Help! I'm Drowning in Stuff!!
By Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
United States
February 9, 2018 9:43am CST
When I went to Ohio last April, I moved into a house with a carload of essentials. There was a bed already there for me, a kitchen table and 2 chairs and a leather chair and ottoman.
I had the best time, furnishing it from scratch practically. Something I hadn't done since I was 19. I shopped often and only bought what I LOVED. It is spacious, practical and easy to maintain. I am planning to live there six months and here in Florida six months.
But now that I'm back I realize my house here is too full of stuff! I originally just brought what I loved and it was just enough. But six years of buying more stuff I love was fun and the house slowly filled up all the empty corners and then some.
Now I need to get rid of things. I want the spacious feeling again! I have to choose things I don't want anymore but I love everything.
What to do? What to do?
14 people like this
13 responses
@Marilynda1225 (79708)
• United States
9 Feb 18
I felt the same way when I moved here almost 8 years ago. I only brought what I thought I would need and I loved downsizing and having plenty of room. Over the years things have overtaken many areas and I need to purge once again. You hit the nail on the head when you said you want the spacious feeling again! me too 
3 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
9 Feb 18
We are comrades! Spring cleaning is going to be thorough!
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
9 Feb 18
@Jeanniemaries Exactly and now some charities ask you to bring them the items, that is not at all a solution.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
9 Feb 18
It's a wrench when you want to at least give it to someone you love but no one has room (like the Ethan Allen king size bed) so donating is the solution.
2 people like this
@stapllotik (1933)
• India
9 Feb 18
@Jeanniemaries yes some items needs to be donated
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
10 Feb 18
find a safe place to store some and get it back later. change off now and then.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
10 Feb 18
@Jeanniemaries oh i see. i thought you was wanting to keep all of it but too crowded
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Feb 18
That might be feasible if I had a husband or if my sons were here to help with that. But best to just let someone else enjoy them full time.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48415)
• Canada
10 Feb 18
When we down-sized a year ago it was so liberating.
I do feel for those that don't ever do that, they don't know the freedom that it brings.
I hope that you are able to set aside some of the "stuff" that you can live without and perhaps have a yard sale and make some money off of it as I'm sure that someone else will be able to make good use out of it.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Feb 18
I would rather donate than have a yard sale. I did have major downsizing six years ago when we moved to Florida...our house was 1/3 the size of the one in Ohio and we got rid of over 1/3 of our possessions. It was totally liberating. But then I had many items I was ready to let go of, now I have very few, But they still have to go,
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6408)
•
9 Feb 18
I keep trying to get rid of stuff, but it always seems to pile back up.
2 people like this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@Jeanniemaries I would make that choice as well
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
10 Feb 18
Now that's the most difficult to thing to do. I myself have no idea what to toss away and what to keep. Hope you could decide but I warn you, it's going to be painful and difficult.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
10 Feb 18
I had to sacrifice a lot of my cool stuff when I moved to my present house - never an easy choice - love the drawing you are using here
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Feb 18
It isn't easy, much easier to give things to people we know and love, but charity is a good second option. Thanks...about the picture,
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
9 Feb 18
I called the Thrift store and they came and picked up the things I wanted to give them, big pieces like furniture, the small things I pack in boxes and have been dropping off a little at a time for 2 years.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
9 Feb 18
I called Jerico Road and they are coming out Wednesday for the king size bed, a large leather recliner and the boxes I am packing full now.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
9 Feb 18
That's the beauty of it. I don't invest much, I love to thrift and find incredible bargains, very expensive items for practically nothing. I'm very picky about what I buy. I also have inherited a lot of items recently.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
10 Feb 18
It is a dilemma. I can only say there are very few items I got rid of to move here that I regret.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
9 Feb 18
Yes, I just get so attached to things.
1 person likes this
@Spontaneo (14703)
• United States
9 Feb 18
Give what you don't want or don't need to charity. Salvation Army, GoodWill, Catholic Charities, etc. Think of how good you will feel and how good they will feel.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
9 Feb 18
Absolutely! I have already called Jerico Road for a pickup. It's a local Christian charity. I will be donating some very nice, clean beautiful items that I love.
1 person likes this
