KonMari 2018 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Since there seems to be a few new threads being started in case old ones are accidentally lost, shall I do the same for KonMari?

Here's the links to the old threads with thanks to VfM4meplse and greent

2017

2016

2015


'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up' by Marie Kondo is a home organisation/ decluttering book like no other. Instead of looking for things to discard, Marie Kondo says we should instead look for things we wish to keep - using the 'does it spark joy?' method. Ultimately this means that everything in our homes should spark joy for us :j You might not think that everyday and seemingly mundane items can't spark joy - but you need to think around it a little. So whilst an iron may not spark joy, wearing ironed clothes may. A cheese grater may not spark joy, but your child may really like grated cheese in their wraps - which brings joy.

Marie Kondo also says that this should be done quickly and properly. This may take six months to achieve, but tidying properly should mean doing it just once. This is against the often-seen decluttering advice of doing 15 minutes a day, or a drawer/ shelf a day.

MK suggests an order as to what to sort through first and subsequently. This is important - she starts with items which many people do not have an emotional attachment to (clothes) and builds up to sentimental items (photos) so that a person's joy-meter can be developed along the way.

Many MSE-ers have been following the KM method (kondo-ing) successfully. It fits into the MSE ethos by changing your mindse - you will no longer want to shop mindlessly for something 'just because' or 'it'll do' - you will want to buy only joyful items, thereby often saving ££ on random, impulse purchases.:money::T


From the 2016 thread

How/ Where Can I Dispose of My Unwanted Items?

It is vitally important to make sure that you dispose of your unwanted items asap - less chance of any doubts creeping in and items making their way back!


To make money and/ or save items from landfill, you may find the following ideas useful:

Money Making:

www.ebay.co.uk - am sure many will use this already. Be careful of fees - ebay now charge final value fees (FVF) on your postage as well as the amount which the items sells for.

www.ziffit.com - can sell any unwanted books, CDs, DVDs & games. Download the app onto your smartphone/ tablet for ease of use - scan the barcodes and it will tell you if the item is accepted and what price they will give you. For even more money, go through a cashback site first (such as www.topcashback.co.uk or www.quidco.com) (tip: save your accepted items in your virtual 'cart'. If you have any items which they initially refuse, try re-scanning these several days later - I find about another 20-50% of previously unaccepted items go through on another attempt!)


www.preloved.co.uk - Quidco are currently offering 60p to new members to Preloved (Jan 2016); plus you get 10p for posting a new advert. It's free to join and post adverts to Preloved, you can post things for sale or free to a good home so might be an alternative to eBay, free cycle, facebook selling pages to offload unwanted, unloved items. All free ads include a photo and private ads are completely free, no listing fees, no selling fees and no catches


www.gumtree.com - free online classified ad site


Recycling/ Reusing Items: (often raising funds for charities at the same time )

Bras
You can post them to the Breast Cancer charity here http://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/recycling/513/bra-recycling/ or you can go hand them in to a branch of Bravissimo.



OR : raise funds for Nowzad Dogs - the only official animal charity in Afghanistan: http://www.nowzad.com/help-us/bras-for-nowzad/


Unwanted pens
You can post your unwanted pens to people overseas to help schools and orphanages via http://www.pensforkids.co.uk/how_you_can_help.html


Ink jet Printer Cartridges
Can be dropped off at Sue Ryder stores or posted off freepost for a charity from wide list or Tesco club card points for you via http://www.therecyclingfactory.com
/our-partners/


Books & Music
British Heart Foundation and Oxfam both do specialist charity shops that sell books and music so you could separate those donations to maximise the money the charities make



Postcards: can raise money for Great Ormond St children's hospital. http://www.gosh.org/fundraise-us/shopping-and-recycling/recycling-and-environment


Stamps: GOSH also take all stamps, special and everyday, as do the RNIB http://www.rnib.org.uk/donations-and-fundraising-fundraising-your-community-recycle-us/used-stamps-appeal


Maternity items/ baby & children's clothing/ nursery furniture/ toiletries/ nappies - a baby bank (like a food bank, but maternity and child related items for families in crisis) Lots springing up around the country. Some independent, some part of a small network. http://www.babybanknetwork.com/how-you-can-help-2/ www.gloucestershirebundles.org http://www.littlebundles.org.uk/cambridge/donations Up to date list can be found on stripey stork's website


Toiletries/ make-up/ clothing (women's and children's) - women's refuge centres. Google your local area for one - but be prepared you may have to drop off to a 3rd party point - for obvious reasons they do not always want to publicise their location! Or post to : http://www.carolinehirons.com/p/give-and-makeup.html to help women and children in the Southern/ London area

charity shops
ziffit
ebay
gumtree etc


MoneySavingExpert.com insert 14 Jan 2019

If you haven't already join the Forum to join in the challenge.

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