Spring Cleaning

[PrincessPerky]

I so find it helpful, I don't know that the deduction makes much difference (I give it all away) but having less stuff in my house means I want less stuff (why buy it if it will end up at the god will anyway?) And If I ever get the garage cleaned out we can put hte car there and then we can save on that way too .

Plus since my family is growing if I wasn't decluttering junk I would be looking at a bigger house, but the less stuff we have here the more room there is for essentials (a bed per person is one essential) I even managed to get the dresser out of my kitchen (declutter a lot of stuff I never used there) and put it in my kids room for the next kid, so even though I don't need one dresser per kid I will have it.

[terry1156]

Too funny! lol...I decided to look under our dryer and washer just for the hell of it and came away with $3.16 I would have never looked there otherwise (of course my DW was shaking her head at me the whole time, but I had a lot of fun!)

[BlingBling]

The other day I walked around walmarts holding onto a water fountain I found on clearance. I have wanted one for a very long time.

Every now and then I would glance down at it and admire the sleek lines and imagine the peaceful sound of water flowing.

Eventually though I would glance down and see the dust on it around it, one more look and I could have swore I heard the pump running and masking the sound of the peaceful water. One more glance had me convinced I would eletrocute myself plugging it in with damp hands.

I am beginning to question my sanity but I put it back and left the store!

[PRICEPLUS]

Less clutter allows you to know what you have. How many times have you bought something you already had but didn't know about? Look at all the crap we collect. George Carlin says we get a house for our "stuff". When we get a bigger house for our stuff we get even more stuff.

Simplify! Less is more! Throw out what you have not worn in the last two years. What are the odds you'll wear it in the next two.

[BlingBling]

Thats been the hardest thing to do! Give up the clothes..When I left the corporate world, I held onto the clothes. Well....I've been gone 10 years and this past year I started letting go. The biggest reason is the weight gain. I am never going to weigh 126 again. Did'nt realize I looked like a POW until I went through the photo album.

Now, I am alot more careful in what I buy. I always had a list of what I had and what I needed to compliment and stretch my wardrobe. I only buy what I need. The other day when thrift shop hunting and found a wonderful designer suit that will last for years. 8.00.

When something new goes in the closet 3 old things that have not been worn come out. That seems to take the "sting" out of tossing.

[acezz4e_tish]

for christmas, i got the kids all new bedroom sets. ill be paying for two years, but thats new matresses and all. i took the salvagable chest of drawers and put it inside my front door. i have a pot on top to toss my keys in, handle on the drawer to hang my purse from, the top drawer to organize mails incomming and outgoing, sciccors, pens etc. next 3 drawers are for my three lil ones coming in from school and the bottom one is for my grandson, which im the drop off for. so ex's dont have to deal with each other, hes dropped off and hour or so later, sons off work and comes for him, i have clothes and all his needs here, so theres no real need for a big diaper bag like i used to carry. which i now use for buying cold drinks and bringing them home with. they stay cold and the bag is wipeable/washable.

[Firefly]

I love to declutter except for when it comes to clothing. I think I will lose weight and get back into those clothes.

[acezz4e_tish]

lol i hear ya there. i saved a 16 outfit even tho im a 20 right now.llol

[PrincessPerky]

I have trouble with clothing, I go up and down due to pregnancy, so I have 4 times as much clothes as I need! (the 'real' size, two middles, and 'totally pregnant')

[debtfreeme]

i have clothes that range about 6 sizes. I will get back and wear the cute stuff again!

[smfoskin]

I would love to declutter and give away stuff, especially in our garage where we are storing the inheritance (of boxes and household items) from his grandmother and uncle and the remaining items from our previous business venture. But alas, my DH says no, we must not just 'throw these things out'.

[acezz4e_tish]

lol in contrast, i have alot of stuff that says one size.lol

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by smfoskin

I would love to declutter and give away stuff, especially in our garage where we are storing the inheritance (of boxes and household items) from his grandmother and uncle and the remaining items from our previous business venture. But alas, my DH says no, we must not just 'throw these things out'.

How about sell them? maybe dollar signs wil get to him?

[Ima saver]

I am going to sell/ give away a lot of stuff at a garage sale this spring. I have not had one in over 10 years. I am bad about clothes, I keep hoping I can wear them again. I have gotten a few things on.

[kealina]

lol.... i started and didn't even realize until 2 weeks in that i was spring cleaning... unfortunately i live with some clutterers but it was nice to organize and group similar items together so that we don't buy more of anything we already have... as for my own stuff i'm getting rid of some purses and other stuff but i have a hard time with clothes as i have been almost the same size for the past 10 years... they only way i can get myself to get rid of clothes is to periodically sort through them and get rid of some of it... what really helps is me imagining someone out there benefiting from it... someone who might not have as much clothing as me...

[lrjohnson]

I love decluttering, but sometimes want to hang on to clothes too long if I've gained weight. I put all the clothes that I liked but were too small in a basket. If I can't fit into these clothes by September, they are gone. I do not need extra space taken and reminders of failure. So I figured out a plan to let go. Of course, as I am working on weight issues, the plan is that these items fit come September.

[Trillian]

Save even more -- when you do give items away, itemize them for a charity like Goodwill, and you can have another tax deduction.