Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

System

Out:

computer desk - old as Gods dog

washing machine - unreliable and i'll be waiting forever for the repair man to fix it.:mad:

Nearly new jumper of my sons that i have shrunk in the dryer (cost me a fortune as well )

Chocolatedrinker

another glue stick into bin, up to 81/100

bossymoo

Well I took a couple of hours off work this aft, fil was here pulling up weeds so I thought if I tidy the shed he might cut the grass for me lol. He did!

So I have got rid of:
2 big builders merchant sand sacks
An empty cardboard box
A rusty hacksaw
The end of a broom
The handle of something else (doesn't fit broom)
Broken windmilly type thing
Empty silicone gun tube
Other random tat

Ooh that gets me to 95!!! So close!

We planted our spuds tonight so decluttered half a container of compost too lol but apparently the 6 seed potatoes might yield 60 spuds oh dear...

Still have only 3 bids on my 6 eBay items. Hoping to have them paid and posted by saturday!

Kaz2904

Todays outs included a table, a broken mobile phone (sold on ebay) and 6 fish knives. I have a table in the back of DH's car which I can't shift on my own. That will be collected before Monday.
Still got DD's clothing to list on ebay or facebook. I appear to have also sold a DVD player. Woohoo!

Ishtar

Hi all
Just wandering in....I was a member of the thread last year (briefly!) but fell by the wayside in a big way.

Now it's time to take the bull by the horns and get things sorted. I have spent the last couple of days in DDs room sorting things out. 2 x bags of rubbish and 5 x bags of things to relocate . Some will go to the charity shop and some into the loft for DS to use when he gets older.

The plan is to finish the bits and pieces tomorrow (I'm out today...) and sorth through clothing and books on Friday.

Will be joining the challenge (100/month) shortly.....

Have a good day.

System

More clothes cleared out of my wardrobe out and two pairs of bras.

Good news is that i found a pair of jeggings that i'd forgotten i'd bought.

Kaz2904

I'm doing ok, I have sold a DVD player today so that's now gone too. I've got a box full of books which I need to sort through and list on zapper or something like that.
Garden's looking lovely, I cut the grass again yesterday as it has shot up since I did it on Friday. Wish I could bring the mower through the house but don't think it would work so effectively on indoor mess!

luxor4t

109. laddered my tights, so binned ...well, every little helps!

iQueen

I have just discovered this forum!

For April, I am only going to lurk, look for good tips, keep being inspired and practise discarding, if you don't mind?

I have been hoarding for the past 15 years and realised it was becoming a problem, about 3 years ago. I have made attempts... now and then, to declutter, but quickly fallen off the wagon!

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't hoard rubbish - that goes out every week. My bathroom and loo, bed, clothes, cooking and serving equipment are pristine! I have just been acquiring, and holding on to, stuff that I don't need.

Until recently, my efforts to tackle the clutter were short-lived and, therefore, demoralising. I realised that I needed to identify the emotions that were involved with different kinds of items and then neutralise them. By doing this, I also stumbled on my personal motivation, which turned an horrendous chore into an exciting project!

Importantly, I discovered that almost every item that we own, that might be seen by someone else, is chosen to reflect who we think we were, are, or wannabe!
So ask yourself: what message am I trying to convey to others by keeping this item? All these books? My 'posh' bone china coffee set (boxed, in the loft)? The dated Op-Art painting I did in the Seventies? The decor? The brand/model of our car? My Versace handbag? Will I live long enough to knit all the yarn in my wool stash? Or sew all my stashed fabric? There's often a perceived image involved with items. BUT we are not the things we own. Do we really have to show off how clever, classy, artistic, tasteful, wealthy, fashionable, or creative we are?

I first stopped acquiring. For the past year, nothing has come into my home that is not essential, including junk food, freebies, or items that other people are trying to offload.

When I get something out to use (if I can find it!), it goes to its proper home immediately that I finish with it.

I decluttered my kitchen two weeks ago, because a workman was coming! It's very small, and a clutter magnet. It's so much better now... and I'm keeping it that way. I was expecting the rest of the house to take me up to a year to sort out, but if I join this challenge later, it might take less. Yay! :T

Most importantly, I am finding that having only what I need (and everyone's needs are different), fits in with my concerns over rabid consumerism, selfishness, greed, and being content with what I have.

Now, I don't feel guilty, ashamed or embarrassed about my clutter. I am eager to get on with freeing my home of stuff that I no longer need. For me, this removes a lot of the negative emotion attached to hanging on to, or discarding, stuff that I can easily do without.

I hope this will help others, who feel paralysed, by negative emotions so much clutter exudes. Accept that the stuff is here, in your home - everyone has stuff they no longer need - it's not a sin: it happened, and it really doesn't matter how or when. Find your personal motive for discarding stuff you no longer need.

Best wishes to all you declutterers for the April Challenge!

Barbeduk

Today's effort:

38. Bag of rubbish fron DD's bedroom.
39. Socks with massive holes in!
40. Half a pack of playing cards.:o
41. Mouldy bath toy.
42. Old bath sponge.
43. Box that had contained bottles of bubble bath, now all used.

Hopefully I'll get a bit more out Friday. Enjoy the sun everyone.