I'm a 78 year old man, and I'd add this advice to much younger people, such as those that are just starting out and don't really own anything. First thing to understand is that everything you buy or acquire somehow will require some level of your time and space; the obvious thing is not to buy it in the first place. Live very frugally and carefully. All those shiny things come out of your income. Why buy a book when you can go to the library and get it for free and you aren't looking after it, lugging around for the rest of your born days, only at some point having to figure out how to get rid of it. Things used to cost a lot more, relatively speaking, than they do now. 'Cheap' is a drug: don't take it. Mini -storage businesses never used to exist; now they are everywhere and well used. They are full of 'stuff' cluttering people lives and that is one way to get it out of sight. Don't buy it in the first place!
A very, very wise advice and so true. I am way younger, but I came to the same conclusion. After wild consumering young adult years I've made a U turn as I volonteered at clothes swap and saw the insane amount of clothes women store in their wardrobes. Plenty of stuff was brand new, with a price tag, never worn. We've started composting, repairing clothes and small machines, making our own candles and soap, growing our own vegetables, participate in sharing economy...But our chicken are the champions of recycling - they eat bran which is a mill waste, cooked potato that can't be sold because of its shape and is also a waste and old bread from bakeries and shops that isn't sold. And they give eggs, meat and poo for compost. Oh, and the sum at the bank keeps growing and growing..
@@anitagorse9204 Good for you. And this way of thinking should be taught in school. It is, after all, just common sense thinking about how to live your life: ie live it for quality not quantity.
Before I moved from a 2000 sq ft house to a condo in another state, I had to seriously downsize. I had 4 garage sales, listed stuff on fb and OfferUp, had Salvation Army pick up some furniture and took a ton to goodwill in many trips. I narrowed it down to a U-Haul pod and what would fit in my minivan.
I’m doing the same exact thing! Sold sooo much and donated a small box truck load. Pod arrives in a few days. I’m down to 20 totes and 2 leather recliners. Very calming now. I’ll purchase a new small dining set when I land :)
I the summer of 2021, when I was 57, and my husband 62…we UPSIZED…into a 3300sq ft home on acreage…I have had SO MUCH FUN decorating my larger home, and doing gnome/fairy and floral gardens outside. I’m a very organized person(almost OCD), so my seasonal/holiday decor items are very organized and have lots of room to store them. I decorate with a plan and buy only what I’ve got a PLAN for in an arrangement….I see the BIGGEST problem is people purchase things they see they like, but WITHOUT having a pre-conceived plan on HOW TO USE IT….We have only ONE life…so I’m doing this WHILE I STILL CAN…when I cannot take care of it all, and get too tired to decorate, I’ve got a plan to sell it!
I’ve found that donation centers don’t want a lot of items. Sets of rarely used dishes for example. Even ones that are still for sale on the company’s web site. Very discouraging.
I recently saw a comment on a channel by a woman who said that people are only decluttering because the books and media told them too. That they should keep their stuff. Spoken like a person who has not had to clear out a relatives home after they passed/had to move. I had to clear out my Grandmothers home as we needed to sell her home for her care. She led a spartan lifestyle (thank goodness), but it was still a lot of work. My FIL house had to be put up for sale for his care, he had more stuff than my Grandma. Not to mention the times I have helped friends clear out their relatives places. My Father passed and he had two storage lockers full of sports memorabilia plus a room at my parents house that was full. It took my sister and I around two years off and on to sell that stuff for our Mom. This put me over the edge. I do not want someone to have to go through what we went through on my behalf. I am not a hoarder, but had a lot of stuff. I am not, nor will I be, a minimalist by any means. However, I have managed to get rid of around 50% of our stuff. It is an ongoing process. Good luck everyone!
My mom did hoard, and family did not help for various legit reasons (mostly). I had all the same reasons. I’m making a season of elimination happen now!
Thank you, yes! I feel for you and this is a good message! In age of consumerism, please people, please declutter once or twice a year. And do it larger scale when reaching 50's. It's so unfair to the family who will aid the elderly if they persist with living in own home...Unless they are super active seniors and do minimize. I'm 68, husband 71. We've moved several times, downsized twice, now two storage lockers only until we decide to buy small or build small. I've moved dozens of times when young in family of 9. Aided moving friends and family many times. Aided moving our adult children many times... Aided with clearing elderly relatives homes many times. We lost 9 family( Aunts/Uncles step parents, cousins just before covid. Lost Mom 2022. Mom.lived In single wide mobile home with two add on rooms, a carport and large 15 x 15 shed. Sis lived with her. The stuff we hauled out of there was ridiculous. Most to dump, lots given away. Sis still took a lot when we got her moved to the Coast. My step Mom says she's going to live as long as she can in a quite remote area..so that will be a job too. However she's decluttering each year. But still has lots. She's 86. Still golf's, walks, gave up curling last year. We've just packed up moving from a tiny house, and now helping our daughter, son in law prepare to sell their house, with barn property. They will hopefully move to 2000 Sq ft for rest of their lives. I'm exhausted..still helping older sis who needs hip surgery..in-between packing, decluttering at daughters ( pregnant(. Watching grandson.. So, agree with you, older people need to downsize, or at least declutter yearly.. give heirlooms to children each year! It's hard enough doing Estate paperwork, let alone work of emptying lifelong possessions.
