Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

[PrincessPerky]

Start your kids young!

I was talking the other day about declutteing and the parents mentioned they had to hide the stuff..I didn't take my kids stuff, they gave it to me, willingly and with a feeling of good will! this means sometimes they get rid of the 'wrong thing' IMO, but since they do it, I am happy, I do however get it out of sight, I get it out of my sight before I change my mind too!

Which is why their rooms are nice, and my room is a mess they have a personal 'declutter coach' (me) and I do not!

[Fern]

Things will just sit around untouched for a long time. Often, it's something like a lamp that needs rewiring, or an article of clothing that doesn't fit or needs mending. At some point i'll get disgusted and either give it away on freecycle, good will or the dump.

[creditcardfree]

I use the box in the garage for donations method. Large bin collects donations as I come across them. So this is a constant decluttering method.

I post a clipboard above the bin on the wall to record my donations. About once a month, I take a picture of the items for tax purposes, and bag them up. We have a charity that sends bags in the mail with a date on it for collections, so I just put the bag on the porch on the designated day as I leave in the morning. Receipt is left for me when I return.

I have never once had a regret about something I've given away or tossed. I think it is important to realize that we are not our stuff and that our stuff has a way of holding us back from growth...same with debt I believe. It's all related.

Good luck to you as you declutter. I just found two boxes and a candle to get rid of!!! Your turn.

[cschin4]

I spent the afternoon decluttering the basement. I threw out some old shoes, assorted junk, cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, etc. I made a box of baby items for a friend who has a new grandchild. And, I made a box of other assorted stuff for Goodwill. It is looking much better now!

[PrincessPerky]

I am so glad for this thread, between it and my husband spending an hour looking for a tiny battery I spent the day decluttering, and DH is now doing..err something useful int hat direction..I am shut up here with the kids (built a vulcano out of duplos, then a house, and a flower, and some scientists..to study the igneas rocks..however that is spelled.) while he is out there..hopefully working.

[Ima saver]

Ihave quit buying things. I wish we had not "collected" collectible stuff when we were younger. You think it is going to be more valuable when the years go by, the problem is finding someone to buy it. Not only do you not make money, you sell it for less than what you paid for it 30 years ago!

[cschin4]

Yes, I have alot of Christmas stuff. I used to like the lighted houses, etc. But, now, I have more than enough. I have learned over the years that "too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing" and now I don't even put all my little houses out when I decorate. Just too much to pack up, etc. I really don't even want to put up a big tree with all the ornaments but DH and the kids like it. A small 4 ft tree would be fine with me!

[rickatheslicka]

Yeah, definitely check out www.flylady.net

Here is the specific link with all the great decluttering tips
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingL...luttertips.asp

The main idea - as you try to decide to whether to toss something, ask yourself
1) Do you love it?
2) Do you use it?
3) Do you have a place for it?

[JanH]

Absolutely, flylady. My family thanks her. I have gotten rid of so much of my stuff.

[cschin4]

Right now, I am decluttering "en masse". Instead of picking and sorting, categorizing, etc. I just do the "BIG DUMP" method! I look into the box of stuff in the basement and I allow myself few moments to pull out what I think I could really use. The rest gets tossed! Picking, sorting, organizing doesn't work until you done a big purge of stuff.

[Broken Arrow]

Big dump! Excellent.

I'm a big dumper myself, edging slightly on the reckless side. It almost never fails that when I do that, I would end up throwing something away that I later would realize that should've kept. Still, overall, doing big purges always makes me feel better in the end.

[mountainmist]

Thanks to all for participating in this thread.

Anybody happen to know if there are any discussion threads about whether to donate/giveaway as opposed to having a garage sale?

I'm really not interested in doing a garage sale, as it's my own feeling, that if the item is good enough to get into a consignment shop for re-sale, that that is where it should go, and if it isn't worthy enough to be accepted by a consignment shop.... then it's simply garbage and should go immediately to the goodwill or sally or other thriftshop accepting donations.

Does this make sense?

Why sell something NICE at a garage sale for maybe five bucks, when it can sit at a consignment shop for months and maybe get substantially more money?

It seems that the only good thing about getting rid of your stuff at a garage sale is that you can do so quickly, that very day -- but think of all that stuff that does't sell, not even for a quarter?

I don't know.

I feel guilty not having a sale, but I can't get motivated about selling nickel & dime stuff, you know???

[mountainmist]

Thanks to all for participating in this thread.

Anybody happen to know if there are any discussion threads about whether to donate/giveaway as opposed to having a garage sale?

