My mom came over unexpectedly and she saw my house, clean and no clutter. She was like wait WHAT? No mess and 3 kids, 2 dogs. Tell me your secret! I said MINIMALISM makes cleaning a 5 bedroom house take 1 hr. She wants me to start with her laundryroom! Im so happy she asked me! 🥰🥳✨
for sentimental items I decided to only keep the things that I really use regularly that also make me think of the person, so I have kept things like a mixing bowl and wooden spoon that my grandma and I always used when making cookies when she would visit, and a pendant of my mothers that she wore all the time and works on me. other things I just try to remember that the item doesn't equal having the person, and I have my memories even without the stuff.
Two things I like about Swedish Death Cleaning are: 1.) Labeling boxes of things that are sentimental to me (letters, photos, poems, awards) to be thrown out without a family member having to sort through the contents, and 2.) Labeling artwork that should be sent to auction because it is too valuable to throw out or donate - unless a family member wants to use it in their home ( hang it, not hoard it). Auction worthy items would generally be valued at $300 or more. Gold jewelry and jems should likewise be labeled so they are not accidently thrown out. Again. the auction house is an option instead of just hanging on to my stuff. I look forward to your Christmas declutter videos. Just subscribed today. Saw you on Steph's declutter challenge video.
Before Amazon. Before The Dollar Store. Buy. Buy. Buy. I’m Getting ready to go through boxes of lifetime memories. I’m realizing at 68 YO that these “things” not only do not produce happy memories they are actually making me a bit sad Something else I’m realizing at my age that what time I have left on this earth isn’t meant for the past.
PTL Robbin…enjoying watching, listening to your videos as I practice decluttering. You come across so personable, also you are easy to listen to; thank you for sharing!
Hi Robyn, just found your channel the other day. Subbed you far faster than I usually move to sub someone and here is why: You are funny (and I love funny) and you're funny in a way that seems natural, not contrived, and it works within the flow of your very organized videos. You are enjoyable to watch/listen to, and helpful. Keep up your fabulous ways. I'm sure your channel will blow up fast with a bang. Let's face it - sub rates are one of the few places where way more is much better!! LOL 🤣🤣🤣🤣
OMG I paused your video and looked around for my cat, like "is that her cat or mine?" Regarding the bear, I have those collectibles that were popular among moms and aunts in the 50's & 60's and my thoughts are, if I throw this away, will I later learn (minus the chips) it's worth 20K at antiques road show?
I read her book and I loved it. 🥰 All of my son’s baby stuff through HS he doesn’t want after I pass. So, I’ve been paying for storage all these years to keep the items for nothing. 😑 Thanks to her book, I can throw everything out and feel good about it. Oh… and save money too. 😏 🌻 💫
Yep- got rid of a lot of dishes a few years ago, including the china cabinet. I decided to keep the good dishes and use them everyday. If any break, I absolutely do not care. Every day is my special occasion. I'm the same way with my crystal glasses. I got rid of the cheap wine glasses and only use my good stuff now.
Awesome! You are welcome! I really like the whole idea of identifying the instincts that cause us to hold onto things! That Margaretta is a smart cookie!
I had to pause this a few times when you're talking about the little trinket. I thought I could hear my toddler mewling in her sleep. I was very confused 🤣
I think its so odd that you chose to use that photograph of the "Migrant Mother" by Dorthea Lange for your video. It is one of my favorite images but when I look at it I don't naturally think of scarcity. There are other outtakes from that day that I think better represent this. Regardless, thank you for the video and the quick and easy to understand description of Swedish death cleaning,
I know what you say is true. My “stuff” does stress me out. I don’t do well saying no when friends offer their stuff. I clearly have to get it together.
I just have my mother’s childhood thimble and a few pictures of her. I have one piece of baby clothing and his first crib shoes. These are treasured. I am a senior senior. Most of my belongings have been distributed. The children have what they want.
I have found that I've been hesitant of throwing out some childhood things due to a fear of not remembering.. I've tried to keep only the happy memories & letting go of the bad. However, i think i'm ready to even let go of more & keep only the special ones.
I totally get it! I did this in the summer. One thing you can do is write the memory down, maybe take a photo of the thing if you want, and then declutter if you want to
@@MinimalistHome oh totally, me too! But then I find that I will have too many photos, too many things written down everywhere, etc. I'm working up the courage to declutter sentimental things as memories for good. It's been a long time coming. I've had a terrible memory all my life so I've used a mass of things in my life to remember as much as I can, but just recently with you saying that fear of death is a mindset, it resonated so much for me. Oh well if my memories are gone as soon as the stuff is?? I need to live life now and try to 'make new memories' if that's even possible. Lol Freedom is what I think I ultimately am searching for. Freedom to forget, and freedom to move on.
