Thank you so much. I live in Kyiv, Ukraine. After russian invasion in February 2022 I felt depressed and didn't want do anything. I made my apartment a real mess and didn't have the will or stangh to change it. As time passed by I got myself together and decided that I don't want my home to look like this. But I didn't know where to start. And, luckily, I found your channel. I found out what type of clutterbug I am and what my type of organization is. Your videos give me inspiration, ideas and push me to action. I've already cleaned and declutered my entry room, bathroom, and a few cabinets in the kitchen. After I've watched this video I'm going to clean and declutter my bedroom.
Slava Ukraine! I watch Ukraine Matters, Anna from Ukraine, Officer Starsky, Artur Ruhi, Jake Broe, Ryan McBeth, TVP World, daily (but not every one daily). I also donate to United 24, a Ukraine animal rescue (monthly), and war causes. My grandparents were Czeck and Slovak, relatives grew up behind the Iron Curtain, you don’t have to tell me to never trust ruskies. Thank you for defending liberty. So many in the US are uninformed. They don’t get that you are the first line of defense, and that the weapons that we are sending are due to become decommissioned soon anyway at great expense. And that you are using them wisely and proactively to defend your sovereign country. In a way, we are decluttering the arsenal built in the 80s to defend against ruZZ.
@@SoundofSilence492 you didn't have to go all nationalist in your "support" comment, plus, finding such a "silver lining" and reframing war as decluttering of weapons is awful too.
@@aleksandra... Well I was not speaking to you. Too many ruskie supporters in the US, need to counteract their traitorous representatives and supporters. Slava Ukraine!
I’m a kitten foster for my local shelter and ❤❤❤ yes! Animal shelters would love your old blankets, linens, even stained ripped towels. I’ve done laundry at the shelter too and they go through an extraordinary amount of linens daily to line crates, carrier, and beds. Clean out those linen closets for the puppies and kittens! ❤️❤️❤️
And yes, Cas, you will need 47 pairs of reading glasses. Go to the dollar tree and stock up. Purse, car, bedside, kitchen, office, reading chair, etc. I really do have 10-15 pairs and I’m still always looking for one because I wander off with them and then my reading chair glasses are sitting on my night stand next to my kitchen glasses and my bedside glasses, and chaos ensues. 😂😂😂🤓🥸🧐
I am going to replay this podcast, stop at each number, go & do said item, then return for the next…who’s with me? Cass, you are an incredible amazing inspiration & I love your honesty, tenderness & humor. I wish we were next door neighbors, what fun we would have ⭐️🌟💫
So I cleaned out my fridge and was shocked at the out of date things. In the back I found some lime marmalade that apparently I thought enough of to pay $5 for half a pint mason jar!!! And then never ate it. Ugh! Cute jar but I knew if I washed it out it would live in the garage for the next forty years! Thanks to you it’s now in the trash along with out of date specialty mustards. 😂. Thanks Cas! Relistening and still finding things to get rid of. Now if I can just borrow your hubby to help me in the garage. 😂😂😂
I had extra towels that were in good shape, but not enough room to store them. So, I washed them and donated them to the Humane Society. I also had some puppy pads that I didn't need anymore, they were glad to get these items. I never knew extra bedding was welcomed. I will remember next time. Thank you.
“I’m not a planner person, but I want to be so so badly” epitomizes my personality so perfectly! 😮 I NEVER imagined that there would come a day that I watched a self-improvement blogger and did not roll my eyes. But this woman just blows my mind. I always thought my weird quirks were so unusual that no one could understand…but almost every video feels like she has literally been snooping through my house or something! 😂
I’m going to go now to the garage to put boxes in my car that I decluttered from kitchen cabinets, while listening to this video! I AM going to get it all done, I promise you, and myself!
Important to remember that we’re not just making SPACE to fill back up, unless it’s to clear messy surfaces, of course. We’re making space to BREATHE, to feel less stressed, to have fewer “silent to dos.” ❤
Absolutely! I’ve emptied out furniture recently and changing the rooms up and the first thing I do is dance and do Wonder Woman twirls in the centre of each room.
My problem is I don’t have the energy or stamina. I know I can do it a little at time and I have. I need to do more. I have Rheumatoid Disease and the weather is changing. The cold drains me. I will get use to the weather soon.
I agree with the majority of your suggestion, but in my case I have to keep the old planners. My now deceased mother kept planners for years. My father has dementia. I have looked at my mother’s planners many times to determine when my father was diagnosed, medications taken, cancer diagnosis, treatment. With my father no longer being verbal my mother’s detailed planners have been extremely valuable for providing a medical history to current physicians.
Yeah, the planner diary thing is not agreeable agreeable to a lot of us.However we could go through and rip out pages that are just like lists of stuff to do or grocery lists or stuff like that and then them out but that would take a lot of time
Hoarding is a disease, in the same way that barebones minimalism is a disease. Neither benefit anyone. Fortunately you seem to have found a sane and happy medium path. Thank you for sharing, Subscribed.
I love my bread maker, my juicer, my food processor, my big crock pot, waffle maker, popcorn maker, my Roaster, my Blender, my Wok...so many things. I love to cook. I cook for many people, at least once a month. Love my kitchen appliances. I stay de-cluttered everywhere else in the house...I need my kitchen tools. I'm cooking this week for other people's early Thanksgiving Dinners. Love my tools.
That's great! It's only clutter for those of us who don't use them 😅 We all have different priorities, for me it's office and craft supplies, but I use them so I keep them.
