How do you decide what's essential and what's not?

[Shugardrawers]

Since we are moving in a month we have started trying to get rid of things we really don't need. Some things I can understand like the rusty old kitchen utensils I bought because they are charming (they are just for show) and the set of curtains I picked up at a yard sale that I love but they just don't seem to go anywhere, including the new house.

Other things to me seem essential although they aren't used often. I have 4 cookie sheets. I normally only use 1 and the rest sit idle but at christmas it's real handy. I rarely wear make up but I like having plenty of choices of colors. Dh is complaining about the amount of clothing I own that I rarely wear. Petey has 18 sweaters but probably wears 6 of them regularly. But they are all cute!!!!

So how do you decide what to keep and what to toss? How often does something have to be used to make it worth keeping? I've used the giant salad bowl we got for our wedding once in 5 years but I sure was glad I had it when I did! If I really tried I could go around and fill maybe a box with stuff to get rid of and Dh says that's not enough. HELP!

 

[NMAmy]

Moving is my favorite time to do this--and I've moved so many times that I'm pretty ruthless now.

I've ditched all of those kitchen appliances--we just have a toaster, a hand mixer, and a blender. Well, dh's coffee pot--I don't drink coffee but I don't dare take that away from him!

Clothes I haven't worn in more than a year. Books that were ok the first time but I know I'll never read again. Old magazines, too. I pull out any pages that I've marked for the recipes and the rest get tossed.

Basically, I think about it this way--is it really worth packing and then unpacking again? This criteria really helps me cut down on stuff. Now if I could get dd and dh to use the same criteria, I'd be all set!

 

[Maleficent13]

When I moved last year I took maybe a dozen boxes, my clothes, and a couple rooms of furniture. I gave away all my kitchen stuff, my entire family room set, two bedrooms, and a bunch of other stuff. It is amazing to be free of all that clutter!

I could not bear to give away any books though...even those I knew I'd never read again...I think I am physically incapable of voluntarily discarding a book.

 

[cardaway]

I wish everything was like computer files... with a little date stamp that told you when you last used it.

 

[NMAmy]

I could not bear to give away any books though...even those I knew I'd never read again...I think I am physically incapable of voluntarily discarding a book.

I donate them to my local library, Mal. They have a big sale a couple of times a year and DH is pretty sure that I just keep buying them back.

 

[icebrat001]

I'd love to follow this, as I'll be moving in July. I already know dear SO is going to try to pressure me into downsizing in the book department, but I can't get rid of a single book.

 

[golfgal]

My thought is that if I haven't used it in the past year or two, it isn't essential. I am a little more lenient with serving dishes like your salad bowl though because you don't use those as often but when you do, they are nice to have.

My thought is if you haven't used it in the past year, toss it. If you find in the future you need it again, you can buy another one to replace it. I have yet to need to do this though.

Take the dog sweaters, he wears 6 of them, keep the six. Yes the other's are cute, but not so cute that he wears them, right?

 

[Shugardrawers]

Here's my arguement, tell me if it's true or what. Say I toss 2 of my cookie sheets and my giant salad bowl and a bunch of my rubbermaid stuff. Won't I just wind up buying that stuff again when I do need it?? Isn't that a waste of money?

I currently own 3 sizes of clothes, my current size, a size below and a size above. That way I don't have to buy a new wardrobe if I gain 5# or retain water. Don't most women do that?

I'm just having a hard time figuring out how much is enough.

 

[golfgal]

Here's my arguement, tell me if it's true or what. Say I toss 2 of my cookie sheets and my giant salad bowl and a bunch of my rubbermaid stuff. Won't I just wind up buying that stuff again when I do need it?? Isn't that a waste of money?

I currently own 3 sizes of clothes, my current size, a size below and a size above. That way I don't have to buy a new wardrobe if I gain 5# or retain water. Don't most women do that?

I'm just having a hard time figuring out how much is enough.

The cookie sheets I would keep since you do use them, the salad bowl would be a maybe. Could you have used two other bowls you have in place of the one? Clothes, how often have you used the size up/size down clothing? I can see keeping one maybe two pair of pants if you really have a bloating problem but the size down clothing, no, I can't see keeping it or maybe only keeping one or two outfits. When was the last time you wore any of it?

Trust me, once you start packing and moving all this extra junk you will wish you threw out more then you did!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Reilly told me he and Petey were talking about this last month and Petey already has the list of what's essential made up for you --

1. Petey
2. Petey's food and treats
3. Petey's toys and sweaters
4. anything else that's Petey's

Everything else is optional.

 

[SC Minnie]

I have a couple of different rules depending on the item--

clothes-- I purge these at least once a year. If I haven't worn the item in the past year I probably won't again so it goes. Even if I gain or lose weight what I had would not be in style anyway and I would end up buying something new.

decorative items-- If it doesn't go with my current decorating scheme and it has no sentimental value it goes.

appliances/dishes-- If I have ever used them and see myself needing them in the future they stay. If I have never used them and don't ever see myself needing them they go.

 

[Nancy]

My rule for anything here is: if I haven't used it in over a year, it goes for the yard sale. Now there are exceptions; like all my christmas plates and bowls (those are obviously once a year things) so your salad bowl and cookie sheets would be a keeper for me.

Clothes, if I lose weight, I am NOT keeping a whole wardrobe 1 size larger; maybe a few peices of clothes..like jeans or shorts, but that's it. Size smaller same thing...in case I lose more.

As for the little sweaters: take the ones he wears all the time and 1 or 2 of the cute ones, get rid of the rest.

 

[NMAmy]

I currently own 3 sizes of clothes, my current size, a size below and a size above. That way I don't have to buy a new wardrobe if I gain 5# or retain water. Don't most women do that?

Ummm...well, I don't have three sizes of clothing. Just my current size. If they start to get too tight, I know it's time to cut back on my eating. I'm too cheap and don't really have enough space to keep three sizes of clothing.

Yes, I'd keep the cookie sheets and even the salad bowl. You use them occasionally just not all the time and that's ok.

Just remember that if you get rid of stuff that isn't doing you any good--you don't use it, it has no sentimental value, or you're just keeping it in a box--then you have room to get something new that will be useful to you.

Believe me, you'll feel better when you can look through a cupboard and everything is neatly displayed and in it's place--instead of digging through a pile of stuff you don't need to get to the item you do need.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Reilly told me he and Petey were talking about this last month and Petey already has the list of what's essential made up for you --

1. Petey
2. Petey's food and treats
3. Petey's toys and sweaters
4. anything else that's Petey's

Everything else is optional.

So I take it you and Lauri would love to come to our new home and dine on Snausages and Roverolis out of Petey's dish??

 

[DVC Sadie]

What I don't use in a year (except husband) goes to goodwill. I just can't stand clutter.