You are SO LUCKY you have a Gramma still!( icu nurse here..I get how life is fragile& short..) Record her voice, have her write ur kids a letter for their 18 bday,seeing her handwriting will be so cool .. I did this with a mini build a bear voice recorder.not in a bear. Its with her wedding veil ♡.My parents did the record a story book to my kids - we kept that♡ . We did the t-shirt quilt instead of keeping like 100 t shirts from elementary school, middle school, sports, cheer, pta events ,her dance recitals, High school,SR night, honor roll...blah blah . For graduation ♡ .
That's a stupid idea. If they don't get to know a grandma then she is a random stranger to them. Just because someone matters to you doesn't mean they matter to others. It's insulting. If she doesn't know them then she has nothing real or personal to say to them. It's utterly meaningless. Don't push your relationship with someone down another person's throat.
When was your son born? Our son was born on Jan. 12, 2010. Just curious when you mentioned you had a newborn at the time of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
I think I'm ready to deep purge. Slowly I've been getting things moved out, or put in bins for yardsale at my daughter's. I need to go through coat closets, and hobby drawers. Sewing -- material, etc. I have several tubs of things to go through.
I decided to systematically reduce all of my *things* so that my kids aren't left with boxes of stuff to sort through. Hopefully I don't pass unexpectedly before my kids have their own lives established - because once they do, if they express interest in any *thing* from our house that I don't use, I will happily give it to them. I will absolutely not keep items "for them" if they haven't expressed a desire for me to do so. All that will do is leave them with a heap of guilt when I pass and they are faced with the burden of throwing all my *things* away because they don't want them. I don't want to put that on them.
My only thoughts on this are to put away in a box(es) things that you may have a spare of thats an everyday, useful item(s). A large pot you may not frequently use will come in handy if power outage and you have to heat water on a camp stove to wash dishes, sanitize water, etc.... This iz coming ftom a prepper mentality and not a doomsdayer. We need to look back to thd lockdowns of 2020-now and also look at what happened in Texas this past winter. The world gets crazier each day so when you are going thru items keep in mind multifunctional items like that extra large pot I mentioned. Don't get so minimal that during a natural disaster, extended power outage, etc...you don't have that single burner propane stove & canisters you gave away, that sleeping bag that goes to zero degrees, etc.... Be wise & use discernment on what you keep AND get rid of. 😇
Yes, it does pay to be prepared, but I can be prepared with the items that I am keeping. I have a big stock pot and other big pots. We had a power outage for 3 days in December 2018. It was a real awakening. Especially for those of us in earthquake territory. Our kitchen stove is powered by propane which is really handy too. We used it during our power outage. I don't believe in saving things just in case, but we do have a box in case of disaster
My daughter did an estate sale when an elderly neighbor died. Everything she had was broken, or chipped and glued together. My daughter threatened me if I keep anything like that for her to get rid of so I find it easier to throw away those items now.
Just watched this video...my grandmother passed and all the items I thought so much of and thought I wanted were the same..dirty, chipped, glued...we ended up trashing most of it..
If I got one of those quilts with old clothes on it, it would go in a box in the closet to never be used. Ditto with teddy bears made from shirts of deceased relatives. I know some people love that stuff but I would rather have something the deceased person made like a piece of art. I kept a few dresses I made my daughter and her daughters wore them. I wouldn’t keep masses of old clothes just because someone I loved once wore them. Maybe a wedding dress or prom dresses for the grands to play dress up but now most parents buy properly sized Disney princess gowns, so dress up in adult clothes isn’t even attractive to kids.
I have moved towards minimalism for peace of mind. Unfortunately my husband is a "collector" (toys, comics, records etc..) and never wants to get rid of anything. I can't get rid of his stuff, but it's overtaking my whole house. It gives me so much anxiety.
Maybe you can make deals about which spaces he is free to fill with his stuff and which spaces you are free to 'fill' with empty space, breathing space and peace of mind. You both have a right for space in the home... Just as it gives him anxiety to throw things away it gives you anxiety to drown in stuff. So there needs to be a 'give and take' with mutual respect for your needs.
I’m reading this book right now. I want to give it to my 80 yo mom, but she would be offended. I’ve already given her my MK book and very little happened. So, onward with my own decluttering so I can (hopefully) impress her by example. BTW, Mom was an ER nurse as well. Question: how did you start your decluttering business? I’d love to do that in my retirement (2 years). So back to watching more of your videos…..😃
My mom came over unexpectedly and she saw my house, clean and no clutter. She was like wait WHAT? No mess and 3 kids, 2 dogs. Tell me your secret! I said MINIMALISM makes cleaning a 5 bedroom house take 1 hr. She wants me to start with her laundryroom! Im so happy she asked me! 🥰🥳✨
woohoo!! This is awesome!!