You’re the type of cook I want to be; the reason I need those tools. If your kitchen is the only place you’re cluttered, you’re lucky! I’ve gotten rid of a lot of appliances and set a time limit of use for the ones I kept. If they don’t get used, they get tossed in a few months
After my husband passed, i lost our doublewide mobile home. Anyway. I moved in with my mom, who had moved in with my grandmother. So now there are 3 generations of women, with 3 families of StUfF. I was so depressed after my husband passed that i n as almost paralyzed. Then my mom passed. Wow talk about depression. Then my brother and a month later my sister and another sister. Whew!!! Well, I was watching Christine, FrugalFitMom and she mentioned you challenging her to 25 items decluttering. Well, i got the bug too! Thanks to you and Christine i am on the clutterbug decluttering bus!!! Thanks to you and Christine.
I always have a good time decluttering in the wee hours (2 to 5 or 6 a.m.) with your RUclips posts playing in the background. So “declutter baby items” just jumped out at me. I am 71 years old and found one of MY baby shoes, labeled “Laurie” in my mother’s dresser when I cleaned out her house upon her death. So I still have it now. Hee, hee! It sits out on dresser of guest room and I get to tell the story whenever anyone notices it.
Just brought like 10 blankets to the humane society. It felt so good to think of those poor animals enjoying a soft fluffy like new blankets I’ve been hoarding for years! Lol !
Donating to anyone who needs something feels wonderful.The restaurant in front of my house throws away towels by the dozen.I put them in my washer on HOT and when they are dry,I take them to my mechanic for his workers to use for whatever.If you can,help out others.
I think a lot of us are were raised by grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. We were taught to hold on to things, just in case. I've gotten a lot better than I used to be. I've decluttered and downsized considerably over the past few years, going from a 3-level home to a single-wide manufactured home.
Too true, or we're the product of those raised by those Grandparents. Anyone feel like times are starting to become echoes of those earlier ones, & we may need that Frugality once again 🤔
Absolutely agreed! It is by far the hardest conditioning to overcome-the need not to be wasteful and to stop automatically looking at something and thinking of all the other POSSIBLE uses for it and just let it go.
Hahaha, I'm swiss and the Fondue set is almost a household staple here😂 The melted cheese fondue is a typical meal here for winter evenings ;) and we also use the set for a hot pot kinda dish, with hot bouillon and we put meat on the forks, it's the traditional christmas meal in my family 😅
Hello from sunny Arizona! That sounds like a fun Christmas tradition…..my kids are very attached to all of our Christmas traditions and they recall many happy times as we run through them. That’s what life should be made of…fun family times that mean so much because we are all together. 😎
For lost socks I took them to my classroom as whiteboard erasers. The kids LOVED being able to wear them on their hand and erase with them. When I first introduced them they had a good laugh and were a total hit!
We have a cork board on the wall behind the dryer just for pinning up socks that lost their mate. Has worked great for 30 plus years. Plus if I need a cloth for dusting ..... guess where and what I use!
I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. I put your videos on while I'm cleaning and your soothing voice and no nonsense attitude make me feel like I have a friend right here with me. I work for a well known tool manufacturer. My job is very physical with a lot of heavy lifting. I also have fibromyalgia and arthritis so I'm in lots of pain all the time. I tend to put the housework off until the weekend, then I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to start and I put it off. I recently discovered the power of an hour and it changed my life! thank you so much!
It was a turning point for me in my decluttering when I donated my fondue pot new in box, ten years after receiving it as a wedding gift. Reality check: I want to be the kind of person who has fondue parties but I don't actually want to do the work and clean it after. Instead, I told myself I'm allowed to treat myself to that overpriced fondue restaurant once in a while.
I have been using sock clips, which I got on Amazon about 15 years ago. I no longer see my specific ones on Amazon, but they work great. Because most of my socks are the same colour, it ensures that I am always using the same pair. OCD at play. LOL
1. Empty Boxes 2. Expired Food 3. Clothing that is too small 4. Extra Bedding 5. Old Planners 6. Nasty Towels 7. Lost Socks 8. Cleaners you are not using 9. Expired Medication 10. Boots and Coats 11. Novelty Mugs 12. Food Storage (containers) 13. Excess Serving Platters 14. Fondue Set 15. Appliances you never use 16. Vases 17. Old Bills (already payed) 18. Burnt out candles 19. Bathing Suits 20. Puzzles and Board Games 21. Baby Items 22. Halloween Costumes 23. Christmas Decorations 24. Old prescription glasses
Has anybody ever r.e.a.l.l.y fondue'd more than once, or maybe twice?!?!? I witnessed my Mom de-dust her avocado green fondue set from the early 1970's for decades. It was in the Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog. It was a Christmas gift. It was avocado green. It was bugly. (but_ + ugly = bugly) I know we had fondue once, in 1972 I think. Nobody liked it. 😂 I will NEVER allow a fondue set to cross the threshold of our home, period!!!!!
Oh! My! GOSH!!! You were so right! I paused your video and went straight to my fridge. 18 items filled my trashcan! Including 4 different containers of Mayo!! Ugh.... THANK YOU!!!
Once all my kids moved out, I took all our board games and card games to our family Christmas at my parents’ house. The three generations played through each game and decided if it was still a keeper or if it should be donated. We kept about 40% of them to play next time we had a family gathering. The rest went to Goodwill. Most of them had been purchased there originally 😊
Cass, I break down and keep some smaller boxes, for Poshmark orders. In the last few months I finally tossed the twin size sheets, from my son’s twin beds. They are in their 40s and have their own homes and we don’t even have the beds anymore.
