Comments on: Declutter Your Home So Stuff Won’t Weigh You Down http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/ Savvy Living Through Personal Finance Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:06:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Weekly Roundup: Free iPod, Greediness, & Jersey Shore! ­ Share My Live http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-12130 Weekly Roundup: Free iPod, Greediness, & Jersey Shore! ­ Share My Live Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:41:25 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-12130 [...] When Stuff Weighs Us Down @ Well-Heeled Blog – “Have you ever looked around your house and wonder, how the heck did I accumulate so much stuff?!” Every day [...] [...] When Stuff Weighs Us Down @ Well-Heeled Blog – “Have you ever looked around your house and wonder, how the heck did I accumulate so much stuff?!” Every day [...]

]]> By: Alyson http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11581 Alyson Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:04:44 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11581 Kim- I've totally been there (my vices: Gourmet, the New Yorker, and the free magazine bin at work). I am a big "rip out and save" person. However, when I decided to purge my collection of New Yorkers, Wireds, Fast Companys, etc. (for me, these were magazines that I wanted to think I wanted to read all the time, but actually didn't), I made myself refrain from ripping and got rid of them in one fell swoop. It was hard, but afterwards felt AMAZING! No more unread magazines or ripped out articles making me feel guilty. What helped was repeating to myself that "if I need that information later, I'll be able to find it." I do have a few binders for inspiration (fashion, house, life tips, travel, recipes) for things that really catch my eye. This makes it easier to go through and get rid of new magazines that enter my apt! If you really like looking at the "Real Simples" in aggregate on your shelf and they inspire you, I say keep them (I still have a few of my favorite Gourmets). However, if they're making you feel guilty (most of my other mags were!), donate them whole to others-- you'll feel good about putting the information in appreciative hands! Good luck! Kim- I've totally been there (my vices: Gourmet, the New Yorker, and the free magazine bin at work). I am a big "rip out and save" person. However, when I decided to purge my collection of New Yorkers, Wireds, Fast Companys, etc. (for me, these were magazines that I wanted to think I wanted to read all the time, but actually didn't), I made myself refrain from ripping and got rid of them in one fell swoop. It was hard, but afterwards felt AMAZING! No more unread magazines or ripped out articles making me feel guilty. What helped was repeating to myself that "if I need that information later, I'll be able to find it."

I do have a few binders for inspiration (fashion, house, life tips, travel, recipes) for things that really catch my eye. This makes it easier to go through and get rid of new magazines that enter my apt!

If you really like looking at the "Real Simples" in aggregate on your shelf and they inspire you, I say keep them (I still have a few of my favorite Gourmets). However, if they're making you feel guilty (most of my other mags were!), donate them whole to others– you'll feel good about putting the information in appreciative hands!

Good luck!

]]> By: Kim http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11575 Kim Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:24:53 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11575 I know! I can't come to terms with ripping them up! Not yet, anyway... I know! I can't come to terms with ripping them up! Not yet, anyway…

]]> By: Kim http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11574 Kim Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:24:32 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11574 We're supposed to be sorting through our books/magazines on Monday...fingers crossed! We're supposed to be sorting through our books/magazines on Monday…fingers crossed!

]]> By: Bucksome Boomer http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11565 Bucksome Boomer Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:38:08 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11565 We got rid of a lot of clutter three years ago when selling our single family home and moving toa condo. I sell books on half.com when I'm done with them. But you have motivated me to do the annual closet purge; it's overdue! We got rid of a lot of clutter three years ago when selling our single family home and moving toa condo. I sell books on half.com when I'm done with them.

But you have motivated me to do the annual closet purge; it's overdue!

]]> By: Serendipity http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11561 Serendipity Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:58:44 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11561 I like J Moneys idea of 15 mins decluttering everyday. Last night I went through my company stash and worked on it for 15 mins. I hate clutter and everywhere I look it makes me feel suffocated. I'm going to hop on the decluttering train with you guys! I like J Moneys idea of 15 mins decluttering everyday. Last night I went through my company stash and worked on it for 15 mins. I hate clutter and everywhere I look it makes me feel suffocated. I'm going to hop on the decluttering train with you guys!

]]> By: WellHeeled http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11556 WellHeeled Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:23:14 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11556 I'm thinking of selling things to. It's harder to part with stuff than I thought it was! What was the weirdest thing you found you owned? I'm thinking of selling things to. It's harder to part with stuff than I thought it was! What was the weirdest thing you found you owned?

]]> By: J. Money http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11554 J. Money Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:50:28 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11554 LOVE this post!! and decluttering - I've started doing it 15 mins every day (going on 4 days now ) until I finish the entire house ;) it's MUCH easier to do, and it's kinda fun finding stuff I had no idea I even owned. haha....although it will be even better when I sell some of it on Craigslist and/or donate 'em. The more simple life is GOOD! LOVE this post!! and decluttering – I've started doing it 15 mins every day (going on 4 days now ) until I finish the entire house ;) it's MUCH easier to do, and it's kinda fun finding stuff I had no idea I even owned. haha….although it will be even better when I sell some of it on Craigslist and/or donate 'em.

The more simple life is GOOD!

]]> By: WellHeeled http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11535 WellHeeled Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:44:34 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11535 Hmm... I'd get a binder and spend a hour or so a day for a week and go through your magazines, especially if you think you'll miss them that much. BUT, you have to set a deadline. Everything that you can't get through gets recycled or donated. Hmm… I'd get a binder and spend a hour or so a day for a week and go through your magazines, especially if you think you'll miss them that much. BUT, you have to set a deadline. Everything that you can't get through gets recycled or donated.

]]> By: WellHeeled http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11526 WellHeeled Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:36:11 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11526 Haha it's the case of the mysteriously expanding stuff. Every time I watch HGTV I want to de-clutter. Rooms just look nicer with fewer things in it! Haha it's the case of the mysteriously expanding stuff. Every time I watch HGTV I want to de-clutter. Rooms just look nicer with fewer things in it!

]]> By: Red http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11521 Red Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:25:23 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11521 It's all about finding the things that matter to you. I went through a similar process with books. Once I realized that I was holding on to hundreds of books I'd never read again just to own them, I sold them all to a used bookstore and started using the library. Really, I don't understand why anyone keeps books when you can borrow them for free. There's no reason to keep anything that you don't use. Don't keep things because you *might* use them. Don't keep things because you've used them in the past even though you don't use them now. Good luck! It's all about finding the things that matter to you. I went through a similar process with books. Once I realized that I was holding on to hundreds of books I'd never read again just to own them, I sold them all to a used bookstore and started using the library. Really, I don't understand why anyone keeps books when you can borrow them for free.

There's no reason to keep anything that you don't use. Don't keep things because you *might* use them. Don't keep things because you've used them in the past even though you don't use them now. Good luck!

]]> By: SeeJaneGetRich.com http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11532 SeeJaneGetRich.com Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:54:59 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11532 I did a lot of cleaning up at the beginning of January and made a couple of trips to Goodwill and it felt sooo good. I felt light as air. Of course, that doesn't mean I am done with the purging just yet. Just one step in the right direction. I did a lot of cleaning up at the beginning of January and made a couple of trips to Goodwill and it felt sooo good. I felt light as air. Of course, that doesn't mean I am done with the purging just yet. Just one step in the right direction.

]]> By: Laura http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11531 Laura Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:43:22 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11531 I keep all of my Real Simples... they are just SO pretty I keep all of my Real Simples… they are just SO pretty

]]> By: Laura http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11530 Laura Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:42:58 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11530 I am in total agreement with you! I've gone through the same revelation lately. I just keep getting rid of things one thing at a time... and I feel better each time! Sadly, I have a bf there and two roommates, so there is some stuff that I just can't do anything about! I'm curious about the magazine too... I'm thinking of getting some notebooks and just pulling out things I found interesting and making a fun reference books. (I have lots of scrapbooking materials.. more stuff I know!) I am in total agreement with you! I've gone through the same revelation lately. I just keep getting rid of things one thing at a time… and I feel better each time! Sadly, I have a bf there and two roommates, so there is some stuff that I just can't do anything about! I'm curious about the magazine too… I'm thinking of getting some notebooks and just pulling out things I found interesting and making a fun reference books. (I have lots of scrapbooking materials.. more stuff I know!)

