Gah my thrifting tendencies sometimes get the best of me, I just bring home too much stuff. And I don't get rid of enough stuff. And we don't put enough stuff away. 3 major problems we are tackling in the first weeks of this new year. House clutter leads to mental clutter and that can never be good.
- Bring home too much stuff: as far as this step goes when I'm thrifting I plan to categorize each potential purchase-use it? Do we need it/where will I put it? Sell it? Will I sell it? Give it? Will I give it to someone as a gift?---these questions have already saved me from buying a set of measuring cups we didn't need, material that was a good price and shoes that may or may not have fit a certain 7 year old who can't seem to stop growing
- I don't get rid of stuff: I keep inane things "BECAUSE I MIGHT NEED THIS" empty boxes, clothes that don't fit, magazines, patterns for clothes that I will never wear, books that collect dust, reusable grocery bags, I have a bag of socks without mates--I will never need these things and here I am keeping them, so as I work through my home I will be making those hard decisions like what to do with every egg carton every person thinks I need "because dammit you have chickens!" I can many more loads to the local thrift store in my future too
- we don't put stuff away: A fair amount of this will be training small wildebeests to clean up after themselves every time. If they don't by the end of the day each of them could well evade cleaning up 1-2 'projects' and that's 4 messes left to muck out--plus I have a couple of drop-every-thing-I'm-carrying-when-I- walk-in-the-door-and-my-coat-and-my-shoes-too Which really adds to the cluttery feeling. I'm thinking of actually picking these up and charging a clean up fee to get them back...can I hear a LOUD AND RESOUNDING YES from my readers?
These clutter builders are filling up our house and making me crazy. Clutter makes me unable to sit and do any work, I always want to keep picking up and putting away. I never feel like our house is clean because stuff is everywhere. A vicious cycle because I then get overwhelmed and think screw it. But I want to have a life where I can work on projects and not have the house collapse around me because I didn't spend all my time picking up and putting away. Is that crazy talk? Maybe it is maybe it is.
Peace and Love--
8 comments, thoughts, ideas, random words or haikus:
My mom is the exact same "I might need it someday!" way. And she's passed a lot of it down to me. In fact, as I sit here my desk has a small empty box on it that I thought was pretty and didn't want to recycle b/c I'd sure I'd find some future use for it.
I don't think there's anything wrong w/ that mentality unless you get to the point where you should be on Hoarders. haha So much of our society today is all about the new and improved and out with the old in w/ the new. There's no appreciation for craftsmanship or respect for what you have. Our ancestors didn't have the luxury of just hopping in the car and going to Walmart everytime they wanted something (or heck, on Amazon). They did exactly as you're describing - held onto it and adapted it for future use to be resourceful. In fact when I was reading about the socks I thought "OH GOSH THE BOYS SHOULD MAKE PUPPETS!" haha :P
I feel the same way!
I am a bit of a pack rat but my husband feels he needs to throw out any clutter. He is my ying to his yang I guess.
Try to keep warm up there in Alaska! It is in the 40s in California and we are complaining.
For the first time in probably, well, ever, I'm really getting down to the nitty gritty and tossing out a ton of crap. That's what it is: Crap. I believe I started with 12 plastic storage totes. I am down to probably 8 and still going.
Living in a 1 bedroom apartment with a husband who also has a ton of stuff from long before I arrived on scene has proved to be a cramped mess. Slowly but surely we're reducing all of this stuff and getting ourselves more together. Still have a long way to go but we're getting there!
I'm hesitant to let go of things I think I have sentimental attachment to (high school, college, old boyfriends, etc) but even that's starting to finally hit the garbage can. Just comes a point in life where you have to say enough is enough. For us, that time is now.
Thanks for sharing a great post!
Amen. My biggest problem is guilt- getting rid of stuff my mom gave me. Wait. No. I lied. My biggest problem is that my kids could happily exist in a pig sty. My second biggest problem is guilt.
I have an "easy" solution...get a bigger house!!! haha really there is no quick fix when you have little guys around. Just don't stress out over the little stuff. I'd rather have a cluttered house (over a dirty house) any day...and there is a BIG difference.
I know exactly what you mean. I have been trying to break myself of the habit of saving things I think I might need somewhere down the line. Now, is there a time every now and then when I wish I had kept a few shopping bags on hand? Yes. Does it kill me to not have them? No. I make due.
Currently trying to break my husband of this habit as well. Not so easy. He's a pack rat. People give him old computers the way people give you egg cartons (he builds and fixes them, so the spare parts come in handy sometimes). When we moved he had no fewer than 6 empty computer towers in a closet. 6. I ask you, is this necessary? I think not.
Oh, do I hear this with a resounding...yes, it's me!! One of the rules in my house is if you get it out, play with it or it belongs to you, put it away!! If it's out after you have gone to bed & mom or dad have to pick it up....it's ours (for who knows how long). My BIL says if it's on the floor, it's out the door! @ the end of the day.
It's good to go through & sort & donate every 3-4 months. It keeps stuff from getting too piled up!
Thanks for the motivation....hoooboy I gots lots to do!
I feel your pain! And I can't imagine the additional stress of having a family creating clutter with me!
I've started hanging my jacket as soon as I get home, putting stuff away when done: but I do tend to throw clothes around and fall into bed at home. This is a "I'm too exhausted" issue that needs to be addressed by sleep :) Lack of sleep leads to clutter, too!
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