I’ve recently retired from teaching and finally have the time and energy to declutter. I started with the school supplies by inviting my colleagues over to “shop” and take whatever they wanted. I have done everything you said…with usable mugs, I have potted small plants in them and used them as gifts. I also take it slow…I found an organization that will pick up every two weeks, so I pack up 3 or 4 boxes at a time and schedule a pick up. I have a long way to go but I am making progress! Thanks for the reinforcement that I am focusing on the right things.
If you have a burnt out candle in a beautiful jar that you want to keep, stick it in the freezer for a few and the last of the wax will pop out. I have used them for pen and makeup brush cups.
Yes! They ARE useful and pretty. Anytime you can “repurpose” something , do it, but ONLY if you really will! Donate them. I’ve been seeing the most beautiful things made with repurposed things, so donate them, people will grab them up. Not me, lol
Fondue sets are SO necessary when the electricity goes out in the winter and you can't get out. Have heated up soups, water for tea, milk for hot chocolate, etc using it when the electricity is out. Grew up in the country and learned this from my Mom. Live in the country now and have used it multiple times!!!
One of the better things about living in the north-east is that natural gas stoves are much more common, here. If the power goes out, we can still cook, including baking in our oven.
I save ends of candles in case Shit Hits the Fan SHTF because they can make fire starters with dryer lint or cardboard curled into tuna cans. Dump in all in the same labelled bin or box. Bin better in case of rats and mice.
I just used my fondue pot when the power was out! Worked like a charm! Don’t throw away blankets either because if the power goes out in winter, you’ll need them!
Some landfills will take unused or partially used cleaners and set up a "shop" for people to come pick the ones they want for free, or very cheap. This is especially nice for people struggling financially.
I love the one cupboard idea for entertaining! I have several locations for cake takers and platters. I'm decluttering now that I have a RULE! One cupboard for entertaining. YAY!
Thank you for mentioning that sheets, blankets and towels can be donated to the animal shelters. I buy myself new towel sets every two years and the old ones go to the Animal Rescue Legue. They make great dog and cat beds, so there is always a need.
Many churches will take the old sheet and blankets for quilting . The quilts are used for people who do not have blankets, some quilts are auctioned off to make money so children can go to camp free and may other things
My mother-in-law was put into a nursing home recently for dementia. She can't remember all the things she kept in cupboards. The 20 ( I kid you not) 20 dinner sets. The cupboards and cupboards of old towels that we donated to animal shelters are towels she doesn't remember she kept. The time and effort it took her to clean all the clutter around her house for years is what I will remember of her. Always cleaning and rearranging. It took three huge trucks to take away the rubbish. It was a sad way for her son ( my husband ) to do. I will never do that to my kids. I keep on top of it.
When we were “staging” our home to sell, I had to declutter all bookshelves and 'flat surfaces'. I became so used to the empty spaces ♥️ that I’m now obsessed with NOT filling them back up! Thoughts? Hint: I sold stuff, donated stuff, threw stuff - It felt SO great that it's now a lifestyle, keeping constant watch over what comes into our house! 👀
Oh goodness, the planners. I stand at Walmart staring at them, salivating. I love them. My track record tells me that I will fill it out for the first month and then I will never remember to look at it again. But I still want them. 😂
Another excellent place to donate jigsaw puzzles is Senior Apartment complexes. These are subsidized units for elderly people (also disabled adults). Most are living on a very limited income. There's always a Community Room, and in my building, there's always a jigsaw puzzle in progress on a dedicated table. It's an open source project, with people sitting down for just a couple minutes, or an hour. But puzzles can be expensive, so almost no one buys them just for themselves. Depending on the place, they may also accept appropriately themed games, large print books, and certain genres of DVD and CDs. You generally can't just drop them off, because Senior buildings usually have locked security doors, but the manager will tell you what they can take. Particularly if you're in a rural(ish) area, Seniors may not have access to Goodwill, or thrift stores much, because those stores are in the next city over, and many elders no longer drive outside the local area if at all. The rest of these suggestions are specifically just for those of you who physically & emotionally HAVE THE CAPACITY to do some calling around and dropping off (and help) or you're getting ready to START the decluttering process and the thought of just throwing stuff out to get it out is so anathema to you (even with Cas's excellent permission) that it's what's keeping you stuck, here are some ideas, particularly if you're in a rural-ish area or somewhere where everything's close by: Our local food pantry takes cleaning items, even opened ones. Opened ones, they'll use, and unused ones they'll save some for later use, but they also give them out to clients. Laundry detergent also. And clean reusable bags. OFFICE SUPPLIES: these places run soley on private donations and grants from funding sources. Those grants are almost never allowed to be used for administrative expenses. Everything from printer paper to white out, pens & pencils, dry erase markers, even sometimes used cellphones or laptops. Because we're rural, ours also take everything from bedding and towels, to highchairs, bottles & baby items, dishware & household items. Also if you've overstocked, hygiene items that are unopened & not expired. Oral hygiene items, razors, soap &shampoo. Menstrual and incontinence products & baby diapers are a huge deal. People who have to choose between buying food or diapers are gonna buy diapers. So if Baby's outgrown their nappies, you're menopausal and have stuff left over, or you're decluttering after a elder has died and there are incontinence items, I'd call your local food pantry. Having said all this, not all pantries take household items, etc, and those that do, have limited storage for nonfood items, so do call first. Your local head start program may take preschool age appropriate puzzles games & books and possibly some other cleaning, office or hygiene items like diapers, one extra clothes in case of "accidents". Domestic violence shelters will likely accept most or all of the above stuff as well as women's and children's clothing, because some arrive with almost nothing, because they just ran, and they're trying to get all the things for women needing to start over. ELECTRONICS, ESP cellphones for clients. If you're in America, Lions Clubs are everywhere, and vision is their thing. They accept used prescription glasses of all kinds, and there's usually a drop off box in the vision center in Walmarts. Local Community Centers and Senior Centers, if you have them, will take craft items, yarn, and other age appropriate stuff. Many of these places will also take canes, walkers & rollators. Remember, this is a resource, not a guilt trip. I know all this, have worked in some of these places, but I am also disabled -- and I do just toss stuff at times when I just don't have the ability to handle one more step of anything, or it takes too much to get it there cuz I don't have a car. And I feel guilty. I have to put that in perspective all the time. But if you do have the capacity, and if you're holding on to stuff because you're that earth conscious you bear to toss it, or you NEED to feel your stuff is appreciated, people in these places WILL appreciate it. If it's paralyzing you, Then take 15 mins to Google these types of places in your town or area of the city, make a few phone calls to check what they can use, pick one place, and work that donation box into your process.
