Decluttering and lightening the load for the new year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watched a YouTube video the other day and the organization pro explained that instead of making it a big project, decluttering has to be a part of everyday.

So today when I made toast I cleaned some crap out of the silverware drawer. Will be trying to do it one thing at a time.

Love this thread, thanks!! The above is the approach I am trying to take. 10-15 mins a day during minor wait periods. Cooking, waiting for a kid. So far I’ve cleaned a couple of drawers. I have to manage the size so I do t make it a big project.

Yes, even the two minutes to make my tea can be used to clean off a counter or throw some things away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also try to take this approach with a lot of things. I decided this about a heater fan yesterday. It hasn’t been used in like six years. If I ever need one again, I can run to Home Depot.

Now watch, the furnace will go out for days and we’ll be freezing.

But actually I doubt we’d stay home with the heater fan for long anyway.

I really need a heater fan my apartment bedroom is 48 degrees and uninsulated. lol I'd take yours!

[Anonymous]

Most people already have what the need. We are a country of hyper consumers driven by 24/7 ads, on the top of taxi's, every webpage, the sides of busses, even at the gas pump. I live in a one-bedroom and usually have all I need. I use the clothes I have until they have holes then I cut the clothes up to make rags for the car. This morning I took two pairs of pjs pants with holes in them (very old, 100% cotton) and cut into rags and two old dish towels. I use these to clean the car. I use everything and don't buy much at all. This works for me and my tiny space hasn't been cluttered up but it take discipline. I know some of my family members use shopping as a hobby, I don't. They use shopping to fill their time, I don't. It makes life easier. When you think you need something, look around you might already have it or a excellent substitute for it already. That's my tips, use up ALL you have, then if you have to buy something do and use everything until it's unusable. I have saved a ton of money living like this and living below my means that I could retire early, very early should I need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watched a YouTube video the other day and the organization pro explained that instead of making it a big project, decluttering has to be a part of everyday.

So today when I made toast I cleaned some crap out of the silverware drawer. Will be trying to do it one thing at a time.

Love this thread, thanks!! The above is the approach I am trying to take. 10-15 mins a day during minor wait periods. Cooking, waiting for a kid. So far I’ve cleaned a couple of drawers. I have to manage the size so I do t make it a big project.

Yes, even the two minutes to make my tea can be used to clean off a counter or throw some things away.

This and it snowballs once you see how clean that drawer look you want to do more. It literally encourages you even more so there are at least 3 benefits to doing it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Please post tips, ideas. I need inspiration. Empty nesters with a full attic of stuff and it must go. Having a hard time figuring out old kids art, photos, etc.

Chuck it. Seriously. Even you don’t want their art, and they are your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Liked the book but like to tackle in smaller areas not dump ever item of clothing on the bed it feels too overwhelming.

Yea I have to do in smaller areas or it gets to disorderly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Please post tips, ideas. I need inspiration. Empty nesters with a full attic of stuff and it must go. Having a hard time figuring out old kids art, photos, etc.

Chuck it. Seriously. Even you don’t want their art, and they are your kids.

On a nice cloudy today, set up a table near a window (we’re going for no shadows) and use your phone to take pictures of the art lying flat on a solid background.

Send the photos to Shutterfly or similar to go in a book, or buy and dedicate an Aura frame.

[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.

Thank you, Joan Crawford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I also try to take this approach with a lot of things. I decided this about a heater fan yesterday. It hasn’t been used in like six years. If I ever need one again, I can run to Home Depot.

Now watch, the furnace will go out for days and we’ll be freezing.

But actually I doubt we’d stay home with the heater fan for long anyway.

Ha! I'm donating a space heater tomorrow. Was in my office, I retired ywo years and haven't used it since.

[Anonymous]

My neighborhood has stuff on the sidewalks every day, on top of the FFPU stuff on our listserv. I guess everybody is having too much stuff, especially after the holidays.

[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…

If you haven’t cleaned the medicine cabinets for 10 years, how do you find non-expired medicine? Generally curious. Maybe we don’t have as much space….

[Anonymous]

Did the kitchen junk drawer, so much room now!

[Anonymous]

I have been doing really well. I cleaned up after Christmas and then started going drawer by drawer, closet by closet. I hit storage cabinets too.

There's still a lot to go through- namely kids stuff. There's a consignment sale coming up and I'm just going to drop it all off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did the kitchen junk drawer, so much room now!

Organizing drawers like this make a HUGE impact. It's a drawer you likely open daily and it makes you feel bad every time you open it. I had my 6 year old sit down and test out all the pens and permanent markers and sharpen the pencils too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes! Please post tips, ideas. I need inspiration. Empty nesters with a full attic of stuff and it must go. Having a hard time figuring out old kids art, photos, etc.

Chuck it. Seriously. Even you don’t want their art, and they are your kids.

Definitely toss the old art. It was meant for them to enjoy creating and then you enjoyed looking at it. It has no enjoyment after that time.