Making do with less

Yes Tina,
I feel that way too...here about 2 yrs ago (b4 my dx of bc) I sat in my recliner and looked around my living room and realized that I felt closed in.....then I started looking around the rest of the house...yep, same feeling there too....I have since unloaded my bedroom, bathroom, and dining room and living room...next I plan to start on the spare bedroom/craft room.....Im finding that between unloads as I finish each room Im feeling better and enjoying the time that I am stuck in the house more....

Jule

Yep, been there. After my dx, about one year, felt the walls closing in and wanted to redo the place. It was perfect timing!
My f-i-l had passed away and dh wanted to bring home a lot of stuff from the "home place". We had a long talk and I said we had to move out from here before that could happen.
All the years of "collections", antique hunting and buying and NOT using, whatever, had to go.
We took our not using to his dad's and included it in the "estate" (not really That fancy) sale. So the few things I allowed back here did fit in and room to spare. It was SUCH a relief!
Too much stuff is exhausting, besides being tiring to clean or dust. I can handle a lot of books, but that's about it. We have special things that really mean a lot and pics and a few "art" things we have from special places, but it has to really mean something to us. Or it's not worth it to me to clean them.
I actually have room in cabinets to store stuff, and closets to hang things, with shelves and floors that don't have stuff stacked full of things I don't use or wear. It's all gone if it's not been used in a year.(except for dh's -- he hasn't gotten the message yet and never will. LOL)

I didn't bother with yard sales. I don't have the time and I don't really think you make as much as you think you will. Basically, I made an excel spreadsheet and put an estimated value on it and took the stuff to Goodwill. They will give you a receipt that you can then use at tax time for charitable contributions.

I got over the guilt by realizing that even though I had possesion of these items, having them just sitting in my closet/cupboards, they were essentially valueless anyway regardless of how much I had originally spent on them.

i'm with you. i really want to get rid of EVERYTHING and simplify my life. i'm still looking for the motivation, however, to do it. it always seems like a fantastic idea, in theory. then i look around, don't know where to start and lose interest. my husband is a packrat (albeit a neat one...i'm the messier one of the two of us) and it's hard for him to let go of stuff, so i have that going against me too.

I have no problem getting rid of stuff. My dh and my kids are attached to everything. I secretly throw away broken toys only to find them in the garage a few days later. We have 5 printers and I am the only one who uses one. My dh won't even get rid of the computer my sister gave us that is from the 80's. It doesn't even work. If it was up to me I would empty this place out and only put back what I need. Oh well. I knew he was a collector of crap when I married him. What can I do?

Alwayshope have you got a can of gasoline for that match.

Tina I wish we had cellars in San Diego. At least I could put the 3 extra TV's we have down there instead of on the floor of each room of my house.

I have started cleaning old papers out of my office and filing cabinets. That makes me feel better.

YESSIR.. I join this club

Help! I have so much stuff around
and have to downwize.. because
will be moving.. can no longer
afford to be here..
and believe me, it wont be the giant
one bedroom I now have

SOOOOO.. how do I get rid of all this

I had my cousin over .. to help
well, we nearly had a dispute..
because... she just took stuff
some items that had been given to me
many from the sisters.. (I cant let them go)
she did not understand at all..

then my own dust collectors here..
I just checked my shelf.. dust..
got rid of some lovely books
and still yet more
Bateman, and Art books
but where to put them when I move

papers.. taxes from years ago
and on and on

I will visit the Flylady

Printers: I just put one out in the hall here
tried to sell it to no avail
Someone took it for free

As for clothing, I wear comfy stuff
and really a nice black skirt
and dressy top suits me fine
for seasonal GTG's

Best...


PM>>> any tips to me.. thanks
)

Great thread-I am also a fan of FLYLADY-if you get an opportunity pull up the link and read the essay on clutter-it made me cry, because I do live my life in CHAOS (can't have any one over syndrome)-which is sad when you are sick and would love to have people come over.
I am readin the bood-"messy no more" and that is making a big impact on my thinking-I need to clear this dust out of my head and move on-pick up a copy it will really open your eyes.

To get over the guilt of "throwing away": locate a consignment shop for clothes or household items, furniture. Find the store to donate to Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity any and all things except clothing.
Know, just know, that what you are not using, Someone CAN use and enjoy!
You are keeping something useful away from somebody who really needs it.

I've thrown MORE than 27 things away that was just PACKED into my drawer. I cleaned out my closet and shoes. Now I need to clean it out again. I kept to much stuff that I haven't worn in over _______ blank years (too embarrassed). I'm feeling guilty. In fact, the boxes are still stacked in my hall to go to Salvation Army. DH's back should be good enough now to help take them down to the car.

Don't mention my dining room or living room. DH's father died and we have most of the stuff the other brothers didn't want. They threw a lot of stuff away from their father's house (thank goodness).

A friend came over before my bc dx and helped clean out my daughter's room who had been gone for some time. I just couldn't get motivated to do it. And I was angry that my daughter didn't do it herself (if you know what I mean).

And my garage! It's got my junk and his parent's junk in there. Still can park the car in it, but it sure makes it harder to get out.

I've cleaned out the closet under the stairs. But it continuously gets all messed up! Can't figure it out. Must be a ghost.

Geez, I'm on a roll!

So, I suppose I need to go visit the flylady.
Shirley

Goodwill or the pantry for less fortunate in town is where I've been sending stuff. Just dooing one room at a time.

We filled up a dumpster in April 2006 (between chemo and rads) and now I look around and I can't even tell we got rid of that much stuff. I have missed exactly one thing that we tossed. /donna

This idea might work for some of you. One friend tried this and I have also found it helpful. Like many I have closets full of clothes that I never wear, but think someday it might be the perfect outfit.

What she does, if she buys a new item, she then donates 3 old items to charity. So one new sweater in and three sweaters out. It is just a small step, but sometimes the small steps are the easiest.

I was following a blog where this couple was redoing an old house in Chicago. When they were cleaning out the house, they put stuff in the alley and it disappeared.
Seems that alley searching on the weekends is hobby for lots of folks. guess it would would work for curbs, too, in the city, of course.