BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Geriatrics Getting Rid of "Stuff" and Lightening Up

I have this audio book, "The Life-changing magic of tydying up" by Marie Kondo. Have you read it? What do you think?

Something to consider -- I'm putting my house up for sale in May. Oh boy. Now I wish I had addressed lightening up much sooner. I'm pressed for time to sort through numerous boxes in my basement and in my garage. I didn't expect to move so soon. Sometimes we don't realize how our "stuff" can weigh us down if we have to make a jump to another locale. Now I am pushed. Another reason to expect the unexpected and take care of business!!

I just got off the phone with a guy who runs an auction house. I'm thinking of moving out of state and he is going to meet with me to discuss the best way to sell most of my household goods. He said they can have a sale right in my home, sell on line, or sell at his auction house. I'm going to learn the costs and convenience of each and I'll get back to you with the results.

Aaargh...I keep putting off sorting my basement stuff, as I just put my house up for sale. I have made a commitment to spend 2 hours a day, between 4:00 and 6:00pm to go down there and JUST DO IT at least 3 days a week. more on this later.

I'm still working on cleaning out my basement as my house is now up for sale. I am working on downsizing for real. I am going to take some of this stuff to an auction house and have already taken many boxes to the local thrift store.

At his later age I assumed my friends had everything they needed, which they do. However, their children and some of their friends that I don't know, had some things they wanted me to be on the lookout for as I repacked my stuff. I hadn't thought of asking about their circle of friends/family when I started. One gal's daughter was looking for small juice glasses; another contact makes jewelry and was looking for any jewelry pieces; another collects buttons. Well I could fulfill the wishes of all three! Of course there were several requests that I couldn't fill but my friends were pleased that I asked.

What a nightmare downsizing must be. I often look around my house and say if I were to move, where would I put this stuff. We get stuffed to the gills. I try not to buy anything unless I really need it.

I admire your accomplishment.

Thanks for the encouragement, Angie. I am working hard not to let the emotional feelings overwhelm me while I do this. So many things I now have were gifts from friends and family or that I bought because I really loved the item...I was a collector at one point so I have so many things that I enjoyed for many years. Many will have to go, hopefully to someone else who can appreciate them as I did for so many years. Thanks again, Pat

I've been working on my basement. All I have left now are my Christmas decorations. This is a tough one because I have boxes of stuff, and each year I can't use at least a third of it. My friends have given me the bulk of the decorations as I lost most of what I had in a fire. But I am committed to letting go of most of what I have as I'm planning on moving and really don't want to decorate as I have in the past.

What I have decided to do is take two large plastic bins and fill them. Period. That does not include the tree. I figure a few light strings for outside, ornaments for the tree, some lights for inside (the tree is prelit), some linens, and that's that. I'll see if I can stick to this plan.

Next are my pictures. I have boxes of them. I intend to do the same thing with these. Ideally, I'd like to keep them in one bin. I know I have so many that I won't put them on discs, so if I sort, I will put them in three categories: youth, friends and trips -- get rid of duplicates and pictures that have scenes in them where I have no clue where the pic was taken. I'll report back on this as well.

I have to stay in the basement to do the Christmas stuff but can be at the dining room table or in my study to sort the pictures. Onward and Upward!!

I have so many nice things that others have given me that emotionally I am so sad that I just can't get rid of them, so I have stopped struggling with the decision to let them go and boxed them up and labeled the boxes. If my new environment doesn't have enough storage space, perhaps that will push me to give them away or sell them. It's really a struggle to do this sorting, but I need to remind myself that dragging a huge number of items with me that I no longer use is ludicrous. Let it go, let it go!!

As Christmas approaches, I have been sorting through the huge amount of Christmas items I have accumulated over the years. Since my home is up for sale and I want to downsize, I know that storing all of these boxes in a new, smaller place will be impossible. I have begun taking some of the items to my favorite thrift store, some to an auction house (vintage things) and I'm giving away other items to friends. Believe me there is plenty left over!! I feel better already!