Hoarding - Springing Ahead

lobbyludd

welcome purple.

I've found it really great to realise that what I do re stuff is a fairly common thing (both parents and many friends are uber organised), it's not something to be ashamed of, but at the same time, it's not very helpful in allowing me to live how I want, and I can change it.

catriona - - I remember the day ds decided to paint his feet with the blackboard paint I was using and run through the house. at the time we had a cream carpet.

Whitewing - my camping gear from 3?4 weeks ago, went back into the loft yesterday, I cannot imagine coming back from holiday and not needing another holiday to deal with the aftermath, go you!!

Gingernutty

Catriona_P wrote: »

Ugh I have that problem too - so hard to get jobs done with a little one around who wants to 'help'! How do you explain to a 2 year old that they can't use your gloss paint?

Hit a snag last night and could use some advice. I'm decluttering the built-in wardrobe in the dining room (The top half is full of stuff we never use and the bottom half is going to become the new shoe cupboard) and I have a small box of old school/personal things. I've cleared out a few of my old school books (but kept the odd one that I like) but I had a sticking point with (of all things) a couple of old football programmes. Only a handful - my first game I went to see, the first game I played in, a couple of famous wins and high-level games I saw.

Now, ordinarily I'd be telling myself to get rid, but I was sat reading them and really enjoying it. They're not useful, they're not beautiful, but they give me pleasure. So, I've kept a few. Binned a couple, but kept a few. Feel like this goes against the spirit of what we're doing here though

Oh, and a fake key from my 18th birthday? Binned that.

The whole point of decluttering is to stop stuff falling out of cupboards we do use and to find the stuff we like/have special memories for us/don't use that often more easily.

It's not so that we can exist in some empty shell of a house with some furniture. Even minimalists keep stuff they like.

A memory box of well loved stuff is not against the rules, you know. Put them somewhere safe (the top part of the wardrobe which is used for stuff you never use, maybe) and remember it's there this time.

You should be able to think of an item in your house/garden/shed and be able to lay hands on it within 15 minutes tops. Trying to find something you own shouldn't be a major undertaking akin to an archeological dig.

calicocat

Hello all and welcome to new people.

Last weekend my mum and I attacked the garden and spent hours chopping down tonnes of ivy coming over fence from nextdoor at the back...and I had managed to do I thought quite a good job of tidying before she came. Clearly not as she sat saying she doesn't know how I live with all the clutter.....there was hardly anything about compared to normal!!.....cheeky woman.

I finished my shifts this morning and am now trying to muster up some energy to do something other than lardarse on sofa. I have re-fixed loo roll holder to wall already so have at least moved slightly. I keep thinking to myself all this is so tiring!, but, keep telling myself that once it is eventually done it will be the reverse and life will be much easier. At the moment it just seems never ending. I go to work,sort stuff,go to work,sort stuff....that is an exaggeration of course as do spend time just looking at it and doing nothing at times.

Still, must press on. I have managed to accumulate bits of stuff in every room again due to bringing out more boxes and bags in bits, so will drag bum off sofa soon and get the lounge,kitchen, and conservatory in a more sorted order. The 'pink' room has become a real dumping ground and chaotic to say the least. Good news is I may have found someone to build the recess in dining room into useful storage with shelves in, so that will be one thing organised and tidy instead of stuff all over the floor as it is now.

Plan for next few days:

Empty conservatory of washing and other stuff that has found it's way there.
Empty dining room of as much stuff as possible or at least the stuff that won't be in there long term.
Find a home for the stuff lying around the lounge...same with kitchen.
Do more washing and this time put it away when it is dry! (DO NOT leave lying around for a week)
Dust lounge and wash windows/floor.
Sort at least 10 more things to throw out....i'm still hanging onto junk and need to keep going with the de-richarding rather than just moving things about to look tidier.
Sort some paperwork out as this has become quite a pile her now and i've only been here a month.
Pay last remaining bills from last place so I can throw those papers out....OOoooo, actually I should be able to throw loads out now thinking....all the bills and paperwork pertaining to last place, or do I need to keep any of the recent stuff just in case of any problems queries? That will be a load of stuff gone as I think I have probably 3-5years worth of bills maybe from old flat...that's quite an exciting prospect to be rid of all that stuff just lingering.



Thanks Gingernutty if that was you re:the email problem this morning. I'm never sure if there are several people with the same name as I recall some people having an argument about having the same one a while ago.

Purpleclutterbuck.....welcome, and there are loads of us about.

Anyone who thinks they are alone, have a wee snoop on the housing board, the 'have a look at these' thread, one posted just a couple of days ago I think. Fascinating, and I bet they had tidied up for the photos!! We are not alone.

calicocat

Is it acceptable to throw an old video machine in my bin? If I leave it lying around it will still be here in weeks time, and not going to the tip as still in pj's after night shift sleep. The ideal would just be to fling it right now, but not sure if it's allowed for a start these days.

Knit_Witch

calicocat wrote: »

Is it acceptable to throw an old video machine in my bin? If I leave it lying around it will still be here in weeks time, and not going to the tip as still in pj's after night shift sleep. The ideal would just be to fling it right now, but not sure if it's allowed for a start these days.

Check your local collection service on-line, I know both ours and up with my parents electronics cannot be put in any of the bins and have to be taken to the tip or arrange for collection

pigpen

calicocat wrote: »

Is it acceptable to throw an old video machine in my bin? If I leave it lying around it will still be here in weeks time, and not going to the tip as still in pj's after night shift sleep. The ideal would just be to fling it right now, but not sure if it's allowed for a start these days.

Perfectly acceptable!!!

Though round here if it is left on the top of the bin some tatter will come and remove it

Nothing but the usual recycling/composting/rubbish flung from in here but I have a little excuse .. other than being just lazy!

GreyQueen

Hello and welcome, PurpleClutterBuck. Loving your username btw.............

Yup, it's a rare person who's blessed with perfect health and plenty of free time. If we had those, chances are we wouldn't be in a muddle in the first place, I reckon.

I am pootling on with the candlemaking project and squeezing some time fragments out of the day. Even did a little meltorama between getting spruced for work and heading out the door.

I think some of my trouble is attributable to waiting for the perfect conjunction of free time, good energy and the will to do X, Y or Z. And do you know what? They very seldom happen all at once, and if they do, there are several things vying for my attention all at once.

Sooo, with a bit of a LBM, I've decided to peck away at certain tasks in imperfect moments. I'll do a little when I can and not wait for the "perfect" moment which usually never comes, anyway.

Right, off to melt a bit more candlewax for the latest candle. Those Pr*ngle tubes so need to be used up and outa here.

Could I have a small pat on the back today, please? I managed to recycle a jam jar, even though it had a pretty fruit printed lid. There will surely be those amongst us who know what a triumph of will over habit that was.

Laters, GQ xx

Florenceem

In decorating mode - taken down curtains - going in recycling fabric. The curtain pole is headed to the charity shop. Can I count wallpaper stripped off walls too?
I did bring into the house quite a few tins of paint but they are for rooms that are being decorated.

calicocat

pigpen wrote: »

Perfectly acceptable!!!

Though round here if it is left on the top of the bin some tatter will come and remove it

Nothing but the usual recycling/composting/rubbish flung from in here but I have a little excuse .. other than being just lazy!

Brilliant, that's all I needed, one person to say it's ok......is in the bin and out of the house...at last!. Just had a bit of a frenzied attack on things, emptied another 3 boxes, most of which I have throw out. I had to make my brain do a "if it hasn't got a place in your head right now, including when shelves and cupboards are built", it has to be out of the house with 30 seconds of picking it up. This resulted in a few running down stairs trips as had started in the 'pink' room to make some space. I feel quite smug now. If I did that every day for the next few days i'd be clear of stuff, but could end up regretting some throws later so will calm my passion a bit.....lol.

I have lost momentum now, but still tired from shifts as phone kept ringing from 11 this morning so didn't get a proper sleep. Less energetic stuff is needed now so after i've had a bit of a rest will look at all the paperwork for old place. It would be brilliant to be free from all that clart...plus would free up a bit of shelf space for last dregs of books lying around.

Florenceem...well done with the decorating, and stripping wall paper definitely counts !! As A) its is hard work. it all goes towards de-richarding and sorting a home.


Oh and pat on the back for the jar greyqueen, i'm not sure I would have....even reading your post I had in my head that it would have been a nice button jar. So we'll done to you.

Picklepot

GreyQueen wrote: »

Could I have a small pat on the back today, please? I managed to recycle a jam jar, even though it had a pretty fruit printed lid. There will surely be those amongst us who know what a triumph of will over habit that was.

Big pat on the back!!!

I never previously had a problem with jam jars.. (now i am decluttering i am so much better in many areas but this is a something new!) i have become very fond of jam jars :eek: its started with the french one with the red chequered lid which was great for the 'kitty kitty' (for pets emergency fund,) then a matching one started the 2 pound holiday/treat jar. Then a third for xmas saves created a nice trio.Then i discovered they are all the same size and fit very nicely into a shoe box .....which could hold another 3 :mad:

Seriously big pat on the back for chucking yours .