Jan says: Since posting about decluttering, I am still muttering about the need for it in my house. How about you?
1. What things do you like to hang on to? Like? I'm not sure...but I do keep books and papers. I have, for example all my tax returns dating back to the 70's. I know, I can let them go....but there they are. Books...I have books from grade school! R is telling me I must purge for the move in future. I know, I know....but the books are a hard one.
2. What is hard to let go of? See #1. I also tend to accumulate and keep office supplies, sewing and crafts stuff and shoes.
3. What is easy to give away? Easier though not a cake-walk, clothes that I no longer want/need.
4. Is there any kind of stumbling block connected with cleaning out? I have this struggle with "well if I get rid of it I might need it" and every time I start getting past it, I have some reinforcement that it's true. Who'd ever think for example that I'd need that box of registration paperwork and catalogs from graduate school? I don't know how many times it almost went to recycling. But just this week I absolutely needed one of those old pieces of paper to verify something! So I guess that box will be staying on with me.
5. What do you like to collect, hoard, or admire? I have a collection of hammered aluminum ware. I debate about keeping it several times a year. Part of the problem is "what to do with it?" I also have some old and "antique" kitchen ware and small appliances that is displayed in my kitchen that I am pretty attached to. But I think a move will help me decide about what stays and gos. The last time I moved though, it cost me more to get rid of the things I was not moving than it did to move the things I was! ( Dumpsters, appliance haulers, landfill fees, etc.) So this time I plan to start the purge earlier and be smarter about how it goes away.
Bonus: Tell us about recycling or whatever you can think of that goes along with this muttering about cluttering. We do recycle. I'm proud of the fact that more goes in that bin than the trash most weeks. I tried composting...not too successfully, so gave that up. Our grass and branches go to the local yard waste site, we buy things from the re-use store and thrift if we can (saves money and feels good to re-use or give things another lease on life). But it still seems that there is a lot of "stuff" in my life that, some days feels like it owns me. So I know there is a purge ahead and I know I could do that ruthlessly and still have plenty of stuff!
6 comments:
Oh, I had forgotten about office supplies. I probablly do not need to buy another pen/marker in my lifetime.
I wonder if there is a "purgers anonymous" out there?
To move is to decide, isn't it? I got rid of so much stuff the last time, and I didn't miss any of it. I know I have at least that much extra still. Best wishes with your move!
purgers anonymous - cracks me up!
Because I knew for about six months that the move from AZ was inevitable, we did a slow purge - and almost all of it went to recycling centers. We made weekly trips for a while there and had some pick ups too. In the end we did have a long curb of stuff we threw out, but it was only once or twice. SO - yes, begin early, it is far less painful.
if you know what's coming and still have time, how about selling xtras on kijiji or ebay? you'll have the pix you take for selling to keep as reminders if needbe & at least you'll have some small benefit over curbside pick up :)
office supply lust is very dangerous this time of year... not that I would know. Great play!!
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