Hoarding - Springing Ahead

dragonette

I haven't managed to get rid of or sort much the last few days, just been so tired and run down this week I've barely managed to keep on top the bare minimum. Thank goodness for a new flatmate who actually pitches in with communal cleaning!

Thriftwizard, I love the sound of that knitting bad - what a wonderful idea!

parsniphead

I need to find my declutering mojo again. I was doing really well last week but since work interrupted it I have stopped again. I want to try and get some more done today and tomorrow before work again.

I'm finding it more and more difficult as I have less in the house. Don't get me wrong there is plenty to sort but making some decisions has almost become impossible. I did find three bin bags of paperwork in the cellar from my debt laden , not opening post phase which I have been sorting. I think tomorrow when the little one is at nursery I will pop down the garden and burn it ( well if none of the neighbours have there washing out). It will feel good to say goodbye to it. Then perhaps take everything off the cellar steps and pile it in the main bit of the cellar to sort out. I do know I have loads of crocks down there I planned to eBay or car boot but to be honest I can't be bothered so off to the charity shop they go.

I'm also going to sort some clutter by putting up some pictures which have been sitting on the bookcase for a couple of years. Tidying and dressing the house at the same time.

I really want a house I can invite people into.

thriftwizard

I really want a house I can invite people into.

I know exactly what you mean... my assorted family threw a bit of a wobbly when I suggested bringing my mother over here for a Mothering Sunday lunch, so she wouldn't be on her own. Too dangerous underfoot, apparently. Now that's not all my stuff, by any means; I don't play football & leave muddy boots everywhere, or leave gardening implements & footwear piled up beside the door, but undeniably there are too many odds & sods hanging around awaiting their chance on my stall. And quite a lot of craft stuff looking for a new home, too; I rearranged the furniture to give DS2 & TDiL some more storage units for their room, but unfortunately the previous contents of those units are still awaiting new quarters! At the time I thought I'd be able to condense them into an old sideboard, but I hadn't reckoned with the store of board games that already lives in there, which are still in use.

It's the garage that's really giving me heartache. I could keep some of the stock out there, if there was any room left. But it's stuffed to the rafters & I can't even remember what's under there, which is why I can't deny the label "hoarder" even if half of it is DS2 & TDiL's furniture & household effects. And it's really quite damp out there, so not an ideal place to keep anything for any length of time.

And we've just heard that DS3 is probably coming home for a year too, between the end of his sojourn in France and the start of an MA at his Alma Mater 30 miles away. Not that he's not welcome, but he hasn't lived here full-time for nearly 5 years now & we've been using his room as the sewing studio. I have just over a month to work out how I'm going to fit all that into the smallest room, which will have to double up as a guest room & DS1's "home" bedroom too...

Something's got to give. Most likely my sanity...

ivyleaf

So sorry it looks as if you have to lose your sewing studio for a while, thriftwizard, however nice it will be to have DS at home again for a while!

silvasava

Hi all - just popping in to report I got rid of at least 2/3rds of my fabric stash to our local hospice craft shop. It didn't hurt at all lol
Now I need to cull the curtain fabric & unused curtains. Am going to try to do it this week

dragonette

Well done Silvasava

I'm (very) slowly using up some of my wool/acrylic stash by making a throw for the living room couch. Might take till autumn at this rate! But the wool boxes shut more easily now.

catshark88

Well done Silvasava, that's a huge amount to go!

We've tackled our large amount of grown out of toys. I thought It would have been easier if I'd done it myself when the kids were at school, but they're old enough to really remember stuff and I'd have hated for them to feel that their things had gone without their say so. I've read some really moving posts on here about that, so thank you for educating me.

In the end, we went through every toy one by one, put some sentimental ones up in the loft and only recycled toys that both of them were happy to let go. I kept the bagged toys in a cupboard for a couple of months in case of changed minds, but neither child mentioned them, so they've gone to the CS.

I found it much easier personally, doing the job with them too. :-)

My next project I'd the vast number of DVDs which we no longer watch!

silvasava

Catshark - can't tell you how much your children would have appreciated being consulted. After all they are their toys. I still have a doll that I rescued after my mother decided to clear out my toys. I was devastated as it was a Christmas present from my Grandad when I was 7 & he died early in the January - all over 60 years ago . Well done you

catshark88

This forum is so valuable for passing on little pieces of wisdom like that. Of course Id always have consulted them when they were big, but sometimes one forgets that one's babies are growing up and are already storing up memories. The advice on here just made me snap into asking them, right now. I'm very grateful for that.

I'm very glad you were able to rescue your doll.

Happygreen

I've been going through her clothes with DD2 and bagged one lot for cash 4 clothes and the other for the CS. Maybe I'll even attempt to sell some good items...

I'd been away at my mum's for a week and it's been awful coming back into a crammed messy house after the time in her new and impeccable flat...