Whose stuff is this anyway?
I blame all of my stuff on my parents (some sort of Freudian thing I'm sure). My mother was one of 9 children, and my dad was one of 12 children. They both were born during hard times into blue collar families (assuming that a 2-acre subsistence farm serving 14 people even rises to the level of blue collar). I firmly believe that being self-sufficient growing up in families the size of small Midwestern towns led to their tendency to hoard everything that passed their way. And in positive proof that clutter is hereditary, I followed suit...or at least it seems that way right now as my eyes scan the mountain of stuff I have to make decisions on.
Keeping in mind that I have a decent sized 3 bedroom townhouse full of "American male" furniture (i.e., big) that likely won't fit into the tiny European-sized apartments, it seems that my first step is to separate my stuff into several categories:
1) Stuff that I should have thrown out ages ago (old magazines, holey clothes, and anything left behind by old girlfriends)
2) Stuff that can be donated to charity or given away to friends (perfectly good clothes from the back of the closet that "I know I will fit into again some day")
3) Stuff that can be freecycled or sold on eBay or Craigslist (books, records, chachkas)
4) Stuff that I want to keep but can't take with me due to lack of room and so will likely have to put into storage (king size bed set with dressers and side tables, couches, my Abraham Lincoln book collection)
5) Stuff that my company will ship to Europe for me (some furniture, some books, PhD stuff, and of course all my work stuff)
The hard part is deciding what fits into the first category - stuff to be thrown out. It's hard for me to throw out things because I see it as wasteful...surely someone can find a good use for each (seemingly) precious item.
So how do I let go of all my "valuable" stuff? Are there any tricks?
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Comments: 93
Only a million more things to toss.
I use Purple Heart - cause they come right to my house,
Or I throw it up on Craigslist.
Good luck!
OR... I'm a big fan of this one-- give it to one of your sibblings!! lol
My brother just moved and had an open house - late in the day they started throwing in "extras" whenever anyone bought anything [you like that chair, here's a table to go with it for free]. LOL
My neighbor is really into something called FreeCycle, where you list what you want to give away and they come and pick it up. It's supposed to work the other way too, but since I'll be leaving I'm hoping to give up as much as possible.
David, when I faced this very same problem in a large 3 story home, anything that I couldn't bear to put in a trashcan (because surely someone somewhere at some point before the earth comes to an end could use it) but I didn't want to take or store, I put in a box or a bag for goodwill.
I'll wrack my brain for other tips and come back with another comment....
I once went into the tiny library of the small town I lived in in New Jersey, and I kept finding books there that I had donated (most had my name stamped in the inner binding).
them..
Freecycle is wonderful you can give away and get a warm glow doing it, not an easy job, but you don't have a choice, and we in Europe, you know are quite civilised and you can buy most things you need, if you throw away an essential. Good-luck and keep us posted
a) Stuff we can live without. (Items with a physical use or an emotional component)
b) Stuff we can't live without. (Items with a physical use or an emotional component)
Get rid of first category (either sell it or give it away) and try and keep the second category to a minimum. Easier said than done though ;)
My choices were pretty much made for me. There was only so much room on the moving truck, without going into the next price bracket, and there was only so much room in the SUV, we had to leave room for the cats to be comfortable on a three day journey.
I came to this conclusion, if I haven't touched it in the last year, I could probably live without it. The only exception to this rule was photographs!
I hope this helps a little. I gave so much away, but I feel good knowing that someone, somewhere, is happy that I got rid of it.
Presently I have eight book cases in the house full to over flowing and 5 boxes of books in storage. They seem to be something I have a difficult time parting with. As for the rest of the clutter - everyone else has offered some great tips. I've scribbled them all down myself in hopes of banishing a few cluttered corners.
Good luck my friend. Now I am looking at things I have not touched in years. The only problem is every time I give things away, or throw things away, next thing I know I found some use for it.
Don't stress, have a great week,
God Bless
10*
1) Clean and organize and discard as you go in all future endeavors.
2) Call in an unbiased, hard-nosed neat-nik to help you...these people (and all people like you and I are attracted to people like them) can be merciless when it comes to disgarding collected, stored, coveted items. This is practically orgasmic for them...let them have their way with your junk (you know what I mean!).
