Throwing away the "Stuff" does help make your home roomier

[bleedingheart]

I have a small home and many of my peers have moved up to the McMansions with the extra bedrooms, bathrooms and garage stalls...all the while explaining to me that it was because they were running out of room.

While I am not one to tell people to throw good stuff away, many people keep stuff around far too long and as one friend of ours noticed, the big house wasn't a necessity...it ended up costing them more just to store junk.

I cleaned 8 large leaf bags worth of clothes from three bedrooms and I can tell you that it made a huge difference in my house.

I also got rid of furniture, books and other stuff that I had no interest in keeping that also prevented me from keeping the stuff I really wanted around in an orderly style.

[NMDemDist2]

1. ahhh the heart of Feng Shui grasshopper, check out this great

thread (be sure to read the first one first)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x4747

[denile01]

2. Preparing to leave Mc Mansion

We've actually enjoyed our big house for the last 15 years but it's getting to be more and more of a burden; an accumulation of stuff and maintenance needs, mostly. We have an empty nest at this point and the mortgage will be paid off in a couple of years. Hubby and I are going room by room and painting and decluttering and it's a big undertaking. As each bit is done, I feel better. And I look forward to having a smaller home!!

[eleny]

3. The big McMortgages on large houses are pretty scary, too

After house hunting for a larger place and being very disappointed with much of what we've seen (not new homes), we're rehtinking things.

Several years ago, we remodeled the one car attached garage into a big room for more living space. It's been great. Our next stop may be at the city to see if they'll let us build a new garage. Sometimes it's not more living space but a decent garage that can make the Mister happy.

Over the years, clearing out things for charities has helped a lot to keep us from getting overcrowded. Simplicity makes a room feel calmer, too.

[Warpy]

4. since I've been unemployed

I've lugged multiple bags of books to the local library and multiple trash bags full of clothing to the thrift shops. I'd already cleaned my kitchen of duplicate pots and appliances and my bathroom of extra towels when a coworker's house burnt down and she had to start with nothing.

Most of what I have now is fibre stash and recorded music. I'll be weaving all summer and probably carting some of the stuff I've outgrown listening to off to the thrift shop.

The thrift shop giveth and the thrift shop taketh away.

[Jersey Devil]

5. Yes, but my wife doesn't agree with the Five Year Rule

My own personal rule is that if we don't use something for a 5 year period we should either throw it out, give it to someone or donate it. Otherwise all you get is a larger collection of stuff your kids will have to throw out when you die.

So I have to sneak around implementing the Five Year Rule on the sly when my wife is at work. The problem is that whenever I do the very next day I get this: "Honey, you know that metal tray in the basement on the second shelf in the utility room with the grapes on it? Would you please get it for me?" and then, gaaaaaaaasp! It's like she is a witch!!

[NMDemDist2]

6. that's the test ya know

if you miss it when it's gone, you threw it away too fast

[RC]

7. There are two kinds of people in the world.

Pack rats and people that toss anything not needed immediately.
The second type depend on the pack rat to bail them out all the time.