whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Apr 2, 2013 9:52:04 GMT -5
I don't know if I should post this on SmartSpending or here - to get the right people to see it, but...
Has anyone used this website? I am in DESPERATE need of cleaning/organization help/motivation/ideas/SCHEDULE - something that will help me to get his house in some kind of order and more impportantly, something that will be easy enough for me to maintain it.
I've "heard' some people saying that FlyLady made them me be all those things, so I would love some feedback
Thanks Lena
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Apr 2, 2013 9:56:06 GMT -5
2 years ago I did it. For me it was helpful to get me off my rear. The big thing about Flylady is that it helps me stay on top of things. I stopped receiving the weekly emails after a couple months because I wasn't all into it, but I stay on top of things a lot better now than I use to.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Apr 2, 2013 9:59:01 GMT -5
Lena, you're more than welcome to the decluttering thread on WIR. Just jump in, you don't need to read the old posts. And there's a couple of people just starting a tossing challenge, if you want to compete. Because sometimes it helps to motivate.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2013 9:59:10 GMT -5
Some tips to some success. Best thing for general stuff, for me and kids is pick a few tunes and just go at it, but my kids are older. And I never see Ed to get all the 'underneath' stuff done .... Sorry, I'm really nt much help
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 10:20:25 GMT -5
I think her basis is very good. She sets up zones in the house, and then puts together a plan to work on a zone per day. The best thing to do is read her website, and then really THINK about your house, about your goals and about what you are able to do. Then use her schedule, but modified to make sure you are reaching your goals.
Once you do it for a few months, it becomes kind of natural. I didn't full-force follow it, I never got emails, etc. But I did read it for several months, and then made a plan to work on what was important to me a little every day. After that, I didn't need to read or think, I just did it. I was actually thinking that I needed to rethink my daily and weekly cleaning schedule, because I recently moved my dresser and thought "Why don't I clean behind this once per year from now on." Gross!
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telephus44
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FlyLady
Apr 2, 2013 10:21:20 GMT -5
Post by telephus44 on Apr 2, 2013 10:21:20 GMT -5
I use a lot of Flylady principles. Do it now, housework done incorrectly still blesses my family, you can do anything for 15 minutes.
It does have a lot of building routines and keeping stuff in order. I wouldn't say I follow her plan strictly, but the general principles have made a big difference for me.
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Tiny
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Apr 2, 2013 10:23:31 GMT -5
Post by Tiny on Apr 2, 2013 10:23:31 GMT -5
I looked into the FlyLady acouple of years ago (maybe more). She had lots of 'common sense' tips (that we've all heard before) <-- that's NOT a bad thing. I didn't sign up or subscribe to the newsletters cause I'm kinda a Lone Wolf (or maybe a Lone Lynx) kinda gal and find having someone (I percieve) to be looking over my shoulder/telling me what to do annoying (actually it's more of an inner demon issue I got from my Mother). I'm not really motivated by Rah Rah sessions or gold stars, etc <-- not that those are bad things - they just don't motivate me. That said, I do have a relatively cleaner home and have some new habits/routines that gave me some relief from my 'dirty house angst' thanks to the FlyLady. I'd give it a go - with the idea that you'll see what things work for you. It can be a mental and 'spiritual' journey and the FlyLady definitely deals with that aspect of "change" to help you control the clutter and get you into manageable cleaning routines.
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thyme4change
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Apr 2, 2013 10:27:53 GMT -5
Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 10:27:53 GMT -5
Also Lena - I can't see you as the type that would be all into her quirky baloney. So, you have to look past that.
And I never, ever understood the sink thing. I've never been obsessed with getting my sink clean. I give it a little scrub down after doing the dishes every night, and it has never bothered me. So, once I eliminated the stupid sink thing (and the shoes - although I do put on shoes sometimes) it made her whole thing a little more manageable. That cut out a huge chore every day.
