Friday, September 21, 2007

Friday Five: Decluttering Edition

Sally of RevGals writes:

With Jo, Jon and Chris all moving to college and University accommodation there has been a big clear up going on in the Coleman household. We have been sorting and trying hard not just to junk stuff, but actually to get it to where it can be useful. On a brighter note we have used Freecycle ( check it out) to provide the twins with pots and pans etc that other folk were clearing out. Making the most of our resources is important, I have been challenged this week by the amount of stuff we accumulate, I'd love to live a simpler lifestyle, it would be good for me, and for the environment I think... With that in mind I bring you this Friday 5;
1. Are you a hoarder or a minimalist?
Hoarder. I admit it.

2. Name one important object ( could be an heirloom) that you will never part with.
"Never" is a hard word. I'd tell you that I would never part with my grandmother's Fostoria glassware, or my grand piano. But a tornado or a fire could wipe it all out in seconds. (Can you tell I have been praying for Darfur this morning?)

There are many things I would miss. But I can live without all of the "things" in my life. At least I think so.... I would try to, anyway... (uh... God? Don't test me on this, OK? Please?)

3. What is the oldest item in your closet? Does it still fit???
The christening gown that my grandfather wore. And no it doesn't fit.

4.Yard sales- love 'em or hate 'em?
Giving them? No thanks. Going to them? No thanks. I frequently do a drop off at GoodWill or Salvation Army.

5. Name a recycling habit you really want to get into.
FlyLady's rule of decluttering 15 minutes a day...

And for a bonus- well anything you want to add....
I would throw away or give away any or all of the following:
  • camping equipment we have not used in how many years??? six??? five???
  • suitcases that are too heavy to pick up empty, let alone full
  • dishes and stuff that were given to us, I never use, but were presents from "the other side" of the family so I have to get them out and use them or be seen as ungrateful (maybe I am... Lord, forgive me it this is so!)
  • furniture that can't be sat on or used by visitors or family because it is "too valuable" or "too new" or "mine"
I don't mean to sound rude, but we have too much stuff. It needs TIME and COMMITMENT and GIVING UP of all parties involved to succeed at this. sigh...

Deb

18 comments:

Di said...

Aww, Deb, go ahead and sit on the furniture! It's OK!

Sally said...

thanks for the honest play Deb... love that pic... as for the give away stuff, try freecycle!!!

Deb said...

Ahem... How do I say this???

I am not the one holding on the the stuff I want to give away... I have used both Freecyle and Craig's List (when I can get away with it!)

Deb

Amy Stewart said...

We can't sit on some of our furniture. Not because it's special or old or new. No, we can't sit on them because I can't keep the dogs off of them, so if you sit on our couch you will be instantly covered in dog hair. So, i keep a fitted sheet over the couch, and no one but the dogs sit there. Grrrrr!

RevAnne said...

I feel your pain, Deb. It's mine too.

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

Great play...loved the bonus section...so true

Anonymous said...

Great play and photo!

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

We need a hoarder club.

Maria Tafoya said...

I feel the pain of hanging on to stuff you don't want but the rest of the household won't let go. Sigh. Maybe as I sort and pack for the move some other things might accidentally get lost. I have managed to convince him to get rid of some clothes he hasn't worn in over 12 years!

Good play

Terri said...

I'm right there with you on garage sales, don't like 'em...but I do like to recyle stuff through other sources....

Terri said...

And the photo is hilarious...

Jan said...

Great picture. I identify with so much of what you wrote. How do you like Flylady? I tried it once but hated all the emails.

MrReRe said...

I ab-hoard horders... Oh wait. I are one. :-)

Maybe when you're done decluttering you can come to OH and help us squeeze stuff from a 4-BR and 2 apts into a 3BR with no garage. ARGH.

Deb said...

FlyLady's emails... yeah. There are a lot of them. They get filtered into a special folder in Outlook. I read the subject lines as my reminders. I don't DO all her stuff, but I do follow the routines (morning/evening/etc) because they really make the difference. I even have a routine for Sunday mornings that now includes a bottle of water and a protein bar or healthy snack so I don't sugar myself out at the refreshment table.

Baby steps!!!

Deb

Sue said...

Love the picture! Great play.

RevDrKate said...

Great pic, great play. It's challenging when you and the "other" don't always live on the same place on the clutter spectrum....course in my house we just enable each other....worse yet!

redheadrev said...

Suitcases too heavy to pick up empty...that's great. I totally know what you are talking about! Great play!

Unknown said...

Is that a picture of your office?

Yes, this is true honest play.