Hoarding - A New Start

blossomhill_2

whitewing wrote: »

Now, I seem to class replaced passports (those with the corner cut off by the passport office) as 'important' in that they are kept with other id. Why? They are not even that important as memories in that we rarely go abroad. So I am building up to destroying them....

ww I did mine last week! Realised they have no place with current ones and birth certs so have consigned them to the photo box - I do like seeing the Egyptian stamps in them

I have also reached a decision about an item which was my 18th birthday present from my parents. I haven't used it in about 25 years and I won't use it again

GQ - liberating isn't it - I sold a silver pendant with an 18 on it late last year - DD asked if I really wanted to but I told her "I am 50, I'll look pretty stupid with an 18 round my neck". And it was from a cousin who subsequently really, really upset my mum, so bad feelings ... out!
I can't quite yet get rid of the very 80s non-working battery clock I had for my 21st

I went to a jumble yesterday - I can't begin to tell you the "storage solutions" I passed up, I was just able to see it as stuff that had been useless to other people. I keep my docs in colourful box files from Wilkos - one has burst open, I was in Wilkos in the week and couldn't make myself buy a replacement. There was a brand new one at the jumble, 50p. I put it back down, thinking, no I need to reduce my paperwork not buy more boxes :T Now I can never buy one again as I passed up a 50p one

I bought a very basic tea bag tin full of kids beads, for a pal who runs a kids craft club. I will be taking the beads out, keeping the very plain tin and giving her the beads in a fancy (but a bit too small) one I was having trouble ditching - win win

blossomhill_2

Dragoncry - thanks that's a brilliant link - I'll pass up on the firearms though LOL - a perfect first post so don't worry about what you say next, just let us know you are out there from time to time and if there's anything we can try to help with in return ..!

Pitlanepiglet

I'm doing really well, the house is still a mess but I'm clearing loads of stuff out. The one thing I had a real wobble on today was a Japanese style Lazy Susan which was a 21st present from an uncle. I had a real dither and have kept it for the moment but in a "review" box. I haven't used it in years but it's been buried in the back of the shed so I wasn't ever going to use it. It gets another year and then it'll go - I know I'm only keeping it as there's an emotional attachment to it that I don't feel ready to deal with.

We've got to the boxes that came out of our house 4 years ago when we moved - these were our dining and living room boxes that went into the shed whilst the extension was built. Unpacking them was bizarrely like unpacking someone else's life - there were things in them that I really didn't remember having in the old house (we were there for coming up 5 years). It was really odd....

Loads gone already though, the shed is looking good - still need to persuade hubby to sort some of his boxes rather than churning them that can happen gradually over the next few months as we'll actually be able to get at things.

blossomhill_2

Coming of age gifts - maybe we need to think that well, actually coming of age was about being able to make our own decisions about our lives and take responsibility, including about things gifted for the occasion?

I am always puzzled when friends write to me on notelets/cards I have given them as gifts ... do they want me to see they are using them...are they trying to use them up...don't they write to anyone else...are they the only ones they have...I just don't know

Anyone remember my lilo saga last year - I've had a LBM that it doesn't need to sit in a big crate that takes up exactly a quarter of the wardrobe - it can lay flat neatly folded on the top - wow space!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Started the morning very late . Sunshine was pouring in through the windows and the cat was splodged out on the bed snoring, so I didn't have the heart to wake him up, as he refuses to stay up there if I get up, even if he's so tired, he can't stand up without falling over.

Anyhow, was brushing my teeth when I thought the sink could do with a good wipeover. And whilst I was doing that, I thought well, what's in these two drawers under my mirror? I quickly shifted them around, tipped the stray cotton buds into the bin, moved the toothbrush to the other side, as far away from the loo as possible, popped the floss, replacement brush heads and suchlike into the drawer nearest the toothbrush (chucking the bits that were covered in what looked like a combination of soap and dust) and that was done. I also quickly disassembled the electric toothbrush charging thing and made sure that was clean - it wasn't. It's shocking how much mess the teeny drips of toothpaste can make - but it takes moments to clean it off.

As I already had the basics Cif copy (never buy the brand name for cream cleaner - it's completely unnecessary) bottle in front of me, I had already squirted a bit on the bath when I did the sink, so then rinsed and rubbed that off, then made sure the loo was all clean, before sweeping it quickly and taking the used towels to the linen basket, using them to wipe any dust off the skirting as I went.

This took me no more than 15 minutes, but it's involved cleaning, decluttering and organising in one go. The only thing I have left to do up there is to actually clean the floor. And as it's a tiny bathroom, that won't take too long.


So - is it possible that somebody on here could try something similar?



Set a timer - a clock, a watch, a phone - for fifteen minutes.

In that fifteen minutes, do one area or one 'zone'.


I did the upstairs bathroom because I was already there - it didn't require any planning. The bin was beside me, the cleaning fluid was behind the loo. The towels were where I had left them (the floor :whistle: - but they had been there to soak up any splashes from getting out of the shower). And it is a very small space. I started with the sink itself and the windowsill, as that's the area where I brush my teeth. I could have stopped there, but decided to move on to the bath/shower area, and then the loo area.


