy up my flat. What I need is support, so that I can take control and keep it tidy myself. I take this very seriously - so I don't need anyone making fun of it, or putting me on How Clean is Your House. It's like a circus freak show to me.

I'm interested in hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy, preferably from the NHS or a voluntary organisation. I'd also be interested in support groups in the South West London or Surrey area - does anyone know of any?

If no support groups exist, I might try setting one up myself - can anyone advise me on this too?

Thanks.

Dag/Sylvey you were asking about support groups

Newcastle University Distance Learning Unit are offering a free training course (by post) in Life Coaching. It is completely free and accredited and is designed by one of the leading authorities on the discipline (Fiona Harrold). It is possible if you apply soon, to obtain an accredited certificate and then a diploma, gratis. This might be a route for you to network in South London and find like minded students?

I thought that I might do the course myself and see if it helps me find a new perspective on my organisational skills. Only the paperwork is lost in the enormous mound that is my desk (and several carrier bags worth). If I find it tonight and the associated telephone number/course code, I will let you have the number.

Hypnotherapy is is a useful tool and cognitive therapy sounds great but expensive if you have not been referred. I'd love to learn more about it However, The Tavistock Institute (in London) is one to contact to find out whether they offer student consultations at reduced rates.

I suffer from all the symptoms that all your other correspondents mention, clutter, emotional reluctance to let things go, difficulty in getting started, boredom with confronting myself and my daily failure to cope. I find that, if I manage to dig myself out it is by primarily taking more exercise, getting more air into my lungs, being kind to myself and tackling the issue from an oblique angle. Hope this helps

LOL