Enough is enough - the great declutter

Lemon_Tree

just an idea for the sewing machines, if you're just intending to give them away, have a look to see if there's a charity near you which sends them out to the third world etc where they can be used to generate an income and give a family some independence. Round here there's one that takes sewing machines and garden tools/ other tools for exactly this reason and seems to be very worth while to me.

Charis

jw1096 wrote: »

My plans are:

* To go paperless (I only want to keep the driving licence and the passport - everything else I have registered for paperless billing, and will scan any other bits and recycle the originals (after shredding)) This includes getting rid of old data cd's etc. Ditto photographs and other miscellaneous keepsakes - scan and get rid.

I planned to do this also. The first thing I scanned yesterday was a newspaper cutting. It did not reproduce well and rather put me off. I intended to scan all the kids' old pictures, old photos, everything I could. Then I realised how huge the files will be if I scan at any kind of quality. My CD burning has been a bit hit and miss. I think this is going to be rather more complicated than I thought. Do you have any good tips?

How did you get paperless bills from everyone? I get them from my ISP and my energy companies, that's about all. I am not aware that anyone else does them. Maybe I should do a search.

Thanks for the reminder. I have come some way with my decluttering and I have had odd moments when I feel undecided whether I really want to pare right down to the minimum. It's odd how we all hang onto things after they have served their purpose. Even relationships. I was undecided about one of those as well, but the decision was made for me. I suspect that's why it's difficult to let go of other 'securities' right now, none of which makes me any more secure if I am honest.

caravanlover

hello everyone,

i have been reading this post and the simplfying your life post with great interest for about three weeks, but i thought i would let you know how i have been getting on.

well, the caravan came out of storage a couple of weeks ago, as we needed to do some repairs on it, so everything on the drive way, (bikeshed,) 5 bikes two scooters, rabbit run etc. all had to go in the garden and garage!!!!

we could not move we kept trippping over stuff and i had had enough

so last week i decided to have a MAJOR clear out, i have a large jeep, i put the seats down, and left the door open, and i filled it from the top to bottom and done five trips to the tip :eek:

the bloke at the tip asked me whether is was trade waste as i had been so many times in one day:rotfl:

i listed everything i could on ebay and then freecycled my bigger items.

i had to be ruthless and get rid of loads, so my bread maker , mini cooler ( won in raffle and never used, buggy x2, house phones still boxed x2, camping chairs - there is only four of us, so why do we have 8 chairs !!:rolleyes: little tikes kitchen, my daughter is 10 !!, and loads more all went on freecycle, with one condition, it was picked up with in 24hrs !! it worked and it all went.

then on wednesday our beloved little ginny passed away from old age, so the hutch and run were cleaned out and staright in freecycle , picked up the same day

well now we can walk on the garage and have loads of empty shelve space, the garden looks so much bigger and emptier not to mention tidier.

the same night i cleared it all out i listed everything on ebay!! that took me just over three hours:eek: but 295 items later it was done

sooooo, then i started on the house, with the same method, i chucked everything not used on the last few months, done the toy room and kids rooms, (they helped) the even sorted toys out to go, done all the videos and dvds aswell, then the wardrobes and the airing cupboards, my son had hopsital appointment friday, so the old mags and comics came with us, and the toys went to the childrens ward he is under, so that was nice, went shopping and only got what i needed, not more of what i already had.

i have two large dogs, a lab and a rottie, we had a large plastic dog bed, which they slept in once !! so that went to the local rescue home the same day

everything that was put on ebay was started at realistic prices and for a certain amount of days, so if it didnt sell it could go straight to the charity shop, well it all sold and we made a whooping £2,394:eek: all but one payment is in, and after fees we are now going to go to disneyland paris for three days during half term!!

sorry of this is really long, but i just wanted to show others that it can be done, i am absolutely exhuasted now, but it has all been really worth it, you can open cupboards with out things falling on you! open a draw and everything is neatly folded, walk straight into ythe garage and find what you want!!, we have now deicded we will only buy what we really need, and now th cr*p has gone in the garden my dad built the children a cold frame and they have spent the weekend potting seeds which are neatly lined up in there.

so if i can do it anyone can

keep your chins up, as soon as you start it does not take long to get the bug and keep going and soon see results :j

juliejim

Well done caravanlover - that's brilliant!

caravanlover

hello everyone,

i have been reading this post and the simplfying your life post with great interest for about three weeks, but i thought i would let you know how i have been getting on.

well, the caravan came out of storage a couple of weeks ago, as we needed to do some repairs on it, so everything on the drive way, (bikeshed,) 5 bikes two scooters, rabbit run etc. all had to go in the garden and garage!!!!

