The KonMarie method

somerandom

After having said I was going to have a break from Kondoing I woke up bright and early and did a second Kondo of my Winter clothes. Another half a sack full of stuff for the CS.

The biggest eye opener was how many joy-giving clothes I have that I don't wear. To some extent it is a case of just wearing the same stuff out of habit - but I did see a number of items that I just wasn't looking after properly - i.e they need to be pressed properly or wool items that the cat had got near to so when I think about wearing them it feels like too much work to get them in a fit state to wear. So today I am going to give them some tlc and I have set myself a challenge to wear at least one neglected item a day for the next month.

emg

Morning Kondites. I didnt get as far as my gift wrap supplies yesterday so I am starting with that today. I'm feeling quite smug though as I was waiting at the tip when it opened with all my electrical cables for recycling and a couple more bags for the rag bank.

GreyQueen

Depends on what it is and your personal level of paranoia. My level is pretty high as have worked in the welfare advice service sector and seen DWP send people bills for tens of thousands of alleged overpayments of benefits from decades earlier. Getting a bill for £30,000 to be paid back in 2 weeks - seen it IRL.:eek:

*****************
Stuff related to building regs/ planning permissions; for the duration of your ownership of that property.

Bank statements; 6 years is the recommendation, I keep mine forever.

Payslips; however long you feel comfortable with. I keep all mine.

Utility bills; a year's worth, the payments should also show up on your bank statements.

Savings/ insurance policies; until they are paid up, and then whatever margin you feel comfortable with.

Car paperwork; for the duration of ownership of that vehicle.

Warranties/ guarantees/ instructions - for the duration of the life of the item.

Investment paperwork - 6 years or forever, whichever you're comfortable with.

P.60s/ P.45s - forever.

Stuff related to benefit claims (includes tax credits) - forever.

Immigration/ naturalisation/ nationality paperwork - forever.

Legal papers - civil or criminal or marital - forever.

Wills - unless superceded by another Will - forever.

Tenancy agreements - for the duration and for a while after. If you ever apply for social housing, it's very useful to be able to evidence where you've been living previously, this thing called local connection counts.

Lots of paperwork doesn't take up much volume, once you strip out the kipple like envelopes and promotional leaftets. I also decluttered some whole bank accounts with beggar-all in them, which reduces the paper flow through my life considerably.

As a local authority customer service peep, I encounter a lot of people each year who are in a pickle because they have lost or deliberately discarded what turned out to be important paperwork. It often ends costing them money (sometimes lots of money) and a lot of stress and inconvenience.

They're trying to sell a house with an extension and the purchaser's solicitor is quibbling about did it have PP. They're trying to evidence their divorce many years ago to their pension provider, they're trying to claim benefits for a period when they had some income but cannot find payslips/ bank statements, they insist they should have more right-to-buy discount because they had a tenancy at X, Y or Z address which no one can find records of........ it never ends.

Rowan9

Well, an interesting evening after Kondo ing my clothes and books in one fell swoop. A distant cousin may hopefully be a new friend,with similar interests and passion for a subject. Only met once in teens. I do believe in synchronicity and also in having to clear out (clutter, patterns of thoughts etc) in order to allow space for 'things' - people, events, items of interest etc- to come in to your life. The actual 'coincidence' of the timing of events last night was amazingly fabulous. Had loads of dreams about it all and also woke up a few times pondering things. That included thoughts that I might take back some of the books relating to study as maybe this was a sign not to give them away. In the light of day I can see that clearing them out was beneficial in clearing my negative thoughts which were stuck around it.still, I will keep six of them for a week before giving away!
Going to tackle the bathroom today and also contents of a rather lovely wicker basket ( think Miss Marple) that DH bought me a few years ago. It holds my toiletries stash. That includes items that DD was clearing out and asked me if I wanted. In the same way that Marie Kondo speaks about mothers taking their daughers' cast offs ( and then tending not to wear them) I do the same with my DD. Sometimes clothes but not often. Certainly toiletries but mostly because she has lovely things! I will look through them all and give her back what doesn't make my heart sing as she will be doing a car boot sale.
Now, having read that, and being a believer in how fab Kondo ing is and how it works, I am of course going to read the book to see what I am supposed to tackle next. Might be CDs? I put a few out over the last few weeks but I'm sure I will still manage to fill a small bag at least!
She does say to try to do it as quickly as poss. Back to work tomorrow though and am aware that I need energy for that.
Have a good day all!
X
Ps, yes, I have a feeling that I am being more true to myself through this process. Even the clothes I have been wearing to work - looking at them, they are not 'me' at all but an attempt to fit in.previously i was a lecturer in a construction dept of a college and wore jeans, polo shirt and then college logo fleece. A break for some study, originally planned for four years or more, didn't work out and in the process of my re-entry in to work place in new location, in new type of post, I can see that I lost the true me in dress sense.
Aaaaah now I need a cup of tea after this bearing of the soul!

