Chucking STUFF out!

[Jeda]

A few of you know we've been away for a year. Well, we put all our stuff in storage and rented our house out and just took off, but now..we're back..and we have to unpack!

It's so overwhelming! :uhno:

We have 30 boxes in the garage 'pending' and i can't get my head around them.

I have so many boxes full of books...kitchen stuff and games room stuff and well, just stuff that i will never use. I don't even like the clothes i wore before and have just filled five garbage bags full to go to the Women's Refuge.

I really don't know where to start..and if i should even bring it in the house when i'm loving having just the basics inside...along with some newly acquired travel memorabilia and it feels so uncluttered and easy.

Why on earth do we need four dinner sets anyway.........................

And what do you do with all the kid's presents (we have four, all in their 20's now) and gifts people give you, including paintings and prints and large candle holders etc? Not to mention "stuff" that found it's home at my home when my Dad and grandparents died...There's over 20 years worth of 'stuff'! And it's drving me insane.

Has anyone ever done a massive 'chuck out' and felt good about it after?

[Stormy]

Jeda my rule of thumb is that if I haven't needed something in the last year and it is in the unpacked box, then I probably don't need it. :hehe:

[Jeda]

Stormy: Yeah, I'm thinking it's time to get drastic....i've heard of that 1 year rule of thumb before...and after being away, and only having a backpack to live out of, i've realised how little we need to make us happy!

People keep saying to advertise on Ebay, to get rid of stuff like old wedding presents (from my first marriage and my parents) and other old stuff, but i don't feel that confident doing using Ebay..

[Patricia]

We had another clean out this week...this time it was wardrobes...feels good to open the doors now and see it all neat and tidy, before it was a nightmare.

I bet LIFELINE were pleased to see us coming with my little car packed to the rafters with stuff for them...:hehe:

[Alexa]

Just had a huge chucking stuff out after 9 years of renting and it feels FANTASTIC :y:, so much I gave to salvo's from books to cd's to clothes to comestics, kitchen ware, and lots of presents that have been tucked in cupboards and forgotten about. It feels great to be in a new place with everything in a spot and cupboards that not expanding at the seems and stuff falls out when you open them!!!

Don't suppose you watched that show on the ABC with Wendy Harmer about "Stuff" very enlighting.

[Naomi]

If you know someone who can use a specific item, give it to them. Have a garage sale. Donate to charity. Sign up for Freecycle.

I would love to unclutter but it feels like every time I make a dent in the *stuff* one of the kids has a birthday or something, and we end up with a whole new influx :blink:

[mummyof3babes]

Naomi beat me to it, Freecycle is a great way to get rid of things. :yes:

I've given away heaps of things that others need, such as children's clothes, toys, furniture, even jars!! (I keep them, wash them, collect in a box and put on Freecycle, crafty people or jam makers etc... just love it!) It's also great for gaining things from time to time. I got a beautiful upright organ for the girls, excellent condition, the only reason they were getting rid of it is because their dog didn't like the music and would go insane when they played it! (I would of put the dog on Freecycle, not the Organ!!) LMAO

Otherwise, if you want to make some $$, maybe have a garage sale. :yes:

[Jeda]

Alexa: I didn't know the Salvo's took all that sort of stuff as well? Can you put that in the bins, or do you unload at a Salvation Army? Also, yeah, i watched 2 of the 4 shows Wendy Harmer did...i loved the bits with her and her Dad! They were classic!!! Now i know where she got the comic in her personality from!

Naomi: We gave a heap of stuff to the kids...even a old freezer that conked out after we gave it to our son (he claimed insurance and got a new freezer! Smart kid!)...and all their sporting stuff from over the years. My brother's took a lot of my Dad's stuff i had from his estate..which freaked their wives out..but we still have a lotta stuff we don't need.

A garage sale...hmm..i've never had one, and have heard they can be a headache. But it's motivating to get a bit of money from stuff you still think is good. Like old mixer pieces...i have a dough hook i've never used and other attachments. 2 juicers. Just unbelievable.

