Decluttering in 2014 - onwards and upwards!

Own_My_Own

poet123 wrote: »

That is a good idea, I use the same rule. Don't you feel much better when you have got rid of a lot of stuff?

It's lovely. But the trick is not to let it build up again.

I have a basket in the kitchen that everything goes in. When it is full I go though it, and throw most of it away.

I also bought CD/DVD wallets. After I had got rid if all the ones I didn't want, I put the rest in the wallets. Now instead if taking up a bookcase they take up one drawer.

I did the same with my books. Got rid of the ones I would never read again, kept the ones I hadn't read. I then made a list of the books I thought I would like to read again, or authors I liked. Now once a fortnight I check Amazon to see if any are free or reduced and put them on my kindle. Again a bookcase down to one shelve, which is decreasing as I read through them.

purplevamp

Happy New Year everyone :j Thanks for starting a new thread TheDoolallyDilly.


I've been awol for months but have still been reading the thread and trying to have some sort of decluttering going on. Well that hasn't worked.


My DS1 who moved out in January last year came home at the end of October, so there's more stuff in the house again :cool:.


I really need to get the house sorted and although I may not post often I will be here with you all in spirit

pavlovs_dog

poet123 wrote: »

Don't you feel much better when you have got rid of a lot of stuff?

I drift in and out of the thread (on a half termly basis it seems ). You do feel better for having less physical and mental clutter.

Have decided for example that I am going to purge my uni notes which have been in the attic since I graduated and have moved house with me twice. I haven't looked at them since so they don't need to be in the attic. Just need to get some recycling bags and then I can get my shred on.

Whilst I find it hard to get rid of many of the DVDs and books we HAVE, we're much better at making sure that almost all new acquisitions are digital. We're hoping to decorate the living room this year which will force me to face me DVD demons, as that's where they currently live.

charlies_mum

We have made a start already. Dh is bringing boxes downstairs and sorting through them


My real lightbulb moment came when I was looking at houses for sale online and realised that I have a lovely house under all this mess

Frogletina

I follow this website - http://www.365lessthings.com/

On a Monday a list of mini-missions is set for the week and the idea is to declutter one item a day for a year.

One item I got for Christmas was a very garish toiletry bag with toiletries that did not come with it. I've put the toiletries in the guest bathroom and the bag will probably go to the charity shop.

365 declutter advises -

'Did you get some gifts that you really do not want? Declutter them.'

Trying_really_hard

I was a member of this thread last year (or the year before ).

I moved house in April and there's still 5 unpacked boxes in the spare room. If I haven't needed those items in 9 months, do I really still need them? I actually need my spare room as some friends recently moved away and they need somewhere to stay if they visit.

Its just getting the motivation to do it all :mad:

charlies_mum

Trying_really_hard wrote: »

I was a member of this thread last year (or the year before ).

I moved house in April and there's still 5 unpacked boxes in the spare room. If I haven't needed those items in 9 months, do I really still need them? I actually need my spare room as some friends recently moved away and they need somewhere to stay if they visit.

Its just getting the motivation to do it all :mad:

I know it's hard to get motivated, but I just think how lovely it will be when I haven't got any stock here . I dread anything going wrong with the boiler, the plumber won't be able to find it

QueenB.

This looks like the place for me, over the past month or so i have been reading flylady and slowly trying to put her ideas and emails into practice and this year i want to really declutter and redecorate so it will be good support to be around like minded people. Made a start decluttering last year but it stiil seems to be building up. Not sure i will set myself target for items per month but will definitely do a little each week.

nearlyrich

I am still working my way through the stuff I have gathered over the years, my music is all digitised and I only buy downloads now and pretty much the same for books. We have a loft full of stuff which we keep working on and I have downsized my cooking stuff, thrown out old pans and oven trays etc.


My driver was sorting out my mum's home after she passed away, she was a bit of a hoarder and I don't want anyone to have to spend ages sorting out my junk.


I am still in the process but I like the feeling of space when I get rid of something...and we do now have room to have people to stay.

VfM4meplse

Doing it now....after promising myself all of last year! I desperately need more space, so am getting rid in advance of attempting to sell up this year. Today has been miserable and wet, so have confined myself to the great indoors. When it dries out a bit I shall tackle the shed

The chazzer will be the chief beneficiary of my clearout, closely followed by the recyclng bin