KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

camelot1001

Well, that's put me off my tea!

Not been feeling too good today but decided the bottom of my wardrobe needed sorting, the 2 drawers are now so tidy - leggings and vest tops all rolled AND they fit in the drawer! Sorted out a couple of bits for the CS, 2 scarves that don't spark any joy at all.

The 12yo needs a good talking to MMF, can't believe the bad manners, what did the parents say?

greent

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Shudders - how horrid for the people helping out!

I volunteer for a charity which mainly deals in baby/ children's items. We have had plenty of grim donated items - pushchairs covered in food/ milk/ mould (a common one), unwashed clothes with food/ poo/ vomit on, unwashed highchairs, bottles with dried up mouldy milk remains in, bibs full of mouldy food, really stained reusable nappies with no elastic left, used disposable nappies amongst donations..... and that's excluding all the washed (adult) underwear we get - we don't want knickers/ tights etc.....

I should add that we get lots of lovely things too - but it costs us in time and money to sort and dispose of the nasty stuff

GreyQueen

A mate of mine manages a charity shop and I hear plenty of stories. My mind boggled at the thought of the china they get donated wrapped in used chip papers (!) Ick.

Everything I donate is scrupulously clean and any worn-out textiles go in a separate labelled bag, also scrupulously clean, so they can be sold for ragging. The chazzers I donate to are happy with this as textiles are going for 35p a kilo at present. It has been a bit higher in the past but that's the rate atm.

I do always think of the volunteers and try and make their lives as easy as possible by what I donate and how I donate it, the goal being to have things so that they can just be priced and stuck out on a shelf without further ado. I don't like the idea of using the chazzers as a clearing house for dubious Stuff as the removal of waste costs them money and that means inconvenience and expenditures rather than money for the Cause.

PollyWollyDoodle

tibawo I love your phrase 'I am just going to do some random things and some of them jobs from the 'to do' list that you mean to get round to but never do. You know the ones... the ones where you need the step ladders but it is too much effort to take them upstairs!'. That sums up so many of the outstanding jobs I need to do - somehow getting the toolbox out is too difficult even though it's Kondoed and I know where it is.

I'm cringing at the thought of some of those charity donations - yuk. I'd be mortified to hand something over like that.

MMF007 I'm with you on the issue of 'entitlement'. My friend was wrapping presents for her two children and counting carefully because - irrespective of value - 'if X sees that Y has got more presents under the tree than her on Christmas Day she'll be really upset'. I tried briefly to picture myself at that age. If I'd even been seen to be comparing the number of presents received, I'd have very swiftly been reminded that gifts are not to be taken for granted, and probably spent the rest of Christmas Day atoning for it! I know I'm sounding like an old fogey but it is disappointing to see so much focus on price and volume rather than value. Sorry your Christmas wasn't joyful.

Happy New Year to all on the MK journey- may your train never run out of steam!

Chrystal

Wishing you all a Peaceful and Healthy 2017.

Hope you don't mind me joining you as I'm desperate to clear my house of the clutter that has accumulated over the last 25 years :eek:
We hope to be moving this year and the thought of clearing this lot is giving me palpitations :rotfl:so I'm hoping to get some tips and advice from you lovely people.

MMF007

Polly my brother said he had had to speak to kids about expectations only the week before... He wasn't in the room when the request for goodies was made to us and clever little nephew came up with a wizard rouse to explain why he couldn't fund it himself. He explained that the pocket mkney went straight into his bank a/c and was on a spreadsheet so didn't have access to it.

but I marched the 12y.o up to his dad and said, 'Do you have x's pocket money, he wants some goodies and we can go to shop with him if you like'. :rotfl:

Unfortunately grandparents whisked out a tenner and handed it over before anyone had chance to get the point. Off we went to the shop and elder child proceeded to complain when little kne chose something that was 15p dearer than his stated preference. :mad: I worry about the 12y.o. He could lead a very unhappy life if his attitude doesn't change, but i suppose he is only young and I am a harsh judge

Anyhoo, on to joyous things - happy new year everyone!!! Is it only me or do most kondo-ites want to tidy the xmas decs away right now? :rotfl:

ETA - welcome Chrystal! Come on in, grab yourself a brew and join our journey. I think you'll love it.

