debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Aug 22, 2016 18:36:39 GMT -5
Dolphin, if you're serious about decluttering (and it sounds like you are), it will take some time. As Peter Walsh says, you didn't accumulate that Stuff in one day, and you won't get rid of it in one day.
This said, you can either "blitz it" by spending all your free time on that for a few days / a week / 2 weeks / a month / whatever, or take it more slowly. That is entirely up to you.
Personally I'd cut down on the other things you want to do but NOT eliminate them. To use your example:
I was going to take the dog for 2 walks, exercise and sew yesterday instead of going through clutter so I didn't get the things done that relax me.
So maybe take the dog for 1 walk instead of 2, and alternate exercise and sewing? Dunno, just an idea.
Other thought: do you have extra vacation days available? If you took a vacation day or 2 or 3 and concentrated on the decluttering, I'm sure you could get a LOT done.
And remember, you won't be doing this forever. With every room you declutter, you are making your home more restful and more relaxing.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Aug 22, 2016 19:52:56 GMT -5
I load everything in my car and take to Goodwill. I don't sell things. I did have one yard sale years ago and it was more annoying than it was worth. I tried to sell things and I actually did manage to sell a drumset and a trumpet but it was just more effort than the pay off. And, to try to get rid of a lot of stuff, selling individual items would take forever. One time, l took everything to my garage and then phoned a friend who had yard sales all the time. I said you may have ALL of my stuff for your yard sale for free, but if and only if you take everything that i have set out. No cherrypicking. I have also set things on the curb and put a "free" sign on it like an old electric organ. That went pretty quick. I used to try to give stuff away, but people got annoying about it. Like they wanted it hand delivered to them on their terms. Um no. I have X to give away and if you want it, then come to my house and get it, i am not a delivery service. So, as i said, Goodwill works just fine.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Aug 23, 2016 4:10:21 GMT -5
I load everything in my car and take to Goodwill. I don't sell things. I did have one yard sale years ago and it was more annoying than it was worth. I tried to sell things and I actually did manage to sell a drumset and a trumpet but it was just more effort than the pay off. And, to try to get rid of a lot of stuff, selling individual items would take forever. One time, l took everything to my garage and then phoned a friend who had yard sales all the time. I said you may have ALL of my stuff for your yard sale for free, but if and only if you take everything that i have set out. No cherrypicking. I have also set things on the curb and put a "free" sign on it like an old electric organ. That went pretty quick. I used to try to give stuff away, but people got annoying about it. Like they wanted it hand delivered to them on their terms. Um no. I have X to give away and if you want it, then come to my house and get it, i am not a delivery service. So, as i said, Goodwill works just fine. I've seen this happen too. Sometimes I think people act like you should be paying them, for them to have the stuff you are giving for free. They're not taking it to the , or getting rid of it for you. They're keeping it. That's why I don't have yard sales, or try to sell stuff. Like you said, it's just not worth the time and the effort. Yard sales is one area where I do what I wish others would do. Or do more often. If someone is asking $2.00 for an item, I don't try to get them to take 50¢. Mind you, I don't go to a ton of yard sales. And maybe I could have gotten a better price. But if I feel like their price was fair, I respect that/them and pay the price. If not, I don't buy it. Simple as that. Done. After buying some things, I've had people give me some of the items I had asked about, but didn't buy, free. Because they didn't have to lower the prices of the items I did buy. And I got a good price! It's not what everyone would do. But it works for me. One time, I went back and gave the seller more money, because I didn't think they had charged enough. I still got one heck of a deal. And now I feel good about it too. I like to be fair.
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ilovedolphins
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Post by ilovedolphins on Aug 28, 2016 15:36:24 GMT -5
I just took a trunk load of donations to the donation place and 2 trash bags of stuff to the trash. This is from my bedroom I just went through a few months ago. I will keep going through stuff till I get rid of it all.
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ilovedolphins
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Post by ilovedolphins on Aug 28, 2016 15:37:04 GMT -5
The stuff I thought I needed a few months ago I decided I didn't need today so it went.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2016 21:32:55 GMT -5
I guess what frustrates me the most is that all my free time is taken up with going through clutter. I was going to take the dog for 2 walks, exercise and sew yesterday instead of going through clutter so I didn't get the things done that relax me. I think of this whenever I'm tempted to buy anything. I've gotten to where I hardly ever get anything anymore just because I don't want to add to the pile. However, the KIDS! They are out of control. So much stuff comes home with them on a daily basis. Plus, they are constantly outgrowing clothes so that situation is a mess too.