💕💕💕our toaster is over 53 years plus old, it was so out of style Silver Color in the 70’s, still working, it was Eddie parents when they first married, they both deceased, it is in style today, we are both 72, it has the longest cord😂😂😂love listening to you
😂 lol!, I’ve been working on mine for a week now. Seriously! What is some of this stuff in here?! My hubby has help to contribute some strange things that I have no idea what they are. We’ve been in this house for 8 years now and this drawer has a triple divider. There are things that I found in the very back that made me go “hmmm!”. When I asked him what’s this or that , he said “ oh that’s a piece that went to such and such which we no longer have but you never know when you might need it “. Really!? I put all his little strange pieces and parts in a container and put them on his workbench in the garage. Problem solved! Still working on the rest though. Hope to finish today. It’s the last drawer and the last of all the cabinets in our large laundry room. Next I move on to finish my kitchen. Like you said one inch at a time. I never in my life thought it would take me this long to reorganize anything in my home. My closet is a nightmare! Saving that for last! I’m not a saver and never have been but my husband is and in this house we share a huge closet. We had separate walk ins in our old house. Now his nightmare is in-cringing on my space. I have to ask him to be able to move any of his stuff. Drives me crazy! 🤪 he has so many pairs of blue jeans that he can’t wear it’s ridiculous! Someone could really use them! When I ask him about them he tells me he’s going to lose weight. Been saying that for 4 years….. as he tells me to go buy him 4 more pairs of jeans that he can wear 🙄 time to let go of the old jeans and make space for the 4 pairs he can wear! I guess I should stop with the venting now! That could go on and on about or closet and his gradual take over of “stuff “ we don’t need! 🤬
At an elderly friends house for a goup lunch and reached for the salad dressing. Opened it and when it wouldn't pour even after shaking, I looked discreetly at the expiration date - had never been opened and it was dated almost 10 years ago!
My 90 year old mother’s linen closet used to stress me out. Last month I found out that it was stressing her too. She’s getting ready to move to a smaller place, so I took this as a sign to help her de clutter. I pulled everything out of her closet, dumped it on the couch and we went through it all. She had old twin bedsheets. She doesn’t have any twin beds in the house! I asked her permission for everything and we ended up with a massive garbage bag full of old linens, curtains and table cloths for donations. She is so happy with her new closet. Winter blankets on the top shelf, 2 spare bedsheets (1 for winter) on the next shelf, table cloths (zip-locked in a and sorted by size) on another shelf, and spare toilet paper and paper towels on the bottom. She wasn’t ready to depart with everything, but boy did we make a big dent😅 I don’t even want to talk about her bathroom cupboards and closet… let’s just say, there were enough packages of bandaids to supply a hospital. Working on her cleaning closet next.
Thank you for asking your mother’s permission before getting rid of her things. I cared for my mother in an independent senior living facility. It was painful to watch my neighbors’ offspring order their elderly parents around (as if the latter were little children). And? To cavalierly toss possessions without consulting dad or mom.
I have a special needs son and we used my grocery receipts proof of the food we buy for him. It helped when DSI reduce his funds…I do have to get rid of older ones now!
I collect all the candle remains in a jar that I really like, recycle all the old jars, and then when I have a good amount I melt down the wax, stick a new wick in it and now I have a new candle with a unique scent. It's really fun! 😄
74 years of cluttered living is hard to overcome! I have a weaving studio and a quilting studio. I am trying to improve both but I have to do it in 15 to 30 minute blocks! You are an encouragement every time I catch your channel. Keep helping us! Thank you!
I sympathize .I had to move ftom a 3 bedroom ranch style home with a basement, two car garage and a shed. My passion is rubber stamping and I hav a hug stash. I also do some crazy quilting and jewelry making. Like you I do a little at a time
Oh my I’m also a crafter and use old towels for small quilted items. I’ve made quilts from T-Shirts and old jeans. Sewing is a passion so it’s hard to not keep fabric for future projects. Ugh
Can you pick either quilting or weaving & let the other one go. Sophie's choice, I know! You probably don't think so but you like one better than the other. Give it to the person who will inherit it when you're gone. This is how I speak to myself to help me declutter... maybe helpful for you too!
