I had to institute a rule while decluttering: If I found myself exclaiming, “I forgot I had this!” or “I haven’t seen this in x number of years/months” then I obviously didn’t need to keep it (photographs are the only exception to this rule). Keeping things you don’t even know you have or haven’t needed to use so badly that you bothered to dig it out is a no-no.
Blowfish, I was tempted to use one a couple years ago when I did a major purge, but decided against it. Mainly, I figured I needed to do it myself because only I can go through papers/documents and decide what I need to keep, and having someone else do it for me would not teach me the lesson of the perils of accumulating so much shit. It takes longer to do it on your own, but it’s doable. I have a friend who opened her own organizing business. She’s in PA though.
When I packed up my apartment and moved out of Brooklyn I literally threw out or donated one giant black garbage bag of stuff for every one that I packed up. I couldn’t believe that I held onto so much stuff that never even made it out of boxes from earlier moves. I guess that should have taught me something.
Now the only problem I have is every time my folks come by they bring a few boxes of my stuff that they’ve stored in their garage or attic for me over the years. I don’t even let it get past the parlor now. The boxes get opened and tossed or saved and put away properly.
I’m officially de-cluttered for the first time in years.
I even told my husband, “Oh man, when the kid comes the clutter of toys and crap is going to start to haunt us again isn’t it?” He just looked at me like I had three heads. He doesn’t feel the same anxiety about clutter that I have.
I was thinking the same thing Kens was typing.
Yeah, good one. and by strangers you mean anyone you haven’t met for 2 seconds before?
Posted by: Kensingtonian at December 22, 2009 11:27 AM
SNAP
SNAP
SNAP
I had to institute a rule while decluttering: If I found myself exclaiming, “I forgot I had this!” or “I haven’t seen this in x number of years/months” then I obviously didn’t need to keep it (photographs are the only exception to this rule). Keeping things you don’t even know you have or haven’t needed to use so badly that you bothered to dig it out is a no-no.
I don’t let strangers into my home.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at December 22, 2009 11:23 AM
Yeah, good one. and by strangers you mean anyone you haven’t met for 2 seconds before?
> I don’t let strangers into my home.
But strangers have the best candy!
blowfish, just hire Snappy. She’ll organize you like there is no tomorrow :o).
Blowfish, I was tempted to use one a couple years ago when I did a major purge, but decided against it. Mainly, I figured I needed to do it myself because only I can go through papers/documents and decide what I need to keep, and having someone else do it for me would not teach me the lesson of the perils of accumulating so much shit. It takes longer to do it on your own, but it’s doable. I have a friend who opened her own organizing business. She’s in PA though.
Blowfish,
When I packed up my apartment and moved out of Brooklyn I literally threw out or donated one giant black garbage bag of stuff for every one that I packed up. I couldn’t believe that I held onto so much stuff that never even made it out of boxes from earlier moves. I guess that should have taught me something.
Now the only problem I have is every time my folks come by they bring a few boxes of my stuff that they’ve stored in their garage or attic for me over the years. I don’t even let it get past the parlor now. The boxes get opened and tossed or saved and put away properly.
I’m officially de-cluttered for the first time in years.
I even told my husband, “Oh man, when the kid comes the clutter of toys and crap is going to start to haunt us again isn’t it?” He just looked at me like I had three heads. He doesn’t feel the same anxiety about clutter that I have.
Whoa, Arkady. That sounds advanced– academic approach to religion. Your mom sounds cool. Still, tho, three types of school sounds gruelling.