Not quite a horder - decluttering

Just wanted to check in and say hello. It has been a long time. Glad to see everyone is still downsizing. I did well for awhile and then got sick again. Balance and vertigo issues and ended up not being able to move much. Turns out I was suffering from B12 deficiency. So that ended the toss away my stuff phase. I am now moving some and back at it. I have the basement to get back to.....who really needs a professional Emeril Lagassee deep fryer anyway? There is a lot of stuff down there I may never use in boxes still. All that stuff from QVC etc, UGH. I have been wearing the same jeans and tops for over a year. Going to start to donate that stuff. Just did a box with size 14 in case I need it later....8 pairs if jeans. I still have 12 in size 12. OMG what is wrong with me? Ok rant over. I have to wash my clothes about 10 times before I can wear them new. I am allergic to dyes and sometimes polyester mix in clothes. I am about on number 7 wash on 2 newer pair. Then I can dump the knee ripped ones I have been wearing at age 65 hahahaha. Have a great week end.

Hi all, jumping in here. I packed up my office last week as I medically retire at the end of this month, while I threw away a lot, I still brought home 3 tote bags of personal stuff collected over the last 10 years, a 2nd culling is definitely in order.

Later this summer/fall DH and I plan to sell our 2 story 4bdrm home and relocate to our 1 bedroom cabin. What do you recommend for getting rid of the nearly new big stuff like dressers, bookshelves, tables, etc? I think they’re in a condition to sell but I don’t want to haul the heavy stuff out to the yard.

Bunkie--It must be hard to restart after being sick again.Good for you for making progress!

Illi--I hear you about the need for a second culling. The last time I cleaned out an office I brought home a whole care full of stuff, much of which is still in the basement! Got to do the 2nd look.Selling the big furniture will be a challenge, I bet. I think Wren is right, pics and post on Criag's List or Facebook Marketplace? Maybe as you get things cleared out you could move those items into one room and have a moving sale?

Bunkie, gosh, thats a lot of work washing new clothes so many times before you are able to wear them! Its not something I ever thought of before, that some people are allergic to the dyes in fabric. As for set backs, life has a way of derailing us from time to time and we have to take detours to get to where we want to go. Despite my determination to stay the course, I still get bumped off it every so often (darn!). However, having the break from decluttering like you have, and now getting back to it can be very helpful in seeing your stuff with fresh eyes and making more discerning choices what to keep and what needs a new home.

Illimae, when I was working, my piddly little job as a school aide got downsized and I brought home several boxes of stuff I couldn't yet part with. Over several years, I revisted the stuff several times, being able to part with more as time went on. And some stuff I found use for at home. I don't think its a problem keeping things if you have room for it. Right now, the office items you kept are very meaningful to you. There is no need to detatch those emotions quickly. How you feel will change naturally over time.

Definitely put your large items on Craigs List. I find great success putting photos of for sale items on my Facebook page. Often, someone I know will say, “I'll buy it!"for an item I had no idea they were in the market for. Priced reasonably, the stuff will go, especially as it sounds like everything is in great shape being rather new.

Awesome cabin photos!

Nice cabin and nice area. We took the kids camping at Big Bend National Park in the early 70's. That's probably the closest I've been to your cabin. I went to El Paso and Cuidad Juarez a long time ago and can't remember much about it.

How's this for a de-cluttering story:

Neighbor a few houses down has been camping on/off last several years with his girlfriend. She retired a few years ago, and he just retired this year. They bought a beautiful Airstream trailer and decided to go camping full-time. He's currently selling his house and they will be living and traveling in the trailer. She kept her home (Oregon maybe?) for their permanent address. They plan to stay in every National Park, see a game in every MLB stadium, and visit every state. 

They had a party last weekend. I did NOT bring a "house cooling" gift. 

I am not that much into driving a trailer, even an airstream (which I think looks cool), but all the National Parks and ballparks sounds great to me. Something to aspire to!