@@coolwater55 you can well imagine the nightmare I had to deal with, because my parents upsized after us kids were out of the house, claiming that they needed a large enough house to host families with grandchildren. I have one picture of a family gathering from 1991 and, they never hosted another family gathering! Family did not want to help them clean out when they needed it and my dad was afraid to clean it out when my mom first went in memory care. He didn’t want to return to the house that he built, I imagine for good reason, with the horrible memories of what I found. Neglected my house for four years while I was helping my parents and have to figure out what to do with the stuff that I don’t want inside that my dad thought was necessary to bring from his house, like his snow boots. He was no longer shoveling snow, since 2021.
To get rid of my stuff I had a yard sale. Everything was $1 Clothes, table, chair, skis, books……… Everything! I made $600 and got rid of 90% of my stuff. People were buying stuff they didn’t really need or want but it was only a dollar so they bought it anyway.
My nephew living with his aunt and he pays no rent and hasn't for several yrs, he helps out around the house, he has been cleaning up her house for the last 4 yrs as she is a hoarder and he's been getting rid of stuff including some of his possessions to their local goodwill, other antique stores etc and he pays for gas to use her truck which he does on a regular basis and helps with groceries, every month. He has money, a job but doesn't make enough money to be able to pay rent but he tries Bless his heart for @ least trying and caring enough to want to help her make her living conditions more livable, and sanitary
The cost of living and rents are through the roof it's way more than what he makes working and it's hard for him to try and save any money most paydays but some paydays he manages to be able to save even a little bit and put it away
We bought our home in June of last year. We downsized our stuff considerably. We have nothing in storage, nothing in boxes, not even a junk drawer. Our garage only has our two cars and nothing else. It feels good that we have a very organized and clean home. I don't want to leave our son with a bunch of our stuff when we pass.
Yay that's the way it should be. Been left with a lot of stuff after family members die. I call all the members friends and remaining relatives and tell them to take anything they want or need. Then I donate the good stuff etc. clothes. And I dump the rest. And or recycle.🤪 It's a lot work. it's a blessing when the elders are alive to have their own estate sale or auction. But sadly it doesn't always happen that way.
Please ask him first if he would like some items from you, for memories' sake. I've seen many examples of people who rush to declutter and don't think that maybe someone in the family might want the items. I treasure my things from grandma and mom. People come and go, money comes and goes but momentos of good times and good people who enriched your life when they shared it with you, remain. I still remember the contents if my grandmother's trinket drawer, I wish my uncle hadn't thrown those things out. They were important to me but he didn't ask. I only have a couple of things of hers in the end. It's sad when things filled with meaning and memories are discarded. There's too much declutterring frenzy.
@diorrybak335 being our only child, he will get the house and the belongings in it. Photos and other things such as some wood toys from his childhood. We just don't have clutter anywhere. It's a very organized home, including our library room. Our son has actually been selling his old gaming stuff and has made a lot of money to put in his savings account. So he's decided not to hold onto things he doesn't want as well.
As a senior I no longer want all my stuff. Sick of it. I’ve been giving away tons and have a lot more to go. It feels great. I say let someone else enjoy it.
Sometimes it’s just best to give away your SELL pile, especially when you know damn well it will sit around sabotaging your goals for a year and a day.
@@bahba9247 Believe me, you never regret it. I don’t have time to sell things on eBay and trot my rear end to the post office. Once that stuff is gone it’s off your mind 🌸
@@bahba9247 I always have a free box at my yard sales. I set it out by the curb so that people can pick through it on their way out. I also keep adding to it as the day goes on or the second day. It helps me not be left with things that I will have to haul off in the end🙂
Convincing my wife is almost impossible. I have no problem getting rid of stuff. Most of the clutter is in the basement. I donated a lot of old clothes on our last move. I also gave away a snow blower and mower to a neighbor since I was moving to a 55 and over. We still have too much for our next and last move.
@@kimberlydepreyhaving worked with a family member with this kind of feelings, that’s gonna hurt too much. Perhaps as a final step? She’s got a need for the stuff, not a greed for it. I don’t understand why. Refocusing onto experiences with living the new place over things helped me ease them into donating. Took time.
Basements flood, you could make a case for going through the stuff to find what you guys would like to protect, and along the way toss the garbage (as in actual garbage) and duh donations (which is the stuff that you’re like, why do we have this?). Dana K. White has a declutterring method that isn’t emotional, it’s based on the space that you have and making things only better as it’s no mess. She’s got videos on RU-vid for free info and books if you prefer, but it’s pretty simple. Might work for you as it’s not you trying to pry things away, she can keep anything, just not everything.
@@desereetouchet9294 Omigosh! My mom (born 1928) loved to save department store boxes, ribbons, tissue paper. And Christmas stuff that was NEVER used. I hired an African man to clean out that big laundry room. It took him just 20 minutes, we took 12 garbage bags out the back door. I was so happy, I gave him all the cash I had, $140.
That's good to hear, because this is the result I want - need! My ongoing health issues make housework hard so with 'stuff' cluttering my home it is harder still. Good to know you are keeping on top of it as that is another issue.
