As you get older, do you find yourself downsizing, decluttering.

Murrmurr said:
I totally downsized about 6 years ago. It was easy but that's probably because I lived alone and I never argue with myself.

I was in a house with 3 bedrooms + a bonus room. I took almost everything but my bed out onto the driveway. What didn't sell, I gave away. What I couldn't give away, I tossed out. It was gone in 3 days.

I only regret getting rid of all my art supplies and paintings. I should have kept at least one painting. And some days I'd love to be able to just sit and paint for a few hours or so. I wouldn't be on this computer so much. It's probably for the best, though, because I'd have to stress over getting paint on the wall and the floor, and this is a rental. I'd have to cordon off an area and cover the whole thing with tarps, like a kill-room or something.

But I do miss painting.
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Put the tarp on the floor.
PAINT!
 

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I try to not judge people's houses or collections. If their houses are clean, I'm good. Their level of clutter is their choice.

Strangers walking past my open garage at certain times of the year might be aghast. They wouldn't know we downsized a small business from a large warehouse (with $$$ monthly overhead) so we can run it from home. During peak times we might have 100 or more large cartons of apparel in our garage and house that we count in, sort, stage, send out for embellishment or add treatment at home, then re-assort in our house/garage according to customer and prepare for delivery.

In the 35+ years we've lived here, our two car garage has never had room for a car. We use the space for DH's large workshop, our laundry equipment, our business's commercial heat press, a kegerator, an extra refrigerator and freezer (we host a lot of parties), a significant back-up pantry, outdoor games and toys for our grands and other visiting children, folding tables and chairs for our and our children's use for parties and holidays, and other storage.

Although I winnowed my book collection down to almost nothing many years ago, I understand the deep connection many have for their books. I'm not into collectibles, but realize they hold great sentimental value for others and am cool with that. What do I care if friends have 30 porcelain statuettes of roosters in their kitchen?

I try to pare down my possessions and long ago became disciplined about not buying non-necessities. Despite that, our children will probably have a fair amount of "stuff" to sift through when DH & I pass. They'll also very likely get a decent inheritance.

Knowing our children and their spouses, and how supportive, helpful, respectful and non-judgmental they all were when DH & I cleared out their grandparents houses, I'm confident they will harbor little resentment when it's their turn to go through the material possessions we'll leave behind.
 
StarSong said:
I try to not judge people's houses or collections. If their houses are clean, I'm good. Their level of clutter is their choice.

Strangers walking past my open garage at certain times of the year might be aghast. They wouldn't know we downsized a small business from a large warehouse (with $$$ monthly overhead) so we can run it from home. During peak times we might have 100 or more large cartons of apparel in our garage and house that we count in, sort, stage, send out for embellishment or add treatment at home, then re-assort in our house/garage according to customer and prepare for delivery.

In the 35+ years we've lived here, our two car garage has never had room for a car. We use the space for DH's large workshop, our laundry equipment, our business's commercial heat press, a kegerator, an extra refrigerator and freezer (we host a lot of parties), a significant back-up pantry, outdoor games and toys for our grands and other visiting children, folding tables and chairs for our and our children's use for parties and holidays, and other storage.

Although I winnowed my book collection down to almost nothing many years ago, I understand the deep connection many have for their books. I'm not into collectibles, but realize they hold great sentimental value for others and am cool with that. What do I care if friends have 30 porcelain statuettes of roosters in their kitchen?

I try to pare down my possessions and long ago became disciplined about not buying non-necessities. Despite that, our children will probably have a fair amount of "stuff" to sift through when DH & I pass. They'll also very likely get a decent inheritance.

Knowing our children and their spouses, and how supportive, helpful, respectful and non-judgmental they all were when DH & I cleared out their grandparents houses, I'm confident they will harbor little resentment when it's their turn to go through the material possessions we'll leave behind.
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You mentioned books. Honestly my books were difficult for me to let go of, luckily my daughter took many, and then some more.lol. Then I took a lot to a local homeless shelter where I hope those souls who are struggling with life can find some escape. Where I had a 10'x10' room filled with books now I have to small shelves worth.
 

