How to ELIMINATE CLUTTER from your life forever!

[dr.declutter]

Hi everyone. I figured there had to be others out there in the millions of eBayers who want to eliminate clutter. So I decided to create a discussion thread and a "ME" page all about clutter and how to get rid of it and how to keep it out of our lives forever.

Personally I know my clutter problem took years to accumulate, and will take some time and effort to make things "normal" again. But I'm ready to dedicate myself to the effort. I'd like to discuss the tips and strategies necessary not just to eliminate clutter but to become the kind of person who does not ACCUMULATE CLUTTER in the first place! If you are interesting in creating a clutter-free life then let's talk!

[sandrasacre]

I have a closet that I work out of. I have my things in boxes that need ironing. When they are ironed I hang them up. Then When they get their picture taken I fold them up and put them on a shelf in my closet. Then when I have time to post I put them on another stack in the closet. When someone bids on the item I packag them and put them in the living room waiting for their payment. It seems to encourage me to see the stack in the living room. Sandra

stores.ebay.com/sandra-acre?refid=store

[oh!happyday]

Hi,

Is this thread still alive?

I never considered it clutter. My things were my "treasures."

One day enough became enough and I just sorted and sold, gave away and gifted it. It's a matter of determination. Just do it.

I am working on a friend to do the same thing. I cannot begin to tell you what a mess her home is. When I walk in they have to unload a chair so I can sit.

Now when I don't need something or want it, I list it - and oh how I wish I had all of it back to sell!

[kiri87]

Have any of you ever been to flylady.net ? Sonme really good information on the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and de-cluttering. There is even a daily tip that you can have e-mailed to yourself. I found it helpful when trying to control the clutter and right before a move to a new state.

[rcortz90210]

HI, I can relate to the Clutter addiction because I am guilty of cluttering but What about a person who can't keep anything from the past. I know someone who gives away anything that anyone gives her and keeps buying things and sells her used things as she buys new things. She has been doing this for years. I do not understand because I am the type that keeps every gift and junk mail that I receive.

[dr.declutter]

Hello, just popping in to say I'm still around and I'm still battling clutter too! I'll try to take a look at some of the more recent posts and see what ideas I can share.

The past few weeks I've been sorting through items from my parent's estate. Nothing of great value, but a difficult task because I miss them so much. I finished sorting my father's books tonight.

Personally I'm reading another book on de-cluttering by Mike Nelson, this one applying to business clutter - but still with a lot of insight for home clutter too.

I have a long way to go! I'll check in soon.

Take care everyone.

[dr.declutter]

Podiptoroy, I think that the best way to save old newspapers is to have then laminated. Some towns have shops that specialize in laminating, perhaps a frame shop or a printer?

Sandrasacre, sounds like a great processing system for your auctions. It always helps to have a system.

oh!happyday, you're right - it really is a matter of determination to get rid of the clutter. I also think there may be a financial relationship to clutter in that those who are in poverty, or are penny pinchers may really need to hold on to so many things because the money to replace those items may never arrive. It's a blessing to have the money to replace what you like when you want - and the money makes it a lot easier.

I think that touches on the post from rcortz90210 as well. I know for me, when I had less money, there was almost nothing I would sell, donate or give away. Now with a better income its easier to buy new when an item needs to be replaced, and I feel more secure in giving up all those things I'm not using.

Kiri87 thanks for the reminder on flylady.net, definitely an excellent resource.

[ragtimelil]

I'm not really a hoarder. But I have a SERIOUS problem with paper and clothes.... My living room is cluttered because it's my working studio room. It's just full of looms, accessories and supplies, not to mention the yarn, roving and soap I sell. I do try to keep it tidy, even if it's full of STUFF.
But my office is a disaster in progress! I make running attempts at filing, but a couple of days later, it's a mess again. And it's not junk mail. It's bills, recipes, printouts of "how to"s for projects, notes to myself, receipts, boxes of stock photos, writing clips, etc, etc. I've tried the put out boxes and separate method but never have enough time to get through the massive stacks.
My house only has two tiny closets (and no garage) and one is full of boxes for shipping. The other one is going to be turned into a pantry. (I am starting to hoard, uh, put food by. I don't see that as a problem since I use the stuff.)
My downstairs bedroom has no closet and is usually a mess mainly because I rarely clean it. AFter all, all I do there is sleep! BUt sometimes I spend way too long looking for something clean to wear so I can leave the house!
Whew. Thanks for letting me get all this down. It sometimes helps just to talk about it!
Lil

