How to De-Clutter

[Snowflake]

I'm loaded with clutter and trying to de-clutter. Moving across country helped, but I have had a lifelong habit of keeping paper around, and when I do do a clean up almost 100% ends up going. Important stuff I try to keep in my files immediately.

In any case, thanks DP for the additional tips

[lindyhop]

This is such a loaded subject for me. I have too much stuff. I have a second bedroom that is full of stuff, most of which can be thown out but I wrestle with how and when. I know I should just do it but my my time is so cluttered with work and commuting to work that I don't want to give up my fun time to deal with this stuff.

Then the other issue I'm running into lately is how to dispose of this stuff. I want to avoid adding usable stuff to a landfill but what's usable and who wants it? For example I have a sewing machine that's more than 20 years old that might work with a little maintenance but it was never that great of a machine so is it worth it? And do places like Goodwill take stuff that needs to be repaired? I haven't had time to find that out. I bought I new sewing machine a couple of months ago and this old one is still in my closet.

So I'm dealing with all this a little at a time and trying not to buy stuff just for the sake of buying stuff. Now that we're moving into the "buying season" I'm finding holiday ads look positively obscene.

This past week there was a series called "Consumed" on various American Public Media programs like "Marketplace" which focused on how consumerism supports our economy and is it really sustainable and by the end of the week I just felt sick listening to it all.

[Snowflake]

Well, after putting it off, not that I would mind going to a used book store to offload stuff, some titles are nice, expensive books and/or DVDs. So I listed 10 things on amazon this morning, already had 2 sales. So this is a good thing.

Inspired, I've managed to clean off my desk, and the miscellaneous piles of paper and started filling a shred bag for the office and took 3 bags of trash downstairs.

Pray I keep this up! Then I might acutally be able to vacuum up my room!

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Pray I keep this up! Then I might acutally be able to vacuum up my room!

I think the freeing feeling will keep inspiring you. All it takes is to get one area done to inspire the rest. Way to go on a job well started!

Like iSm, I've become very restrained on buying new things for the last year or two. I instantly think, "Where will I put this?" and if I can't think of a place, I don't buy it. Same thing with clothes. I have clothing out the wazoo, most of which I don't even wear anymore. That's another of my de-clutter projects for this weekend.

As for books, we have one bookcase in the garage that is for all the dust-collecting novels that we love to re-read, but really aren't in condition for displaying. As for holiday decor, we're setting limits (number of containers) for each holiday. Whatever doesn't fit in that space gets donated. And, anything new will have to replace something old.

We're also going to clear out our off-site rented storage area and sifting through that as well. Once done, it will save us $55 per month.

I'm looking forward to being more free, having more space, time and money.