I am sentimental about things and it is hard to throw away anything. I am getting sick about this. I have read all kind of books about cluttering, then the books become clutter too. I don't know where to begin. I am overwhelmed before I start!!!
2007-02-18 03:21:37 · 7 answers · asked by Carolyn 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
just take a few neccesary things to your new home and throw a big garage sale party and invite friends and neighbours....why not?!
2007-02-18 03:25:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am frequently overwhelmed too. Do not look at the whole picture. Pick a dresser or closet to go through. Make sure that everything you are keeping is still good and usable. Anything that has holes, stains, is expired can go. Then ask yourself "can I live without this?" If the answer is yes either donate it, give it to a relative who would appreciate it or have a garage sale. My mother has trouble getting rid of things also. I found sheets from when I was a kid in her house recently. I said to her..."mom you do not even have a twin bed anymore and the elastic is gone. How about we make these into rags." It is hard to dispute that tyhey no longer had a use in her life.
Then the next day pick a room to being in. Do not expect to do the whole room. Start in a corrner and move on from there. Pack the things you really want and start a pile in the garage for the things that you can let go of. Label a box with the names of different family members who may need or be thankful for what you give them. Your neice who always loved a picture that you have decided to get rid of etc... Also if you have 10 books on organizing say ok which 2 are the most helpful and get rid of the rest. If you have 3 bins of fabric keep only the fabric that you have for projects you can complete in the next year. If you have 500 books that you have already read concider keeping just the ones that you will read again and again... and so on.
Keep yourself focused in that one room and do not think about the rest of the rooms. Once that room is done it will be packed and ready to go...
I hope that you find this helpful! Good luck with your move...
2007-02-18 03:34:32 · answer #2 · answered by princess_becca25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand, I used to have the same problem. Solution, stop beign selfish. Someone else needs it more. There are people still destitute from Katrina and other natural disasters who need everything. First start with multiples. If you have more than one of anything, choose one to keep and give the other away. As for the rest of it. If you haven't worn it in over 8 months you aren't going to. Get rid of it. Knowledge is for sharing, keep a few favorite books and give the rest away. Here's what helped me: think of all the people who have nothing and look at all your stuff. Would you really keep it just because you're overly sentimental knowing that someone else would love to have it and cherish it if they found it in a Salvation Army or other donation based thrift store? A great organization is the Vietnam Veterans of America. They pick up anything and will leave you a reciept for tax purposes. 1-800-459-8387 www.vvapickup.org
2007-02-18 03:30:13 · answer #3 · answered by JC 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can relate. I am going through the same experience as you.
Here's what I am going to do:
Identify what things you absolutely need to keep your life running into a series of boxes with red tape.
These things come into the house and get sorted immediately.
The rest should be sorted by general type. All papers in pile #1, all unnecessary kitchen stuff in pile #2 etc until you have all your piles. Then box and mark those boxes. #20 is Kitchen junk, #21 is more Kitchen Junk ,etc...
When you move in, see how long you can go without opening any of those secondary boxes. Eventually, you'll realize you dont need so much "stuff" in your life.
Good luck to us both!
2007-02-18 03:28:44 · answer #4 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like you will be renting a storage bin with shelves and shelves of catch-all stuff you can no longer take with you. Perhaps some day these items will have some kind of net value. Lets hope that's the case. Otherwise perhaps it's time to see a hypnotist and let him help you let go of some of that clutter. Mind over matter doesn't seem to be working.
In either case... Good luck with that and your move.
2007-02-18 03:25:48 · answer #5 · answered by Kill_Me_Now! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah i feel you I'm a pack rat. lol well i have parted with a few things!
what has helped me part with those sentimental things is i put them in a box the stuff that i'm iffy about do i want well maybe i put them all in a box! i tape it up and wright a date on it from 3 months or however long you feel comfortable with. on that date if that box isn't opened then i can give it a way no need in opening it no need in trying to get it back!
It's hard i won't lie! but it's something you have to want to do to concore it!
a few things to help me stay motivated on this is my large items i want! i"m going through my house and redecorating. now i'm about 95% done with my kitchen :) I have 3 boxes or tubs full of kitchen stuff that i want to hold on to or feel i may use! well a set of dishes i will not part with . but some of the other "decor" stuff i can if i 'm not using it now! I find it fun now to shop for the things i need instead of having it already!
but there are canisters i'm going to put out and put the ones i have now in the yard sale.. as of now i have 5-7 boxes of yardsales stuff of mainly home goods stuff.
Grant you i still have about 30 more boxes of stuff but i jsut keep going through a box like 1 box a week cuz i have a large schedules and i'm really lazy!
my stuff is starting to be organizable so that means i'm parting with some of my stuff!
I guess it's all goal focus
here are some site that help me stay focus or helped me on my clutter free life style! <-- still working btw don't change over nite!
43things.com <-- a forum based site where you post goals and then comment about those goals... everyone sees what you put you can even put photo's.. i swear by this site! if you join search monthly goals or decluttering maybe you will find me! i comment a lot
Coping.org <- just a text based site that helped me do soul searching
joesgoals.com <-- a point system with your goals.. i do this for my work out!
realsimple.com <- i love the mag. and there web site has work sheets to help you keep a tidy house!
Best of luck to you!
Mad luv
2007-02-18 06:28:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever watched Clean Sweep on TLC? It's a good show. They break all household stuff into three piles, outside the house. Then you can organize what to keep, toss and sell.
There are hard decisions to be made, but it can be done. Check it out.
2007-02-18 03:27:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