Have been married twice. Both of my husbands felt entitled to "help" me purge unnecessary stuff when we moved. I noticed that they both removed things of great memories or sentimental value to me. All of their keepsakes remained. My adult son has done the same thing. I refuse to let anyone else touch my things anymore. If they want to toss my stuff, I'll be dead soon enough.
Yes! My spouse got rid of all my pictures. Pix of me, my family, my friends, my pets throughout my entire life. My baby pix. My parents baby pix. Everything. Irreplaceable items. They also sold gifts given to me by friends and relatives. Things I inherited from my relatives. Gifts from them. Pocketed all the money. All their crap stayed and they want the gifts they gave me, that they already sold, back!
Hurricane Katrina was a major help in getting rid of "stuff/everything" for me and my family. One of the best/worst things in my life. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.
Same for me, exept it was the '94 Northridge earthquake for me. Shoveling broken, percieved "Tresures" into a dumpster was difficult for about an hour...but I was then hit by the epiphany that it's just stuff. Massively liberating!!! 👍😃
I’m using “Swedish Death Cleaning”. My husband and his brothers and spouses had to clean out his Mom’s house after she died. It took a couple of days to remove all the “stuff”. After that, I swore my kids would never have to do that for me. I think with all the decluttering I’ve done it should only take a few hours to clean out our house. I enjoy the lack of “baggage”.
I furnished my first apt off the curb and was pleased with my thrift. Even now I get pleasure cooking in the pots and pans my grandparents started housekeeping with in 1923!!!
I am 50 with a 78 yr old mother and we both have huge decluttering jobs ahead of us. I have two kids in high school and desperately want a peaceful house with children for what feels like the little time I have left with them. But I also desperately want to help my mother get hers done - once and for all. Just wanted to say - I've not even made it past the second segment of the video yet. And I have rewound it now 5 times. I'm trying to take it all in b/c it seems there are some valuable tips, advice and methods to be shared here. But sir you are talking SO fast and moving from point to point at breakneck speeds. Not speaking for everyone, but many people with "clutter issues" are intelligent, creative individuals - but who have ADD/ADHD or at the very least executive functioning/information processing issues. Many of us canNOT listen, follow along, keep up, take in, process, and retain -- the information you're attempting to share, b/c of the impossibly rapid, complex, and multi-sensorial confounding and distracting way in which you're presenting it. I have a double MA degree so anyone thinking it's a matter of intelligence - that's not the case. All I can say is thank goodness it IS a video and we CAN pause/rewind/repeat. But just wanted to share a little constructive feedback from people who do really want to hear what you have to say, sans the anxiety induced and extra time & effort needed to take it all in. Ok, that's all. Back to segment 2. 🎬Take six.
Thank you to all people that donates. When you have a destroyed home and must buy all the things all over again it will ruin you so to get the chance to buy second helps a lot. Thank you!
I was forced to "clean out" my 79-year-old father's home. It was more like listing everything for FREE on Craigslist. NO ONE wanted to pay for any of his hoarded stuff. Not only did he have too much, but the stuff was also so neglected that it wasn't worth anything. He couldn't discern between what was worth keeping and what wasn't. He needed help and assistance to make decisions. However, he wouldn't accept help. Not only that but he wasted so much money on repeated purchases. I didn't mind clearing out the clutter because he is my dad. Nothing was sold. All of the stuff was donated to Goodwill/Salvation Army or friends. No one showed up to the sale. Most of the stuff ended up on the sidewalk and eventually picked up by the trash collector. NOTE to hoarders. IF you have too much stuff to maintain the items/home, the stuff is worthless.
Start minimizing as early as possible before a move. It'll take longer, be harder than you think. I was moving cross country, already a minimalist, and I assessed every item asking myself if It fits with the new life I want for myself. Too many of us haul baggage around most of our life because we think we should. I was able to get all worldly possessions in my suv, turn the key and head out to the new life.
I have been decluttering for a couple of weeks and have already decluttered much over the last 4 years. Yep! I'm a collector. I have gotten rid of most of my collections. I was thinking recently, we spend the first part of our lives collecting and the last part getting rid of it. Before I said this to a friend, she said she heard someone say it. I think much of the younger generation has figured it out. They are having experiences, instead of collecting "stuff."
Great for an analytical person with lots of stuff. Great for Swedish Death cleaning. I make it easy. 10 minutes a day. I can do that. Now I'm organized enough that right now I'm letting go of 3 things a day, trash or donate. I keep a bag by the front door putting donates in as I go. I take it to a donation center once a week. It's not always easy letting go thinking I may need or want it later that's most people's major 'LET IT GO' issue. Si now I think of it as giving to someone else. Makes it eadier.
It’s marvellous that you are making a real effort to turn your house into a home again. You won’t regret it, it will be an enormous weight off your shoulders, it’s very freeing. I’ve moved house a lot over the years and have had to declutter each time ~ it’s amazing how much ‘stuff’ we collect over time, that we don’t actually need. I saw an article on Swedish Death Cleaning ~ intrigued by the title, I read it and it reminded me of the awful job I had of clearing my mother’s house , garage and garden after she died. It was so stressful on top of my grief and everything else. I don’t want my children, who all have health problems and other difficulties to have to deal with all my ‘stuff’ when I die, so like the Swedish custom, I have got rid of almost everything I DONT NEED. I still have some things to sort out now I’ve moved to a much smaller home but like you, I’m getting there. Your family will be grateful for many reasons.