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whoisjohngalt
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Apr 2, 2013 10:41:05 GMT -5
Post by whoisjohngalt on Apr 2, 2013 10:41:05 GMT -5
I know!!!!! (nice that someone knows me so well) - so, now do you understand my level of desperation ? OK, confession time - our house, as much as I love it - is WAY WAY WAAAAY bigger than I ever wanted it. And while it's awesome for the kids to run around, I feel like I am drowning in the mess (organizational and uncleaness of it all). I just want to cry
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 2, 2013 10:45:56 GMT -5
I know!!!!! (nice that someone knows me so well) - so, now do you understand my level of desperation ? OK, confession time - our house, as much as I love it - is WAY WAY WAAAAY bigger than I ever wanted it. And while it's awesome for the kids to run around, I feel like I am drowning in the mess (organizational and uncleaness of it all). I just want to cry I don't have nearly the space but I still have a mess. I keep saying I'm going to get it all done. I am suffer from oh shiny so I end up with half done stuff. For me I think I'm going to make a list of the bigger stuff and tackle them one at a time. I joke that I need someone to stand over me and keep me focused but it's true.
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Formerly SK
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Apr 2, 2013 10:56:00 GMT -5
Post by Formerly SK on Apr 2, 2013 10:56:00 GMT -5
I know!!!!! (nice that someone knows me so well) - so, now do you understand my level of desperation ? OK, confession time - our house, as much as I love it - is WAY WAY WAAAAY bigger than I ever wanted it. And while it's awesome for the kids to run around, I feel like I am drowning in the mess (organizational and uncleaness of it all). I just want to cry Yeah, her personality drove me bonkers. I also didn't get the whole clean sink thing. I think that is her personal fetish. I appreciate that instead of getting overwhelmed by the magnitude of the mess, you just break it down to 15 minute increments. It is much easier to get motivated (and complete) something when it is only 15 minutes. My house is larger than I'd prefer as well (2400 sq ft). One way that I keep it "cleaner" is by purging a lot. Actually, after going minimalist about 5 years ago none of my drawers/closets are a mess. I just throw it all away (and I don't miss it). I don't even have a junk drawer. Sometimes this philosophy costs me a bit of money, but for the most part it has worked out.
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thyme4change
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Apr 2, 2013 11:15:34 GMT -5
Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 11:15:34 GMT -5
Lena - her personality is not my thing, but as I said, the zones help, and the lists of things you can do to make that area clean are helpful. Sometimes it is easy to just say "Okay, here is a list of 5 things - I'll do that, and then I will just be done." Check. I also realized after revisiting the website - she is why I started doing one load of laundry per day. When the kids were babies, it was my thing. I would get up and put in a load of laundry (and then delay the wash cycle) and when I would get home, the first thing I would do is move it to the dryer, and at some point during the evening I would fold it and put it away. And I had a list - darks on Monday, bleach-white on Tuesdays, lights on Wednesdays, reds on Thursdays, sheets and towels on Fridays. It was a great system.
I was thinking about modifying the zones. As a whole, my house is decent most of the time, and my cleaning lady does the floors, etc. So, I don't need a lot of help with that stuff. But, I do need a "spring cleaning" schedule. I was actually thinking that I probably have 12 rooms in the house, and if I assigned myself one room per month and did things like move all the furniture and dust, clean out the closet in that room and toss away a bag of stuff, and whatever else "deep cleaning" thing I could think of, maybe things wouldn't get so bad. I don't remember the last time I moved the stove and cleaned back there. {{shudder}}
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constanz22
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Apr 2, 2013 11:18:54 GMT -5
Post by constanz22 on Apr 2, 2013 11:18:54 GMT -5
Not a fan of flylady. I'm perpetually disorganized too. But, although some of her concepts are good, the site drove me nuts. And I was inundated, like 100's of emails a day from the site, which totally turned me off.
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constanz22
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Apr 2, 2013 11:19:58 GMT -5
Post by constanz22 on Apr 2, 2013 11:19:58 GMT -5
Oh, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Peter Walsh. His book, "It's All too Much" is a MUST read for anyone struggling with clutter!