Please come to my house!! LOL. Hey, I guess you could start a service if you wanted to.
for sentimental items I decided to only keep the things that I really use regularly that also make me think of the person, so I have kept things like a mixing bowl and wooden spoon that my grandma and I always used when making cookies when she would visit, and a pendant of my mothers that she wore all the time and works on me. other things I just try to remember that the item doesn't equal having the person, and I have my memories even without the stuff.
"It's probably hazardous to live in a cluttered present so that you can continue to live in the past." 😭 Thanks, this is the beginning.
I think it is!! I'm glad that resonated with you! You can do it!
Two things I like about Swedish Death Cleaning are: 1.) Labeling boxes of things that are sentimental to me (letters, photos, poems, awards) to be thrown out without a family member having to sort through the contents, and 2.) Labeling artwork that should be sent to auction because it is too valuable to throw out or donate - unless a family member wants to use it in their home ( hang it, not hoard it). Auction worthy items would generally be valued at $300 or more. Gold jewelry and jems should likewise be labeled so they are not accidently thrown out. Again. the auction house is an option instead of just hanging on to my stuff.
I look forward to your Christmas declutter videos. Just subscribed today. Saw you on Steph's declutter challenge video.
Thanks for coming here Eileen!! I love those things too! Glad you're here.
Looooove this video!!
Aw, thank you so much Dawn! It was fun to make because it's TRUE!
So informative. I’ve been reading the Swedish Death Cleaning book and it makes so much sense. I’m in the season of life where I need to do this.
That's awesome Denise! I really like the ideas in this book and the instincts.
Lol..my kids are gonna have to look in every shoe for stuff I hid & forgot🤣 , ...lol.jk
Before Amazon. Before The Dollar Store. Buy. Buy. Buy. I’m Getting ready to go through boxes of lifetime memories. I’m realizing at 68 YO that these “things” not only do not produce happy memories they are actually making me a bit sad Something else I’m realizing at my age that what time I have left on this earth isn’t meant for the past.
YES! This is the thing. Some of us the feel like we NEED to keep things, but they make us sad. You have gotta let that go
PTL Robbin…enjoying watching, listening to your videos as I practice decluttering. You come across so personable, also you are easy to listen to; thank you for sharing!
Thanks great, thanks so much Charlene!
Hi Robyn, just found your channel the other day. Subbed you far faster than I usually move to sub someone and here is why: You are funny (and I love funny) and you're funny in a way that seems natural, not contrived, and it works within the flow of your very organized videos. You are enjoyable to watch/listen to, and helpful. Keep up your fabulous ways. I'm sure your channel will blow up fast with a bang. Let's face it - sub rates are one of the few places where way more is much better!! LOL 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great video! Lost my mom 2 years ago, and some things were easy to declutter, others are much harder!!!
I imagine so. So glad that you liked the video, but I'm sorry to hear about you mom.
OMG I paused your video and looked around for my cat, like "is that her cat or mine?" Regarding the bear, I have those collectibles that were popular among moms and aunts in the 50's & 60's and my thoughts are, if I throw this away, will I later learn (minus the chips) it's worth 20K at antiques road show?
Right?? That's just the thing! I should be researching the old things more! Don't you love kitties :)
I could watch you all day! TY for being you :)
Aw, thanks Heather! What a sweet comment ☺️
I read her book and I loved it. 🥰
All of my son’s baby stuff through HS he doesn’t want after I pass. So, I’ve been paying for storage all these years to keep the items for nothing. 😑 Thanks to her book, I can throw everything out and feel good about it. Oh… and save money too. 😏 🌻 💫
Great job! Way to let go!
I so enjoyed this video!!
I'm so glad you liked it Kristi! Thanks!
Yep- got rid of a lot of dishes a few years ago, including the china cabinet. I decided to keep the good dishes and use them everyday. If any break, I absolutely do not care. Every day is my special occasion. I'm the same way with my crystal glasses. I got rid of the cheap wine glasses and only use my good stuff now.
Wonderful! 🥂
This lady is so funny, she makes it fun 🙏
Oh thanks Rachel!!
Thank you for the tips and the book suggestion. I'm binge watching swedish death cleaning videos today.
Awesome! You are welcome! I really like the whole idea of identifying the instincts that cause us to hold onto things! That Margaretta is a smart cookie!
