Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

LadyWithAPlan

All this talk of decluttering reminds me I have a big job on this still 
 @savingholmes great advice 

SandyShores

Thanks LadywithaPlan.  Its ridiculous how much I had but how few things I actually wear, and you can tell I wear them a lot because some of them are quite tatty.  I've a couple of old casual jackets I seem to wear a lot - fleece type things - I was thinking about replacing the two of them with one new one but then where would the old ones go - landfill?  They are usable and I think they are still presentable so I will keep and use them.

I'll try Vinted for the things I no longer wear and use any profits to replace anything that's really too tatty.  Almost half of my wardrobe is taken up with coats and jackets so I must donate one or two especially as winter is coming.  Shoes need tackling next.  I've learned that comfort is key for me, but I've got pairs I just don't wear - I've even got a pair of ugg boots with a hole in!  I was going to take them for repair pre-Covid, but 3 years on and I'm not sure I would even wear them again - but I can't bear to landfill them.

I'm planning to put a unit inside my wardrobe which will fit my shoes and bags - but need to remember its not about being able to fit in as much stuff as possible, its about having wearable stuff and being able to find things easily.  To free up the unit I need to declutter 1. the home office 2. under the stairs 3. the garage 4. main bedroom 5. landing cupboard - not necessarily in that order.

savingholmes

Even if you do a drawer at a time it makes a difference. Try not to over-face yourself. Have plenty of breaks.

KajiKita

savingholmes said:

Even if you do a drawer at a time it makes a difference. Try not to over-face yourself. Have plenty of breaks.

This is good advice. The more stuff there is a in a drawer or a cupboard the more ‘digesting’ it takes. So a drawer with three jumpers is easy. A drawer full of paperwork or jewellery takes a lot more picking through and thought. 

KK

SandyShores

I'm enjoying having an amazingly tidy bedroom, and not having to spend time searching through my stuff to find wearable items is timesaving and a much better experience.  Have to confess to buying a primarni cardi today, but I know exactly where I will be wearing it first, and after that it will still get lots of use.  Bottom of the wardrobe is still a mountain of shoes, and the landing cupboard is still full of items for vinted but I'm still very motivated.

LadyWithAPlan

I went to a US container style store - basically it sells just containers for your house, fridge, wardrobe etc and even bespoke shelving for anywhere.. I was in love with every corner of the shop.. so clean and decluttered - of course you need less stuff to make it look good!

South_coast

I'm sure someone on here has a quote on their signature along the lines of "Well organised stuff is still stuff" . Better to just have less, then you save on the cost of the containers as well 🤣!

SandyShores

I like that quote South_coast.  I spent many years organising my stuff and hiding it away in built in cupboards and a well designed loft.  It was only when we move housed the first time that we realised just how much stuff we had.  I now only put stuff in the loft that has to be put away for a reason such as Christmas decorations.  Everything else is on hand so its easy to find it (and dispose of it if necessary).  

SandyShores

We've purchased a set of hooks for the garage and MrS finally had time to put them up at the weekend.  All the garden tools are now out of the way, and it prompted him to have a tidy and sweep up of the floor.  Feels so much better.  He's even talking about having a declutter of his tools! 

Its interesting hearing about storing clutter away vs just not having clutter.  We purchased a lot of shelving units for the garage when we moved in and inevitably they are full - build a shelf and you will fill it!  We probably need to get rid of one of the units and instead have another set of hooks for the bikes/sports equipment - stuff that we use regularly but has no proper place to go, so ends up cluttering the floor.  An article I was reading about decluttering recommended doing 10 minutes three times a day so I'm going to give that a try starting in the garage - today!

SandyShores

The 10 minutes three times a day hasn't worked out, but we've scheduled a day this week to work on the garage clutter.  I have gifted two old garden items - one collected today and another one should be collected this week.  I've been saving a few cardboard boxes (more clutter) to put our painting stuff in, but searching the internet and I've just realised that plastic boxes will be best.  Its going to be a long job but will be so worth it in the end.