]]> By: Kim http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11529 Kim Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:41:48 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11529 I'm the same way - I have a collection of books that I want to keep (for sentimental or practical purposes), but I've started using the library for new books I want to read. I might try out something like paperbackwap for books that aren't library-available, but I do love using the library. There's something about that old-book smell... :-) I'm the same way – I have a collection of books that I want to keep (for sentimental or practical purposes), but I've started using the library for new books I want to read. I might try out something like paperbackwap for books that aren't library-available, but I do love using the library. There's something about that old-book smell… :-)

]]> By: Kim http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11528 Kim Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:33:50 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11528 Oh lordy, do I ever know what you are talking about! I did a massive purge when I left for college oh so many years ago, but then I just kept moving into larger places and thus, accumulating more and more stuff. When I graduated from college and moved 400 miles up North, I got rid of a TON of stuff. (Seriously, so much) I moved up to Berkeley with only the items that fit into my little Honda Civic - and then one more little load from my parents with a couple things that were too big (oh, and furniture was kept in storage in LA). Now, I was moving into a fully-furnished room in a house, so I had no furniture...but when I moved into my current apartment (650 square feet, 1 bedroom), I brought my furniture up from LA. Flash forward almost 3 years. Boyfriend has moved in, and between the two of us, we have way more stuff than we need. We use 1/2 of a 1-car garage as storage, and the tiny apartment is bursting at the seams. This post has inspired me to do the big purge that needs to happen, though. The REAL BIG PROJECT is going to be books and magazines. I am a hoarder of magazines...I have every issue of Real Simple and Bust that I have gotten in the last few years since I started subscribing. I keep meaning to cut out things I want to save and recycle the rest, but I have never done it. The magazines just sit in never-ending piles (no more room on the bookshelves), collecting dust and guilt. I might just give them all away...but there is something I love about HAVING those Real Simple magazines all lined up so prettily (the ones that fit on the bookshelf, anyway. those piles are not pretty). Is it even worth it to go through them to keep the articles I like (since much of that information is available online these days), or should I just donate them all? I'm sure I could get rid of them on freecycle or craigslist, or maybe I could even donate them to my local library. Thoughts on keeping magazines around? Oh lordy, do I ever know what you are talking about! I did a massive purge when I left for college oh so many years ago, but then I just kept moving into larger places and thus, accumulating more and more stuff. When I graduated from college and moved 400 miles up North, I got rid of a TON of stuff. (Seriously, so much) I moved up to Berkeley with only the items that fit into my little Honda Civic – and then one more little load from my parents with a couple things that were too big (oh, and furniture was kept in storage in LA). Now, I was moving into a fully-furnished room in a house, so I had no furniture…but when I moved into my current apartment (650 square feet, 1 bedroom), I brought my furniture up from LA.

Flash forward almost 3 years. Boyfriend has moved in, and between the two of us, we have way more stuff than we need. We use 1/2 of a 1-car garage as storage, and the tiny apartment is bursting at the seams. This post has inspired me to do the big purge that needs to happen, though. The REAL BIG PROJECT is going to be books and magazines. I am a hoarder of magazines…I have every issue of Real Simple and Bust that I have gotten in the last few years since I started subscribing. I keep meaning to cut out things I want to save and recycle the rest, but I have never done it. The magazines just sit in never-ending piles (no more room on the bookshelves), collecting dust and guilt.

I might just give them all away…but there is something I love about HAVING those Real Simple magazines all lined up so prettily (the ones that fit on the bookshelf, anyway. those piles are not pretty). Is it even worth it to go through them to keep the articles I like (since much of that information is available online these days), or should I just donate them all? I'm sure I could get rid of them on freecycle or craigslist, or maybe I could even donate them to my local library.

Thoughts on keeping magazines around?

]]> By: WellHeeled http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11525 WellHeeled Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:35:15 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11525 "Home is where the stuff is" - I love it! It should be a bumper sticker. :D "Home is where the stuff is" – I love it! It should be a bumper sticker. :D

]]> By: WellHeeled http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2010/02/08/stuff-weighs/comment-page-1/#comment-11524 WellHeeled Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:31:26 +0000 http://www.wellheeledblog.com/?p=4010#comment-11524 Yes it has to get better! The one-project-a-weekend seems like a very smart and sustainable way to declutter. Yes it has to get better! The one-project-a-weekend seems like a very smart and sustainable way to declutter.

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