I read that book loved it
That's great Carol. Thanks for watching!
I had to pause this a few times when you're talking about the little trinket. I thought I could hear my toddler mewling in her sleep. I was very confused 🤣
Oh funny!
Love your cats. Great simple tips that I will be thinking about for sure while I decide what's what.
Yay! I love reading this!
I think its so odd that you chose to use that photograph of the "Migrant Mother" by Dorthea Lange for your video. It is one of my favorite images but when I look at it I don't naturally think of scarcity. There are other outtakes from that day that I think better represent this.
Regardless, thank you for the video and the quick and easy to understand description of Swedish death cleaning,
Thank you. Yes, art is meaning for different people in different ways
I know what you say is true. My “stuff” does stress me out. I don’t do well saying no when friends offer their stuff. I clearly have to get it together.
You'll get there! You see the problem and now you just have to practice saying no.
"Life is short. Living in uncluttered spaces will bring you peace and help you enjoy your life much more"... I'm going to push myself to get it done.
Amen Gwendolyn!
I just have my mother’s childhood thimble and a few pictures of her. I have one piece of baby clothing and his first crib shoes. These are treasured. I am a senior senior. Most of my belongings have been distributed. The children have what they want.
Such a good idea Jeanne. Children are all away. Not sure if they want anything.lots of photo albums though.
@@ginatheng9506 They scanned all electronically
I think that is lovely. You have some keepsakes, so sweet.
So smart! Big job for sure!
@@MinimalistHome Took years!
Thank you. Very good points!
You're welcome Sandra!!
I have found that I've been hesitant of throwing out some childhood things due to a fear of not remembering.. I've tried to keep only the happy memories & letting go of the bad. However, i think i'm ready to even let go of more & keep only the special ones.
I totally get it! I did this in the summer. One thing you can do is write the memory down, maybe take a photo of the thing if you want, and then declutter if you want to
@@MinimalistHome oh totally, me too! But then I find that I will have too many photos, too many things written down everywhere, etc. I'm working up the courage to declutter sentimental things as memories for good. It's been a long time coming. I've had a terrible memory all my life so I've used a mass of things in my life to remember as much as I can, but just recently with you saying that fear of death is a mindset, it resonated so much for me. Oh well if my memories are gone as soon as the stuff is?? I need to live life now and try to 'make new memories' if that's even possible. Lol Freedom is what I think I ultimately am searching for. Freedom to forget, and freedom to move on.
@@juanitaglenn9042 Appreciate very much your reflection!
very insightful message, thank you 🙏☺️💓😘✨
Thanks Luna!
One man's clutter is another man's gold mine .
In some cases, yes :)
How do I "coach" my dad to declutter?
Oooh, here's the thing: he has to want to declutter. You can ask him how he would feel in a decluttered house?
Hello.... new subscriber....love this content 👌.... love from Ottawa,Canada xxx.
Awesome Line!! Thank you!! My fellow 🇨🇦
You are SO LUCKY you have a Gramma still!( icu nurse here..I get how life is fragile& short..) Record her voice, have her write ur kids a letter for their 18 bday,seeing her handwriting will be so cool .. I did this with a mini build a bear voice recorder.not in a bear. Its with her wedding veil ♡.My parents did the record a story book to my kids - we kept that♡ .
We did the t-shirt quilt instead of keeping like 100 t shirts from elementary school, middle school, sports, cheer, pta events ,her dance recitals, High school,SR night, honor roll...blah blah . For graduation ♡ .
Thanks Danielle!! Yes, do that too. My mother in law made sweet books for my kids of her reading bedtime stories.
That's a stupid idea. If they don't get to know a grandma then she is a random stranger to them. Just because someone matters to you doesn't mean they matter to others. It's insulting. If she doesn't know them then she has nothing real or personal to say to them. It's utterly meaningless. Don't push your relationship with someone down another person's throat.
When was your son born? Our son was born on Jan. 12, 2010. Just curious when you mentioned you had a newborn at the time of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
I think I'm ready to deep purge.
Slowly I've been getting things moved out, or put in bins for yardsale at my daughter's. I need to go through coat closets, and hobby drawers. Sewing -- material, etc. I have several tubs of things to go through.
Yay! You could do it Sandra!
Love the video 💖
Thank you Munira!! 😀
I decided to systematically reduce all of my *things* so that my kids aren't left with boxes of stuff to sort through. Hopefully I don't pass unexpectedly before my kids have their own lives established - because once they do, if they express interest in any *thing* from our house that I don't use, I will happily give it to them. I will absolutely not keep items "for them" if they haven't expressed a desire for me to do so. All that will do is leave them with a heap of guilt when I pass and they are faced with the burden of throwing all my *things* away because they don't want them. I don't want to put that on them.