I'm really not interested in doing a garage sale, as it's my own feeling, that if the item is good enough to get into a consignment shop for re-sale, that that is where it should go, and if it isn't worthy enough to be accepted by a consignment shop.... then it's simply garbage and should go immediately to the goodwill or sally or other thriftshop accepting donations.

Does this make sense?

Why sell something NICE at a garage sale for maybe five bucks, when it can sit at a consignment shop for months and maybe get substantially more money?

It seems that the only good thing about getting rid of your stuff at a garage sale is that you can do so quickly, that very day -- but think of all that stuff that does't sell, not even for a quarter?

I don't know.

I feel guilty not having a sale, but I can't get motivated about selling nickel & dime stuff, you know???

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Not well enough, while I have been spending the last three yeasrs decluttering I seem to be barely keeping up with the inflow (most in is by gmas and the like..oh and DH!)

One thing I ask is 'what on earth will I do with it? Not what susie homemaker would o, not what miss on the ball science from paperclips msuper mom would do, but literally me..often the answer is shuffle it..and the more I shuffle out the door the more I actually use what is left...

I also tend to look at the likelyhood of getting anoither should I be inspired to use it....for example baby chlothes even my third was showered with gifts, I spent not a dime..and he is more than adequatly attired...I only keep truly sentamental baby stuff..one or two per size. (if)

Sounds like you MIGHT want to take the brand name baby clothes to one of the consignment shops in your area - but better do so quickly, around here they are very particular about having ONLY recent items; something has to be so 'classic' if it's over three years old for them to even take a brief glance at it.

I really like what you said about ... what would YOU, yourself, do with the item -- not what Martha Stewart devotees would craft up with your item -- but seriously what YOU would do with it.

It's really "dangerous" to look at the 'craft potential' of some types of clutter, you know?

"One thing I ask is 'what on earth will I do with it? Not what susie homemaker would do, not what miss on the ball science from paperclips super mom would do, but literally me..often the answer is shuffle it..and the more I shuffle out the door the more I actually use what is left..."

Great advice!! Thanks.

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Not well enough, while I have been spending the last three yeasrs decluttering I seem to be barely keeping up with the inflow (most in is by gmas and the like..oh and DH!)

One thing I ask is 'what on earth will I do with it? Not what susie homemaker would o, not what miss on the ball science from paperclips msuper mom would do, but literally me..often the answer is shuffle it..and the more I shuffle out the door the more I actually use what is left...

I also tend to look at the likelyhood of getting anoither should I be inspired to use it....for example baby chlothes even my third was showered with gifts, I spent not a dime..and he is more than adequatly attired...I only keep truly sentamental baby stuff..one or two per size. (if)

Sounds like you MIGHT want to take the brand name baby clothes to one of the consignment shops in your area - but better do so quickly, around here they are very particular about having ONLY recent items; something has to be so 'classic' if it's over three years old for them to even take a brief glance at it.

I really like what you said about ... what would YOU, yourself, do with the item -- not what Martha Stewart devotees would craft up with your item -- but seriously what YOU would do with it.

It's really "dangerous" to look at the 'craft potential' of some types of clutter, you know?

"One thing I ask is 'what on earth will I do with it? Not what susie homemaker would do, not what miss on the ball science from paperclips super mom would do, but literally me..often the answer is shuffle it..and the more I shuffle out the door the more I actually use what is left..."

Great advice!! Thanks.

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by b4freedom

3) Whatever you do, don't organize. This is the contrary to what everyone else would say.

But, you don't know how to organize if you're not already doing it. And, you're not going to learn how to. Ever.

Seriously, it's not your personality. If it was your personality, you'd already be doing it. So, don't even bother. If you need to organize your stuff, take a big trash can and toss it in.

It's just cluttering your life.

Clear your life, clear your mind, clear your soul, and toss all that crap in the garbage. You'll worry about it until the garbage man takes it away. After that, you'll feel relaxed. Stop buying stuff. Become a minimalist.

Goodness, this is some radical stuff, are you a Professional Organizer or maybe a psychologist who works with OCD'ers who hoard all manner of items?

Where can I read MORE of this logical reasoning??

I helped my friend's family declutter their parents hoard of a lifetime, and it horrified me -- but although I've read some news articles about the current epidemic of hoarding amongst senior citizens, and understand that there are distinct brain differences between hoarders and 'normals' -- it never occurred to me that maybe some people simply cannot, repeat: CANNOT, organize their clutter - but that, if it wasn't PURE CLUTTER, it would already be organized.

Hope you start a blog about this, I'd like to read more of your views, seriously.