[dr.declutter]

Hello ragtimelil! It sounds like you've got a bad case of cluttering, but nothing that can't be fixed. I'm in the middle of fixing just such a problem myself. While I was selling on eBay, and busy with other projects, getting the clutter taken care of always had to wait. If you can afford the luxury of quitting eBay selling (and buying) for a few months your job will be easier. But even if you can't quit ebay you can try this technique: any time you bring ONE thing into a room with the intention of leaving it there, you must bring TWO things OUT of the room and place them in the garbage or in the DONATE box.

With paperwork I know that won't work so with paperwork maybe try asking yourself this question. "If my house burned down today would I absolutely NEED this paper or could I do without it?" If you absolutely need it then file it in a fireproof safe. If you think you might need it file it in a regualar file cabinet, but try to pull one thing out to throw away before you file that paper. If your not sure, consider throwing it out.

Another thing is to think of your most important goal at this time: does this paper or thing contribute to that goal or detract from it (meaning it is just in the way). If the item detracts from your goal then get rid of it!

Dr. Declutter

[robn*in*philly]

Well, it is that time of year again.
We just got our flyers from the Boro that
our street's "Big Trash Pick Up Day"
is next Wed. 4-26-06.
Do you Think I can get the ambition to get some
junk out to the curb?

[clearancesavings]

Make it happen! 😉

[robn*in*philly]

Now if the weather would cooperate.

I keep thinking that the trash pickers would
benefit from my stuff, if the rain doesn't ruin it.

Got to get it out!!!

[robn*in*philly]

Nothing "big" went out to the curb, but I did get
some trash out for regular trash day.
Just grabbed a trash bag and said "outta here"
Stuff I had put aside to take to the Thrift Store
but after I looked at it, just trashed it.
Some old coats, some old clothes.

And just paper trash.
Paper trash is my biggest problem, but hope to get it
under control soon.
Any volunteers???

[robn*in*philly]

Just wondering how everyone's de-cluttering is going?

Bob saw a house for sale over the weekend that
he really liked.
So I'm gonna have to get real serious about getting rid of more stuff..... QUICKLY...

Have a great week!

rob

[dr.declutter]

Hi nonny-mouse! Great to see someone else is interested in clutter reduction. The the past six weeks or so I've been more into clutter accumulation (sort of). Lots of eBay shopping and thrift store shopping, but the way I look at it I'm getting BETTER stuff to replace the old, worn out stuff. Also, I'm getting a few things here and there for the family that we didn't have before. I can say I'm making progress on the CD music collection. Rather than piles of CD's laying around my "office" I now have all the CD's collected in one room, and I'm using my Casio label-maker to create easy-to-read artist name labels for the top edge of each jewel case. This makes it a lot easier to file the CD's.

Where I'm still struggling of course is in possession ELIMINATION - getting rid of possessions while NOT accumulating more. I'll have to do some more deep thinking on that one. I realize that most people in the world get by with much, much less than the average American. And I'm not sure the average American is any happier for all he/she owns. So the question remains, why is it that we want so much?

Until later 🙂

[robn*in*philly]

Well, this morning the dog wanted to go out (at 3:30 am), and I decided that since today was trash day, that "stuff" on the back porch had to GO!

Out went the old weedwacker (hubby was saving for "Parts"); a broken electric can opener; & lots of paper trash that had accumulated. Old planters got the "once over". Four of them got trashed & four ceramic planters got put back on the shelf, but this time they are now "alikes in the same area" so when I'm ready to go to the thrift shop, they will be ready to pack up and take over there.

It doesn't seem like much, but it was a full "tall kitchen trash bag" of stuff that went out.

I've also started in the dining room ("Catch all spot"), mostly gathering things that needed to be washed before being put away, washing them and putting them in their proper place.

Still looking for more inspiring stories.....