I got over my "might need it later" mindset that was keeping my home cluttered, when I retired and volunteered once a week (still do) at a non-profit social service organization that provides food and clothing to very low income families in my surrounding communities. Seeing the tears of joy on a young couple's faces when they are able to get warm clothes for their children, or cooking utensils for their new home after living in their car for a year, or appropriate clothes for a job interview, etc. etc., really helped me understand how privileged I am to have been able to accumulate all that clutter in the first place! Now when I have something I'm not using, I don't ask myself if it's something I should keep for that unlikely "just in case" scenario, and instead think about how much the item is going to mean to someone who needs a helping hand. It's a win-win.
I was watching a RU-vidr that was answering her viewer’s questions about why she didn’t save the clothes that her kids outgrew as hand me downs being that she had 9 or 10 kids . They lived in a very small 3 bedroom house ,she said she didn’t have the room or time or energy to be maintaining a bunch of old clothes. She also said everything we have will eventually be trash . I find that I need to just let it go ,and stop trying to find the ‘perfect’ place for it to go. When I donate clothes I don’t agonize over if a garment is good enough and would people want it .I trash socks,underwear,torn or stained items and donate the rest and let them decide if it is OK to keep. I don’t want to burden myself babysitting a bunch of ‘trash’.
You are now burdening the charity workers. Just toss. Save the charity tine and money. Now they have to arrange for disposal of your garbage. That's not fair or helpful.
@@rubyannr6898 I don’t give them the bad stuff but if it is questionable I donate it. I figure that got some free good stuff they can use what they can and trash the rest. I was wearing the items in the not so distant past someone else might need them.
@beckyshell4649 That sounds utterly reasonable. Some people hear, "Let them sort it," and that's the end of the thought process. Your way sounds good for everyone.
@@rubyannr6898 A burden through your eyes is a paycheck and food on the table for another. And places like good will are non profit not a charity. The ceo of good will makes MILLIONS 2”while NOT paying his staff a living wage. I donate to local banks who also are non profit but employee local workers and often run local food banks.
@@morningglory9288 I would take the photos out of the frames and shred them. You can do this with a loving thought like you might have at a funeral. Then donate the frames for someone else to use. Note - I’ve actually done this and it felt good.
@@morningglory9288 Mom ended up filling a large trashbag full of photos taken by my grandmother, who was the family shutterbug; it's easy when you don't know the people in the photos, and can't remember the events they were taken at.
I don't agree. I can understand your ideas towards photos and frames but furniture that's been in my family and many are antiques, are saved for usefulness, love of the people handing them down, and love of the finely made antiques and real wood as opposed to particle board furniture sold out there today! My issue in downsizing those pieces is they're no longer valued. Millennials and younger don't care for them it's not their style and are content with cheaply made faux wood or alloy metals, none of which will last well. -so it kills me knowing what the monetary value was 15 years or more ago.
My parents weren't exactly hoarding stuff, but they stored everything for decades and I mean everything. It took us 5 years to declutter. I figured out there's zero chance I will be able to sell everything so I decided to donate. I loaded my car four to five times a year with everything from tech to clothes to kitchen machines and took it to bring-take events, organized by sahms with large families. What was left went to Caritas/Red Cross. My estimate is we donated 20.000-25.000€ worth - sorry, not sorry for every single piece of crap. Breathing easier is more precious than money.
This is great for getting me going. You do imply that one has the space to start making all the different piles of things however. I actually have been throwing things out every week since a bad builder wrecked my house and caused the chaos I am trying to sort out now. By getting rid of several bags of excess above the normal weekly rubbish, I start to see hope for the time soon when I do a great sort-out into 'rubbish', 'keep' 'donate' piles. I want to put in a word for the older folk like me who have become disabled and are in pain. The younger generation do not understand how difficult this makes life. For example, carrying the washing downstairs is a major task now and extremely painful and leaves me in such pain I can hardly do anything else. Being old, alone and in pain is very difficult and prevents me doing the things I want to do.
@ellyess7203 - This is true for so many of us. I may decide to go through all of our books and give some away, for example, but then I realize I really need to do laundry, or clean bathrooms, etc. These days I can do one extra thing per day only, or the pain will knock me down and I won't even be able to cook dinner. A friend in the same condition hires someone to help her do it, but I can't afford that. I don't have a solution, but am sending you an empathetic hug.
Maam, I'm 72 yrs old & was only able to walk max 400 steps a day. I bought a Near Infrared mat & a belt size pad 4 wks ago... ive stopped my pain meds, up to 5000 steps every other day (2500 alternate days) & have lost 15 lbs. I feel great mood too. Plesse look into YTube vids talking about tjis new therapy. Canadian researchers are also finding huge improvements with dementia, Parkisons & brain injured people! Goid luck, God bless
@@Artanis1000 True...nothing says "flaming liberal" more than a man-bun. But the GOOD news is Jerry can't do that, even if he tried...so I'm not sure which side of the aisle he personally is on. ;-) Otherwise, de-cluttering is an important topic, especially as we get older, and also if we want to make things easier for those who will pick up after us. And as well, if WE want to live more freely/lightly (!) vs. our "stuff" being a burden (anchor) tying us down, especially if/when it's time to pack it all up and move somewhere else. I just wish I didn't have so much trouble achieving MY de-cluttering goals. -- BR
I once put everything in a room. Then every time I needed it, I took it out. Then after a year, I took what was left in the room to auction. It sold for $1.
