OMG guys, this IS my life!!! (you people trying to get tidy will surely appreciate!!) I experience ALL of these!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/floperry/problems-all-tidy-people-will-understand#.ru9N7yPxm
@abasket - we have a large storage unit we have been renting for well over a decade (maybe 15 years maybe more). I think it is full of old washing machines and stuff and goodness know what else. He went through this thing of going round collecting peopleās old appliances to strip the copper. Never did strip the copper and it was all overflowing into our lawn. There was an it goes or I go moment and we have been paying to store that stuff forever. Trouble is he is physically unable to clear that unit out now. I have told friends that when we move, Iāll just stop paying and they can auction the unit off like in that show. I keep imagining the faces of the people when they see what they have bought.
Kajon, thanks. H told me just the other day that I can get rid of his HS letter jacket anytime. But I would prefer he steop up and do it himself as he is going to have to adjust to letting go. I will have him put it on and take a picture. Could be fun. I think I will pull a bunch of his sentimental shirts out too.
abasket, I enjoyed the link. Funny. I cannot cook in a messy kitchen and refuse to eat if the table has anything but dishes and food on it. It makes me anxious otherwise.
Went to an open house yesterday. Super cool 3 story condo with a 3 car garage and a nifty personal eleavator.
The owner told me she has OCD. The house is 15 years old and looks as if no one has ever walked on the carpet.
Not one ding in the kitchen. I looked staged but that is how she and her husband live. No kids. I know it was super perfect for the open house but it really was something to come home and see my very well used kitchen that is only 12.5 years and yetā¦
Just thought Iād mention the idea @swimcatsmom. You are a special wife for your patience with this!
One of the local banks is having a shredding event next week, so today I went through years of papers. So far, I have 3 boxes of documents/statements/etc. to shred. Not done yet since the bank said thereās no limit to how many boxes you can bring.
@Kajon, I love that idea! I also got a kick out of the hockey stick comment! Whenever my H vows to get rid of stuff, itās not his stuff heās vowing to get rid of. He once spent a couple hours in the garage, and was very proud of his āget rid ofā pile. Unfortunately, there was nothing of his in the pile. It was my kidsā scooters which they were still using, plus their out of season swim goggles, fins, etc. Umā¦ā¦ No thatās not helpful!!! But I am going to try your method of lining up like items and sending him a photo. Might just work! Iāll start with khaki pants. He just bought 2 more pairs. Add those to the 23 pairs he thinks are too ratty to wear to work but that he might just wear for something some day.
A few years ago I realized I only need one pair of old jeans and one old T-shirt in case I clean out the garage.
I actually got rid of every pair of jean and no own none. The truth is I am not comfortable in them and never have been. Now there are so many choices of pants that work instead of jeans. Really a relief to me.
So! what a day. H put on his letter jacket and I took a picture and then HE put in the pile. Then the hand sewn shirt D brought back for him from Afica in 2004. Taking the pictures was so helpful. We then sat for jover 3 hours dealing with pictures that had too many duplicates and scrapbooks falling apart. What was amazing is that usually (always?) I get testy and angry because he is so resisitant. There are hours left to do but what a start.
Also, sent D pics of some clothes and she said to get rid of them.
swimcatsmom, my thought are with you. I know someone who has two rental units filled with stuff and the entire house sans 2 rooms. The spouse resents working long hours to pay for this while he still goes to Goodwill 2-3 times a day and gets more. They have a wonderful marriage otherwise. What to do? I do agree with the idea of seeing someone, and I would suggest someone who specializes in hoarding. Even if you cannot change him you find some new coping tools.
I actually got rid of every pair of jean and now own none. The truth is I am not comfortable in them and never have been. Now there are so many choices of pants that work instead of jeans. Really a relief to me.
So! what a day. H put on his letter jacket and I took a picture and then HE put in the pile. Then the hand sewn shirt D brought back for him from Afica in 2004. Taking the pictures was so helpful. We then sat for over 3 hours dealing with pictures that had too many duplicates and scrapbooks falling apart. What was amazing is that usually (always?) I get testy and angry because he is so resisitant. Not today! There are hours left to do but what a start.
