Why can't I just declutter already?

[princessmorgan]

All these threads about consigning/yard sales and getting rid of junk has inspired me. There's a consignment sale this weekend that I'm preparing for. Why do I have such emotional attachment to things? Like my maternity clothes? I know I'm done. DH and I have wanted 4 kids since the beginning and now it's here. I just want someone to love my maternity clothes as much as I did. They were cute and stylish. A lot I only wore through one pregnancy since I worked at the Gap. Do I need 4 strollers? No. My older kids can walk now. There's nothing wrong with their legs.

Someone just tell me to do it and get over it! Plus all my proceeds will go to our next Disney vacation.

 

[taylor3297]

All these threads about consigning/yard sales and getting rid of junk has inspired me. There's a consignment sale this weekend that I'm preparing for. Why do I have such emotional attachment to things? Like my maternity clothes? I know I'm done. DH and I have wanted 4 kids since the beginning and now it's here. I just want someone to love my maternity clothes as much as I did. They were cute and stylish. A lot I only wore through one pregnancy since I worked at the Gap. Do I need 4 strollers? No. My older kids can walk now. There's nothing wrong with their legs.

Someone just tell me to do it and get over it! Plus all my proceeds will go to our next Disney vacation.

I totally understand how you feel. I have been there and with some things I am still there. I finally sat down and decided what of my kids baby stuff did I really want to keep. So, I chose a few select outfits and the crib. I gave everything else to a friend who was going to be a grandma. It is nice knowing that someone is using the stuff we had and appreciated not having to go out and by stuff for their house.

I still have a lot of clutter in my house, but I am taking small steps in getting rid of stuff.

 

[ilovemk76]

Think of it in terms of less stuff to clean, more space for the kids to play, helping another pregnant woman to afford maternity stuff, other kids to be able to afford toys (of the like) and money for your family to do X.

 

[princessmorgan]

Thanks for the inspiration! I'm going to get working again!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Just do it and get over it!

Seriously, save an outfit or two for each child that has sentimental value and make some $$$ for your Disney trip!

 

[moepanz]

OP I totally get where you are coming from. I have my maternity clothes in a bin on top of my boxed up wedding dress. I have my first stroller travel system in my attic (my oldest is 8 and i had twins after him so I had no use for a single stroller) the thought of getting rid of them makes me extremely upset
I am glad that I am not alone. I know I need to let go of these things. My house is going to burst open at the seems one day with all the baby stuff. I am trying. I have learned to love big black garbage bags and I go on "chucking and donating rampages" feels good when it is done, really good, better than all the stuff in my way. Start small and work your way up to the "big stuff" you will get there!

 

[vicki_c]

Check out the Flylady website. She has great advice on decluttering and if you read the decluttering testimonials that people send to her, it might inspire you. There are lots of people holding on to lots of stuff for all kinds of crazy reasons!

 

[czycropper]

My only advice is: JUST DO IT......I've been decluttering for a week now and once you start, it gets easier

I have kept one or two things from my DD were little and put them in a cedar chest the rest of the stuff I'm consigning this weekend at our church preschool sale. I've also gone through all my clothes and if I haven't worn it in a year or so, it's gone, some I'm consigning at a local store (all my nice work blouse, nice casual business clothes and suits) since I'm now a 100% SAHM. It really has been liberating

Good luck and let us know how you did!

 

[mom2val]

OP.. I know this sounds extreme and I am not suggesting your home is anything like this... but watch a few episodes of Hoarders! Holy cow if that does not motivate you to clean/declutter nothing will! I feel the urge to purge closets, clean the garage, go through my junk drawer everytime I watch that show.

Not sure if your kiddos stuff is a problem but... with 4 kiddos it is a good idea to get in the habit of letting their stuff go or else you will wind up with more toys and clothes than you know what to do with. I had to learn that even with just 1 you cannot keep every piece of art work, every cute outfit and every toy.

