Paring down/decluttering--hit me with your best tips!

[Katigre]

Thanks for the tips and encouragement. The Kondos method is interesting. I have such a hard time with sorting through toys though. They definitely bring me joy even if my DC have outgrown some of them. It's hard to pare down when you are sentimental about the items!

I've made a list and I am hoping to stick to it though when we get in our new space.

The book is pretty short and worth a read - it really helps explain what brings joy *now* vs. what brings joy from the memory/experience of having it in the past. It's really not like other decluttering books b/c it goes into the emotions behind the things we own and the things we get rid of. I'd highly recommend it .

[gatorsmom]

When I'm about to buy something I always think to myself "where am I going to put this? Where will I store it?" That has prevented me from buying lots of unnecessary stuff. And I use that when I'm organizing/sorting. I ask myself, "do I really have a place for this? Could get rid of something else to find a place for it. Where would that be?

Another thing that helps me to purge is that I know of a very worthy charity store. It's staffed with volunteers and all sales of donated items go directly to buying necessities for the nearby retirement/nursing home where my great aunt lives. It's in a tiny town in a poor, rural area and the volunteers are always very excited when I bring my donations. I always feel good dropping things off there with the grateful volunteers rather than being rushed through the Goodwill drive through with the indifferent people working there. I know Goodwill is a good cause too, but I just feel better bringing stuff to this little shop. And not to beat a dead horse, but it always surprises me how things I don't think much of are so welcomed there. I dropped off an old dusty flower arrangement of my mom's one time and one of the volunteers saw it and said, "oh that is so pretty. I bet it won't last on the shelf all day before someone buys it!"

[baymom]

When I'm about to buy something I always think to myself "where am I going to put this? Where will I store it?" That has prevented me from buying lots of unnecessary stuff. And I use that when I'm organizing/sorting. I ask myself, "do I really have a place for this? Could get rid of something else to find a place for it. Where would that be?

For me, this has been HUGE. Changing my mindset about buying anything in the first place. I was never a true 'recreational shopper', but I would feel this urge to stock up on things if there were on super sale and just would buy other 'stuff.' But, after getting into a big purging mode a few years back, I see how much better I feel living minimally and how much more peaceful my home seems. Part of that, of course, is that my kids are past the big toy phase so all of the birth-through-preschool "stuff" is out of the house. Still, it has made all the difference to just stop buying things that I don't absolutely NEED at that time.

The other thing, for me, was making a NYs resolution to put out AT LEAST one bag for donation every month when a local charity does a curb-side pick up from my street. It's October, and I've kept my resolution. Part of it has been getting stuff out of the house and the other part has been training myself to always be on the look-out of things to get rid of. I keep a large trash bag in the garage and whenever I see something to be donated, I just put it in the bag, so it's out of the house and ready for pick-up day.

[legaleagle]

The book is pretty short and worth a read - it really helps explain what brings joy *now* vs. what brings joy from the memory/experience of having it in the past. It's really not like other decluttering books b/c it goes into the emotions behind the things we own and the things we get rid of. I'd highly recommend it .

Yes, this. It sounds totally corny but the whole "thanking an object for its service" really helps me declutter. The biggest revelation really was on the things you bought but never used. I think she has an example of buying a sweater that looked nice in the store but never wearing it - you thank it for helping you learn that a boxy cable sweater (or brown sweater or wool sweater or whatever) is not something that will spark joy, so both getting rid of that particular sweater and not buying other similar ones.

[Globetrotter]

Yes, this. It sounds totally corny but the whole "thanking an object for its service" really helps me declutter. The biggest revelation really was on the things you bought but never used. I think she has an example of buying a sweater that looked nice in the store but never wearing it - you thank it for helping you learn that a boxy cable sweater (or brown sweater or wool sweater or whatever) is not something that will spark joy, so both getting rid of that particular sweater and not buying other similar ones.

yes! I've held onto stuff that is unflattering, but now I can let it go. It taught me not to buy similar items again. Same with gifts- I kept stuff because I felt bad donating it, as if I was dishonoring the gift giver. She says the thought behind the gift is more important than the item itself.

It it sounds weird, but it is a different mindset. I had already stopped buying stuff I didn't need, which is the other BIG part of this.

i agree with pp- it's a lot easier when the kids get older and there are no cute clothes and toys to tempt me! Now they choose everything.