I spoke to my cousin a few days ago, who has had the decorators in. She started doing a bit of clearing out, and found she still had her 21st birthday cards (she is 70). When her daughter called, the question she asked was (qoute) "If I dropped dead tomorrow what would you do with all these cards and things" reply from her daughter. " I would just throw them all out". I suddenly realised that I still had my 21st cards and loads of other cards such as invitations, thank you cards etc and realised that my children would do exactly the same. Looking at my 21st cards ( I am 75) I cannot remember who some of the people were. Well this then started me on a clear it all out spree, and I cannot believe the junk I have kept over the years. I have one spare single bed, and would you belive, I have 4 duvets for that one bed, and six covers for the duvet, and I might add that the bed is only used occasionally.The charity shop is due for a car load of goods from me next week.
Are we all like this, or are many of you more organised. I must add that I am exhausted after bit all.

I have two sons and recognized after we had a few talks that there were many things they would not want. I have methodically gotten rid of those things and feel more free. Good for you for doing this for yourself and them.

I find the thought of getting rid of my stuff to be overwhelming. I want the stuff gone but where to start. As always I put it off until tomorrow.:) I have a quilt to make!

I think we're all like this, just to different degrees. I try to clear out a couple times a year. My rule is if it hasn't been used in the last two years, out it goes. Except for my stash, of course. Some things are just sacred!!

Every now and then I get into a dump it mood...and take advantage of it.... ;-)
I have 2 sons, also...and know for a fact that 85% of my treasures would hit a dumpster soon after my demise. I try to dump some things everytime I get to doing a deep cleaning of an area.

Hubby and I have been working on decluttering this last month. We started with a shelf or a drawer and are doing it slowly so it doesn't seem so overwhelming. Our library is having a used book sale, so we are sorting out the books and have taken several bags of books we know we won't read. Next is to gather a bag full of
DVDs, CDs, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, and a few old 8-tracks to donate. I have been sorting my stash as I rearrange my fabric room, and have discovered a lot of stuff that can't be used for quilting that was given to me. So off it goes to someone on Freecycle. I figure it will take a year or so, but we will get there.

Don't forget though some of these item's that you toss may actually be collectible items.

sall i think your great.I have 11 years before I'm your age.

I don't have birthday cards or stuff like that, but I know somewhere out in the garage there are totes and boxes with stuff in them that I haven't seen in years. I don't know why I keep them, I'm not even sure if it is stuff that I have a feeling about. Just stuff. I know I should get rid of it, but the task is so daunting I guess it is just easier to leave it alone.

It is hard to start throwing out the old stuff for some of us... but once you get the hang of it, wooo hooooooo!!! I cleaned out the children's bedrooms, closets, dressers, built-in shelves, under the window seat... etc.... this summer and it feels and looks GREAT. It was so very cathartic. Daughter's stuff went into some plastic totes and out to the garage for her to go through next time she comes (she teaches abroad). Son's stuff went to him to go through with his sweet wife... I'm pretty sure he'll throw 99% or more out out out!!

Here's one person who has now got the hang of it... Basement, here I come!!!

i love old cards. i collect them and put them in albums. the older ones are alot cuter than alot of what you get today. i love old valentines too and keep those. i declutter on other things. lol i used to hold onto old magazines but i have let most of them go now.

My DH's aunt (a teacher) kept every valentine she ever received from her students. After her death her kids had an auction of the contents of the home. These valentines were very popular, and sold for some of the largest amounts. So, those birthday cards....?????

50 year old greeting cards might sell on ebay. I have sold some from the 1920's.
But in general, WOO HOO for clearing things out!!

I have spent the last year going through my basement.... which had become a "catch all" for the past 7 years. Yes that's right.... 7 years of off loading anything and everything to the basement. I am a very organized person... and little did I know how this mess was tearing me up on the inside.

I have went through every box, tote, bag, corner and crevice. Many times.... when I began to get that overwhelming feeling.. I just had to walk away. I kept telling myself... a little at a time. This box today.... tomorrow another box. Additionally, my kids have conveniently deposited many of their things to be stored in Mom's basement... lol.

