When Decluttering Does NOT Improve Your Life
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- Опубліковано 21 гру 2024
- Decluttering may not improve your life if are not ready to let go of items, continue to shop, or do not truly want less in your life.
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Article: I Said Yes to Clutter!
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Hello! I'm Erica Lucas, a Minimalish Minimalist. On this channel, I share videos about making life simple one day at a time. I'm passionate about sharing ideas and inspiration for you to simplify your life, so if that's something you are interested in, let's do it together. You will find videos about decluttering, minimalism, simple living, and intentional living. I'm glad you are here today. I hope my videos help inspire you in some way. Thank you for watching - it means so much to me.
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Congratulations, Erica! Your session at Get OrganizedHQ was outstanding. Definitely one of the best we have watched. So concise, well presented, and informative! 👍👍👍
Thank you so much!!! That makes my day!!
Good advice. I have found that wanting less comes easier as you age. You spend the first half of your life acquiring things and the second half trying to get rid of them. I would like to release my dining set. It's too big for this house and makes me feel crowded.
Remember that picture you sent me with your Pyrex collection? Is that the dining set?
@@EricaLucasLoves Yes. It is really for a dining room but it is in my eat in kitchen. I would rather just have a kitchen table.
I so agree with you. In my thirties I was ecstatic buying our new larger home. Now it’s just something that drains my energy and gives me anxiety. Of course with a larger home comes more furniture and more storage area that is now full.😩
@@Debbiesdilemmas It is a hard transition to go to a smaller home and make all those choices, but we are retired now and I actually have time to do other things. I have no regrets and I find just living with your favorite things is very pleasant.
@@poodlegirl55 my husband is semi retired. He sold one business which was his full time job but still has a financial interest in another. He still has some work to do but not near as much. It’s been wonderful.🥰 We are slowly decluttering as we are planning to size down. I can’t wait.❤️
I love that Andy knows how to use a sewing machine. Too few men have this very useful skill!
I'd say too few people. Women too. I want to learn in order to teach my daughter
@@johannmondragon2300 UA-cam has tons of good videos on sewing. I never sewed and because of studying sewing via UA-cam I now make quilts.
He taught himself!!
@@EricaLucasLoves Kudos, Andy!!
My husband learned basic sewing in the army
We have a somewhat unconventional family, 3 of us are Autistic and the 4th, my hubby had a brain injury 18 years ago so consequently we don't use the house the way a house is usually used. None of us are interested in tv so we don't own one. We have a couch but only the dog sits on it so it's our next thing to declutter. Even when the grandparents visit they use a chair and not the couch as it's too low for them to get out of easily. We have multiple work spaces set up in our open plan lounge/dining space where we can work separately but communally on our individual interests. These include arts and crafts, sewing, model making, gaming, photography and reading. We tried the whole lounge with the tv, side tables and ornaments thing but then none of us spent time there and we ended up separated throughout the rest of the house. Making space for what we each enjoy has brought us all back together and we're closer than ever. Just because a room was designed for a certain purpose doesn't mean you're stuck having to use it that way.
Hi Erica! Just an idea, take your nicest blanket(or two) and wash it, fold it, and put it away in a special bin for guest use only. The others can be used by the kids for forts without needing to be washed. Sheet forts are no fun. Lol. Eventually your kids will be out of fort building age and you can then donate the fort blankets! A bin with fort blankets would be fun for the kids. 😘
I don't think you should look for excuses to keep things. Look for reasons to get rid of things instead.
I like that idea but also think that kids are super creative. She could store that bin away(labeled) and just see how the sheets work. I bet the kids will figure out a way to use them or blankets from their beds (which they then return) towels, whatever to make forts. I’ve found the more I get rid of & just observing- kids use whatever’s around. The recycling basket has tubes & boxes that my kids seem to love!
Little tip for folding pillowcases … fold the pair together as though they are one. This has changed my life 🙂
Great idea. Never thought of that. Awesome!
