Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

Big dump! Excellent.

I'm a big dumper myself, edging slightly on the reckless side. It almost never fails that when I do that, I would end up throwing something away that I later would realize that should've kept. Still, overall, doing big purges always makes me feel better in the end.

[mountainmist]

Re: Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

Thanks to all for participating in this thread.

Anybody happen to know if there are any discussion threads about whether to donate/giveaway as opposed to having a garage sale?

I'm really not interested in doing a garage sale, as it's my own feeling, that if the item is good enough to get into a consignment shop for re-sale, that that is where it should go, and if it isn't worthy enough to be accepted by a consignment shop.... then it's simply garbage and should go immediately to the goodwill or sally or other thriftshop accepting donations.

Does this make sense?

Why sell something NICE at a garage sale for maybe five bucks, when it can sit at a consignment shop for months and maybe get substantially more money?

It seems that the only good thing about getting rid of your stuff at a garage sale is that you can do so quickly, that very day -- but think of all that stuff that does't sell, not even for a quarter?

I don't know.

I feel guilty not having a sale, but I can't get motivated about selling nickel & dime stuff, you know???

[mountainmist]

Re: Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

Not well enough, while I have been spending the last three yeasrs decluttering I seem to be barely keeping up with the inflow (most in is by gmas and the like..oh and DH!)

One thing I ask is 'what on earth will I do with it? Not what susie homemaker would o, not what miss on the ball science from paperclips msuper mom would do, but literally me..often the answer is shuffle it..and the more I shuffle out the door the more I actually use what is left...

I also tend to look at the likelyhood of getting anoither should I be inspired to use it....for example baby chlothes even my third was showered with gifts, I spent not a dime..and he is more than adequatly attired...I only keep truly sentamental baby stuff..one or two per size. (if)

Sounds like you MIGHT want to take the brand name baby clothes to one of the consignment shops in your area - but better do so quickly, around here they are very particular about having ONLY recent items; something has to be so 'classic' if it's over three years old for them to even take a brief glance at it.

I really like what you said about ... what would YOU, yourself, do with the item -- not what Martha Stewart devotees would craft up with your item -- but seriously what YOU would do with it.

It's really "dangerous" to look at the 'craft potential' of some types of clutter, you know?

"One thing I ask is 'what on earth will I do with it? Not what susie homemaker would do, not what miss on the ball science from paperclips super mom would do, but literally me..often the answer is shuffle it..and the more I shuffle out the door the more I actually use what is left..."

Great advice!! Thanks.

[mountainmist]

Re: Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

3) Whatever you do, don't organize. This is the contrary to what everyone else would say.

But, you don't know how to organize if you're not already doing it. And, you're not going to learn how to. Ever.

Seriously, it's not your personality. If it was your personality, you'd already be doing it. So, don't even bother. If you need to organize your stuff, take a big trash can and toss it in.

It's just cluttering your life.

Clear your life, clear your mind, clear your soul, and toss all that crap in the garbage. You'll worry about it until the garbage man takes it away. After that, you'll feel relaxed. Stop buying stuff. Become a minimalist.

Goodness, this is some radical stuff, are you a Professional Organizer or maybe a psychologist who works with OCD'ers who hoard all manner of items?

Where can I read MORE of this logical reasoning??

I helped my friend's family declutter their parents hoard of a lifetime, and it horrified me -- but although I've read some news articles about the current epidemic of hoarding amongst senior citizens, and understand that there are distinct brain differences between hoarders and 'normals' -- it never occurred to me that maybe some people simply cannot, repeat: CANNOT, organize their clutter - but that, if it wasn't PURE CLUTTER, it would already be organized.

Hope you start a blog about this, I'd like to read more of your views, seriously.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

I am not sure I would knwo the difference between a brand name baby clothes nad a not so brand name..they all have brands on them

seriously, the 'good stuff' I tend to keep, I know it will last thru my next kid!

[mountainmist]

Re: Clutter - How Do You Decide When to Get Rid of Something?

I am not sure I would knwo the difference between a brand name baby clothes nad a not so brand name..they all have brands on them

seriously, the 'good stuff' I tend to keep, I know it will last thru my next kid!

Right, all of the clothing will usually have labels still attached, however the labels from the dollar store clothing racks are NOT what the consignment shops are looking for. "Baby GAP" they'd definitely be interested in; indeed, I've seen them accept, "The Children's Place" (@ Nordstroms) even when the clothing was noticably worn out.

But it can't have stains. NONE.

The reason I mention this to you is that oftentimes baby gifts are coming from pricey, occasionally VERY pricey stores, and it just seemed to me that you'd rather make ten bucks off one of the brand name special onesies, and if your baby needs another, just stop be a garage sale and pick up three for a buck.

LOL

Now, I don't know how it is for child's consignment shops, but the adult ones around here seem to ALWAYS be accepting quality kids clothing, and if you take a store credit, and only shop during the sales, you can pick up some very nice very high quality adult clothing at minimal prices. Or kids stuff, too. Some of these places occasionally mark all that brand name stuff down to a dollar a piece during the clearances.

