Desire to minimise/declutter

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I don’t really post in here but need to. This is probably quite outting but who cares 🫣

I have a 3 bedroom semi. Hubby and I have the main bedroom. Daughter had the other big room and son has the box room.

Daughter moved out in November but found out she was pregnant a few days before she moved out.
Despite me pushing and mithering, she’s only taken 50% or less of her stuff. She took her double bed, but the floor to ceiling wardrobe is still full of her clothes and stuff, and there are boxes full of stuff that were previously under the lift up storage bed she took.

Admittedly her new apartment is small but it also has two bedrooms, and a large loft and storage cupboards. I want to move her brother into the bigger room and need her stuff gone. She’s has had bad morning sickness and rough pregnancy so far, so I’ve been slack and let this ride and don’t react when she puts this task off, but the house is just sort of “stuck”.

We have, by moving all the boxes out and then back in again , managed to decorate her old room, get a new carpet laid and get a new storage bed for her brother. My plan was if he moved in, it might spur her on to let me empty what was her wardrobe. Any stuff of hers still remaining can go into the box room (sons old room)

Unfortunately son is as awkward as my daughter can be. He’s happy where he is (in the cramped box room), He says because he got uni, he’s too busy to empty his room and move it over (I asked in the Xmas hols and have always said that I will help). He says it’s because his Dad hasn’t put his tv on the wall (every time hubby asks can he do this, he says later)

I am probably not giving a good impression of my family, but they don’t see the big deal whereas i am stuck in limbo land with stuff everywhere.

Daughter wanted a particular pram that’s hard to get and hubby ordered it (far too early) and we have 3 big boxes in our lounge. He also bought a crib she wanted to keep at our house and that’s in her old room (which should be my sons)

sorry for waffling but I’m just frustrated and needed to get this out.

In terms of your son if he is happy in the box room can’t he just stay there?
It doesn’t sound like he’s too bothered. I’d leave him too it and maybe just turn her room into a guest room.
Also tell daughter you are bringing her boxes over. It can be a her problem not a you problem

 

[Definitelyme]

The problem with clutter/stuff in our house is that it belongs to everyone else .

I'm really trying to only have things I need / use .
I had to clear out an entire house after my dad died ,then lockdown happened and I couldn't get rid of anything for ages and it was so hard and time consuming. There's still so much stuff I don't want to keep in storage .
Things that could have been reused ended up in the bin just to get them out the house .
I also think some things were kept because they belonged to grandparents, not because they were liked/ useful and I hate that I have to be the person making the decision to get rid.

Then in our house, people (husband) leave things in the way and every where ends up cluttered and messy.

This is a reason I am keen to live a clutter free life style. When I die (I’m only 34 so hopefully a long way off yet!) I don’t want my husband or kids having to wade through mountains of stuff, and feel like it’s such a chore. If I have less stuff, they can do it quickly and hopefully just find a few things I’ve held on to which spark memories for them as well.

If my husband goes first I’ll have a field day throwing out all his junk. And I’ll be shouting at his ashes “I TOLD YOU TO GET RID OF THIS 40 YEARS AGO!” he still whinges about a leather jacket I made him give to charity about 10 years back!

 

[Caramel Latte]

Since organising my wardrobe in lockdown i decided that i don't wanna buy any new clothes/shoes and haven't bought any since Feb actually

 

[MrsGahan]

So glad to have come across this thread. Our house is ready to burst. We rarely throw anything out. Obviously as my kids grew their clothes were given to charity but in general we keep stuff. I must have 25 jackets/coats. Is that a lot? I couldn’t tell how many shoes I have. My teen daughter is the same. My wardrobes are full of clothes I don’t really wear. I’m threatening a big clear out for ages and I think the time has come!! Wish me luck.

 

[SassyShetland]

We moved from a three bed detached house onto a narrow boat four years ago. I was forced in to decluttering which was terrifying at first, but now having less stuff and thinking before I fill precious space with more is so freeing and liberating! I now find myself wondering how I ever managed to fill the space and what people fill houses with!

 

[Libertine1975]

Took photos to list some more bits on Vinted and sold something today too. I'm keeping all my uploads in a spare suitcase and box to keep them out of the way. Come on people buy my shit.

Next weekend I want to start properly going through my clothes.

 

[Zulkraa]

 

[JoeBloggs]

So I’ve started! I’ve rearranged our bedroom, cleaned and hoovered. Now to declutter some of the drawers.