I cannot think of anything to release today, but not long ago I made a conscious decision to 'release' a large display cabinet from my living room. I had two; one either side of the fireplace. For a long time I had wanted to get rid of one cabinet, but it was full of 'treasures'. I had been gradually reducing those treasures but the cabinet was still full.
I do not know what the tipping point was, but one day I just decided that the cabinet had to go. I realised that I was more interested in seeing walls than cabinets. Once I set my mind to it, I was surprised how effortlessly I emptied the cabinet. My 'treasures' were actually not treasures at all. I gave them away or sold them. Only one or two were relocated within my home. I just wanted less stuff.
Now, any shopping I do is to replace existing stuff with more practical or pretty versions. For decades I lamented that I could not afford 'good' stuff and had to make do with what I assumed I could afford. Now I can afford nice things, because I don't have as many things.
Totally agree with your notion of replacing clutter with ‘good stuff’. I decluttered an entire cabinet of dishes and bought 2 handmade pottery bowls and 4 mugs. I still have the bare minimum of dishes but having morning coffee or cereal out of my new dishes makes it special.
My husband and I just released 484 DVDs from our home and now I have two more bookcases for my books that I treasure. Thanks for this video and your others...you are inspiring. Keep up the great work. I just watched your purse declutter and you inspire me to do the same (no shrimp in mine,lol.) I need to change my purse over to my leather one for fall and it is smaller....time to get minimal when it comes to my purse. Thanks again.
Books. It's hard for me to get rid of the books. The main portion of my bookcase is one big TBR pile. There's so much information in them that I could learn! A classical case of FOMO, I guess. Still waiting for that mind shift to let at least some of them go.
I’ve decluttered a bunch but still have much more to do. I’d like to release more clothes, books (former teacher here), paper, & more!
OH MY GOSH! Andy in the basement setup! yall did it!
I love the idea of a basket of blankets just for forts. (Only need to wash twice a year) Sheets don't make good forts. One blanket for each bed and one for company. Also, we have a One in - One out rule. Each time we bring in a new game, kitchen item, piece of clothing etc. - we donate something from the same category. That way our home doesn't get out of control again.
Also - I love Andy. I mean the man serves in the Navy AND sews!
I want to release any personal clothing items of mine that don't fit me in this current season, as-is, this size, in this current moment. I want my clothing to wrap me in comfort and not bully me anymore 💗
We have blood noses occasionally so I learnt as a child I need two pillowcases on my pillows in case I have a blood nose in the night. The first pillowcase is usually mismatched and the top matches the sheets. When our kids occasionally get stomach bugs and are throwing up, this also saves the pillow a little bit from needing to be washed. I know I can get pillow protectors but then I'd need spares so extra pillowcases do that for me. But what is so lovely is that's what works for our family right now. Maybe we can change that later. Xx
I live with a hoarder. Clutter is a constant battle, because he can't tolerate empty surfaces. I know it's a mental illness, so I try to be delicate and understanding. I would love to get rid of blankets, too! And furniture. And old pillows.
I really like the pillow cases with zippers. It's pretty much all I use now. It's so much neater on a bed. I give pillow cases to my gkids to use for their sewing projects. The pillow cases are way cheaper than fabric these days. I'm going to trash pajamas and old bras....who else keeps bras way too long? Thanks Erica for giving us permission to get rid of stuff....I use the one new thing in two old things out rule. It's been working for three years now. I have not yet failed to find things for the goodwill.....
yes! re the bras lol
You might want to hang on to the blankets until after winter. Lots of talk about energy shortages in Europe could effect us too. They can be used to blanket windows, separate rooms to save on heating ones your not using and of course to cuddle up in to keep warmer.
TV and TV Stand - put the stand on MP and still have the TV in one of my closets but it's been about 4 months and I'm not missing it at all - reading more books which is making me happy.
