Not quite a horder - decluttering

Options
11112141617171

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Welcome Ang7.  You almost had me there as I initially thought, what a great idea (must have missed it when heidihill posted) but then I thought, if I were moving I would probably just box up the "stuff" and carry it to the next place.  So, hopefully you won't do that but will discard instead.  Remember, it's not decluttering if you just pack it up and store it.  It then just turns into 'organized clutter'!

  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 1,261
    edited July 2011

    Thanks patoo~

    Luckily the boxes that we did fill made their way to GoodWill this evening...

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Oh, you're soooooooooo good!

  • Ang7
    Ang7 Member Posts: 1,261
    edited July 2011

    Wow, I should come to this thread more often...

    My dear husband said he "did not see much difference."

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Come on Ang7, do they ever see anything?  Right in front of their noses and they question 'where's the .....'.  It's a male thing. 

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011

    Patoo, you are cracking me up!!! You are so right that men just don't see! My sister says that the Y chromosome is missing a whole bunch of stuff that we have on that X chromosome! Wink

    Welcome, Ang7! I agree about the moving - I have actually moved some "stuff" three times... ugh.

    OK, so today I went to REI to buy ONE thing for yoga/dance classes (just some workout pants or capris because all I usually work out in is jeans or shorts, and actually wanted to LOOK better!) and came out with 3 capris, 2 tops, and also stopped to buy a pair of tap dance shoes. SOOOO... I need to discard some stuff!!!!

    I DID put my 2 wigs (shampooed and clean), scarves, and all assorted paraphernalia into a box that I will be donating to the local cancer society, but missed the turn to the shop where the lady collects them.  So they are still in my car, but should be out by one day next week.

    Linda

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Watching 'Hoarders' so just put it on DVR and going down to do some organizing.  Yard sale this Saturday, can't wait to part with some of this stuff.

  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited July 2011

    Hope the yard sale was a success, patoo!

    I decluttered some drawers in the kitchen. Threw away food past expiry date or unlikely to be eaten before then.

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Okay, I'm starting on the computer paraphernalia assembled over almost two decades. I threw out all the old computers, cables, etc. None of them worked. I even threw out computer stuff that I couldn't identify. I think I was keeping the broken computery things because they cost so much when they were new. That's a rationalization I guess a lot of people have.

    I'm also going through all the dopey disks and showing no mercy. One of the benefits of removing stuff from your house is that you can actually see what you have under it. It's good to see how other people are doing this.

    Teka, with you as inspiration I will get rid of any shoes with dust on them. There are so many piles I never even think about as clutter until someone here mentions it.

    B-bye shoes.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    lucy88, I have computer software that I think was for computers that were "new" in 1996!  Why have I saved them?  I think they went to the old 386(?) machines.  Well, they are going in the trash right now. 

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011
    I am preparing to teach a course on pharmacogenomics this fall, and wanted to confirm the Y chromosome thing: it has the fewest number of genes on it in the entire human chromosome: 70-200, and the lowest density of genes per million base pairs of DNA at 2. 3. The X chromosome has 900-1400 genes, and 7.4 genes per million base pairs of DNA.  I think that explains A LOT about men!!!  Wink
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Patoo, I know what you mean. What did I think I was going to do with that Windows 95 disk after the following Windows programs became obsolete? Do we think some kind of Windows 95 emergency will come up? I don't understand how we think about the accumulation of stuff.

    n3ypb,This gene thing does explain a lot. Men should have never been given the vote! Laughing This may explain that never wanting to ask directions thing. My husband hoards empty bottles of deodorant, empty tubes of toothpaste, etc. He just puts the empties back in his cabinet.

    My 22 year-old niece came over so she could help de-clutter and maybe take home any "vintage" fashion I was throwing out. I came across two pair of hideous shoulder pads--as in the 1980s Dynasty TV show. My niece asked me what they were and why would anyone wear shoulder pads. Did I think I would wear them even if they did come back in style? I threw them out but I had a twinge. They were almost brand new. LOL.

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011

    Spent - er, invested - 12 hours with a paid helper this week, and I now have 3 rooms that are fully functional: studio/office, exercise room, guest room.  Got rid of tons of stuff, condensed some things into single boxes, and pulled some of my "memories" out of boxes and am actually displaying them as a decorating touch.  I have never been much on the Martha Stewart decorating, but it was kind of nice to see some of my most treasured possessions rather than just stashing them away in a box somewhere.

    Also got rid of the hair/wig stuff - donated to the local cancer group.

    About that outdated computer stuff.... well, that is another project for another day! Thanks for the reminders Pattoo and Lucy88!

  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited July 2011

    Going off on our vacation tomorrow! I de-cluttered and cleaned 5 shelves in the kitchen and am emptying the fridge and the freezer. Anything not eaten by tomorrow needing refrigeration will be thrown away! Figure we need to cut our carbon footprint in the house while we're away (not that we can compensate for all the flying).

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017
  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Sold more stuff at a flea market on Saturday so got rid of more things.  Was with a friend who was not happy that I was practically giving stuff away.  As far as I am concerned it's just stuff sitting around, cluttering up space and it has no sentimental value.  Much of it I also did not pay for as it came from my aunt's estate (QVC buys).  And there's still lots left over.  I've decided on maybe 2 more garage/yard sales or flea markets and then whatever is left gets packed up and off to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or some other charity..  My goal is to have it all gone by the end of October.

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017
  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011

    Nice going, Patoo!

    My organizer helper is coming today for 4 hours.  We made good progress last week, are putting everything I need to "think about" or "consult with DH' on before moving it out into one room that is "in my face" so it will be the last area to get finished, and the one that will not get ignored!

    Today we will tackle "my desk." Ugh. And maybe the kitchen and dining room.  How many sets of dishes is one person allowed to have???? I just LOVE my various sets, but cannot see why I "need" so many, but each really DOES have a purpose I tell myself!

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011

    My organizer didn't come today. Cry

    So I tackled my utility room and got the food pantry organized.  Just ran out of steam when I got to the other cabinet where I store cleaning and laundry supplies.

  • Dilly
    Dilly Member Posts: 655
    edited July 2011

    Ya'll are all doing so well; I keep plugging away, one shelf, bag or box at a time. I still haven't tackled my shed.

    One hint for the things you keep or want to pass on to your family someday, things that are of sentimental or familial "value" -- if you write a few lines about the object and put the note with the keeper-item, then those that come after you will get its meaning.  We have done this in my family for generations, so that some items now have several women's handwriting on their accompanying note/s as things pass through hands over the years. It has been one way to connect the generations with a sense of family history.  The youngsters are generally fascinated by "the old handwriting" if nothing else...Wink

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2011

    Linda, I can see being attached if they are sentimental, passed down as Lost_Creek wrote but if not, if you just have them because you like them then it begs to answer your question of how many sets are enough?  Why not one everyday and one "special" occasion?  Or do you have a set for different holidays as well?  Someone sonewhere, sometime, I read I don't know where, said to use your "good" stuff everyday because you deserve it.  Wear your best perfume to Walmart because the cashier's can appreciate a nice fragrance.  Wear your good jewelry to the supermarket - tomorrow is not promised.  So I no longer hold any possession as any more 'special' than other items and use/wear them whenever I darn well please.  JMHO.

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011

    Patoo, you are so right! I do have holiday set that I just have for fun.  I have melmac set (from 1960) that my mom used every day, and it doesn't break if you drop it, so I use it for eating outdoors.   I have a sort of dual set for everyday, each has 4 place settings, and it seems we use all of them before I run the dishwasher! And I have one 4-place setting that is just plain pretty and I like it, it does NOT go into the dishwasher, and I use it about twice a year. And I have the set that we got as a wedding gift, not a pattern either of us would have chosen, but it was given to us by my DFI, and it is tough to part with because he chose it for us, and I use it about twice a year. And finally, I have the gorgeous china from my DH's grandmother - and I never use it.  So I either need to use all of these, rotate them or something, or find them a new home. *sigh* I truly KNOW what I should do, and cannot figure out why it is so hard for me to get rid of dishes.  I do much better with clothes and furniture.

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Member Posts: 2,439
    edited July 2011

    Found my desk today!!!!!  Laughing

    Decided to not worry about the dishes right now - they all have homes and the paper clutter was making me crazy, so today, 4 hours later, my desk is neat and tidy, and I can find everything I need to work there!!!

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017
  • suzwes
    suzwes Member Posts: 1,740
    edited July 2011

    I've been so busy that I haven't been able to do too much in the last few weeks.  However, I am so proud of myself.  My walk in closet has had CRAP all over the floor and under the hanging clothes for (I'm so ashamed to say this) 10 years!  I spend all afternoon (in the horrid heat - air conditioning doesn't reach up to our bedroom very well) and threw away a huge amount of crap.  The closet looks so nice.  I still have half to go but when I walk in it looks beautiful.  I also sweated away about 5 pounds!  I love Lost Creeks idea of writing a little something about what the special items mean and who they've been handed down from.  I am going to try to do that!

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017
  • CherrylH
    CherrylH Member Posts: 1,077
    edited July 2011

    Just found this thread and so need to be here. I'm not an emotional hoarder, more unorganized. Some terrific ideas on here. I'm also going to get a copy of the hoarding book. Thanks for all your suggestions.

  • Teka
    Teka Member Posts: 10,052
    edited September 2017

Categories