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

in_need_of_direction

I once bought ex husband a trivet that was titled a round tuit. Might explain why he’s an ex!

HairyHandofDartmoor

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

I once bought ex husband a trivet that was titled a round tuit. Might explain why he’s an ex!

It might well :rotfl:

HairyHandofDartmoor

Right that's the washing folded up and put away and ALL the tee shirts that DS3 owns are drying in the garden on two clothes horses. Our neighbours are having a barbecue so they're going to come in smelling of bacon :eek:.

I've also put DS3's empty laundry basket in the void, along with an empty rucksack and suitcase, plus his cleaning products, tupperware containers, etc.

I decided to bag up the last four pairs of my mum's shoes and her slippers to go to the charity shop. They're no longer giving me comfort so it's time to let them go. I think I'm ready to let some more of her clothes go too, so I'll bag up most of those later today. They gave me comfort at first but don't any more because they just remind me that she's not wearing them . I have a box of letters from her, some of her jewellery, lots of lovely photos of her and her family history research, and they will always be precious to me.

The landing and our bedroom are looking emptier already which is good :T. When the entrances and exits, halls and landings are cluttered it bothers me the most. Maybe it's because we wouldn't be able to get out quickly if there was a fire or other emergency.

I feel as if I'm making some progress on getting the house back into some semblance of order. It's amazing how much you can do in an afternoon if you just have the time and energy .

milann

Pleased to hear you’re getting back on top of organising your stuff. It used to take me ages to find space to store kids uni belongings- so the house didn’t look like a charity shop with pile of things everywhere- your thread is bringing back so many memories 😂😂

HairyHandofDartmoor

milann wrote: »

Pleased to hear you’re getting back on top of organising your stuff. It used to take me ages to find space to store kids uni belongings- so the house didn’t look like a charity shop with pile of things everywhere- your thread is bringing back so many memories 😂😂

Thanks Milann . It would okay if DS3 had a large room as we could just pile his uni stuff in a corner of it, but he has a tiny boxroom with no room to swing a cat!

It's lucky I de-cluttered the voids at Easter or there wouldn't have been room in them for his stuff! This stuff has been lying around driving me potty since last Sunday :eek:.

There's still a large plastic box on the landing full of saucepans, pasta, teatowels and goodness know what else. It's so heavy that I can't lift it :eek: so I'm going to investigate it tomorrow and see what's in it.

You must be glad that you're past this phase Milann :rotfl:.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've bagged up all of my mum's clothes for the charity shop, apart from the last outfit she ever wore which I want to keep. I've also bagged up a travel toiletries bag of hers which I know I won't use. I've taken photos of them and said goodbye to them. It's been on my mind for a while that I want to do it so I'm glad that I have.

I also persuaded DS1 to do five minutes of de-cluttering in his room, so a handful of small toys have been bagged up for the charity shop too. If I get him to do five minutes a day the chaos will eventually disappear and DS1 will be able to tolerate the process. So overall there is a rucksack and two carrier bags full ready to be dropped at the charity shop :T.

I'm going to rest now as I may have overdone it slightly today . Tomorrow I'm going to rest and iron work clothes, so that I'm fighting fit for Monday .

elizabethhull

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I've bagged up all of my mum's clothes apart from the last outfit she ever wore which I want to keep. I've also bagged up a travel toiletries bag of hers which I know I won't use. It's been on my mind for a while that I want to do it so I'm glad that I have.

).

It's interesting how people differ on what, if anything, they keep from their loved ones. With me it was books, not clothing, and oddments of family cutlery. Other people fling the lot without a qualm.
The only important thing is to do what is right for YOU, and only when you are ready.

I just love that I can sit in my father's chair reading his copy of Yeats poetry, that I can butter my bread with my Aunt's knife & use her cane to help me walk, that I can be still writing letters on my mother's Basildon Bond stationery wearing a pendant of hers. I suppose it all depends if you invest things with the essence of their owner, and I guess I do and so do you.

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull wrote: »

It's interesting how people differ on what, if anything, they keep from their loved ones. With me it was books, not clothing, and oddments of family cutlery. Other people fling the lot without a qualm.
The only important thing is to do what is right for YOU, and only when you are ready.

I just love that I can sit in my father's chair reading his copy of Yeats poetry, that I can butter my bread with my Aunt's knife & use her cane to help me walk, that I can be still writing letters on my mother's Basildon Bond stationery wearing a pendant of hers. I suppose it all depends if you invest things with the essence of their owner, and I guess I do and so do you.

Yes I do associate my mum's possessions with her. I've got all the books that were next to her bed and I'd like to read them one day. I've also got her scarves which I'll wear one day. They still smell of her perfume. It makes me feel a bit closer to her. I mainly want to keep things of hers that I will use as I don't have room for lots of bulky things.

DH still has the suit he wore to our wedding even though it hasn't fitted him for over 20 years, but I gave my wedding outfit away years ago. I have photos of me wearing it and that's enough for me. As you say people are very different about the things they want to keep.

Clutter makes me feel stressed and stifled, so I do get to the stage eventually where I want to minimise my sentimental keepsakes.

earthgirl

Wow Hairy you have done so much and made so much progress. I know you said you overdid it, hope you are ok, and well done - very inspiring!

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you Earthgirl . I'm pleased with how much I've got done today.

I feel quite tired and my back and neck are aching a bit now but I'm sure I'll be fine tomorrow if I do less. When I start cleaning and de-cluttering it's hard to stop.

I fell into the void head first earlier on :eek:. The box I was leaning o when I was reaching in tipped over and I fell in, but luckily I was okay. It would have looked hilarious if anyone had seen me :rotfl:.