The KonMarie method

Knit_Witch

Birdie85 wrote: »

Just a quick one to say that the bug is spreading! I told my Mum about the book and she's going to download it after I walked into her dressing/junk room and almost got buried under the clutter! Told her for now to just decide what brings her joy and left that seed of an idea in her brain. Overheard her telling someone 2 days later how she's been going through her clothes throwing out the things that no longer bring her joy! Who knows, her house may be fully Konverted in a few months!

Stealth Kondoing here as well - OH is slowly coming on line :beer::beer:

iQueen

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

I do find it difficult to get rid of some of the older (20 years plus) clothes, as they seem so much better made and of better quality fabric than the newer ones. I know part of the problem is that I've been buying cheap clothes while I try to lose weight, as I don't want to encourage myself to stay [STRIKE]portly[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]plump[/STRIKE] FAT :rotfl: .

You're absolutely right! I have some items of clothing (and Shabitat towels) going back to the 60s and 70's - beautifully made, chain store stuff, mostly cheap at the time, and still going strong.

Trouble is, in times of austerity (these days), companies are determined not to suffer a drop in profits. They pare back to the cheapest possible materials, ingredients and (human!) resources to ensure profit growth. We end up with poor quality, smaller quantities and higher prices, in the face of 'now softer' [toilet paper], 'new recipe' 'even richer flavour' etc etc!

Hopefully, kondoing our rubbish and buying less, more smartly, they will learn that we are not fools they take us for!

june89

Personally, I feel if you don't have the space/inclination to continue storing your children's belongings... I say give it all to them and let them decide. That way, if they do regret it in the future it's their guilt and not yours. If my mother did this, I would just bin the lot but I have zero interest in looking at my childhood things. Never have been a sentimental person. She knows this though, so I think the only things she has now are the bits that are important to her like my baby bangle.

In other Kondo news, charity bag pickup today. It went out stuffed to the brim plus another two carrier bags placed alongside. Mostly kitchen items, love when they do bric a brac collection.

cheerfulness4

I'm with caitybabes and june, I don't keep all the childhood things of my own given or my childrens. I think I would be worried that I would contribute towards them hoarding things.
I enjoy my memories and I'm nothing like my mum and sister who like to hold on to lots of things. I like my storage space too much I think todsys things and don't like too much furniture or storage boxes.
I do however like practical kitchen things mums given me from my growing years but they are used daily so earn their keep.

GreyQueen

I must admit to being taken aback that Mums are storing loads of childhood paraphenalia to give to their children later. I wouldn't have thanked my Mum for this; I was determined to declutter my dolls and teddies when I was about 11-12 and had the nth degree from her of was I sure ? etc etc.

I was sure back in the 1970s and I have no regrets. I have every bump, ding, mend and texture of those cuddly toys stored in my memory. I have moved frequently as an adult and certainly wouldn't want to be lugging my teddies, my school uniform, my childhood toys and games, my Silver Brumby and Chalet School paperbacks etc etc around with me. Nor would I want them even if I wasn't moving around.

I think we need to understand that memories aren't the same as mementos.

Family history is a different matter from Stuff, per se, and there can always be space made for notebooks, photos, a few records etc. Although when a house which had been in my family for most of the twenthieth century (it was built in the 1830s) was sold outside the family, we did donate a packet of historic papers relating to it and the land to the county council archive, so they're available for future historians to enjoy.

iQueen

I have to agree with OPs, it is hopeless to try to keep everything - that's how we have got into this mess!

Stuff our Mums have kept from our childhoods, is their responsibility. If they ask us to look through it with them, fine; but we don't have to take any of it, even if it is offered.

Our children's stuff is, of course, their choice too, but regular weeding is to be encouraged!

The stuff our children bring home, like art work, models, school work, trip mementoes, or stuff manufactured at home, etc, has to be carefully weeded: we can't keep it all, unless we are prepared to rent a storage unit for 20+ years! (My children never went to nursery, so I had some control over what they created!)

With five children, I found that if their output 'spoke' to me, it would be immediately obvious. Some didn't survive 7 moves, but the few that have, are used/displayed, treasured and make me happy.

GreyQueen

Some relatives of mine hung onto a 3 bedroom, 2 reception room council house into their old age, instead of moving into a council bungalow over the road, thus depriving a family the chance to raise their kids there.

Among the many usused items in the totally unused front room was a bookcase of Auntie's childhood books from the forties and fifties and her son's childhood books from the seventies. All of which have now been decluttered as they did eventually move, about 30 years later than was optimum.

I came home to a letter from the charity which I joined as a gift-aider this January and they have raised nearly £90 from my Stuff in the past 3 months! I'm gobsmacked and delighted at how well they've done and I haven't missed a thing, except in a good way.

Floss

I have one plastic storage box of kids memorabilia for my two sons - what was originally saved got whittled down through 5 house moves in 6 years, and then a final move to my current home with then OH (now DH).

I also shared photos of the kids 50/50 with their dad, and have since shared theirs into 2 albums which they now have.

I don't have much from my own childhood - Chilprufe (a duck) and Chad (as in Chad Valley - another duck) but I have custody of some of the older family photos after clearing my parents home in 2005. Anyone else have a b&w photo of a baby on a hand knitted shawl?!

GreyQueen

Floss wrote: »

I have one plastic storage box of kids memorabilia for my two sons - what was originally saved got whittled down through 5 house moves in 6 years, and then a final move to my current home with then OH (now DH).

I also shared photos of the kids 50/50 with their dad, and have since shared theirs into 2 albums which they now have.

I don't have much from my own childhood - Chilprufe (a duck) and Chad (as in Chad Valley - another duck) but I have custody of some of the older family photos after clearing my parents home in 2005. Anyone else have a b&w photo of a baby on a hand knitted shawl?!

There are cute square little photos of me as a 1960s tot beside huge old motorbikes as I helped Dad clean them. In a pinafore dress.

Umm, me in the dress, the bike was a BSA (I think).

jinny

Watching Colectaholics on Bbc2
Omg opposite to Mari kondo!!!