A key to sanity is controlling the inflow of items. I've learned to avoid "sets" which are designed to encourage consumers to spend "just a bit more" for extra items they don't need or use. One is left juggling extra possessions in an effort to access the items actually used then throwing away the unused portion/item of the set. Whether it's cookware, glassware, cosmetics/polish, tools, office supplies, cleaning supplies, linens/sheets, socks, food, etc. I buy the best quality of an item that I want/need and avoid extras of any kind.
My mom was a hoarder and I watched people's mouths drop with disgust as they entered our house and saw stuff was stacking on top of everything else, including the chairs so guests could not even sit down. It was embarrassing, but my mom thought all of her items were worth something, even the $1 beanie babies and the ceramic angels. It just kept getting worse and worse. My brother and I live very simple with little because we have trauma from our childhood.
Was she a child of the depression? That era produced so much trauma. I've known more than a few raised in the poverty of that era become "collectors." And then they pass that trauma on to their kids. I have to work VERY hard to not hoard. My mom didn't/doesn't do it in the true sense, but if something is "good" she has a death grip on it. I have areas of my home where I just pile stuff up, and I honestly look at it and wonder: what am I thinking with this? And start sorting it out. The programming that we get growing up is so hard to shake.
Your Mother had a mental illness. Hoarding is about not being worthy; not being good enough; and fear. Sorry no one tried to actually help her but rather enabled her.
I couldn't DISAGREE more! I ONLY buy used stuff these days, for about 15 years now. I have found the most amazing treasures for a fraction of the cost of retail, and it is FUN! I found at Goodwill for example a beautiful, ornate, gold fireplace screen locally at Goodwill and paid about $35, later finding it in a Frontage catalogue for like $350! My whole house is full of pre-owned stuff. Why should I buy new crap made in China?!
My house too is nearly all furnished with pre-owned items and all my family's clothing are pre-owned (except for underwear & socks). I was able to keep our family of 4 in a presentable home & garments on a salary of $25K for about 10 years. As retirees now, we have even less money but we need nothing because we learned to re-purpose most things, donate or gift others with good items no longer needed or beloved, and had the JOY of living a simplified lifestyle while never going in to debt--even during years of under-employment or layoffs. When simplicity but Beauty become a lifestyle, much much LESS is wanted while basic needs never are neglected.
But can you find it all the time right away when you need it? And if looking for it say with people watching is it sort of embarrassing? I said the same thing for years. I’m only 30. And realize I serious need to declutter and get rid of stuff. I have TONS of stuff! I begin realizing about six months ago that there’s really no point in having all the stuff when I need something there’s just so much crap for me to find that one item
Thank you for your timely video. Going through this now…a second time! Got rid of a lot of my parents things when they passed 12+ years ago. We are in our 70’s and I’m decluttering again, the rest of mom’s things and mine. (Not touching hubby’s things as he’s not ready). Taking clothes to free store, books and magazines to library, junk to thrift store, electronics to Best Buy to recycle. Have 30+ boxes ready for auctioneer I’ve worked with before to pick up as there are a lot of antiques. The kids don’t want any of it.
Sadly many of my older friends have so much clutter and it is as if they are hanging on as they firmly deny the final chapters of their lives. When I suggest the "Swedish death cleaning" effort they claim loudly--very loudly--that their children WANT the crap they have accumulated. It is so very sad.
My grandmother had a sale without telling any of us and got rid of all of the old photos and family heirlooms so there is that side of it too. When she passed she had nothing of any interest left. My take is you ask and even pass it along ahead of time. If nobody is interested then you have the answer.
I had started dating a woman I knew for years, and after about a year we decided to move in together. I had never seen her apartment.... big mistake... once I saw it. I helped get her cleared up over a couple months after the official move, but it didn't take long for things to start piling up. I'm the exact opposite person...so it put quite the strain on our relationship. In the end it didn't work out, but I did realize she didn't want to live that way, it's was clear she didn't know how to only live with what you actually need or use, or not to buy ten of something when you only needed one, it was a deep seeded emotional thing that causes that behaviour.
Jerry, thank you so much. I’ve been avoiding the much needed declutterring in my house, but you have given me some good advice on how to tackle my clutter.
I am age 81 and " trying " to get the wife to let go. She has 20 year old clothes all neatly stacked in the walk in closet, neatly because I did it. She grew up very poor in the Philippines so I often think perhaps it is harder to get rid of something because she had so little. I personally am going to sell or donate some old Disney comics, reprints because the originals went 50 years ago. Western dvd's, a set of ten Silver western medals that took me 10 years to complete the set. Old memories are the hardest to let go but like you said, can I or will I ever use it again. Will I ever watch the movies again, No. Gone, Big items are not a problem, it is the STUFF in drawers, closets, shelves that are the hardest to get rid of. YOUR KIDS ' DO NOT ' WANT YOUR STUFF, unless it has a President's picture on it.
