We are keepers, my husband and I. We keep everything and store it and never look at it again. We have a storage unit that’s filled with stuff we rarely ever think about, but we pay the bill every month without fail because it’s our stuff, and it’s our past, and it’s not hurting anyone by living in that unit, is it?
We got a letter a couple of weeks ago that the rent on that unit is going up. Not by a huge amount, but it’s an increase that made me stop and think about how much we’re paying each year to keep stuff that we never use. It’s not a huge amount of money, but it’s money we could use for something more productive than stuff we don’t need.
So the cleaning out bug has hit. We’re planning to move all the crap we really can’t live without to the house, but the house is already full of stuff we really can’t live without! Yesterday was hoe out the computer room. Files and papers from 2015 were tossed into the box to be burned – we have a burn barrel, that’s something that living in the country lets you get away with. Next up is the box of books I bought at a used book sale about 5 years ago, I spent $6 and each book was a quarter, so there are 24 books in that box that have been sitting there for 5 years. It’s time to decide if I’m gonna read them, take them to NY or redonate them. And then the room will actually be usually as my office, as was intended when we built this house.
I suppose I have to tackle the craft room next. It’s totally out of control. I’m heading to NY for my annual trip soon and one of my friends is going to be the recipient of every partial ball of yarn I can dig out, and her daughter is getting all the trims and fabric bits I’ll never use. That will knock it down a good bit. Sewing and knitting for the most perfect baby to ever grace the world is also knocking things down – who knew I had so much fabric perfect for little boys?
So you won’t be seeing me on Hoarders this season. I think. I hope. Keep your fingers crossed!
Suziecreamcheese Sings the Blues 
I would watch your episode:) I could maybe qualify if my basement and garage were judged. I’m a saver. I have a so much stuff that belonged to my parents, grandmother, aunt and uncle. It will probably all end up in a landfill when I die:(
LikeLike
We’re the opposite. Maybe because of our frequent moves, living overseas in tiny spaces, or whatever, we collect very little and when something new is acquired we get rid of something old. It takes a certain amount of ruthless discipline to toss things out but fortunately most of our castoffs get another life as donations. Whatever works…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably have some of your castoffs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you get the 6 foot rubber band ball?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m saving that for Peachy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on all of the progress you’ve made already! It will feel so good when you can finally use your office the way you’d dreamed. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope so, we are just such slackers sometimes (often) and then things get out of hand really fast! I just found a box of cards and stationery and I’m trying to figure out where I can dispose of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a Goodwill store near here that I use. Also VVA PIckup. I don’t know if you have anything like that in your area. Maybe a senior living center? Patients could use stationery to write to friends and family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking of the senior living place – my best friend’s dad is in one of the cottages so I’ll ask if he knows anyone who could use the stuff. Or Peachy, she might like it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I’ve never been a hoarder, but over the years I’ve kept a lot of things either because they were gifts or because I “might need/use that some day.” I have three big rubber totes of craft stuff that hasn’t been touched in over 3 years, and cleaning it out is on my list of “to do” things this year, though I’m working on two other projects from that same list so I haven’t given it much of a thought. The only family I have left is my younger brother, who isn’t a sentimentalist like I am, so I am letting go of some things almost constantly (in small doses at a time) from each room in my place. Once in a while I play a ‘game’ with myself – – “Your home is on fire and you have 3 minutes to get what you want to get out before it gets burned.” THINGS suddenly have much less meaning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have plenty of room – my problem is keeping every scrap of fabric or yarn because someday I’ll use it.
LikeLike
If unloading the books means regaining your office, I say donate away!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll take any that my sister might like to her when I go to NY and decide about the rest later
LikeLiked by 1 person
It feels so good to purge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That made me laugh. My apt building owner let us know in Feb that the city was having their every 2 or 3 year apt inspections in March, which meant I had to purge or straighten up or pack up things in my craft room and bedroom because I had changed them the spring before because the old bedroom was bigger and had tons of light and the old craft room was smaller and no direct shine on your face light. I just never got around to sorting everything out and putting stuff away. So for part of Feb and part of March I spent several hrs every day putting old papers in a shred bin to shred later (for some reason the city won’t let us have a burn barrel :P), lots of stuff to toss and the rest when I got tired of sorting, I used the empty storage bins and new storage bins to put the rest of the stuff in and stacked them neatly along the wall and in the closets and decided at some point I’ll drag them out one at a time and sort again, yeah sure :P. And tho’ I did get a lot done, I don’t think I’ll be moving into a tiny house anytime soon :P.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The thought of a tiny house gives me nightmares!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!!! I’m proud of you ☺☺☺ it will feel good to clean out stuff and give/donate them to someone who can put it to better use than storage!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Half of it’s going to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HAHAHAHAHAHAH ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person