Hoarding...not just on TV

wannabe_sybil

Managing to log in - nothing much happening at the moment, but having the usual highs and lows (I've been at this for a bit )

I threw out a set of 15mm double pointed bamboo needles. I could think of lots and lots of uses for them, including those involving the person who invented knitting on double pointed needles, but they weren't immediate, I couldn't think of anyone who would want them, and I was not seeing myself going near a charity shop in a while, when they would presumably be inundated with these free gift needles. So I put them in the bin. That is a big deal. On the other hand, I've bought some books on ebay, but they are by Essie Summers and I love her stuff. I will read and re-read, so that's okay.

Now debating with myself - there is a gorgeous sweater to knit for little bear in the magazine (whose subscription I really need to cancel!) and I would love to knit it but... Trying to resist getting the yarn.

I have lots of empty plastic boxes in the junk room which I plan to use to as temporary holding pens, with a date on them of when they were filled. When I actually get round to it. Which may be in some time.

I am impressed with all who are slogging on. I am not in full clear mode, but will be at some time, hopefully sooner rather than later.

lostinrates

Not slumping here, but have been busy. Having had all the furniture stuffed into two rooms i have felt the oppression of true hoarding. It was horrid. Now we have our sitting room almost back to normal, and the joy of this makes me feel how much better fewer things can feel.

Brighton_belle

Not slumping here, more consolidating and taking a natural break:D. And it is natural to have dips in between surges of throwing out energy. I can't believe what have got done in the last 2 weeks compared to the previous 4 months, but the urge doess come in cycles I find.
The important thing between decluttering is to keep working on not bringing more in, so you are still moving forward.(Or if you bring somthing, adopt a one in one out poicy, preferably one in two out)
We bought a decent digital radio at the weekend with vouchers from points on my cc:money:, and got rid of two old not working properly ones to the dump:j

I have been keeping up with my new bathroom cleaning regime: quick swish and wipe before I go to bed is keeping it looking fresh with minimal effort.
The bathroom is completely clutter free and has been for sometime. I've never had a thing for collecting loads of different products fortunately. Everyone has a small wicker basket for their stuff and that's it, and one small wooden shelf in the shower. Oh and i have a lovely bathroom seat that doubles as storage for wash bags, first aid kit and a few 3 for 2 spare toiletries.

I've got my bike down from the attic to put on ebay, but it needs a little attention first so will try and do that at the weekend.

Thanks for bumping ivy - I hadn't realised it had slipped so far.

blossomhill_2

ivyleaf wrote: »

Bump!

I've been following this thread with great interest, and was surprised it had dropped down to page 3 :eek:

Thanks Ivy, I was getting worried too! Well done you plodders, little and often is great f you can, and some of you have been getting a good old spurt on!

While it's been quiet I have been pondering the storage "solution" (actually a problem)

1) I have found it useful these last few months to consolidate my "stuff" so that all the things of one type are together (say in an oversized cardboard box), then decide what to keep, then decide how to store it

What I would previously have done was find I had a nice box (or buy one), then fill it, then it would overflow, then I'd need another one for that category of "stuff" ... ad infinitum

2) When I cleared out my late Dad's stuff, I could see that he was a man of the Baklite and glass milk bottles era who was fascinated with the "new" plastics - tubs, plastic bowls, empty BIC pens, empty plastic milk cartons, he couldn't bear to throw them

Whereas I am of the opaque plastic era (think 60s bright orange mixing bowls) and find I am fascinated with transparent plastic - storage boxes etc - found myself gazing at a kid's bucket and spade set in transparent plastic and wondering what I could use it for

So it goes back to knowing that something isn't lost or in short supply - I need to convince myself that that type of storage will be around for years

Now I have been gazing longingly at the new Cravendale milk bottles and the mini Carte d'Or tubs - I need to believe they will soon become commonplace

Might help someone

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I have bought myself a pair of sensible shoes in the sale. Having decided that I could only get them if two pairs currently stored under the bed leave tonight. And I haven't needed any of the pairs under the bed, so it's hardly the end of the world. Already put out a much loved pair of boots that were pretty worn out inside, so had begun to give me blisters where they never had before.

The stair carpet is staring at me, waiting to be fitted, but I'm waiting for the eggshell to be properly hard before that happens.

I have, however, used the rubbish weather to put out more unused stuff from the kitchen. If I need to bake a cake, I'll put it in my loaf tin.


Both bathrooms still look pristine. My bedroom looks tidier than it did, as does the spare room. And the kitchen and living room? Not bad, even if I say so myself. But both coffee and dining table have stuff on them. I must do something about that. I must.

dragonette

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

Now debating with myself - there is a gorgeous sweater to knit for little bear in the magazine (whose subscription I really need to cancel!) and I would love to knit it but... Trying to resist getting the yarn.

