Clearing Out Stuff

[petal54]

We may have to move house,OH business folding,so starting to go mad & clear some of the 22 years of what now seems like junk.how good are any of you at being minimalistic?we are hoarders,me from a long line of them.

[Buenchico]

I've got box loads of stuff that I've been meaning to sort out ever since I moved in - a quarter of a century ago ;-)

[petal54]

we need a skip!

[ubasses]

I like a good clear out every year. Eternal battle with OH who is a hoarder and has cupboards of 'computer stuff' and boxes of things that may be usuful in garage.
I managed to get him to give up 1 bucketful yesterday.

[petal54]

OH is self-employed lorry driver,so yard full of'yap',gets rid of 1trailer & gets 2 more

[Baldric]

I am very good at being minimalist. Mrs B is the total opposite, keeps everything. After 30+ years I now just get rid of things that have not moved for sometime when she's not around, if I sell something I slip the money into her purse. Nothing has ever been missed.

[gness]

....and don't you manage to fill the space you have!

We had a large house and lots of out-buildings.....don't realise how much "stuff" you have til you downsize.......

I tried to be ruthless......I more or less was.....but now I miss all the bits of wood....bricks.....tools etc that had been accumulating for thirty years.....

Sorry about the business....hope all is well for you....x

[petal54]

Gness,most of OH probs are not listning to folk as he thinks he knows best,whichleaves up the paddle without a creek as baby bigs puts it,his health probs not help,as 5 years till retirement.hope to find some thing less stressful.my sister moves house about every 5 years,which controls clutter.light will appear at end of tunnel

[gness]

I have been here about five years......and still feel like I'm settling in, Petal... so I couldn't imagine moving every five years..but I have a friend who does and loves the challenge....

"Light will appear at the end of the tunnel" is a great way to look at it....I always said to MrG if things were rough.....Oh, something'll turn up! It always did...

Best of luck with everything....Gx

[smurfchops]

Petal dont put it in a skip, do a car boot sale next spring, your junk is someone else's treasure ... And what is left take to your local charity shop.... I can't bear it when I see the things people just throw things away...

[atalanta]

Having had to clear the houses of a few relatives, I found myself needing to clear my roof-space in order to install new insulation. In view of the ghastly experiences I had had with those other houses, I resolved not to put anything back in the roof. I think the insulation men left a carpet there, but only because they couldn't move it. Nor can I - but all the clutter has gone.
I regularly look at my "stuff" and ask myself - "when did I last use that ?" and "When shall I next use that ?" and if my answers aren't good enough, out it all goes.
Freecycle, mostly.