I watched this video last October (2023) and it changed my life! I copied the list and started decluttering that evening and never looked back. I glommed on to your videos and found those of the Minimal Mom too and have been known to binge watch them for half a day for motivation and encouragement. My husband and I, the few times we moved, kept moving into bigger and bigger spaces and the moves always happened so fast we didn't really have time to go through and get rid of things before the move (Egad!) He died at Christmas 2021. So in October I realized it was time to make this MY house instead of OUR house. Decluttering the whole house has made it easier to let go of his things without feeling like I'm "throwing him away". My father died 12 days later and so I have a lot of stuff from my parents that I brought to my house that need to be dealt with too! (mostly paperwork, photos and things I wasn't ready to let go of when we emptied out the family home) Your decluttering and organization wisdom and examples have been absolutely inspirational for me! I also really appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable and share your own experiences and weaknesses with this effort. It keeps reminding me that this is something I can succeed at too. Thank you SO MUCH! - Carol
I have a Rubbermaid tote (bin) of empty boxes. It gets emptied during Christmas for presents. Once the Bin of Boxes is full I don’t keep any more that year 😂
First of all…you are so funny! I really enjoyed this video,so much so that I went into my kitchen while I was listening to you and organized my cabinets!!!! I think I have 24out of 25 of the ‘things you don’t need’ 😮 I recently took control of my financial situation and actually made some small investments. It made me realize how much I DO have. It helps. Thank you for what you do and how well you do it!
When my mom passed I found a family who had to leave their decorations behind when they moved.their toddler daughter squealed with happiness and it made me so happy!
I have dragged my moms crap across the country every since she died 20 yrs ago. She made such a big deal about leaving it to me because I wouldn’t throw her special stuff away. All in boxes cluttering my garage. BUT I have been cleaning the boxes out for the last four years and have got rid of a ton.
I cannot tell you how many times I related to you in this video! So many of your views/reactions are so REAL! Loving all of your advice but really loving the way you deliver it! 😂
Things to add to your next declutter list: shopping bags, greeting cards you've received, dry cleaner bags and hangers, empty jars, appliances that don't work, hair and skin products that you didn't work for you (or are older than your kids!), empty or old paint cans, storage containers that didn't work, old purses, and every paper that your kids scribbled on! I could go on!
Used waffle maker a few time years ago lol cost is why money I wish I could sell them oh I followed what you said in tough love video I got all stuff and vets did not come I was up early to be ready by 8am they did not show
A couple of candle jar hacks: 1) clean the jar out and use the jars for things like hair ties bobby pins Q-tips cotton balls and other items that you put in your medicine cabinet. 2) reuse the jars to put scented wax in.
I have kept receipts in a specific house binder for large house improvement projects such as new windows, a remodel, new floors, etc. I am going to be selling my house after many years of living there and the property has increased 3x in value. These receipts will be critical to avoid paying too much in capitol gains taxes in the US and I’m finding that many vendors don’t keep these invoices on file for long. But other than that… thanks for all the decluttering reminders!
I bought donated flower vases from the thrift stores for decoration for my son’s engagement party, those are something people really will find a use for. I donated them back after the party.
When I got married in 1982 my moms friend gave me a vase at my shower. I was all excited and proclaimed loudly, “ Oh I can put all the flowers in it Patrick will give me!”. The giver said, “ Oh honey, I’m so sorry, let me return it for a smaller one!” Lol true story. I still have the vase of course. I was always the one to fill it. 😂😂😂
You are right about boxes, our on exception is that we move a lot because we are military. We keep boxes broken down in a corner in the basement for when we move again.
This is great advice and you are spot on. I never considered that I will never use my footlocker of towels. I never thought about giving the towels and blankets to homeless people or pet shelters.
My daddy had a ton of mugs that his neighbor brought him from all over the world. When he passed I wanted to keep them all. They’re beautiful and from places like Egypt, Paris, Germany. I mean everywhere. I picked the most beautiful ones and use them all through my house like for qtips, pencils and I made a candle with one. I gave some to friends. I do have a few in my home for decorations. The other hundred lol mugs are in storage.
My mother saved everything her children gave her forever. When she passed I tried to give them back to my sibling or gifts from her siblings to them. My sister who gave my mother cookie jars told me to just take good photos of them. She has the photos that give her those moments of Nostalgia but do not take up the space. She has since digitized them and Wallaaaaa even less space. Hint hint for those with small artists😊
Cas, your 4 bug categories have been a lifesaver to my family. We've finally figured out we have a bee, a ladybug, and a butterfly and know to organize based on the butterfly tendencies now. Suddenly, we're all happier and tidier! You are a miracle worker! ❤❤❤❤
OMG!!! Finally, I found you again! I came across your videos about 8-10 yrs ago, before I really started watching YT and you taught me so much about cleaning. Believe it or not, your always in my head when I start cleaning! Your kind of like my cheerleader, pushing me on. I always think to myself, 'what would Cas do with this?' You've kept me on track, on these yrs later and I had to let you know and say: Thank you!!! You have no idea how happy I am right now!!! ❤😊!
I go through my novelty mugs every three - four months. I cut my philodendron plant and put the cutting in these cups filled with potting soil and drop them off at independent living centers etc. as a cheer up for residents.
I find the shape of vacuum cleaner boxes to be very useful. You can store wrapping paper, mops, brooms, curtain rods, etc in them. But I wouldn’t keep them if I didn’t use them.
I have never laughed so hard as I go through my stuff as a stage 3 cancer survivor. Reflecting on my varied identities of attention. A wock. The “vase”. Listening and getting a six pack. In gratitude of your honest sharing and frankness. Great ideas. Let’s get real who are we trying to be vs who life reminds of who it tells us we are. The what if can paralyze. Letting go knowing it can all go. Curating daily living. I do a deep clean once a year with weekly cleaning routine. Stress makes me procrastinate. I love having my favorite things on display and a clean organized space. It makes me relax immediately. No anxiety searching. Helps with work stress. Yet my purges trigger my mom. Seems hoarding runs in my family. I’m examining hoarding and anxiety, fear attachment, depression, OCD, self parenting motivation interpretation, social acceptance investment and need for economic literacy. Great hacks, self inquiry and means to move out of stagnation. Thank you for all you do that goes seen and unseen. It’s appreciated.
