So far only one jacket has made its way to the give away pile...
This weekend I did a fairly massive cleanout of my closet (after watching an interview with Marie Kondo!) and of several drawers of my dresser, and I filled up 4 reusable grocery bags with clothes that I no longer wear. I got rid of almost all the jackets I listed above and several very good skirt suits and high quality work wear. I just don't wear it anymore! Some of it I haven't worn since I started my first pregnancy in 2006. Since a couple friends came over yesterday, I let them root through the bags, and they each took some stuff for themselves (love that!). So I'm down to 3 bags to give away of my clothes, which include old underwear that I've not worn for years, either. My closet and my underwear drawer are so nice and organized now!
A bonus is that I "found" an old knit poncho (black white and grey) that had been sitting my closet for years. It was a gift that I couldn't part with but had no use for--until I realized it would be great to keep at work, where the a/c is always pumped up too high! So I brought it to work today and I'm happily wearing it at my desk. Sweet!
Did not need to watch the show or read the book. Went thru tshirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants and gave away or threw away two enormous garbage bags. Still have two totes of those things that hubby wants to keep just because or actually use for exercise class.
My current goal is to clear one small category a day. So far in June I have cleared, and I'm counting as "10" each, even though there were many more small pieces:
10 - school/office supplies
10 - nail polish (etc)
10 - travel products
10 - "important car stuff"
subtotal: 40
My current dilemma is thinning out "our" stuff which in reality is mostly dh's stuff. Special category books, CDs, camera gear, clothes that live in our spaces rather than a designated man cave area - things he never uses anymore. We really need to do this in preparation for moving. Everytiime I bring it up though, he starts squirming. I need to find a chapter on how to motivate SO's to declutter because I need to take the right approach to be successful.
Pinkytoe, when you find the way to discuss with an SO, please share. I have done lots of culling in the last month +, but it's mostly "mine". The stuff that's dh's is so much more difficult to tackle - so much so that I've basically taken some of the empty boxes I've sorted out and begin to toss his stuff in. I did sort out his dresser, and stupidly left the discards in plain view in our room. He pulled out about a third and put them back! Yesterday I told him he was forbidden from looking into the trash can. Sigh!
Hi, the hoarder pops in to weigh in on the spouses - it is a really bad idea to throw out someone else's stuff without their permission. If they aren't ok with it, it can make them not trust you, hide stuff and accumulate more. Would you like it if the spouse suddenly decided you should stop wearing some item of clothing or eating some type of food and threw them all out? I know you will say "that isn't the same as throwing out holey socks" or whatever, but it isn't about the socks. It's about autonomy and control and the other person has to make their own decisions. Unless the decision is " you do it." you can end up hurting the person and the relationship.
You have to talk a lot and be patient. And listen respectfully. Start by finding out why they don't want to clean out their stuff.
My hubby is a hoarder so I contain his junk to certain areas. His office, shed & garage. I so would love to clean it up but don't because he does not want me too. The rest of the house is neat.
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