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bean29
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Apr 2, 2013 11:22:54 GMT -5
Post by bean29 on Apr 2, 2013 11:22:54 GMT -5
I know!!!!! (nice that someone knows me so well) - so, now do you understand my level of desperation ? OK, confession time - our house, as much as I love it - is WAY WAY WAAAAY bigger than I ever wanted it. And while it's awesome for the kids to run around, I feel like I am drowning in the mess (organizational and uncleaness of it all). I just want to cry Yeah, her personality drove me bonkers. I also didn't get the whole clean sink thing. I think that is her personal fetish. I appreciate that instead of getting overwhelmed by the magnitude of the mess, you just break it down to 15 minute increments. It is much easier to get motivated (and complete) something when it is only 15 minutes. My house is larger than I'd prefer as well (2400 sq ft). One way that I keep it "cleaner" is by purging a lot. Actually, after going minimalist about 5 years ago none of my drawers/closets are a mess. I just throw it all away (and I don't miss it). I don't even have a junk drawer. Sometimes this philosophy costs me a bit of money, but for the most part it has worked out. My Mom told me that she thought Fly Lady worked better for people who were not working. IDK, I never looked into it after she said that. I need DH to purge stuff. He is big into saving stuff. He over buys and then he wants to keep the stuff vs. returning it or donating/tossing it. My garage is full of boxes of what I consider to be cheap junk. I think he needs to get rid of it. If it costs him $10-20 5 years from now b/c he has to go to the hardware store and buy it so be it. He would probably do that anyways b/c he does not have the patience to look thorugh the box to see what is in it anyways. I also am pretty sure we have rodents in the garage...I can hear them moving around....DH is in denial. I am waiting for it to get warm and I think I will get rid of lots of stuff out there even if I have to load the truck up myself.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Apr 2, 2013 11:24:15 GMT -5
Constanz, I HAVE that book - OMG, this is how disorganized I've become - I don't even remember that I have books on ORGANIZATION!!
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thyme4change
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Apr 2, 2013 11:45:26 GMT -5
Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 11:45:26 GMT -5
[/span]
My husband has got a lot better, but what I have found is that he is very attached to some things, and I won't make him throw away his stuff, so what ends up happening is that I get frustrated, and throw out all of my stuff, and he has room for all of his stuff. And then he gets more, and I end up throwing more of my stuff away. At some point, our belongings will be 90% his and 10% mine. It is probably better that way. It isn't like I need any of the crap I keep.
My next endeavor, which I started and got overwhelmed and stopped, is to scan a bunch of pictures from the pre-digital age. I'm hoping that I will be brave enough to throw out all the pictures of people I don't remember, scan the pictures of people that are important, and then toss the pictures (or at least consolidate them into a smaller box.) I have two large boxes of pictures AND a bookshelf full of photo albums. I never look at any of them. That would be a lot of space to get back.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Apr 2, 2013 12:14:58 GMT -5
You're nicer than I am thyme. I won't "make" Dh throw his things out, but I've gotten really bitchy with him lately when I'm looking at purging more of my stuff that I've used much more recently than his boxes and boxes of untouched treasures.
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whoisjohngalt
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Apr 2, 2013 12:23:49 GMT -5
Post by whoisjohngalt on Apr 2, 2013 12:23:49 GMT -5
Rae, that's why I have a dedicated area - our entire freaking basement -to DH's treasures. To be fair, the man has TONS of hobbies and various tools, so it's not all junk, but still.............
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Deleted
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FlyLady
Apr 2, 2013 12:26:11 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2013 12:26:11 GMT -5
I am like a lot of people here, I use an abridged version. I like to shine my sink every night, it feels good to start the day with a clean kitchen. It's easy to do and helps me believe the rest of it isn't too hard too either. I believe a lot of it is aimed at SAHW so I don't attempt to do everything and I don't subscribe to the emails. But the zone cleaning is awesome.
