How do you downsize your belongings?

Question

I need some tips on downsizing the stuff in my apartment. I've already given away and gotten rid of a lot of stuff. But I'm trying to simplify even more. My main issues are that I don't like throwing away things that are still good, and I would rather get money for it than donate, but sometimes that leads to keeping things around longer. Also, I have guilt issues when I get rid of things and I fear regretting it... I try to follow the 6 month rule (if I haven't used it in 6 months it's out!) but I worry that I'm making too many exceptions. Here are some of my main hangups below.

decorative - clearly, you don't NEED or USE anything decorative. So where do you draw the line at what is enough to have around the house to make it cozy and personalize, versus what can be considered clutter?

computer parts - I usually keep parts when I upgrade my PC in case the current on breaks and I need a backup. Is this just a waste of space? I mean, it's not good to throw those things out (very hazardous for the environment - they leak lead and other toxins!) and it's hard to find places to recycle them anyway. So I figure I keep them around until I can donate them or until I can use them, but they do take up space... right now I have a power supply, hard drive, video card, and some RAM just sitting in a box as backup... is this a waste??

clothing - The 6 month rule works quite well here, but I'll admit there are a few items I keep either as novelty items for when I feel like dressing out of the ordinary or that I keep because it seems like a waste to give them away when I paid XX$ for them and only wore them X times. Is it time to let go?

art supplies - This is a tough one. I don't do as much art work as I used to, and the media I use now is quite different. I do more photo and mixed media than before, but less painting and drawing. I have pastels, crayons and markers that I've been keeping for years and haven't used in at least 5 years. They're expensive to replace, but am I really going to replace them if I haven't had time to use them in that long? It's hard to let go when I've been keeping them that long and feels like I'm giving up on my art if I give them away :(

art work - I don't know if I can let go of anything I've made. I can always sell my work, but that hasn't worked too well for me so far. In the meantime, it accumulates. Sometimes I do shows, but it's been rare in the past 6 months. I hope to get back into it. This is a conundrum for me.

things that don't belong to me - I have a couple things that friends have left at my house during a party or whatnot and that I've had for some time. Is it terribly inconsiderate to give it away when they haven't claimed it in this long? What if they come searching for it one day?

gifts - This is a tough one too, ridden with guilt. I have an old vase my late uncle gave me that I don't really want to keep anymore because it takes up space and clashes with my stuff... little trinkets given to me by students or old friends, some of who I'm in touch with and other whom I no longer speak to. It seems blasphemous to give away a gift... How do you handle this one?

expensive items - I hate giving away expensive things. I do a lot of photo and have several cameras from when I studied photography, as well as lots of photo equipment. I doubt I'll need it again, and there's no one to give it to really or sell it to, but this stuff was so expensive that I hate getting rid of it... What to do? I can't just throw it out!!! And is it really useful to DONATE specialized equipment? It might just collect dust in a thrift shop :(

collectibles (movies, books, music, photo albums) - Obviously, I don't use every movie or book or song or photo album every six months. This is one of the hardest things to downsize, especially because it's a trip down memory lane every time I go through this stuff to get rid of anything. I've managed to downsize some of my collection but it's very difficult. Advice needed! Big time!

dishware and useful objects - I never know when to draw the line on this one. Sometimes these things are expensive to replace if you make a mistake by giving them away.

Sometimes I get so discouraged when I try to downsize. It seems like so much effort to get rid of THINGS. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated! (I like long answers!)

10 pts to someone who addresses each item with advice on how to get over my hangups ;)

Answer 1

go to www.seniortransitionsnw.com and click on the link on the left side of the opening page.  there is a book WHEN IT'S MORE THAN JUST STUFF How to Downsize Your Personal Belongings....   Ask your library to order it for you.  It's nearly 200 pages long, written in big font, and totally user friendly.  it addresses the practical as well as the emotional challenges your facing.  Good Luck.

Answer 2

yahoo groups freecycle .org it helps people in need and keeps landfills open  and you help others. and  then when you need you post and usally recieve .

Answer 3

Here go's  

Decorative - If any of this stuff is sentimental , keep it .Put  those out where you want to display them .

Computer parts - I would have a hard time getting rid of these too because I know how much replacement parts are ., but what is the likelyhood that these things will break ? If you want to  get rid of them maybe a computer store would tell you how to dispose of or sell them .

Clothing - Keep it if it fits and you wear it , even once in awhile . If you don't wear it get rid of it .

Your art work - You could always ask friends or family if they would be interested in any of your peices. If so great , maybe it will become sentimental to them or maybe it will go to the goodwill at some point but you won't have to worry about it and someone will always enjoy it .

Art supplies - If you use them keep them . You could always donate the unused items to an art school to help out young and upcoming artists.

As far as your friends stuff - make a list of this stuff and e-mail it to your friends in hopes that they will be as happy to get thier stuff back as you will be to get rid of it . If it's theirs and they want it they will claim it . If not get rid of it .

Gifts- I love old vases so you can send that to me for my advise ! LOL!

As far as things that came from people you don't see any more , if it doesn't have any value to you sentimental or otherwise get rid of it . If it came from people you still hang with keep it as not to offend them .

Expensive items-  The cameras are no good to you so why not let someone else enjoy them whether you get a few bucks on ebay or a pawn shop or donate them to a photography class. As far as collecting dust at a thrift store , ALL kinds of people go to those places and walk out with a prize most of the time ! I have decorated and got alot of useful things there .

Collectables - Photo albums , if you want the pictures keep them , if not maybe whoever is in them also [ if you still speak ] would want them .

Music - If you listen keep them . If you only like 1 or 2 songs of a cd , then burn all those songs onto 1 cd . Your friends might like the rest or a library , they have movies and cds to check out

Books - If you will never read them again then get rid of them to friends or a library .

Movies - If you will watch them keep them if not "see books "

Dishware and useful objects - If you use them keep them , if not , "you know " .

Anything you want to get rid of can first go to friends or family , if not why not use your imagination and donate things to schools and librarys to do a good deed , people do appreciate things like that and you will feel good inside . The proceeds from the money made at the goodwill goes to physically and mentaly handicapped people . Anything you donate to these places will give you a reciept for your items and you can use these as a tax deduction , so you will be uncluttering your house , being generous to family and freinds , helping art or photography students and donating to the library and the goodwill and get a tax credit .



Plan B - Take your stuff to  an auction  

Answer 4

1st ebay everthing you want to get rid of, most will sell.

spare computer parts.. once it works, ebay old parts

dishware. 1 set special, then just the min quantity of cheap stuff.

collectable movies, books etc. Sell them, everythings online now.

Photo stuff...ebay. a collector will find.

gifts, there yours, dont feel guilty, sell or give away.

old friends stuff, say bye bye, dont sell but trash.

art work, put on ebay. scan copy on pc for your records.

clothes, donate to good will, you get a tax write off (Did ya know!)

sometimes a clean slate is the way to go, other themn memory-pictures which can be stored on pc, or a few simple special items, clean it all out. Then you can use the money carefully, if you really must have something.

Source(s):

self