Fort Sheet’s. Brilliant. I wish I had thought of it! My kids also do not use top sheets. 🤦♀️
What do I want to declutter, other than so many things? Ha! I guess that would be my front room. The room everyone sees when they enter my home. It is known to be the catch all for things to eventually leave the home, but inevitably stay a while, like most of my clutter! 😊
I'm a book freak. It's so hard to let go of them.
😮omg “the key to owning less is wanting less” love this eye opener ❤
I am also in Maryland. I was going to donate extra blankets until I learned of the energy issue. I’ve decided to hold on to them until spring in case I can not afford the price hike to turn up the heat. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
I feel the same way about too many dishes and cutlery and glasses. The people I live with see so many available and I think they compete on who can use the most in one day before Mom comes home from work. I swear I wash every dish and glass and spoon and fork we own every single night. I am definitely decluttering to one set for each person this week
One of my favorite aspects of decluttering with Marie Kondos method is that it lets me see how many duplicates I have-like 28 pillow cases! I’ve had the same feelings on too many blankets, so my husband got the kids some tarps for fort building. We even screws some hooks into the wall/ceiling in the basement so they can hang the tarps and build better forts. I’d never do that with blankets since that would tear them up, so it’s a double win 😁
And I currently feel overwhelmed by the kids’ toys. Especially with all their birthdays coming up in the next couple months, followed by Christmas !
If you don't have guests very often, you might consider storing the extra bedding and towels in the basement instead of the linen closet. Reserve the linen closet for "active" items.
Yes, and put them in a vacuum bag. Safe from bugs.
I like Andy's office setup in your basement!
Absolutely!! Spott on! It is not only about declutering but ALSO buying / wanting less.
You have blossomed so much as a minimalist and a content creator. I always come away from your videos with something new, helpful, informative, inspiring, or thought-provoking.
I had a mother who could not part with anything. She was a secret hoarder because the main rooms were neest and tidy but any closet, drawer, spare room, etc. was packed. This has affected my approach to owning and managing too much stuff.
It always does. My dad holds onto too but as parents age - oh, boy. Feel like I'm always going to be dealing with stuff. Mine or not.
We just recently moved/downsized and my husband has 27 plants and we do not have room for 27 plants. He has some tough decisions to make in the next few weeks. Also will be going through decor and wall hangings and keeping just what makes the house feel homey. I loved the way our home looked when I staged it and their was very little clutter hope to find a nice balance as we decorate, but first we are painting a nice neutral throughout the house.
Ooooh plants would be tough!
You are SO right! While decluttering is the best thing, changing habits is even more important! I had to learn this myself...I got rid of 90% of our families stuff, but it took time to stop thinking I needed certain things or wanting other things...changing that mindset has been key in living the minimalist life I wanted to live! Great video!!
Excellent theme! I have about 10 junk drawers throughout my house! Kitchen, living room end tables, nightstands and 2 dresser drawers (husband and me). So this is motivating me to clear them out on my days off this weekend! Here’s a few suggestions for bedding: 1. If you or your kids do not like top sheets, do not buy the sets, just buy the fitted sheets and pillowcases and only buy WHITE sheets as they are interchangeable. 2. Again, sheets- only keep 2 “sets” per bed and keep them in each bedroom closet so when it’s time to change sheets, they are immediately available, especially in the middle of the night when someone is sick. 3. Use quality duvet covers and insert comforters- this way you can use the empty duvet as your bedspread during warmer months and in the cooler months you use the insert. I have built up 2 duvet covers per bed (again, more for convenience with laundering and ability to change colors when I want). My duvet covers are linen from Amazon, I watch the sales and buy then. 4. Storing out of season blankets, throws, comforters, especially when space is limited and to cut down on bugs/moths- use the vacuum storage bags (Walmart always has them). I always wash/dry the items first before storing in these bags. You can put a lot of bulky items in one extra large bag, vacuum seal it and the size is about a third to half the size as when you filled it, and my comforter comes out like new, I usually just put the items in my dryer on air fluff to refresh them. I have decluttered significantly in the past 2 years and not only is my cleaning day shorter but daily pickup and maintenance takes about 15 minutes vs the hour or so after works each day AND I have some cabinets, especially my kitchen, that are close to empty from the “purge’ as my husband calls it. We can breathe and not mutter when getting something out of the cabinets and drawers now.