I love that! I totally agree! It's not fair to keep things for others to go through if they don't have any meaning for them...or a desire to keep!!
the playlists don't show up at the end!
Eek! Thanks Colette!
I need help to do this. I want to get rid of almost 80% of the stuff.
You can do it! It just take a bit of time!
My only thoughts on this are to put away in a box(es) things that you may have a spare of thats an everyday, useful item(s). A large pot you may not frequently use will come in handy if power outage and you have to heat water on a camp stove to wash dishes, sanitize water, etc.... This iz coming ftom a prepper mentality and not a doomsdayer. We need to look back to thd lockdowns of 2020-now and also look at what happened in Texas this past winter. The world gets crazier each day so when you are going thru items keep in mind multifunctional items like that extra large pot I mentioned. Don't get so minimal that during a natural disaster, extended power outage, etc...you don't have that single burner propane stove & canisters you gave away, that sleeping bag that goes to zero degrees, etc.... Be wise & use discernment on what you keep AND get rid of. 😇
Yes, it does pay to be prepared, but I can be prepared with the items that I am keeping. I have a big stock pot and other big pots. We had a power outage for 3 days in December 2018. It was a real awakening. Especially for those of us in earthquake territory. Our kitchen stove is powered by propane which is really handy too. We used it during our power outage. I don't believe in saving things just in case, but we do have a box in case of disaster
Thank you 😊
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Our parents things can help us to grieve
I absolutely agree, but the volume of things matters
THE PERFECT VIDIEO.
Thank you!
“I’m a sucker for turkey artwork.” :)
I really am 😆
Loved the keepsake box - what would you do with their yearbooks?
I think keeping yearbooks is a good idea for sure
My daughter did an estate sale when an elderly neighbor died. Everything she had was broken, or chipped and glued together. My daughter threatened me if I keep anything like that for her to get rid of so I find it easier to throw away those items now.
Your daughter is so smart! Yes, it is really not fair to family if we leave them heaps of things
That's so sad.
Just watched this video...my grandmother passed and all the items I thought so much of and thought I wanted were the same..dirty, chipped, glued...we ended up trashing most of it..
well done! it’s very over whelming to be going in and cleaning up in the parents house after they pass.
Yes, it definitely is
Donate your body, and have your family open your home or apartment and give everything away FREE. Now enjoy your life.....
Interesting comment, I may consider.
I have never heard this suggestion before, but it is a very good idea!
Keep the penguin it’s a precursor of an amazing painting worth 700,000 art piece 🤩
😀
If I got one of those quilts with old clothes on it, it would go in a box in the closet to never be used. Ditto with teddy bears made from shirts of deceased relatives. I know some people love that stuff but I would rather have something the deceased person made like a piece of art. I kept a few dresses I made my daughter and her daughters wore them. I wouldn’t keep masses of old clothes just because someone I loved once wore them. Maybe a wedding dress or prom dresses for the grands to play dress up but now most parents buy properly sized Disney princess gowns, so dress up in adult clothes isn’t even attractive to kids.
Yes!! I has been great to eat it all up!
I have moved towards minimalism for peace of mind. Unfortunately my husband is a "collector" (toys, comics, records etc..) and never wants to get rid of anything. I can't get rid of his stuff, but it's overtaking my whole house. It gives me so much anxiety.
I hear ya! I have a child like that. It's hard when we are married to the collector. You can control your stuff, so that's something right?
Maybe you can make deals about which spaces he is free to fill with his stuff and which spaces you are free to 'fill' with empty space, breathing space and peace of mind. You both have a right for space in the home... Just as it gives him anxiety to throw things away it gives you anxiety to drown in stuff. So there needs to be a 'give and take' with mutual respect for your needs.
I’m reading this book right now. I want to give it to my 80 yo mom, but she would be offended. I’ve already given her my MK book and very little happened. So, onward with my own decluttering so I can (hopefully) impress her by example. BTW, Mom was an ER nurse as well. Question: how did you start your decluttering business? I’d love to do that in my retirement (2 years).
So back to watching more of your videos…..😃
Yes, it is hard to hint things to people. I just say it! Haha.
👏 👏👏👏
😀😀😀
You are Lisa Simpson now, forever more in my mind.
Haha, why?
👏👏👏👏👏👏😃
😀🤩
just get rid of it all
Yeah! 😀
That's a bit overboard. While you're at it, lay the ax to the roots and have no sense of belonging.