KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Slinky

I too have been on books today. Having a quiet day workwise (I work for myself), so decided to attack the overflowing bookcase in our dining room. I did warn OH last weekend that as he rarely reads books except on holiday his collection of 'may read agains' will be making their way to the loft. Yes I know it's moving the problem around and not getting rid of it, but once they've spent some time up there, still not being read, hopefully I can persuade him they can go (and they'll get so grotty to be unreadable anyway.....). I've got 2 large bags full of books that can go to the charity shop and rehomed one brand new book to a neighbour. This has left me with a stack of books that will go by the bed that I will re-read for the last time then pass on.

I've identified about a dozen books we've bought at various times to take on holiday that as yet appear unread. These have been marked up with a sticky label so they can go on our next holidays. We usually take books we'll both read.

I'm sure there's more stuff we could part with, but I do re-read quite a lot, and at least now it's all into one bookcase and looking tidy.

dragonette

Just back at a friend's after the hosp, good news will reply to everyone later x

GreyQueen

Pleased to hear it, dragonette.

lessonlearned, that's tough. But thank goodness some of the extended family have been helped to see the way out of Hoardersville. It's becoming ever more obvious to me, as I make my way through the decades, that Too Much Stuff is one of the biggest causes of trouble, grief, personal injuries, what-have-you.

And how light, fluffy and free you feel when the Stuff leaves home.

Haven't been kondo-ing today, although I am using up scrap paper and pencil stubs for my workplace note-taking, so that progressively gets rid. I fetched about 40 fragments of pencil from Mum and Dad's (all half or less of the original length) on my last visit. With their consent. It's always easier to acquire new pencils than to finish up old ones, hey?;)

lessonlearned

Tbh I have not been as radical as Marie suggests but I don't think that matters - well not to me.

Im getting there in my own sweet time, even if it means revisiting my "stuff" several times. It's not a race.

I'm enjoying the journey just as much as I will the destination. :rotfl:

I do enjoy reading this thread. Quite apart from the encouragement I love to hear of all the decluttering adventures. Luckily I've not come across any dead livestock.......:rotfl:

Mrs M. Glad all went well and that it was just a cyst. :T

GreyQueen

lessonlearned wrote: »

Tbh I have not been as radical as Marie suggests but I don't think that matters - well not to me.

Im getting there in my own sweet time, even if it means revisiting my "stuff" several times. It's not a race.

I'm enjoying the journey just as much as I will the destination. :rotfl:

I do enjoy reading this thread. Quite apart from the encouragement I love to hear of all the decluttering adventures. Luckily I've not come across any dead livestock.......:rotfl:

Mrs M. Glad all went well and that it was just a cyst. :T

I used to read a blog called Hoardingwoes&you which I highly-recommend. It's American. There were two relative's hoarded houses, plus hoarded gardens and car ports. Some of the items found were skeletonised and mummified opossums.:eek: Makes you glad you'll never find those here in the UK.

Icey77

GreyQueen wrote: »

I used to read a blog called Hoardingwoes&you which I highly-recommend. It's American. There were two relative's hoarded houses, plus hoarded gardens and car ports. Some of the items found were skeletonised and mummified opossums.:eek: Makes you glad you'll never find those here in the UK.

I read that whole blog last time you mentioned it, took me ages but I was fascinating!
The house was stunning once it was all uncovered and updated

PollyWollyDoodle

I enjoyed reading that blog, and yes the house that was uncovered was amazing. I did feel though that the chap was slightly obsessive about clearing it, almost as if by doing so he could make up for the waste and sadness occasioned by his mother and his aunt's hoarding. I think a lot of people would have just hired someone and walked away.

I had a lightbulb moment this morning. Looking for a birthday card in my box of cards, I realised (1) there are some in there that I'm never going to send; a batch for the CS, and a mental note not to buy cards in future just because they are funny/cute/cheap, but only if I can envisage the recipient. (2) there are cards, I'm not kidding, that I bought more than 20 years ago and didn't send because they were too nice to part with! Note to younger self: share the niceness, don't keep it in a box!
(3) the little tabs that sort cards by month are not doing it for me. I don't choose cards that way. I have flipped them round and written 'male birthday', 'female birthday', 'any occasion' and 'special purpose' (thank you, anniversary, get well soon etc) so now when I go to the box I will know exactly where to look.

Simple, and so obvious that I don't know why I haven't done this before! My aim this year is not to miss a single birthday, I send around 30 cards a year so the box is quite important.

Slinky

I'm glad I'm not the only one using up old cards, like you Polly I've got some that at 20+ years old. Plus some that came as part of a multi box that I don't actually like and will never send, I'd never thought of gifting them to the charity shop, I'll add them to the books I'm planning on getting out of the house first thing tomorrow morning.

musogirl295

Lost all motivation. Places are starting to look untidy again. Must try harder.

I pledge that by the end of today I will have kondoed the cleaning supplies.

PollyWollyDoodle

:rotfl: I am equally relieved to know that I am not the only one with cards that should be receiving a 'Happy 21st birthday' or older!

I am sure charity shops can rehome them, I know I'd be happy to find a bundle in there (just not MY bundle that I'm never going to use!)