BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Living Simply Clutter Clutter Everywhere!

Am i the only person who believes in throwing junk away?

My parents do nothing but complain because the computer room doesn't stay clean. I can't clean it because I can't get rid of stuff. They have the set up stuff for windows 3.1 we haven't used 3.1 in over a decade! Craft stuff every where and unorganized. The desk is surronded by junk and I can't even get to it! Blanks no one ever uses (in case of an emergency, we have 20 more upstairs!) Coats that haven't been worn in years (and don't fit) are everywhere

I get blamed for the room being trashed because my son has, 1 kiddie couch, 1 rocking fish and a few cars! I don't mind picking the room up but how the heck can I if I can't get rid of anything? There is no place to put stuff. We do NOT need half the computer junk sitting around and most hasn't been used in 5 years and is obsilete (sp?) We don't need 5 printers and none work with this computer!

7 TV's aren't needed for 3 people and a toddler! For people who coplain about the electric bill they don't make an effort to conserve by shutting the damn things off. They just want to go without AC. I CAN'T handle the heat, I'm already having trouble walking this season. I was doing so well! I hadn't used my cane in months.

The only messes in my area are the clothes I haven't hung up (I hate doing it and put it off) and the toys in Brysons room. Bry's room would be clean if I had a closet to put some of his toys in, but I don't and he has access to everything and can destroy his room in a matter of minutes.

Samten,

I am really sorry - I can feel your frustration in your post. I am also sorry to learn that you are not feeling very well, being new here I had no idea you were facing health issues. I send my good thoughts.

Clutter can make you crazy, it holds dust and dirt and can make you sick, and it is visual noise. I hope that you are able to find a solution - because it sounds like you're not feeling like there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

Have you entertained the idea of selling stuff for them? Maybe if they realize there is money to be made they will get the eBay bug and start unloading.

Sincerely,
Corinne

Samten, CorinneO had some really good suggestions. Many older people have gone through some hard financial times in their lives and are literally AFRAID to discard items just in case they might need them someday and won't be able to afford to get what they need. The fact they are getting cash for items may dissuade this fear and make them feel justified in getting rid of some of the stuff. This may not be the case in your situation, but I've seen it many times.

When I've gone in to help people re-decorate their homes, often this is the first step - to create a blank canvas to work with. You can only re-shuffle so much and still get a new look when you're done. However, old habits are hard to break! Be happy with baby steps if you can get them and good luck!

My mom suggested getting a storage unit and clearing everything out. Then take out what you really want or need to set up the room and leave the rest in storage. If you don't use it (what's in storage) for a month, six months or whatever your threshhold is THEN get rid of it. This gives you the look and feel without the stuff and without actually having to get rid of it. You can then get rid of it when you are comfortable with the idea that you don't really need it instead of getting rid of it and fretting over 'what if' or I shouldn't have.

(I'm waiting for my husband to go on another business trip and then I'm going to do it to a few of our rooms here! I may not tell him the junk is in storage unless he REALLY needs something from there.)

I've got major clutter at home. Mostly paper and books. It's hard to keep a handle on it when it just keeps coming and coming!! *sets up barricade at front door*

I bought a small file cabinet not two months ago and it's nearly full. Maybe I should buy a digital reader and put the stuff all onto a digital storage drive. LOL! I wish I could, but I fear that going obsolete just like my old computers did.

I am in the middle of my hopefully last move today. I really appreciate all your wonderful tips, everyone. Keep them coming and I'll add my own two cents later on (if all goes well and I can get online!) LOL

thanks everyone. great stuff and we all have been there with clutter...

I must write a specific article on this. I deliver workshops on clutter & go into people's homes to advise them on their clutter issues, as it can really affect your mental & emotional health. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've seen people hang onto!

One lady admitted she still had a shroud that she had sewn donkeys years ago for her mother & that now her mother was really dying she'd gone out & bought a nice white nightie, but kept this awful garment hanging about.

Pity your not closer. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think my mileage would be a little prohibitive...

HI guys. I just posted a link to this thread to the current newsletter, so our readers can come on in and pass along suggestions, or just commiserate. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here is what I put in the newsletter:

Still working my way through my backlog of products to review for living simply, so here is my latest quick review of my favorite, invaluable facial toner. I use it for daily refreshment - wonderful protection from dry air condioning, for example! With summer coming up, that's useful. Plus it feels great for those after-sun afternoons.

For those of you waiting on certain book and other product reviews, I am still reading and field testing, so I beg your patience! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Now that the Big Move to Seattle is done, things are being unpacked and the list of "things to do" is being slowly tackled. Doesn't sounds like living simply, I know, but sometimes a cross-country move is unavoidable. Still, a move forces one to re-evaluate all their clutter! Always a good thing.

And here is our current hot thread topic about Clutter, Clutter
Everywhere:

]http://forums.bellaonline.com/showflat.php?Number=22865908

Hey, you guys should have seen my basement! My son and I were ruthless and threw tons of stuff out yesterday. Now just to drag it all to the curb! After we finished he turned to me and said "it looks so empty down here...we need to get more stuff" LOL.....

I got that article written...lucky you can't see the paper on my desk right now <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Clear Your Clutter!

I had been decluttering for over 2 years when I meet the love of my life on line. He moved in a year ago from boston to saint louis. One GIANT truck load of radios parts and radios. ACK!!!!!!! Talk about taking 20 steps backwards. I have been so frustrated.

My husband hangs onto EVERYTHING. I mean, EVERYTHING.
The boyscout uniform he had when he was 12? He has it!

150ish bottles of unopened hot cause bottles he had from an old hobby - he has them!

Empty wine bottles that have cool labels - they are in my kitchen!!

Love letters from old high school girl friends (seriously!) and a tarnished fake-gold id bracelet one of them gave him TWENTY YEARS AGO when he was a kid....he has them all!

Clothing form the 1970s that belonged to his grandfather who died 10 years ago - i just got rid of those!

IT DRIVES ME CRAZY

His entire family is like this. We had deceased grandfather's clothing because his ex-wife felt guilty throwing them out but didnt want them around, so WE got them!

We've moved enough over the past 7 years that a lot had to be weeded out, but not without a fight.

If this is your parent's house I dont think there is a lot you can do except keep your areas tidy and ask them if they'd like help. Some people will complain and complain but won't take the action necessary, so you have to wait until they are emotionally ready.

Good luck,
meg

I spent 2 years in a de-cluttering stage and then met my 2nd husband online. We moved him from Boston 1 1/2 years ago, along with a moving truck full of two-way radio stuff that filled up half my basement and now has migrated upstairs to fill up half my bedroom! The day the movers we hired last minute to help unload (he was scheduled to have his 4th neck surgery)the truck we drove across country from Boston to Missouri he texted me to say "honey I feng shui'd the house."

Ack!

I feel like tackling clutter is my main project in life right now. we have this teeny apartment lacking any real closets and are having to be super creative with everything!!!! Sometimes I want to scream, but all this STUFF in our lives is my own darn fault. humph.

we were thinking of some kind of bed loft, but even just raising our bed half an inch helped. here is the recent article on using bed lifts:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art46062.asp

this is all such a process! I'll just keep documenting as we go along here. Sometimes i want a bigger apartment, but I am deternimuned that the answer is really just having less stuff, and fewer "needs".