Continued: Getting rid of stuff / Clearing out clutter! PART 2

[MaybeBabyMustache]

awesome work, @Josiecat23503

Went through another giant pile today. Some of which was BN stuff given to me (e.g. one item out of a few didn't fit, etc) & got all of that posted. I also finally made my way through the stuff I pulled out of DS16's room, when we cleaned it. And, found a few new board games that folks were super excited to pick up, ahead of the long holiday weekend.

I also went through my stash set aside to list on eBay, and got a bunch of stuff listed. Pulled down some listings & donated a bunch of other stuff.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Sold a watch on eBay, got that mailed & out of the house.
-Went through my workout pants drawer (I have a lot, but also work out every day, and have three shorts, capris & full length, to accommodate for seasons). Got rid of five pair, and already have takers for those on BN.
-Majority of all BN stuff listed over the weekend is now taken, most picked up. The rest will go into our donation pile.

Goal for today is to find another ten items to list on either BN or eBay.

[slackmax]

Since I couldn't decide what to declutter, I spent an hour and half cleaning out the traps under the kitchen sink and one bathroom sink. They were both getting slow. Not exactly decluttering, but related, as a substitute activity. Very satisfying.   

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Cleaned out & organized drawer that contains bras & swimsuits. Four three bras to give away, and one swimsuit. Everything is now nicely organized & easily accessible.

[Loretta]

I’m away and donating some of the threadbare casual clothes I wore this week to a Goodwill I drove by.  I’ve also used up a good amount of a weird toothpaste and face wipes. 

[Freedomin5]

I mailed another box of books to my sister in Cambodia, who teaches at a school for the poor. We just have one more suitcase of books to send her, and then our storage will be a bit tidier.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I've been giving away bags & bags of stuff on Buy Nothing. Had a bad experience today, where someone made a borderline racial slur about the items I was gifting, which was particularly uncomfortable, as I'd used a photo of my kids (you couldn't see their faces) modeling the items. I LOVE my BN community, and have met so many lovely people, so it was really unfortunate.

[Josiecat23503]

@MaybeBabyMustache -- I'm so sorry.  That is just awful.  I can't believe the hate that has seeped into our most innocent endeavors (such as donating your household items to another family).

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@Josiecat23503 - right? It's sad. But, moving on, because giving things away is great for me, and for others & keeps stuff I don't want out of landfills.

-Tracked down 2 people who didn't reply to original BN & got there stuff ready to go out today.
-Find 20 items to recycle, toss or donate today

[slackmax]

MY girl friend convinced me to throw out some 'probably fine' stuff from the fridge that was 10 years old or older. I always like to think that stuff lasts forever if it is sealed up in the original container and kept in a fridge. But maybe not.

In any event, I haven't used it in 10 years, so maybe never will, ha ha. Gone now, no need to worry about using it up. One of the tossed items was a 'glaze' in a plastic bag.

[Sibley]

MY girl friend convinced me to throw out some 'probably fine' stuff from the fridge that was 10 years old or older. I always like to think that stuff lasts forever if it is sealed up in the original container and kept in a fridge. But maybe not.

In any event, I haven't used it in 10 years, so maybe never will, ha ha. Gone now, no need to worry about using it up. One of the tossed items was a 'glaze' in a plastic bag.

Here's the thing. You may be willing to risk food poisoning yourself, but can you can't make that decision for others. If you knowingly used an ingredient that was questionable and someone got sick from it - that's on you. And depending on how sick they got, there could be real consequences.

So, if you wouldn't be ok with feeding it to your [insert appropriate medically vulnerable loved one], then toss it. Or find someone with a compost bin if you don't have one.

[Frugal Lizard]

I got rid of a box of stuff from my office.

I started packing up the clothes that I will never wear and got stopped with thoughts of: wonder if my daughter would like this? or it almost fits me, I love it, maybe I can lose the weight. I paused for now on the closet. But I have a large bag half full in there and will continue as I have band width for.

[mspym]

@slackmax yup if you have used it in >1y you are super unlikely to ever use it. Just ditch it and enjoy the extra fridge space. Now, do the pantry?

We haven’t had any decluttering to do since we are still shy about bringing new things into the house but Ofpym has basically unpacked and organised his art studio in the garage. I still have 20% to go on the sewing room. I keep being distracted by the garden.

[RetiredAt63]

@slackmax yup if you have used it in >1y you are super unlikely to ever use it. Just ditch it and enjoy the extra fridge space. Now, do the pantry?