Also, sent D pics of some clothes and she said to get rid of them.
swimcatsmom, my thought are with you. I know someone who has two rental units filled with stuff and the entire house sans 2 rooms. The spouse resents working long hours to pay for this while he still goes to Goodwill 2-3 times a day and gets more. They have a wonderful marriage otherwise. What to do? I do agree with the idea of seeing someone, and I would suggest someone who specializes in hoarding. Even if you cannot change him you might find some new coping tools.
Oregon, what did you decide to do with the photos? I have a large collection. Some are in boxes, some photo albums. Theyāre all tucked away in a hutch in a spare room. But Iād like to downsize. I thought about going thru a box every evening while watching Tv and tossing the blurry ones and the ones of scenery, ect.
On a related note, I have too many digital photos too. On my iPad, camera, laptop and desktop. Not sure why I need so many pics of one rose bush or birthday cake. Maybe I should try to take less photos.
While cleaning out my closet, I came across a big box of photos (talking Rubbermaid container). I need to go through them but will leave it till Iāve at least decluttered the bedroom. Doing it while Iām watching tv sounds like a great idea. Thinking I might just get big envelope type albums for now just to sort them. Then maybe in time I can do some scrapbooking.
Ditto with the digital. That is the trouble with them, I never print them. Iād l Iike to find the ones of the Alaskan cruise I took with my Mum but Iām not sure what I saved them to!
Miller514, that is about all we managed todayāpurging duplicates and there were many that had been taken out over the years for class project or such. H just put all the loose ones in an extra album without any labels but at least they are not running around loose. There are still 3 of the picture shoeboxes that will never make it to an album but are mainly in catagories. I will take that on watching TV over time and get it down to 1/2 at least.
H also takes many pics of one thing. He is getting it that no one wants to wade through so many.
I love the scrapbooks from 1981-1998. They, along with some DVDās with home movies are the only thing I would try to get to in an ER. (maybe they should not be as far as they are from the outside door?)
Where is everyone? I need to brag about the 14 trash and garbage bags the Vietnam Vets picked up today =D>
Congratulations @oregon101 ! Do you feel ālighter?ā
Fantastic!! You now have breathing room!
oregon, that has to really feel good. On Tuesday, I pulled all the stuffed animals of the shelf on the top of my sonās closet and put most of them in a large box to send to Goodwill. Some are beanie babies, but I checked online and they donāt really seem to be worth the hassle of trying to sell. A few tried and true huggables that my son loved over the years made the cut and are back on the shelf, but Iād say 4/5ths of the shelf is bare now.
Wow @oregon101 , that is quite an achievement.
@Miller514 - I filled a bag with beanie babies to go to donations today also. Sadly I think I will be finding several more boxes of the things, that was a crazy thing! Wasted way too much money on them, but it was fun at the time.
The brained came from my closet that I continued going through today. It is actually beginning to resemble an actual closet! Fill a bag for the trash of things that had just been shoved in there in boxes including some clothes that were stained (some yellowed white shirts) & not fit to donate.
I have a huge pile of clothes and shoes to list and bag for donation. Some may need a run through the washing machine first. So I wonāt count them yet. But one bag gong out to the trash right now as I leave for my 2nd walk of the day testing out my new fitbit.
OH, I found my kids scuba gear. Need to find out what they might still want and send it to their homes!!
@miller514 - Kudos to you! I always find things like the stuffed animals so hard. I get so sentimental about the years flying by.
Heard a great idea recently. Our homeowners association sponsors two official yard sale days each year. Lots of people attend because of the number of sales in a small area. Someone I know plans to just put stuff out with a big sign that everything is free. No pricing, no haggling, no hours of work for a small money return.
I am thinking of doing this myself.
Took 2 bags of shirts that outgrew Mr. B to the Goodwill collection site this morning!