Perhaps someone here could do just the bit around the sink today? Perhaps just the windowsill? If it all seems too much, just the bit where the toothbrushes go? Just the sink? Just the loo?


*************

If you think about it, that 'zoning' idea can work anywhere in the house.

After all, in the kitchen, you have a food preparation zone - the worktops, the hob, the microwave, the oven.

You have a washing up zone - the sink, drainer and dishwasher.

You have food storage - the cupboards, pantry (if you have one), the fridge and freezer.

You have a laundry zone - washing machine/tumble dryer.

And you may have an eating zone - the kitchen table/breakfast bar.


Perhaps you could look at one of those zones now and see if you can find things that don't belong in it - why are the car keys and the junk mail on the table - you're not going to serve them up with gravy or beans, after all, are you?

Pick up all the stuff that doesn't belong in that one zone and bin it or put it in the area it does belong. You'll need a bin/supermarket carrier bag for the rubbish, and put it in as you go along. And probably something to put the stuff for other parts of the house in, so it's easier to carry and you aren't darting to and fro - a cardboard box, another bag.

Fifteen minutes, that's all. In such a short time, going for obvious rubbish is an easy victory. Bits of paper, bits of wrappers, etc. When the alarm goes, tie the bag up and take it out and put it in the outside bin. Get it out of your way. You can't trip up over it. Nobody can change their mind about it because it's gone. If it's things that belong somewhere else, put them in the right areas and you're finished.

Have a cuppa, sit down. Avoid the telly - it leeches away your get up and go. Do you want to do another fifteen minutes? Where you are now? Could you spend fifteen minutes on that little space nearest the hob?


If it's the bedroom that makes you feel most anxious, how about fifteen minutes picking up the clothing down the side of the bed? Pick it up, put it into the linen basket. No faffing around turning things the right way round, no pairing things up, just pick it up and put it in the basket.

Then, if you feel you can do another fifteen minutes in there, perhaps spend those picking up shoes and putting them together. Not necessarily in pairs, in a bag or box or in the wardrobe as they are is fine. You can always allocate yourself another fifteen minutes to deal with them again tomorrow.


*****

If you find that it's actually quite energising to do this, maybe change your fifteen minute slots into half hour ones. But don't set yourself up to fail - if fifteen minutes is all you can realistically do, and doing more than one set is going to be too much, then do just one.


****

Personally, my priorities are;

Being able to cook safely, so I would say the area around the hob MUST be clear - In my case, it's just the cooking utensils in two vases on one side and the chopping board and a magnetic knife rack on the other. Nothing else.


Being able to get in/out of the property in an emergency. Which means the stairs, the landing, the hallway, the front door. Stairs should always be absolutely 100% clear - we don't need them blocked by things ablaze, carrying the flames and toxic fumes upstairs or to trip and break a hip as a result. Mine are absolutely clear, except for too much cat hair, as a friend is going to come and have a go at the vacuum cleaner for me. The landing currently has a spare bedside cabinet in the corner that the same friend is taking away. And the carpet needs vacuuming!


There's having somewhere to sit down that's clear and clean. So the sofa only has cushions, a folded throw on one cushion for the cats to moult upon and the TV remote control on the back. No piles of books, magazines, washing, anything. It's all about relaxation there.


Obviously, it's important to be able to go to the bathroom and keep yourself clean as well - poor dental hygiene is linked with heart disease, and if you can't find your toothbrush or won't use it and floss, etc, regularly, or the brush is covered with tiny sprays of water and poo from the toilet flushing, then you're increasing your risk.

There are all kinds of protozoal parasites, fungi and harmful bacteria we could have contact with - a dirty bathroom makes it all the more likely we will continually get skin problems, recurrent diarrhoea and vomiting, infected nailbeds, and it's just not pleasurable to wash in somewhere covered in grime, dirt and bacteria infested half used bottles of things way past their use by period.




What are the most important things for you?




If someone were to get up at 14.45 and do one, two, three or four small fifteen minute timed bursts of activity, even with breaks, they'd have made a significant difference by sundown.




ETA: If the lazy Susan fits, I'd pop it into the back of a cupboard where I keep the various soy sauce, mirin, sake, chilli sauce and suchlike. That way, if I need to reach something, I can turn it around and get it more easily. I've also seen them used under the sink for keeping taller bottles/spray cans of cleaning materials behind something more frequently used for the same reason.

GreyQueen

Brill post, as ever, Jo Jo.

I don't get my jollies doing housework but I do loathe dirt and disorder so I just get on with it. I find the little-burst-of-activity method very helpful. 15 mins is about perfect.

In a few hours I shall run a washload. So I'm washing floors (kitch done, bathroom next) and will launder the towel rags I use as part of my routine. I don't have a floor mop as the floors in question are too titchy to be worthwhile mopping, and as yet I've no physical impediment (bar idleness ) to getting down on bended knee and swabbing the decks.

I like to keep things as simple as possible to avoid housework. If you don't own it you don't have to dust it. Simples! It's truly amazing how much housework you can skive off if you don't own the stuff in the first place.