Love your idea with the duvet, however I have a small dog and cat.
So over my nice K/S bedspread,
I put a K/S flat sheet that matches pillows cases that are on top of bed.
It gets washed once a week with the other sheets. It just a saves my bedspread from claw snags,hair,or a little dirty paw.🙄Also I don’t have to wash the bedspread weekly too.
If I have company I just take it off.
They are never in the bedroom if we have company. Heck No! Afraid they will miss something!🤦♀️They make sure they’re in the big middle of everything!😂
You are so right about a number of things here, Erica. When I decluttered, my time spent cleaning went way down. My desire for new items has also gone way down. All of this has left me more time to create my own things (and sell some of them!)
I love that you shifted to creating your own things!!! ❤️❤️
@@EricaLucasLoves ua-cam.com/channels/2ngIq9YI0c31pJ1YWLh69Q.htmlplaylists
Time to read and study BIBLE /KJV/ and search all out about FREEMASNORY, the hand sings and the symbols, hidden from mankind, the secret communication.
Proverbs 15:14 - The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. Proverbs 18:15-24 - The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. (Read More...) Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Proverbs 19:2 - Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Proverbs 2:6 - For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Ephesians 1:17 - That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Proverbs 17:27 - He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Proverbs 24:5 - A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 1 Samuel 2:3 - Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Yay! I’m so glad you do Boy Scouts! The program is about good values, responsibilities and leadership. I wish more boys were involved.
Maybe someone has mentioned this…sew all the pillow cases together for the ultimate fort sheet!!!?
So recently I was so fed up with my kiddos pulling clean bulky blankets down to play with, I came to the realization that I could leave a small basket in the floor of their closet with play blankets that don’t have to be washed every time they play with them. Just fold them and stick them back in the basket on the bottom. They leave the clean ones in the top of the closet and I can wash the play blankets as needed. Clean ones stay nice and neat in the top of the closet😉
I like the idea of keeping a few blankets for Fort building. Maybe designate a laundry basket for them... container concept. 😊
I struggle with decluttering. I found this to be quite helpful. Thanks!
Extra craft supplies. I purchased, collected so that my elderly mother would be able to sit and keep busy without too much physical activity. Sadly, even craft work is too much now. That, and seasonal decor that's more than I desire to deal with anymore. Thoughtful sorting ahead! Thanks for coaching!
Good luck! Maybe you could find a librarian that would use them?
You are making so much sense about what is the real heart and soul of minimalism. I finally get it! The more I do, the more I understand what you are achieving! Thank you!
When you said blankets.... My heart skipped a beat! I don't knownwhen I will get to this point in my decluttering. You hit a spot in my spoil lol hahaha but really praying I get to this point sometime soon!
I filled up my Equinox twice with stuff for Goodwill (clothes and household things) last week. I periodically get rid of stuff.
I have 2 artificial plants in my living room that have bugged me since I bought them. I kept because I spent money and the tables are bare and need “something “. I really need to get rid of those!
Extra blankets, pillows, or other linens can be sent to the vets office or to the homeless shelter if you don’t need them.• I want to get rid of the clutter that’s in our first room, that use to be a garage. It looks alike a junk pile. I clean, organize, etc. & it continues to get messed up. 😬
I’m actually washing comforters, sheets and rugs. To donate to the animal shelter. There’s many fires going on right now. And they are in need for specific items.
Have to many comforters and hard to stored.
Like your short videos to the point. Since I have so much to do. Can’t just listen needs visual attention. I rewind it if I missed something.
Glad you and Andy work together and respect each other.
