Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

Watty1

My father did a death declutter when his mother died.  He spent so long going through her stuff that he wanted to be sure we would not do the same.  I've never thought about it before. I think anyone clearing my stuff might wonder why i have so much. I'm still decluttering. It surprises me how I can drop a car boot full of "stuff" at the charity shop and not miss anything and still think there is too much stuff here.

Interestingly I spent the weekend at the county show and wanted to buy (a) a tweed cape but did not as I have lots of coats and (b) a set of three gorgeous black metal planters for the patio.  I did not buy those because the patio is weed infested, needs cleaning and clearing and probably re-sanding.   I need less to do not more!

LadyWithAPlan

@KajiKita I can’t imagine being in bathroom mess - almost as bad as kitchen building works ! 

TallGirl said:

That sounds like a good concept to clear clutter I am so aware of this especially as I want to emigrate I really do not want to lug stuff with me I am never going to use. I am holding on to stuff that has memories and I am guilty of stuff on Vinted that is not selling but really should just go to a good charitable cause.

@TallGirl. The memory clutter is definitely a big issue for most of us I think - my  mum has given me a few things as they have a lot  of stuff at my parents and (result!)  just had their loft relined so everything has come down and needs sorting ,..   I am wary of being dumped too much stuff from the family as I am the obvious choice... even some old dresses with glorious fabric have already come my way and I have not yet used them

The concept has really struck a chord though - I could not sleep last night again - 4 am but was happily lying in bed thinking of next area to attack !! I did declutter 3 things this morning that I was like - can I sell/will I ever use - including makeup stuff I was gifted !  

if I can clear up enough stuff including  maybe I can restart looking to buy for a one bed with maybe a garden office room instead of a 2 bed. It has me thinking I now have permission to re-change/restart/refocus every area of my life - I don’t need so much stuff  including kitchen stuff I have been gifted and never use -  I can re look at my life and my goals and only have around me what serves my next purpose and focus 

@Watty1 Go you on the holding back of purchases! You can use the money you didnt spend on getting that patio sorted
Interesting re your dad ... I think it is lovely he considered you all like this.
I also took 2 huge bags out Sunday to the CS and still there is way too much stuff

- but my new attitude is helping shift it more consistently.  - kickstarted with the MG. I did a few things this morning but need to look at top of hall cupboard now  as I am having my friendly handyman around tomorrow as if I can get 2 shelves up cheaply in the cupboard then I can move a shelving unit etc from the study - i picked it up from a neighbour but I have too much stuff in there whereas 3 years ago the room was completely empty.
I want to make a proper dressing room in there along with a corner for office stuff eg printer and my fabulous desk which has closing doors so it could look great.  I should start a vision board!

Also picked up some paint charts as I am eyeing up a kitchen refresh. I have suddenly wonderfully got a week back of time  - as I had said i would look after a friends dog at hers  but she has now cancelled going away so I can go out,, and also carry on the death cleaning here

The bagua shows my kitchen is  CAREER/LIFE PATH and also KNOWLEDGE/Self - cultivation. It is currently a lovely pale blue but that colour really shows the dirt.. and bizarrely the blue I picked last time is the right colour for Knowledge/Cultivation  - I may go green instead, I like the pale but the dirt!

My lounge also needs a repaint so may do yellow or green shade  .. hmmmm but no painting til I have cleaned, death cleaned, and scrubbed it all

MSE 
I has £12.92 in my Proli** so pulled that out.
I forgot my lunch today and where I was had no coffee facilities etc - only coffee for £4.80 per pop!!! - so £14 later for a coffee out and some Leon GF food - which was tasty but made my stomach hurt   - I am getting a subsistence small amt back.

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:

It has me thinking I now have permission to re-change/restart/refocus every area of my life - I don’t need so much stuff  including kitchen stuff I have been gifted and never use -  I can re look at my life and my goals and only have around me what serves my next purpose and focus 

Is it worth channeling this energy and having a conversation now with your family about scaling back Christmas this year/sticking only to requested items? I know you all like to go all-in, but if 2024's well-meaning gifts are destined to become 2025's charity shop donations, then maybe you could divert the funds to an experience or a break together instead?

I've only bought for my niece for years now (nothing for BF, nothing for parents, etc) and it's glorious - no stress of trying to find the perfect gift, or what on earth I am going to do with what I always referred to as the inevitable "wildcard" (off list) gift from my Mum

savingholmes

Well done on the decluttering. I watched a similar YT recently. At the weekend I filled a huge zip up plastic bag full of clothes I've slimmed out of - it feels amazing. They've not quite left the house but they are getting closer. It's finally sinking in that I've slimmed down and won't need the 20-24 clothes anymore.

debtfreewannabe321

Interesting reading about the Swedish death decluttering....I will look into this some more. I follow the Konmari methods usually but I'm open to everything that makes my home flow better. 
My mother is a hoarder as is my sister. I am not a minimalist by any stretch of the imagination but I require everything in my house to have a home or I feel overwhelmed (probably from feeling like I'm going down the same road as my sister and mum)!