I asked myself some specific questions about possessions:
What are the chances I will use this item again?
Will I even remember I have it?
If I remember it and want to use it will I be able to find it?
I used a fairly simple system to sort:
Good enough condition to donate
Has ebay/craiglist value
I love this and can't part with it
I was fortunate that my kids took a lot of things. I also donated a lot of good things that someone can use since I never will and my kids don't want them.
I wish you luck, David. I feel your pain. Having Depression era parents and grandparents certainly has filled up our homes.
how we feel we need to define ourselves through all the junk amassed...
i tried denuding myself of the junk...it's hard to do..like a heroin junkie trying to kick the habit..
more books,books,books,magazines,furniture,clothes,jewelry etc etc than one lifetime can appreciate ..sickening...
good luck..
Anyway, good luck in working it all out,,,,,
Good article !!
In March of last year I finally finished unpacking (I had been living my condo for over a year at that point). Most stuff I tossed or donated. If I hadn't used in that amount of time I wasn't going to.
Many suggestions here are useful but I also believe it's about deciding to let go of what isn't significant in your life and holding on to what's meaningful--such as photos, birthday gifts, family heirlooms (for me it was my maternal grandmother's bedspread)
Also, I realized I needed space. My pack rat mess was organized but I got tired of moving things around to make room only to have to re-arrange it again to make space. I was apprehensive at first but it's been six months, and I'm glad to say I don't regret it.
good luck with your move
Have a give away party where you put the stuff you want friends to have in a picking, as first ones to come are the first to choose. They can have fun and no one can feel jealous of whom you gave it to or whom you gave such and such to.
Blessings,
Coqui
"Looks like I'm going to need a friend who likes to throw away other people's stuff."
Dave,buddy,send me a round trip ticket..i'll be that friend..:)
Good luck on the solution.
i will donate it , all other things i will selll it through scrap shop .
. this is what an avarage indian wiill do..
Good luck! It appears you've received some good advice from others, at least.
Z'
1. Keep
2. Give to churches, goodwill, salvation army, etc.
3. Bonfire
Good luck, and I am so envious about Europe : D
Separate what you really need, and the few things you really want, to take to Belgium.
Save the important personal and family mementos, heirlooms that should be handed down to the next generation (whether you have kids or to your nieces, nephews, cousins etc)
The rest is basically just stuff. Stuff that doesn't truly matter, can be replaced with other stuff later. Invite family and friends to come and select an item from this stuff. Maybe in the process of soliciting their assistance in having a garage/yard/townhouse sale or in helping box and transport said remainder stuff to Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Consider whether the return on a garage sale is worth the time and energy, or would your sanity be better served by giving it all away to charitable organizations. It's not like you have to sell the stuff in order to finance your move to Belgium.
As for the old Playboy mags in the back of the closet - give them surreptitiously to a teenage nephew - you'll secure your place as the favorite uncle!
I hadn't thought of consignment shops...that might be a good way to make sure some of the stuff that's still useful finds a new home. Thanks for the idea.
My biggest problem is that this is supposed to be a temporary move - the plan is for me to be there for 2-3 years, after which I would return to my house here. So I don't necessarily want to dump everything and then have to re-buy basic stuff again a couple of years from now.
David for your dilema, could you put all of your stuff in storage until you return?
I am horrable when it comes to getting rid of stuff. These are the rules I live by. Some things, like clothes, if they're out dated or even something you don't see yourself wearing in EU, ie, bright, flambouyent American clotheing... Get rid of it, donate it. There is a great possibility you'll never wear it again. Important papers put in boxes and store and the rest either recycle or shred (sensitive documents). Family heirlooms, ask family if they want them (or keep in order of value, memory/price and store in a cliemate controlled storage).
I know how difficult it is to get rid of 'stuff'. My X-husband hasn't lived with my daughter and me for 5 years and I'm still finding things of his. I offered to send it to him but he says he has no room. Real soon, I'm just going to get rid of it if he dosen't figure out what to do with it soon.
I know that probably doesn't cover half of the things you own, but it's a start. I know it's easier said than done, but all-in-all, it shouldn't take too long if you really think about it.
Hope that helps,
Kim