Even when it's not that low, there can be some really good bargains and since the clothing is already separated by size and type, it's lots easier to find some real treasures than at many garage sales which occassionally are a real mishmash of very worn baby clothes with multiple stains, or nothing in the adult sizes your household needs.

Many consignment stores give you the option of taking credit instead of cash.

I'd want to save serious money on baby & toddler clothing anyway I can, and even bank the proceeds, save it until the teen years when there's not as many options for using secondhand clothing, it's just not stylish enough.

[mountainmist]

Here's*a post by Jeff from last January

http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14020

8 Home Organizing Myths

By Karen Fritscher-Porter


You can create multiple reasons to NOT get organized at home. But the truth is that the only obstacle stopping you from getting organized is you. It's not family members, it's not the absence of cash and it's not a lack of home organizational know-how. Read onward to expose these myths now. With that out of the way, you can get on with organizing your life and home in ways that make you a happier, less stressed and more productive person.

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<b>MYTH #1: You have to organize your home in a day.</b>

TRUTH: Organizing your home is a lifelong process. You devise organizational systems, you maintain those processes ongoing and you create new organizational solutions when new situations or products in your home call for it. You don't just get organized today and stop tomorrow. It's an ongoing task. Don't expect or even try to get organized at home in a day or a week.


<b>MYTH #2: You have to organize like she does</b>.

TRUTH: Your home organization solutions must work for you---not your friends, neighbors or those clever organizers you watch on popular home organization television shows. You can certainly observe other peoples home organizing ideas. But then pick, choose and try what will work for you and your family. And do what you're capable of doing yourself. We're not all capable of building custom shelving in our homes (nor can we all afford to hire someone to build them); that's why some of us happily shop for prefabricated products.


<b>MYTH #3: You have to organize "everything" in your home and life</b>.

TRUTH: Organizing is a solution to dilemmas in your home and life. Perhaps you're late to work three days a week when you can't find your keys or you get charged huge fees for paying misplaced bills late. Create organizational techniques to solve those problems which cost you money and create stress in your life. But if you like your books placed haphazardly on your bookshelves and this doesn't cause you distress or to lose time in life, skip organizing the bookcase. Organize items or processes in your home when you know it will simplify your life, solve a problem or perhaps save you time.


<b>MYTH #4: You can't get organized because you lack home organizing know-how</b>.

TRUTH: Some people do seem to have a natural tendency toward personal and home organization, but it's a learned skill. Take notice of other people's organizing methods in their homes and offices, read home organization books, watch home organization television shows and surf the web for home organizing ideas. Then apply some of these ideas and techniques to your situation. And if you need some hand-holding, hire a professional organizer for some consultation or to organize specific spots in your home for you.


<b>MYTH #5: You have to organize everything in your home perfectly</b>.

TRUTH: Perfectionism wastes time. Organizing saves time. These two concepts clash. Sure if you're buying something like bins or totes, you want some stylish ones that match your home decor and fill the function for which they're intended. But don't go overboard in trying to find the perfect organizational helpers for your home. At some point say this product or this organizational system should work and that's it. Your home doesn't have to look like a photo shoot page out of a home decor magazine. Your organizational system doesn't have to be the ultimate solution to every organizing dilemma associated with that section of your home.


<b>MYTH #6: If your organizational system doesn't work, you're an organizational failure</b>.

TRUTH: If your new home organizing solution or process doesn't work for you, it just doesn't work. Don't read more into it than that. Take the word "failure" out of your vocabulary. Just move on and try another organizational technique.


<b>MYTH #7: You can't have an organized home because family members won't participate in your organizational processes</b>.

TRUTH: Maybe they will, maybe they won't. But that's no reason for you to not organize items and streamline processes that will help you find things, save time and decrease stress in YOUR life. Quit worrying about organizing other people and organize areas in your home and your life that will help you first. Later, you can try some tactics to get immediate family member buy-in on organizational processes in your shared home.


<b>MYTH #8: Getting organized costs lots of money</b>.

TRUTH: There are lots of great organizing gadgets, containers, cabinets, shelves and more on the market that can help simplify getting organized (and even make it more fun sometimes). Some home organization items are quite inexpensive. Others create a pricey, extravagant look. But lack of cash will never stand in the way of getting organized at home because it's not a necessity to the process. You can be creative and improvise organizational processes that use helper items found in your home now. Or you can buy some ready-made home organizing accessories when you know what exact type products you need.


The choice to get organized or not to get organized is all yours and your paycheck or spending level doesn't dictate the answer. Nor do any of the other myths busted in this article. Remember, there is only one obstacle preventing you from getting organized and that's you. So move out of your own way if you want to get organized at home and get started organizing today.


********************
Karen Fritscher-Porter publishes <a href="http://www.EasyHomeOrganizing.com">Easy Home Organizing</a> where you'll find home organization products to buy plus hundreds of free articles and tips to keep you organized at home year-round.

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY JEFFREY ON ANOTHER THREAD IN ANOTHER FORUM HERE

http://www.savingadvice.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14020