Decluttering and lightening the load for the new year

[Anonymous]

Yes. Donated a lot of things.
Paired down and got rid of a lot of seasonal decorations and things as well ..

[Anonymous]

I did my spice cabinet today, old spices gone! Expired cocoa gone! Old boxes of cake/pudding/jello gone! Roomy cupboard now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m of no help here. I tried to throw away some birthday cards with handwritten notes from dear friends and a save the date card for my cousins wedding beautifully illustrated by my aunt. I’ve shifted them three times between the waste basket and my dresser.

How much of this stuff do you have? I bought fabric boxes for each family member's sentimental stuff, and they sit on a shelf looking tidy. It's fine to keep some of that stuff if it's meaningful to you; no one's house is out of control because of a cubic foot of notes and snapshots. It's having file boxes full of the stuff that's a problem.

[Anonymous]

Going by each small area has been helpful everyone! One drawer, one cabinet, on shelf at a time has made a huge difference so far. I've taken a few small bags to goodwill, you just drive up to donate you don't have to get out of your car.

[Anonymous]

I've been very slowly decluttering over the past few months. I need to ramp up lol. Sometimes I just get some motivation and do a little bit. I keep it small as to not get overwhelmed.

So far I've done:
-Junk drawer (massive)
-Front closet
-Corner junk shelves

I'd like to add more storage and do my walk in pantry, which is a mess. And also my spare room/closet/dressing room. I have so much random sh*t in there that I will never use. Including some computer equipment from during covid when I moved from my DT office to my home office.

It's only us 2 and we still have so much STUFF. Too much stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been very slowly decluttering over the past few months. I need to ramp up lol. Sometimes I just get some motivation and do a little bit. I keep it small as to not get overwhelmed.

So far I've done:
-Junk drawer (massive)
-Front closet
-Corner junk shelves

I'd like to add more storage and do my walk in pantry, which is a mess. And also my spare room/closet/dressing room. I have so much random sh*t in there that I will never use. Including some computer equipment from during covid when I moved from my DT office to my home office.

It's only us 2 and we still have so much STUFF. Too much stuff.

what is your process like if you haven't used it in 6 months it goes? What is your sorting like?

[Anonymous]

Cancel Amazon. DON'T join a buy nothing Facebook group (you're still putting "stuff" at the front of your brain and will find more things to want). Don't buy storage systems; you probably have too much junk and there's no need to put it in a museum.

Getting rid of stuff is a fine and necessary part.
The larger and more important discipline is abstaining from the acquisition of more stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cancel Amazon. DON'T join a buy nothing Facebook group (you're still putting "stuff" at the front of your brain and will find more things to want). Don't buy storage systems; you probably have too much junk and there's no need to put it in a museum.

Getting rid of stuff is a fine and necessary part.
The larger and more important discipline is abstaining from the acquisition of more stuff.

This! We have been purging every weekend since the start of the year. Now, we are trying to implement systems that will keep us from buying more crap.

[Anonymous]

1. Donating toys kids no longer use

2. No more junk purchases

3. Organizing basement storage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I like the idea of one or two memory bins per family member. So you can keep some art and keepsakes, but if the amount exceeds the bin space, you need to cull.

One kid really wants to save toys including some nice wooden ones that were mine and my partner's that our parents saved. That's taking up more than a bin currently so I am having trouble following this rule myself.

[Anonymous]

The super cold weather has kept use inside no real need or want to go buy anything the crowds are overrated too. We have had more time to go through stuff we have taken mostly books and old clothes to goodwill. Just using up all we have already kind of like 2020 when we were all stuck at home.

[Anonymous]

Easiest thing for everyone here...

What is expired in your pantry? What is expired in your bath room, linen closet, medicine cabinet? Throw it all away right now and don't replace anything you didn't use or won't use. Instantly you will have more space.

[Anonymous]

My college DD helped me reorganize our Christmas decor and this turned into a whole decluttering project. This week, I loaded up my car 4 times and dropped items off at 3 different thrift stores. Positively exhilarating. I was getting dressed and pulled on two sweaters in a row that were scratchy and uncomfortable- added those to my donate pile.

Full confession:

My love and enjoyment of shopping at thrift stores has created a problem! Somehow, I bought items thinking I’d resell someday on eBay. Nope. Gone. I don’t even have an eBay account. Also confess to hoarding craft project supplies - this is today’s project.

Low key motivation is preparing for a renovation starting in two months.

[Anonymous]

Years ago there was a post I loved called use the things I think this is a fitting place to post it again here for those of you who missed it.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1061462.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cancel Amazon. DON'T join a buy nothing Facebook group (you're still putting "stuff" at the front of your brain and will find more things to want). Don't buy storage systems; you probably have too much junk and there's no need to put it in a museum.

Getting rid of stuff is a fine and necessary part.
The larger and more important discipline is abstaining from the acquisition of more stuff.

I’ve found that buying from Amazon keeps me from accumulating too much stuff. If I need something specific, I search for that thing and order it. I’m much more likely to buy random stuff I don’t need if I’m wandering around Target.