Anyone have a serious clutter issue? - Page 3

[volcano]

i'd say I get rid of 3-5 garbage bags full of garbage (useless stuff, not to be confused with trash) AND 3-5 bags of clothes every 3 weeks or so. I cant figure out how that is even POSSIBLE! How can a person/ family get rid of that much stuff and still get rid of more. I might understand if we were wealthy, but we're dirt poor, our house is big though, 3 floors. Today is "gut the kids room day" so far 2 bags of crappy broken toys out the door - and on garbage day no less - YEAH!!!!

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by ShannonCC

I'm allergic to dust I wear shop masks if I have to go through old boxes or do any deep cleaning but sometimes I just get my dh to do it :

I'm allergic to dust, too. I didn't think to put on a mask when I cleaned my counter and got an allergic reaction which triggered a cold that has lasted a couple days thus far. :

[stellimamo]

Our apartment is a cluttered nightmare.. We combined 2 housholds into a 900 sq ft 2 bedroom apartment w/ 2 adults and a babe. I am the queen of stuff and he is the exact oppasite. I know I drive him nuts. He is gone for the week and I'm working on trying to get parts done so I can surprise him.

The best decluttering I have ever done was when I moved to this place. I just pitched anything that I hadn't used in 6+ months (other than seasonal items). I also pitched anything that I didn't feel like moving. I ended yup taking 9 garbage bafgs full of stuff to good will.

My 2 problem areas right now are my craft stuff and baby's room.

[ShannonCC]

Originally Posted by volcano

i'd say I get rid of 3-5 garbage bags full of garbage (useless stuff, not to be confused with trash) AND 3-5 bags of clothes every 3 weeks or so. I cant figure out how that is even POSSIBLE! How can a person/ family get rid of that much stuff and still get rid of more. I might understand if we were wealthy, but we're dirt poor,

I keep thinking of what you said here.

I think being poor (or at least having to watch the money carefully) is, for many people, the reason why we have so much stuff. It's like the great depression mentality. Maybe we don't have it as bad as those who lived in that time, but there's still a feeling of "I might need this" or "that's too good of a deal to pass up" or, the absolute worst "it's free, how can I *not* take it?".

We aren't dirt poor right now (now ) but it's been a struggle in the past and the money sucked during my childhood so yeah, the feeling is still there. I'm getting better though

(but in that vein we were just at the library and they had a toy and book sale and, well, it was "too good a deal to pass up" so the kids have more toys they don't need. Sigh. Yup, I'm a work in progress, )

4evermom, hey that happens to me too sometimes! I get an allergic reaction and it ends up lasting for days. What IS that? Does having a reaction make us suceptible (spelling? ) to germs going around? Or do we have worse reactions when we're coming down with colds? I totally don't get it. I hope you feel better soon :

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by ShannonCC

4evermom, hey that happens to me too sometimes! I get an allergic reaction and it ends up lasting for days. What IS that? Does having a reaction make us suceptible (spelling? ) to germs going around? Or do we have worse reactions when we're coming down with colds? I totally don't get it. I hope you feel better soon :

Well, they are both dealt with by the immune system. I suspect that I must have a subclinical cold that goes into full bloom when my defenses are down. Just the same as getting colds when you don't get enough sleep. Probably most people have some cold viruses most of the time but their immune system keep them in check, except for the wicked colds that everybody gets.

I, too, have trouble with my frugal side warring with my desire to declutter!