Igamogam

GreyQueen wrote: »

They didn't, but they did contain, among other 'treasures' Her Ladyship's worn, stretched out and unlaundered undercrackers.............!

Double-bork!:rotfl:

I hae often thought that when I no longer work FT I would like to volunteer in a CS. I am not squeamish. I can even drink alcohol beyond its alloted date;) However it's stories like this that put me off:eek: I would have to have double marigolds over latex gloves and a litter picker to open up donated bags:rotfl::rotfl:

mavvymoo

Happy New Year all

I have been ill since Boxing Day so done nothing but lay in bed or on the sofa but finally on the mend

Lolly cat is also ill So is on antibiotics but as she was born with cat flu it is something she will always keep getting sadly. But the good news is the Kittens have shown no signs of it so its something Lolly just has and will always have.But she is a fighter and keeps going but will now come indoors for her Tuna with her tablet crushed up in it. But then wants to go back outside and will hang off the door until you open it with her still hanging off it :rotfl:

So I hope to see her less croaky and snuffley soon.

I work in a charity shop and we do get some awful dontations but for those of you worried about what you will stick your hands into. You get to know the minute you open the bag if its going to be bad and we dont even bother going though the stuff it just gets binned.

I think some people will just use a charity shop as its easier than taking it to landfill.Which is a shame but the amount of bags which are lovely and clean and fresh makes up for the few bags of carp you get.:D So dont let it put you off its great fun


Mav x

GreyQueen

Morning all.

I've been up for hours, travelled back to the city and unpacked my groceries and my clothes and am settling down for a bit of 'netting with a cuppa before going over to visit with a pal.

Hello and welcome, Chrystal, there's plenty more room on the thread. We'll look forward to supporting and chuckling along with your kondo journey.

Re the 12 year old's entitled attitude, it's a bit disappointing. In times past, he'd've almost certainly been an apprentice at his age, learning a trade and not really considered a child at all. This concept of the teenager and the extension of youth into your twenties or beyond is pretty modern, didn't even begin to gain traction until the mid-twentieth century in most cases.

I recall reading about one old boy (old now) who's mother was widowed when he was 12. He left school at 15 and his mother had said, with calm certainty, that she would expect to see his pay packet on the mantlepiece by the end of the first week - and he made sure it was so. He was a young man, not a child, and his money was needed to keep them.

I'm not at all sure giving youngsters a free pass on most responsibilites til 18 or beyond is doing them any good. But I should confess to being a (occasionally) grumpy middle-aged woman living in an area infested with students - I doubt their loving parents have any idea what little barstewards most of them are most of the time..... :rotfl:

I left Chez GQ in tidy order but will be slinging the Xmas cards into the recycling bin on my way out in an hour or so - new year, new clutter-free environment.

Have a good day, folks. GQ x

luxor4t

GreyQueen wrote: »

........ I should confess to being a (occasionally) grumpy middle-aged woman living in an area infested with students - I doubt their loving parents have any idea what little barstewards most of them are most of the time..... :rotfl:...........

Same here....oh, I do wish their parents could hear them at 2am :eek:

A box of DVDs on the way to Z*pp*r which means space on the dvd shelves, and will result in some pennies towards the next holiday.

Meanwhile, I am transforming offcuts of fleece and decorative trimmings into noseband covers for Egyptian donkeys. As you do! A nice space has been created in the fabric stash, and the two boxes of ribbon/trimming/lace etc are going down a bit.

Next on the list is a rag rug from former t-shirts and nighties. More space in the stash.... not to be refilled