Hoarding - Springing Ahead

whitewing

On flylady the other day, it suggested decluttering the two worst of eg dresses. And maybe then the two definites and then the next two worse and so on. Anything to make the decision a smaller choice.

We have sorted two bin bags of DD's stuff. She even helped choose most of it that was going. She would have kept everything but was happy with choices. I found it most difficult as some of the older, tattier stuff was stuff that came via an aunty more recently. But it is going and I will deal with my guilt.

My delivery came and DD is happily playing with the packaging - knowing that it will go to the recycling centre tomorrow.

I need to do more of my paperwork. I have to be thorough though as it will need to go to the accountant after we have updated some spreadsheets. I need to keep it up to date more regularly, if only to curb DH from so much frittering away without realising.

I'm enjoying everyone's posts.

I forgot to say earlier that I am not very keen on facebook so the 40 bags challenge on fb isn't my thing but I still love every post on this thread.

GreyQueen

Well, I've sorted thru a shoebox of misc, and replaced the shoebox itself, which was getting a bit knackered, with one I brought over from the folks' for this very purpose just before New Year. It's only been floating around on the floor ever since.

I only own two pairs of shoes and one pair of trainers but I do find shoeboxes a very useful method of corralling small bits and pieces by type in my cupboard (they sit on a shelf) and in my shed. Space is very tight here, so having stuff sorted together means I can pick up the box and take it to wherever I'm working and just pop it back afterwards.

I swithered about the lopsided shoebox itself (it was Ecco, have you seen those lovely charcoal-coloured corrugated lids?!) but broke it down flat and whipped it out to the recycling bin.

I texted a friend about some of the little might-be-usefuls in the box and got an eager Yes Please! as she does a weekly craft class with kiddies and is always after random bits and bobs. Another 40-something influenced at an early age by Blue Peter, ye ken.:p

Only put back the really useful stuff into the new shoebox, but tidily, with some stuff binned, some for the pal and some in the chazzer bag.

Speaking of bags, I have junked a worn-out handbag and brought into service another of the same style bought from the chazzer last year and held against this very hour. One out, one out of storage and into service.

Baby steps, but reducing the amount of stuff on the premises a widget at a time.

Onwards and outwards, my lovelies.

sweetpea26

Hi all this weather seems to make us want to get something done. Sunshine shows up all the dust eh

I have got rid of so much stuff these last few days. Numerous bags to charity, sorted papers burnt those in the fire as they have personal details etc.

Got rid of bits and pieces into the bin that were of no use to anyone and were just being kept for no reason whatsoever.

Feel 'lighter' for getting rid of this burden and will continue to work slowly but surely. Not at home much tomorrow but I hope to get one bag done for sure.

take care all and keep chucking

GreyQueen

:T Good going, everyone. It's so heartening to hear the stories.

I think something from my own life, as well as what I'm hearing from others is the sense of lightness vs heaviness. And how even things which are out of sight aren't out of mind and contribute to the heaviness of clutter.

Such as, on the surface you home might be very tidy, but you know that the loft is rammed, and that no cupboard can be safely opened without risk of a cascading pile of Stuff escaping. And that this emotion contributes to stress even if you're not physically falling over things as you walk across the rooms.

Part of my job involves talking to tenants regarding upgrades to their council houses, maisonettes or flats. We're talking big stuff like re-wires, new CH systems, double-glazing, new kitchens or bathrooms. You'd be amazed the amount of times people turn down several thousand pounds' worth of improvements because of Stuff. As in, they'd have to move their Stuff around a bit and they simply can't face the temporary upheaval.

And it's not always who you'd expect to be affected like this, such as the frail elderly or disabled, it's often younger and able-bodied people, too. Their Stuff has taken over and will mean that they'll decline the new and much more efficient CH system, or the double-glazing, because of it.

I guess that's why they call them possessions - because they can end up possessing you.

On a happier note, I am enjoying wearing some of the clothes which were MIA in the chest-of-drawers for most of a year and wore 'new' stuff yesterday and will wear something else 'new' today. Vexaciously, these particular items are season-appropriate and have nearly missed out on all the cooler weather of autumn-winter 2013-14 because of being buried and forgotten. Let that be a lesson to me, hey?

Will continue with the shoeboxes, I think, after work. A shoebox is a nice amount for small sorting, not too much so that you get cross.

Have a good day, my lovelies, and watch your backs if you're doing heavy lifting. GQ xx.

whitewing

Managed to get washing on the airer and beds made before we left today.

Big packaging from yesterday's delivery has gone for recycling.

The stuff we sorted yesterday is still at home. Need to decide how we will get them out - some will go to children's groups and others to charity shops but we have to be a bit careful with it.

Florenceem

Our bed has four drawers in the base - I use these to store craft stash and small presents during the year as I get them. Today I have emptied out one of the drawers and tidied/listed what is in it.
I didn't get rid of anything apart from an old pattern that I had drawn up myself years ago.
I have decided - nothing is to be added to this drawer. List of ideas for makes written up so I can use some of the stash. I am retired so will not be able to afford to replenish. I will review drawer contents in a year.
So - another three drawers to sort.

GreyQueen

Afternoon all.

Have been offline busily doing allotmenteering inc a run to the green waste tip, and then home then off to the c.s. with a donation bag.

I carried on walking to get to my greengrocer and passed 10 chazzers. Prior to the Chazzer Fast, I would have gone into them all for a quick mooch, too.:rotfl:But apart from a brief dive into one with my donation bag, straight to the till tooking neither left nor right, that was it.

It felt strange and unnatural. But with the time saved I'm getting down to cleaning and polishing some floors at home, which was a tad overdue. Funny how Spring makes you feel the urge to bottom the place out, isn't it? And the tip was heaving with peeps who'd obviously been having a darned good clear out at their homes.

Righty, onwards and outwards, I need to crack on. GQ xx

VJsmum

Dropped a bag at the chazzer but, regrettably, succumbed to a lovely shirt from per una for work.

It's nice though.....

Also been trying to do my "get rid of three things a day" thing

There are things I struggle to get rid of though. So I went to DS's room and found three books there he won't miss them....

Wondering why I am struggling with things I haven't used or realised I've even got for years, though. A tube if bright red acrylic paint, a pack or two of tie back hooks when we never tie our curtains back, some photo frames, more see through plastic wallets than anyone could possibly need. Like hundreds - literally :eek:

Florenceem

I did go in a charity shop today - I had a good excuse - was looking for bits to make a Book Week costume. I didn't get anything for the costume but spent £1. I got a lovely wrapped bar of soap - one of those posh ones with bits in - 50p - will do as part of a Christmas present. The other 50p was a ball of DK yarn - weighed it - seems to be complete 100g. I got it with intention of passing it on to my Sister but it is a gorgeous colour.

noelphobic

Florenceem wrote: »

IThe other 50p was a ball of DK yarn - weighed it - seems to be complete 100g. I got it with intention of passing it on to my Sister but it is a gorgeous colour.

Do you only give your sister horrible colours?