This is the best decluttering video I’ve ever seen! I have lots of this stuff. Didn’t realize how ridiculous it was. I also like that she’s sitting in a nice, pretty room, not among lots of clutter like most other videos which adds to my own clutter stress.
I work with dogs- love your recommendation for donating towels and blankets. You can directly make an animal feel safe and comfortable. The impact of those donations can be tremendous! Thank you ❤
I've been married for 57 years, 7 kids and lots of pictures, every birthday, graduation , wedding, grandkids are now at 22 and two greats grandsons. I have been decluttering almost daily for 1 .5 years and still keeping at it daily, I have a 4-drawer file and a two drawer file. They are getting free of clutter daily. I'm taking two boxes of outdated entrepreneurial trainings.
Your advice to see not-fitting clothes as bullies has been so liberating and has helped me declutter so much! And also - nothing has been more of a relief than "only" having 3 sets of sheets, 2 blankets and 2 towels (I am a single lady so that's all I need). This idea that you need 50 bedsheets for different aesthetics or looks or guests or occasions and that you need so many towels that you can keep grabbing new ones until you have a giant pile of used ones... why?! I only have what I need. And it's so much easier to maintain.
I am a single female in a 1 bedroom place, so I only have 1 extra sheet set (in pink, I used to have a white comforter to offset. But now with my pink top micro-blanket, I prefer the white sheets to offset:)! The current one that I like to use, I wash and put back on same day (I DON'T use or put on the 'extra set' unless something were to happen, like company sleeping on my couch, or if I was sick and going straight back to bed after remaking the bed and leaving my preferred white sheets still washing or drying). I really don't want any additional than 1 extra bc I don't have any additional sleeping options for more people! Lol As for towels, I DO have at least 6+ kitchen hand towels (on purpose! I like to change them to a clean one very frequently, probably everyday! And since I only have 1or 2 loads of laundry each week (2nd load is the bedsheets. First load fits everything else for just 1 person!) Soooo that means that I need 7 I figure to be able to change it everyday of the week, plus a couple of extras in case they get dirty faster than normal. I currently have 6, and I'm planning on buying about 3 more, then stop. Butttt, that also is my 'space limit' for that item too! As for shower towels, I have 3! 2 usually just sit in my closet as extras unused but don't really take up much room and do periodically come in handy if/when I spill anything OR if I drip a lot coming out of the shower and need yo dry the bathroom floor. OR if I take more showers than normal that week in between laundry so need to go through more than 1 or 2 towels:)
I LOVEEEE cuddling up on the couch with throw blankets, so 2 live on my couch ALWAYS, but neatly!!! And NO throw pillows lol since my couch came with tons of its own cushions;) soooo very comfy!!!
I’m 77 and do not want to leave my kids with taking care of my accumulations! What I’ve done is create an extensive “prop closet”! These are seasonal, well beyond Christmas, fall (including Halloween), spring (including Easter), and summer, which includes the porch and the entry! Because I live where I have minimal friends (many of which cannot make it up the stairs to the living level!), entertaining is not common. My “Stuff” means way too much to me and has got me thinking about what should be passed on to my kids, and family photos for many cousins. Things that belonged to my maternal Nan who was born in the late 1800’s, that are more than precious! I’m always dropping things off at Goodwill and Salvation Army. I have to say that my house is neat and very put together … until you see the attic and pantry! I do struggle with this issue almost daily, yet feel so relieved after dropping things off! My worry is the speed at which I’m accomplishing the needed action. I plan on living past 90, and should see great purging between now and then! Just wanted to share the point of view we “mature” people have to deal with! God bless!
I'm laughing I found a huge wicker basket (I mean huge) full of old bills. I have been moving them out. It was so full I can't even lift it all at one time. Yes Coffee, well Tea cups, I love a huge cup of tea. I have done this before time to do it again. I thrifted a very expensive pair of sandals that now hurt one foot, I just put it in my Sal. Army bin to donate (I try to go to the Sal. Army every 3 month, now it's better). I have no bathing suits that don't fit. so proud! I turn all empty candles into planters for same plants., so I don't have to buy any. I have clothes that are too big, working on donating and selling them. Thank you for this, I needed this today.
My story - I've moved from a 2500 sq ft home to a 850 sq ft apt. All the thrift stores in my area hit a bonanza. Now the RULE for apartment living is.... if 1 NEW thing comes in, 1 OLD thing goes out and I've been doing good about this aspect of keeping clutter at bay. Here's my dilemma- I just can't seem to part with cards and letters from family and friends. I always say to myself, when I die, my kids will go thru things and think, "oh look, mom did this or that," maybe I think they may get to know me a little better", I don't know. I think I need to see a therapist! 😅 I just love your video, I laughed out loud at some of things you were saying...you were reading my mind!!!
Some of the most treasured things I own are notecards with messages written in the 1940’s (by my relatives). During my university years, these were seen as a form of what academics call “oral history”. And? Yes, reading these did bring me closer to my (now-deceased) relatives. You have no need to apologize for being sentimental!
Hi Cas! I was a cleaner collector, so I made an effort to throw away ones I hate. I am now using up all of my extra cleaners. I have bought Blueland and I will only have those 4 cleaners, plus my marble and granite cleaners. I have cut my cleaners by 2/3 this year. I get excited every time I throw away a cleaning bottle. It feels amazing.
