How do I stop being sentimental about clutter?

Question

I recently moved home to a flat which is a lot smaller than my old one and thought it would be a good opportunity to have a clear out.

I really want to sell or give away a lot of items as they are taking up too much space and the lack of space is getting frustrating! Most of them I hardly use and some things are too big for my new space. I don't have a problem selling the things I bought myself but some of the items were gifts from my friends, family and also an ex- boyfriend. I know they need to go but when start handling them I either feel guilty or sad. I know it's just 'stuff' so why do I feel like this? Can someone give me any tips/advice so I can let go? thanks :-)

Answer 1

Just so long as you are sentimental, so you'll be cluttered.  BE RUTHLESS.  Pick up the item in question and ask yourself when you last used it.   More than a year?  Chuck it out.

Answer 2

Hello Ellie. Have a look at recycle-more.com. If they operate near you there may well be someone who would love to have what you don't want. A personal guide to disposal I find is "If I had forgotten I have got it or if I have not used it for two years, I really don't need it" It can be a bit of a tug sometimes but if whatever it is is going to a good home that makes it easier - and it might even make you a new friend.

Kind regards.

JOHN B

Answer 3

Here are 2 great articles on the emotional attachment to our things.  Both are great at getting perspective and both are good reads.

http://tinyurl.com/6hhftm

http://tinyurl.com/6qyzf8 - really good.

Hope these help.

- Laurel Plum

http://laurelplumonline.com

Answer 4

Think of something you really want to buy.  Then use this as a goal for when you want to sell all your clutter.  Think of the money raised will be towards your new purchase.

Answer 5

as I mom of 4 I always wanted to keep everything now I just toss it keeping only the really important things that will withstand time.

Answer 6

Be careful, or you could wind up being a "collector" and wind up on one of those self help TV shows. LOL

Think of it this way. Boyfriends are an EX for a reason. Get rid of it. (your memories are all you need)  If you haven't used it in 6 months, you don't need it and won't miss it. Getting rid of material clutter helps clear up mental clutter. This is true. Do it and see for yourself. :)

Answer 7

Take pictures of your treasures and make a scrapbook.  Take your things to a second hand store and let someone else enjoy them.  I was a divorced, poor and struggling single mother and the only way I could make ends was to go to thrift stores and yard sales.  Because I could pick the items out and pay a small penance for them, I felt some pride.  Give someone else that opportunity to do something they otherwise couldn't do for their loved ones.  As you are helping others, you will gain space and freedom from having been so blessed.

Answer 8

Freecycle.org   a yahoo group in your area.

Answer 9

I tell myself:

1.  The giver may have forgotten about the gift long ago.

2.  If I don't get rid of the clutter while I'm still healthy, someone I love will be stuck with the job of cleaning it up after I can no longer do so (being physically incapable or dead)---and I wouldn't wish such a task on my worst enemy.

3.  I return from a vacation and realize that I was perfectly happy without the stuff.

4.  The more stuff I have, the easier it is to lose the REALLY important items I want to keep.

Answer 10

I am not a packrat so it is easy for people like me to give you advice. Start small, decide that today you will do a particular drawer or cupboard.

Have a pile for useful things,

have a pile for charity (think of helping those who don't have as much as you)

and have a pile to throw away.

No ifs or buts, things from friends, and family if not used every day then sorry but get rid!

Stuff from ex boyfriends that you cant throw, signifies wanting to hold onto what has gone.....bad, as psychologically you are not moving forward in life whilst holding onto the past. Throw it out and dont look back.

Think of your new flat and new beginnings and how things are really going to be bright now you have a new start, and these things are holding you back.

Good luck, I have the opposite problem, I throw things out alot and 2 weeks later I think sh*t I could do with using that now!!

Answer 11

Letting go of some things that rarely or never get used is one thing but some things needs to stay and thats when plastic bins comes handy.

Consider places out of site to put your bins now. There is a ton of empty space under beds, corners of kitchen cabinets, maybe even under the bathroom sinks is a lot of empty unused space.

Hold on to the memories as long as possible because they never can be replaced and finding those hidden empty spaces is so easy to store them.

Answer 12

I think about the day my house burned down and remember what was important and what was not.    I'm still a pack rat by nature, but have more perspective I guess.

Answer 13

Many years ago I worked for a department of a bank that dealt with things like wills, trusts, investments etc. Part of our duties if someone died and they had a will lodged with us as the executors was to go out to the house and go through everything to see if there was anything of value which should be locked in our strongroom.

It always sadened me when we found little trinkets tucked away in drawers and cupboards, worthless junk that ended up in the trash, but only a few days before it had a sentimental value to someone. Maybe it reminded them of a lost love, a treasured holiday, their first home, their mother, who knows?

The point I am making is that this clutter has value to you, not something maybe you can measure in money, but in memories. You are the only one who can decide which memories are worth hanging onto and which are best gone and forgotten. There is no such thing as clutter, just reminders.

Answer 14

thanks for asking this question I need the answers my self

Answer 15

Advice: "Don't fall in love with anything that can't love you back."

Answer 16

When you finally get to grips with de-cluttering you will find it very liberating and empowering.I have moved around quite a lot so feel i have no got it down to an art-form.

William Morris(the founder of the Arts and Crafts movement ) said that if something is not beautiful or useful,bin it-or words to that effect. And i always keep this in mind.

Stuff folk have given you is a difficult one.And maybe if you are just starting out you may want to hold on to that stuff for now and tackle it later when you are into the swing of things and and can be quite ruthless,without the guilt kicking in.

Maybe you could start with the big stuff,that way it will give you some instant space into which to breathe.

Have you got a charity shop near by? Taking stuff down there will at least make you feel that you are doing some good for others whilst at the same time getting rid of things you just don't need.

You could of course sell stuff on if you have the time to get that sorted.But i find giving stuff away to a charity is good for the soul.

On another day go through your clothes.You will/should know instinctively what you have never liked, what doesn't suit or fit you.Stuff that is just old or dated. Get shot of it.

Another time,if you have books,take out the ones you didn't enjoy,or you know you won't want to read again.Or look at it the other way round,keep maybe the reference books and the ones you like and ditch the rest.

You can go through you jewellery and stuff your not wearing or have never worn or unlikely to wear and get rid.

Sometimes when i have this task to do i imagine that i have been given just two suitcases (or three at a push) that i can take with me into another life. What things would i definitely want or need.

Right now i feel i have myself sorted out but i still keep one box that i put things into as i find clothes that don't fit or i look rubbish in, books that i haven't enjoyed, even Cd's i no longer play or ever will.Everything and anything useless goes in there. And when the box is getting full i take it right down to the charity shop knowing they will get something back from it that will aid the charity.

I can promise you once you have got into this de-cluttering thing you will start to enjoy it.

When you are no longer possessed by your possessions you will look around your home with some satisfaction.

It's true what they say; Less is more.

Enjoy!