The KonMarie method

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

I'm creeping in to 'unlurk'!

I have been following all of your posts for a few weeks now and whilst I have not read the book I have picked up the 'gist' of the method and some useful hints and tips from you all.

I am a self confessed shopaholic, a bit of a horder and following over two years of illness my house and loft are rammed with 'stuff'.

Now that I am feeling fit and well again I have been making a conscious effort to clear the hord and make some space. I have kondoed my clothes, love how my drawers look with everything stood on end, it's so easy to find everything. My toileteries and the bathroom have been totally sorted. Both the kids rooms have been done. I still have to tackle the lounge, kitchen and dining room where the crockery, candles, dvds, cds etc are and of course the dreaded paperwork!!

As hubby was home this weekend we have made a start on the loft and taken 30, yes 30:eek: bags to the CS.

I feel so good about it! For years that stuff has been in the loft in the hope that I would Ebay/facebook/car boot it, in reality none of this has happened and I (thanks to this thread) have now realised that it is doing no-one any good clogging up my loft! Hopefully the CS will make plenty of money to help battle the big, bad C word!

I am not buying things either, the whole 'Joy Sparking' thing really works, I need a new pair of leather boots for the winter, have seen several pairs that fit and are ok, but none that spark joy, so I havent bought any.

I am loving the whole experience! Keep up the good work everyone!

321 xxx

carolbee

VJsmum wrote: »

I have sorted through a box of old cards - some i have had for 40 years, carting them around from house to house. i have kept about 6 that do spark joy (though a little sadness tinged), they have gone in my memory box.


I went into the loft to see if I have any xmas cards etc and got waylaid by the keepsake box, threw a couple away but have decided to make memory boxes/pictures.


found a card from my then about 10 year old son apologising for his behaviour for some misdemeanour, offered it to him touse when he moves in with his fianc! on Wednesday, just in case you know ......

GreyQueen

bunbun2 wrote: »

ds1 decided to keep the packaging bis books came in:eek:

You should sit the young feller down and tell him this story, as told to you by your friendly online stranger, GQ.

Once upon a time (this summer), a woman in her seventies (hi Mum!) was sorting through the bedlinens in the drawers under her bed. Or rather, she was supervising and decision-making whilst her daughter (me) was hauling Stuff into the light. This is a woman who hasn't moved house since 1971. In among the linens was a folded-up bit of brown paper with an address and postmarks from 1962. The address was that of the former next-door neighbour of her late MIL, who herself passed away in 1970.

Because you don't want to throw away a good bit of brown parcel paper because It Might Come in Handy, right?

I was all for chucking it into the recycling bin but my brother passed by and took it into safe-keeping to re-use for packaging online sales because it's a perfectly good bit of brown paper. Older than him, but still perfectly good.:wall:

If the youngster thinks this is bonkers, warn him that saving packaging materials as a habit is like hard drugs - easy to start and very very difficult to give up.First steps on slippery slopes etc etc.

Of course, punnets and shoeboxes are exempted from this rule, at least until one has finished kondo-ing.:rotfl:

Interesting that a few of us are reviewing the ownership of bathroom bins. They certainly are perfect little dust traps and often look ghastly.

:T Hello and welcome, 321! Sounds like you're making amazing progress already. It's so lovely when people stand up and introduce themselves.

I came home and opened my mailbox to find I'd been left the phone book. I would have declined it if offered but I was at work and didn't see it coming. I've tried in the past to find a way of opting my address out of this and Yillow Piges but can't find a way (if you do know, pls tell). Ripped the plastic cover off and shuttled the directory and the leaflets inside right into the recycling bin.

VJsMum, and her OH, thanks for the belly-laugh about the spare odd shoes, it was fantastic. And I do like your minsgame discard list, it's heartening to know that other people have random stuff all over the place as well.

ivyleaf

Welcome 3 kids 2 jobs 1 dog! So pleased you're better and well done on the Kondo-ing!

I have missed some other new posters too :hello: to you all!

I had been thinking lately that I could do with another long cardi, and found one in a chain store the other day, in a shade of blue I love.

Got it home and tried it on over the shirt I was wearing; it looked horrendously "matronly" IYKWIM. Admittedly I have rather a matronly figure these days, but even so.....

I then tried it again yesterday over a tee shirt of a similar shade, and that looked better, but I dunno.....I'm not really feeling the joy, so it will go back for a refund, and I'll manage without until I find the Right One.

ETA GQ Is your number ex-directory? If so, it really shouldn't be in The Phone Book! Have you tried contacting BT about this? I suppose you must have done, as you say you've tried various ways to get it removed :-( and if you don't run a business I can't imagine why it should be in Yellow Pages in the first place!

