lindaschipper

I wish I could talk my husband into cleaning out some of the stuff he as accumulated over the 30 some years he has lived here. He always says "more" is better so instead of buying one of something he needs he does multiples. When we married four years ago I thought It was possible to talk him into getting rid of some items. I was wrong. With a three story house, garage, work shop and another building that can house two tractor trailers and some tractors there is just too much of his stuff to deal with. I clean and donate my extra's several times a year.

Pam S

I recently read an article about "Swedish death cleaning" (but not the book itself, I'll have to check that out) and discussed it with my DH. We've been through cleaning out the estates of both sets of our parents and decided we didn't want our kids to go through that. So we've been methodically going through our stuff and donating or trashing what isn't useful. It's a great feeling. The one problem is our 20-something children are having a hard time with us getting rid of things that were part of their childhood - even if it's an old, ugly chair that never was comfortable. But they don't want the stuff either!

Stitchnripper

your last comment about the kids not wanting it either is so true. Maybe it will skip a generation and the grands might want something

tranum

Great plan !

petthefabric

Our DD isn't into "stuff". But when I decide to get rid of something I let her have first choice. Then out it goes. DH is a saver with his stuff but wants to clean up mine. Whenever he starts I say, "if I can get rid of 'his stuff' you can get rid of that one thing." He's learning.

Maralyn

I love the "free store" concept. I am slowly but surely making my way through our four bedroom house. I was inundated in 2017 with the loss of three single siblings and I was the only one with room for their stuff until I could sort what was valuable and what needed to be donated. I have one much younger sibling left and one child who lives 1000+ miles from home, so my husband need to be diligent in the cleaning process.

Maggie_Sue

I vowed this year to remove one box/tote per week, this week have not done so yet but will before the week is up. Made a sewing studio in my basement. Next May I hope to add a long arm machine so I am motivated to do this. My daughter will get first dibs on any items she may have given me in years past. Then off to donate. So far I am doing well. Perhaps I should try one of the books listed to help.

cindynvb

I really liked the decluttering book, I listened to the audio version and found it very motivating. Now I need to get back to it. Today I'm tackling the pile of papers and notebooks I have in my sewing room.

cindynvb

I haven't watched the show. I did read her books but felt she was a little too extreme. I love my books and she made me feel guilty for keeping them. I'm interested in the clothes folding, tried it when I had the book but wasn't sucessful. Maybe I should watch the show.

Scraplady

This is my biggest motivation to downsize my collection of stuff. My mother passed away about three years ago and towards the end of her life had become quite a hoarder. None of us, not even Dad, realized how bad it had become. My sister and I have worked together to go through the stuff she had saved. We have spent about four weeks out of every year since her passing, and there is still more.

I really do not want my kids to have to deal with anything like that. I may not be a hoarder, but I am very sentimental. I am slowly learning to let go of "things." I do sort of loosely apply the Marie Kondo idea of asking the question, "Does this inspire joy?". I find it helpful because I'm realizing that a lot of the things I have, I'm really just keeping out of guilt. Either someone gave it to me and I feel bad getting rid of it, or it belonged to DH's Nana and I feel bad getting rid of it, or the biggest one: I spent Money on this and I can't bear to get rid of it without ever even using it.

But lately I've decided if it doesn't make me happy any more, or especially if it does inspire guilt, it's time for it to leave my house. It it is So very freeing to let things go. Most of the stuff gets donated so it can give someone else joy if there's any joy left in it to give! At least my daughters won't be shaking their heads one day and asking why in the world their mother hung onto these things!