Does anyone ever think too much about what they are trying to declutter? Let me explain. I asked DH what he thought was my main problem with getting the house in order. He said that I think too much about it. I believe he's right. Not only am I a perfectionist but also a people pleaser. Just the other day I was on a high about getting rid of four fairly large bags of clutter to our local mission but here lately I can't seem to get myself to get rid of anything else without feeling like some of the things I decluttered I should of given to family members. For instance I know my mom could of worn about three of the brand new blouses I got rid of, my sister could of worn some of the other clothes. I got rid of some of my boys' toys that my nephew would of liked. And the list goes on. Why do I beat myself up about it ? Someone will be blessed with my excess perhaps someone that couldn't afford to pay full price so they go to the mission which charges at most $3.00. I don't know what it is. It's not that I want to give stuff to certain people to be praised or recognized. I've always felt more comfortable being a wallflower. It's true that I want to help people out but I really don't want to drive here and there to get rid of a few items to this one or that one. My main objective right now is getting it out of the house so that I can clean and redecorate. I do have too much for a 14' by 60' mobile home( not complaining that I live here because to me it's a cute home just stating the facts). Anyways sorry this is long and I feel like I'm rambling but I just wondered if anyone else has this problem or if they feel guilty while decluttering.

Maybe next time you have a bunch of stuff, just tell them you're getting ready to give it away, but if they'd like to come and take a peek at it and take anything they'd like to be there before x day at x time. (otherwise it'll sit around while you wait on them). Then if they don't come and look and take what they want, it's their problem. But at least you have offered it to them. HTH

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Yup I agree with previous post. Set a date and time that loved ones can come over and see if they want the stuff before you get rid of it to charity.. I do the same thing when I declutter my stuff.... I swear we accumulate more and more everyday!!!! I am the main one to blame though.. I look for good deals, and think oh this would be great for so and so, not knowing if they need or want something like what I get. Put for example, I was on craigslist the other day, found a lot full of womens cloths, teenagers cloths, and childrens books for FREE!! I just had to pick up. Well the lady also had about 15 pairs of shoes, of all sorts, for FREE also. Knowing they were not my size or my sister who lives with us. I got them anyway, now I have 15 pairs of shoes that dont fit anyone in our house, in my basement. I invited a friend over to see if she wanted any of them, and my other sister and my aunt. Same goes for clothes!!! I have a large basement, so its ok when I accumlate things I just store them down there till I can find a place to get rid of them and recylce them. Like today, I had cleaned out DH clothes the other day, and had a few boxes of winter clothes IE sweaters sweat shirts, etc in a big box down there. My aunt was over, and I realized that my cousin who recently moved to Colorado may need some more warm clothes, so I made up a big box to ship to him, I am sure he will appreciate it. Anything else that is not gone from the mens box, I am taking to the local domestic violence shelter, I know they wont sell it.

I am the type of person that accumulates things from people, cause they give me free stuff, and I hate turning it down. But I try really really hard to find a good use for it, or pass it to someone who really needs the items.

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Tara, wife to Jason, mama to Jayden 12/23/06 PG with #2 EDD 8/3/08 ~ non vaxing, co sleeping, cding, bfing,AP family.

That's kinda how I am. I can't just throw things away. I sell what I can on ebay, take what I can to consignment shops, give my mom old magazines, recycle, dontate things to the church rummage sale, easter seals sale or maternity home. I have a huge attic so it's not a problem of space but getting it out of the house!

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Amanda
Mommy to Zack & Emily

I get the guilties about not giving my stuff to everyone too. But I don't get out much so if I make piles of stuff and it just sits here, I end up shoving it back and then it was all pointless. I think if you really want to declutter, you have to be ruthless and just do it for yourself so you have room to breath again.

I agree! When I first started to de-clutter, I had a bunch of different piles, one for family, one for consignment, one for a local mission. But then I was feeling so overwhelmed with everything that the piles just sat, and sat. Then one day we got a call from a non profit saying they were doing a clothing / toy / book / anything pick-up and did we have anything to donate? Did we ever! You mean I could get rid of all the piles in one day and I didn't have to go anywhere and it would go to a good cause? I'm up for that.

I know I am losing money on things I could consign but the truth is, the freedom it gives me when the stuff is gone, is probably worth the few dollars I would make. If you are really organized (I'm not), consignment is a great option. For me it was so much easier to rid of it all at once.

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I agree. with all the poster. But I do have one to add. If they don't show up in a good time then just give it all away.

This is me - I've found my freedom has come in just getting it out of my house. There will always be junk for people in other places; and honestly, those that I'd give my junk to need simplifying in their lives as much as me (my parents even more). A lot of the junk I get rid of is stuff given to me by my family just because or as gifts, and it's mostly clutter. (Hmm, I wonder why their houses look the way they do. It's a mentality, really.) Personally, I have been SUPER hard on myself and have been doing a major purge of clutter and junk in not only my house, but my entire life. It goes to the goodwill or the garbage. And I'm getting harder on the stuff I send to the goodwill too - they have to go through a lot of stuff, and I doubt they care to sort through a whole garbage bag of my old junk to find a few good things to sell. With less clutter in my house and life, I've actually started to spend LESS money and desire to live on the basics.. TOTALLY worth the pruning!

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

When we relocated last year, I had to do a lot of purging to fit all of our things in two PODS for storage. I had to get rid of a lot of still usable stuff (refrigerator, picnic table, futon, etc.). At first, I really thought about who could benefit from my things and I went to great lengths to get those items to the right people. However, it took a lot of time and effort to do that. After I gave away (or sold very cheaply) the large items, I held an open house and let people just take what they wanted. Whatever they didn't take, I drove to the the Goodwill Truck at the local shopping mall. I felt a bit guilty about not find the "right" home for everything, but trying to do that actually distracted me from packing and doing other more important things.

It was so liberating to get rid of a lot of that stuff! After that first MAJOR purge, I have found that it is now much easier to "let things go".

I use Freecycle to give a lot of stuff we no longer need away. I give it away as I find it and know it will be going to a good home. I also use it to get things I need from time to time. I just got a newer baby swing on Freecyle today and saved about $80...all it needed was a quick wipe down, new batteries and I washed the seat cover...looks brand new.

Jen