We dumped some stuff out on our verge side collection before we left..and that was funny - an old bbq literally got taken as we were dragging it out there. A guy asked us if he could have it as he drove by! Was Funny.

But yeah..still a dilemma. My sister, who is a counselling jukie, would probably recommend i see one now!!!!

[Alexa]

I took my stuff in boxes direct to the shop in Gosford and they took the whole lot, everything was clean and washed and some stuff even ironed and on hangers, but they loved the books and christmas stuff and linen and the kitchen stuff. It was such a good feeling, my trash might be someone's else's treasure. The cosmetics were samples (so not used) from Avon.

[Patricia]

Yes I did the same with all of our stuff, I think you will find any of the charity shops will be so grateful for stuff that is in a condition good enough to sell..:yes:

[Stormy]

I'm thinking of conducting another cull-a-thon here actually. :yes: Shut up Di, the green bowl can't go anywhere and it has a home now outside. :P

I find the less stuff I have, the easier it is to stay organised and find something in a hurry. But just as you do a huge cull in comes another tide of stuff. :hehe:

[Mesmereyes]

I agree with the girls FREE CYCLE is amazing, I have given away so much and actually aquired a few things, you would be surprised of what ppl advertise for free and majority of it is always taken, and it is good cos they come to yur place to collect it, u can leave it on your door step if u choose. Just type freecycle.com.au and find one near u. Cheers Linda.

Oh forgot to say free cycle has been shown on telly and magazines and has shown how one family had nothing and now has everything from beds to tellys to u name it LOL

[zen]

did this last house move, we didn't have the room for all the stuff we had accumulated over the years.. got to the point where the old guy in one Op Shop got up and opened the door for us with a big grin on his face.. we spread our stuff over two charity shops and they were both delighted with our 'junk' :) i hope some of it made some money for them..

[dragonfly97]

so very true ladies i also like free cycle it is very nice.

[Patricia]

And just think of all the good feng shui that you invite into your home when you chuck out all the junk...:hehe:

I really think there might be something to it really as it is a lovely feeling to look around and have all that unwanted stuff and clutter gone isn't it?

[miss kiki]

i just recently went through all the kids' clothes and the rate they're going, i have to go through all their clothes at least twice a year. so i ended up going through my clothes and DF's clothes and now i have at least 8 big bags full. :yes: i also have stuff in boxes, which we'll try selling at our garage sale this summer. we had one last year, it was fun..not as much as a headache as i thought if you go through your stuff early enough and know what to keep and what to get rid of. alot of the kids clothes were bought and some of their books and toys too-we let them keep their money and they got a decent amount.

[Jeda]

What's Freecycle?

[Patricia]

Jeda you can check out freecycle HERE (http://www.freecycle.org.au/)

[Miss Kitty 79]

freecycle is great i have got ridden of so much stuff on there and everyone is so grateful to receive it too, i even scored off there a brand new hot dog maker used only once still in the box :)

[Heather]

Had a major chuck-a-thon nearly three years ago as part of a dehusbandfying process.....:yes: felt good.

[Naomi]

Freecycle is a yahoo group (you join in your local area) where you list things you want to get rid of and people reply if they want your items. It's local as it's generally a pick-up arrangement, not postage, because the idea is that it doesn't cost anything (so no selling, give away only).

You can also list wanted goods or reply to other people who are giving stuff away.

[holly]

I have never heard of free cycle before. Its funny I just read this, all arvo i been cleaning out upstairs and basically have a full room to throw out

[fussybluu]

I try to declutter my house once a year
the key word here is TRY lol, I do ask friends and family first if they want or need anything that i'm getting rid of,
ggggrrrr i find i'm still storing things in boxes
just because ( I might still need it ) or some lame excuse like I use to love this,

but definetly need more space for my sentimentality :hehe: