Great video, as well as watching you declutter the stuff in your basement, it's what gave me the push I needed to tackle my Monica's closet, my garage, and get it done in 2 weekends! It's my happy place now 😊
I know I'm late for a comment, but in case someone here wouldn't know this video, I strongly recommend it. I watched it last year, and it made me understand what was bothering me in my house.
For whatever reason, you throwing away your high school yearbook empowers me to do the same with mine! High school was miserable for me as well being bullied because I am an albino. I don't even know why I have held on to it. I guess I thought my kids would want to see what I look like when I was in high school, but I can show them a senior picture and get rid of the book! Thank you thank you thank you!
Same. For some reason, I thought that throwing away a year book was against the rules. Who's rules? High School was not my "glory days". I do once in awhile try to think of a name from high school, from the rare friends that felt comfortable. Not actually a reason to save, as I don't even know where they are. I graduated in 1976 and it is somewhere in the attic. Now, are 4 college yearbooks any different??
I too am doing the same thing...I will do it after I unpack it in October when I move. (I started packing early, and did some major decluttering...about 20 boxes already to thrift stores..but somehow I packed that. I too hated high school.
Actually some people even if they can afford streaming services don't want them...The only streaming I have right now is my u-tube and Prime. We have an excellent ability to get local stations so I continue watching my u-tubesome local news and prime and dvd's that I have gotten from thrift stores. So donate the to either library or thrift stores.
I got rid of all my yearbooks and even most pictures from those yrs and my 20's. I was just feeling done with that phase of my life. Ready to move on and not look back.
Just reading this made me realise that I am also done with my high school stage and all that goes along with it. I have boxes of pictures from that stage of life. Many with my boyfriend who became the father of my kids later on. I have been divorced from him for 33years, for goodness sake! Why on earth I am holding on to those pictures boggles my mind. I think I will look for a few of the best, ask my kids if they are interested in those and dump the rest. Thank you! I needed to read your comment today.
Some people buy DVDs because they don't want to pay for subscriptions. If you're already donating things, I would just put them with the donations. If they smell funky, I would trash them.
You are doing great. My father traveled in international finance. I, too, recall the excitement of a new doll each time he came home. I remember the emotion and actually the dolls as a fond memory. The dolls were given away during my college years. Don’t be too harsh on yourself because you kept items for so many years. You are where you need to be to have success with this journey/transformation. Even as a long time practicing minimalist, I find that I keep some things for too long. Last week I shredded photos from a shoulder surgery (from 2014). We keep so much without thinking about it’s value. That’s why, for many of us, minimalism is a continuing process. I look forward to more videos. You continue to inspire me.
This was like watching myself declutter my sentimental items!!! Girl, I had ALL those porcelain dolls, dreamcicles, oh my! I started out with 10 (TEN!!) 50 gallon totes of my childhood. I now have one 12x12 cube bin of my sentimental items + photographs I have purged through. It feel AMAZING to have let all that go!! Really enjoyed this!!!
I decluttered many sentimental boxes myself. For every empty bin I gave my self a treat. I am not talking food but I planned an event where I could make new memories without acquiring new stuff. I planned nature walks with my family where we went for a small hike and a picnic. The rule was no gathering of keepsakes or anything from our outing. Just memories and having a good time. Another thing we did was go to a dinosaur park where you walked through the woods and when you set off sensors the dinosaurs became animated and made noise. The kids had a blast. Well so did I. We broke the rule once when we went to an amusement park but we played only games where the prizes would be like t shirts or baseball caps. Things that when they faded or out grown would be thrown out or passed down to someone else. Now when we go on trips or something like that and say we need pillows for the house( for beds) we would buy them from where we are. Now we go around the house and say things like yeah that mug you have your coffee in we bought in Florida or that plate you are eating off of comes from Arizona. Things like that. When they break the next trip we buy a replacement piece. It is so commonly known in our house that friends will ask where does this come from and in telling to story it re- enforces the memory so when the item breaks the memories are solid. We don’t need that piece to remember it by. It is so great to do this that I feel so relieved that I don’t have the silent to do list anymore. I love it. I enjoy the minimalist life.
With sentimental things, sometimes we get confused as to whose memories they are. If you have things from your grandma that you don’t remember, that’s her memories. If you remember doing things, using things etc with your grandma then that’s your memories. Then you will have degrees of sentimentality on the items you remember.
Good for you for getting rid of the yearbook if it has negative emotions for you. I have passed along several things that hold negative emotion for me - things given to me by an abusive person. While the things are lovely on their own - a gorgeous wooden jewelry box, some pretty canisters and baskets, a few pieces of silver jewelry, I feel negative emotions when I see them, and I have started passing them on to others who can make beautiful new memories with them. It's very freeing, emotionally, to get rid of that baggage. I didn't even realize it was a problem until I got rid of the first item.
I love it when you and Andy have these hilarious one liners, like, “Stuff is feeling stuffy” is so iconic. ✌️😁 (EDIT: I feel like there is such huge progress in the sentimental category!!! Hugs! 🤗)
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH Never bought a year book.....always knew it was a real waste of hard earned money. ..just a tiny note if you put things like cardboard into recycled boxes and garbage into a garbage bag right where you are decluttering it will save you priceless time.... all you have to do is take it out later......STUPENDOUS EFFORT!!!
Just want to say - at some point once you’ve emptied a bunch of bins, make sure you donate/sell some! While it might be good to save an empty one or two for unexpected things, it can remove the temptation to fill them up again. Awesome job! Love this series
I thought that they were going to move again after Andy leaves the Navy? It would be a better idea to hold onto the totes until after that move. Would save on getting more cardboard boxes and totes for that.
Great job. So happy to see how you’ve evolved in your process. I also get why you are going through the boxes to make sure nothing personal is disposed of haphazardly and it also gives you a chance to again honor the items (and loved ones) you’ve kept for so long before finally letting it go. Keep up the great videos.
I fantasize some days (usually when I’m cleaning cat hair off of furniture in rooms I don’t otherwise use of a too big house) about being one of those extreme minimalists with only the bare necessities and no furniture 😂
I used to own a 13 room Victorian "cottage" which is where my daughters grew up. When they made it up and out into the world I decided I didn't want to be the caretaker of the museum of the life we used to live. I now own a small 386 square foot condo that is perfect for me. I absolutely love it! I kept all the things I truly loved but the rest of it was given away or donated. It's wonderfully freeing.