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bean29
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Apr 2, 2013 12:27:56 GMT -5
Post by bean29 on Apr 2, 2013 12:27:56 GMT -5
[/span] My husband has got a lot better, but what I have found is that he is very attached to some things, and I won't make him throw away his stuff, so what ends up happening is that I get frustrated, and throw out all of my stuff, and he has room for all of his stuff. And then he gets more, and I end up throwing more of my stuff away. At some point, our belongings will be 90% his and 10% mine. It is probably better that way. It isn't like I need any of the crap I keep. My next endeavor, which I started and got overwhelmed and stopped, is to scan a bunch of pictures from the pre-digital age. I'm hoping that I will be brave enough to throw out all the pictures of people I don't remember, scan the pictures of people that are important, and then toss the pictures (or at least consolidate them into a smaller box.) I have two large boxes of pictures AND a bookshelf full of photo albums. I never look at any of them. That would be a lot of space to get back. [/quote] I was going to pretty much say the same thing. I have purged my stuff. DH keeps aquiring. and what he acquires I do not value at all. It will be something like a broken antique or Taxidermy. I noticed heis dead animals need dusting but it won't be me dusting them. I would rather donate them to Goodwill assuming they accept dead animals. He also has a huge collection of sports collectibles. All for the "bar" whenever he gets that done. I told him he does not have enough walls to hang all the stuff he owns, but he is still acquirieng it. I have the same issues with pictures. If anyone knows of a quick way to scan the pictures let me know. I know the few I did do took quite a bit of time. I think someone on the declutter thread sent them off somewhere to be scanned. It might be well worth it just to get it done and over with.
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thyme4change
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Apr 2, 2013 12:30:31 GMT -5
Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 12:30:31 GMT -5
You're nicer than I am thyme. I won't "make" Dh throw his things out, but I've gotten really bitchy with him lately when I'm looking at purging more of my stuff that I've used much more recently than his boxes and boxes of untouched treasures. I never said I was nice about it. In reality, I've learned that my husband comes around, slowly, on his own terms. So, he does purge his stuff, but never on my timeline. The worst thing I can do is get all uptight about it, because then he feels attacked and goes into protection mode. He just did a big purge, but there are a few shelves he didn't touch. In a month or two, I may ask him to look through "this one box" and see if I can gain some space. The worst is the books. He refuses to throw out a single book. Wouldn't bother me if he freaking read any of them. I bought him a nook, and now he uses that mostly, so at least we aren't acquiring new books. But, his textbooks from a subject that he isn't employed in, from 20 years ago - seriously?! We have made a little progress. He let me throw out my own textbooks. Up until this point, he would pull them out of the recycle bin and put them back on the shelf. So, that is progress.
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thyme4change
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Apr 2, 2013 12:34:03 GMT -5
Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 12:34:03 GMT -5
I did all the research to send them off to be scanned. I was all ready to do it, and then I opened the box and realized there are 8 million pictures in there. So, they sat on my table for a week, and I closed the box and put it back in the closet. I will get there...I will get there...I will get there... My goal is to do it this summer when it is 400 degrees outside and my kids are bored. I'll make them go through the pictures and pull out all the ones of people they know (Aunts, cousins, me, etc.) and I'll scan them first. [/span]
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michelyn8
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Apr 2, 2013 13:14:19 GMT -5
Post by michelyn8 on Apr 2, 2013 13:14:19 GMT -5
I remember Flylady from about 10 years ago and that I started on it but didn't stick to it. I think I had trouble with the hiding stuff/dirty dishes under the sink so it stayed clean thing (if I'm remembering right). I kept imagining them being a lure for mice and bugs which is 10x worse to me than clutter. I've never liked having dishes piled up in the sink so mine stays pretty uncluttered but I have little issue with dishes on the counter waiting to be washed. I think its the having to remove them to run dishwater that annoys me since I'm having to handle them to many times. And I hate seeing food/debris in the sink, so I always rinse it down good after any use. What worked for me was to learn to stick with one task from beginning to end. If I start on a room, I stick with that room until its done. I fold clothes and put them away as soon as they come out of the dryer. If I leave them piled up my cat gets on them and I have to rewash them or I'll feel like they're dirty from just being out so long and rewash them anyway. With DGD, the house is lot more cluttered than I like and DD2 is not doing much to help and has been put on notice of my expectations when we move. Most of my issues are time related though. I work 4-10's and simply don't want to deal with the house at night and then the 3 days I'm off, I'm running errands, going places or just to tired to bother. I do need to refocus because the state of my home is not good for my mental health and I can see the frustration starting to spill over in my moods.
