Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

loobylou2

Can I join in on this thread please? I've only just found it and am finding it inspirational. Big hugs to everyone who has posted on here!!! I have a tendency to hoard things and so does my OH. I'm in the middle of having a big clear out at the moment though and have a full skip of junk outside as we speak. I'm having my house renovated next month by the local authority and was absolutely mortified when the woman from the council said they might not do the work if the house wasn't clear of clutter. Its not dirty at all just cluttered with stuff I hasten to add!!!!!!. Does anybody have any tips on how I can get my children ages, 14,12 and 6 and OH age 75 and not in the best of health to help me declutter the place though as I work full time and seem to be doing everything by myself!!!! I've also got until the second week in August to get rid of all the junk which is when the renovations begin!!!!. I'm fortunate that I only work in term time and so have a couple of weeks off before the work begins but I'm still worried I want it to be nice and tidy and to have a nice house to live in but they just won't help me which is really upsetting. Its not helped either by the fact that I don't drive so can't just take things to the charity shop. Any help/support/suggestions/advice would be very much appreciated.

Sunshine4

Morning everyone,

86-90 Books CS
91- 94 Pens Binned
95-98 Tops To a friend


Lots of listing on ebay with a few bids but wont include them till they leave the house.

Hope everyone has a lovely day.

flowerofscotland

loobylou2 wrote: »

Can I join in on this thread please? I've only just found it and am finding it inspirational. Big hugs to everyone who has posted on here!!! I have a tendency to hoard things and so does my OH. I'm in the middle of having a big clear out at the moment though and have a full skip of junk outside as we speak. I'm having my house renovated next month by the local authority and was absolutely mortified when the woman from the council said they might not do the work if the house wasn't clear of clutter. Its not dirty at all just cluttered with stuff I hasten to add!!!!!!. Does anybody have any tips on how I can get my children ages, 14,12 and 6 and OH age 75 and not in the best of health to help me declutter the place though as I work full time and seem to be doing everything by myself!!!! I've also got until the second week in August to get rid of all the junk which is when the renovations begin!!!!. I'm fortunate that I only work in term time and so have a couple of weeks off before the work begins but I'm still worried I want it to be nice and tidy and to have a nice house to live in but they just won't help me which is really upsetting. Its not helped either by the fact that I don't drive so can't just take things to the charity shop. Any help/support/suggestions/advice would be very much appreciated.

Welcome to the thread - it's full of really great people who provide lots of inspiration, ideas and laughs. I find it motivational to know I am not alone in this struggle.

I'm sure you will get lots of suggestions but here's a few for starters:

• Could DH or the 14 year old help with listing stuff on eBay? The incentive for the 14 year old could be keeping a share of the proceeds
• Some charities will collect if you have a lot of stuff (including furniture and electrical items (in good working condition)
• Freecycle and Freegle - people collect unwanted goods from you
• We get lots of "charity collection" bags - many of them aren't actually charities but if all you want is to get rid of stuff it doesn't matter
• Cash4clothes - have you got a shop near to you where you and the older 2 could take bags of clothes to sell (again using the financial incentive for them?)
• If your local church is having a jumble sale any time soon someone would collect stuff from your house
• De-clutter instead of cooking - might encourage some participation
• If the children get pocket money fine them for cluttering

Good luck and keep posting here to let us know how you get on

flowerofscotland

I've just rewarded myself for doing some decluttering and gardening by having a pamper session using things I found during the declutter - face mask, partly used scented candles, body scrub, body lotion, hair treatment. All used up and not replaced so another 6 items towards my July total.
Plus
32/33 items sold and mailed
34/36 out of date medicines to pharmacy
37 old slippers binned
38 Pile of newspapers and magazines I was keeping because I hadn't finished reading them - into recycling
39/41 books I won't read again - charity bag
42/45 gifts, card and gift bag - used and not replaced
46 another bag of paperwork shredded, filed or recycled (like someone said this stuff breeds)
47/50 packets/tins of food nearing end of life used and not replaced

So current total is 50/100

Sunshine - sorry to hear about your job - hope you find something else soon. There is lots of support and help on MSE for job seekers. Plan for the worst and hope for the best so cut back on all non essential expenditure now. Then when you find another job you can treat yourself.

marmiterulesok

BettiePage wrote: »

Get a Kindle!

I have looked into it,but don't live in the UK,and for some reason,they don't deliver here.I could get someone in the UK to buy me one,but I'd be worried it wouldn't work.I'll think I'll send them an email to ask why they don't deliver it outwith the UK.I'll look into it again.I know that Sony do something similar to Kindle.

loobylou2 wrote: »

Can I join in on this thread please? I've only just found it and am finding it inspirational. Big hugs to everyone who has posted on here!!! I have a tendency to hoard things and so does my OH. I'm in the middle of having a big clear out at the moment though and have a full skip of junk outside as we speak. I'm having my house renovated next month by the local authority and was absolutely mortified when the woman from the council said they might not do the work if the house wasn't clear of clutter. Its not dirty at all just cluttered with stuff I hasten to add!!!!!!. Does anybody have any tips on how I can get my children ages, 14,12 and 6 and OH age 75 and not in the best of health to help me declutter the place though as I work full time and seem to be doing everything by myself!!!! I've also got until the second week in August to get rid of all the junk which is when the renovations begin!!!!. I'm fortunate that I only work in term time and so have a couple of weeks off before the work begins but I'm still worried I want it to be nice and tidy and to have a nice house to live in but they just won't help me which is really upsetting. Its not helped either by the fact that I don't drive so can't just take things to the charity shop. Any help/support/suggestions/advice would be very much appreciated.

:hello: loobylou and welcome!Good luck with the decluttering.Have a chat with your family and say frankly that without their input it won't get done.Even 15 minutes help a day would be useful.You could tackle one room at a time and maybe do bursts of 15-30 minutes at a time,so as not to get swamped.

I don't drive either and have to make small trips with my shopping trolley to the charity shop.

I find making out a 'to do' list and ticking it off as I go along very motivating.

short_bird

11 CD's, 7 magazines to the charity bag. Additional bag of rubbish and additional bag of recycling/shredding generated. (working round hungover boyfriend. where's that roll eyes smilie when you need it?)

BettiePage

BettiePage wrote: »

44. 5 more empty packing boxes from the move- tip.
45. 4 x binbags of general rubbish - tip.
46. Massage chair thingy- CS.
47. Childs belt that no longer fits my son - CS.
48. Empty glasses case - CS.
49. Old forces married quarter (house) - March out completed and keys handed over :j:j:j:j:j:j:j

50. We've listed our old headboard on eb*y. So hopefully that'll sell. Otherwise it'll be off to the CS.
51. Old, broken rotary clothesline - tip.
52. Broken brolly - bin.
53. Charger/lead for god only knows what - bin.
54. Half used pot of expensive face cream that's gone off (I think a thunderbug got in it and died) - bin.

short_bird

10 gift bags to charity bag and pair of trackie bottoms to recycling bag. Currently in one of the cupboards working on the 32 litre boxes. Interestingly enough, there are 3 boxes full of stuff removed from shelves when the central heating was fitted and rewiring done over 2 years ago. Wonder if I can get any of the contents on to shelves or into a charity bag:D

short_bird

short_bird wrote: »

10 gift bags to charity bag and pair of trackie bottoms to recycling bag. Currently in one of the cupboards working on the 32 litre boxes. Interestingly enough, there are 3 boxes full of stuff removed from shelves when the central heating was fitted and rewiring done over 2 years ago. Wonder if I can get any of the contents on to shelves or into a charity bag:D

A decorative rabbit, Easter bunny stickers (and a bunny note pad) and 2 packs of notelets with cute dogs to a fresh charity shop bag. Things consolidated in the 32 litre boxes so 2 empty boxes are now free, 4 boxes moved to cupboard and there is space under the bed:D

(The 4 boxes could have gone to the cupboard weeks ago:o)

short_bird

short_bird wrote: »

A decorative rabbit, Easter bunny stickers (and a bunny note pad) and 2 packs of notelets with cute dogs to a fresh charity shop bag. Things consolidated in the 32 litre boxes so 2 empty boxes are now free, 4 boxes moved to cupboard and there is space under the bed:D

(The 4 boxes could have gone to the cupboard weeks ago:o)

And 5 more garments to recycling.