I also threw out my high school yearbooks. I wish I could have the ridiculous amount of money I spent on them. There is nothing from high school I want or need to remember.
I think it will take another pass through to really streamline your household since your views on stuff have changed so much from when you began your journey! It does get easier as you go. I just have photos left to do which will be difficult due to many forms of media and inheriting photos from my parents. Looking forward to getting your input on that!
A quote by Marie Kondo that has stuck with me: " the true purpose of a present is to be received". What a magnificent statement! So in the moment the present was handed over, the reason for this present has been accomplished, it's done, you have received. So now whatever happens to this present - does it still matter?
Some people may have the joy etc end with the receiving of a gift. I love still enjoying the gift and remembering the day I got it and thinking about the person shopping for the gift I love. Not everyone thinks the whole Marie Kondo thing is so amazing or that Scandinavian death cleaning is a gift to future generations. I'm happy to watch people declutter their homes without wanting to follow their minimal lifestyle in the same way I love watching families with 8 or 10 kids without thinking I'd desire a family that big. Some people think the world is over populated and evil and to have kids is wrong. I don't have to believe in that either. Sometimes I think we assume our kids will thank us for choices we make like not keeping things and they actually look at life and possessions very differently.
We still do DVDs, though we mostly borrow instead of buying. It's not even the cost of streaming, its managing the onslaught of entertainment. But there is definitely a second hand market for them. It's fun watching you go through and release stuff. I did this about 4 years ago. We were preparing for a major move and had to do it ourselves. I also got rid of all my yearbooks. I worked on all of them, even designed layouts for some of them, and never looked at them again.
I put them in the folders and always take some camping The internet at most campgrounds doesn’t support streaming. Or you could put them on a media server
I take my used DVD’s and books to a used book store in my community. They give you store credit for anything you bring in. I love it because sometimes I can’t find an old movie or book I want on streaming services so I’ll go get it from there and then bring it back when I’m done. Kind of like an old Blockbuster 😂
I clapped as you showed your empty bin! Watching you sort through your totes of old sentimental stuff and get rid of SO much has encouraged me to try to tackle my many MANY boxes and bins. Thank you for taking us on your life changing journey and inspiring all of us!!
Sometimes I go on self imposed spending freezes where I tell myself "I'm broke", "I can't afford that", "I don't need this" etc. I don't carry my credit cards or checkbook with me and I don't stop at ANY stores, not even the grocery store. I get by with what I have for as long as I can. This really helps me see how much stuff I have that I don't need and certainly don't need more of. It's amazing how many meals you can make before you HAVE to buy anything at the grocery store.
I have those daydreams too! You’re not alone! Sometimes I even declutter boxes without looking in them if I havn’t opened them for a long time 🙈 I actually have no sentimentals at all left because I remember people and memories just the same and I have such a low tolerance these days for things just beeing stored away in boxes and never being used or displayed. I just think about when I die who will actually need that stuff? Noone is the answer to that 😂
Thank you so much for your videos they help so much. I've been going throw items I literally just hit 33 years old and once I got my own place I had so many items that I wanted to cry didn't help family members were also giving me items. I felt lost to be honest by watching your channel I have literally got rid of 20 percent of items so far and still going. When you feel lost it helps having someone to help you that understands your not alone dealing with this issue as well.
After watching this video I did my own sentimental box with dolls. I donated the dolls to an animal shelter thrift store. I saw the dolls on display at the thrift store and it gave me great joy to see them proudly displayed so that somebody else could love the dolls. Thanks for the toughest video it led me to go through my toughest box.
When it comes to the yearbook, I know exactly how you felt! I gave myself permission to throw away my Junior High yearbook because in my opinion, it was the absolute worst time of my life and I don't need a reminder living in my drawers that I open up one day and remember how miserable I was back then. This is a great candidate for letting go and I'm glad you did it!
Yes, every time I went through things from high school I just immediately felt like someone sent me in a catapult back in time. Feelings of isolation and insecurity etc. Who needs that? Away they went.
I think the funk may be from the water in the snow globes that escaped -- mildew. I love the memory you have of your dad bringing home the dolls for you.
Sentimental is hard, but now I give myself only 2 choices (aside from photos) - 1. Display or use / 2. Discard. It helps that our house has almost no storage except small bedroom closets. Boundaries can be a blessing.
Thats a good word for clutter and sentimental clutter especially is haunting or being haunted by ghosts of the past. I mean if its a happy memory youll remember it or be able to take a photo of it wrote down the memory you had forgotten without the items prompting it or a relative telling you the meaning behind it and then donating it. Otherwise were basically like the damned carrying there past sins and selves and failures and just the weight of all weve done like ball and chain dragging behind us. Thats why i think its so freeing to let go of the physical items of the past and truly feels like a weight has been lifted because weve realised ah i dont have to carry that burden i can forgive myself i can let go of the chains and continue forward with only the knowledge of what ive learned which has rewritten me to be who i am now and the memories i wish to keep that will strengthen and give me hope and a warmth to hold moving forward.
Yay, Erica! What a change in attitude towards The Stuff! We share old DVDs in a free library box in our back lane. Anything from books of all kinds to DVDs to 'even' CD's goes in there and everything always disappears! There are many such boxes in our neighborhood, so some things travel around the city. The kids always go look for new books in there and when we're done with them, they simply go back in there!
You may be overawed by the fact that you have had some of this stuff for 40+ years, but.... you are going through it now and not waiting any longer. I started my decluttering journey when I was 60. A lot more stuff, with a lot more memories to deal with. Keep going. You are doing great.
I feel such a tug as I see you discarding those pretty doll-bells and other knick knacks I remember seeing in gift stores and wishing for many years ago. At the time I couldn't have imagined them ever becoming old junk or clutter, or even broken. And if those things I wished for have become old, what am I? It is a good lesson that nothing lasts forever, and to manage our "inventory" accordingly.
There is no better feeling than once you’ve decluttered all of those bins, donating the now empty bins to charity. Can’t fill them up again if they’re no longer there. 🤗 Great job as always! PS: I still have some DVDs for the TVs in our truck for long road trips. We donate our unwanted ones to the local library & love to borrow from the library also. It gives me the nostalgia of going to Blockbuster, but without the late fees. lol...
First of all, thank you Erica, you 'give me permission' to declutter, and I really appreciate you processing as you go along. Second - I buy DVDs from charity shops, so my recommendation would be 'donate' - but it's your stuff, so your decision!