I had a mini LBM regarding a small stack of photies in a cubbyhole on my desk. I should explain that I have a small foible of temp art in respect of parking a postcard for a week or two on top of my stereo. Then I change it for another from the tin. They're often postcards from places I've visited. So, the little stack of photies contained some lovely shots which were superfluous to the albums but too attractive to bin IMO.

So, I have decided that they're postcards, too, and am really enjoying looking at a shot I took of Skye in 2005. And when I've tired of that, I shall rotate something else up there.

The only value of a photograph is to be seen. If you never look, why bother to own?

Byatt

really, really struggling with my mood right now, not sure what happened as I've lasted longer than most years in December and January, but this last week or so has seena huge slump...might be because of a "friend's" comment but also the big 60 this year and a reassessing of my life...

reading Jo-Jo's post I clean the bathroom when in there now, a quick wipe does it, instead of the deep clean needed once upon a time.

The kitchen however is falling by the wayside at the moment because of my mood...but it's better than it was when I first started this process.

Don't want to be a debbie downer but also wanted others to know it's still a journey with swings and roundabouts...

eta is it bad of me to wish I had a lazy susan so I could use it as Jo-Jo suggested.

nightsong

Hi all,

Have been MIA for a few days, and have caught up the last couple of pages but will go back later and make sure I haven't missed anything. Or, maybe it would be better to give myself permission to miss a few posts? Cos that sounded a bit perfectionist ....

Anyway, as always lots of thought-provoking, interesting, moving, informative and funny posts. I do love it here . Especially interested in the thoughts about what paperwork to keep where for potential emergencies.

Now, I feel like I need some help and would be so grateful for anyone's feedback -

I have a lot of stuff . So far this year I'm doing really well at not bringing new stuff into my house and I'm not feeling any desire to do so - well, vague desires occasionally, but nothing I can't squelch. Long may that continue.

My decision at the start of the year was to ebay as much of the stuff as I can. A lot of it is genuinely saleable, and so far it is selling well, especially craft stuff. Also clothes, collectables, toys etc etc. I've already decided not to ebay anything if I don't think I'll get at least £10 for it, as I reckon the hourly wage would just not be worth the work. I do have a mild chronic fatigue condition so I'm not into wasting energy.

In the past I've given stuff to CSs and that's been good, but this time I've told myself that I should really try to recoup some of my costs, what with the state of the economy and all. Also, I've sometimes given things away quickly and then really regretted it, which I tend to think causes me to backslide and bring in new junk. (Needless to say I can't now remember what any of these things were )

However, the whole ebay bit takes a LOT of time and organization, I'm finding. Not least because the internet where I live is unbelievably slow and crashes a lot. It's dawning on me that it will be months if not years before I make any real progress, at the rate I'm listing. And I don't want to list more things each week because I can tell I'd start to feel overwhelmed.

So, there's ebay-related mess, and there's a discouraging feeling that I'm not really getting anywhere. On the other hand, there IS a bit of dosh coming in and since I don't work, that helps me to feel better about myself as I'm contributing a bit to the household economy.

So er, I'm feeling stuck and discouraged. If anyone has an angle on this I'd love to hear it, thanks in advance

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

What's more important to the household, Nightsong - an extra tenner here and there, or being able to walk in the front door, eat at the kitchen table, sit in an armchair without having to clear a whole bunch of things earmarked for ebay, and being able to pick up a clean cup and make tea without having to search to find the cup and the sink first?


Or if you look on it another way, what else would you be doing were it not waiting for the screen to refresh? How much would it cost to have somebody come in and do it for you?

For example, if you spend 20 hours on ebay activity in a week, to perhaps make £50, those hours are ones where you cannot be doing five loads of washing, drying, folding, ironing. To get them service washed (£8 a load), ironed (at £3.50 a kg, £1 per shirt/blouse) and folded at the launderette could cost in excess of that. So effectively, you're paying to 'work'.


The same for window cleaning, the same for washing up, the same for everything. And we won't go into the cost of a professional organiser per hour. (let's just say it's beginning to sound quite an appealing prospect)



So it could be more economical to just let it go.

GreyQueen

Hi nightsong.

I'll nail my colours to the wall at the start; have never e-bayed and am not planning to start.

My rationale is that I have ME and work most-of-a-job. My limited energy is precious to me. I have limited space (tiny flat) and when I want stuff gone, I want it gone. Preferably yesterday.

The Item that went to the c.s. and the other item on Freecycle could have been sold. Not shedloads, but a few quid. And I considered it, but made a trade-off that I set a higher premium on my leisure time than I did on a few more pounds in the bank.

I'm not saying that everyone is in the position to make the same trade-off, or should feel guilty if they want to make some cash from their stuff. Each to their own and all that jazz.

I'm registered as a gift-aider at my preferred charity shop and have letters from them from time to time saying what my donations made. It gives me the warm-and-fuzzies. I like the feeling, as I'm not in the financial position to part with hard cash for most charities.

You might want to cost the amount of time/ effort/ packaging you expend to Ebay (or carboot or whatever) something against the amount you make. If it works out at pence-per-hour, you may feel that it isn't worth it.

Whatever you decide, good luck with your decluttering.