30 bags in 30 days decluttering method

I am a hoarder-or I would be if I didn’t declutter several times a year! I took two refuse bags full to the charity shop just after Christmas and a declutter I do every March is around the corner. I go through all my clothes twice a year when I swap over Winter/Summer clothes (though some stay out all year!). Mini chucking out in between. I also do my other stuff like bric a brac at the same time. Books are an occasional chore but I have been through them so often the ones I have left I really want to keep, even though I have far too many! I just keep on always being mindful of any unneeded things I have and my favourite local charity shop has the benefit. A win win situation! (Although the other day I nearly bought back a pair of smart trousers that I had donated recently. Didn’t though!)

I've already done this. Bag after bag to charity shop, sold stuff on Facebook (needs to be cheap but it works), and a box to Vintage Cash Cow - quite a low payout but at least it's gone. We do not need paperback books for a start. Prior to this, I had 14 vases! Be ruthless.

Dear Gingster, If your husband sees you creating more space he may do it without being asked (or just keep his closet door closed lol).
Great topic and I like everyone’s ideas!

I'll do this (slowly as disabled) it's really not fair for our children (bereaved) to have to do this when we're gone.

You can sell all sorts on Face marketplace and Vinted. Bear in mind with Vinted people never want to pay full price and make offers do dont start too low. Get yourself some posting bags and sticky window envelopes (big time savers). Use Yodel if you dont have a printer and have a close enough place to drop off. You’ll need a PC to start with on Vinted so you can add your post preferences, then use your phone to accept offers etc. I have made £400 in the past week selling old bits on Vinted. Very cathartic.

Not sure if it has been mentioned up thread, but some 'Warm Hubs' are looking for donations of books and games, for the folk to enjoy while they are staying safe and warm.

"My tip is to keep a shopping trolley in the hall, put items in there which you are not sure about and leave it there for a few days"
I do this, but only with stuff I know I'm going to get rid of. I take my trolley every time I go out, and there's always at least one charity shop I pass where I can leave stuff.

Gwenisgreat1

Sadly to succeed at this, the first thing I would have to get rid of would be my DH!

I would be the same BUT why? Do they not take any notice of the house are we all wasting the time? I'm afraid I lost it today and said it would be more company and easier to live with an Alexa.

Pittcity

I watched the Stacey Solomon programme last night. Does anyone, except for those who are on social media, actually live with everything in neatly labelled boxes?

Oh, in my wildest dreams I live like that, Pittcity. Sadly, that reality is still out of reach.

But I’m plodding along. Day 3 today - another bag of books almost ready for the charity shop.

Well done ..what a good idea !

Sadly to succeed at this, the first thing I would have to get rid of would be my DH!

I watched the Stacey Solomon programme last night. Does anyone, except for those who are on social media, actually live with everything in neatly labelled boxes?

We moved house in March and did a cull. This week we've tackled the boxes and bags where the contents haven't found a home. 6 boxes so far for the charity shops and two bin bags for the dump. Why did we bring two boxes of wine/beer glasses with us? They're going!. The bill from two house moves ago. Do I need to keep the receipt for my wedding and engagement rings?
About 60 very nice books and no room for a book case.
The decisions are quite difficult at times.
We have been quite determined, me more so than dh.

I searched for decades for my favourite picture book from childhood. I eventually found a copy on EBay that was so old and tatty it could easily have been thrown away but I was overjoyed to find it. I could hardly put it down when it arrived, it was like meeting up with a long lost friend.

Just on here to cheer you on, I am loving this thread and the tales that go with it

2006, we had the full loft too, all that stuff that was `just in case` and in the end, was never wanted.

If it feels too much to start, then just one drawer or cupboard at a time

choughdancer

^Considering painting. We painted kitchen cupboards in our holiday home to the sea - white and door fronts various different colours blues.^

That sounds lovely Norah! I might do that in my kitchen.

I have a box full of newspapers that are copies of wartime newspapers.

I would find it hard to get rid of those too MayBe70. If or when you do, I'm sure there would be lots of interest in taking them. Thinking libraries, crafters, local history groups.

My Bunty annuals are unsellable GSM, far too tatty, but on the rare occasions I look at them, I am transported back to the carefree days of being about 6-7 years old, and can remember the stories oh so well.

Even in a tatty state Calendargirl, these could be used by crafters, maybe for decoupage on furniture. I would snap them up if I found them in a charity shop!

It is quite lovely, thank you.

Considerable amount of work, would be easier inland with dry air.

You could always take photos of them, Yammy, before disposing of them.

Can you get them digitised? Then they still exist on a computer, or memory stick, but are not lying about.

Yammy, my own view is better dispose of them now before someone else has to make the decision. I kept cards, childhood paintings and the like then realised I wasn’t going to looking at them again and my son wouldn’t be interested. Burning them seemed the best way.

Tomorrow pretty lamps and shades. Hoping for a calm give-away.

Not just everyone finds this calming, or not here anyway.

Germanshepherdsmum

My parents didn’t have clutter, but dealing with their things and making decisions about them without a sibling to discuss with wasn’t easy. So I know what would face him.

It's making the decision on your own GMS I had to do that as well. My MIL was an only child as was her husband and she told me how awful it was to make decisions in her mother's house. I didn't have a lot of decisions we just went through it all and got a house clearer in. Mum was in the local care home and seemed to feel a burden had been lifted.
There were moments of distress when I found some unworn brand new suits of my fathers and shoes,I took them to the local refuse Recycling I shouldn't have but I knew the man at the gate and asked him if he wanted them he was delighted.
Maybe someone can answer a question, I have a box of all the cards and drawings my GC have sent me over the years. I can't make my mind up which would be the least distressful finding them or not finding any. Would it make me look hard? What do others think?

Considering painting. We painted kitchen cupboards in our holiday home to the sea - white and door fronts various different colours blues.

That sounds lovely Norah! I might do that in my kitchen.

I have a box full of newspapers that are copies of wartime newspapers.

I would find it hard to get rid of those too MayBe70. If or when you do, I'm sure there would be lots of interest in taking them. Thinking libraries, crafters, local history groups.

My Bunty annuals are unsellable GSM, far too tatty, but on the rare occasions I look at them, I am transported back to the carefree days of being about 6-7 years old, and can remember the stories oh so well.

Even in a tatty state Calendargirl, these could be used by crafters, maybe for decoupage on furniture. I would snap them up if I found them in a charity shop!

If it seeems too daunting, how about starting with a carrier bag, rather than a large bin bag, or even a small food bag and start with a small drawer or box etc.

I loved my childhood annuals too. Bunty. School Friend, Girl, Beano … Maybe, if one day you decide you don’t need them any more, taking them to the charity shop would give someone else the same pleasure.

My Bunty annuals are unsellable GSM, far too tatty, but on the rare occasions I look at them, I am transported back to the carefree days of being about 6-7 years old, and can remember the stories oh so well.

Just a cardboard box of clutter, but such happy memories on each page.