Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

cat04

Thank you to whoever it was that recommended Zapper as I've got 23 books and 3 dvds to send off when we get some ink for the printer (where's that roll eyes smiley when you need it!). Ok, so it's only for £12.97, but it averages at just abut 50p an item which is good to say I was going to sell some of the books for 20-25p each on facebook Even managed to get prices for a few novels which I wasn't expecting after reports that they prefer non-fiction books.

Also forgot to add earlier that over the past few weeks I must have thrown out at least 5 pairs of socks that suddenly got holes in them all at the same time - and I didn't even get any replacements at Christmas! 2 pans we were going to include in the ebay carboot lot went to a friend in need, and the affore mentioned catboot lot on ebay has a bid on it It's going to sell (tomorrow), whether it's for the starting bid of £10 or hopefully a bit more. Either way, it'll be gone, and we'll feel good for clearing a big space in the garage and earning a few pennies for the pot which we could really do with right now. Oh, and an ebay item sold tonight and has been paid for so can be posted tomorrow.

Florenceem

Couldn't you darn the socks?

jess1011

cat04 wrote: »

Also forgot to add earlier that over the past few weeks I must have thrown out at least 5 pairs of socks that suddenly got holes in them all at the same time - and I didn't even get any replacements at Christmas!

Thank you for mentioning socks, Ive just remembered I have 1 and half double drawers full (read - overflowing) with socks, I seem to have discovered the thing that I appear to be emotionally attached to! How embarrasing!

I promise to count my socks tomorrow and [STRIKE]half [/STRIKE] reduce the number

Sue14

trumpton wrote: »

My other advice is to watch 'Hoarders' or 'Hoarding: Buried Alive' on the Bio channel. You will have the bin bags out before the first commercial break.

I agree, these programmes are very motivational, I watch them all the time to help keep me going, I never want my house to get that bad!

Not done much today, but did put an empty moisturiser jar and an empty body spray can into recycling, and some dead flowers in the garden waste bin.

smile86

I have so much decluttering to do. Have a filing cabinet and cupboards full of stuff, think I am a bit of a hoarder on the quiet .

Managed to sort the filing cabinet last year, but I haven't kept on top of it, tend to open letters, sort out what needs doing then put them for filing, but never file them. Then suddenly there is a years worth of post rammed in the cabinet that hasn't been put away properly! :eek:
Then there is the books, the clothes, and general suff that seems to accumulate.
Really must make a start.

mummysaver38

LONG RESPONSE ALERT TO THE LADY WHO POSTED YESTERDAY WHOSE NAME AND POST I HAVE LOST SOMEHOW
Firstly, welcome and here's my take on your problem. I hope I don't sound too preachy because I'm also a clutterbug but it's much easier to give advice when you are emotionally detached from the situation.

Something I read in my declutter "bible" which struck a chord with me, is that once you have spent money on an item that money is gone and guilt won't change that. You keep the item because you have spent money on it, although it doesn't really fit, go with anything else in your wardrobe, make you feel good etc. You need to get rid of the guilt burden, as well as the item to move forward. If you want to try and reclaim some of the money you can try and sell it secondhand, otherwise donate to charity and benefit from the warm feeling you get from helping others.

So, how would I go about it? Firstly, it is important to do a small area at at time so you can actually see the results. I would start with the clothes first. Focus on one wardrobe, or side of wardrobe. Take out each item, regardless of size and give yourself 5 seconds to consider it. Ask yourself, do I like this item, would I buy it again, does it make you "smile" when you see it. If yes, it goes back in the wardrobe, if not, it goes. When you have completed that wardrobe then dispose of the rejects immediately, either by donating or selling. Stand back and see what you have achieved, which should give you a boost going forward.. Then start on the next wardrobe/drawer etc and continue. Eventually you will be left with only the things you really like, of whatever size, which should then be organised in size order. Depending on what space you have, smaller sizes could then be put away ready for you to shrink into.

Hope this help, I have used the "smile test" on my wardrobe recently and it works for me!
Good luck and let us know how you get on

greengoblin

mummysaver38 wrote: »

Something I read in my declutter "bible" which struck a chord with me,

What is the name of this mystical book ?

mummysaver38

greengoblin wrote: »

What is the name of this mystical book ?

I have mentioned it on here before, reluctant to mention it too many times in case you think I have some sort of shares in it LOL:rotfl:
It is called "No more clutter: how to clear your space and free your life" by Sue Kay. V interesting as it goes into great detail about the psychology of hoarding, looking at different types such as the frugal hoarder the trophy hoarder etc as well as the practicalities of how to go about decluttering your place.

cat04

Florenceem wrote: »

Couldn't you darn the socks?

That brought back memories of being with my ex. Couldn't throw out anything, even if it was more hole than material lol. I darned more of his socks than I care to think about, including the woolen bed socks his Nan had knitted for him.
It wasn't worth it with these socks as they were only cheap ones, and it was mainly on the underneaths where they had a large patch that had worn thin before the holes appeared. In the case of a toe hole, esp if they're favourite socks I'll darn them

Back to the decluttering, I found another 7 books for Zapper.co.uk, which brings my total up to £16.90 and as I now have over 30 books I can get them collected by a courier rather than carting them to the PO

Large kids book collected this morning too

cat04

jess1011 wrote: »

Thank you for mentioning socks, Ive just remembered I have 1 and half double drawers full (read - overflowing) with socks, I seem to have discovered the thing that I appear to be emotionally attached to! How embarrasing!

I promise to count my socks tomorrow and [STRIKE]half [/STRIKE] reduce the number

You're welcome lol, I have a drawer full off knickers I like but never wear, and seeing as I can't donate or sell worn knickers (well, I guess I could on ebay according to some of the threads I've read on here :eek:) I'm loathed to chuck them, especially as some of them aren't worn due to going up a dress size grrr

Sorry, not sure how to multi quote yet!