MickaC said:
I’m posted a little while ago about selling things in order to downsize, getting rid of stuff I don’t use or need.
Sold my king bed, went down to a full/double…..I spend a lot less time making the bed now. 😉.
I mentioned I sold some kitchen items, which was to my foster daughter, I’ve given her so much, that I thought some things could be bought, she said she wanted to buy…..sent the counter top roaster and bullet/ninja stuff with her when she came to look at the stuff…..haven’t been paid yet for those two items yet…..when I was there for supper yesterday, it seemed she thought I gave her the stuff free…..we talked about price before, when she looked at the stuff.
Her sister wanted to buy the two end tables and the coffee table……not letting those go till I’m paid.

I’m doing a lot of going through stuff……do I use it……do I need it……
Feel good about doing this…….for me……it’s time.

Any of you with the same thoughts of doing this.
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I've been starting to look around at all the crap I have that I don't even use/or need. I can't find stuff a lot of times because I can't remember where I put things and I have to tear the place apart looking. I'm thinking on my vacation this year I'm gonna start the process of decluttering and downsizing. I plan to get rid of some things I've hung on to for years that have just been acting as dust collectors. I need to get things organized so I can bring the stuff up from the basement and figure out if I'm keeping that too or not.
 
Yesterday we did 10 big loads of laundry at a laundromat. We have about 5 more. Then we have the clothes we are currently wearing throughout the year in drawers. That is coming out too. We are going to give away about 3/4's of this mountain of clothing. :)

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MarciKS said:
I've been starting to look around at all the crap I have that I don't even use/or need. I can't find stuff a lot of times because I can't remember where I put things and I have to tear the place apart looking. I'm thinking on my vacation this year I'm gonna start the process of decluttering and downsizing. I plan to get rid of some things I've hung on to for years that have just been acting as dust collectors. I need to get things organized so I can bring the stuff up from the basement and figure out if I'm keeping that too or not.
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GOOD for you.😀. I used to be attached to a lot of stuff…..but I’ve changed…..material things just aren’t as important to me anymore. Still will keep things like my bird collection and some other things, but they’re not cluttering up my life.
There’s no one to do this for me, years down the road, but I just as soon do this myself.
Does feel good.
 
My HUGE living room set is scheduled to leave for it’s new home, early Friday morning.
I’ll be so happy to get it gone……so big and heavy to move around for cleaning.
The guys will bring up my 2 furniture pieces from downstairs for me….so happy about that.
The only pieces of furniture left to go is my dining table and a large storage ottoman, the table is bigger than I need….will sell these closer to moving time.
I know I’ve said this before…..I’m so amazed how fast and well things sold. 😃😃😃.
 
One thing I wish is as I downsize I could generate some money out of selling things. I always buy quality stuff but when the times comes to part with it it magically becomes worthless. I get so discouraged trying to sell things I end up giving much away, which is OK because I like to be generous but no one every gives me nice stuff for free! So unfair.
 
Paco Dennis said:
I remember this TV series about hoarders. I thought it was crazy. But, I have noticed there are certain things that have kept piling up. If you need to feel like your getting on top of de-cluttering visit this series. :)

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I've watched some of those hoarder episodes and many of them are just lazy slobs. Many aren't saving items because they think they're useful, they're just to lazy to throw out their trash.
 
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C50 said:
One thing I wish is as I downsize I could generate some money out of selling things. I always buy quality stuff but when the times comes to part with it it magically becomes worthless. I get so discouraged trying to sell things I end up giving much away, which is OK because I like to be generous but no one every gives me nice stuff for free! So unfair.
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I’m totally with you on this……I like quality too…..but you don’t really get rich when selling stuff…..I’m not getting rich on my selling, I’m happy with what I’m getting…..and the downsizing is accomplished.
Same here…..I’ve never actually been given anything nice or at all, have worked to buy my possessions , but I do give things away. Generous is good sometimes to the right persons.
 
