I just discovered this thread now too. Here are some of my successes: We had an old 30yr old tv upstairs that we finally got rid of. It was just collecting dust in a corner. With no guests staying with us for years, we got rid of the guest bedroom to make way for a home office. The bed/mattress was around 20yrs old. We did a pick up service with Salvation Army. Really telling was that we used their services 10yrs ago I had not realized I was calling the same pickup services 10yrs later (they still had records from 10yrs ago!) However on their online scheduling you have to be exact of what you want picked up. The first trip they only got the mattress and I had to do another online scheduling for them to get the foundation! Luckily with the foundation we decided to get rid of the treadmill (still working) but we just use our portable pedalers now. It truly opened up space in our bedrooms!
Another gem was back in 2011 I bought an X-Men figurine set from the Disney Store, I’d never open it, hoping it would rise in value for me to resell. Unfortunately, there was more Avengers hype thru the films and less X-Men hype. Years later I’d seen is sold on Ebay for the price I bought it for and with sellers fees and work, it wasn’t worth it. It was collecting dust in my closet until I randomly saw a comic book/toy sale convention so close by to my house at a random Holiday Inn. Relieved I got rid of it selling it at the price I bought it for. I’d never haggled with a seller before, but the seller really liked the set. Luckily good timing, the conventions eventually moved to up north in my city and I would not have driven 30 miles just to sell a toy set.
And now a counter-argument from the ANTI decluttering side of things:
Small change but I purged some Christmas decorations. Mostly just broken ornaments or back of the tree ornaments but several other decorations that hadn’t gone up in years or I wasn’t sure where they came from. More importantly I didn’t go to or buy anything from post Christmas clearance.
Christmas has been crazy. I mentioned to my mother that I’d tossed several bags of clothes recently (clothes container, it gets further separated into “sell, donate, rags”) and she said she needs to do the same. We agreed that next time I’m at her house for more than a quick hihowarey’all, we’ll start going through her clothes “like you helped me with the kitchen stuff” (<- her words). Some of those kitchen items we cleaned up are now in the houses of other relatives or of friends; those which were simply unusable got tossed into the appropriate recycling bin. Now you can get stuff from the back of the cupboards without needing to empty the front into a standard shipping container; the idea is to do the same with the clothes.
I came across this thread months ago, but today is the first time that I’ve actually read through it. Y’all are awesome in the progress you’ve made.
I, my wife, and my two almost-teenage sons live in a small house: about 900 square feet. We have a small shed / shop behind the house and a single car carport. Inside the house each bedroom has a small closet and there are two linen closets: one in the laundry room and one in the bathroom.
When we moved into this house we had to do it on very short notice: our old house experienced catastrophic flooding from a burst pipe that made staying there unsafe. We boxed up everything and spend a weekend hauling shit to the new place which, luckily enough, was only a couple blocks away.
That was a year and a half ago and we’re still dealing with boxes. The shed is crammed with them and unusable as anything other than storage right now, and of course what is stored in there is essentially inaccessible. Christmas of 2017 we pulled out our decorations, but afterwards the boxes of decor ended up staying in one of the bedrooms, just sitting out in the open, because we didn’t really have a way to get them back in the shed. Or, more accurately, it was too big a PITA to put them back. We use the laundry room linen closet as a pantry because it’s really the only place that we have to store dry goods—our kitchen is tiny. The other linen closet is used for actual linens and towels.
We’ve committed ourselves to try to get this place organized. I’m a graduate student, and I’m trying to finish my thesis this spring while working part-time. My wife works full-time and I work on the weekends, so we’ll have to tackle this in chunks, each of us taking separate duties at different times. There’s a show on Netflix that my wife found called Tidying Up, about a woman that helps people, well, tidy up their houses. Years ago we watched the BBC program How Clean is your House, and it had a lot of good cleaning tips, although I don’t remember many of them.
Yesterday evening my wife went into the bedroom and started going through all her clothes that were hanging in the closet. She set aside pile for goodwill that eventually filled a black lawn debris trash bag. I’m so happy! Tonight it’ll be my turn: I’ll go through all my clothes and try to determine what I want to keep and what I want to get rid of. I know that won’t be easy. Us fat guys have trouble finding clothes and the only local store that sold stuff that fit me comfortably shut its doors last year. But I have too much clothes and need to thin out my closet.
I’m still not sure what we’re going to do with all our boxes of crap or indeed how to even begin tackling them.
Lancia, the show you watched was Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. I watched it, too, and really liked it. I’d never heard of her, but she’s quite famous. What’s really helping me clear out some stuff is one of the questions she asks: “Do you want to carry this into the future with you?”
I “tidied” my sock drawer her way so I could see everything. :eek: I couldn’t believe how many pairs of socks I have!
My wife did the same thing, folding everything so they stack vertically. An hour into the project she called me in and showed me her new and improved sock 'n underwear drawer. She had found some shoebox-sized wicker baskets that were lined with cloth and used those to keep everything in the drawer seperate. It looked very neat and tidy.
Then she showed me a stack of a dozen or so socks and pairs of underwear that she said she had found at the bottom of the drawer–unopened. She vaguely remembers buying them when we lived at the other house. She was gobsmacked that she had so many pairs of socks and underwear that the new stuff had literally been long forgotten at the bottom of the drawer.
I suspect it’s going to be very cathartic to get rid of stuff, and I suspect (or maybe just hope) my anxiety and depression will ease a bit when the house is clutter-free.
In preparation for doing my annual tax return (due in 3 weeks) I’m going to have my annual massive paperwork winnowing exercise.
As for clothes, I have far too many, but I’m keeping them for when I lose weight.
First day of the Vacation Clean Up:
Took the eight empty boxes from unpacking at the new place and brought them to the old place.
We got rid of some books that had, sad to say, come to the end of their existence as books (mold/mildew) Got through two large boxes of stuff, mostly old papers and financial records but some keepsakes mixed in, bundled a LOT of old magazines to go to the recyclers, gathered up the trash…
… and then discovered the lock on the dumpster was f***ed and we couldn’t get into it.
I texted the landlord yesterday and last night he came by and got the lock off so we can finish that today. Then load up the pickup for a trip to the recycle place.
Anyhow, after about 3-4 hours at the old place we had a lot of stacks sorted out which resulted in one of those moments of “did we actually make any progress?” Yes, yes we did, we should be able to clear out a bunch of stuff once we get there.
We went out for lunch. Sushi. Because we deserved it. 
Toss up between starting to take stuff to the eBay store for consignment sales, or books to the book resellers/library, or carting off donation items to donation places. I suppose, after we take out the garbage and deal with the recycling we can decide then.
OK, second day was a bit of a bust.
I did put a bunch of stuff away at the New Place, finally took down the holiday decorations, and cleaned some of the kitchen stuff brought over from the Old Place, but then we elected to take care of the Phone Situation. I’ve been using an old flip phone and the battery was starting to go. So off to the phone company.
As it happened, we couldn’t use the prior phone a friend had given me after upgrading so I had to get a new new phone. Which was not something I planned to do but was something I knew was an option. Most important, I could keep my old phone number. End result - my phone bill upticked by about $25/month as I got my first smartphone, but I think I’ll get enough utility out of it to justify that. It needed to be done, and my Friend from Out of Town was able to help me navigate getting a new one and making choices. I got an entry level phone with a minimal data plan, and the FfOoT and I are working out how I’m going to manage the account. If I need another upgrade, well, we’ll see but this is where I’m starting. I’m not going to be gaming or watching movies on it. It did eat up what little gain I got from my most recent raise back at the end of October, but I can still pay the rent and eat.
What I didn’t anticipate was the emotional toll this would take. Because this is when I sever yet another tie to my husband, eliminating his phone line, erasing him a little bit more from the world. So, after that, I was too emotionally exhausted to work on the Old Place. My FfOoT said nope, we’re in for the day at the New Place, you’ve done enough, you need to rest and recharge.
So I did - we did some craft stuff (I knitted, she worked on her beading project), ate homemade chicken stew with homemade bread for dinner, brewed a real pot of real tea, talked, read, cruised the internet, poked at my new phone… and I slept a full eight hours and feel MUCH better this morning.