I've just bagged up all the stuff I have on vinted I will reduce price one more time on all and if not sold within a week it's going to the CS. It takes up a whole shelf in my airing cupboard so I want it gone now. I am going to do the same for the FB MP stuff I have listed. Between it all that will be a boot full of stuff for the CS. I think most of the good stuff went straight out and I've been left with stuff that I see value in but clearly no one else does 🤣

Watty1

The Swedish Death Decluttering is interesting.   I noticed a yellow stain in my new bathroom which I cleaned this morning (will work out what that was later) but I emptied a cupboard to do this and I was wondering what whoever had to clear might think.  I imagined they would wonder why i was still using broken make up brushes that are really old (they were a really thoughtful gift but perhaps the broken ones should now go) and why I kept some things and I was able to release those to the bin and I have put new make up brushes on my list of wishes because  yes, I do have a lot of sentimental reasons for keeping them but actually the handle falls one, another has a broken handle and so on.  The memory is in my heart and mind.

LadyWithAPlan

@Watty1 hope the stain is ok! Well done on the brushes - so much stuff we keep
in case or cos X bought it or we may wear it one day .. truth is when it’s out the home we don’t miss the things themselves 99% of the time but the people and the experience 

@debtfreewannabe321 well done on the Vinted decision - I have 4 things on there and the expensive dress I have reduced in price again today - the rest has a limited time span - I have 5 things I do think have more value so I will pop
Those up for a short period 

@savingholmes well done on the weight loss and I encourage you to release those too big clothes as soon as you feel ready 

@South_coast we have cut down on xmas but still a lot - and using YNAB last year in Dec definitely kept me from adding more - but once I have read the book and then passed to my mum .. I will have the conversation - unlikely to manage to cut down loads but definitely need to do
less - I often ask for comestibles such as nice coffee, candles etc so I can use them up - though I have some gifted awful earl grey tea with lavender - EG is my fav tea but lavender is a terrible pairing - keep
trying to drink them but I may give up and olio them 

 I am eagerly awaiting the death cleaning book ! Should arrive today … so be warned 

despite this though I have been decluttering up a storm ! 

The new desk is amazing and huge - comes with two full length benches that fit under as well 
so I had to empty out a lot of the study to get it in - then move loads as where I wanted to have it has no plug sockets … 
I tidied til 2am and deliberately cleared everything off the desk so I could have a clean focused slate for WFH this morning . 

Despite the hall and parts of my flat still looking a bit trashed the clean desk has led me to a renewed focus. I have promised myself 
/ no sm, social etc scrolling or MB at my work desk 
/ only work at my work desk not chat or go on line 
/ clean it every night before I finish and slide the bench in so it’s official sign work is finished for the day 
/I have made lunch and snacks and eaten in my lounge rather than at my desk - and left the laptop in the study attached to the monitor so less time spent after lunch on SM scrolling 

I have added to the ‘grab what you want ‘ neighbours pool a chair, the old small table, a little table etc as I need room 
I honestly think I have a couple pieces furniture now still too much . Maybe 3 or 4… But love them and I am thinking they are for my place where I buy .. I will see where I can put them or I need to release them 

My hallway is still stuffed but it’s more stuff to sort then move forwards. 
my next CS drop is huge and more to add- 
the hall shelving should be up Saturday so I have my old shelves in the hall waiting to be edited then  tidied into the new hall cupboard 2.0 - then those shelving units are also going - so I have hours  more of declutter to do but planning to do in batches - once hall cupboard ready I can push again 

EMS workout 3 yesterday - I am loving it and definitely feel like I am making muscular gains which the body fat machine is echoing - I have so lost 1.5% of my body fat in 10 days - I am quite slim so don’t panic ! 

I feel stronger, leaner and we working on my core and my balance as one leg definitely stronger than my other 

watching England tonight at a private members club though I am just as happy in a pub . Should get a better view - think we will get through as luck has been on our side even when we not played that well - Spain looked amazing and for a 16 yr old to score that goal surrounded by men - wow 

beanielou

Eek.  I love lavande ice cream but NOT tea.

savingholmes

Well done on the decluttering. 

I need to release 2-3 bags of textiles. At least 2 pieces of furniture and fridge freezer.

Cheery_Daff

Well done indeed on the decluttering! I'm making a proper start on clothes this afternoon. Feeling very hemmed in by things at the minute. I was planning to stick a load on Vinted but now I'm thinking I might just take to the charity shop. None of it is valuable, so just making space is probably more important for me right now.