Help!!! Need advice... Badly

[KRP1981]

Originally Posted by neener130;2337169[SIZE=3 My kids won’t let anything go. My other problem is I feel bad when my kids get a gift and are done with it or don’t play with it I can’t just throw it out. I feel bad that someone has paid good money for it and it’s wasteful. So the stuff is piling up. My kids are 11 and 9 but I still have baby toys. [/SIZE]

While I can't say I have these same tendencies, I do understand you. My mother is somewhat this way. It's hard for her to let some things go because of memories attached to it, and she feels almost as if she throws away the "thing" then she's throwing away part of our childhood! Although that is not the case!

I use to love the show on TLC called Clean Sweep...the guy, Peter Walsh, I think was his name, would tell people to take pictures of the things that inspire certain memories and frame them or put them in a special album, and then free up that space in home by getting rid of the "stuff". You could pick out three extra special baby toys to save, and then arrange all the others in a cute way and take a picture of them, and so on. So then someday you'll have the pictures to show your kids and grandkids, and a few special tangible things to keep, but you'll ALSO have freed up space in your house.
Even do this with those birthday gifts that you feel guilty getting rid of, even though your children no longer play with them (I've been there!). Take a picture of your child holding it and then you can write on the back who the gift was from. Just so you have it, and if you're like me, can file the pics in their album or baby book. Then put that toy to good use and donate it in a toy drive or to goodwill.
You will feel so proud of yourself for letting "stuff" go and helping others along the way!
Good luck to you!!! Keep us posted on how you do!

[neener130]

Here's another question.
When you have a garage sale do you clean everything up or do you just put the stuff out "as is"?

[KRP1981]

Originally Posted by neener130 Here's another question. When you have a garage sale do you clean everything up or do you just put the stuff out "as is"?

I usually do what it takes to make it look presentable...If it's a toy I'll wipe it down...etc.

[JocelyneM]

I Clean everything I want everything smelling & looking good !!
I hate going to some sales that there is food particals on things,cracks,sharp points or just smell like they have been infested with mold yuk!!!

[MamaBird06]

I'm purging a lot of items both good and bad, I joined the decluttering challenge here on hcw, and I spend some time on saturdays decluttering. We don't have a lot of clutter, but as I am also losing weight i am feeling a burden on me and it helps by decluttering the house and my body. So I go through one room/section of the house each saturday. I decide then and there what i plan to keep for a yardsale and what i plan to donate right off. I also have a bag for trash and recycleables. When I hit my goal weight, I am going to to make a big trip to my local charity. I am giving them 39 pounds of food for the 39 pounds of weight i will have lost, all the items in the bags that i know i am going to donate and then if i have the yardsale before then, anything that is left over from then. I think organizing my life in all aspects is helping me. The key is to start off small. I first did my ds's room, easy peasy then moved on to the master bedroom, also another easier room and will slowly get around to the whole house in the next couple months. I keep everything I plan to donate or sell in the garage so it doesn't get mixed back into the keeping items. I think that helps too.

[CW&M Mom]

Free cycle is your friend.

If your kids are that old...and you have baby stuff...honestly most of it won't get sold well at a yard sale anyways...go give it away on Free Cycle.

[434Teresa]

I think throwing out one or two trash bags everyday and taking them off right then would help alot, if its not trash take it to goodwill or a church..dont hold on to things to have a yard sale for thats why you are where you are today.

I know you might make some money from selling it but since you are doing this alone you will never get anywhere that way. So I say get rid of one or two bags a day and dont just bag it get it gone than and there..

sounds like your kids are on their way to a bad place that you dont want them to be in when they get older...

One more thing call HORDERS you say that part of your house is that bad so maybe they would come by and help you out, or CLEAN THIS HOUSE..

[3timesoccermom]

Are you an "all or nothing" personality?? I am! And that makes it harder to begin on these tasks because you think you have to set aside a massive amount of time to get it done when in reality a little at a time is effective and not nearly so ovewhelming.

Set aside a certain amount of time - 30 minutes, 1 hour, whatever you feel is managable, for a few days a week for you to work on 1 small section at a time. Put it on your schedule/calendar just like an appointment because it is!! It's an appointment for YOU to spend some time on yourself to make your environment more pleasant and livable because you deserve it that way. You will also be setting a good example for your kids, will be lifting a lot of "mental" weight off your shoulders and you will feel better.

You can donate a lot of your things to women's shelters. Knowing there are people who TRULY need some of the items you have may make it easier to get rid of stuff.

[neener130]

[QUOTE=3timesoccermom;2338676]Are you an "all or nothing" personality?? I am! And that makes it harder to begin on these tasks because you think you have to set aside a massive amount of time to get it done when in reality a little at a time is effective and not nearly so ovewhelming.

You are so right! I get myself into these projects and then the rest of the house falls apart! I get so busy that I don't think about dinner, laundry or anything else. I just want to get it done.
We aren't anywhere near the people on Horders! It's just the the areas where we don't spend all our time like the basement, garage, attic, that are very cluttered. Some of my girlfriends just tell me to throw it all out! But I can't, I feel like I need to give it to someone who can use it or sell it if I can make money on it or recycle it because I need to be green. Then I get overwhelmed again and close the door to think about it another day! That's why I posted this. Hoping someone else has been in the same boat and did (fill in the blank) and is now living an organized life.
There have been some great suggestions posted that I'm going to try.

Thank you everyone for your help. I'll let you know how my progress goes!

[SouthernBelle5]

CRAIGSLIST! put a dirt cheap price on it and it will go fast. especially kid stuff, make a decent size lot, slap a price on it and let it roll! you will make space, get rid of unwanted stuff, and make a little spare change. i found 2 tv's next to the curb last week. snatched them up, brought them home. i tested them and they still worked. i listed them on CL and sold them the next day for 20 dollars. i have made quite a bit of change selling junk around the house too.

I AM SB5's DH and i approve this message.