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kittensaver
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Apr 2, 2013 13:22:14 GMT -5
Post by kittensaver on Apr 2, 2013 13:22:14 GMT -5
whoisjohngalt: if you house is too big for you to manage (with all your other responsibilities, you have my sympathy and support ) can you "zone" your house and close off some of the rooms? Literally - put them in some kind of order and then simply close the doors? You'd be making the choice to "live" in a smaller space inside the house. You don't even need to announce to your family you're doing this - just quietly do it. If they go in there, fine, just shut the door again when they come out.
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thyme4change
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Apr 2, 2013 13:35:17 GMT -5
Post by thyme4change on Apr 2, 2013 13:35:17 GMT -5
mich - I agree with that dishes under the sink thing. I read that and was like "What the what??!" Also, she says as soon as you wash dishes, put them away and not leave your dish drain sitting out. My dish drain is out 365 days a year - period. My house has much bigger problems that the fact that 2 or 3 pots and pans sit out over night to dry. I put them away in the morning when I empty the clean dishwasher. It really isn't the gateway clutter.
Now the thing that she calls "hot spots" - we have 2 or 3 of them, and boy is she right. If I'm not on those suckers every week, it becomes a total catastrophe. We have something we call "The counter of crap." I actually designed it to have a place to hold all the "crap" right when you walk in the door. It was either that or my husband would pile everything on the kitchen table - which I hate, hate, hate. I don't really care if they bring in a bunch of stuff and put it on the counter of crap, but when it becomes a permanent storage place for things - argh!
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Deleted
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FlyLady
Apr 2, 2013 13:44:31 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2013 13:44:31 GMT -5
DH spent the weekend walking around the house holding things saying "put it in it's place! If it doesn't have a place then throw it out!" to the air (we hosted Easter and the house needed to be spotless even though it was just my siblings coming over ). Wonder if he's been reading Flylady...
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 2, 2013 13:48:00 GMT -5
I swear my mail multiplies like rabbits once it comes inside.
I need to force myself to do one thing at a time. I get distracted easily and then nothing is completely done.
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michelyn8
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Apr 2, 2013 14:30:05 GMT -5
Post by michelyn8 on Apr 2, 2013 14:30:05 GMT -5
I swear my mail multiplies like rabbits once it comes inside. I need to force myself to do one thing at a time. I get distracted easily and then nothing is completely done. Mine multiplies along with receipts. Then I just gather it, shove it in a bag or a drawer to "sort later" and WHAM!!! 6 months go by and I'm wondering when the hell will I learn to stop doing that. I have a bag hanging on the back of the door to the bathroom I need to go through, one shoved in the closet and I think I spotted one on a shelf when I was boxing up knick knacks the other week. I figure I'll sort through it all when I start setting up in my new place. Thyme - my BF's "counter of clutter" is his washer and dryer as they are right there when you come in the back door. I can clean it off and when I come back the next week it looks 10x worse. I can deal with it until I need to do laundry - then I start fussing because I hate having to move something just do a simple task like select the cycle on the dryer or clean the lint screen. I know he needs a place to put things but there does come a point when its in the way and you need to find a permanent place for it or get rid of it.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Apr 2, 2013 14:37:18 GMT -5
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Apr 2, 2013 14:37:18 GMT -5
He let me throw out my own textbooks. Up until this point, he would pull them out of the recycle bin and put them back on the shelf.
OMG that is my husband. I finally learned I just have to make things disappear. If I get him involved he can find I reason to keep just about everything. He had a ton of clothes on the floor of the closet that he never wears. Moment I started putting them into a garbage bag he "needs those items. Knew I should have taken care of it while he was at work and driven the bag to the SA before he noticed. He owns more than I do but only wears two shirts. But when he can't find a hangar it is somehow my fault because "You own too many clothes". At least I wear everything I own!
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