I don't know about you, but I am someone who has a hard time to let things go. I would keep things for memory's sake, but to be honest, the only time I am looking at it again is when I am cleaning up and wondering if I should keep it or not. I also have been gathering stuff for the one day I would have time and start getting creative with my hands (which is a challenge for me, since I am not a handy person). Lately, I have been bugged and bummered because my house seems to be in a constant state of things hanging and laying around. Allthough I am cleaning up every day... I am kind of getting tired of it. So, I read the one year rule: if you haven't used in a year, throw or give it away. I'm really considering to do this, 'cause it would make space free and give me some of my boxes back. Do you use this for your cleaning/organizing or do you have any other tips?
I try to use FlyLady's rule: don't need it, use it, or love it? Then toss it! Still easier said than done, but it does help to be able to just ask "do I need this? do I love it?" I don't think I would do well with a one-year rule because then I'd have to try to remember when things happened and that would waste my energy!
My husband has that rule.. me.. I still hang on... I do want to go through things though and try that motto.. some things are so hard to let go of though and will always be I think. Just the thought of attempting to do this makes me crazy.
No way! I'm a keeper of things. LOL. Unfortunately we have a LOT of storage in our house which just encouraging me to keep more stuff. I do go through purging phases where I will finally let things go and I'm actually in one of those moods right now too!
I have one that works.... most of the time. Pretend you are moving house, and that you have to decide what to take with you to your new (smaller) home. Only keep what you would actually pack and take with you if it was real.. you will be amazed !
I like to throw things away. I hate clutter, but I live with a house full of hoarders and clutter bugs! Truth be told, it drives me absolutely crazy, trying to figure out what to do with all their stuff that they don't put away.
I'm similar to Nancy! BUT I'm making strides. I tell them they have to find "homes" for their things. My youngest boy is a hoarder. So... I've started putting things he likes to keep (that I would throw out) into his sock drawer. LOL! Once it gets unmanageable, he has to go through it and figure out what is still important and what isn't. My oldest is getting better, but we follow the same idea for the sock drawer - he will ask for a picture if he can't totally let go. For now, this is working.
I purged quite a bit when I had my big retirement yard sale last June. I cleared out 20+ years of teaching stuff and house things. It felt good. I NEED to do that with my craft room, FINALLY let go of the stamping and paper scrapping things that I haven't touched in 3 years.
I need to be better about this, but I come from a long line of "we might be able to use this someday" believers and so we have hung on to a lot of things--for better or worse. I need to definitely have a purge and plan to this summer when I have a break from school.
i used to be better at this too .. now i think the only thing that is really keeping this organized is the fact that we've moved twice in 5 years ... that really makes you evaluate what you need/want.
I did try, as I am a hopeless hoarder.... but it doesn't work with me, because I have seen Sarita wearing stuff that I had not used for almost 10 years ...like for her graduation ceremony, and for prom..... all stuff I didnt use but kept because it was so gorgeous and ...well...because I like keeping stuff LOL I'm trying now to get rid of some stuff and almost succeed with kitchen stuff.... I ll try make an effort when the weather gets warmer as I need to empty my shed...only to think about it gives me shivers...
Esh - I am constantly purging - I am not a "keeper" --- almost to a fault. I seem to get rid of things that I end up needing!! I just took 5 bags full of "stuff" to Goodwill last week. Every time I purge I dig a little deeper -- getting rid of more and more. The only things I do not purge are mementos and things that were my parents that they handed down to me.
This is my life too. I am a purger, my husband keeps everything and seems to want it all where he can see it. Drives me crazy, cause I hate clutter. It's really the only thing we disagree on...