I’m a grown “kid” of a mom in the same situation. My stepfather just passed and he was a pack rat lol. My mom is bit of one too. She’s trying to clear things out now. Soooo tough!
She's got to get over all of that. Maybe take her to counseling? Believe me; nobody wants all that stuff! As a child of someone like that I didn't. Plus, your having grief from the loss also especially if it's sudden.
Excellent..I had to play it 7 times cuz cognitive self but at least don't give up folks If I had given up I wouldn't have 4 1/2 years clean and sober off of every illicit drug and pharmaceutical addictive cigarettes and booze right now so never never give up never and I love you
It can be overwhelming. Just throw 2 items you don't need every week. That's over 100 items a year tossed out, or 1,000 items in 10 years. Plus, AVOID buying things you don't really need.
@@JB-3794 Our local rural thrift shops are smaller than my living room and won't take more than a box of stuff at a time. We are an hour and a half from Goodwill, etc. and they will not pick up from here. It is hard to get a thrift store to take stuff here.
@@JB-3794I got news for you: your relatives are gonna dedicate one day - MaX - to cleaning out your house and 99% of it is going into a huge dumpster.
It's so much better for the environment to shop at yard sales and thrift stores, too. It keeps still-useful items out of the landfill, AND saves the energy and resources needed to manufacture a new item.
I'm glad you mentioned bagster. I'd say for most things just put it out in your municipal trash. But I did get Bagster once. My house had a lot of junk from the previous owners. A lot of it was a pile of cement blocks behind the garage. So I got the bagster and carefully followed their rules on placing heavy stuff at the bottom and how to position it in the driveway. I then had extra room and got rid of a dilapidated deck and fence. It was very nice when someone from the area drove by my house stopped and complimented me on how much nicer things looked. I also recommend looking at your property from your neighbor's property. It gives you a perspective of what needs to be cleaned up!
Excellent presentation. It was logical and orderly. The part about the satisfaction felt when the space is clean is so true. It is the same when you began saving and investing money as well.
What has worked best for me is to take everything out of a section, then put back the absolute keepers. Psychologically, this helps me because I've made all the important decisions right at the beginning. Sorting the remainder into piles then seems less stressful because it's just the "left-over" stuff.
In my experience when I have a clean up I suddenly find that within 2 weeks I need some of the items I threw out, some of which I hadn't used for years! Example: I kept my last pay slip from a previous job for 15 years. I cleared out all my old papers and about 10 days later it was televised by the company that old staff were eligible for a pension if they could produce proof of employment, so I lost out big time. Also gave my gardening tools away and also valuable copper fire irons as I lived in an apartment and then circumstances changed and found I had to go out and buy replacements. Be careful what you throw away!
@@MaryDefatte mine was in the early 1990s before I had a decent computer and the internet was just starting out. It's much easier these days - all we had then was print
I'm 74. I get rid of stuff every day. There are Hoarders in my family, so if I don't use it or wear it, I toss it or give it away. I seldom buy anything new. I'm emptying my top shelves because my climbing days are limited. Tina, Al's wife
I'm 78, and wish my life was that easy. My significant other raises a big fuss with everything I try and toss. So its a nibble, nibble process getting rid of anything that isn't mine.
Cleaning out my mom’s home was a back-breaking, time consuming, heartbreaking experience. I couldn’t take the majority of it. Some of it had to be thrown out which adds guilt to the mix. I lived far away and couldn’t sell anything. It was all too overwhelming. Give your treasures to loved ones while you are alive. Although you may be surprised to find they don’t want the things you assume they would treasure. I hate it when old people say their children should clean out their homes as though it is their duty. It’s so selfish. Just know that many of the things you love will end up in the trash.
I went to rn estate sale yesterday and realized that I don’t want my kids to have to do this when I die. (I’m 60.). Swedish Death Cleaning for me. I also give anything that my kids tell me they want when I die NOW. I’ve already enjoyed them so I’m happy to let it go. My oldest daughter had my china and silver and I’ll borrow it if I need it. I donate everything else starting at the school I teach at bi donated all of my camera and video equipment to our Yearbook Club. To quote the Red Hot Chili Peppers 🌶️ “Give it away. Give it away. Give it away now!”
You sound like me. Picky and snobbish about the items I bring in...Lol It's hard to get rid of high quality items. My house doesn't look like an episode of hoarders, it's actually nice stuff.
I recently moved out of 1000 square-foot house where I had lived for seven years into the 1440 square-foot house that I share with my wife in retirement. It’s amazing how much my process of decluttering matched your suggestions.
I have lived in the same small house for nearly 45 years. In the first week, I had a revelation. No one else was g oing to dump the trash or take the trash cans to the street for pick up. Eventually, I had a revelation that if I wanted to enjoy life, I had to get rid of stuff before I got sick and things were overwhelming. It is June 2024. I don't try to sell things on the internet. Currently there are two piles in the living room. One pile is waiting the repair of the road to the boy scout camp. Last time, I made the trip. This time a truck will be sent. Over in another corner is the general donation pile. My girl friend adds to it. If the maid doesn't want the items, we drive to Goodwill. The last trip was two weeks ago. The current project is going through the bedding. By the end of the day, there will be nothing that is ill fitting or stained. There will be a spare set of bedding.