I want to give you a BIG THANKS!! for your 'do I need it, do I use it or do I love it?' method! Because of this 'declutter sentimental' mini serie, I now did my own sentimental boxes and knew how to do it. Those boxes we also moved a few times and took some precious space. Now we can make a musicroom with drums and stuff for our kids and ourselfs. So THANK YOU, it helped a lot!! Love from the Netherland
Just went through this! And I did exactly what you said in the beginning!!! I took everything outside and posted online that I was a yard sale! I haven’t looked at what was in the boxes since I was 5 or younger, therefore I did not remember ANY of it! I didn’t even want to go through it. I just wanted all of the boxes out of my life! And they left! Now I have a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders!
Not everyone has streaming services so I do always put CDs in charity bags. You are doing an amazing job there Erica. Honestly watching you now is inspiring. You have changed from looking at the potential of each item to just what serves you right now. Excellent job! 😀
Hi, Erica. I really enjoy the sentimental series that you have going. When my son started middle school 3 years ago I started going through his school things (he is 15 now). Some have already started breaking down (in tote in climate control bedroom closet). His items are pretty much squared away after a recent go through again. After watching your videos, I realized that I could go through the small amount of things I had. I thought he doesn't want these. I feel better knowing I am the one tossing them (recycle, thrift shop). Thank you for your insight and outloud thinking when making a decision on what to do with the item. It makes me stop and think even more now when I go through my things.
Only do this if you are in the local area. A local history group may be interested in one great copy from local high schools. If you live across the country...just recycle it.
Throwing it away sounds highly therapeutic to me. Perhaps after drawing goatees and glasses on all the photos.... I support you in your need to toss it.
Well done! I can feel the almost repulsion when you approach these boxes and admire the determination you’re showing. I would not understand in a million years throwing out a box without checking through it first - besides the very real possibility of missing an item you would want honoured - there’s the personal papers with the security implications and photos which you definitely don’t want to lose - also what about the donations? Those pretty little figurines might be your trash but there’s no doubt they’d be someone’s treasures. Better with another person who loves them than in landfill.
I’ve been watching your progress from the very beginning and I’m so impressed with your growth! Sentimental is the hardest, but you have your goals and criteria so well thought out and you’re whipping through those bins so fast. You should feel very proud! In my decluttering process I also left sentimental last. It really helped to have everything else decluttered and then I could make wise decisions about how to use and display the things that really mean something to me versus feeling like it was just more stuff to contend with. And I so relate to your comment in the beginning about feeling like you have too much stuff again. I went through the same thing this winter. I had finished the first layer of the onion last May and was feeling so good and then this winter I felt like there was just stuff everywhere again. I’m encouraged to know that most everyone has to continue decluttering and being intentional about “stuff in” and “stuff out”. Keep up the good work!
I never had too many things, I always was good at decluttering..., But I had a number of sentiment items . Some of the sentimental items always got me feeling sad as unfortunately I would remember the person had been horrible to me and that item was given to me out of guilt and an apology of sorts 🥱 so finally last month I got rid of 100% of all those items and I feel good
Lucinda, if they DON"T get the Navy to pack for them, it will be a lot less than half as many! LOL The Navy packed so many boxes with one or two items and scads of paper!!!
Erica I have been cheering you on since the beginning of your journey! I just did my final sentimental declutter.. It takes several passes..I too trashed my year books...I hated high school!keep going you got this!!
Great video! I still remember watching your videos when you were going through the boxes in the basement that were delivered from the storage unit. I felt so bad for you because it seemed like such a daunting task. It was cool to see your thought processes develop and now to watch where you're at, amazing!! I really believe that both you and Dawn at The Minimal Mom have helped me to get a different view on my clutter and especially on sentimental stuff. Thank you!
Maybe you can live in your camper for a while and see what you really need? 🤭 I also threw my yearbook away. I never wanted it, but my parents made me buy it. Found it in my basement covered in mold. Made it so easy to throw out without any guilt ☺
Another great video! (waited for it all day, it's almost 10PM in Latvia now) And you have inspired me to treat my hair better and bring my natural curls to light. You know how it is when one day you wake up to a new season of your life and know that now it's time to take care of yourself as part of the nature you care about so much.
I'm soooo much waiting for your next moving, and I really hope there will be less than a hundred boxes! I have moved with my husband and two kids... and our dog... two months ago. 38(!) Boxes 38(!!!!) It was so freaking amazing, I wish you will enjoy such experience soon.
We totally still watch DVDs! Also I got a legitimate thrill of excitement when I saw you had a new decluttering video out. I can’t wait for the next one!!!
Go Erica goooo!! You’re such an inspiration to me!! After watching this, you gave me the push to go through two areas of my basement that I’ve been putting off for months!! Hearing you talk through your process is a HUGE help too!! Thanks again for sharing your journey!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I buy DVDs at thrift stores and department stores and off Facebook marketplace. I also actually loved looking through childhood craft projects etc that my parents and grandparents saved from my childhood. I felt loved in that someone kept them. One of my sisters and me had fun looking at all sorts of random things when we moved my Mum out of our childhood home. Maybe I am weird. But I'm proud to own things that I had seen in my grandma's house when we visited.
I appreciate your mature/developed way of how to deal with sentimental items + honoring the person without keeping the thing :) Thanks for verbalizing it to help others too!
Thank you for going through this process and sharing your thinking while you are going through it! These unpacking videos have nuggets of wisdom in them🙂
Your video has really resonated with me. I will be going thru my Mom's house, and she saved everything! These types of videos are helping me tremendously! I will have to let go of so much that meant something to my mom. I can do this. 👍 Her memory I will treasure. ❤️
Omg love these videos sooooooo much. Just so you get the story of what your journey and videos do once they hit the airways... is that how TH-cam works 🤪anyway...I watched you throw away the little doll your Nan made that held crayons and various other sentimental items and it has freed me to even CONSIDER doing that. Before watching you it didn’t even feel like an option. So because of you a Woman in Wales in Britain is going to let go of things she carried into her 50s 🤗🤗🤗 why??? Thank you 😊 Also can you say good bye at the end of your videos lol I always think my phone died as you just go ( said with so much love and laughter) Honestly thank you so so much xx 🤗💕
Erica you said so many great things in this video! Starting with stuff is feeling stuffy!! Love it. I admire how you are intentionally honoring your loved ones and yourself and your kids by what you are keeping. Thank you for sharing this process.