I am very happy to say that it is very, very close to being complete. I never dreamed that it would take me one year!!! Holy smokes. But I just kept trudging along... a little at a time. I work full time and could not devote full days to the task. And... I did not beat myself up over taking soooooo long.

It is so worth it. Everything has a place... and everything is in its place. It is a happy place now and not a place of dread.

For anyone else that may be facing a daunting task like this.... I encourage you to take the first step.... go thru one box. Be prepared to let stuff go.... have a "throw away" pile.... "give away".... maybe "yard sale" pile. It is so liberating.

Happy decluttering!!!

Postcards are also collectible. I am slowly downsizing my stuff but anything that has a family connection gets saved (I am a genealogist, and am thankful for scraps of paper from my ancestors...)

Have been working on getting rid of junk for a few years and I think one more go through will just about finish it up and will only have my fabric left I am even giving most of my photos to each child and grandchildren I just want it all gone.

A fun site to check out is: www,flylady.net. She has declutter ideas, cleaning, cooking, etc. :)

When we moved MIL to the nursing home it was time to clean out her house. Little did we know that she saved everything. And I mean everything! Had household reciepts from the day they got married, every card every letter, clothing, games toys you name it, she saved it. It was overwhelming to say the least. I go through my house and clear out a lot. (except the fabric, lol) Got a big pile of stuff going to the thrift store today.

Sorry, double post

This is kind of spooky, I was just thinking an hour or so ago that I better start getting rid of things so that my spouse and kids wont have to through it all out....

be careful not to through out anything that may be related to property (old servays) or any legal papers no mater how old! My Mom had a disagreement on the property line for her place they were going to make her move a 30 by 20 foot block building, they said it was on the right of way, Mom still had the original servay from when her father baught the place. Over the years the county kept widening the road, only on her side LOL now the neighbor on the other side is having a battle because county wants him to move a fence so they can widen the road the way they should have years ago. Same neighbor isn't happy that Power Co. and Phone Co have poles on his side of fence(those co. know where the right of way is)Those orignal papers showed where in the old books to find correct info. When computers became used for recording a lot of the very old information was not entered, just the most recent al lot of mistakes were made.

I am sitting her laughing! I have done the same thing........saved and saved. Then I had a health problem and realized the things I wanted family and friends to have, would probably be sold or thrown out. That brought me to my senses. I gave a niece her Grandmother's wedding ring. Then I divided other pieces of jewelry between my 2 daughters.

As far as those greeting cards.....just think of all the money used to purchase them. I declared a moratorium on greeting cards. NO MORE! I have had enough to last a few life times.
they went to recycle into crafts and other uses.

Then the family photographs. I sat on the floor for days and sorted into piles, one for each child..(4) and when it was finished, each one got a packet of baby pictures, school photos, etc., to do with what they pleased. If they threw them out, it was their choice.

All that stuff is OUT of my house and I am glad. Now I have to deal with the other collectibles....glassware and trinkets. Some are gone already, returned to those who gave them, or just put in the box for a charity Thrift store.

Cleaning out has to come one day...and I would rather be the one to do it than to leave it to my children to do. If they do not want it now, what makes me think they will want it later?

Happy cleaning to all you hoarders! It has to be done!

June in Cincinnati

I have moved so many times between the ages of 20 and 63 (now) and once from a house to a sailboat that many, many things have been thrown out during those years. I do not like clutter so tend to throw out those things that do not get used. A rule of thumb I go by: if you have not used it/looked at it, etc. in a year - toss it out. This has worked for me and I never remember/miss what was tossed.
Oops... but I NEVER throw out my son's baby clothes, old report cards, team shirts, etc.

I am good at the occasional purge. Funny part is my son is the one who wants to keep stuff. He is 14 and I just recently got him to toss out the salt map he made when he was in fourth grade. He kept saying, I remember working so hard on that. But his memory is wrong, as I remember having to do a most of the work. At the time another mother and I were discussing how this was usually a parent project, mixing, having to find a map to trace, food coloring, finding the cardboard, carting that giant thing into school, etc.

OOPS, duplicate.

When my husband and I moved to our present location we decided to finally downsize. The process can be difficult in the beginning, but I really believe that if I haven't used something in the past two years, I'm not going to use it again. The end result is worth the process!

yep, i'm living with a semi-hoarder and i'm finally clearing out boxes and stuff and taking them to the charity shop in town. I now have a bit of breathing space but need more!

Well, you all have been an inspiration. I have been wrestling with this very subject for a year now. We haven't exactly reached hoarder status at our house.....but we are definitely cluttered!

Our problem is we are all sentimental. We treasure everything. Papa started a tradition that goes back to when our grown kids were babies....all of the beloved stuffies, blankies, favorite shirts, toys, drawings....etc....went into the "permanent archives".

Now we are on our second set of kids and they have all grown accustomed to being "too precious" and are sure that every scribble drawn or page of schoolwork, dilapidated toy, you name it, is worthy of permanent archive status!

We have two extra bedrooms full of plastic totes (no garage) that are full of things that are too wonderful to throw or give away!

Five of our six children are adopted, three from foster care and have experienced much loss. Letting go of things (change, transitions) are very hard for them.

I think that is why I am reluctant to jump into mass removal. I know it will be opening a can full of wriggling worms and I will have to figure out how to get them all back in! lol

My DH has promised me that I can have one of the spare rooms for a sewing room once it is cleaned out and that is great motivation.

This thread has given me the nudge I need to face this unpleasant task!

What do you do with old photographs? I have a storage chest full, and I know my sons would not want them, but I cannot bring myself to throw them out. Lots of memories there!

I'm a tosser by nature. Every now and then I'll see a closet / shelf / drawer that is getting unruly and BOOM - cleanout time.

Some days my husbands and sons are afraid to sit in the same spot for too long -they are afraid I'll bag them up for the Salvation Army drop!

Scan them into your computer, add identifying info while your memory is still good, make CD's for kids or anyone else who wants them.

BTW if anyone has old color slides they are getting rid of, you can send them my way.

I am always torn about tossing stuff out but I'll never try to sell it and neither would my kids so I need to follow the examples here and Just Do It! Thanks for the encouragement :)

I have purged and purged, getting rid of the entire contents of 4,500 sq house including full basement. Great feeling! You all know what I kept! Yep, the stash, machines, tools, patterns, and a few clothes and family pictures! Even got rid of yearbooks and annuals. They have no meaning for my kids. My husband and I were both widowed and he's finally starting to do much of the same thing. We're focusing on the here and now and not leaving a mess for the kids to figure out.

Pass on what you want to whom you would like to have it,NOW. Two of my friends just had dumpsters put in their mom's driveways & dumped everything. Both knew they were dumping collectabiles. One was pressed for time (going on a cruise) & the other had already down sized herself.

I too saved all the letters, cards, etc and my goal is when I retire, I will have time to go back and read some of them. Especially the letters my late mom sent me while I was stationed overseas. I have already given some items to my only child, the letters that really meant something to me. I was also thinking, maybe some items can be scanned, print on fabric and made into a quilt. Just an idea. Thanks for sharing.

If you have old photos and you want to get rid of them and you are sure you family does not. Please consider giving them to your local historical society.

Old letters and miltary documents are ususally welcomed too. May be in a hundred years your family is famous.

Yearbooks and annuals are also normally accepted.

Yes!! Famous or not, our historical society has many old photos of local people that are IDENTIFIED. I can't count the number that has been accepted for accession in the past. Sure it documents clothing but who are the people?? We also have vintage sewing machines, dishes, toys, clothing....all the items have a local connection. Don't throw, ask first!

piney

piney

Even got rid of yearbooks and annuals.
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After I lost my DH, I have been more or less decluttering all the way with Flylady, but the process is slow. Son put DH's yearbooks on eBay and I was stunned to find how much they brought!!! Son said that when many guys (and probably gals) who did go to such famous colleges in CA finally worked themselves up to their fancy offices, they had lost their own yearbooks but wanted to prove to others (or themselves) that they did go there!! I got the dough and the empty shelves, and enjoyed both.

That's whatI do! When the mood hits, I start throwing out. My kids tell me all the time to get rid of "stuff" , and I know they don't want it.

what kind of slides are you looking for? People,places, scenery? Had I known you two years ago I could have given you thousands. I still have quite a few, let me kow .