The KonMarie method

lao_cat

chanie wrote: »

oldstyle decluttering

To me, oldstyle is about reusing, repairing and mending. I'm struggling with how you can declutter and still be oldstyle. I've been decluttering but am scared I'm loosing my oldstyle ways.

We had to buy a new kettle as our old one stopped working. I tried the old kettle on the new base and it worked!!! I started using the new kettle and put the old one in a cupboard 'just in case'. I ended up throwing it out today as clutter. I don't know if that was the right thing to do. It brought me more joy than my new one. But, we only need one kettle and it doesn't make sense to throw away the new one, as the old one is more likely to stop working. I don't regret getting rid of it, but it does go against what I believe to be oldstyle.

Likewise, I have a small box with odds and sods in it like those ribbon ties you get in clothing and those elastic strings you get tying shoes together. I kept them in case the children needed them for school projects or crafts. It was only a small box, so didn't take up much space. But, when I looked in the box, I'd forgotten what I'd put in it. So, given that I didn't have a definite, intended use (again, another 'just in case' item), I got rid of them.

Am I loosing my oldstyle ways, or was this a sensible declutter?

I have just started on this path but I don't think this method conflicts with an old style approach at all, when you know and love the things you have I find you are better able to mind and mend them and know where they are. I also find tgat examining each item piece by piece it forces you to examine in detail your choices. For example I have only just started on the clothes category and tbh it has been enlightening. I had cheap underwear i got towards the end of my pregnancy ds is now 17 months and it is a size 18 and I am a ten so it never stayed up but I never really thought about it. Why the hell was I wearing underwear that was 4 sizes to big? M mother was obessed with clarks shoes, even as a child they never fit my feet well, I have a pair if them sitting through 4 houses moves cluttering up my wardrobe just in case? In case what exactly they suddenly going to fit? I also have a load of clothes donated to me, the either don't for right or are not my style. Again I have been hanging on to them just in case but now I donating them. We have v limited storage so all this adds noise. I
A lot of my clothes are old and ragged beyond repair, I dint wear them out and kept them just in case, but I find myself asking in case of what exactly.
In the other hand I found a pair of boots that zip went on last year, they are super comfortable and look smart so I brought them to the cobbler to have repaired.

I have gathered up every toiletry and make up product job the house and have put them into a cabinet in the bathroom I have to go through this but if it is something I would like / suits my skin I wi use if not or may be binned/ donated. I like to keep toiletries natural and simple, I have been given gifts that are not suitable so if unopened why not donate to someone who will: can use?

pollys

DS has just asked me if I've taken up a new hobby - origami. He's found the carrier bags!

Although the teenagers did initially laugh at my socks, tea towels etc. They are now using words such as "impressive" "pretty cool, actually" there is hope yet that they too will be konverts.

I am finding the house quite untidy. Certain drawers and cupboards are beautifully organised but I do have stuff waiting for a home to be found.

I'll be back in the bedroom tomorrow. DH is working his last nightshift for a week. I need to make a start on my shoes. It shouldn't take long, I struggle to find really comfortable shoes so don't own many pairs. Most of them are in their original box.

Have fun folding and rolling.

Polly

PixieDust

I have just ranger-rolled my spare fleecy blankets......saints preserve us :doh:

rock_queen

Loving this thread. Have spent most of the day reading through it and I've also ordered the book.

We are due to move in a couple of weeks so I started to declutter a few weeks ago but this is really inspiring. I don't want to move to a new house with all the baggage from the past, I want to be organised and less stressed. I want to be able to actually find things and use them and love them. Everything will have its place in our new home. I've watched some of the vids and I'm following Pinterest. I can't wait to get started!

How do I subscribe to a thread? I need this in my life! Lol

PixieDust

Up there ^^^^ in green, thread tools

Alton_Towers

I have ranger rolled my tea towels and they fit in the drawer much better than being folded!

Took more stuff to the CS today, I am starting to feel that when I move in a couple of weeks that I will only be moving with things that we truly want to have. As I am packing if no joy or it's been in a drawer of cupboard not used then it's not going in a box.

Kittikins

Have been reading with interest - I'm a mucky, messy pup (or should I say kitty ) and have watched a few of the YT videos. This evening, I took some tops and a dressing gown destined for the charity shop that DD has grown out of and folded them....


If I didn't have my week's lesson plans to finish before I go to bed tonight, I'd be sorting out at least one drawer in my room asap!


Feeling itchy to get Konmarie'ing

iQueen

chanie wrote: »

oldstyle decluttering

To me, oldstyle is about reusing, repairing and mending. I'm struggling with how you can declutter and still be oldstyle. I've been decluttering but am scared I'm loosing my oldstyle ways.



We had to buy a new kettle as our old one stopped working. I tried the old kettle on the new base and it worked!!! I started using the new kettle and put the old one in a cupboard 'just in case'. I ended up throwing it out today as clutter. I don't know if that was the right thing to do. It brought me more joy than my new one. But, we only need one kettle and it doesn't make sense to throw away the new one, as the old one is more likely to stop working. I don't regret getting rid of it, but it does go against what I believe to be oldstyle.

Likewise, I have a small box with odds and sods...
...I got rid of them.

Am I loosing my oldstyle ways, or was this a sensible declutter?

I'm old style too, and have no intention of losing it! Over the past several years, I have recognised that many of our old style habits and the skills that we learned back then, are lost to many younger people.

There are some old style habits that we can let go, because they are now obsolete - saving pieces of string, mending tights and some clothes (which are cheap to replace and can be recycled into 'new' textiles). We need to be discerning in which old style habits we keep, and which ones, still bring us joy and are practical.

Our old style habits make us excellent conservationists, since we have always known theimportance of recycling as much stuff as possible. Different reasons today, for some people, perhaps, but a good habit to have.

I did think of trying my new kettle on the old, preferred base, but dismissed it, as they are different makes and I don't want to risk a fire, since they are connected 24/7! :eek: In your case, if you have the space to store the new kettle keep it as an emergency replacement.

One thing that I've learned, is that our children or grandchildren want very little of what we think they might. Time moves on.

Of course it was a good de-clutter! :T And, no, you aren't losing your old style ways. Lose the habits of a life-time? No way!

'Come the revolution' we will have all the necessary skills to survive! :rotfl:

peaceandfreedom

Hi everyone .

I downloaded the book last night and finished reading it this morning. I've done a bit of Kondo-ing, starting with my sock and underwear drawers. Showed teenage DD my sock drawer and she was amazed - I must say it looks a display in a shop, I keep opening it to take another look . Tights are now beautifully stored in an old decorative case. Bras arranged correctly in a nice basket. Some of these storage solutions are temporary pending Kondoing of the whole wardrobe.

In the kitchen, plastic bags have been samosa-d and now live in a tiny tub instead of taking up a large drawer in a plastic storage set. Have Kondoed another drawer in the same unit that holds the bin bags. This used to be so stuffed I could hardly close it - now it has room to house the tub of plastic bags and everything in it is perfectly organised. In the freed-up drawer my ranger-rolled tea-towels now reside serenely. Teenage DS thinks I'm now officially bonkers. I intend to help him Kondo his room at some stage.

It's now 1:15am, I've been either Kondo-ing or thinking about it all day, I intend to continue this thing to the end, though it may well take me the whole 6 months.

Thanks for all the fun and inspiration on this thread :T.

Floss

MummyRivett wrote: »

Self employed, I would suggest getting an A4 folder and 12 pocket acetate punched slips, label each one as a separate month and put all your receipts in each month. I also scan in Daddy Rivett's receipts so we have them to hand. Yes it is work but I am an old school PA and have been doing this sort of thing for years.

I LOVE this tip, and will be utilising it tonight after finalising last year's tax return, so the next one is easier! Thank you Mummy Rivett