But - even if this was an “off” day I still put a bunch of stuff away where it belonged, took down holiday stuff, and continued with the cleaning both routine and connected to the move. And finally took care of the “phone thing”. So, even if not a lot of progress still some progress.
Dove in this morning.
Took a load of laundry to the laundromat drop-off.
We tossed out the trash first thing - filled half the dumpster.
Filled the back of the pickup with recycle stuff and took it to the place where such things happen. Didn’t collect a LOT of money but hey, that’s about a dumpster’s worth of stuff that didn’t go in the local landfill and I got enough to pay for the gas needed and then some (about half the cost of the laundry).
Went back to the old place, sorted three more boxes of stuff and reclaimed a computer printer, cables, and the shelf unit that holds all of the computer printers and their supplies to take to the new place. Also got the shelf/storage unit out of the bathroom and took it to the new place which desperately needs such things.
Threw more garbage in the dumpster.
Went out to eat lunch at the local Mediterranean restaurant as a reward. Then did a little shopping and picked up the laundry on the way home. Also picked up a hook to hand my folding cart in the storage unit downstairs, saving more room both in my apartment and in the storage lock up.
And probably a bunch of other stuff I don’t remember - a bit tired from all that, felt like we got a lot done. Rest of the day is for relaxing and fun.
You know, this whole process is taking a LOT longer than I anticipated!
Of course, going from a two bedroom to a one bedroom and losing the late spouse’s workspace also meant a much greater reduction in stuff than when I started this project.
Anyhow - sort of fell off the clean-up routine for a bit there (like that’s never happened before) but I have some upcoming vacation time where I hope to make some more significant progress.
Also, if things work out as planned I have a person coming to take the twin bed, a dresser, the second TV, kitchen implements, and possibly other items I no longer need but this person does on Monday. Which will make a big dent in the Stuff still at the old place.
I’m slowly going through and trying to clear out stuff. My long-term goal is to clear out a room so that I could bring in a house-mate.
I just transferred all the books that I want to keep out of the living room book shelves, and (almost) all the books that I don’t want anymore to the shelves. That’s these shelves: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zyada/2572449232/ and they are full, and so far another box and a half in addition.
I’m hoping that Half-Price will come pick them up, if not, I’ll try advertising them for sale.
Anyone want an instant library? Heavy on sci-fi, naval books both fact and fiction, and assorted non-fiction and coffee table books
Put in four hours at the old place, cleaning up, storing, tidying, and throwing out garbage. Actually felt like going longer, but I had set that as my quota for today because 1) didn’t want to risk allergy problems (was also wearing my respirator, gloves, etc. - such a good girl!), 2) feel like it will be easier to go back if I’m wanting more, rather than exhausting myself, 3) got a bunch of other stuff to do at the new place (laundry, dishes, etc.), and 4) have a very early start to my day tomorrow so coming home and winding down had to start earlier rather than later.
Still hoping the Social Worker and Needy Person can make it on Monday - the Needy Person will be getting the twin size bed, a dresser, the spare TV (it’s not a great TV, but it works), kitchen equipment, and possibly other stuff. Which I mentioned in the prior post but whatever.
Sure, there were some emotional bits, but I’m getting better about dealing with those.
Feel pretty good about it all this afternoon. Hope I can keep up with this.
Got cranking right away this morning, put in several hours again at the old place.
Have the bed, bed linens, blankets, a clock radio, dustbuster, space heater/fan, toaster oven, pots, silverware, some kitchen knives, and two different sets of dishes for the Needy Person to choose from tomorrow ready to go. Cleaned out/off the dresser and the old TV+converter box as well.
Met with my former landlord/current friend. He’s still interested in some of my late spouse’s power tools and might also take the portable air conditioner - we’re negotiating prices on those, he’s not getting them for free 'cause he doesn’t fall under the Needy Category.
Also dropped off a bunch of boxes for packing the remaining books, making up donation boxes for second hand stores, and so forth. And I’m planning to get together donations from the NEW place as well, because some things I thought I wanted to keep, or didn’t think much about, I’ve changed my mind on. AND, once again, found more of the late spouses’ clothes - mostly t-shirts. How many frickin’ t-shirts does any one person need? Geez! Wow, I’m downsizing stuff from the NEW place, my how I’ve changed!