we could not move we kept trippping over stuff and i had had enough

so last week i decided to have a MAJOR clear out, i have a large jeep, i put the seats down, and left the door open, and i filled it from the top to bottom and done five trips to the tip :eek:

the bloke at the tip asked me whether is was trade waste as i had been so many times in one day:rotfl:

i listed everything i could on ebay and then freecycled my bigger items.

i had to be ruthless and get rid of loads, so my bread maker , mini cooler ( won in raffle and never used, buggy x2, house phones still boxed x2, camping chairs - there is only four of us, so why do we have 8 chairs !!:rolleyes: little tikes kitchen, my daughter is 10 !!, and loads more all went on freecycle, with one condition, it was picked up with in 24hrs !! it worked and it all went.

then on wednesday our beloved little ginny passed away from old age, so the hutch and run were cleaned out and staright in freecycle , picked up the same day

well now we can walk on the garage and have loads of empty shelve space, the garden looks so much bigger and emptier not to mention tidier.

the same night i cleared it all out i listed everything on ebay!! that took me just over three hours:eek: but 295 items later it was done

sooooo, then i started on the house, with the same method, i chucked everything not used on the last few months, done the toy room and kids rooms, (they helped) the even sorted toys out to go, done all the videos and dvds aswell, then the wardrobes and the airing cupboards, my son had hopsital appointment friday, so the old mags and comics came with us, and the toys went to the childrens ward he is under, so that was nice, went shopping and only got what i needed, not more of what i already had.

i have two large dogs, a lab and a rottie, we had a large plastic dog bed, which they slept in once !! so that went to the local rescue home the same day

everything that was put on ebay was started at realistic prices and for a certain amount of days, so if it didnt sell it could go straight to the charity shop, well it all sold and we made a whooping £2,394:eek: all but one payment is in, and after fees we are now going to go to disneyland paris for three days during half term!!

sorry of this is really long, but i just wanted to show others that it can be done, i am absolutely exhuasted now, but it has all been really worth it, you can open cupboards with out things falling on you! open a draw and everything is neatly folded, walk straight into ythe garage and find what you want!!, we have now deicded we will only buy what we really need, and now th cr*p has gone in the garden my dad built the children a cold frame and they have spent the weekend potting seeds which are neatly lined up in there.

so if i can do it anyone can

keep your chins up, as soon as you start it does not take long to get the bug and keep going and soon see results :j

Charis

vivw wrote: »

We have solved the problem of certificates/photos/ paperwork etc that can take over ....we bought filing cabinets. They take up very little room and hold so much

On the subject of throwing out paperwork, remember to keep all P60's, for the rest of your days. When you come to claim your pension, or argue about it once you do claim, if the tax office has lost your papers (it happens) your P60's will be the only proof of your entitlement.

The official bods are not as efficient as they used to be. Quite recently I found out by chance that I had not been credited with any HRP credits (automatic if you claim child benefit in your name). I have only been claiming Child Benefit for 31 years :rolleyes: (Yes, I spread my four children out over three decades)

annie123

Oh dear ready this has made me fell guility.

I posted a while back here, between xmas and new year, and the only thing I have done is the bookcase in the living room.......hang head in shame.

The problem is I come in from work at 7.30 ish, quickly serve dinner (homemade freezer meals etc) and then spend the rest of the evening reading this forum:D

must cut down on reading and get of my backside and do something before the loft is in the livivng room due to the weight of stuff up there!

tattycath

Hi ASnnie. It's not just me then, my OH sits watching tv and falling asleep and I sit at pc reading the forums and getting very little done, I know exactly what you mean. I have managed to sell a few items on ebay-not as many as pigpen though-well done pigpen you're doin great.
Annie maybe we should both read less and get more motivated, what dya reckon??

kscour

So very glad to find this thread and realise I'm not alone. I've got to the point where i've felt like crying because of the STUFF that's taken over my house. My mother seems unable to visit unless she's got a bag of stuff to hand over to me or DD's, I've tried to say no but it's like banging my head against a brick wall and I really begrudge having to be the one to get rid of the stuff as it seems such a waste.
Bit the bullet last week and challenged DD's to sort rooms as they are also fed up. Our target was to clear their weights out of their rooms 5 stone & a bit each. DD1's room is done - just short of 7 stone:eek: DD2's well under way nearly 5 stone so far! And I don't want to stop there - the rest of the house awaits!

annie123

I'm with you tattycath.
So pleased to know its not just me!


We could tell each other off for being online to much and sent to tidy our rooms by the mods, just like kids again :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

really must go to bed now. My alarm goes off in 6 1/2 hours time :eek:
nite nite everyone:D