Getting rid of stuff/downsizing

Sunflower49 · 13-09-2012, 08:46

So I'm moving soon, and I am going from having a three bedroom house to being basically a hobo (well moving into lodgings and relying a lot on my campervan!) and I am absolutely rubbish at getting rid of things.

I've began by taking lots of stuff to the tip, mostly cages from my more frequent rodent rescuing days. I've got a plethora of books, furniture and general household junk. Ornaments, other useless things. I hate throwing things away it makes me feel horrid..
Anybody else had to do this recently? Any tips?

Less · 13-09-2012, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

So I'm moving soon, and I am going from having a three bedroom house to being basically a hobo (well moving into lodgings and relying a lot on my campervan!) and I am absolutely rubbish at getting rid of things.

I've began by taking lots of stuff to the tip, mostly cages from my more frequent rodent rescuing days. I've got a plethora of books, furniture and general household junk. Ornaments, other useless things. I hate throwing things away it makes me feel horrid..
Anybody else had to do this recently? Any tips?

Stick it on here in Buy, Sell n Swap - Accrington Web

churchfcrules · 13-09-2012, 09:28

Know how you feel, 3 out of 4 kids have moved out and went through loft, and ended up throwing away hundreds of
"school stuff"

Sunflower49 · 13-09-2012, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Less

Stick it on here in Buy, Sell n Swap - Accrington Web

Thank you-I certainly will IF I find anything of use !

Quote:

Originally Posted by churchfcrules

Know how you feel, 3 out of 4 kids have moved out and went through loft, and ended up throwing away hundreds of
"school stuff"

Lol this is how bad a hoarder I am. I left my parental home 15 years ago and my Mother and Father's loft STILL contains some of my stuff, I won't 'let' them get rid of it!

Margaret Pilkington · 13-09-2012, 10:43

Yes, I am just the same. I have a pathological dislike of getting rid of stuff. Many a time I have filled a couple of black bags to take to the charity shop....a couple of hours later I find myself going through the bags and retrieving most of the stuff.

I have to sit down, put the stuff into bags and then get someone to take the things off my hands before I can do the retrieval stuff.
The BHF take most of my stuff.......and they will collect.
Good luck with your downsizing....I'm just glad it isn't me.

Sunflower49 · 13-09-2012, 10:52

I think it's a childhood thing, why I cling onto stuff. I was often very bored as a child , was an only and 'rents never at home I was on my own a lot. Also remember if I got bought a toy and didn't use it much I was told I was ungrateful and spoit!A lot of emphasis was placed on the value of 'stuff' and we're just in a throwaway society now which I disagree with. All this together means I am in danger of crushing myself to death in 20 years time if I don't bite the bullet now!
Thanks-I think I do need somebody ruthless around here to help!xx

Margaret Pilkington · 13-09-2012, 10:57

I am sure you are right.
I am a'born just after the war' child...things were hard to come by....and I think that has ingrained itself onto my psyche. Things were not disposable...they were made to last...and we did a lot of making do and mending too to get the most out of whatever we had.

You perhaps should enlist the help of someone who is not emotionally attached to the stuff...go out for the day and let them do the ruthless removal of stuff.

shillelagh · 13-09-2012, 11:57

im like that .. oh it will come in useful one day ... i cant throw that away ...etc etc ... when my mum died my sister came up 6 month later and said right jen we are going to sort out mums stuff ... and i'll take it and either donate it to the charity shop or throw it away ... it was hard to do it ... stuff that my mum had saved from us being kids, my dads things she had chosen to keep .. we even found a hymn book from st stephens grane church .. which said on the front not to be taken away .. (ive still got that) ...

will admit im a hoarder ... and ive got the front room full of stuff .. i do have to go thro that ...

Margaret Pilkington · 13-09-2012, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

Thank you-I certainly will IF I find anything of use !

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

You might have the very thing that someone on here is looking for....and you could make two people happy....you because you have got rid of something and someone else is going to use it.

And the recipient, because they have found something they have been searching for.

mobertol · 13-09-2012, 12:27

I also like to keep things which have sentimental value - have stacks of letters, postcards, photos etc., could never get rid of books either.

Over the 25 years I've been married we have moved house 8 times so I'm quite an expert at throwing out things on those occasions -no choice really as it would cost too much to move it all. I have my "core" items which will always be within a stones throw of me wherever I am and then you just have to be ruthless. My desk is chockablock with leaflets picked up on holidays though -I sometimes go through them and think I must whizz some of these out -but there are so many nice memories attached...

A part of me also thinks -one day it might be useful if we go back there again...some of it, from our Hols in Brittany I'm keeping with an eye to a story I may write one day -how could you remember prices in France back then and all those oher useful details.

As to really seriously downsizing -just close your eyes -imagine the house is on fire and there's only so much you have time to save, then go for those items -the rest is less important and may make you a bit of money if you can sell it off. Otherwise give it to charity shops -someone will love the plastic snow bubble you bought in Austria ten years ago and that naff pottery beer tankard with the fake pewter lid!

Less · 13-09-2012, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

Thank you-I certainly will IF I find anything of use !

Lol this is how bad a hoarder I am. I left my parental home 15 years ago and my Mother and Father's loft STILL contains some of my stuff, I won't 'let' them get rid of it!

My son did similar, 'just need you to look after it for a couple of months Dad',
If I hadn't slowly moved it to the tip & ebay my cupboards would still be full even after 10 years, (couldn't sell it on here he'd have seen the post).

Eric · 13-09-2012, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarmouse0707

I think it's a childhood thing, why I cling onto stuff. I was often very bored as a child , was an only and 'rents never at home I was on my own a lot. Also remember if I got bought a toy and didn't use it much I was told I was ungrateful and spoit!A lot of emphasis was placed on the value of 'stuff' and we're just in a throwaway society now which I disagree with. All this together means I am in danger of crushing myself to death in 20 years time if I don't bite the bullet now!
Thanks-I think I do need somebody ruthless around here to help!xx

I'm an only child too ... but I have no problem with getting rid of stuff. Lots of stuff I just put out on my front lawn with a "Free to a good home" sign ... it works. If the stuff doesn't move, I change the sign to: "Good stuff ... Only $10.00"; and someone will steal it

If it gets too bad, you could feature on an episode of "Hoarders"

flashy · 13-09-2012, 15:16

The only thing i can't seem to let go of are books, even though i work in a bookshop i can't give them away AND i keep buying them from work, bought MYSELF 3 Roald Dahl books today, just because i didn't have them, i'm losing the plot (again)

heth · 13-09-2012, 19:30

I am the same, I have a back bedroom full of stuff that I never use and curse when I have to shift the lot to get to something that I do want.
Gonna have to sort it when I have time, but when that will be I dont know

Margaret Pilkington · 13-09-2012, 20:03

How is it that we can always find the time to do the things we want to do, but rarely to do the things we feel we should do?