I just love you and your channel! I have followed you from the beginning. Watching you today for some motivation as I'm going through a similar journey. When you smelled those dolls and gagged I laughed so hard out loud my dog looked at me like I was crazy! Thank you for the reminder that you don't need to keep everything for the memories. I agree with the others on the DVDs if they don't stink donate them. We had a tornado go through one summer and we were without electric for 4 days, I was able to hook up the TV and the DVD and run them on the generator so my kids had something to do in the evening. They're older now but I think it's a good idea. Also if you're on the road camping it's good for that too. My only issue was storing them in several binders. But I found a much better way. I got a bunch of the envelope slips they go in and put them in two acrylic boxes on a shelf and I have lots of them and they all fit in those two acrylics...
First off I have loved seeing your progress from the beginning! It has been so encouraging! Second yes people still watch DVDs. My in-laws don’t have good enough internet to stream anything so they tend to get DVDs so they can watch movies every once in a while. If they are still in good shape (no major scratches and don’t smell too bad) I would donate them.
I can’t wait until you get to photos. That’s what I’m struggling with now. I took a whole week off from work to deal with them. It was exhausting, and I still have a ton of them, many of people who died before I was born!
Erica, you are the queen of keeping it real. I absolutely love how you take us through your thought processes and are completely honest with how long these things have been in boxes etc. Just love it!
I would love to see the piles of trash and recycle after you have decluttered. Also, can you please film your process once you are ready to display or organize everything in the basement? Maybe show some of Andy setting up his beer making station. That would be cool!
I love these sentimental items videos! I love hearing the process and it motivates me to finally go through some intense sentimental stuff. I’ve already watched all three twice each and will probably listen while decluttering 🙂 I also find it impressive how you went from taking deep breaths in part 1 to practically dancing in part 3.🙌
My year books are haunting me; don’t know why... I keep hemming and hawing about chunking them; I am about ready to. Heck, I’m ready to toss everything too like you said and start fresh with only what we absolutely need. I am still trying to get the hubby on board with letting go of stuff...I just need to keep plugging away at my own stuff first. Keep going Erica!!
I buy DVDS when my internet goes down .The charity shops sell them 3 for £1 or 50p each .DVD new releases are still sold in English shops because cinemas haven't reopened yet. So yes people still watch DVDS
Well done 👏 your doing fantastic going through sentimental so quickly. I’m procrastinating with my stuff in the attic (not many people have basements in Ireland) so it’s shouting down at me lol 😂 Your an inspiration to keep going no matter what. I think people still watch DVDs. Before you get rid of the dolls maybe take a picture of them. Oh and check the bags and purses for money or personal stuff. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍
So proud of your progress. I also trashed my yearbooks. I figured if I haven’t looked at them once in 20+ years I don’t need them. Also I felt like there was a part of you that healed in that moment that you decided to trash your yearbook. YAY ERICA!
Yes, I still watch DVD's. I love your unpacking/decluttering videos. I have bought the book "Green Housekeeping" by Ellen Sandburg. Very educational. Through you and The Minimal Mom I'm wanting to declutter my home as well. It was my grandmother's house. So, it has a majority of her things and my parent's things as well. My grandmother passed away in '07. My mom passed away in '05. My dad moved in with my younger sister last year. Plus, there are things stored here from my son and my youngest daughter. I have no room to put any of my things. (I have lived in the house for maybe 10 yrs or so.) Dad is a collector of books and tools. A real pack rat. My mother was about the same way. Through watching your videos I've learned to be intentional in my buying. I will ask myself these questions: 1. Will I really use that? 2. Do I need that? 3. Do I have a home for that? I have also learned how to declutter my own things. If it's broken and no way of fixing it. It goes in the trash. If it's a saved plastic container it gets demoted. (Animal dish or whatever.) If it's a lid with no mate. The lid goes in the trash. Thank you for walking us through your process with you. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Have a blessed day.
Here’s the Silent To Do List from The Minimal Mom! th-cam.com/video/BtpAbdv4d98/w-d-xo.html
Great video, as well as watching you declutter the stuff in your basement, it's what gave me the push I needed to tackle my Monica's closet, my garage, and get it done in 2 weekends! It's my happy place now 😊
How many of us have uncomfortable memories of high school? Those who loved it maybe peaked too early in life??!🤪
@@barbaraturnbull7164 Exactly. There is life after high school! (According to Hall & Oates - Adult Education - song) lol
@@cmck2021 lol 😆. Can you believe I'm 73 and using emojis?!!!
I know I'm late for a comment, but in case someone here wouldn't know this video, I strongly recommend it. I watched it last year, and it made me understand what was bothering me in my house.
For whatever reason, you throwing away your high school yearbook empowers me to do the same with mine! High school was miserable for me as well being bullied because I am an albino. I don't even know why I have held on to it. I guess I thought my kids would want to see what I look like when I was in high school, but I can show them a senior picture and get rid of the book! Thank you thank you thank you!
Same. For some reason, I thought that throwing away a year book was against the rules. Who's rules? High School was not my "glory days". I do once in awhile try to think of a name from high school, from the rare friends that felt comfortable. Not actually a reason to save, as I don't even know where they are. I graduated in 1976 and it is somewhere in the attic. Now, are 4 college yearbooks any different??
And now I can do the same with mine lol
So powerful!
“Why did I hang on to all that crap of bad memories??” I ask as I walked away from the dumpster. 🤣🤦♀️
I too am doing the same thing...I will do it after I unpack it in October when I move. (I started packing early, and did some major decluttering...about 20 boxes already to thrift stores..but somehow I packed that. I too hated high school.
I collect dvds from thrift stores! Those are definitely donation worthy!
Alrighty!!! Will donate!!
You can also use the Decluttr app to scan the barcodes and sell all at once...super handy. 👍
Same I got most of my collection of DVDs from thrift shops and pawn stores.
I buy them for my kids
Many libraries have dvd ‘s , donate there. Not everyone can afford streaming services.
Actually some people even if they can afford streaming services don't want them...The only streaming I have right now is my u-tube and Prime. We have an excellent ability to get local stations so I continue watching my u-tubesome local news and prime and dvd's that I have gotten from thrift stores. So donate the to either library or thrift stores.
I got rid of all my yearbooks and even most pictures from those yrs and my 20's. I was just feeling done with that phase of my life. Ready to move on and not look back.
Just reading this made me realise that I am also done with my high school stage and all that goes along with it. I have boxes of pictures from that stage of life. Many with my boyfriend who became the father of my kids later on. I have been divorced from him for 33years, for goodness sake! Why on earth I am holding on to those pictures boggles my mind. I think I will look for a few of the best, ask my kids if they are interested in those and dump the rest. Thank you! I needed to read your comment today.