Do you any yarn in your stash that you could substitiute in? Same width/weight and most yarns substitute quite well. As long as the gauge works (and if not, well use proportion to alter the pattern slightly). I love the unexpected effects from varying yarns and patterns

:T well done for all your decluttering! I'm really impressed by everyone who manages to keep this going *hugs*

Brighton_belle

blossomhill wrote: »

1) I have found it useful these last few months to consolidate my "stuff" so that all the things of one type are together (say in an oversized cardboard box), then decide what to keep, then decide how to store it

What I would previously have done was find I had a nice box (or buy one), then fill it, then it would overflow, then I'd need another one for that category of "stuff" ... ad infinitum

More great advice Blossom:T. I used a professional declutterer a few years ago to tackle my attic: a mixture of overwhelm and ill health meant it was too stuffed to move and my energy would leak through the floorboards the moment I got up there.

Anyway, it was a great experience and kick started the rest of my decluttering in general.
She introduced me to the 'like with like' concept. It sounds so obvious but I certainly had like not stored with like: diy tools all over the place, ditto craft, spare bedding. Once she had corralled like with like, I could see how excessive alot of it was. She reorganised my attic in an afternoon so that I could knew where everything lived and I have gradually downsized ever since.
And every so often I need a reminder of the principle for downstairs too, most especailly since combining two households into one.

beanielou

I agree the decluttering urge comes in cycles.

SpikyHedgehog

snookey wrote: »

Iv just cleared 16bags of clutter from my cellar as it was ruined by damp. Iv not done a carboot for ages and the stuff was ruined. Iv now come to the conclusion that its better to let things go and give someone else the use and pleasure.
Holding onto stuff just makes everything harder to clean,keep track of and takes up space in your home and your mind.

My sister's elder son is 9 months older than my DS1, and she used to pass the outgrown clothes onto us, then got to a stage where they were too small for DS1 by the time she passed them on And she'd store the stuff I'd give her back from DS1 for her SS till they were too small for him. So I stopped passing her stuff unless I knew someone would use it right away and send it straight to CSs.

GreyQueen wrote: »

Ahem.

I read a good tip in one of Don Aslett's decluttering books about not leaving stuff in your clutter that will scandalise your heirs. Unless, of course, you would like to scandalise them...........:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

When Grandad died, mum & dad found his magazines, luckily before (as far as we know) Grandma found them... Dad was really stuck with what to do with them, didn't feel able to put them in the recycling bin as the binmen would have seen them, also didn't feel able to take them to the dump & put in the magazine bin there in case the workers look at the magazines there, too many to burn easily... I hope mum & dad did find a solution, because I really don't want to be dealing with them! Shred & compost, I guess if they are still around.

alec_eiffel wrote: »

I've been deep cleaning my living room. I can't say it's a fun way to spend my time...

No, but the good thing is that you can get to enough of it to deep clean.

I had a lift home today from another friend at school, and asked if she & her boys wanted to come in for a cup of tea. They couldn't as her boys had swimming class, but I am making progress to be able to ask people!

When we'd dropped a bag off at the Cs on Saturday, we'd come out with more stuff... 4 books for DS1, a shirt for him & a shirt & jeans for DS2. Now the washing machine is fixed, I'd got the shirts & jeans washed, & the 1 for DS1 is too big so we've put it straight into the bag for the clothes bin at the Scout hut.

Byatt

Spiky, your talk about the magazines and what to do with them, reminds me of a particularly humiliating situation I was in. For various reasons I won't go into now, I had a few ahem...sex toys...brand new in boxes (I was selling for a short while)...:o but what do you do with such things when they haven't sold? Thinking I didn't want to drop dead and my family find these things hiding in the wardrobe, I took them out of the boxes, dismantled where I could and put in to black bin bags. Didn't want to put them in the bin, just in case, so took them to the recycling centre and placed the bag in their landfill section. Walked back to the car, took out the cardboard and climbed the steps between two containers, glanced back towards the landfill and saw 2 men opening the black bag and taking out the contents.:eek::eek: I ducked down between the containers, but realised I couldn't stay there, so dashed to the car, grabbed some more cardboard from the front seat, and threw it in the container... along with my hand bag which had been on the front seat. :eek::o So from trying to be inconspicuous, I had to shout to one of the men for help and he had to climb into the container to get my bag. He didn't stop grinning. The last thing I saw as I left in my car was one of the toys on the wall near the entrance...for all to see. :o

I didn't go back there for a year!! :rotfl: