The KonMarie method

mrs-moneypenny

Iqueen the stuff I have kondoed of my children's was really thinning out. It was before I started kondoing, I had every school book they have ever had stashed in the attic! So it was a thinning out ie books that only had a couple of pages written in at the front came down to be used as notebooks, things like worksheet that were no more than tick boxes or information, and some of the math workbooks. I've still got loads. DD3 had methodically labelled hers with what they are who's they are and that they are "to be kept!" Some of the other stuff is just thrown up in random carrier bags. Things like birthday cards from school friends have been thinned but all family ones kept, one day I will try and sort those into age/child boxes for them before offering.
My grand plan is to have a box of memories for each of them but so that it is full of joyful happy memories not so crammed full of tat that things get bogged down.
For example DD1 is not really materialistic and usually the one to say but why do you still have it. I have a small toy elephant of hers that one day got left on a bus, we tracked it down and collected it back from the bus depot, a driver told my little then 3 year old how the elephant had kept him company on lots of journeys and about adventures they had had together. She was spellbound. ( it was so much better than being told it had been handed in to lost property straight after our journey. ) anyway I just know when she is faced with that toy again it will bring back such happy memories.
teddys however from exboyfriends who caused broken hearts and sleepless nights have been quietly dispatched as I don't think those memories will bring any kind of joy. Hearts are mended and love has moved on, those kind of sleeping dogs should lie in the past.

Susan1962

Have made good progress today (and hoping to make even more once I get the book from the library - it's a pain waiting). Have emptied two large dresser drawers and folded jeans/chinos/casual trousers in them, along with t-shirts, pyjamas and a box with scarves. I know you're not supposed to organise before you finish getting rid of things but I need to be able to sleep on my bed without throwing anything else on the chair! So - went through the wardrobe again as well and have filled two more large donation bags and it's a lovely feeling. Wardrobe now organised with long stuff to the left as suggested and then by colour (touch of OCD there) within that and there's a lot of room left. Just having a break and then back to tackle the tight/sock drawer which I've been putting off ...

bunbun2

the books have gone...to be honest I can't remember most of what is in the boxes.

OH thinks it is a complete waste of time and not worth doing for the amount of money I will get. All he kept saying was "this is a ridiculous way of earning x amount of money" All I said to him "when you need money in paypal it will be there and won't come out of the bank account"

Then when I asked him to take them to the collect plus place well...face like thunder:eek:

iQueen

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

Iqueen the stuff I have kondoed of my children's was really thinning out.

I hope you didn't think that I was being judgmental. I'm just relieving myself of responsibility for other people's clutter! I've got more than enough of my own to plough through.:rotfl:

My children are all happily established and in long-term relationships/married and have begun producing children of their own. I'm sure if anything here really meant anything, they would have collected it by now!

I started doing memory boxes for mine several years ago. As I come across anything that I think they would like to see (again) or may want to keep, it goes in their boxes.

I dread what I might find in the loft! I know they have left everything from Mini parts, an industrial sewing machine, and goodness knows what other komono! :rotfl:

Igamogam

Enforced paperwork kondo here today ......was not on my timetable. However I need to find something which I know is n the house somewhere............ but I need it NOW. Really when I 'lost' it I should have just organised a replacement but I kept putting it off resenting the the cost and believing one day it would 'turn up' during my declutter antics......sadly I find that I now need it before I have found it ....GRRR!

pavlovs_dog

bunbun2 wrote: »

OH thinks it is a complete waste of time and not worth doing for the amount of money I will get. All he kept saying was "this is a ridiculous way of earning x amount of money"

TBH I think OH feels the same about the bits I have been flogging on Gumtree. But, however little I get for each item, it is better than nothing, and it is all being saved for something that WILL spark joy (which for us will be plants for our garden when we landcsape it this summer).

There is also the added benefit that it saves me yet another trip to the chazza. I've donated so much through my decluttering sprees over the past 3 years that I no longer feel like I am diddling them out of donations.

The saddest part of all is the immense joy I get from seeing another item leave the room of doom. Every inch of space reclaimed is a victory! :rotfl::rotfl:

VJsmum

iQueen wrote: »

Was it Machynlleth? I'm near there. :rotfl:

YES!!!!! :T

Is it the only bohemian hippy type town in Wales - I love it!

iQueen

VJsmum wrote: »

YES!!!!! :T

Is it the only bohemian hippy type town in Wales - I love it!

Probably not! But a commune was set up outside the town in the 1970s, on land belonging to a sympathetic owner, who eventually gave it to them.

They moved forward growing their own food, and living according to sustainable principles.

Now it is the Centre for Alternative Technology and, I believe a plc (Alternative! It doesn't pay dividends!) :rotfl:

So, with new generations having grown up there, the hippie ethos is strong in the area. Wales as a whole is very much in tune. probably because other hippies were also drawn to the country, where alternative living was possible. Suits me, as an old hippie, too! Wales recycles more waste than any other part of the UK, beating the UK target, at 52%. :T

7roland8

iQueen wrote: »

I started doing memory boxes for mine several years ago. As I come across anything that I think they would like to see (again) or may want to keep, it goes in their boxes.

I dread what I might find in the loft! I know they have left everything from Mini parts, an industrial sewing machine, and goodness knows what other komono! :rotfl:

Gosh me too - both sons now moved out and have a large box each for stuff and paperwork I am finding. Loads more int he attic I expect but would never throw anything of theirs away.

And in years to come it might be the cherished item they are looking for.

Rainy-Days

I have not Kondo'ed in a couple of months now so I had another blast today. I had the under-stairs cupboard out today and sorted out the carrier bags. I have one lot for the ordinary carriers supermarket bags which have been folded and knotted and then a separate bag for the stronger type ones like the Lakeland bags. Once October comes around carrier bags will be rare unless you are prepared to pay five pence each for them. The supermarket bags I use in the winter for the cats litter tray. There is a good twelve months supply there at present.

Cleared out four handbags and bagged those for the CS along with a coat from M&S that is years old and equally has not be worn in years and no it does not inspire joy in me at all now.

I tidied out the cupbard drawer in the kitchen with foil/freezer bags/parchment/clingfilm etc and got them all neat and tidy. I also have a stash now of three big rolls of black bin liners because once October hits there will be a demand for bin bags (it happened in Scotland and wales when they had to pay for carriers). Think allot of people use carriers for bin liners. Anyway there is more than enough at the moment.

Sorted my cloth carriers as well in the boot of the car, there is a big plastic box in the boot with the umbrellas in and all the carriers, so that is all neat and tidy in there. Boot is full for taking stuff to the CS tomorrow.

Had a look through the wardrobes again, nothing really needs CS'ing at the moment as I had a big purge the beginning of this year.

I must admit I always do feel better for having a blitz like this. It also helps to see what you have and have not used.