Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

Tiglath

A miracle is happening. DH the hoarder has reached crisis point with his paperwork and has voluntarily started to declutter. He has a study full (and I mean full) of stuff - I can just about make a foot-wide path through to the freezer - plus he's filled the entire diningroom with stuff so we can only walk through it to the kitchen and can't actually use the table. He's agreed to freecycle a 2-seater sofa and an 8-foot gazebo from the diningroom, and has started to create a pile of paperwork in front of the TV for me to shred. I'm making encouraging noises about how he needs proper access to his paperwork for his voluntary work etc, with daily stuff organized on shelves in the diningroom alcoves and less urgent stuff in the study, and am keeping it very relaxed so he can go at his own pace. It's like trying not to scare off a shy deer! But I truly never thought I'd see the day.

Indypop

Like you sweetpea I am trying to get the house sorted out - I have managed to get two big black bags full of clothes for the charity bin at our local dump and one for the fabric recycling bin.
I have got DVD's to go to music magpie and books to sort out too.
I feel like my whole home has become one big guddle and no matter how much I try and get OH and SD on side they bring more and more [EMAIL="cr@ p"]cr @ p[/EMAIL] into the house and wont remove stuff as they go along.
So I must do as I go along - I even need to declutter my cupboards in the kitchen - I have tins that I am never going to use in a million years.

pigpen

I'd have ebayed the throws.. genuine retro/vintage stuff is highly sought after.. but I'd have kept them

My daughter generously piled a binbag of stuff in my ebay pile *cry* I was making headway!!!

I need a kick.. the upstairs of my house is looking like toys r us store room, I have got most of the childrens christmas presents, I am well on track with that lot.. I need to sorted into individual child boxes so I know who has what. Alongside doing that I need a majow flinging session.

And.. I need to buy another bookcase...

sweetpea26

Hi Indy

Its the overwhelming feeling when you see so many things that need doing....I used to set serious high goals for myself and set myself up for failure each time and feel worse about the whole place. I think if we could focus on one space and hit it with all our energy until it is sorted, we can close the door on it and move to the next one. We can pop in now and again when we are overwhelmed with what has to be done and realise we are capable of succeeding. Hope that makes sense.

My daughter takes in to my larder now and again and tuts as she throws things out. She says things like...."Mammy!!! I am not even going to tell you the date on what I have just thrown out". So I know where you are coming from Indy.

I find making a list helps. Even we don't get all done within the time period we hope for we just keep going until we do.

I think we all deserve a home that when we walk through the door we feel relaxed, not one that all we can see is things to be done. That leads us to feel bad about ourselves.

tattycath

suzeesu2000 wrote: »

Been good and made another nightdress, used up four half reels of thread in same and put left over scraps in remnant bag which is being collected tomorrow, feel all smug and righteous again now :rotfl:

Wish I had room for a small table so I could keep my machine up all the time, half of the reason why I don't sew so much now is having to get the flipping thing out and stand up to sew, really is a bind. I have so much I want to make too.
Well done everyone, have a nice evening

I'm in a similar position to you. No where to put my sewing machine or my card craft stuff.
Loads of fabric and ideas-but nowhere practical to do it.
Same with the card stuff-should be making some stuff now but no space available atm.
No decluttering for me today-will try to do some tomorrow.
We need to sort our bedding out-we seem to have loads-but only 4 beds. It';s the same with towels. How many should we have-so we have enough but not to hoard please? any suggestions welcome.

rosieben

sweetpea26 wrote: »

... I think we all deserve a home that when we walk through the door we feel relaxed, not one that all we can see is things to be done. That leads us to feel bad about ourselves.

that's so true sweetpea :T good luck with your decluttering

I've decluttered an enormous amount over the last 3 years, and now just starting on the next layer. It feels good when you see space appearing!

Fruball

sweetpea26 wrote: »

Good afternoon everyone. What a lovely fresh one it is too.

I have decided to start this diary after spending the last week searching for an item that I have sold on ebay. I am absolutely sick of having a cluttered house that basically is getting me down. So folks I hope I don't bore you all to death by my lists of 'to do's' and hopefully some of you may feel the same way about your homes and feel like joining me in my quest.

Its been a strange week and I feel a bit lost with all heading back to school, university etc. Starting to feel the pain of chicks flying from the nest and need to have something to focus my mind on over the next few months.

So tomorrow morning I start with 1 room and will take it from there. The dreaded utility...mountains of ironing and clothing need sorted.

So I will see you all tomorrow:j

I had to laugh at that - I daren't put anything on fleabay as I know I won't be able to locate it!!!

I know exactly how you feel - I am sick of my cluttered house and am sure, if I put my mind to it, it could be like a whole different home by Christmas so I will join you

I am already on the messies thread but will post here too

meg72

I so agree with the one room at a time, ,I am currently doing my bedroom, I have stripped everything out as it badly needed decorating and the bed and furniture replacing. Cant beeive the rubbish I have been hoarding. Booked a household collection for the furniture for Tuesday.

Bought an almost brandnew chest of drawers and a pine bed froma local
ebay seller who delivers, now looking for a wardrobe and need to go and buy a carpet. Got the Dulex paint on offer in wilkies two for 20.00.

Have reallly got to do it now as until its finished I am sleeping on the floor in the sitting room.

BettiePage

Just popping in to keep myself on track and make sure I don't lapse back in to bad habits

Possession

I have to confess my son actually found one of his presents yesterday! It was wrapped in bubble wrap luckily so I don't think it was too obvious exactly what it was. He had gone to the garage to get something and was obviously having a nose around at the back where he had no business to be. But this means I need a massive Christmas declutter/tidy if only to make sure all the presents are adequately hidden!