A lot of public libraries have yearbooks online from the schools in their town.
Some people buy DVDs because they don't want to pay for subscriptions. If you're already donating things, I would just put them with the donations. If they smell funky, I would trash them.
We buy dvd 's because our special needs daughter can run a DVD player but can't do the tv for hulu, etc...helps her stay independent...
I buy dvds cause the last time I trusted an outside service to store stuff I lost it all.
We get dvds from the library. We still have a few we cannot release yet. Although Im getting closer and closer to tossing more.
You are doing great. My father traveled in international finance. I, too, recall the excitement of a new doll each time he came home. I remember the emotion and actually the dolls as a fond memory. The dolls were given away during my college years. Don’t be too harsh on yourself because you kept items for so many years. You are where you need to be to have success with this journey/transformation. Even as a long time practicing minimalist, I find that I keep some things for too long. Last week I shredded photos from a shoulder surgery (from 2014). We keep so much without thinking about it’s value. That’s why, for many of us, minimalism is a continuing process. I look forward to more videos. You continue to inspire me.
This was like watching myself declutter my sentimental items!!! Girl, I had ALL those porcelain dolls, dreamcicles, oh my! I started out with 10 (TEN!!) 50 gallon totes of my childhood. I now have one 12x12 cube bin of my sentimental items + photographs I have purged through. It feel AMAZING to have let all that go!! Really enjoyed this!!!
I decluttered many sentimental boxes myself. For every empty bin I gave my self a treat. I am not talking food but I planned an event where I could make new memories without acquiring new stuff. I planned nature walks with my family where we went for a small hike and a picnic. The rule was no gathering of keepsakes or anything from our outing. Just memories and having a good time. Another thing we did was go to a dinosaur park where you walked through the woods and when you set off sensors the dinosaurs became animated and made noise. The kids had a blast. Well so did I. We broke the rule once when we went to an amusement park but we played only games where the prizes would be like t shirts or baseball caps. Things that when they faded or out grown would be thrown out or passed down to someone else. Now when we go on trips or something like that and say we need pillows for the house( for beds) we would buy them from where we are. Now we go around the house and say things like yeah that mug you have your coffee in we bought in Florida or that plate you are eating off of comes from Arizona. Things like that. When they break the next trip we buy a replacement piece. It is so commonly known in our house that friends will ask where does this come from and in telling to story it re- enforces the memory so when the item breaks the memories are solid. We don’t need that piece to remember it by. It is so great to do this that I feel so relieved that I don’t have the silent to do list anymore. I love it. I enjoy the minimalist life.
Oh god. The silent to do list. I felt that. Wow. Edit: I usually talk in full sentences but you really put that into words so well, thank you!
With sentimental things, sometimes we get confused as to whose memories they are. If you have things from your grandma that you don’t remember, that’s her memories. If you remember doing things, using things etc with your grandma then that’s your memories. Then you will have degrees of sentimentality on the items you remember.
Good for you for getting rid of the yearbook if it has negative emotions for you. I have passed along several things that hold negative emotion for me - things given to me by an abusive person. While the things are lovely on their own - a gorgeous wooden jewelry box, some pretty canisters and baskets, a few pieces of silver jewelry, I feel negative emotions when I see them, and I have started passing them on to others who can make beautiful new memories with them. It's very freeing, emotionally, to get rid of that baggage. I didn't even realize it was a problem until I got rid of the first item.
I love it when you and Andy have these hilarious one liners, like, “Stuff is feeling stuffy” is so iconic. ✌️😁 (EDIT: I feel like there is such huge progress in the sentimental category!!! Hugs! 🤗)
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH Never bought a year book.....always knew it was a real waste of hard earned money. ..just a tiny note if you put things like cardboard into recycled boxes and garbage into a garbage bag right where you are decluttering it will save you priceless time.... all you have to do is take it out later......STUPENDOUS EFFORT!!!
Just want to say - at some point once you’ve emptied a bunch of bins, make sure you donate/sell some! While it might be good to save an empty one or two for unexpected things, it can remove the temptation to fill them up again. Awesome job! Love this series
I thought that they were going to move again after Andy leaves the Navy? It would be a better idea to hold onto the totes until after that move. Would save on getting more cardboard boxes and totes for that.
@@laurahenuset5206 only if the totes fit inside each other and take mi8mal spqce.
Great job. So happy to see how you’ve evolved in your process. I also get why you are going through the boxes to make sure nothing personal is disposed of haphazardly and it also gives you a chance to again honor the items (and loved ones) you’ve kept for so long before finally letting it go. Keep up the great videos.
I fantasize some days (usually when I’m cleaning cat hair off of furniture in rooms I don’t otherwise use of a too big house) about being one of those extreme minimalists with only the bare necessities and no furniture 😂
I used to own a 13 room Victorian "cottage" which is where my daughters grew up. When they made it up and out into the world I decided I didn't want to be the caretaker of the museum of the life we used to live. I now own a small 386 square foot condo that is perfect for me. I absolutely love it! I kept all the things I truly loved but the rest of it was given away or donated. It's wonderfully freeing.
I also threw out my high school yearbooks. I wish I could have the ridiculous amount of money I spent on them. There is nothing from high school I want or need to remember.
Same...i dont even buy them for my own kids....they dont even want them...they say.."why do I want a book full of people i dont know!" .....truth
I've hung on to mine. I don't really know why. I even have my mom's since she's passed away. Hmmm I need to take pictures and toss.
I still have mine. Cost was maybe $40. Hated school. But nice to sometimes look up old photos. Plus my dad's backside is in one. 😆
I think it will take another pass through to really streamline your household since your views on stuff have changed so much from when you began your journey! It does get easier as you go. I just have photos left to do which will be difficult due to many forms of media and inheriting photos from my parents. Looking forward to getting your input on that!
Sounds like time for a scanning party!
A quote by Marie Kondo that has stuck with me: " the true purpose of a present is to be received". What a magnificent statement! So in the moment the present was handed over, the reason for this present has been accomplished, it's done, you have received. So now whatever happens to this present - does it still matter?