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bcdfgh
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Post by bcdfgh on Aug 29, 2016 9:40:26 GMT -5
I guess what frustrates me the most is that all my free time is taken up with going through clutter. I was going to take the dog for 2 walks, exercise and sew yesterday instead of going through clutter so I didn't get the things done that relax me. I think of this whenever I'm tempted to buy anything. +1 Once a while I browse craigslist and recently saw many posts with items I would consider junk such as used broom, used trash can, etc. for sale for $1 or more. They even included pic of these items.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Aug 29, 2016 20:46:35 GMT -5
Yesterday, I went through my closet that has all of my "work" clothes. Since I am officially retired, I put about 95% of the clothes in plastic totes and tomorrow they are going to Goodwill. I don't want to take the time to sell them or deal with people who want stuff delivered. Also don't really want them coming to my house so I will take the small tax deduction and be done with this batch.
Once this load goes, the other closet of casual clothes needs to be gone through. Slowly but surely, I am decluttering and getting rid of my unneeded stuff.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Aug 30, 2016 2:17:37 GMT -5
DS3 and I spent the last 2 days going through his large closet (clothes / shoes / toys / games) for the first time in years. I made 2 trips to the SA type place (in one day!), we threw out a bunch of Stuff, and filled the recycling bin. He wants to try to sell the nicer, brand-name clothes on a local FB group his friend is part of. Since he's still off (he starts college in late Sept), I told him sure, give it a try. But I'm pretty sure I'll end up giving them to my colleague who has 2 younger boys like I usually do. It took us most of 2 days to do DS3's closet. But now it's done, the closet is completely reorganized, and DS3 is thrilled. Personally I prefer "blitzing" these things, but you can also take it more slowly, ie go through one drawer or shelf at a time. It was definitely too big a job for one day. But yesterday when DS3 decided we'd done enough and we'd need a third day, I told him we'd go out for Chinese if he finished. It worked. Alas not all of my kids inherited my decluttering gene .
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Aug 30, 2016 18:21:25 GMT -5
3 totes of clothes taken to Goodwill. Will refill and repeat.
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countrygirl
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Post by countrygirl on Aug 31, 2016 8:12:09 GMT -5
I have got to do this. I got rid of a lot earlier this summer, and it did make a dent but I have so much more to get rid of. I need to be ruthless with some of my clothing. We have gobs of paperwork, hubby said the stuff from his assignments can go. These are big folders just full but I wanted him to pitch it not me. Today I'm going through a container of pills and pitch them. I cleared out several racks in the spring this year in the basement. Got rid of lots of old Christmas decorations.
I could make some money but yard sales are a pain in the butt as people want you to give stuff away after you go to all that work. But I am going to declutter if a box at a time from now on. This thread gives me incentive.
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ohmomto2boys
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Post by ohmomto2boys on Aug 31, 2016 11:06:50 GMT -5
We had a yard sale mid-August. One day, community sale - so there were over 10 houses involved. It was definitely worth it. Hours were 8-2. We netted just a bit over $200. Only had to take 2 small boxes to Goodwill. Put the twin bed headboards out for "Free" and were gone the same day. We got rid of a lot of stuff for $200. I priced everything to sell. Now - I am working on decluttering clothes. These I take to a resale shop that gives you cash on the spot. Not a lot, but at least a little bit of $ and then I donate the remainder of the clothes/shoes. Decluttering is an on-going process.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 13:13:38 GMT -5
Little stuff I take to Goodwill. DH took some bigger things to an auction house and a month later got a check for a couple hundred bucks. It was just a pickup full of old furniture we had in the basement, a bike, some lamps, etc. The place takes a pretty good chunk of it but still not bad for getting rid of stuff we will never use again . I'm scrounging around for more to take there now.
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ilovedolphins
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Post by ilovedolphins on Sept 10, 2016 21:04:05 GMT -5
I am working tomorrow on getting another car load to the donation place and a trash can full of trash. I go on vacation in a week and want to declutter more before I have someone come into my house to watch my dog. Nothing like not wanting people to see all your clutter to get you motivated to get rid of it.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Sept 10, 2016 21:43:36 GMT -5
I have already learned that it didn't accumulate in a day and it's not going away in a day. It will take me some time to go through everything. Some of the things I have accumulated make me very emotional. That stuff takes me much longer to go through.