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by b4freedom

3) Whatever you do, don't organize. This is the contrary to what everyone else would say.

But, you don't know how to organize if you're not already doing it. And, you're not going to learn how to. Ever.

Seriously, it's not your personality. If it was your personality, you'd already be doing it. So, don't even bother. If you need to organize your stuff, take a big trash can and toss it in.

It's just cluttering your life.

Clear your life, clear your mind, clear your soul, and toss all that crap in the garbage. You'll worry about it until the garbage man takes it away. After that, you'll feel relaxed. Stop buying stuff. Become a minimalist.

Goodness, this is some radical stuff, are you a Professional Organizer or maybe a psychologist who works with OCD'ers who hoard all manner of items?

Where can I read MORE of this logical reasoning??

I helped my friend's family declutter their parents hoard of a lifetime, and it horrified me -- but although I've read some news articles about the current epidemic of hoarding amongst senior citizens, and understand that there are distinct brain differences between hoarders and 'normals' -- it never occurred to me that maybe some people simply cannot, repeat: CANNOT, organize their clutter - but that, if it wasn't PURE CLUTTER, it would already be organized.

Hope you start a blog about this, I'd like to read more of your views, seriously.

[PrincessPerky]

I am not sure I would knwo the difference between a brand name baby clothes nad a not so brand name..they all have brands on them

seriously, the 'good stuff' I tend to keep, I know it will last thru my next kid!

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

I am not sure I would knwo the difference between a brand name baby clothes nad a not so brand name..they all have brands on them

seriously, the 'good stuff' I tend to keep, I know it will last thru my next kid!

Right, all of the clothing will usually have labels still attached, however the labels from the dollar store clothing racks are NOT what the consignment shops are looking for. "Baby GAP" they'd definitely be interested in; indeed, I've seen them accept, "The Children's Place" (@ Nordstroms) even when the clothing was noticably worn out.

But it can't have stains. NONE.

The reason I mention this to you is that oftentimes baby gifts are coming from pricey, occasionally VERY pricey stores, and it just seemed to me that you'd rather make ten bucks off one of the brand name special onesies, and if your baby needs another, just stop be a garage sale and pick up three for a buck.

LOL

Now, I don't know how it is for child's consignment shops, but the adult ones around here seem to ALWAYS be accepting quality kids clothing, and if you take a store credit, and only shop during the sales, you can pick up some very nice very high quality adult clothing at minimal prices. Or kids stuff, too. Some of these places occasionally mark all that brand name stuff down to a dollar a piece during the clearances.

Even when it's not that low, there can be some really good bargains and since the clothing is already separated by size and type, it's lots easier to find some real treasures than at many garage sales which occassionally are a real mishmash of very worn baby clothes with multiple stains, or nothing in the adult sizes your household needs.

Many consignment stores give you the option of taking credit instead of cash.

I'd want to save serious money on baby & toddler clothing anyway I can, and even bank the proceeds, save it until the teen years when there's not as many options for using secondhand clothing, it's just not stylish enough.

[mountainmist]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

I am not sure I would knwo the difference between a brand name baby clothes nad a not so brand name..they all have brands on them

seriously, the 'good stuff' I tend to keep, I know it will last thru my next kid!

Right, all of the clothing will usually have labels still attached, however the labels from the dollar store clothing racks are NOT what the consignment shops are looking for. "Baby GAP" they'd definitely be interested in; indeed, I've seen them accept, "The Children's Place" (@ Nordstroms) even when the clothing was noticably worn out.

But it can't have stains. NONE.

The reason I mention this to you is that oftentimes baby gifts are coming from pricey, occasionally VERY pricey stores, and it just seemed to me that you'd rather make ten bucks off one of the brand name special onesies, and if your baby needs another, just stop be a garage sale and pick up three for a buck.

LOL

Now, I don't know how it is for child's consignment shops, but the adult ones around here seem to ALWAYS be accepting quality kids clothing, and if you take a store credit, and only shop during the sales, you can pick up some very nice very high quality adult clothing at minimal prices. Or kids stuff, too. Some of these places occasionally mark all that brand name stuff down to a dollar a piece during the clearances.

Even when it's not that low, there can be some really good bargains and since the clothing is already separated by size and type, it's lots easier to find some real treasures than at many garage sales which occassionally are a real mishmash of very worn baby clothes with multiple stains, or nothing in the adult sizes your household needs.

Many consignment stores give you the option of taking credit instead of cash.

I'd want to save serious money on baby & toddler clothing anyway I can, and even bank the proceeds, save it until the teen years when there's not as many options for using secondhand clothing, it's just not stylish enough.