 

[Happyvalley]

Hi! Does anyone else ever get the urge to get rid of everything except for maybe, like, a few sets of pyjamas, a cosy cardigan, and their toothbrush

Also, could anyone recommend any relatable and realistic minimalism bloggers / influencers for motivation? Some that I like are:

Francine Jay (Miss Minimalist)
Heather Barta (The Barta House)
Annie (The LA Minimalist)

Yes! All the time. Especially when I feel overwhelmed with putting away and sorting out clothes, I feel like binning the lot. I think it’s a good job I don’t live on my own or I would have one glass, one cup, and a bowl and that would be about it

 

[Noseybonk]

Maybe that's the way to go and say you are wanting to get it ready for the baby but can't because of her things, as its for her and the baby it might help. If she thinks its for her brother who clearly isn't that bothered there is no urgency on her part.

I feel like a lightbulb has just gone off in my head . That’s exactly it! Operation “swop them over” continues this weekend, I will update…. xx

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I found it hard to part with things because I grew up in SA and there is always somebody who could use it, where as in the UK most people don't want your second hand stuff and I hate throwing away good items.
But I'd reached a point where I just couldn't deal with all my stuff anymore and for the last few years I try and declutter at least once a year.
If I haven't used it or worn if for at least two years, it goes. Exceptions for really sentimental items and special occasion outfits.

And it really does feel so much better when you clear things out

 

[idk21]

Thought I'd share this quote I've just come across

 

[dax]

Big day here… baby is now in her room and so the next to me has gone 🥹
Husband is delighted and I have cleared 3 bags this week alone with old baby clothes that aren’t suitable for a local baby charity so they have gone to regular clothes donation in the recycling centre. We got rid of some old bedding sets too. I would like to tackle my wardrobe as above but I am taking it step by step as still bits to sort from the dumping ground (now nursery).

Look forward to the getting rid of babyish toys in the next six months too - how do people who are done having kids approach this? Do you keep a handful for sentimental value? My mum still has some of our childhood toys and it’s honestly so lovely when my eldest plays with them.

 

[50sGirl]

Hi All,
I’d like to join in please.
I’m going to try the monthly declutter challenge whereby you declutter 1 item on day 1, 2 on day 2, etc. By the end of January you should have decluttered 496 items.
I need to get rid of a lot of stuff.

 

[Flowergirl14]

This is a reason I am keen to live a clutter free life style. When I die (I’m only 34 so hopefully a long way off yet!) I don’t want my husband or kids having to wade through mountains of stuff, and feel like it’s such a chore. If I have less stuff, they can do it quickly and hopefully just find a few things I’ve held on to which spark memories for them as well.

If my husband goes first I’ll have a field day throwing out all his junk. And I’ll be shouting at his ashes “I TOLD YOU TO GET RID OF THIS 40 YEARS AGO!” he still whinges about a leather jacket I made him give to charity about 10 years back!

This is a very good point. Don't leave all this stuff for your kids to have to sort through.....

 

[Codiaeum]

Saw this on a FB decluttering group I belong t and it made me chuckle. Might start doing this Ofcourse the group being mainly Americans they did not see the funny side!
---
View attachment 2670340
---

Seriously I have relatives where this would work perfectly, I’m sometimes surprised they find their way around their own home. Might try it.

 

[soph30]

Ah your going out stuff sounds great! Ive got 2-3 dresses and heels for weddings and occasions, wouldn't want to get rid but it's a shame they sit there only to be worn once every year or two.

Just realised I sounded a bit of a twat showing off about my ‘designer’ going out stuff but I just wanted to make a point I’ve GOT to downsize the thirty or so things I love but wear once every three years

 

[CherryAcid]

I havent been working from home but I have really upped my cleaning game since March. I am quite a tidy person anyway(I cant sleep if there is anything more than a glass in the sink) my weekly clean has now eeked out to twice a week. I have spent most of my annual leave decluttering and doing tip runs, painting rooms etc. I'm getting a sofa delivered in Dec so i feel like new sofa, new house kind of thing?

 

[Definitelyme]

This is how I feel/felt! Surrounded by things even though in reality I’m not.

I did a big declutter during the first one but this time I’ve been brutal. I’ve got empty cupboards for once. I stupidly hurt my knee last week so progress has been slower than I hoped but I am determined to get it finished by the end of this lockdown.

I think empty spaces is such a great step, because I think we are all conditioned to "if there is space we must fill it". Whereas one you get comfy having places empty, you don’t feel the need for stuff just for the sake of it, if that makes sense?

 

[Popcornshovel]

For the new year I'm going to look at finding a home for everything. I've got a few categories of stuff which doesn't live anywhere so it gets left out, so I'll need to make a place for it so it can be put away each time.

It's little things I don't think about like sellotape and scissors, I probably use them weekly but not daily and they just get left on the kitchen counter cos they don't have a space in a drawer.