It makes me very happy to hear that Vince is thinking about cutting back on some clutter. We both want everything we see and we both have a hard time getting rid of anything. I think I’ll do much better not buying new things than I will getting rid of things already here. I spend more time picking things up, telling myself I don’t need to keep it, justifying why I should keep it, then putting it down and walking away.
Unlike some of you, I’m not concerned about what I leave behind for Chad. I figure there’s enough good stuff here to justify his efforts, or he can call in a junk dealer or an auctioneer and have it all disposed of one way or the other. Once I’m gone, it matters not to me what happens to anything here except for very few family related items I’d like to keep in the family.
As you know, yarn is my weakness. If I can stop buying yarn, and I believe I can/have, and then use up a ton of what I have here, that will help my efforts. I need to make sweaters and socks and shawls and give them away! Keeping things isn’t reducing the load.
Another item that you wouldn’t think would be a problem is junk food. Vince is the biggest junk food eater. At any given time, there are 5 or 6 bags of cookies open. He will also buy anything marked down . . weird jam, weird BBQ sauce, weird olive spread . . if it has a mark down sticker, it’s coming home with us. There is not one spot where I can put anything so . . as soon as he turns around, most of it goes in the trash and so far, he’s never noticed. Probably six years ago, he ordered a case of some weird olive spread that he loved. The jars were small enough to fit under the bottom drawer of the pantry so I stuck them under there. Often, I would say “Don’t forget about that olive spread.” I’m sure at least 11 jars are still there, long ago expired and needing to be thrown out. I haven’t bothered because (1) not much else would fit there so it isn’t like I need the space and (2) I’d have to get down on the floor to get them all out and I can’t do that with my knee. Free to anyone who will come and get 11 jars of expired olive spread!
Vince isn’t the only one – it’s Bath & Body Works lotions and body wash. Buy three/get three free. Who can pass that up? I’ve been using what I have. Haven’t bought it any in probably six or eight months.
We’re both thinking about it and talking about it so hopefully that’s a start. I’m telling myself . . no more yarn, no more kitchen gadgets, no more books . . heck . . what else is there? 🙂
Dot says
My mother always said, “We’ll think about it tonight, and if we still want it, we’ll come back tomorrow. If we come back and it’s gone, we just weren’t meant to have it.” She’s still in my head, saying that. But of course, I don’t always listen to her! I now realize that money was tight when I was growing up, but my sister and I didn’t feel deprived. We got the popular Lanz print fabric mill ends in Newberry’s basement and made our own copies of the expensive dresses our classmates wore.
Carolyn says
I’ve lived so long with the Depression Era motto that it has helped me tremendously ….Use it up, Wear it out, Make do and Do without. I long long wasted money on things I don’t need. Yes, there is a difference between need and want. no lectures needed
Verna A. says
It’s hard for me to resist a good deal, too, but I am getting better. Bath & Body Works tempts me with their sales and coupons, and I sure don’t need to buy any more of that stuff. I much prefer your homemade hand cream to any of their lotions, and if I can match their peppermint fragrance, I’m set! I recently read a book that really helped me with my clutter problem, and things are slowly improving. Plus I’ve (almost) stopped buying fabric!
Judy Laquidara says
It’s crazy because I much prefer the homemade hand cream but can’t resist those deals at Bath & Body Works. I love your “almost” stopped buying fabric. Vince said “Are you ready to commit to buying NO yarn?” and I told him no because if I have 8 skeins of a particular color and need 9 for a project, I’m buying that one skein or if there’s something that I just cannot stop thinking about . . I’ll get it but no more willy nilly ordering yarn.
Sherrill Pecere says
OK, when you’re ready to start gifting your sweaters and shawls, I’ll volunteer to be on your list!! HA
cassews says
Its hard for sure to declutter after collecting so much. When we remodeled our kitchen we decluttered our cookware, cooking utensils, plates, bowls etc.. Then we bought new .. So umm what was the difference ? hahahahaha… Then he asked me to get rid of my china hutch as we have no need for that type of a table setting anymore. So the local club needed some bowls, chip n dip holders, large platters for meals when they host, so I gave all that to them with many thanks from the club. So did he declutter all the tools from his Dad who used to be a diesel mechanic ? ummmm no …3 large tall tool boxes full of tools .. hmmm they don’t fit our Dodge Diesel Truck so ummm what ya gonna do with them ? We are still debating the last one !! hahahahahahahahahahaha
w jordan says
Maybe denate to your local school/ small college or trade school auto department. I did that with my mothers art store stuff. Gave them 3 truck loads. They were so excited due to school budget no very big.. They got stuff they would never had been able to have.Just and idea.
dezertsuz says
Yes, I think about all of these things all the time, and I wonder what should come next on the list. I have things I don’t need, that I wanted, and I still like them, But I don’t need them now. So what’s my solution? I’m not sure yet. I’m moving in that direction, though. I only have about 7 years of collection now, though, not 50! If I’d listened to Paul back when, I would not have storage in Phoenix, though.
Carol says
I made a “resolution” several years ago on New Year’s Day to declutter. I just repeat that to myself every year and strive to declutter something during the year, and to NOT bring things in unless it’s something really needed. And I’ve stuck to it. I rarely buy fabric or yarn anymore unless it’s specific to what I am doing at the time. No more Christmas decorations or any holiday decorations as they all have to be stored and I have plenty for any event you can think of. A weakness is glassware (such as unusual pretty antique serving pieces) but that has stopped completely. We have a large home and I don’t want my 2 boys/wives to deal with this. No worries, tho. They have already told me they will come get what they want, then turn the key over to an estate sale company!
Nelle Coursey says
You do know there are at least two, maybe 3 people here who will go in after you leave and have an estate sale. They don’t want any family there so they can sell the “treasures” for a lower price than the owners would.
w jordan says
Now I can’t imagine the olive stuff ever going bad. Maybe have Vince smell it. Don’t olives stay good forever if pickled like what I think you are talking about. Like the stuff that goes on a muffalete(missed spelled I’m sure)sandwich.
Twyla says
I have very seldom gotten rid of something that I did not need it within 2weeks. And my daughter has not problem inheriting my treasures and going thru and touching all my treasures.