And I Thought I Didn't Have Much "stuff"...

margecat

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Admittedly, most other the "clutter" was behind doors or in drawers, but I did have a lot of stuff that I didn't use. About sixteen trash bags and smaller boxes-worth! I have spent about four days going through closets, cabinets and the garage. Most of my stuff was tablecloths and dishes. I used to entertain about once a month, but I don't anymore. Good-bye!

I have made the difficult, but I think correct, decision to leave the club I volunteered for for nearly four years. I probably will move on to another group soon, so this time, I wanted to make sure my house was stripped of un-needed stuff before doing so. I want to start with a clean slate this time. I always felt guilty for volunteering when I knew I should be home cleaning. I'm a neat-freak, and it bothers me when the house isn't very clean and organized. My house never got anywhere near bad, but I found myself leaving things around, meaning to put them away later--like 4 weeks later. One of the reasons I'm leaving the club is that I have to work directly in the kitchen with a borderline hoarder, and I can't take it anymore. And I don't want to become like her. She'd do the same thing, but the stuff would stay there for many years.

Quite a bit of the junk I'm getting rid of consisted of kitchen items I donated there (I didn't take a tax break, so I still own them). I'm having VVA pick them up this week.

I also want to spend more time with my four sweet kittens and their mom! :happycat: I also have to sweep the downstairs floors a lot more to keep up with so many new cats in the house! :purr:
 

MonaLyssa33

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My parents and I both moved in February. I strive to be a minimalist, so everything I own fit into a small U-Haul. My mom's sewing room alone took at least 3 storage pods. I think I'm a minimalist because of my parents. Your post is making me want to go through and weed my stuff again. :lol:
 

MoochNNoodles

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I'm currently sorting our school books and supplies for the year. I have a really hard time resisting office supplies. I've discovered that I don't NEED to buy the kids anything for school except a small dry erase board, 2 1/4" binders and maybe some folders. Oh and a pencil box for DS since his old one broke. :banana1: Our school room is also the kitchen and my office space; so I need to get much much better about the stuff accumulating. I got a few new things to help organize. But it's going to take a bit to get there. ;)
 

Winchester

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Good for you margecat margecat ! Glad you were able to get everything sorted out.

I keep telling myself I need to do that, too. Rick has often said that we could outfit three more kitchens with all the kitchen stuff I have, both upstairs and in the basement. I've tried, honest I have. I've gone downstairs to look through kitchen stuff and figure out what I want to get rid of.....and I can't. I just can't.

Same with cookbooks. I've sorted through cookbooks to figure out which ones to give to the library, donate to the thrift store, etc. I managed to get rid of a couple bags of cookbooks and really had a hard time even doing that.

My granddaughter, who is turning into quite the baker, has told me right out, "Do not get rid of anything before I see it! I'm serious, Grandma; give me a chance!" I love that girl. :redheartpump: (I can see it now. If and when she gets married, she'll have a whole kitchen full of stuff!!)
 

DreamerRose

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I'm thinking I should do the same thing. I saved a lot of things for grandchildren, and I have only one who will soon be a teenager, so I might as well clear everything out. Then there's the stuff I inherited that I wish I'd never brought here. I've given away kitchen stuff several times, but there's always more - like the ceramic skillet that was a fail. And drawers that haven't been cleaned out in years. I used to keep up with this on a regular basis, but don't anymore.

Getting rid of a lot of it would make it so much easier to keep clean and organized.
 

amysuen

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Good for you! We moved every year for the first 11 years of our marriage and I purged every time I packed so we didn't have much clutter when we moved in to this house. But after almost 20 years here it's packed to the gills!!
 
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margecat

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I had 22 bags and boxes. :paperbag:
 

Kal_shadowsmom

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I never realized how much junk I had that I didn't need until I started sorting through it. I moved into my house over two years ago and I still have boxes in closets that I haven't touched.

Clearly I don't need that stuff as I haven't used it in two years.

I think it's almost time for an overnight energy-drink-fueled purge.(I'm a night owl)
 

Winchester

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Good for you! We moved every year for the first 11 years of our marriage and I purged every time I packed so we didn't have much clutter when we moved in to this house. But after almost 20 years here it's packed to the gills!!
We did that, too, the whole moving thing, when we were first married in 1971. We finally built our house back in 1985, so we've been here for 33 years. And I've accumulated a ton of stuff since!

To be fair, a lot of kitchen items were given to me by Mom, Rick's mom, my grandmother, etc. People who know that I like to cook will give me kitchen stuff as gifts. My sister had a really nice cookie cutter collection, figured she's never rolling out cookie dough again, and gave me all her cookie cutters. Things like that happen. What am I supposed to do? Say No? That would be rude!

margecat margecat 22 bags? Excellent!
 
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artiemom

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I am currently in the process of removing, purging my kitchen. Management is do a renovation of the kitchen and bathrooms. I am getting new cabinets, sink, counter, and appliances, including microwave.

I tons and tons of things crammed in the cabinets.. too much for one person.. too much for 2 people, when my dad was here.

A lot of it is my mom's. When we moved in here, I had to combine my stuff, what my dad had--from my mom, and what was down his cellar.. It was a mess.

Since I had a ton of cabinet space, I kept a lot of things. Now that is way too much.

I have been going through the cabinets, buying some storage boxes, and purging a bit as I go through things.

It is an overwhelming task. I have lived in this apartment for 12 years, accumulating a mountain..

All the stuff is going in the extra bedroom. I also have to empty my linen closet because that is in the bathroom which is getting a new vanity and lighting.

I am scheduled for Sept 18. I want most of this to be done by Sept 1... that way it gives me time.. I do not know where I am going to put things. I have furniture in the spare bedroom. sigh...

I do purge a bit as I am packing it up. My plan is that when I unpack, I will, hopefully, purge some more things...

amazing, what you accumulate, and the memories...
 

amysuen

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artiemom artiemom , it is a big job! Purging as you pack is a good idea, then purge again as you unpack. I sometimes look at an item and think "would another family love/use this more?" and that helps me decide.

I'm on vacation next week and DH will be at soccer every day beginning at 3 so I'm looking forward to doing some deep cleaning, organizing and purging while he's gone. :crackup:
 
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