GreyQueen

ivyleaf wrote: »

ETA GQ Is your number ex-directory? If so, it really shouldn't be in The Phone Book! Have you tried contacting BT about this? I suppose you must have done, as you say you've tried various ways to get it removed :-( and if you don't run a business I can't imagine why it should be in Yellow Pages in the first place!

I'm not in the book nor a business, what I was trying to opt out of was being given the phone book and Yillow Piges. Don't want them, never have wanted them, they just get dumped on the step or, as the new narrow phone book fits into the mailbox, they'd put it in there. Exasperating.

june89

GQ I'm opted out of everything and have "no junk" stickers on the door. Still get the book through the door. I just do as you did, straight into recycling. Maybe if the council notice enough coming straight back in, they'll get the hint.

Once I figure out a way to stop my door hitting the towel rail, I'm going to kondo my bathroom bin too. The rail sticks out too far for a door stop on the wall it hits, thinking maybe a wall mounted one behind the door to limit its range might work.

mavvymoo

Welcome 321 Glad you have de-lurked and joined us all and what a great start you have made I had loads of stuff that I had to sell and never did so I did the same CS the lot. You just never get round to ever selling it or if you do then its takes up so much time.

My elderly friend phoned today and said that she had been seeing things for what they were without the rose tinted glasses and didnt know why So I told her thats Marie for you She said do you really think so. So I laughed and said Oh yes She said it was making her feel quite sad.Which I can totally understand and also felt the same at times.She has kondoed (loads of stuff) for her. and is now starting to feel the benefits just goes to show you are never too old she is 83 years young


Spent 3.5 hours round Dads cleaning as he is the same age as my friend and cant do floor cleaning etc very well.
Had a look in the wardrobes while I was there and he still has loads of Mums stuff there (she died 4 years ago) I did charity shop all her clothes the day after. But he still has her make up and slippers and such like:( So I will sort though all that next time it really does need to go now as I am sure he will feel better once it does but its just the letting go So I will work on that with him and see how it goes

So kondoing going on around me everywhere lately:D and how bl**dy good is that.

Mav x

GQ On the phone book and yellow pages I do the same as you straight in the Green Bin.I even caught the young lad delivering it and said I dont want it but he said he had to leave one at every house ! How stupid is that .

GreyQueen

june89 wrote: »

GQ I'm opted out of everything and have "no junk" stickers on the door. Still get the book through the door. I just do as you did, straight into recycling. Maybe if the council notice enough coming straight back in, they'll get the hint.

Once I figure out a way to stop my door hitting the towel rail, I'm going to kondo my bathroom bin too. The rail sticks out too far for a door stop on the wall it hits, thinking maybe a wall mounted one behind the door to limit its range might work.

The councils have nothing to do with them being delivered, it's BT. But we who don't use them and don't want them pay council tax and they have to be dragged off and recycled. The waste appals me and I'd love to be able to opt out. I did once head off a Yillow Piges by catching the deliverer red-handed (they are freelance s/e people delivering them for a pittance, I've seen it advertised).

Re the door, have you considered a floor mounted door stop, just like a wall one (rubber thingy) but the thing drilled into the floor? It's more commonly done commercially than residentially but there's no reason why you can't have one at home. My bathroom door cannot be opened more than 90 degrees to the frame and I have a special doorstop to stop that happening. just like this:




:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

uk_american

mavvymoo wrote: »

Had a look in the wardrobes while I was there and he still has loads of Mums stuff there (she died 4 years ago) I did charity shop all her clothes the day after. But he still has her make up and slippers and such like:( So I will sort though all that next time it really does need to go now as I am sure he will feel better once it does but its just the letting go So I will work on that with him and see how it goes

Not sure if it's an option mavvymoo, but I've found with people of that generation who knew the value of 'things' and who couldn't necessarily buy the latest and greatest that they appreciate that something is going to *someone specific* who needs it. I inherited my nan's watch when I was 16. It was a functional, working watch that served her well and as my grandfather pointed out, I had no watch and this one would suit a young lady just fine.

Not sure if your Mum's stuff such as makeup is still usable, but maybe an option if you can find 'homes' where things are needed?

fpcat

June89, I had the same problem with the door and radiator when my bathroom was remodeled and tried several things. I found that a large door stop did the trick. It's a fairly heavy round chrome thing, with a rubber bumper all round it. I think it's meant to be used in front of the door to stop it slamming shut, but I've put it behind the door, and just moved it up and down between the wall and the door until the door doesn't hit the radiator, but still opens properly. I think I got mine from Lidl ages ago, but you should find something on that auction site, E???