Some people may have the joy etc end with the receiving of a gift. I love still enjoying the gift and remembering the day I got it and thinking about the person shopping for the gift I love. Not everyone thinks the whole Marie Kondo thing is so amazing or that Scandinavian death cleaning is a gift to future generations. I'm happy to watch people declutter their homes without wanting to follow their minimal lifestyle in the same way I love watching families with 8 or 10 kids without thinking I'd desire a family that big. Some people think the world is over populated and evil and to have kids is wrong. I don't have to believe in that either. Sometimes I think we assume our kids will thank us for choices we make like not keeping things and they actually look at life and possessions very differently.
We still do DVDs, though we mostly borrow instead of buying. It's not even the cost of streaming, its managing the onslaught of entertainment. But there is definitely a second hand market for them.
It's fun watching you go through and release stuff. I did this about 4 years ago. We were preparing for a major move and had to do it ourselves. I also got rid of all my yearbooks. I worked on all of them, even designed layouts for some of them, and never looked at them again.
Those empty bins will come in useful the next time you move, for the things in your main house.
Awesome clearing. I can see it's getting easier. xx
Yes,and you can pack them correctly,by category and labeled.🤣
Yes. People buy DVDs. They’re cheap. 😊 we take them to our cottage to watch.
Oh! Sure! What a good idea!
Very few. Most people don't even have an device to play them
@@3llenzinha not true... You can play DVDs on blue-ray players, computers etc..
I own hundreds 😁
I put them in the folders and always take some camping
The internet at most campgrounds doesn’t support streaming. Or you could put them on a media server
I watch dvds of my favorite movies all the time! I got a lot of them from thrift stores!!!
I take my used DVD’s and books to a used book store in my community. They give you store credit for anything you bring in. I love it because sometimes I can’t find an old movie or book I want on streaming services so I’ll go get it from there and then bring it back when I’m done. Kind of like an old Blockbuster 😂
I clapped as you showed your empty bin! Watching you sort through your totes of old sentimental stuff and get rid of SO much has encouraged me to try to tackle my many MANY boxes and bins. Thank you for taking us on your life changing journey and inspiring all of us!!
Sometimes I go on self imposed spending freezes where I tell myself "I'm broke", "I can't afford that", "I don't need this" etc. I don't carry my credit cards or checkbook with me and I don't stop at ANY stores, not even the grocery store. I get by with what I have for as long as I can. This really helps me see how much stuff I have that I don't need and certainly don't need more of. It's amazing how many meals you can make before you HAVE to buy anything at the grocery store.
Erica, we've moved 11 times and I keep the plastic bins to move all of our stuff! Much less waste than using cardboard since you already have them!
I have those daydreams too! You’re not alone! Sometimes I even declutter boxes without looking in them if I havn’t opened them for a long time 🙈 I actually have no sentimentals at all left because I remember people and memories just the same and I have such a low tolerance these days for things just beeing stored away in boxes and never being used or displayed. I just think about when I die who will actually need that stuff? Noone is the answer to that 😂
Thank you so much for your videos they help so much. I've been going throw items I literally just hit 33 years old and once I got my own place I had so many items that I wanted to cry didn't help family members were also giving me items. I felt lost to be honest by watching your channel I have literally got rid of 20 percent of items so far and still going. When you feel lost it helps having someone to help you that understands your not alone dealing with this issue as well.
After we moved we couldn't afford to get cable, we watched our dvds for months and we were so happy! Yes people still watch dvds!!
My Father In Law still watches and buys DVDs. Also... the library!
After watching this video I did my own sentimental box with dolls. I donated the dolls to an animal shelter thrift store. I saw the dolls on display at the thrift store and it gave me great joy to see them proudly displayed so that somebody else could love the dolls. Thanks for the toughest video it led me to go through my toughest box.
When you smelled the dolls and gagged I was DYINGGG!! 😂
When it comes to the yearbook, I know exactly how you felt! I gave myself permission to throw away my Junior High yearbook because in my opinion, it was the absolute worst time of my life and I don't need a reminder living in my drawers that I open up one day and remember how miserable I was back then. This is a great candidate for letting go and I'm glad you did it!
I know, right?!?!
Jr high and high school were just 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
Yes, every time I went through things from high school I just immediately felt like someone sent me in a catapult back in time. Feelings of isolation and insecurity etc. Who needs that? Away they went.
I think the funk may be from the water in the snow globes that escaped -- mildew. I love the memory you have of your dad bringing home the dolls for you.
Take pictures of “memories” and toss out the smelly items. Good for you for sharing. Thanks. Gives me hope.
Sentimental is hard, but now I give myself only 2 choices (aside from photos) - 1. Display or use / 2. Discard.
It helps that our house has almost no storage except small bedroom closets. Boundaries can be a blessing.
Thats a good word for clutter and sentimental clutter especially is haunting or being haunted by ghosts of the past.
I mean if its a happy memory youll remember it or be able to take a photo of it wrote down the memory you had forgotten without the items prompting it or a relative telling you the meaning behind it and then donating it.
Otherwise were basically like the damned carrying there past sins and selves and failures and just the weight of all weve done like ball and chain dragging behind us. Thats why i think its so freeing to let go of the physical items of the past and truly feels like a weight has been lifted because weve realised ah i dont have to carry that burden i can forgive myself i can let go of the chains and continue forward with only the knowledge of what ive learned which has rewritten me to be who i am now and the memories i wish to keep that will strengthen and give me hope and a warmth to hold moving forward.
Yay, Erica! What a change in attitude towards The Stuff!
We share old DVDs in a free library box in our back lane. Anything from books of all kinds to DVDs to 'even' CD's goes in there and everything always disappears! There are many such boxes in our neighborhood, so some things travel around the city. The kids always go look for new books in there and when we're done with them, they simply go back in there!
You may be overawed by the fact that you have had some of this stuff for 40+ years, but.... you are going through it now and not waiting any longer. I started my decluttering journey when I was 60. A lot more stuff, with a lot more memories to deal with. Keep going. You are doing great.
I feel such a tug as I see you discarding those pretty doll-bells and other knick knacks I remember seeing in gift stores and wishing for many years ago. At the time I couldn't have imagined them ever becoming old junk or clutter, or even broken. And if those things I wished for have become old, what am I? It is a good lesson that nothing lasts forever, and to manage our "inventory" accordingly.
There is no better feeling than once you’ve decluttered all of those bins, donating the now empty bins to charity. Can’t fill them up again if they’re no longer there. 🤗
Great job as always!
PS: I still have some DVDs for the TVs in our truck for long road trips. We donate our unwanted ones to the local library & love to borrow from the library also. It gives me the nostalgia of going to Blockbuster, but without the late fees. lol...
First of all, thank you Erica, you 'give me permission' to declutter, and I really appreciate you processing as you go along.
Second - I buy DVDs from charity shops, so my recommendation would be 'donate' - but it's your stuff, so your decision!
I love when you ‘angry’ unpack. For real! You motivate me and it makes a ton of sense!
It's so amazing to me how far you've come in your self-talk. You're so much clearer about what is most important to you 💕💕💕
I want to give you a BIG THANKS!! for your 'do I need it, do I use it or do I love it?' method!
Because of this 'declutter sentimental' mini serie, I now did my own sentimental boxes and knew how to do it. Those boxes we also moved a few times and took some precious space. Now we can make a musicroom with drums and stuff for our kids and ourselfs. So THANK YOU, it helped a lot!!
Love from the Netherland
I still buy dvd's from thrift stores and also enjoy getting them from the library. Definitely donatable.
Just went through this! And I did exactly what you said in the beginning!!! I took everything outside and posted online that I was a yard sale! I haven’t looked at what was in the boxes since I was 5 or younger, therefore I did not remember ANY of it! I didn’t even want to go through it. I just wanted all of the boxes out of my life! And they left! Now I have a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders!
We watch dvds, no cable or internet at our house!!🤩
I have a whole collection of DVDs that I watched regularly AND I have found DVDs at thrift stores of movies I had on VHS. Thrilled when I find them.
6 bins of Sentimental already, you are right to be proud!
Not everyone has streaming services so I do always put CDs in charity bags.
You are doing an amazing job there Erica. Honestly watching you now is inspiring. You have changed from looking at the potential of each item to just what serves you right now. Excellent job! 😀
there is a place on the internet, it might be "classmates", that takes old yearbooks and digitizes them and puts them on line.
Hi, Erica. I really enjoy the sentimental series that you have going. When my son started middle school 3 years ago I started going through his school things (he is 15 now). Some have already started breaking down (in tote in climate control bedroom closet). His items are pretty much squared away after a recent go through again. After watching your videos, I realized that I could go through the small amount of things I had. I thought he doesn't want these. I feel better knowing I am the one tossing them (recycle, thrift shop). Thank you for your insight and outloud thinking when making a decision on what to do with the item. It makes me stop and think even more now when I go through my things.
I'm loving this ruthless decluttering. I've been there more than a few times when I'm absolutely fed up with stuff.
The unpack and decluttering videos are my favorite, what I struggle with the most is homeschool stuff!
I agree about wanting to just drag everything to the road and start over lol tired of the silent to do list in my head lol 😂 get it gone! Lol
Donate the yearbook. We were able to find my MIL's senior yearbook in an antique store. She was grateful to get it.
Only do this if you are in the local area. A local history group may be interested in one great copy from local high schools. If you live across the country...just recycle it.
Throwing it away sounds highly therapeutic to me. Perhaps after drawing goatees and glasses on all the photos....
I support you in your need to toss it.
Im mixed about tossing my yearbook. But it looked like no one even signed it.
Well done! I can feel the almost repulsion when you approach these boxes and admire the determination you’re showing. I would not understand in a million years throwing out a box without checking through it first - besides the very real possibility of missing an item you would want honoured - there’s the personal papers with the security implications and photos which you definitely don’t want to lose - also what about the donations? Those pretty little figurines might be your trash but there’s no doubt they’d be someone’s treasures. Better with another person who loves them than in landfill.
I’ve been watching your progress from the very beginning and I’m so impressed with your growth! Sentimental is the hardest, but you have your goals and criteria so well thought out and you’re whipping through those bins so fast. You should feel very proud! In my decluttering process I also left sentimental last. It really helped to have everything else decluttered and then I could make wise decisions about how to use and display the things that really mean something to me versus feeling like it was just more stuff to contend with. And I so relate to your comment in the beginning about feeling like you have too much stuff again. I went through the same thing this winter. I had finished the first layer of the onion last May and was feeling so good and then this winter I felt like there was just stuff everywhere again. I’m encouraged to know that most everyone has to continue decluttering and being intentional about “stuff in” and “stuff out”. Keep up the good work!
Take pictures of the dolls or other things you want to remember, but don't want to keep. :) I buy DVD's. :P I feel old now.
I never had too many things, I always was good at decluttering..., But I had a number of sentiment items . Some of the sentimental items always got me feeling sad as unfortunately I would remember the person had been horrible to me and that item was given to me out of guilt and an apology of sorts 🥱 so finally last month I got rid of 100% of all those items and I feel good
Such good progress! Can't wait to see the finished basement how much is left. I bet the next move has half as many boxes.
Lucinda, if they DON"T get the Navy to pack for them, it will be a lot less than half as many! LOL The Navy packed so many boxes with one or two items and scads of paper!!!
Erica I have been cheering you on since the beginning of your journey! I just did my final sentimental declutter.. It takes several passes..I too trashed my year books...I hated high school!keep going you got this!!
Awesome job Kelly!!!! I’m soooo excited for you!!!
Great video! I still remember watching your videos when you were going through the boxes in the basement that were delivered from the storage unit. I felt so bad for you because it seemed like such a daunting task. It was cool to see your thought processes develop and now to watch where you're at, amazing!! I really believe that both you and Dawn at The Minimal Mom have helped me to get a different view on my clutter and especially on sentimental stuff. Thank you!
Maybe you can live in your camper for a while and see what you really need? 🤭
I also threw my yearbook away. I never wanted it, but my parents made me buy it. Found it in my basement covered in mold. Made it so easy to throw out without any guilt ☺
Look at you flexing those decluttering muscles! Proud of you.
Another great video! (waited for it all day, it's almost 10PM in Latvia now) And you have inspired me to treat my hair better and bring my natural curls to light. You know how it is when one day you wake up to a new season of your life and know that now it's time to take care of yourself as part of the nature you care about so much.
I'm soooo much waiting for your next moving, and I really hope there will be less than a hundred boxes!
I have moved with my husband and two kids... and our dog... two months ago. 38(!) Boxes 38(!!!!) It was so freaking amazing, I wish you will enjoy such experience soon.
Good on you for throwing away smth that brings up bad memories!
Moving will be so much easier next time with so much less. Plus you’ll have all those empty bins to pack in!
We totally still watch DVDs! Also I got a legitimate thrill of excitement when I saw you had a new decluttering video out. I can’t wait for the next one!!!
Please keep in mind that you definitely don’t want to put your children thru this as they grow up.