Blessings
Animal shelters are happy to accept blankets and towels.❤️
Some of my husbands clothes/shoes!!!
I don’t declutter his things and I don’t put demands on him to declutter, When he’s putting his laundry away some times I ask him if he has anything for the donation box. But security I dream Of decluttering his clothes and organizing his closet! Lol 😂.
Shot out to go Andy on the scout uniforms! We are a huge Scout family! Pro tip I Learned from my husbands grandma, staple your patches into place then stitch around them, after carefully remove the staple! Better then straight pins!!! 👍🏻
I just staple them the normal way but you can also adjust the stapler so the staples bend outward instead of inward.
On the bottom of staplers you can rotate the metal pad that the staples hit and makes them bend so the staples bend out. This makes them more like straight pins and a bit easier to remove 😁😉
I'm hoping to declutter at least some of my papers from college and grad school (it has been 6 1/2 and 3 1/2 years since I graduated, respectively), if for no other reason than I need the accordion file that they're in for something else, since it's one of only 2 accordion files I own where the bottom expands just as wide as the top, which ultimately makes it actually take up less space on the shelf even when full, and that kind of accordion file isn't readily available really anywhere to buy.
Downsizing has helped me de clutter so many things I wasn’t even aware I had. But like you with blankets,mine our coats. I know we have enough coats to keep our neighbors warm. My husband and I have fall jackets,spring jackets, rain jackets, light winter coats ,heavy winter coats, and jean jackets I wear with dresses and even the dog has a winter coat. So once again we will sit and stare at the piles of coats and maybe we will be able to donate some to a charity. Lady will keep her coat of course. Here’s hoping for a downsized closet!
Need to get rid of more decorative pillows…..I have donated many in the past couple of years but now I find myself using only one in a room, rather than 3 or 4……I’m loving wanting less…..thanks to inspirational people like you and others on UA-cam…..
In your most recent videos, I think what I hear you saying is that you still have too much inventory to manage. Have you thought about a no spend challenge? Maybe one month school, the next month food (with a few exceptions, like milk)? I'd be curious about any feelings that might come up & how each month worked out. Thank you for being so authentic & honest. We're all on this journey with you.
Practical, precise and peasant to listen to.
Perfect.
Thank you.
My way of minimizing bedding: My guest sheet set is on the guest bed. Before expected guests, I strip and wash so they are freshly laundered. No other set for that bed. Our bed has one set, that i wash weekly and remake the bed. When I had children, I had an extra set for each child (for the nights when illness requires a bed strip) That's it. Blankets...I have a blanket on my guest bed and my bed and one more "incase." We love to have blankets in the living room for coziness. One per person, stored in living room. What will I want to decrease? Cleaning rags. I have accumulated too many.
I bought a queen size top sheet from a thrift store that didn't have a matching bottom and my children use it as a fort sheet outside. 👍🏻
This is neither her nor there, just an observation. You know how sometimes people say "Do as I say, not as I do." After many years of working in elementary schools, and being a mom, I know that kids do as they see their parents and teachers do, not as much what they are told to do.
Each time I see you going through stuff whether cleaning an area or actively decluttering, I see you toss things aside that don't belong. They litterally get tossed to the floor, out of the way, obviously to be picked up another time. Since I"m a pick it up once and deal with it person, I really notice this in people's decluttering videos. I wonder, do you see your kids doing this with toys, school work, clothes etc.? Do they just toss stuff aside to the floor when they're done with it? If so, what are the repercussions of doing this?
Love your videos and I totally agree with this one in that you have to want to have less or find it helpful to have less or you'll never get there. I struggle with this in my clothes closet all the time.
There's so much I'd like to get rid of (for instance, camping gear because we have never gone and don't ever want to go camping) but, like many others, I have a partner named Justin Case.
One of our crockpots and some of the bakeware, oh and bedding
Erica, you are my favorite minimalist UA-camr. Love, how you keep things real and take us along. Gives me so much hope in times of overwhelm.
Thank you so much!!
I just did blankets a while ago, we had the same issue! Something that has been bugging me for a while has been CHAIRS! LOOK AT THIS INVENTORY!!!! The hilarious thing is, we are quite minimal in every other aspect of our house. And our house isn't even THAT big. OMG. Talking to my husband about this when he gets home.
CHAIR INVENTORY (Indoor & Outdoor)
6 dining chairs
4 kitchen counter stools
2 upholstered bench
1 faux recliner
2 upholstered rocking chairs
1 upholstered rocker/recliner nursery
1 wood rocking chair
1 sentimental accent chair
1 floral accent chair
2 windsor chairs
2 office chairs
2 blue lounge chairs
1 wood desk chair
1 random wood chair in basement
3 zero gravity chairs
1 wood stool chair garage
1 sectional sofa (family room)
1 blue sofa (fireplace room)
1 small sectional sofa (basement)
1 nugget couch
You need to sit down and make some difficult choices!
@@melilifabulosa5505 lol! Yes! I’ve already gotten rid of 3 since making this comment!
I don't use a top sheet, either. I saved one for painting projects. Just 1, and I have had it for years. I also only have 1 set of sheets. Makes life easier. I also got rid of extra bedding because I have no room for guests to stay.
I needed this message right now! Thanks!
We are going to be moving out from our flat soon ,came here for a bit of inspiration and motivation to go through our staff🥰...
Thank you
Thank you for this. When I think about this this way I'll be able to let go of old sheets that are part of a former career, some clothing that also was part of a former career. I realize that I have too many small appliances in my kitchen and too many sets of dishes.
Maybe by letting those things move out of my space I can get back into a better house rhythm, I got off track because of a couple of coincidental events, my storage unit was broken into, and my plumbing was leaking and I had to have it redone.
It's been almost 6 months and I still haven't sorted all of this out. I was stuck, but I really like this way of looking at it and I have tomorrow off.
I'll let you know my progress.
Thanks for sharing.
Oh my goodness! I am drowning in blankets too! I think I will refresh them and donate to our shelter 💖 Thank you for the inspiration! PS…I enjoyed your session on books during Get Organized HQ 🥰
It was sweet that Andy sewed on the badges and he is an amazing support for your declutter journey and enjoy your channel and sharing of your lives and family Thanks Much I released extra kitchen gadets and other kitchen items i was not using and it was freeing, I now have a Ninja 8 in one oven and a small crock pot are what I have now and the rest went away.
I have not learned how to see yet 😂
Books are still my Achilles heel. They feel like friends that I want to keep! Our public library is once again accepting donations (they didn’t during Covid), and they have an annual fundraiser book sale. I’m also trying to use Kindle more. I have a pipeline to my grandson for all the kids’ books I have kept for many years. One book at a time!🤓📚
Books are also very difficult for me to declutter. One thing that really helped was volunteering at my local library dealing with donations. I felt better about donating books when I knew they were going to raise money for our library. I also realized that almost all of my books I could take out from the library when I wanted them. I still have over 100 books but that is much better than the 350 books I had when I started decluttering. Now I just have to read (and then donate) the rest.
One book at a time!!!
Love that the videos are short and informative
Erica. I feel ya with the blanket dilemma. When my kids were young they were EVERYWHERE!! I donated all the extra bc I felt as though I was hoarding when someone else needed them. When the kids wanted a blanket they would have to use what was on their bed and bonus, that forced them to put it back for sleeping. A family of 4 did not need 20 blankets. LET IT GO. Today, I am parting with 2 cookware items. A Lodge pan and a dish I use in the microwave. I decided that the Lodge cast-iron is a pain in my rear (yes its healthy but seasoning it is a real pain. I'm over that!) and the microwave dish I'm parting with bc I don't want to microwave veggies anymore. Leslie
Yeah, I also struggle with letting blankets go 😬
Yes linens/blankets/bedding!!! Gotta gooooooo! Thanks for the inspiration!
