SusieQOH

I have a box that has ongoing things I want to get rid of. When it's filled I take it to Goodwill.
I have purged a lot of things at once as well. It's such a good feeling to get rid of stuff. I am sentimental too, but it can border on ridiculous so I keep very special to me things and let the rest go.
My kids are not collectors, although they are sentimental too. They have told me what they want me to keep. It's not a lot.
Like someone else said- pictures and memories are sufficient for me.

I will say this too- I haven't missed one thing I've ever gotten rid of!

luvstoquilt

I am a collector and over my lifetime I have collected many things I truly love and I love my home with my things in it. My sons probably don’t want anything so I have given them the name of an Estate Sale group. ( it is with my will and all the things they need when I am gone) My only requirement is I want a sign in the first room saying “my parents loved collecting and Estate Sales. Please enjoy and my mom hopes you will love the treasures you choose.”

I did downsize after my husband died and I left NJ. I miss a lot of what was sold, donated, etc. it is my hope I will stay in this home the remainder of my life.

Mkotch

We had hoped to move this spring, so last winter I got a box and put it in the kitchen. Whenever I ran across something I wasn't using and probably never would again, I put it in the box. When it was full, I took it to the Salvation Army and got another box. I kept that up all winter long and really did get rid of a lot of junk. We had a lot of duplicate and triplicate kitchen items. Books went to the library for the book sale, and I sold some quilt-related ones on Amazon. I advertised on our community bulletin board for some big things like our old stereo. Now we have decided not to move, and I like the space we now have. I also have a sentimental DH problem, but even he likes the more airy look (except in his "office").

Onebyone

I had a lot of my grandmother's things. Mostly items that I never used but they were hers and I felt I had to keep them. I asked my girls if they wanted any of it and they said said not really. I realized they had no memories attached to the items. It was like seeing an old china set in a thrift shop, pretty but you don't buy it. My kids have all gotten the little things they want to keep from my house. I was surprised that they each had attachments to the oddest things. An old hotel desk bell to a bathroom vanity tray. I know that they have the things that had memory attached for them. Items I probably would have gotten rid of never thinking they wanted them. The rest I can do as I want with it and not feel like I should save it for them. I have found I have forgotten what I have gotten rid of so I know it won't bother me later. LOL

Stitchnripper

We moved a few years ago and got rid of a lot of things that had no sentimental or monetary value. I kept a few things that were important to me and don’t miss anything else. I used to collect things but got tired of it and gave everything away. Good suggestion to take pictures of some things and then let them go. As Peter Walsh used to say on Clean Sweep, it’s usually the memories associated with the item that are valuable so a picture can evoke those same memories. We are in a bigger house with less stuff and I like it a lot. Also easy to clean. I have adopted the Marie Kondo method of folding clothes and that has freed up dresser drawers.

lindaschipper

I'm getting older (67.... What????) and have started to realize that there would be an over-abundance of stuff to get rid of should I pass away. Children may want a few pieces of furniture, but my jewelry, quilts, fabric, dishes, small appliances etc. are my main concerns.
So I'm thinking ahead and going through all the extra my stuff a little at a time and giving to DAV and Salvation Army. Don't want to be a burden on anyone.

Iceblossom

I have had great success with watching Wanted ads on Craig's List.

I also place free ads, most times the items are done as a "loot and scoot" where they are out but protected by weather and the person comes by at their convenience and we don't always meet. Sometimes I take the items to them, it all depends.

I've given away fabric, non-working sewing machines (they were close to working, not parts just ones I hadn't fixed yet), craft supplies, furniture, dishes, food, pet food... all sorts of things.

The reality of a lot of the little knickknacks and such is that pretty much no one wants them. Anything that comes in a fancy box specific to that item, well the world is full of useless little boxes that were too good to throw away. So in that sort of circumstance I ask myself how much stuff am I willing to hold onto? Then I find an appropriate sized box and I allow myself to keep what fits in it. And the rest of it is designated as "I don't want it as much as I want that".

Keep the things you love, don't distract yourself with the things you don't and just want or might be good for some day or whatever. If that some day comes and you don't have what it was, well chances are the thrift store will have something that works.

It's an on-going process for me. Part of my ever changing life style, but at this point I recognize that I have too much stuff and ultimately it is too much stuff that I don't want. I have enough room for the stuff I want. But if I want to bring something into the house, well something else has to go...

Onebyone

My uncle was a hoarder of sorts. He never got rid of anything. My aunt would wait until he was gone and then go fill a box with stuff she knew he would never look for. She took the box to a dumpster. He never missed a thing because he never knew it was gone.

grammyjo

A friend kept mentioning Marie Kondo and her "tidying up" system. I finally searched the library and got out her book. After reading it, I have decided to do the sorting and folding her way. Some of what she does is too extreme for me, but her basic philosophy is to keep only those things that bring you joy. She wants you to start with clothes, but my clothes are not my major issue -- it is my quilting fabric. I have a small walk-in closet with shelves on 2 walls that holds my fabric, stacked by color..sort of. I found that I would walk in that closet, touch a few fabrics, pull some out, put them back and never get anything accomplished. It was an absolute zoo in there. I watched a YouTube video by SewVeryEasy on how she folds her fabric over a 6" ruler. I have spent the better part of this July 4th weekend refolding all my fabric. I was amazed at some beautiful fabrics that were buried within the stacks. I also found some that will hit the free table at the next group mtg. But Marie Kondo changed my mindset of keeping "stuff". Good luck.

zozee

Here are a few "tactics" I employ when I need to just dive in and dejunk.

1. "27 Things" -- I think the Fly Lady calls it a 27 Things Fling Boogie, but the idea is to get rid of 27 things in one fell swoop. Start with obvious trash. Every handful or big item is 1 thing. After that, grab a bag or box and start putting more things in it till you get to 27. Then give yourself permission to Stop. I would guess you could find 27 pieces of fabric or zippers, a UFO you don't like, notions never used, etc.

2. The Mt Vernon method. The name comes from the housekeepers at Mt Vernon. They clean by starting at the door of a room and work counterclockwise, one section at a time (not zigzagging across the room , not leaving the room) till it's done, then move on. You can easily see your progress if you concentrate in dejunking one area before moving on.

3. Set a timer. My most often used method. 15 minutes is my norm. I work uninterrupted for 15 minutes. Then, if I still have motivation, I set another 15 minute timer. I'm usually good for 1.5 hours till I'm burnt out from decision making, but if I set a timer for 90 minutes, I would feel overwhelmed. Bite sized chunks of time work better for me
mentally.

4. Before and After Photos. I sometimes do this when I'm overwhelmed. I take photos of the whole room, then photos of each section I want to tackle. Set the timer for 15 minutes, work fast, taka a photo. It's amazing what we can do when we race the clock and then see progress via a photo.