I am slowly making progress on getting rid of stuff in preparation for selling our house, and best yet, I convinced hubby to put in serious time on it this weekend as well! I insisted he follow the 'touch it once only' rule and that really helped. The bedroom closet is cleaned out. Woohoo!

Octogirl

Hi. I think a photo of your cabin is a great inspiration to downsize!

A few weeks ago, I spent 5 days on a canal boat in London. It was like a tiny house experience! In the end, I think I like having space. We had a compost toilet, but hot water and a small breakfast area. The bed had you tuck your feet under a shelf. Seeing swans float by in the morning, and to feel that level of peacefulness within London was really a great experience.

Now I am traveling again...and I have brought too much stuff. My husband had his things in one, smaller suitcase. I have the big suitcase and 2 other bags. It's NOT helpful to have most of this stuff with me. Except the wet wipes! I feel like winner for having those....and some athletic tape that I gave to a lady in distress for her feet. Hey, I am midway in the clutter life.

Also when traveling I tend to get gifts and general stuff. I am trying to hold this at bay with the thought that I want to save my money from impulse buys for something that I really want.

Jazzy, I’ve read that book, and wish more people would! I find myself sometimes looking at something I want to purchase and think, “how many hours does dh have to work for me to afford this?” I buy far less expensive makeup and it helps limit the frivolous buys. An acquaintance on FB commented that she didn’t know if she should by some very expensive purse. She has a good nursing job but does she need that purse? I commented. “Figure out how many hours you’ll have to work to earn the purse and then decide if its worth it.” She never commented back, but I did want to plant the seed of smart consumerism.

There's a 'Green Eileen' store where they sell second hand EF clothing - with her permission. She feels badly about stuff just getting tossed, so gently used clothing can go there and is sold for a lot less. I love the look of her clothes, but think I would need to be taller to look good in them. I'm shrinking with age and am only 5'2" now.

I’m loving this motivation! I gave away many clothes to a friend a couple months ago and I need to do it again. Since I’m retiring soon, I’m asking myself “am I going to wear this on the mountain?” when I see something nice for work.

I love the purse cost reminder too, I admittedly have a love for new handbags, I bought my newest a week ago. It was originally $284, then I saw it on sale for $155 (which I thought about) but a few days laterit was eligible for a 40% off flash sale, so I snatched it up at $93. It’s about 3 1/2 hours worth of work, so I’m ok with that.

I, too, have a love for purses. Its the one thing I probably have more of than I need. If a purse is pricier than what I think is reasonable, I sometimes ask for it as a birthday or Christmas present. It’d be hard for me to spend more than $100 for one, even if asked for as a gift. Illimae, great use of sales to bring the handbag you wanted down to a more affordable price!

what do you do with old vcr or cassette tapes? Cassettes may be commercial but the vcr are home movies/ceremonies. I have no desire to transfer them.

Zills - I actually purchased a VHS player a couple of years ago. I have too many tapes I want to watch again when I get old (LOL). Since I haven't watched TV in years, all those old movies will be new again. I did cull my tapes though, and refused a "gift" of 300 tapes from a friend who had moved on to CDs. And another offering of 400 from my ex-DH. Everything else went to the Salvation Army.

We have at least one guy in Houston who still buys the tapes - particularly horror movies. Apparently there is a big cult following.

As for family movies & functions - I chose the best of the best and had them transferred to CDs at Costco when that process was on sale.

I love the death cleaning idea...I am packing for a move along with downsizing, and it is pretty much overwhelming. I can't imagine my poor kids having to do this job. My sister did much of the job when my Mom died...(I think I owe Sis big time)...but then again, my Mom really wasn't all that into material 'stuff'. We have way more junk than she did (and I say junk advisedly. About 2/3 of stuff is going into the dumpster, a donation pile or to recycling. Just not packing it unless I have used it recently (and it is pricey enough to be worth the cost of moving) or I just can't imagine not having it in my house. Oh well, making progress and time to get back to it..reading through posts on BCO is too good of a form of procrastination for me!

Octogirl