I would like to release 80% of the things in my house! My current focus is the paper clutter monster.
Good luck
Oh that sneaky monster! Me too on the paper.
When you finish yours do you want to start in my house? 🤭🤣 Best of luck 👏
Ditto. Paper clutter is my last category and I'm pretty sure I've been working on those piles for over a year. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Now I want to get rid of blankets too!! I have been slowly putting together my sewing/ craft room and that's mostly where I have stored all the "left over" boxes from my move of 5 years ago. I have a BIG box of what I believe is blankets. Guess first step is to actually look in the box, huh?!
Yes blankets was difficult for me too. I need to make another pass through them.
Glad to see other people's furniture turned into forts and it's not just mine!
Omg preach gurl I sware I try not to go into stores even if I think I'm spending purposefully
Love your thought process, have been around since for first vids, and always admired your willpower...off to declutter now thanks 😊
I appreciate your videos so much! We recently let go of my father in-law's organ (as in the music instrument). It was a hard decision. We lived with him and He passed about a year ago and we really miss him. He loved it so much. We were going to keep it but none of us will ever take organ lessons- turns out it's one of the hardest instruments to learn to play. But we don't regret letting it go even though we were both in tears when it was picked up and taken away. We have photos of him playing it that we value and love. We also found a place to donate his hearing aids that repurpose them and give them to those in need- that felt really good!
What i want to let go of now is excess papers, old text books, old laptops and old phones. Thank you for your channel. Your videos have helped me make tough decisions that I don't regret at all and my family's lives are better for it. :)
Similarly, we have an accordion, violin and metronome from my late mom. I believe I can remember her now without those reminders taking up room in my house. We have already sold her old piano, and it was a relief, actually. Good luck with your musical instrument let-go.
@@wallflower5182 Thank you, Wall Flower. I appreciate hearing your story and words. I get what you are saying. It can be tough, but it can be a release as well. We do feel relieved now. Have a lovely day
Blankets! I have been working on these in my home too! We have blankets and comforters galore. I am trying to determine if we even need comforters for my kids, they have not used in a while and I am giving myself til the winter months to see if we pull them out, and if we don't... Goodbye lol ... I love the idea of flat sheets for forts, because only one of my kids use theirs. Thanks for sharing!
Great points & I love the premise of wanting less.
I am so in the minority, but I loved sewing the many badges and patches she earned on my daughter's first brownie sash, then her junior vest, and finally her cadette/senior/ambassador vest for Girl Scouts by hand. I love Andy's smile at you when you hand him scissors. That man is still smitten after all these years. How wonderful.
I need to declutter my clothes; I have too many. My life just changed significantly and I need to think about the clothes I want to keep in regards to that change and the upcoming changes.
If your sheets come packaged like the new ones I just purchased, then you have extra pillowcases. I received four pillowcases, but I don't need four pillowcases. I need two. Now, I have two extra pillowcases.
We (I) also have a blanket problem.
I think we have gotten down to 3 sets of sheets for 2 beds, but blankets are harder...
We recently moved, so we decluttered for about 4 months leading up to the move and got rid of multiple car loads.
I believe we will find extra art that we decide does not suit our house, but we're not quite there yet since we need to demo a wall and paint everywhere inside first.
My mom had a couple of bins just for fort making. It's what she started each of us on when we began to learn how to do laundry. I have a list of stuff that just needs to go to the dump (mainly old broken furniture) - I've been saving up money to hire someone to make the run.
The extra blankets can be donated to homeless shelters or animal shelters. I know this is hard. I have been going through all my stuff and removing stuff that I have not used in the past two years since I moved.
I had to pause the video and consider what item I would like to release. Bed Pillows. I recently went through a journey of finding the best sleeping pillow for myself. In the meantime, all the "practically new but not perfect for me" pillows were tossed in 2 guest bdrms. They are clean are were protected with pillow covers so I didn't feel guilty tossing them there for use. But now I simply have too many and need to decide what stays and what goes. It's not been a priority and honestly I'm not really sure why I have 2 guest bdrms when I don't ever have guests. SMH! That's a discussion for another time.