C50 said:
One thing I wish is as I downsize I could generate some money out of selling things. I always buy quality stuff but when the times comes to part with it it magically becomes worthless. I get so discouraged trying to sell things I end up giving much away, which is OK because I like to be generous but no one every gives me nice stuff for free! So unfair.
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This is what happens to me too.
 
When you go to sell now, Micka the house will actually show how large it is. What a difference.

editing - to get those dents out of the carpet, set an ice cube or two in them. The carpet will swell back up again. The pro carpet cleaner taught me that trick.
 
Jules said:
When you go to sell now, Micka the house will actually show how large it is. What a difference.

editing - to get those dents out of the carpet, set an ice cube or two in them. The carpet will swell back up again. The pro carpet cleaner taught me that trick.
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100% right…..the size of the rooms is a big plus, when you get rid of stuff, much better for selling.
Thanks for the tip, Jules…..I learned that as well from pro carpet cleaners…..works really well.
 
It used to be years ago, when a person moved or just wanted to sell off household inventory, auction sales were the choice.
But, now, sign of the times, auction sales are a thing of the past for these things.

So……yard and garage sales took over.
People would bring their items outside to the yard and garage…..then take their unsold items back in…..and then do it all over again.

Deb from here put a lot of hard work into her yard sales…..and worked hard selling…..not sure if she ended up selling everything she wanted to, and then there’s those people that wanted things for nothing.

This choice I made for using selling groups on Facebook, was what worked for me.
I know it’s not for everyone, and, some are unable to do it that way.
I didn’t overload myself selling everything at once, a few things at a time, and of course I started this early, so I wouldn’t have had to do this a month before I move. I’m an organizer and a planner, so the length of time i needed is on my side.
 
Jules said:
If it’s little things, I set them aside until I have enough to take to a donation centre. If I’m unsure, they still go in this pile. The only thing that I went and pulled out again was a double-sided pill container. DH said he didn’t want it, sure enough it seems he did.

The more I clear out, the better I feel. I wish I had family/grandkids that here who could take some of these things.
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I have a friend that moved from a large home she had lived in for years. She had heirloom furnishings that had been in her family for several generations. When she asked her children if they would like to have they they said no. You didn't miss out by not having a group of ungrateful off spring. Find someone that will appreciate what have and know it went to a good place.
I have downsized to where I own a computer, a truck, a bed and the clothes I wear. Ver nice not having all that stuff.
 
dko1951 said:
When she asked her children if they would like to have they they said no. You didn't miss out by not having a group of ungrateful off spring.
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I disagree with your characterization.

Just because adult children don't want or need heirloom furnishings that were someone else's taste doesn't mean they're ungrateful. Offspring shouldn't feel obligated to take on our possessions when we've decided we're done with them.

My children have furnished their homes with items that make them happy, which is how it should be.
 
StarSong said:
I disagree with your characterization.

Just because adult children don't want or need heirloom furnishings that were someone else's taste doesn't mean they're ungrateful. Offspring shouldn't feel obligated to take on our possessions when we've decided we're done with them.

My children have furnished their homes with items that make them happy, which is how it should be.
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You are absolutely correct. I allowed my emotions to speak and I realize that ungrateful is not appropriate word. This friend is the one true love of my life and when this occurred I was their and saw the hurt. It wasn't just a simple No Thank You, it was a smirk and a are you kidding response. These pieces were a part of her family, as I said, for generations. I know that people sometimes don't appreciate what that may mean to others, but. It all part of the process of understanding that not everyone thinks or feels the way you or I do. I'm still learning that one. Thank you, truly, for pointing out the fact that I didn't practice what I try and follow. A lesson remembered.
 
Sometimes I wonder why I do the things I do.
When I moved to my house in town, in 2016……I bought this huge living room set that I just sold.
I brought up the 2 futons up from downstairs, had 3, sold 1, for my living room.
I remember how I love the firmness, almost hard, mattress.
The couch set, I put 1/2 inch boards under the seat cushions to give them a firmer set….was still to soft to my liking.
The moral to this story is….
Why didn’t I just use the futon couches in the living room when I moved here…..good question…..beats me. 🙄🤔🥴😵‍💫😏🤨.
 

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