You would be surprised what people will buy, if priced right: Scrap wood, CDs, appliances. However, you have to decide what your time is worth. Also, a sign on your lawn with free can do wonders. Lots of poor people around and lots of hoarders.
My neighbor regularly puts things out on the curb with a Free sign, and it usually goes in a couple days. I assume he's also posting on Craig's List or FB so people know it's there. Some of it would be easier to throw in the trash, but if it's free someone will usually take it.
When my 95 year old mother died and the lawyer read the will, my sister inherited mom’s house and all the contents. I turned to my sister and happily said, “You lose”.
Jerry, sometimes I ,like I also did my father get mad at you. But after some thought and realizing you are usually exactly right I wipe my runny nose and follow your advice. ❤
I have so many duplicate pools and could not use them even when I had 2 hands working I have one hand working down so I don't need all that duplication so thank you for the motivation
Your video came up on my YT feed so I thought I'd scope it out while I ate my lunch. You seem like a very nice man who sincerely wants to help people with their clutter situation. My only issue is with the sorting into piles.....THEN using the One Touch method. At that point, you've already touched it twice. I won't directly promote a decluttering expert's channel here, but IMHO, there is a better, simpler way to declutter....a "no-mess" decluttering system. If I had to come back to piles everywhere and go through all that stuff AGAIN, I would be discouraged. I think that's why many people are largely unsuccessful at decluttering. Once someone declutters enough, the organizing part is mostly done. 🙂
That sounds like Dana K White's method! The very best method of downsizing your stuff and you never have piles of stuff to be tripping over. I highly recommend her RU-vid channel.
I do front yard give aways instead of garage sales. It helped me declutter because I could get rid of anything and everything, even small items, like hairpins I didn't want anymore.
Even half used cosmetics or cleaning products I didn't like. I just took care for everything to be clean and neat looking. It was great. If it only sell or only donate, you'll end up throwing a lot of things that aren't eligible for that
I'm gonna do a box sale Load up similar items into one box Put a ten dollar price on it Take the whole box Make bigger bills Get to re-home more stuff! But, ya got to stick to the no picking rule! It's the whole box, or nothing. peace
We are moving to what will be our last house and decluttering. This is the house my son will have after we are gone . Luckily, we have very similar tastes, so we are just doing the new home furnishings, etc, in what I know we both enjoy. I've asked him and made sure he won't have to deal with anything except the folder containing all needed legal documents after I'm gone. My father left no will, etc, and I REFUSE to have my son deal with too much as I know how it is. It's to much to go thru the stuff,deal with finances, etc
It's off topic from the decluttering conversation, but get your son set up as Power of Attorney on your accounts. I've found that the PoA that the lawyer drew up seems to be not good enough for the broker and insurance and hospital/medical system - they all want their own forms, and they legally can't talk to him about anything without that. I don't know about the bank as my parents added me to their accounts many years, ago and they would occasionally request that I write a check to make sure the bank doesn't fuss over my signature. It's also been a godsend to know my parent's email password, as that's where notices of missed payments or payments coming due get sent, so I could track things down. My folks moved to Assisted Living yet still refuse to sell the house, so being able to find the service companies so that they get paid was essential. With most payments these days being automated, it's helpful for day to day life, but the day will come when those payments can be discontinued. For when/if your organization skills start going, it's also helpful to call any service companies now and ask that the son be added as an alternate contact, I did that with the plumber that they use and with the pool company (local company) and a couple others, they carried the bill for 6 months and never cut them off, until I started checking my parent's emails and saw that it wasn't getting paid. Edit: It's probably sufficient to write down/share your userID and pw for many sites such as utilities that are on autopay, but for bank/brokerage/insurance/medical, do it the right way and set up the PoA. For years my father shared his brokerage PW with me, but at one point I called them to ask a question about his account, and even though I had my father's permission to log on, I could literally see the Rep doing a face palm when I said I knew the account info with my father's permission. Not having the proper paperwork on file opens them to a lot of liability, so do it the right way to make things easier in the long run.
One thing I've done 4 times in the past 10 years is rent a dumpster. In my hometown. It's like $350 for five days. I've used it to declutter storage space that resembled hoarders. Garage spaces. Etc. Also, had some old photos that appeared to have the beginnings of mold. Painstakingly scanned them. Organized them. Through out the really bad ones. This took at least 40 hours. But it kept memories that could go to multiple people when they were on the same photo.
I am starting this process now. I get overwhelmed and do not or know where or how to begin. So I have set a goal date to be done by October 1st, by going one room at a time every week. I look forward to the day when my life, my house, is more streamlined and the peace and sense of freedom it will afford me.
Getting rid of excess furniture can be needed. Sometimes if you have shelves and drawers they just get filled up. I got rid of old furniture that was too big and found i didnt need a lot of stuff that stored in them.
Have had several clean outs to make space and from changing premises. After disposing of several irreplaceable items I now sort stuff and leave it a few months then return and review and generally salvage about 10 - 20% out of the selection.
