KonMari 2018 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

[Deleted User]

Good Morning I hope it's OK for me to join in on this sensible thread? we're hopefully moving soon and the exercise of going through all our possessions has made me realise what a lot of baggage we've accumulated in life, all those things we've kept 'in case it might be useful' in some cases for 25 years and at no point in those years HAS it been useful!

I've discovered the joy of clean lines and empty surfaces not cluttered with ornaments and pot plants and the whole house is much calmer (if you discount the ever increasing box mountain in a couple of the rooms!). I'd like the new house to be as calm and uncluttered as I can and will read all the pages here over the next few weeks. It's beginning to be easier to let things go and we've rehomed lots and taken lots to the recycling depot over the past few weeks, I look forward to reading the advice and experiences of all of you.

VJsmum

Hi MrsLW - I can't believe you haven't been on the thread before. It's the right place for you though, if you want to declutter.

I haven't been on much as i was pretty much kondoed out. However, the place has slipped so i need to return. That blessed filing cabinet is still here so that is my first task this week to get that out. it is now piled with stuff on it and it'll make a huge difference to have it gone. And then the conservatory is building up again - it's difficult cos a lot of DS's uni stuff is in there at the moment.

I have just been to France to visit my friend's (cluttered) house for the week. She doesn't believe in cleaning LOL - but I am not surprised with some of her clutter. She's very unapologetic about it. She lives alone but her shower had at least 10 bottles of shampoo for example. I had a medium sized rucksack which held just enough for the week (and took hotel sized shampoo!) - I even brought two tops home clean!

Onwards and upwards

silvasava

Welcome to this thread MrsL - surprised you've only just found us! If it's any help other posters who have moved have commented on moving stuff that's never been used or likely to - for Justin!
I'm not a die hard kondoite but have found this thread tremendously helpful in changing my attitude to possessions - especially those that had an emotional connection ( and they're a lovely bunch on here too!)

maryb

Mrs L I don't envy you your current task but it will make life much easier if you don't have to move stuff. I have to say I love the Kondo approach, it's so positive. My only trouble is I know I have things that have given me joy in the past and will almost certainly do again but I have for the moment lost interest in that particular hobby. So I'm reluctant to get rid of stuff but when I look at it, I don't feel joy atm. In fact I feel guilty that I'm not finishing craft projects etc. How to reconcile that is my big issue

Combine that with being a prepper and it gets very difficult at times. However building up stores of things I know we will get through is giving me joy (or at least I have a nice feeling of reassurance)so I will carry on doing that

katiepants

Have been gradually sorting through stuff and de-cluttering. My stuff is starting to look a little better and I'm feeling less weighed down by things.

The trouble is, my OH. He really does hang on to the most pointless stuff, and it drives me batty. There are literally stacks of magazines that he's clearly never going to read again, but he will not get rid of them. Some stuff I've been sneakily hiding, then chucking when I'm sure he's not noticed, but this is only fair when it's obvious stuff to get rid of (i.e. torn clothes, out of date medication etc.) I wouldn't want to actually get rid of his possessions, so it's relying on him sorting through it himself. I try and gently suggest maybe having a sort through stuff and it seems to get his back up straight away. So I can't see any solution.

Any suggestions? His stuff greatly outweighs my stuff, so even when I've de-cluttered I can't see it making me feel that much better.

whiteguineapig

Katie would he part with stuff for cash?, it has been a way forward in our house.
What he's not prepared to give away I have suggested selling for him on ebay and he's put the money towards whatever he's saving up for.

[Deleted User]

Hi guys, thanks for the lovely warm welcome, feels like home already! we've just heard that all contracts have now been signed and we're waiting for the solicitors to confer and agree on a moving date which hopefully will be the end of August once we've managed to book a removals firm that can actually manage the given date, busy time of year apparently. As I've over half the house already packed I'm going to have to do some of the shedding at the other end but I shall be as ruthless as I need with what's left to pack and the charity shops and clothing/book banks locally will benefit. I will only be taking what I need and not what I think I need!

maddiemay

Indoors Kindling has been shelved all summer while I have been reclaiming my very neglected gardens. The back is respectable and before I start on the front feel a need to do just a little on the house. 4 large pasta bowls and 4magazines gone to CS and doctors surgery and I have earmarked some ornaments which I do like, but I have decided I can live without will go this week. Had a preliminary pass on some paperwork too, way behind with this though:eek:

Blasted predictive text not kindling, kondoing!!

PollyWollyDoodle

Welcome, MrsL - we love a new Konvert! Moving house really focuses the mind, it's a great time to winnow down possessions.

Maryb I found craft stuff difficult. I got rid of a few UFOs that I knew I'd never finish, and it was quite a relief!

I carted my calligraphy kit around through two house moves and twenty-three years, but when I took it up again last year I was glad I'd still kept some of it. (Having said that, unsurprisingly some of it had died in storage, and it wouldn't have cost me a fortune to replace some of the other stuff). It doesn't take up much space though.

Could you get rid of the unfinished projects which are getting you down, but keep the kit and supplies, so you're ready to take it up again in future?

Slinky

katiepants wrote: »

Any suggestions? His stuff greatly outweighs my stuff, so even when I've de-cluttered I can't see it making me feel that much better.

You could try pointing out that all that paper will lead to an investation of paper lice!



My OH works away from home so his 'study/office' is a dumping ground for all sorts of his clut. He won't tidy it between contracts as he'll then be 'too busy looking for work'. There's a limit to the amount of excuses I'll put up with. The last contract he got, I went into his office and ditched about 100-150 trade magazines that rain through our letterbox and were sat there still unopened in the envelopes. I told him about my clearout about 6 months after I'd done it....... He didn't complain. TBH I think he was relieved I'd done it as it meant he didn't have to! Same with the Car magazines I found a couple of weeks back tucked on a bottom shelf beside his desk, dated 2009-2010. He's long since forgotten he had them, never in 17 years have I seen him reading an old back issue of a magazine. So they've gone. Executive decision has been made.



I am fortunate in that we're going to be moving in a couple of years, so I am getting him a bit more onside about clearing out some of the clut - are we going to pay somebody to move this, and if so where will it live, as the house we're moving to is smaller than our current on.


I've asked him to investigate having some of his trade magazines sent as electronic copies. He's gone off today with the contact details for the senders. That way it's only his inbox they'll be cluttering up, instead of our house!


ETA, this may seem a bit brutal and against the MK principles, but I also look upon it as making his study a nicer place to work in when he is home. When it's full of clut, he tends to decamp to the dining room (spreading more joy there also) as it feels cluttered and dirty (which it is!).