Sorting Through the Clutter
By Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
United States
February 25, 2017 4:59pm CST
I've been pretty good up until this year about keeping the clutter at bay. When I last moved, the move was from a tri-level home in Ohio where we raised four children to a small cottage in Florida where we retired. We only took about a third of our possessions. Only our most favorite things.
It was so easy to keep the house up, the laundry done and to put away things as everything had a designated place. Life was easy. Over the five years I've been here, I've picked up numerous items. When you are with your mom and sisters all the time, you shop. You just do!
When I recently added my moms art supplies, treasures, china and heirlooms I started to feel overwhelmed. So.... I've been sorting out and throwing away things I really no longer care about. It's fun! It's mostly things I've acquired while living here. But I had them for a while and enjoyed them and it's time for them to go. I want my spacious uncluttered home back! It's better than spring cleaning.
How easy is it for you to de-clutter? Do you struggle to keep a few drawers empty? Does it feel wrong to give away perfectly good stuff you may need someday?
9 people like this
8 responses
@JudyEv (381771)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Feb 17
Decluttering helps me feel freer and more positive. Even if you don't shop or whatever, things still seem to accumulate. It is a never-ending task to keep possessions at a sensible level. I don't think its 'wrong' to give things away but sometimes it isn't easy.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381771)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 17
@Jeanniemaries There is very little that I've regretted giving away - can't think of anything at the moment.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
@JudyEv Exactly. You think you can't live without some things but out of sight, out of mind.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
Oh, I agree. Even the mail piles up and that's easy to get rid of. Have you ever regretted giving something away?
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
25 Feb 17
I've been living in my house for 7 years now and stuff has accumulated. Its time to purge and I need my uncluttered house back (like you). Its crazy how things pile up
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
26 Feb 17
@Jeanniemaries would you believe I've never been to a thrift store. I don't know if we have any in our area but since it sounds like so much fun I'm going to look for one
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
It's the fun of going to thrift stores. Sometimes even coming home with two bags full I regret leaving stuff behind that was so cheap and so awesome!
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
@Marilynda1225 That's amazing! You have to look past the junk and it's 90% junk but there are treasures to be had! I find a lot of art supplies there.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
I know! I just don't wear out, use up or consume items as fast as I buy them.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
26 Feb 17
@Jeanniemaries That tends to apply to most of us.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
@Asylum At least with the groceries we have to throw out stuff that goes bad. Too often I have to throw out something I've forgotten about in the crisper or a banana that got too speckled.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
26 Feb 17
We've been purging and decluttering for a while now.
Today my husband promised me a new bedroom suite, the one that we have is a very large set, a big triple dresser with mirror, armoir and tall headboard.
So, he's finally on board with the whole idea of down-sizing and reducing.
Tomorrow we are giving away all of our koi fish out in the pond, to someone who has a pond and wants more fish.
Good luck with your decluttering.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
27 Feb 17
@JudyEv I agree, I think that my husband has dragged his heels at going thru the tools, but there are so many little and big things that are sometimes related. He totally cleared out our shed a couple of weeks ago, but it took him an entire day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb 17
@Juliaacv @Jeanniemaries We have two sheds that need decluttering. I think that is more difficult than decluttering a house.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
Wow, good for you! De-cluttering a pond is a new one though!
2 people like this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
26 Feb 17
I have no need to de clutter in Florida. We keep it simple down here. At our home up north, my hubby has already decluttered. I'm lucky to be able to give my vast quantities of personal items to my daughters in law or consignment shops. The money I get is great for buying more stuff! 
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
28 Feb 17
@Jeanniemaries I only have to check with my hubby, but he is the one who says to get rid of everything. So why does he keep buying more stuff???
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
Checking with family first before getting rid of something is always a good idea.
1 person likes this
@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
25 Feb 17
Every so often I go through things. I cant function around clutter sometimes I tend to be a bit obessive with it.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
25 Feb 17
That's the best way, to keep on top of it! I live with it far too long!
1 person likes this
@AutumnSnow (4583)
•
26 Feb 17
@coffeebreakwhatever whenever Im sewing or crocheting I can stand to leave scissors and other stuff out while Im working,
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
@AutumnSnow I wish I was that way. My art supplies get spread out everywhere!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
27 Feb 17
I constantly have a bag that I put things in and when it's full I take it to the goodwill.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
27 Feb 17
That's how my mom always did it. It was very efficient,.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
26 Feb 17
It's not easy to give up what we love, but honestly there are probably things in your house you really don't love. Go toss one thing out and then tell me what you threw away.
1 person likes this
