Sold the big house, moving to a smaller place, and cleaning out the closets. I'm dumbfounded by the useless stuff one keeps, for years and years. Here's my list:

Remote controls to electronic gadgets I got rid of years ago.
Kid game stuff, they haven't used in 10 years.
Outgrown clothing, because it's a "label".
Cassetes, 8 tracks....
KEYS.....to nothing.
Weights, I never use, because I have a membership elsewhere.
Useless warranties with long-gone equipment.
Old cell phones.....and their cases.....

we have an overabundance of power cables (kettle cords)

I just got rid of a bunch of useless crap this year, no clue why I held onto it for so long Old electronics, old papers that were no longer relevant, old clothes were my biggest problem... I think we just get stuck & used to some degree of clutter, it's so much nicer to have space & clarity though

The last thing I have to sort through is some stuff from grad school, I can't just chuck it. Gotta pour through every little piece so it's not hanging over my head, I must do that before the year is out


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[Edited 10/21/07 16:57pm]

I don't think I've lived in one place more than 3 years since I was 17, and moving always necessitates a cleaning out of "stuff". I don't hold on to anything, really. I'm generally not one to ascribe sentimental value to objects.
The only problems I ever really have are shoes, handbags and clothes, but even those I'll get rid of fairly easily if it's obvious to me I need to. But I've always had fairly big closets where I've lived and I don't right now, so I'm finding myself desperately in need of clothing storage furniture. I have shirts folded on bookshelves right now, in addition to my hanging rods being chock full, my shelves in my closet and my one dresser stuffed full of clothes.

CarrieMpls said:

Have you ever watched Tim Gunn's Guide to Style?? They make the person being made over get rid of all but TEN items in their closet!! & the 10 they keep must fit & flatter, otherwise they leave them w/ nearly nothing. Shit makes me cringe Just empty hangars, flailing in the wind

CalhounSq said:

How much of a budget do they get to re-do their entire wardrobe???? I shop fairly frugally and it would still take an astronomical amount to recreate an entire wardrobe. When I dropped so many sizes last year it was all I could do to keep up with a decent wardrobe and I feel like I'm not even really there yet. I truly am the "closet full of clothes and nothing to wear" girl.

CarrieMpls said:

I forget how much, a few thousand. Veronika Webb goes through their underwear drawers they toss everything bad then take them shopping for the essentials - new bras, a black dress, a trench, a work outfit, a suit, a casual outfit, & a knockout dress. I forget the whole list but it's something like that.

They'd throw ALL my shit out & accuse me of dressing like a college kid, which I guess I kinda do But there's no way in hell I'm gonna start wearing slacks every day just b/c I'm "over 30", gimme a break!

"..... Just empty hangars, flailing in the wind "

I just threw out about a thousand....

xplnyrslf said:

Don't you feel lighter getting rid of all that? I love that feeling, the best I've done today is gotten rid of old lingerie But my lingerie drawer is SO together now, I'm newly inspired to whore it up

Electronic cables to.....NOTHING.
Holiday decorations not used in years.....
Baskets.....sure they're neat, but why keep them around if unused...?

"Sale" clothing, you never wore...

xplnyrslf said:

OMG thats me

textbooks.....grade school on up. Like you're going to re-read that stuff????

Birthday cards from a much younger age.....
Boxes of unused stationary.....even from hotels you stayed at.
1000 pens, most that don't work.
Erasers that don't erase.
Paint that's dried up. Not to menton those caulking tubes...

Job evaluations....resumes that don't reflect much.....
Kid's saved empty liquor bottles.....

Kitchen equipment:

crepe pan, ice cream maker, fork that gives the temp, old cookie cutters, meat grinder, (cousinart does it all!) tuperware popsicle maker, tubes for putting ice in your water bottle, plastic stuff with no lids, lids to no plastic stuff, poached egg pan and all the cups.....

xplnyrslf said:

Ice cream maker my friend had one, her mom made THE BEST homemade ice cream. I used to be so jealous that my mom would never buy us one

Books. They've got a room of their own, I'm so ashamed

I give away as much as I can with the moving staff. The guy on probation, who's a truck mechanic, the only thing he wanted was a basket-load of tools,,,, He "travels light".
The teenager helping, took all the weights. (he offered to pay for it, I said NO)

We sold a 1900 Baby Grande piano, ivory keys, to someone from Mexico. No one played piano in our family, just took lessons. He bought it for a client in Mexico City who's family are successful musicians. It won't be played, (even though it can still be tuned up), just used to display awards the family have in their huge house.
Currrent pianos, made in Japan, are supposedly more precise, and a better made product, than something 100 years old.

[Edited 10/21/07 18:02pm]

xplnyrslf said:

i guarantee you there is still an empty 26 of lemon hart in the back of my closet at home

CalhounSq said:

Oh, I'm sure they'd throw out everything of mine. But a few thousand? I suppose it would be doable, but, I don't know...

Ohh, you mean old clothes and stuff...

I thought you meant like ex-girlfriends who were totally wrong for you...

I tend to give away stuff that's in good condition to charity. Gets rid of clutter.

ThreadBare said:

oh, I have a tnedency towards that too.

ThreadBare said:

Well, that too! Time to move on...no invisible strings.....

CarrieMpls said:

My gosh, it stinks. One just e-mailed me yesterday, full of apologies to me and depression and anxiety over losing her job.

I must be maturing. The old I would have tried to rescue her somehow...



Ironically enough, I'm great for getting rid of stuff. I have a box full of books I'm dropping by the library tomorrow. And shoes in my car's trunk that I'm dropping off, too. I try to do a major giveaway every year.