How do I clean out my closet? I'm such a pack rat!?
Question:I have a lot of stuff... Way more than I should keep. No matter what I tell myself - "If I didn't use in a year then I don't need it" - nothing that I know seems to help me.
I'm moving to a smaller place now, so now is a good time. How do I identify the items to get rid of? I have tons of
- Dishes
- Kitchen utensils
- Clothes
-Old computer stuff (modems, wires, adapters)
-Various stuffed toys my friends gave me over the years
-Papers of various nature - old bills and records, notepads, books, ets
If you have any tips please share.
Answers:
All good advice so far.
I vote that two sets of dishes is all you need: casual and nice.
Keep no more than two spatulas and serving spoons, the tools you use the most. Everything else, only keep one of each.
As for clothes, if you haven't worn it for a full year, give it away, you don't really like it. If it is a formal dress, keep it for five years, after that, it's probably out of style.
If your computer is set up and working fine, get rid of all the other stuff you have " just in case" or because you can't bear to get rid of something that cost you so much to buy to begin with. The problem with technology is it loses it's value very fast.
Your friends won't even notice that their teddy bear is gone, get rid of them. You are an adult, you don't need stuffed animals. It's only clutter.
Throw away your bills after you pay them. You can prove you paid a bill by looking up bank or credit card statements online.
Keep the notepads by the phone and for shopping and to do lists. If you have more than two, throw them away.
As for books, get rid of them, especially the paperbacks. They look bad on a book shelf. And you more than likely won't have the time to reread any of them.
Don't worry about organizing your giveaways, just put them all in boxes and take them to a thrift shop or some other charity. Don't wait for them to pick up unless you really want to support a particular organization. Get rid of it now so you don't end up with a bunch of boxes sitting out waiting for you to do something with them.
Simple ...
Get three bags.
1.) Keep
2.) Donate or Yard Sale
3.) Giveaway
Put the things you wish to Keep in your Keep bag. Then you can put yard sale or items to donate in your second bag. In your third bag you can put things that you know someone to give them to.
This will help you sort through your items and then you can organize your keep bag once you have cleared everything out.
Good Luck!
call 1800getjunk
what helps me is to first identify a new owner. i usually go to the womens shelter and ask to be matched with a family and get a list of what they need.. then cleaning my closets i decide who needs it more me or them. you know that you require things too but it helps keep you from having 3 sets of dishes when 2 (good set and everyday set) is plenty. when you think...well i need that 3rd set just in case, you'll be reminded that the other family has none... surpisingly it becomes easier to give up a maybe will need to a definitely need.
oK so things to look for
- old/ thorn
- worn it or used if in the past year , if not throw it
- if you dont LOVE it then pitch it
- if you dont REALLY nees it or you are not going to use it for another 60 years then get rid of it.
- if you not going to use it any more then get rid of it
- have some one there to help you so they can ask you " do you really need this ?" it helps me, it helps me be honest with me self and this other people.
HOPE THIS HELPS!
GOOD LUCK!
For your dishes see if anyone of your friends or family wants them if not donate them to someplace same for your kitchen utensils. For your clothes if they are to small or you don't like them then give them to a charity. For your old computer stuff I am sure you can probably sell some of it on eBay same with the dishes if you want. For your stuff toys you might want to throw them away or recycles them. For your bills if they are really old shred them up with a shredder.For your notepads if they are used recycles the paper and for the books keep them you might want to read them. I hope that helps you.
if your a pack rat don't try to sell it. it will end up back in your closet, if you don't need it now put it all in a box, donate it to the salvation army, you have done a great dead and the salvation army has been bustin balls the past few years
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