 

[scottmel]

Just do it is right. I am the extreme opposite. If an item has not been used in a year it is no longer with us. At least monthly I go thru the house and remove items I either no longer LOVE, toys not used, clothes not worn, etc. and either ebay, craigs list or consignment store it...I love it. Seriously if you asked me where ANY item was in my house right now I could give you the exact location of it down to the littlest thing. I have always kept my life organized like this and it feels GREAT. Honestly it unclutters your mind too . The more you have to look at and mentally deal with - it is draining....

 

[PHXscuba]

My husband has sentimental clothes that predate our 19-year marriage, so I understand wanting to hold onto stuff. His view is, "if I still have room in the closet, I don't have to clean it out."

I have willingly passed my daughters' clothes on to my sister and have gotten great joy out of seeing my little niece wear them again. She had a garage sale last fall on short notice and I helped her sort the kids' clothes she was selling. It was actually kind of fun reliving those memories one more time of the cute baby girl dresses and outfits.

My advice: if you know anyone pregnant, GIVE them some of your favorite maternity clothes. You might get more joy out of seeing them go to a good home than what $$ you get from the consignment sale.

Alternately, think about each item's WDW value: "If I get $25 for this stroller, that's Mickey ice cream bars for the whole family!" That always inspires me!

PHXscuba

 

[dreamin_disney]

What helps me is the stuff I sell that $$ goes to something I want. We made $350 from our last yardsale plus $70 from a cabinet we sold on craigslist.

The $350 will go to re-do our fireplace. The $70 will go to the next thing we want. We will go through more stuff to sell and add to the pot. If theres no big items you want you can use the money for vacation. Its a great motivator

 

[mrsklamc]

What helped me is the audio book of 'it's all too much' by Peter Walsh. He's an educational psychologist, so he helps you understand why you're attached to the stuff, and why you don't need to be. Plus listening to his accent is divine.

 

[diamondpixienc]

Well, the show "Hoarders" helped me finally close the deal on some baby items and i'm almost ashamed to say it but some text books from college. I mean i'm pretty sure that Tax accounting info from 1994 is obselete. Not to mention the extra bucks we made for our up coming trip.
Now, that was the real icing on the cake.

 

[Promomx2]

I spent the entire day decluttering and found lots of my kids artwork. The ones I really like I took pictures of to put with their school pictures in my scrapbook. I also tell myself that I have the memories of the item and that I don't have to keep the item. But then I take baby steps in decluttering. Good luck.

 

[StephMK]

I was sentimental about my maternity clothes too. Since this was pre-CL, there weren't that many places to sell them. I donated them to a pg crisis center & they were thrilled to get them. I have an easier time letting go if I give them to someone who will really use them.

How about making a chart of your earnings saved as a motivator to get rid of more items? If not, watch Hoarders - I totally agree that it makes you want to de-clutter immediately!

 

[dixonismydog]

I think it's a great idea, to make a nice quilt out of any memories that you have attached to clothing items. A nice quilt, can sit out in a family or bedroom, where it (and all of your memories) can be appreciated. Nice for baby blankets, bibs, sleepers, other baby clothing that you don't want to pass down for wearing too.

Same with a few other items that you want to keep. Create a memory wall, containing some shadow boxes, where you can display the old paci, bottle or small toy, along with a pic of the child with it. (I don't keep this stuff...but I have many friends that do.....which is totally fine IMO....I just choose not to keep it.) The rest......donate it!

 

[princessmorgan]

Thanks for all the help and advice! I worked hard today and tagged things for the consignment sale, made bags to give away to Goodwill and bags to give away for friends. I even got the girls to pick toys to give away. So overall I have about six bags of stuff gone from my house!

It feels good to organize. In the meantime I got out my label maker that had been collecting dust and organized the toy room, so that each toy has a place. Thank you, thank you! I liked the idea about keeping one or two favorite things from each baby. I haven't organized all the girls' clothes yet, but baby steps.