Enormous mental progress regarding MIL’s house: DH decided to just haul everything to the storage unit and sort through it gradually. He emailed the Realtor about hoping to put the house on the market by mid-July.
I got an interesting bit of motivation this weekend. I was hanging out with DS19 and DD16 and their inheritance came up. I asked them to let me know if there is anything particularly special to them that they want us to give them in our will. Aside from some jewelry, there isn’t anything that they had their heart set on. Granted, they are pretty young and so am I, but it will be easier to get rid of things knowing I won’t disappoint anyone if I pass.
I need this thread! MIL’s house is on the market. We’ve made a respectable dent. Place looks less cluttered. Yesterday I got the (hopefully) next-to-last box of knickknacks packed. Also played filled in two half-started boxes of books. That’s all sitting in back of my car. DH back in DC area for a few weeks. I’ll get over there when it’s possible. We got a new puppy last week. I know, I know . . . 8-}
@HouseChatte: Slow and steady wins the race. Although, if the house is already on the market, you probably don’t have time for that approach.
@VeryHappy Exactly on the possible time crunch, but it still gives us a few weeks. DH has fortunately got a lot of leave built up and will be able to come up for the home stretch in time for the house to change hands smoothly. I think he bit the bullet to list it so we wouldn’t just linger over the process – it’s grueling, as many on here and the caring for parent thread know, and he wants it done and behind us.
DH is most comfortable decluttering in bursts, which would absolutely destroy me but does work best for the circumstances facing him. When my mother moved in with us a few years ago, I took her to her house a few times a week, and she’d spend the day sorting through everything. It took months, but luckily we were in no hurry.
I am changing careers, which is kind of scary, but I’ve decided to throw almost everything out related to my old job. While I was in the process, we started talking about how several of us wished it was that easy say at home.
I am hoping to get back to getting rid of stuff soon, right now we have my son’s college apartment stuff along with our own stuff in a couple of rooms. What a mess…
Hello all! Since starting this thread I could have certainly done MUCH more to clear out my home. Another thread on CC got me thinking about BOTH things - clearing clutter AND avoiding clutter by not buying so much! That paired with a couple of podcasts I heard prompted me to read Cait Flanders book, The Year Of Less.
I would really encourage anyone who has stopped and thought about how much mindless or excess spending they do OR how much clutter then have to consider reading it. It’s an interesting story - and I can’t say I thought all through the book that she was amazing in her way of handling things (remember, real life can stink…) - and she has her share of downers. But in the end it was really quite thought provoking.
Talk about reducing bags of stuff we don’t need and spending freezes - this is a good quick read! (got my copy at the library - SAVING $$) - and, I think I’m taking back a rug I purchased - I had a lot of adrenaline for it when I was in the store - at home, not so much!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Year-Less-Shopping-Belongings-Discovered/dp/1401954871
(but go to the library to get it!!)
Well, I do more like a bag a month but dh did make a run to Salvation Army today. So glad it’s gone.
Here is an article I just found. It has a calendar that can be used as a guide of what to declutter on what day if you are one that has a hard time knowing where or how to start.
https://theheartysoul.com/30-day-de-clutter-challenge/?utm_source=JERFP&utm_content=75366-M2YZ
I’m having a hard time with the de cluttering. However, I’m doing super well with not buying, even when items I’ve wanted are now on sale. It’s truly a battle to get rid of items with personal history.
Well NOT buying new stuff is a great start. I too have trouble getting rid of things with personal history. With an ey for future downsizing, I try to favor keeping flat/light items over big/heavy items.
I’ve started a nomadic year (or more?) - began in April.
In the process I cleaned out a LOT of stuff - my son and his roommate moved into my house and we moved my things into a corner of the basement (they are using some of my stuff but had their own houseful so I got rid of a lot of duplicates).
My space is meant for me to spend a night or two every month or two there, so not a huge space at all, and that meant going through not only my furniture etc but also my clothes. I’d already been traveling for a couple of months when I did this so knew how little I need. Condensed my wardrobe to one dresser, one rolling garment rack and one plastic storage container of winter things - and a couple of spots in the coat closet. 
I could certainly go further but kept it to what I needed to for the space.
Just got a cool book from the library called Vagabonding and so far it deals with decluttering - in order to travel. I’m enjoying it a lot so far.
@OHMomof2 : Where are you going?
@VeryHappy so far all over, with stops at home each month or so for a day or two.
Staying in country for the next couple of months (out west, up east - all the corners of the USA really) then likely abroad for winter. Try to make plans a couple of months ahead but getting the hang of this has taken a “minute”.
Deleted over 15,000 emails, listed 1 thing on ebay and taught my kid how to sell…somewhat productive day but a ton more to go. Moving in September and have so much stuff to go through and get rid of. Totally overwhelmed.
Amazing success! H sat down and helped purge the file drawer with warranties and such.
He spent longer than I did --95% finished.
Only two more big file drawers left!
I plan on purging the office supply shelves soon but he cannot be around.
I will not even tell him, He will think I just straightened them.
Bet there are 2,000 staples in there for our one stapler…
So excited - found a buyer for the plates from my grandmother’s old china that I have been trying to get rid of for several years. I think I will take the rest of it to the local rummage sale (I had just about given up and was ready to take all of it to the rummage sale).
@oregon101 some office supplies that are in good shape might be able to be donated as back to school supplies for some local charity. This is the right time of year for that.
@kiddie Congratulations on moving the china! MIL has a sideboard full of china, mostly from her mother. Right now I’m packing it up to store and think about later. I have decorative plates hanging in my kitchen, though, so I already decided to keep some of the prettier ones and just rotate them. Most will be donated. I’m tempted to see if I can find any artists who want to smash them and make mosaics out of the shards . . . . what a cathartic win that might be.
I have my grandmother’s Limoges china. It’s an albatross. I don’t like it, never use it, tried to sell it to Replacements but it’s not in mint condition – so it continues to be in boxes in my basement. This is a very busy year for us (travel, new baby, wedding) so maybe I’ll deal with it next year.