Nancy's attempts to declutter

Ooh yes, wellies. One surplus pair went to the charity shop last time but there are still another 6 pairs to go. There are only 2 of us nowadays, how did we acquire so many pairs? I still have 2 pairs that get worn frequently, a summer pair and a thermal winter pair even thought we no longer have our smallholding.

Ara Murray wrote:how did we acquire so many pairs?

I wouldn't mind, but I think every pair leak to some extent...that's the first thing to check.

It's a good idea and I want to declutter too!  I'm not a hoarder per se, but I still have too much stuff.  The other day my son and I were making a card together and he found a box of coloured pencils that we hardly ever used;  we discovered that most of them were absolute rubbish for colouring in.  We tried every single one and the ones that actually made a discernible mark were kept and the rest thrown on the fire then and there.  I've also gone through the picture books and donated some I don't like reading out loud (and luckily my three year old isn't attached to).

However I went into my fabric stash (which actually isn't all that much--two boxes) and I couldn't actually make myself even go through it, let alone get rid of any.  I'm not sure what made me freeze like that but I think I need to declutter something easier before I try that again.

G Freden wrote:It's a good idea and I want to declutter too! ......
However I went into my fabric stash (which actually isn't all that much--two boxes) and I couldn't actually make myself even go through it, let alone get rid of any.  I'm not sure what made me freeze like that but I think I need to declutter something easier before I try that again.

I'm hoping that is that case with me too! I'm starting easy, and even if I don't get to my books (that's my "freeze" point at the moment!) I'll have made a bit of a difference. The most challenging may be some of my husbands clutter - one persons clutter is another person's gold. Perhaps, but I just don't think he needs so many smart workshirts now, than he used to when wearing them every day.

Made any more progress Nancy?  

My son (aged 13) and I went through all his clothes and filled a big donation box of too small clothes, and threw out his too small pants (underwear).  The only thing we didn't sort was his sock collection but he gave me permission to throw out the holey ones when they turned up in the wash.  I'm not sure if this counts as decluttering as it's his wardrobe and not a place I ever visit...

I also decluttered my seed collection, throwing out some 5+ year old seed, and sowing in trays: broad beans, tomatoes, chilis, onions, and more.  That's at least 200 seeds no longer taking up shelf space :)

Well I have made a bit more progress, although can't say I've actually finished anything!
I've been having a go at my clutter in our living room. I have part of a book case stacked with books, files with magazine cuttings in them, magazine cuttings waiting to be filed, craft projects and my project books. Stuffed under the chair (which gets in the way of the video storage) I have boxes with more documents that don't have a proper home. Piled on the chair and behind it, are some of my knitting yarn and projects, as well as some easier mending tasks. It's a right old mess!
So I've been through all the loose paper and put it into different categories (thinning it out as I went). So far I have filed away all the gardening cuttings. I have previously got rid of some of the less interesting articles. I don't really need regurgitated articles on how to grow fantastic carrots, but articles about Korean vegetables, or Rosa Steppanova's garden on the Shetland islands may come in useful. I know a lot of this information is available online, but sometimes it is easier to flip through a file than boot up a computer to check something. I reorganised the categories I've filed the articles under, and done the same for my knitting and crochet articles.
I still need to do the same for my sewing, crossstitch, building, pollution, technology, wood and general crafts articles. I'd like to find a better way of filing my old garden notes and receipts too. These are mostly just in folders, but I'm thinking of bundling the invoices and delivery notes up by year, so I can check on things more easily if I need to.
As regards clothes, I've taken all my husband's shirts and hung them in the spare bedroom. The idea being that after a couple of months we'll review the ones he hasn't grabbed back and see whether he actually needs them and consider what to do with them. Many of them could go to a charity shop, or other sale, but some will be a bit tatty. I might sneak those into my 'mending' pile as possibles for garments for me, or patchwork material. My own clothes I'd like to reduce down to three drawers which would free up my bedside cupboard as a mending/crafts cupboard and tidy some of that stuff from various locations around the house......
Plenty to do yet!

I also have been reducing all things...  meticulously. It's taking a long time. I can see a use for everything.

I'm not a hoarder. It's spare parts. Poverty - many times why someone has what looks like a junkyard.

You won't be able to afford a new item nor a part and you can't anticipate what you'll need nor when ...

I love minimalism but in many ways it is only possible for the wealthy.

Still - I seek minimalism as much as my certainly far from wealthy and need spare parts self can do so.

I love empty space.

Peace
Joanna

Mar Viega wrote:I love minimalism but in many ways it is only possible for the wealthy.

I can't say I do love minimalism, at least not to excess. I do like a bit of space, but I like to have my things around me, otherwise you might just as well live in a hotel (if you are rich!). I think a room without books is not a room for living in!
However, if you can't find what you know you have got, then you might just as well not have it. That is the situation I have got myself into: so much clutter I have to tidy up before I can do, or find, anything!

My problem is with paper stuff.

Financial advisors say to keep paperwork for seven years.

Then what do I do with all that paper?  I don't have a shredder and I don't want to send my personal financial stuff to a landfill.

Anne Miller wrote:Then what do I do with all that paper?  I don't have a shredder and I don't want to send my personal financial stuff to a landfill.

Hmm...I think we need a thread on that Anne! I found Abraham's thread on shedded paper here, but not things to do without a shredder. We tend to burn ours and the ashes get spread around outside. Or we have a recycling collection for paper and cardboard, although, like yourself I don't trust the security of that.
There are companies that deal with confidential waste, but it might be a commercial opportunity for a Permie - "Safely and securely recycle your papers by worm power, the environmentally responsible option! Only $100 a tonne!"