This may seem silly but I find it hard to get rid of old stuff even if I don't have space for it. I like to repurpose things like furniture that alot of people wouldn't care to throw out. I just feel like it's such a waste to do that. For instance we've recently got a new couch and had to rearrange things in the living room a bit. I didn't think we would get it because it was delayed when ordered so I bought a beautiful slipcover for the old one. Well we can put both in the LR and it looks fine but we had an old recliner that would have to go. I tried to position it every which way and it just didn't look good. I had dh to put it in the shed and I will probably sell it in a yard sell. I sold a nice couch one time for only $5 because we didn't have a shed and couldn't fit both in our LR. That still bugs me. Anyways what I'm needing to do is make things comfortable and pretty in my home which is also a mobile. I don't want attachments to things. It kind of irritates me to have a yard sale and have people to want me go so low on prices. How does one just let stuff go without guilt and aggravation.

I am an interior designer- in school when we talked about re-arranging for others we were always told to tell people "Do not buy a new item, until you know you are ready to get rid of the old one." I know it's hard, it's hard for me (I just got new basement furniture, because of our flood). We replaced things that didn't 100% have to be replaced. I think it helps me to have that rule...because I KNOW that if I'm not ready to get rid of the old, I CANNOT bring in the new. Also, my family just got back from my in-laws place. They have two homes. They "moved in" to my hubbies grandma's house when she passed away. Well, her house was full of things! She was very wealthy and always bought the best, most beautiful furniture. They moved into her place 2 years ago, and to this day they have not done anything with the over crowded home that they lived in before their move. Their basement (at old house) is packed so full, you can hardly walk through it. Their upstairs (in old house) is also packed wall to wall...They don't want to get rid of ANYTHING, they just want to move it into their already PACKED home that they live in now! When ever I see either one of their homes, I am ready to come back to my home and get rid of what ever we don't need, just so my home doesn't look like that!
I am not saying that your home looks like that at all!!!! Just thought I'd share the story with you. Up until I married my husband (and saw his g-ma's and parents house) I had a very hard time getting rid of anything. Now I am going by my rules!!!!! (DON't Buy NEW until you are ready to get rid of the old)...Don't mean to sound like I am harsh, or what ever, that is just what we were taught in design school

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One happy wife and mommy!!!

no, I love to get rid of things!!! Unfortunately, the rest of my family does not.

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~Happiness is a large family~

I was totally ready to get rid of our old couch because when you sat down on it you sunk in and we really needed something that was better. The place where we bought it said it was on back order and they was sorry but didn't know how long it would take or if we could even get it. So I just gave up after a few months of waiting and Dh nailed a sturdy board under the cushions and I bought a beautiful slipcover. I had arranged my furniture and everything looked nice. Then we got a call and they said they had our couch and if we still wanted it. Dh asked me and I said yes. We didn't buy the matching loveseat because we really couldn't afford both. Anyways I always wanted more seating in the LR. So it really does look cute and the colors coordinate. The recliner on the other hand would of had to have more work done to it. I was going to either slipcover that or tack down the arms a bit so you couldn't see the nicks in the fabric. I know what you mean by wall to wall furniture and other clutter in a house. My mom and sisters are like that. It's like you can't even walk without running into something or stubbing your toe. I guess what I'm hearing is what my mom would say to me. Which causes me guilt. As a kid I would clean my room and throw things a way and she would go thru my trash. Telling me not to ever ask for anything because I didn't take care or appreciate it.

I have no problem getting rid of things I have no need or room for. I prefer to sell it - if I cannot at least attempt to sell it within 2 weeks I will donate to goodwill and get a receipt for my taxes.

Now that I look at my LR it does look alot better without the old recliner. I just wondered if anyone else out there overthought about everything. I usually end up getting rid of something but after much thought and contemplation. I want to stop this sort of thinking because it is slowing down my progress to a beautiful home. I know alot of this has been ingrained in me since I was a child. I wish I could declutter like some of ya'll.

I have this problem as well. In the past we have been so low on money that I never wanted to get rid of things because I might use them in the future. The problem is that you get so much stuff you don't enjoy any of it. I have found several good charities in my area that will come pick up stuff...I find it much easier to donate to someone I know needs it than sell it to cheap at a garage sale.

When I have items that I canot use, I check with family first, then I donate it...i think of it as passing it along to bless someone else. If I hoard it, it'll just get damaged more and make me unhappy. Plus, I think its a good example to teach your kids to be charitable. We do thids with toys and clothes too.

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Dottie

Mom to Michael 6, Matthew 4, Katherine 2, Ellen 1, and new baby EDD 10/29/08

Oh we've donated our excess alot. I used to give to family members but their clutter is alot worse than ours. I kind of felt bad that I was helping clutter their homes so I stopped. Their some in our family that will take it just because it's free and never use it or pass it along to someone that needs it more. But we've known a couple of familys that their homes burnt down so we gathered up as much as we could to help. One time my youngest son donated one of his favorite toys and was so excited to be giving it to a little one that had nothing. I had asked them to find some toys they didn't want and when he gave me one of his favorites I asked him if he was sure and he was smiling from ear to ear when he said yes. Boy we can learn alot from our kids.

i always want to get rid of things, makes my husband crazy! we helped move his parents here with us 2 1/2 years ago and their house was packed with crap they didn't even know they had. i don't like clutter. but, we have a basement full of stuff we'll never use but i can't get rid of because they were dh's parents stuff. (they've since passed away). he won't let me get rid of it. before christmas and the new school year, the kids and i go through all of their toys and clothing and donate to make room for new things. they don't mind doing it and they know it's going to people who don't have much. i like to donate my old clothes to the women's shelter here in town. the kids take their toys to foster homes or daycare centers. it's nice to know they are so charitable at such a young age!