I was raised by a Swiss mom and I grew up with Fondue on special occasions. Now I am an adult and found out WHY only on special occasions 😂 my fondue set has been in the attic for 10+ years 😂 it’s gotta go! You crack me up!!! I can commit to getting rid of my mast towels, extra bedding and my fondue maker! Thank you 🙏
Nothing wrong in keeping them if you have a good space for them. These are like journals to you. Perhaps though could ask yourself, are you afraid one day you'll forget those memories, maybe afraid no one else remember you were once here...? I used to to think these things. I kept diaries when I was younger. Then realized I didn't want someone else to read them. I no longer have them and it hasn't made my life the worse off for letting them go. Everyone is different though. But I would consider the question 'why' you have them and cling to them.
@@JaneH3675lol I just wrote a book on exactly this and then an ad showed up and my whole comment got erased. In short, I have been learning to let go. I don't remember things and that is ok. I have found there are a lot of things in life I'd rather forget anyway. I keep a few things that make me remember only the best.
@@JaneH3675 that's interesting. I thought people kept old journals to reminisce on their past. I've never been a journaler tho. I'm the type that buys planners and journals and never uses them 😅
This is the exact video I needed!! I am responsible for clearing out my grandmother's house and I feel like everything she ever purchased from 1952 is still in this house and I needed permission to throw things away. Everything is sentimental and I hate parting with things, but it's been two years and I have to clear these things out so I can make this my home now.
My inlaws kept everything from their two babies, and maybe some were from my husband's grandmother, too. The problem was, the dirt had gotten greasy and crusted on them, and they were not up to modern safety standards. Yes, we didn't want the playpen, which was probably from 1960. It's better to share and let them be used while they are still new enough to be useful.
Ahahha I’m listening to this AS I declutter years of paperwork, books, cards, pictures etc! I have about the same issue with planners lol. I told myself this year I would overcome this self sabotage of a cluttered home! It really affects your mental state 😀
Oh my goodness....soooo funny...I was scrolling through RUclips trying to find something to watch to motivate me re decluttering/cleaning, found this, started watching thinking oh yeah yeah im sure these won't apply to me....empty boxes....ahh whoops....let me pull up a chair 😂😂😂😂
If you have old paper- bills, statements, grades, children's drawings, receipts, etc.- before you throw them away, shred them, or recycle them, ask your friends/ family if they would like them for making junk journals. Post on social media any time you have paper goods, magazines, books, diaries, journals, papers. You can either give them away, or sell them to people who make junk, and art journals. We love this stuff! If you have a yard sale, include these things too! Make sure you mention them in any adds you put out.
OMG just found Lemonchello Marinade from 2016 in the fridge! I like your style of explaining our reasons why we have kept stuff and why we should get rid of it. My mind shuts off with all the reasons I should keep it and I turn off the lights and leave the room. I forget how old I am because my mind is young. How much stuff does a great grandmother need!!!
Cas!! You crack me up!!! I am 46 and just finished my struggle with glasses!!! They are now a reality and they live in my head, night stand, kitchen drawer and purse. 😂 they are different colors so I know which place they need to go back too! Love listening to you and I threw out my Mayo today!! 😂
I'm almost 80, & just cleared out our kitchen to get cabinets painted. Counters were completely covered w clutter as I keep buying but haven't gotten rid of the inherited & previously owned cups, serving dishes etc. Yes, very high cabinets & deep inside! & thick w dust! Thanks for holding the mirror up ! I did have a fondue set & gave it away to nephew about 10+ years ago & happily. Linen closet full...when I cleaned out kitchen I found 3 ice cream scoops & we have virtually never used! We did use a pancake cooker for a long time, burned it out!
When I looked into a packed cupboard (I’ve lived in my house for 30+years) I think to myself, if I moved would I want to take this to a new house. Sometimes I am ruthless, and really just get rid of stuff. Stuff drives me nuts, and my husband is a bigger clutter bug than I am.
![Eminem - Fuel (feat. JID) [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t5H_CewqpKA/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much. I live in Kyiv, Ukraine. After russian invasion in February 2022 I felt depressed and didn't want do anything. I made my apartment a real mess and didn't have the will or stangh to change it. As time passed by I got myself together and decided that I don't want my home to look like this. But I didn't know where to start. And, luckily, I found your channel. I found out what type of clutterbug I am and what my type of organization is. Your videos give me inspiration, ideas and push me to action. I've already cleaned and declutered my entry room, bathroom, and a few cabinets in the kitchen. After I've watched this video I'm going to clean and declutter my bedroom.
Bless you and be safe❤
@@kimkoon4690 Thank you ❤️
Slava Ukraine! I watch Ukraine Matters, Anna from Ukraine, Officer Starsky, Artur Ruhi, Jake Broe, Ryan McBeth, TVP World, daily (but not every one daily). I also donate to United 24, a Ukraine animal rescue (monthly), and war causes. My grandparents were Czeck and Slovak, relatives grew up behind the Iron Curtain, you don’t have to tell me to never trust ruskies. Thank you for defending liberty. So many in the US are uninformed. They don’t get that you are the first line of defense, and that the weapons that we are sending are due to become decommissioned soon anyway at great expense. And that you are using them wisely and proactively to defend your sovereign country. In a way, we are decluttering the arsenal built in the 80s to defend against ruZZ.
@@SoundofSilence492
you didn't have to go all nationalist in your "support" comment, plus, finding such a "silver lining" and reframing war as decluttering of weapons is awful too.
@@aleksandra... Well I was not speaking to you. Too many ruskie supporters in the US, need to counteract their traitorous representatives and supporters. Slava Ukraine!
