Oh, No!.......Does it Have to Go?

     While those cream chemicals are rejuvenating and restoring our youthful faces, we are also committed to our 2nd New Year's Resolution of decluttering our homes.  I found this to be harder than I thought!

Stage one, once again, is determining which clutter character you are.  Are you the Collector, the Inheritor, the Parent, the Compulsive Shopper, the Scout, or the Host.  Depending on which room you are standing in my home, I can
easily be all of the above!  OMG!

Fortunately, as the Collector, I only have a few collections, of which only one continues, so I don't have to deal with that.  If you are a Gigantic Collector than review your taste and recognize that perhaps that sea shell collection gotten in 1975 during your Bahama honeymoon no longer moves you, especially since you have remarried.  If you can't part with it then rotate those sea shells with the starfish now and again, it will lighten the shelf load.

Not living in the same state as my parents or in-laws have made it easy not to be a huge Inheritor.  I must admit I have a few sentimental pieces from loved family treasures but they aren't a part of what I feel needs to go.  Again, if the Inheritor is you, what must you do?  If you have received gifts or willed valuables that personally, you find grotesque, be bold but tactful, see if another family member wanted this in the first place, as it matches perfectly with their china choices, if not, the Salvation Army can always use a another grotesque
artifact.  A simple white lie, with tears in your eyes, to express it shattered in a million pieces to your favorite relative, will save hurtful feelings.

The Parent is one I must admit, I fall into.  I have one daughter who travels with her job and I have collected some of her valuable whatevers, in my garage and extra bedroom.  I also have a daughter with hoarding genes, and have boxes of who knows what left in many closets, that one day she swears she will return to get.  I will have to get up the nerve to ask my travelling daughter to go through and eliminate some of the whatevers, and with the other I have decided to just say good-bye to most of it.  As they both read my blog, I'm sure they will be visiting soon and re-evaluating their possessions.

The Compulsive Shopper and Scout seem to be a part of my daily routine.  I just can't pass up a good buy and collect plastic everythings for every available need.  "This plastic container holds a lot of water, I can use it to water all my plants!"  I have about 12 of those and when I have that family barbecue I am definitely going to need that electric rotisserie that doesn't fit on my barbecue but I will make it work, it's only pennies.  The plastics I will have no problem trashing, the penny saver incidentals will be difficult, especially if they are new.

The last is the Host, one who loves to entertain and acquires all necessary appliances to do the job.   Forget about the holiday and seasonal collections of dishware used only once a year, remembering that if the food is good, the guests will be happy and bound to return to another dinner feast without the look of the holiday season.*

Now that we have determined what clutter princess or prince you are, makes it easier to get started.  Start small today.  I already put the trashing to practice with my cosmetic bathroom drawer.  I must say it was amazing what I found in the back of it!  And wow, how difficult it was to say good-bye, especially because it was unused and cost money.    I finally had to come to grips with the fact that it sat in the back of that drawer for who knows how long, perhaps a few years and I never needed it to fix any of the wrinkles on my face, so out it went and I am so glad it is over.

Continue with small areas in all rooms which catch your immediate attention.  The Fly Lady is a great website to get you started and on your way!  This website is listed under my links.  I will have more info to help you throughout the decluttering process and together we can have it all done before spring cleaning, which will allow us to enjoy the flowers.

Got suggestions, tell all, and "Hurry Back!"  "HB!"


*Much of this valuable information was taken from Kick the Clutter  clear out excess stuff without losing what you love by Ellen Phillips.