I used to donate all the time, but not anymore. The reason why is that places that accept donations charge people too much money for items that they received for free.
It depends. I think if you can find a place that is supporting what you think is a good cause and you're confident that most of the profits are going to support that cause, ( rather than a gravy train for the people running it ) it doesn't make sense for the charity to sell the item for very little only to have it bought and sold on immediately by someone else because they're getting such a good deal.
Sounds like Goodwill, a for-profit corporation masquerading as a charity. Habitat for Humanity takes almost everything including building materials, furniture, housewares and books. I also donate to several local "real, charities that take clothing for people who are homeless or getting back on their feet from homelessness. Look around and you will likely find a good place for donations.
Thank you! I’m so pleased you came up on my recommendations. I’ve always been a very non clutter, structured person. When my brother, Aunt and Nana (who was more a mum to me) died within 18 months of one another I inherited 3 households filled with memorable items, important items, complete rubbish that I’d never use but someone else may. It’s been 6 years of trying to get through each household without breaking down and multiple yard give aways. I contacted our local Social Services, Women’s and Men’s shelters, LE and Fire Department to come over and grab what they need/want. I’m not open to the public. I also have boxes for my cousins so that they have some of the valuable items to pass down. Some items have been in our family since the 1700’s. They get those. Your questions are brilliant as I have multiple “go through later” boxes. I needed to be sure I’m in the right mindset and not emotional about items. I’m there now. I wrote the questions down on a large poster board to have in front of me.
Excellent content but I had to stop watching due to an over abundance of jarring visual effects. I especially hated the bumped camera effect. If I’m gonna finish the video…and I want to since the info is so good…it’ll have to be with my eyes closed.
My difficulty is a spouse who will not let go of anything, stuff from childhood 60 years ago, papers and stuff in boxes and barrels inherited from parents, a sibling and even a cousin. Not a hoarder, but close to it. Very frustrating, and depressing.
I am that spouse to a degree. Wife died two years ago July and I now have her stuff as well as mine to go through. One box at at time. Same way you eat an elephant - one bite at a time.
Timely topic for me. I am starting to declutter and identifying valuable major newer items to sell. Huge life changes also take some transition/processing time so I've let go in layers like an onion but need to make some greater steps even without a fixed timeline. My place is not cluttered but this is extreme downsizing so will do some initial donations and determine what to sell and then ask a family member to help price some things.
I start with the recycling. That gets a lot out of the way quickly usually in 15’. I sort by glass, magazines/papers, and plastics 1&2. That goes right to the hatch of my van as soon as I have enough of any of the three to take my next time I pass by there. Touching only once does it work for me but I am glad it does for you. I put like things together then I can evaluate how many of something I have asked myself which of them are still serving me? Ones that do not get donated. I check with family first then onto a charity. I rarely sell any item. I will donate a large chest of drawers and a triple dresser at some point to charity that is able to pick it up. If that doesn’t work, I will call that junk service that make sure to take it to a charity. If I get overwhelmed, I will do just a category. Such as when I cleaned up work table, I will deal with just the paperwork or just pharmaceuticals or just pens making sure they all work anyway so good to hear your tips. Definitely one step at a time.
Yeah, this is a great video. This is what I’m trying to do get rid of stuff I don’t want donate first go through the stuff I don’t know whether I want to keep her cell step-by-step. I really appreciate this video. Thank you.😁👍❤️
Actually, instead of spending your time making lists, just start picking things up and putting the to-go stuff in a bag or a box. Keep going till you're done. I used to be a "list-maker", I have wasted A LOT of time making lists. Just grab a box or a bag, go to the room that's the most like an obstacle course and get r' done!
* I * want my stuff. My books,my wedding china,etc. Why do I have to pare down to please my future heirs? A few days of sorting and donating for them versus me having to live in bleak austerity for years? NOPE! :) ❤
When you D clutter, you can also have another pile of stuff you’re not sure about right now and should probably keep longer so you can decide later If you get rid of something, you’re not sure about too soon, you could end up wanting or needing it back later, but it’s already gone That’s why you should have a pile of stuff you’re unsure about right now
Hmmm. I didn't start with the messiest place. I've started with the attic space. I'm pulling everything out of the attic space to decide whether to keep it, pitch it, or donate it. While I have the attic clear, I'm upgrading the insulation and installing new lightbulbs before I bring any one item back into that space. Done properly, only 30-50% of the stuff in that attic space will go back, freeing up space for other items while allowing the opportunity to put it back in an organized way, so I can put my hands on whatever I'm looking for. After attics come closets. Same thing, every single thing comes out, Lightbulbs get upgraded as necessary, and with luck, maybe 40-70% of that stuff goes back in. Removing everything forces me to consider everything. Only then can I tackle drawers and other spaces. Oh, and my piles are 1. keep in air conditioned space 2. keep in attic space 3. Donate 4. Shred 5. Recycle 6. Trash. My questions are simple: Do I want to move this to my retirement home in 8-10 years? Do I want my daughter to have to deal with this thing after I'm gone? If I'm not wanting to move it, then now is the time to not keep it. Much of 1 -2 are going into themed bins with labels. I'm thrilled with the project, as I have some crazy crap around here after living in the same house for nearly 18 years.