When I moved here from Colorado, I worked 3 hours per day for a month on the packing. Some days, I got a lot gone through and packed. That included tossing stuff and donating stuff. I'm guessing I have accumulated as much as I tossed.
I remember it took me an entire day to go through all the paperwork for every house I ever owned. I did end up shredding all of that because I hadn't owned a home for about 10 years. Now I have to keep that paperwork again. I did buy a small scanner and I am going to digitize all of my paper and go digital. Hard copies will be shredded.
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ilovedolphins
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Post by ilovedolphins on Sept 11, 2016 8:37:22 GMT -5
Last night I got the laundry room area cleaned and decluttered. It feels so good to have that done. Today I am working on a section of my kitchen and hope to get it cleared out some.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2016 9:30:40 GMT -5
Since I started selling the rocks I hound rather than just dumping them in the pile in the yard, my house has started to look like a large asteroid blew up... I buckled down and spent most of yesterday getting some on eBay and then tossing the rest outside or into either shipping or short-term storage boxes by type. When people buy rough from me, I fill the rest of their boxes with the rocks I don't sell, so they get a great deal and get to experience the material from this area. So far, results in lots of repeat customers! It's also how I dispose of my B Grade materials.... Today I am going to finish my listings for this week, and then I plan on tackling my desk in my office. Well, somewhere under the rocks, minerals, and packing mess there should be a desk... I am going to bring in the outside trash can for the project and a rock reject bucket for the yard. I also have a goal of 5 non-rock items from my office making their way on eBay. Trying to turn as much clutter into cash before I move and have to dispose of things more quickly...
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ilovedolphins
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Post by ilovedolphins on Sept 11, 2016 10:33:55 GMT -5
I hope to eventually get to the point where the only things I have in my house are the things I use. I have a long way to go. I used to sell a lot on eBay but now I am just wanting to spend some of the time after work just relaxing instead of trying to get every buck out of everything that I can. I guess my priorities have changed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2016 11:27:21 GMT -5
I hope to eventually get to the point where the only things I have in my house are the things I use. I have a long way to go. I used to sell a lot on eBay but now I am just wanting to spend some of the time after work just relaxing instead of trying to get every buck out of everything that I can. I guess my priorities have changed. When we moved to this house, I asked to have every single box put out in storage so I could do just that - have only the things I use/want in the "new" house. I came here to find DH had unloaded the entire Uhaul into the house. Ug. I came here to find DH had unloaded the entire Uhaul into the house. Ug. Our kids were 5 and 7 when we moved here and we moved a LOT of crapola. This move, I am going with just what I love/must have if it kills me. I am getting down to all the old school/kids stuff, garage tools and mess, and the more sentimental stuff, but I am taking some photos of things and getting rid of stuff anyway. I try to picture things in moving boxes now, and if I won't move it, then it goes. Seems to be helping a bit.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Sept 11, 2016 12:22:40 GMT -5
We had a garage sale over labor day weekend, and we got rid of a lot of the baby gear and toys, some baby/toddler clothes, and just a few adult clothes. We wouldn't bother if it weren't for the baby stuff, as it usually seems to sell pretty good. DH did get rid of several of his ugly bowling shirts (actually Hawaiian type shirts that his old team would get every year for Nationals). You just never know what people are out looking for. I could have put so much more out for sale, but didn't have anywhere to display it. I'm planning a couple more sales next spring and end of summer, but will probably take some stuff over to Goodwill too. Maybe Craigslist a couple baby Halloween costumes and the winter coats, too.
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ilovedolphins
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Post by ilovedolphins on Sept 11, 2016 14:58:30 GMT -5
It makes me happy to see more of the floor. I have the trash dumpster full and another full dumpster sitting in my living room until trash day. And a trunk full of donations.
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mskay
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Post by mskay on Sept 11, 2016 17:50:09 GMT -5
So I have a full size bed frame like this www.livingspaces.com/ProductView.aspx?productId=21607 which doesn't seem to collapse. It is too big to fit in my car and I have no idea where to donate it. Most other things I donate to goodwill type places or recycle or throw away as a last resort. I am tempted to call living spaces and see if they'll come back.
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