I loved seeing Andy sewing. My Mom is a great by hand sewer. My Dad is great sewing on the machine. Good subject matter in todays video.
Someone else probably said this … keep fort sheets in a spot that the kids can tidy and put back. Only need to launder them one a month or quarter that way. 💛
I want to declutter the furniture pieces my husband and I have been 'storing' for my elderly mother, who doesn't have room for them at her place ... but they go with 'suites' of furniture that are now split between her home and ours ... none are our aesthetic, and Mom has finally approved, albeit reluctantly, us rehoming the 1930's headboard/frame, and a few other pieces.
Coincidentally, I am also doing blankets this week!
It's interesting how one plan can lead to something different. I was digging in the linen closet, trying to figure out where the third towel of a set went to, and realized that I have too many table cloths. We use one maybe once or twice a year for a dinner with guests, using placemats for when it is just us. Why do I have three? One is definitely going. I'm debating on the second. And I did find the towel. I am also working on letting go of a throw that was given to me years ago, but I am no longer friends with the person who gave it, and that whole situation annoys me, so I am working up to putting that throw in the donate pile with those tablecloths. Next project is Christmas Ornaments, before it is too late to donate for this season.
I'm having the same blankets and sheets problem. Kids keep pulling out the spares and I end up rewashing them. BUT the reason I've chosen to keep them is because when stomach flu goes through the house, we GO THROUGH them.
However, I've recently inherited more sheets and comforters and 2 full size beds... So I probably could slim something down. I probably have 28 pillowcases too. I definitely have more than I need of those.
Today I decluttered and organized my deep freezer.
I'm struggling with a couple bits of furniture. It's not something I currently need but I don't have a storage room to hold them. But I LOVE these pieces. And I redo rooms often, so there's a reasonable likelihood I would use them again.
Loved seeing you and Andy “working” together. Did you go camping this year? And are you still doing your walks? Besides paper I will release unused/old make up.
We were just chatting and sharing scissors but it was a nice way to spend time together.
I haven’t been walking as much. Funny you asked as I was thinking about getting back to it. Honestly this year was tough for me to walk and stay with IF after my brother died.
Erica, give yourself grace and time to grieve. You will get there again.
Lots of things, but releasing craft things that I've never ever used, would be a good start.
Excellent video!
I think in minimising shopping, it is important to notice what "story" about ourselves we want to buy with certain items-will I be more secure,smarter,cooler,more beautiful... ultimately, since we feel we are never enough,we believe that stuff will make us enough. The advertisers sell us these lies together with these items. Once I spotted the reasons why I was buying certain items, it had become easier to leave them on the shelf in the store. I embarked on a no buy year in regard to clothes 3months ago because that was the most difficult category for me to handle -it is an insighful and sometimes emotional rollercoaster but I am learning and healing so much...
Thank you for all your good advice. At the moment I am in the process of selling or giving away all the art supplies, that I do not use regularly. As art is my hobby this was the category that I have avoided the longest.
Greetings from Germany :-)
Mandy
Brilliant. Thanks for this I really needed to hear it. Paper/cards (bday, Christmas, valentines etc. in this house nearly 24 yrs and I brought loads when I moved too 🙄😣)/invitations and anything else. Hope you’re keeping well. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏💪👍🤞🙏🙇♀️💐🐕🦺
Love the Banksy screen! You’re so right about being intentional about purchasing clothes. Thanks for the motivation.
Blankets or sheets for forts👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻. Sheets are lighter😘
I need to declutter all of the printed copies of the magazines I worked on as a copy editor. They take up several shelves of a storage unit in my attic. But I'm having a hard time parting with them. I think I will end up scanning the covers and masthead pages and then offering them for free to former coworkers on Facebook.