Decluttering and lightening the load for the new year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Marie Kondo book really worked for me. Not really the sparking joy thing but the process of piling and sorting categories.

The sparking joy bit is the only thing that works for me. I get rid of everything that doesn't make me feel a zing when I hold it. So yes, that includes basic things like scissors, etc., because I've found that when I surround myself with things that I really like, my entire environment becomes special. No mundane things I'm just putting up with.

[Anonymous]

I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The trick to declutter is start with your purse (s) and your car. Most junk that don’t need is probably there and probably more than you expect. If you’re like me, you may also retrieve things you were once looking for too.

Then, go in this order:

1.Cabinets (kitchen cabinets top and bottom including pantry and bathroom cabinets will have most of the clutter here).

2.Closets (coat closet in foyer, linen closet, and all other closets in house).

3.Countertops (kitchen and bathroom vanity countertop)

4.Crawl Space and Garage (basement, attic, and garage-this is where most clutter or junk usually ends up)

Decluttering does not necessarily mean dumping items. It means organization. Things like caddies and clever shelving inside closets or cabinets can help declutter items

5.Tables (Kitchen, Dining, Nightstands, Office desk, coffee tables). Throw out all junk mail and other unneeded magazines or newspapers etc

If you have a cluttered car, should you really be giving decluttering advice?

My car is not cluttered thanks very much but I always start there when decluttering because that’s where the most throwaway items are for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

What is your damage? You've cultivated "self control" but empathy is equally important.

[Anonymous]

I got new dishes for Christmas and did a big kitchen clean out, then moved on to the closet where we store all the random dining wear, candles, party supplies. Felt so good! This afternoon I moved on to my home office, including rearranging the furniture just for fun (I want to redo it and am trying some things out). I’m really eager to take on books next. I’ve been on a bit of a role this fall: did all the sports equipment and camping gear in our basement, all my clothes, bathroom cabinets, and the guest room closet which still had maternity clothes in the back corners (my kids are teens!). I can feel overwhelmed by everything on my list but writing all that out makes me feel pretty accomplished. I’m trying to double down on avoiding bring more clutter into the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

I’m PP that did a lot today, and am not a big consumer. It still accumulates. Bathroom cabinets have medicines we bought 10 years ago. Kitchen has tea strainers, mugs, and other randomness we’ve been gifted. Kids generate a long list of outgrown clothes, books, and games. Office is full of papers and notebooks and conference supplies…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

Perhaps you should learn how to read PP:

"I dont have too much in my one bedroom unit but still less is more."

Amazing that in just a few short sentices you were able to miss that but was quite able to run your nasty, nasty mouth.

[Anonymous]

We scheduled a pick up with the Vietnam Vets for two weeks from now. We felt bad tossing stuff but didn’t have patience for Buy Nothing. It will go to the curb to be picked over and then Vets will pick up the rest. It’s nice to have a deadline to fill boxes by!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

Translation: Waaaah! I'm lonely and left out and don't know how to engage except to insult someone in a conversation that doesn't concern me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

What a nut!

I hope you learn how to read in 2025!

[Anonymous]

Re: the kitchen cupboards, I came to the realization that I shouldn't be keeping a large inventory of things I -might- need. I don't live in an isolated location. There are 3 grocery stores with I live within 2 miles of me.

They can store it. The store can keep it on their shelf, until I need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

What a grand human being! We are all so grateful that you informed us about your superiority!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have Poshmarked a lot of clothes over the past year and it's great!

what is that process?

You set up account at Postmark and then takes pictures of things you want to sell & post to the site. You enter description of the item and then set your price. Once you post item, other users can either purchase or they can make an offer to you which you can accept, counter, or reject. If you sell an item, you have 3 days to ship it. Postmark provides shipping labels for you to print for shipment. Once the buyer accepts the order, your money is released.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

I’m PP that did a lot today, and am not a big consumer. It still accumulates. Bathroom cabinets have medicines we bought 10 years ago. Kitchen has tea strainers, mugs, and other randomness we’ve been gifted. Kids generate a long list of outgrown clothes, books, and games. Office is full of papers and notebooks and conference supplies…

This is easy.

Get a trashbag and toss all your medicines. None of them work if they are 10 yrs old.

Call your local school and see if they'll take all of your office supplies. You don't need them because you can do everything on a computer these days.

Grab all the kids stuff and take it to Goodwill. Don't try to figure out buy nothing or something that will take more than instant. Set aside 2 hours and grab everything you can that you can send to Goodwill and dump it into a bag, and then drive it over immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never have this issue as I do not just buy every little trinket I see. Try cultivating some self control in 2025, OP.

I’m PP that did a lot today, and am not a big consumer. It still accumulates. Bathroom cabinets have medicines we bought 10 years ago. Kitchen has tea strainers, mugs, and other randomness we’ve been gifted. Kids generate a long list of outgrown clothes, books, and games. Office is full of papers and notebooks and conference supplies…

This is one of the reasons I love living in DC. I can take all of that kitchen stuff and put it in a box on our curb, and it will be gone by the end of the day.