Transitioning to minimalist living

[Anonymous]

I found this web site today: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/most-popular-posts/. Anyone on here succeeded in drastically simplifying their life? Did you use Mary Kondo's method or how did you do it? What did you do with things like old photos and children's art and other items that have sentimental value but take up a fair bit of space once you add it all up?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for starting this thread -- I'll take a look at the website. This has been on my mind a lot lately. Lost my mother recently, and now we are in the process of getting her house ready for sale. I am both incredibly grateful for all the "stuff" that I will get from her as well as incredibly overwhelmed. they had really nice quality Danish midcentury furniture, valuable Persian rugs, beautiful framed art and things collected from my family's travels... but I will now have to put all of that in a storage unit. There is no room in our rowhouse. We are now thinking of moving to a bigger house, but unless we pay $2m there is no house in dc that can fit all that... so basically, like a turtle, I am carrying my home on my head -- the burden feels very heavy, and it is loaded with emotion. I need to downsize my stuff too -- and all of a sudden, I have no taste for shopping, something I used to enjoy. feels very bittersweet.

[Anonymous]

Yes!!! We are in the middle of this OP - awesome thread

[Anonymous]

I often go through big purges when I'm overwhelmed. For example, a fight with my husband will help me go through a junk drawer with merciless judgment (goodbye 20 bread twist ties I'm saving for a rainy day.)

Just Marie Kondo'd my clothes drawers while my 3 kids (youngest is 5 weeks old)napped yesterday. I'm a big believer that outer order contributes to inner calm.

No advice, other than corralling all kids art in a rubbermaid and sorting through it when its full, but definitely a proponent of simplifying.

[Anonymous]

We keep trying, but mostly we are treading water for a few reasons.

1) Our children are 19 and 17 and they will be taking some of it when they get their own apartments.
2) My father just passed away and my sister and I are breaking up the house. So far DH and I have managed to get rid of something before I bring in the next thing.

We have managed to clear out two bedrooms, the garage, living room, mud room and hall closets.

[Anonymous]

I took pictures of the children's art except for a few favorite pieces and discarded the rest. Photos are kept in acid-free boxes unless they elicit negative memories. I found that a lot of things in my home just weren't necessary or important enough to me at this point in my life. I had the college grads go through their rooms and pare down their belongings accordingly. Then there was room for "new" things from storage and inheritances that were meaningful. I don't enjoy shopping any more either. I just replace what wears out.

[Anonymous]

+1 on discarding items and photos that elicit negative memories!!! I was able to pare down my photos by at least 150 by tossing photos that brought back bad feelings. I'd held onto them out of some sense of obligation.

That's the biggest takeaway I had from Kondo - does this being joy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 on discarding items and photos that elicit negative memories!!! I was able to pare down my photos by at least 150 by tossing photos that brought back bad feelings. I'd held onto them out of some sense of obligation.

That's the biggest takeaway I had from Kondo - does this being joy?

Same here!! I've found the KonMari method so amazingly freeing! It helped me get the internal sense of permission to let go of things that I had been hanging onto basically for other people's sake. (Mementos, inherited objects, well-intentioned but unwanted gifts, etc.)

Also tossed tons of duplicates as well as scenery shots that I took as a kid and now have no idea what they are.

As far as the art tsunami, for us making digital copies and turning them into an annual photo book has helped a lot. I let myself pick a few favorites to keep and rest gets recycled which was hard at first but now I find it very freeing. I put a container in storage to hold dd's special items that I think she might want someday and am limiting myself to that space.

[Anonymous]

We are giving our kids the rest of high school, college, plus one "bonus/ just in case year"
Then we move to a tiny home lifestyle. Will rent vacation places when we visit with them.
So excited!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are giving our kids the rest of high school, college, plus one "bonus/ just in case year"
Then we move to a tiny home lifestyle. Will rent vacation places when we visit with them.
So excited!

If you change your mind and do it sooner, there are people who have blazed that trail too: http://www.tinyhousefamily.com/

This is getting me thinking. I wonder if there are any time homes in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

I am halfway through Marie kondo's process. I'm loving it.
Remember she says the sentimental things go last. Work on everything else first. She said it can take 6 months. I might be on that trajectory because it has been a couple months.

[Anonymous]

DD and I Kondo'd the house this summer. DD, who is a senior in college, had read the book earlier and was really into it. Our neighbors were amazed by the piles of trash and the boxes and bags for Value Village (did you know they pick up?) and asked us to come deal with their attics.

The one thing I haven't done yet is go through the photos, but I think I may ignore Marie's advice there. I feel like my memories make me. I'll get rid of lots of photos, but I'm sure I'll end up keeping more than she'd approve of.

Also, I too have tons of inherited furniture, including Danish mid-century like OP mentioned (maybe we should swap notes?). Also some pretty good older stuff, from the early 1800s and even a few earlier pieces. This is the reason I'm not selling the house and moving into a condo just yet. Much of the furniture is from family--memories again--and climate controlled storage is several hundred a month. So in the end it's about even between the current house mortgage vs. a 2- or 3- bedroom condo plus storage. Sorry, Marie.

I do think there's a difference between living in a tiny apartment in Tokyo and having a house in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

I throw everything out, except printed photos go in albums on the bookshelf or in a frame. I throw out mail, clothes I dont wear, papers I will never need except like a deed, life insurance, and tax papers that go into a very small file box. I have one tool box. I have virtually zero nic nacs (sp?). I try to eliminate everything on every tabletop surface. Except oil, vinegar, liquid soap, jar of pens, and a few personal items on my dresser. Dd has 2 play tables with toys on them. I have plastic bins for extra legos. I need more bins for dolls and other toys. Plastic shelf system holds toiletries and makeup. I have a 3 tier shelf thing in the bathroom with dollar store plastic bins to hold stuff.

So, if it doesnt have a place, its thrown out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are giving our kids the rest of high school, college, plus one "bonus/ just in case year"
Then we move to a tiny home lifestyle. Will rent vacation places when we visit with them.
So excited!

If you change your mind and do it sooner, there are people who have blazed that trail too: http://www.tinyhousefamily.com/

This is getting me thinking. I wonder if there are any time homes in the DC area?

I think it's called a condo (Kondo)?

[Anonymous]

So does anybody here follow her drawer advice? I'm a neat person, but stacking my tshirts sideways like she suggests, et cetera, might make me a little self-conscious about being OCD. Maybe I'm wrong.