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| Maybe I will drown my worries in a tater chip bag too. |
I read a blog about furniture which led me to my dilemma. Add to that my knowledge from making a big move between 2001 and 2003. I wound up getting rid of so much. I sold a bedroom suite for $50 and I don't know who was happier. Me seeing it go or the young couple loading it on a truck. One thing you learn from moving is that all that stuff owns you.
I had jealously guarded books from being sold. I got so pressed for time when my house sold, all eleven boxes of books went to charity.
Interestingly, some books about the settling of Australia that I wanted to keep, I found in my parent's collection.
I haven't told my family; but next month I am going to have a huge yard sale. I usually send most everything to Happy Hour YardSale. I've got my trunk full of things to bring today to them. We have that much stored, Times a wasting.
I have heard that hoarders have an issue with the items. I have boxes of teaching items. Some of it is old that I picked up at yardsales from other teachers. I know I need to part with all of it. There is an auction in Atlanta that sells collectibles. Some of these items are old but have no value. I am really looking for a good home.
I've got books from the late 1800's. I will not part with them for now. I've always wanted to read them.
Clothes, oh man I got the clothes. All purchased at a ridiculously great price. I had the policy of only buying items at a great price because I knew I had too much. When I retired, I was shocked at how much I had amassed. I grew up humble to Depression era parents. I am so prepared for a rainy day; I have enough to wear until I am 100. Just writing this makes it easier to part with these clothes.
I no longer shop so much. I stopped visiting yard and estate sales about ten years ago.
Today, I plan to write a schedule. I do want to start 2017 in a better place. No I am not in hoarding conditions and my house is cluttered, not dirty. I clean portions continuously with my house pets. I have a terrific washer to keep pet bedding washed. The two dogs that sleep with me love my fluffy comforter. I wash it about every three days.
I've got a large, clean blue trashcan full of folded clothes. They are nice clothes. I know, I looked at what was in there a while back. I've got to hold my breath and just haul it all to Happy Hour to be sold.
If you are wondering what Happy Hour is, it is a workshop for the developmentally delayed. The proceeds are used to pay for items needed by clients. Some people shopping there are really in need themselves.
Feng Shui, I put the book down years ago because it meant I had to get rid of my stuff.
Feng Shui, Here I come.
Sometimes the de-clutter bug sure hits and away we go. If I got rid of anything else I'd be sitting on the floor lol
ReplyDeleteIt needs to bite my rump a little harder. All I've done today is cook a little dinner and read the paper. Cheers.
DeleteOne of these days I hope to get around to purging. We did a downsizing 10 years ago but it is amazing how quickly more things have appeared. Happy spring cleaning!
ReplyDeleteTen years, I bet you have accumulated. We have lived in this house thirteen years. When we moved, I moved my mother's things and she had downsized. The new house was filled with items from Arnold Blvd in the Manor. She and my dad had lived there for 50 years. I got rid of most of what I had. I just don't have the get up and go I had 13 years ago. But, I better find it.
DeleteI have a horrible time getting rid of things. I'm sure I'll need it the moment it's gone:)
ReplyDeleteAnd books....The HH and I are down to five bookcases. I guess that's not too bad.
Books are my worst. I have plastic tubs of them stacked.
DeleteI'm not a collector at all. Neither my husband or me shop for clothing much. Every time someone can't find something at our house, they accuse me of throwing it out. LOL. Still, having 4 kids means a lot of stuff has accumulated.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good way to be. I gave the assistant principal of a school I worked for a bad key and he drops it in the garbage. I thought I would have put it in my drawer. And for what was my next thought.
DeleteGood for you. Moving is a great way to de-clutter and get rid of "stuff". I have minimized and minimized when I left my house in 2008. When I moved in with Ray, I barely had anything and you know what? I'm happier!! You go girl!
ReplyDeleteTravel light is going to be my new motto. Thanks Barbara.
DeleteDe-cluttering is a great idea. I have lots of books but I love collecting them and can keep them in one place. My sister has the real issue. She has so many clothes they span across 4 rooms. I kid you not and she still wears some of mine and my mother's stuff. Always wondered why she didn't just become a model.
ReplyDeleteI've had friend or two like your sister. I've admired fashionable people. However, I had thought of the clutter problem.
DeleteI sooo have to do the same thing. Moving is a great chance to declutter, but then we don't have a move planned in the forseeable future. Books are also my weakness. We have been painting & took the opportunity to at least sort out stuff in the rooms being painted, which are now boxed and in the shed, so that's a start! My sister had the right idea - anything in her cupboard not used in the last 18 months, out it would go! I was too weak to do that.
ReplyDeleteI sooo have to do the same thing. Moving is a great chance to declutter, but then we don't have a move planned in the forseeable future. Books are also my weakness. We have been painting & took the opportunity to at least sort out stuff in the rooms being painted, which are now boxed and in the shed, so that's a start! My sister had the right idea - anything in her cupboard not used in the last 18 months, out it would go! I was too weak to do that.
ReplyDeleteI wish I were like your sister. I have a brother who will do the same. I look at things and think, "I could use that one day".
DeleteMy mother tended to hoard things, including stuff of no value. When we cleaned out her two (yes, TWO) houses, we threw away so much.
ReplyDeleteI go through our stuff often and chuck what we don't really need. It's therapeutic.
I understand your mom. I used to think if I had a place to put it, I could keep it. Then I moved. The old problem has creeped back.
DeleteI like the idea of Happy Hour. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteThey are getting the lion's share. The only thing they don't do is take the time to get the money for items of collectible value.
DeleteFirst time visiting and commenting on your blog :) It is good to think of decluttering, especially if you don't want to have anyone else do it in the future when you aren't around. It took us 4 years to de-clutter hubby's parents' home after they went into assisted living and then passed. They bordered on being hoarders, but it was still a project to get everything cleaned out, sorted, sold, disposed of, etc. We had it about 75% done and then lost steam for a bit until a move out of the area made us have to clear out the house completely. In a whirlwind, we did manage to do so, but the final thing was to pay someone to come and haul away the "junk" we didn't have time to do anything with. I've been a minimalist for several years, hubby is still a bit of a pack rat. We are getting ready to move again. When we moved here about a year ago, we chose not to unpack a lot of stuff since we knew it was a temporary move. Not having seen what is in the boxes for a year and not really missing anything, I'd be happy just to give those boxes away. I'm sure hubby doesn't feel the same :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it! You can get it done and it really is so freeing to have less stuff.
betty
I don't want to die and leave all this for someone else to deal with. You are so right that you do not need that much stuff to be content.
DeleteHi Ann, How's that Feng Shui coming?
ReplyDeleteIma workin' on it. LOL, status quo is still the way it is.
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