The TRUTHS About Decluttering and Downsizing No One Tells You

Comments · 436

• BI

  @bitrudder3792 · 1 year ago

  If your relatives want some of your stuff, give it to them now. And if they take it, that's great.

  149

• KA

  @kathrynmasseyevers3060 · 1 year ago

  I started this process during the Pandemic and found that many donation sites were overwhelmed and couldn’t take any more. So, I put a rectangular table next to my gate and started putting the items on the table to give away. Usually within a day the table is empty. Then my neighbors randomly started putting things on the table and those things would quickly be gone too. Some of my neighbors left notes thanking me for the clothes, shoes, dishes etc. admittedly some of the items left on the table were not taken because they were overused or damaged. If junky items were still there on trash day we would discard them. We have been doing this for several years and it has worked great.

  440

• FR

  @fredalkent · 1 year ago

  Stuff in boxes and tubs is organized hoarding.  Looking at it is exhausting.

  274

• ZU

  @zuster6962 · 1 year ago

  When my parents moved out of their home, it took 7 kids and their spouses  all day to clean out their house.  Things found were broken Christmas ornaments, a moldy stereo from the basement, on and on.  I vowed never to do that to my kids.  Since then i have been downsizing.  If I don't use it or love it, it's out.  It's liberating.

  186

• DA

  @dawnstonerock884 · 1 year ago

  I just accidentally dropped a kitchen drawer all over the floor. I’m decluttering now!! ❤

  110

• GA

  @gailmorgan9389 · 1 year ago

  One of the emotional backlash features I have discovered is the powerful sadness I feel at giving up things that represent saying goodbye permanently to activities, or unrealized plans & dreams of my younger self.  This is strongly connected to facing the last & (for me) the emptiness of old age.  ( I’m alone). Just an observation.

  156

• PA

  @pauladuncanadams1750 · 1 year ago

  I'm in process of a forced move.  I currently live in a financially challenged neighborhood.  I just put a bunch of stuff out front with a free sign and most everything walks away by itself.

  119

• FA

  @Falconlibrary · 1 year ago (edited)

  I once moved from a 1900 square foot house to a 46 foot boat. &nbsp;99% of my stuff gone and no room to get new stuff. &nbsp;It&apos;s the most free I have ever felt in my life.<br>&quot;When you ain&apos;t got nothing you got nothing to lose.&quot;--Bob Dylan

  114

• IZ

  @IzzyStellaMac · 1 year ago

  I&apos;ve said for decades, if it&apos;s just the memory you want - take a picture of the item and let the item go. If you made a mistake buying at item and feel guilty - keeping it doesn&apos;t bring the money back. Let it go. Forgive yourself. Move on. We&apos;ve lived in a small home for over 20 years so we don&apos;t have room to collect stuff and I am constantly decluttering. When my MIL passed, I told my wife if she brought stuff into our house just because of sentiment that we would have a big problem. Even my SIL is starting realize that keeping so much stuff is a burden and starting to let go of things to that even belonged to her mother. I don&apos;t want my life to be about managing material items. I want to be free to visit with people, go to parks, walk my dog, have experiences, without feeling guilty that I should be home cleaning the 10,000 knick knacks sitting around my house. If someone wants my stuff - they can have it now. I&apos;m on may way to an experience somewhere. Enjoy.

  88

• NO

  @nogames8982 · 1 year ago

  My house is 690 ft.². I have an oversized one car garage. And I feel overwhelmed with the amount of junk I have. I got rid of two boxes of stuff and took them to Goodwill today. I’ve got three more stacked up ready to go. And I’ve just begun. You never miss 99% of what you get rid of, at least I haven’t. Very occasionally will I get rid of something in a few months down the road wish I hadn’t, but it doesn’t happen enough to make it justifiable to stop decluttering. Do your family a favor, declutter while you’re still here so that they do not have to do it.

  103

• TA

  @tamiz8895 · 1 year ago (edited)

  No one takes anything with them when they die. We are not pharaohs and won’t be entombed in a pyramid 😂. When I part with my beloved things I hope that the next person has just as much enjoyment from them as I did! That makes getting rid of stuff so much easier for me.

  11

• SA

  @sanautin · 1 year ago

  A tip for family members: Stop giving useless junk as gifts. Yes, you mean well, but you&apos;re just adding to the problem. Christmas, birthdays, mother&apos;s day, father&apos;s day, it all adds up.<br>After finding gifts that I had given to my mother, in her closet, unopened, I vowed to never give clutter as gifts again. <br>I&apos;ll take someone to lunch as a birthday present, dinner for mother&apos;s day, &nbsp;day trips to a spa, museums, theater, gardens, deep sea fishing for Christmas. The key is to make it an event that you do with them. No gift wrap necessary!<br> If I have trouble coming up with an activity, I&apos;ll throw together a gift bag with &nbsp;items I know they&apos;ll use up....favorite chocolate or coffee, bourbon, wine and cheeses, steaks, but only if I&apos;m certain they will consume it.

  41