Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

greenbee

Have a look at some stories over on the Kondo thread in Old Style where people talk about keeping things for years which ‘died in storage’. And about the stress involved in clearing homes after the death of a loved one or when dealing with downsizing when elderly or going into residential care.

It may take several goes to really get your head round what is worth keeping, so think of this as the first pass to get rid of the stuff you definitely don’t want. You can review it again when there is less of it.

My brother and I finally had to sort the remains of our childhood belongings when our parents moved and there was surprisingly little we wanted to keep.

Good luck, and enjoy the space you are making for yourself and your family, both physically and emotionally by getting rid of this clutter.

HairyHandofDartmoor

You're right Greenbee, I may be able to get rid of more things if I have a look another day. I will look at the Kondo thread, I didn't know there was one so thanks for that info .

It's the children's toys that I mainly feel I'm keeping too many of. I want to keep the Lego, Duplo, Brio, etc, for possible future grandchildren . But it's the cheap plastic toys and things like Top Trumps cards, and other bits and bobs that I can't decide whether to get rid of or keep.

Maybe if I just keep some and get rid of the rest, so they can go in a smaller box.

doingitanyway

Happy Easter HH
Hope you are relaxing in-between decluttering

Sunshine_girl2

If it's any help I kept a big bucket of Duplo and my grandchildren have had hours of fun with it. I kept 3 dolls as well all in use. Next I have barbies , they will be out next. All the baby toys I have got rid of except for a few .

You would have been ok in Scotland for your boxes , they have different laws and the shops were open today:T.

The decluttering is amazing , I want to get going again when I get home.

beanielou

Get rid of all the cheap plastic stuff.
Keep a couple packets of Top Trumps

teafor2

Happy Easter HHD. Shame about not being able to buy any boxes but at least you carried on with the sorting :T

Would the DC's actually know if you got rid of some of their toys? By that I mean are they likely to say in years to come "do you know where my top trumps cards are"?

We had to sort hubby's parent's house out and it was a nightmare. In fact at times I felt really angry we were having to spend so much time there going through things when his Dad could have done a lot of it himself over the years. We tried to get him to do something but he just said, I'm leaving it all for you to sort out. So we did. Hubby ordered the biggest skip he could and after giving all the big stuff away, threw the rest away. He whittled a house packed to the hilt with stuff down to one shoe box of things that he wanted to keep - he's not a hoarder either

Just to add like everybody else has said I think you're doing a great job and also, thank you for the positive comment about the scarf xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

doingitanyway wrote: »

Happy Easter HH
Hope you are relaxing in-between decluttering

Thanks DIA . I haven't done much relaxing if I'm honest . But I will feel good when I've finished de-cluttering the big void (I'm going to do the smaller voids another holiday).

Sunshine_girl2 wrote: »

If it's any help I kept a big bucket of Duplo and my grandchildren have had hours of fun with it. I kept 3 dolls as well all in use. Next I have barbies , they will be out next. All the baby toys I have got rid of except for a few .

You would have been ok in Scotland for your boxes , they have different laws and the shops were open today:T.

The decluttering is amazing , I want to get going again when I get home.

Most of it is total junk really but precious to children at the time.

beanielou wrote: »

Get rid of all the cheap plastic stuff.
Keep a couple packets of Top Trumps

It's such an assortment of stuff. I will keep the Top Trumps. I have put some balls, plastic water pistols and flimsy plastic swords in the charity bag.

Sun_Addict

Well done on the decluttering. I keep nagging Mr SA about the shed, it's full of junk. A neighbour's hubby recently had a health scare and when things weren't looking too good she told him to make sure he cleared out the garage before he pegged out. He was fine by the way so the battle continues.

HairyHandofDartmoor

teafor2 wrote: »

Happy Easter HHD. Shame about not being able to buy any boxes but at least you carried on with the sorting :T

Would the DC's actually know if you got rid of some of their toys? By that I mean are they likely to say in years to come "do you know where my top trumps cards are"?

We had to sort hubby's parent's house out and it was a nightmare. In fact at times I felt really angry we were having to spend so much time there going through things when his Dad could have done a lot of it himself over the years. We tried to get him to do something but he just said, I'm leaving it all for you to sort out. So we did. Hubby ordered the biggest skip he could and after giving all the big stuff away, threw the rest away. He whittled a house packed to the hilt with stuff down to one shoe box of things that he wanted to keep - he's not a hoarder either

Just to add like everybody else has said I think you're doing a great job and also, thank you for the positive comment about the scarf xx

You're welcome about the scarf . They probably would't remember what they had, but if they saw it it might bring back happy memories of their childhood, so I'm undecided . I think if I'll just reduce it down a bit for now.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Well done on the decluttering. I keep nagging Mr SA about the shed, it's full of junk. A neighbour's hubby recently had a health scare and when things weren't looking too good she told him to make sure he cleared out the garage before he pegged out. He was fine by the way so the battle continues.

Thanks SA . It's hard work but I will feel better when it's done. I'll go back to work for a rest next week :rotfl:.