We haven’t had any decluttering to do since we are still shy about bringing new things into the house but Ofpym has basically unpacked and organised his art studio in the garage. I still have 20% to go on the sewing room. I keep being distracted by the garden.

Hey, it's early summer there!  Sorting out the sewing room is for days when the weather is bad.  Garden for the win!

[mspym]

@RetiredAt63 i think you overestimate the “summer”-ness of the weather here! I am currently wearing a jersey and jeans😄 it was hosing down yesterday until 5pm!

[RetiredAt63]

@RetiredAt63 i think you overestimate the “summer”-ness of the weather here! I am currently wearing a jersey and jeans😄 it was hosing down yesterday until 5pm!

Rain is a good reason to do indoor sorting.  And the damp makes everything feel colder. 

Let me dream of someone having late spring weather.   ;-)

I count 6 months from here.  We are late November almost December so you are our late May almost June.  Which is late spring almost summer.  But late May can be 25 or 20 highs and 20 or 15 lows.  What are you right now? You had rain.  We had snow. 

Hmm, dug out last May's weather in Ottawa, looks similar to what you are going through.

https://world-weather.info/forecast/canada/ottawa/may-2023/

[mspym]

@RetiredAt63 lows and highs range between 10-20C at the moment. We are apparently a month behind where the weather would normally be (rain patterns) and 2C hotter than average so yay climate change! 

Today’s task was helping my mum and sister clear out head-height weeds from between the garden beds and the fields so Mum can plant sweetcorn. I got paid in rhubarb.

[RetiredAt63]

@RetiredAt63 lows and highs range between 10-20C at the moment. We are apparently a month behind where the weather would normally be (rain patterns) and 2C hotter than average so yay climate change! 

Today’s task was helping my mum and sister clear out head-height weeds from between the garden beds and the fields so Mum can plant sweetcorn. I got paid in rhubarb.

Our springs are always variable, but more so of late, so I can empathize.   Rhubarb is good pay.  Here home grown sweet corn is iffy because the masked bandits (raccoons) get it first.  What are your raccoon equivalents.

[mspym]

Here home grown sweet corn is iffy because the masked bandits (raccoons) get it first.  What are your raccoon equivalents.

Hmmm probably rats, stoats and possums (Au version) but they might be chased off by the farm's dogs and cats. [They are all very good at catching field mice]

Back to decluttering - today we are taking the old rotten posts off the wire fencing we found behind the garage and then placing the fencing so it can be used as tomato supports. This will clear up the garden and behind the garage a bit more. It may also be a day for clearing out more of the thorn bush branches, reducing the bramble-tangle a bit more.

In 'stopping things coming into the house' news: Ofpym has been suggesting we get a couple more Sistema containers for the kitchen and I am taking the stance that if we have run out of containers, that means we need to eat some of the contents to free them up instead of buying more.

[FrugalShrew]

In 'stopping things coming into the house' news: Ofpym has been suggesting we get a couple more Sistema containers for the kitchen and I am taking the stance that if we have run out of containers, that means we need to eat some of the contents to free them up instead of buying more.

Well done, mspym! :)

[tygertygertyger]

In 'stopping things coming into the house' news: Ofpym has been suggesting we get a couple more Sistema containers for the kitchen and I am taking the stance that if we have run out of containers, that means we need to eat some of the contents to free them up instead of buying more.

Well done, mspym! :)

Oh yes! My partner is suggesting that we increase the size of our bonus freezer, which I think is madness. I think we need to eat the food we have before buying more. Good luck!!

[Frugal Lizard]

I compiled a box of photos both loose and in a variety of frames into one single binder with clear sleeves. I mounted them on black card stock from my collection. I used up all the sleeves I had on hand but I needed to buy more.

I took the binder to my old Mum. Many of the photos were hers. She loved it. Unfortunately it hadn't occurred to me that I needed to label all the photos. She kept saying "that is a really handsome boy, I don't know who he is, but he is really good looking." It didn't matter who it was, my brothers or my nephews or even my son. But she recognized her graduation photo from 1960 immediately.

[LeftA]

After months of focused effort where I achieved significant process, I’m struggling to find my motivation to complete the last 2 spaces - my basement and my storage area. I have accomplished a lot by doing a mix of recycling, shredding and donating (charity and BN group). I’ve also thrown out a few things. And yet, it feels overwhelming and almost futile. Lately, when I go down to my basement it feels like I’m turning in circles. Either, I can’t focus on one thing (multiple categories and piles of items) and/or I struggle with the decisions that need to be made.

Anyone have advice to get me back on track?

Oh, I should mention what is down there is a mix of papers, books, outgrown children’s clothing (considerably whittled down) and miscellaneous sentimental items.

[PMG]

Can you find some ways to create deadlines?  Perhaps you want to go through some sentimental things before Christmas so you can show them to (or give them to) family members?  Is there a library book sale or a clothing drive somewhere that you could use as a reason to get thru those items?

Or just some good movies to watch while doing the work.

Or try “body doubling”. Enlist someone to help or share the space with you. Or put on a YouTube decluttering video.

Or just commit to ten minutes at a time. Or five minutes a day. Slow and steady.

[RetiredAt63]

Can you commit to doing one space/spot a day?  Like one foot of a shelf?

Or Dana K White's no-mess decluttering?  She has lots of blogs and the jumble multiple categories you are dealing with might work well with her method.

[Ladychips]

I'm a big fan of using a timer. It's amazing what one can accomplish in 10 minutes. And it doesn't matter what you do because the goal is to work for 10 minutes, not to complete a task.

[Fresh Bread]

Leave the sentimental items til absolute last (Marie Kondo's advice). They will trip you up. Start with the books and just do a few minutes like Ladychips suggests. I set a timer for 20-30 mins to tidy up my house and that's all I have to do.

[Frugal Lizard]

I filled another box with recycling. I have been learning to watercolour paint for 8 years. Over that time I have done many paintings. Paintings that I thought were fabulous when I did them. I am now soooooo much better. I tossed a 7cm pile of the stash of old work. I kept a 3cm pile. But if I don't look at them again in the next year, I will toss them too. Some of the small paintings that were not bad, I will turn into greeting cards.

[SunnyDays]

@LeftA, maybe you just need a break.  Sounds like you’ve reached Decision Fatigue and just plain fatigue.  Give those 2 areas no thought for a few months and just keep the gains you’ve already made.  Once you feel ready again, sort everything into categories first, then deal with each category according to Marie Kondo’s guidelines.

[oneday]

Or just some good movies to watch while doing the work.

Or podcasts, audiobooks or music.

[LeftA]

@LeftA, maybe you just need a break.  Sounds like you’ve reached Decision Fatigue and just plain fatigue.  Give those 2 areas no thought for a few months and just keep the gains you’ve already made.  Once you feel ready again, sort everything into categories first, then deal with each category according to Marie Kondo’s guidelines.

Ding ding ding! I think this is what I need to do. I’ve done so much! Appreciating the unbelievable progress I have made with sustained effort over several months is important. Taking a short break I think will do me good. I can then return refreshed with a new sense of motivation.

Thank you to everyone who weighed in with some advice - it’s much appreciated!

Meanwhile, I managed to post a small refrigerator on my local BN group and that’s being picked up this weekend. This will leave a nice open corner in my basement, so some progress indeed.

[Frugal Lizard]

I did a huge amount of decluttering today. I can't believe how good the house feels.

We are going to ask neighbours for some recycling bin space. I filled our giant bin. And still have enough old paper to fill another. Old work files, more bad art and reems of newspaper clippings my mom saved.

DH took a whole carload to the thrift store. Four boxes of China stuff. A bag of clothes.
I sorted out tons of photos and reduced two more boxes from my mom's house.  I got through half a bankers box of papers.

I need not ever buy a bin again. We have a growing collection of empty ones. I will stack them up and store them in the garage for the kids to use for moving. 

And the best part...all the old, really old dusty and musty cardboard boxes got filled with the donations and left at the thrift store.  I am sure my house smells cleaner with them gone.

[oneday]

For the first time in a long time, I got a significant amount out of the house. Haz mat and e-waste to the county site and household goods (4 boxes) to the thrift store. Feels good, even though I forgot one e-waste thing and still have some stuff to sell.

[LaineyAZ]

Interesting note:  I watch a YouTube channel of one of the extreme house cleaners.  He said 2 things he always finds a lot of in hoarded households:  empty plastic storage containers and household cleaning supplies. 

I know this is not a hoarding topic but it's interesting to see that those who are very messy/hoarder-ish are at least somewhat aware and buy containers and cleaning products - maybe as an aspirational goal?  But never actually use them.