Go Erica goooo!! You’re such an inspiration to me!! After watching this, you gave me the push to go through two areas of my basement that I’ve been putting off for months!! Hearing you talk through your process is a HUGE help too!! Thanks again for sharing your journey!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I buy DVDs at thrift stores and department stores and off Facebook marketplace. I also actually loved looking through childhood craft projects etc that my parents and grandparents saved from my childhood. I felt loved in that someone kept them. One of my sisters and me had fun looking at all sorts of random things when we moved my Mum out of our childhood home. Maybe I am weird. But I'm proud to own things that I had seen in my grandma's house when we visited.
I appreciate your mature/developed way of how to deal with sentimental items + honoring the person without keeping the thing :) Thanks for verbalizing it to help others too!
Thank you for going through this process and sharing your thinking while you are going through it! These unpacking videos have nuggets of wisdom in them🙂
Your video has really resonated with me. I will be going thru my Mom's house, and she saved everything! These types of videos are helping me tremendously! I will have to let go of so much that meant something to my mom. I can do this. 👍 Her memory I will treasure. ❤️
Omg love these videos sooooooo much. Just so you get the story of what your journey and videos do once they hit the airways... is that how TH-cam works 🤪anyway...I watched you throw away the little doll your Nan made that held crayons and various other sentimental items and it has freed me to even CONSIDER doing that. Before watching you it didn’t even feel like an option. So because of you a Woman in Wales in Britain is going to let go of things she carried into her 50s 🤗🤗🤗 why??? Thank you 😊
Also can you say good bye at the end of your videos lol I always think my phone died as you just go ( said with so much love and laughter)
Honestly thank you so so much xx 🤗💕
Oh my Leeza! This just warmed my heart!! I do just peace out don’t I? I’ll think to say bye
Ha ha peace out I love it 🥰
It’s no wonder all that sorting nothing left but peace out 🤣
Erica you said so many great things in this video! Starting with stuff is feeling stuffy!! Love it. I admire how you are intentionally honoring your loved ones and yourself and your kids by what you are keeping. Thank you for sharing this process.
I just love you and your channel! I have followed you from the beginning. Watching you today for some motivation as I'm going through a similar journey. When you smelled those dolls and gagged I laughed so hard out loud my dog looked at me like I was crazy! Thank you for the reminder that you don't need to keep everything for the memories. I agree with the others on the DVDs if they don't stink donate them. We had a tornado go through one summer and we were without electric for 4 days, I was able to hook up the TV and the DVD and run them on the generator so my kids had something to do in the evening. They're older now but I think it's a good idea. Also if you're on the road camping it's good for that too. My only issue was storing them in several binders. But I found a much better way. I got a bunch of the envelope slips they go in and put them in two acrylic boxes on a shelf and I have lots of them and they all fit in those two acrylics...
You have become my decluttering spirit animal! I feel like you most days- just get rid of it all!!
Yes I still watch dvds. I've seen them at the library too.
Thanks for the reminder of the ‘Silent To Do List.’ 💝
First off I have loved seeing your progress from the beginning! It has been so encouraging! Second yes people still watch DVDs. My in-laws don’t have good enough internet to stream anything so they tend to get DVDs so they can watch movies every once in a while. If they are still in good shape (no major scratches and don’t smell too bad) I would donate them.
I can’t wait until you get to photos. That’s what I’m struggling with now. I took a whole week off from work to deal with them. It was exhausting, and I still have a ton of them, many of people who died before I was born!
Erica, you are the queen of keeping it real. I absolutely love how you take us through your thought processes and are completely honest with how long these things have been in boxes etc. Just love it!
I would love to see the piles of trash and recycle after you have decluttered. Also, can you please film your process once you are ready to display or organize everything in the basement? Maybe show some of Andy setting up his beer making station. That would be cool!
I love these sentimental items videos! I love hearing the process and it motivates me to finally go through some intense sentimental stuff. I’ve already watched all three twice each and will probably listen while decluttering 🙂 I also find it impressive how you went from taking deep breaths in part 1 to practically dancing in part 3.🙌
These are my favorite videos!
My year books are haunting me; don’t know why... I keep hemming and hawing about chunking them; I am about ready to. Heck, I’m ready to toss everything too like you said and start fresh with only what we absolutely need. I am still trying to get the hubby on board with letting go of stuff...I just need to keep plugging away at my own stuff first.
Keep going Erica!!
I buy DVDS when my internet goes down .The charity shops sell them 3 for £1 or 50p each .DVD
new releases are still sold in English shops because cinemas haven't reopened yet. So yes people still watch DVDS
Well done 👏 your doing fantastic going through sentimental so quickly. I’m procrastinating with my stuff in the attic (not many people have basements in Ireland) so it’s shouting down at me lol 😂 Your an inspiration to keep going no matter what. I think people still watch DVDs. Before you get rid of the dolls maybe take a picture of them. Oh and check the bags and purses for money or personal stuff. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍
Yes they still buy DVDs at thrift stores.
So proud of your progress. I also trashed my yearbooks. I figured if I haven’t looked at them once in 20+ years I don’t need them. Also I felt like there was a part of you that healed in that moment that you decided to trash your yearbook. YAY ERICA!
Yes to the dvds and buying them at the thrift store is always so much better/cheaper :)
Yes, donate DVD. So glad you are powering through your sentimental. I got mine down to one very small box that fits in my dresser
Definitely donate the DVDs. 😊
Yes, I still watch DVD's. I love your unpacking/decluttering videos.
I have bought the book "Green Housekeeping" by Ellen Sandburg. Very educational.
Through you and The Minimal Mom I'm wanting to declutter my home as well. It was my grandmother's house. So, it has a majority of her things and my parent's things as well. My grandmother passed away in '07. My mom passed away in '05. My dad moved in with my younger sister last year. Plus, there are things stored here from my son and my youngest daughter. I have no room to put any of my things. (I have lived in the house for maybe 10 yrs or so.)
Dad is a collector of books and tools. A real pack rat. My mother was about the same way.
Through watching your videos I've learned to be intentional in my buying. I will ask myself these questions:
1. Will I really use that?
2. Do I need that?
3. Do I have a home for that?
I have also learned how to declutter my own things. If it's broken and no way of fixing it. It goes in the trash. If it's a saved plastic container it gets demoted. (Animal dish or whatever.) If it's a lid with no mate. The lid goes in the trash.
Thank you for walking us through your process with you. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Have a blessed day.
Yes, I still watch DVD's and buy them from thrift stores!! I love finding them there!!