Simplifying Life

tiddles

Well, I can't believe how I've changed since the start of this thread! I have started to make inroads into decluttering the 20+ years of hoarding that has been going on in this house; it's sometimes hard to know where to start, but just getting rid of anything helps!

I've also now managed to follow my 'Buy Nothing New' challenge for a whole 29 days! This is a personal thing really, and covers clothes and books in particular. I've decided it's OK to buy essential items of clothing for the rest of the family (though we are avoiding that as much as possible - none so far) and also to buy essential DIY, repair and decorating items; eg we bought a new kitchen tap on Saturday. This should all save us some money, and also reduce the amount of junk we have here!

So thanks everyone!

Rowan9

I've been enjoying DD's enthusiasm and energy while she's staying here and she decluttered my walk-in (but mind your head) kitchen cupboard. We threw out loads of stuff - loads and loads of plastic bags and odd things that I wasn't sure why i kept. Found a bag of dog treats from about a year ago. Also found a huge wok which had been my late dad's and i thought I'd thrown out (DS and girlfriend cooked during Christmas hols and asked if we had wok - no, I said - it's just fantastic and has been used a few times in last 4 or 5 days). Instead of peering wistfully into the cupboard and wishing i could get to my nice le creuset dishes at the back, but stuff was piled right to the front, i can now walk in. It is such a great feeling.
She wants to help declutter the dresser cupboards but i'm a bit afraid I find decluttering really exhausting and think it's because i hold so much emotional attachment to 'stuff'. But...I'm learning!
wen

mary43

Well, shan't get much de-cluttering done today (what's new ?) but a plastic bag arrived this morning begging to be filled up with my stuff..........lol It's to support out local air ambulance and I'm all for that. Books are on their way to it now -well in my head they are if not physically - plus a vase that I'm really bored with and wonder why I bought it in the first place, plus other bits that are upstairs lurking.
At least paperwork is up to date, well almost...............need to get on top of it all so I can start my crafty 'projects' for my christmas/birthday baskets..............lol At the minute all I can see in the spare room that houses all the charity shop finds ready for the baskets are a load of carrier bags. Must get them all sorted out so I know who's having what..............lol
I've got a list but I need to see it all laid out otherwise I can see some baskets overfilled and others looking a bit empty.................lol

Right, loo is next on my list of 'stuff to do' :T
(Dn't know why I'm clapping -hate doing the loo!)

moanymoany

The biggest problem I have with 'stuff' at the moment is where to keep what I've decided I can't live without! I seem to have piles of stuff everywhere. My goal is a place for everything. This will make tidying easier as I won't have to wander the house with something needing a home, I will know where to put it.

Saturday saw the clearing of the garage as that is where we had dumped rubbish. It is so nice to be able to find things - and to be able to walk across it.

Is it just me or does simplification go through a period of chaos between old cluttered life and new streamlined life......... Here I am stuck in the chaos.

rosieben

moanymoany wrote: »

...
Is it just me or does simplification go through a period of chaos between old cluttered life and new streamlined life......... Here I am stuck in the chaos.

There is definitely a 'twilight zone' of decluttering it seemed like I was throwing out and giving away stuff for months yet there seemed to be more junk everywhere. it was so discouraging.

It was several months before I really felt I was making progress but I can actually see quite a lot of carpet now and cleaning is much easier :j

I still have one room thats a junk hole but all in good time....

mary43

originally posted by moanymoany
The biggest problem I have with 'stuff' at the moment is where to keep what I've decided I can't live without!

I know the feeling...........comes from years and years of hoarding. I'm trying to work on the principle that if I cant find a home for it then it can't live here..........lol

Rosieben - only one junk hole ? How did you manage that ? My clutter seems to follow me around the house. Whichever room I've been in I seem to leave a mess behind.
Still, got a couple of birthday baskets all sorted out and now know what bits and pieces I've got and still need more !!!! (memo to self to consult my list !)
Paperwork is now all done and filed away..............bought a new shredder at church sale on Saturday and thats been put to good use.
Loo and bathroom cleaned and spotted a couple of things I bought years ago that can go in someones christmas or birthday basket so thats two more things out of the way and not gathering dust anymore.
So, I'm getting there, little by little............feel quite pleased with myself but just wish I didn't seem to be a magnet for every carrier bag of 'stuff' in the house

rosieben

mary43 wrote: »

...
Rosieben - only one junk hole ? How did you manage that ? My clutter seems to follow me around the house. Whichever room I've been in I seem to leave a mess behind. ...

when I'm tidying I have been known to literally throw things in the spare room but it is a little better organised now

Charis

tiddles wrote: »

Well, I can't believe how I've changed since the start of this thread!

Nor can I. My kids think I have gone barmy.

I have bought books on home organising, belonged to online forums on the subject, faffed about tidying stuff away for literally years. If cupboards are over full I can't find things anyway, so I don't use them. I have piles of books I am going to read 'someday' They are closer to the door now.
One thing I had to change was holding onto things because they were too good to 'just throw out'. What if one of the kids suddenly needed whatever it was? Well, no longer. One of mine was looking for storage space for some of his stuff the other day. I nearly fell for it but I did at least wish him well with the search Another thing was continually bringing more stuff in, not helped when dd was working in a charity shop in town. I have, since Christmas been in a bookshop, a stationer's and a charity shop and the only thing I bought was a plain plastic box from the stationer. Unheard of. Previously I would have had at least three carrier bags full. I am following the practice of non-attachment. It takes some getting used to but it feels good. :A

mary43

We've got the garage -dread to think what's in there...........a room leading off the kitchen where the boiler and freezer are..........thats the worst dumping ground. Spare room used to 'attract' junk or the sort of stuff you 'put in there for now'.............but now itsfull of stuff for christmas and birthday baskets, plus thats where I keep spare bedding and the overspill of my clothes.............lol

rosieben

oh yes, I have a garage too! Forget about it as I rarely go in it (its away from the house). OK so, one garage, chock full of I-dont-know-what! The only things in there that I want = my box of mason jars, a few (very few) gardening things, and a blanket chest (which I might give away. The rest is probably heading for the tip so nothing too complicated there I think. Might rescue some re-cyclable timber though, I'd like to get back into a bit of carpentry this year