Craftyscholar

GreyQueen wrote: »

Depends on what it is and your personal level of paranoia. My level is pretty high as have worked in the welfare advice service sector and seen DWP send people bills for tens of thousands of alleged overpayments of benefits from decades earlier. Getting a bill for £30,000 to be paid back in 2 weeks - seen it IRL.:eek:

*****************
Stuff related to building regs/ planning permissions; for the duration of your ownership of that property.

Bank statements; 6 years is the recommendation, I keep mine forever.

Payslips; however long you feel comfortable with. I keep all mine.

Utility bills; a year's worth, the payments should also show up on your bank statements.

Savings/ insurance policies; until they are paid up, and then whatever margin you feel comfortable with.

Car paperwork; for the duration of ownership of that vehicle.

Warranties/ guarantees/ instructions - for the duration of the life of the item.

Investment paperwork - 6 years or forever, whichever you're comfortable with.

P.60s/ P.45s - forever.

Stuff related to benefit claims (includes tax credits) - forever.

Immigration/ naturalisation/ nationality paperwork - forever.

Legal papers - civil or criminal or marital - forever.

Wills - unless superceded by another Will - forever.

Tenancy agreements - for the duration and for a while after. If you ever apply for social housing, it's very useful to be able to evidence where you've been living previously, this thing called local connection counts.

Lots of paperwork doesn't take up much volume, once you strip out the kipple like envelopes and promotional leaftets. I also decluttered some whole bank accounts with beggar-all in them, which reduces the paper flow through my life considerably.

As a local authority customer service peep, I encounter a lot of people each year who are in a pickle because they have lost or deliberately discarded what turned out to be important paperwork. It often ends costing them money (sometimes lots of money) and a lot of stress and inconvenience.

They're trying to sell a house with an extension and the purchaser's solicitor is quibbling about did it have PP. They're trying to evidence their divorce many years ago to their pension provider, they're trying to claim benefits for a period when they had some income but cannot find payslips/ bank statements, they insist they should have more right-to-buy discount because they had a tenancy at X, Y or Z address which no one can find records of........ it never ends.

Thanks, GreyQueen.
:eek:
I am a bit paranoid, but have never kept more than approx. 1 year of bank statements. Still get paper ones though. I don't trust paperless (of course we can supply copies) banking.
Sorry to be a nuisance, but does the P45/P60 rule still apply after you have retired?

whitesatin

I still have my O Level and Highers Certificates from 1968, together with every certificate since, e.g. my teacher training, all the courses I have undertaken right up till my retirement a few years ago. Sometimes I think of getting rid, I have no intention of working again as I am 63 and been retired for a good few years now. One of the reasons I kept them is that I came across similar things from my parents/grandparents when my mum died. I found it really interesting, e.g. testimonials given to my dad when he left the army, way back in '37. I will probably, one day, scan them or photograph them and put them on the family back up drive which my son organizes. It may seem doubtful that anyone will ever want to look but you never know, some people take an interest when they are a bit older, once they have time. I think scanning things is great, all my old photos (pre-digital, my teenage years, my children's younger years etc.), all scanned and saved, some forwarded on. E.g. when my children grew up and had their own, it was interesting for them to compare baby photos.

Have spent much of the morning upstairs, beginning to sort my clothes. Have freed up (and filled again, unfortunately, with gifts to be given on birthdays, my bargains) the ottoman in my bedroom. All my handbags were piled in there. I have emptied them, put one inside the other where possible and they are now in a freed up drawer in the spare bedroom.

The upstairs looks chaotic but I will carry on today and finish the job. Piles of clothes for the CS.

I have decided though, to have a break for a week or so before tackling anything in the rest of the house. I am a bit obsessive and find that nothing else is getting done right now. Worth it though.

Igamogam

GreyQueen wrote: »

Depends on what it is and your personal level of paranoia. My level is pretty high as have worked in the welfare advice service sector and seen DWP send people bills for tens of thousands of alleged overpayments of benefits from decades earlier. Getting a bill for £30,000 to be paid back in 2 weeks - seen it IRL.:eek:

*****************
Stuff related to building regs/ planning permissions; for the duration of your ownership of that property.

Bank statements; 6 years is the recommendation, I keep mine forever.

Payslips; however long you feel comfortable with. I keep all mine.

Utility bills; a year's worth, the payments should also show up on your bank statements.

Savings/ insurance policies; until they are paid up, and then whatever margin you feel comfortable with.

Car paperwork; for the duration of ownership of that vehicle.

Warranties/ guarantees/ instructions - for the duration of the life of the item.

Investment paperwork - 6 years or forever, whichever you're comfortable with.

P.60s/ P.45s - forever.

Stuff related to benefit claims (includes tax credits) - forever.

Immigration/ naturalisation/ nationality paperwork - forever.

Legal papers - civil or criminal or marital - forever.

Wills - unless superceded by another Will - forever.

Tenancy agreements - for the duration and for a while after. If you ever apply for social housing, it's very useful to be able to evidence where you've been living previously, this thing called local connection counts.

Lots of paperwork doesn't take up much volume, once you strip out the kipple like envelopes and promotional leaftets. I also decluttered some whole bank accounts with beggar-all in them, which reduces the paper flow through my life considerably.

Reading through that list GQ I am pretty much the same with paperwork- what to keep and for how long. Paperless system for bank account s and CC annoy me however as they say they can only supply with 12 months worth on line. I wanted info from more than 12 months recently and they tires to charge me..........I stood my ground and paper copies duly arrived - Its pays to be bolshy! When we had paper copies it was very useful when we claimed PPI from more than 6 years previously - 20 years infact:eek: The bank claimed they had no 'evidence' and we said - no worries WE DO!!

My OH is a bit more anal about paperwork than I am although I do have EVERY pay slip I have had.........again proved useful when I found a mistake on my annual occupational pension statement - 3 years missing:mad: and although it would have been sorted as of course I paid blimmin tax and pension deductions in that time - I was able to say I know I am right cos I have the payslips in front of me:D

I think GQ is right - it s what ever you are comfortable with. However we do house our household and personal paperwork in 2 four drawer filing cabinets - fortunately we have an 'office' so we have the space but of course that means we fill it...........:o But we do have a blitz about twice a year and clear out the files and we always say the same thing: where on earth does it come from!

Igamogam

wmf wrote: »

In the same way that Marie Kondo speaks about mothers taking their daughers' cast offs ( and then tending not to wear them)

Now if I could get into my daughters cast offs I would be delighted and would wear them!!

A bit of the reverse of that was when my 2 DDs fell on a Dotty P skirt ( now would be classed as hippy/boho style) and a pair of Falm@rs dungarees previously worn by yours truly as a student in the 80's. Both items said size 10. Both girls where surprised their mother was ever a size 10:mad: I said they could have them if they fitted............ha. They are both 21st century size8/10 and were nonplussed the items didn't fit. I felt a bit like Cinders watching the ugly sisters trying to squeeze into a dainty glass slipper. Made us all laugh. My DDs are not ugly sisters BTW:rotfl:

WeeMidgie

Had a fond memory Igamogam, prompted by your post, of a pair of Falmers jeans I loved - vintage 1972... those were the days my friend, we thought would never end!

I've now got to the bottom of a laundry basket which had items needing to be washed, from last year - mostly woollens which needed freshened up I hasten to add, not anything worn every day! To prevent items building up in future, I'm kondo'ing the laundry basket itself. In its place goes a very pretty turquoise bag with handles I brought back from my travels - a joyful reminder of a special time. When not in use, it will be kept in a kondo'd drawer in the bedroom, and its neat size means it will be emptied of clothes for washing when there's enough for one machine load.

In similar vein, friends went to visit the Bayeux Tapestry and brought me back an attractive polypropylene re-usable shopping bag of the tapestry which I'm now using in place of my second laundry basket, for taking damp washing out of the machine to be hung up, and for bringing in the dry washing from outside. When not in use, the bag folds up and is secured with a clip, and lives in a small space at the back door.

So that's two rather bulky laundry baskets to be dropped off at the charity shop, and more physical space reclaimed, giving me great joy!:j:j

luxor4t

Two nice cardboard boxes arrived in the house by chance - so I Kondo'd my fabric cupboard.
With a couple of other cardboard boxes I already had I was able to move out the small slant sided 'stacking' boxes and transfer/sort the contents. Much better use of the space and I have moved on a few bits and pieces that do not fit into my patchwork plans.
My heart is still singing - I love my bits of fabric