Also remembered my respirator mask, the long sleeves, the gloves… spent four hours whacking away at dust and whatever else without an allergy attack!
PROGRESS!
Here’s hoping tomorrow goes smoothly!
Yay, it went smoothly!
Only had time for one truck load, but a gentleman who owned nothing now has a bed to sleep in, TV to watch (also plays VHS and DVD’s), toaster oven, some kitchen equipment, and an AM/FM clock radio.
We might reconvene next Monday for some more bits and pieces.
I also paid the rent, my utility bill, and credit card for the month on top of everything else so I feel like I got a lot done today!
Just a thought but is there a Men’s Shed Association (or American equivalent) near you?
My first post here. I need this thread.
I have lived in the same large one bedroom apartment since 1993. I’m moving at the end of the year, probably November 1st or so.
I am going to be moving to my family home. It’s fully furnished — the home I grew up was destroyed in a fire about 4 years ago, so we bought another one with the insurance money. A brand new home in a suburban subdivision, one of the first ones built on the street. And we hired a decorator to furnish it. It’s going to be like living in the model home featured in the TV series Arrested Development.
So I have to throw most everything out. There’s not much room for my furniture and none of it is that great anyway.
But I have accumulated so much stuff over the years. At the first of the year, my 3 large closets were all packed full. Plus I have 4 floor to ceiling wall units. And 5 freaking dressers (in a one bedroom apartment). 2 in the bedroom, 2 in closets and 1 in the “living room”- which is set up to be easily used as a guest room,with a daybed and a dresser. 2 full sized file cabinets. 6 lightweight rolling units with small drawers like people use for crafting ( I use them for work related electronic parts). My apartment is nothing but storage.
Plus I have a storage unit in the basement of my apartment building. And I keep a lot of stuff in my car.
I’ve made great headway in clearing out closets and the wall units. But there is sooo much more to do.
I cleaned out the storage unit today. I was merciless. A threw out about 15 heavy duty trash bags full of stuff. It was packed to the ceiling and now it is nothing but empty suitcases. I kept a small shoulder bag of clothing, I found a few items that I felt were worth keeping.
I’m not as brutal when it comes to discarding clothing as I will have my own giant walk-in closet in my new home. But I was still pretty brutal.
I kept one nostalgia item, my embroidered satin jacket with my name from my days as a roadie. And I found my box of LP records ( I thought I had tossed them earlier.) I’m going to take a carload of stuff down to family home next week when I go for my niece’s college graduation. So I might take these for her, she’s into records now - I bought her a turntable for Christmas.
But while these little successes help, I’m still paralyzed by the thought of the big move. I’m not sure how I am going to execute it logistically. My tentative plan is to call a junk haul away place for most of the furniture. Then maybe I can pay my nephew and his wife to come to NYC, fill up a van and drive it down. I have money allocated for moving and they’re saving for the down payment on a house, so this could be a win-win. Besides, I like them and it would be fun to spend a few days in NYC with them before I leave.
Then, once the place is empty I need to get some contractors in to repair ceilings and doors and refinish the floors. I’m planning on renovating the kitchen and bath ahead of that. Got a good price on the kitchen, waiting for the guy to give me a contract. If I like then I’ll use them for the rest of the place.
And it’s already May. I’m overwhelmed, but at least the storage unit is done. I can do the car tomorrow (I needed space in the storage unit for that). Then I can pack the car for the initial trip next week. But I’m overwhelmed.
Ann Hedonia, it sounds like you’re doing everything right. Especially the idea of getting people you like ( the nephew) to help with the moving. And so what if you’re overwhelmed? It seems to me that is largely because you’ve already done, or thought about what needs to be done, about much of what needs doing. Maybe trust your own preparation ( you’re a roadie after all, logistically hauling stuff from A to B was your job!) and trust that either the movers, the nephew of yourself will improvise what needs improvising.
How about you making an using a checklist, like this one? The Ultimate Moving House Checklist | This Is Neat Cleaning With every little thing done, you can cross it off and feel good.