I’m a kitten foster for my local shelter and ❤❤❤ yes! Animal shelters would love your old blankets, linens, even stained ripped towels. I’ve done laundry at the shelter too and they go through an extraordinary amount of linens daily to line crates, carrier, and beds. Clean out those linen closets for the puppies and kittens! ❤️❤️❤️
And yes, Cas, you will need 47 pairs of reading glasses. Go to the dollar tree and stock up. Purse, car, bedside, kitchen, office, reading chair, etc. I really do have 10-15 pairs and I’m still always looking for one because I wander off with them and then my reading chair glasses are sitting on my night stand next to my kitchen glasses and my bedside glasses, and chaos ensues. 😂😂😂🤓🥸🧐
I am going to replay this podcast, stop at each number, go & do said item, then return for the next…who’s with me? Cass, you are an incredible amazing inspiration & I love your honesty, tenderness & humor. I wish we were next door neighbors, what fun we would have ⭐️🌟💫
So I cleaned out my fridge and was shocked at the out of date things. In the back I found some lime marmalade that apparently I thought enough of to pay $5 for half a pint mason jar!!! And then never ate it. Ugh! Cute jar but I knew if I
washed it out it would live in the garage for the next forty years! Thanks to you it’s now in the trash
along with out of date specialty mustards. 😂. Thanks Cas! Relistening and still finding things to get rid of. Now if I can just borrow your hubby to help me in the garage. 😂😂😂
And me cass can come and stay with me for free and not to work any time she his just wonderful love Lynda ❤
Thank you so much for telling people to donate their extra bedding to the Humane Society!
And thank you for adding towels too. They come in handy at the shelters during bath time.
They are always needing more. If you buy jackets or sweaters for your dog, they can use those to
I had extra towels that were in good shape, but not enough room to store them. So, I washed them and donated them to the Humane Society. I also had some puppy pads that I didn't need anymore, they were glad to get these items. I never knew extra bedding was welcomed. I will remember next time. Thank you.
“I’m not a planner person, but I want to be so so badly” epitomizes my personality so perfectly! 😮 I NEVER imagined that there would come a day that I watched a self-improvement blogger and did not roll my eyes. But this woman just blows my mind. I always thought my weird quirks were so unusual that no one could understand…but almost every video feels like she has literally been snooping through my house or something! 😂
I adore her quirky humor (reminds me of myself lol). I laugh a lot watching but get very motivated and have used her ideas a lot.
I’m going to go now to the garage to put boxes in my car that I decluttered from kitchen cabinets, while listening to this video! I AM going to get it all done, I promise you, and myself!
Important to remember that we’re not just making SPACE to fill back up, unless it’s to clear messy surfaces, of course. We’re making space to BREATHE, to feel less stressed, to have fewer “silent to dos.” ❤
100%
Absolutely! I’ve emptied out furniture recently and changing the rooms up and the first thing I do is dance and do Wonder Woman twirls in the centre of each room.
Agree 100%
THIS 💯💯💯💯
My problem is I don’t have the energy or stamina. I know I can do it a little at time and I have. I need to do more. I have Rheumatoid Disease and the weather is changing. The cold drains me. I will get use to the weather soon.
I agree with the majority of your suggestion, but in my case I have to keep the old planners. My now deceased mother kept planners for years. My father has dementia. I have looked at my mother’s planners many times to determine when my father was diagnosed, medications taken, cancer diagnosis, treatment. With my father no longer being verbal my mother’s detailed planners have been extremely valuable for providing a medical history to current physicians.
Also, handy and useful if you needed to go to court.
It’s historical information
I loosely use planners as a diary
Yeah, the planner diary thing is not agreeable agreeable to a lot of us.However we could go through and rip out pages that are just like lists of stuff to do or grocery lists or stuff like that and then them out but that would take a lot of time
Hoarding is a disease, in the same way that barebones minimalism is a disease. Neither benefit anyone. Fortunately you seem to have found a sane and happy medium path.
Thank you for sharing, Subscribed.
I love my bread maker, my juicer, my food processor, my big crock pot, waffle maker, popcorn maker, my Roaster, my Blender, my Wok...so many things.
I love to cook. I cook for many people, at least once a month.
Love my kitchen appliances.
I stay de-cluttered everywhere else in the house...I need my kitchen tools.
I'm cooking this week for other people's early Thanksgiving Dinners. Love my tools.
If cooking is your passion and you actually do it - and in your case you feed others too - why not keep your kitchen stuff!
@@LoveMusic-pd5iz I don’t think she’s asking for advice lol
I use my rice cooker but we know she's not talking to us.
That's great! It's only clutter for those of us who don't use them 😅 We all have different priorities, for me it's office and craft supplies, but I use them so I keep them.
You’re the type of cook I want to be; the reason I need those tools. If your kitchen is the only place you’re cluttered, you’re lucky! I’ve gotten rid of a lot of appliances and set a time limit of use for the ones I kept. If they don’t get used, they get tossed in a few months
After my husband passed, i lost our doublewide mobile home. Anyway. I moved in with my mom, who had moved in with my grandmother. So now there are 3 generations of women, with 3 families of StUfF. I was so depressed after my husband passed that i n as almost paralyzed. Then my mom passed. Wow talk about depression. Then my brother and a month later my sister and another sister. Whew!!!
Well, I was watching Christine, FrugalFitMom and she mentioned you challenging her to 25 items decluttering. Well, i got the bug too! Thanks to you and Christine i am on the clutterbug decluttering bus!!! Thanks to you and Christine.
I always have a good time decluttering in the wee hours (2 to 5 or 6 a.m.) with your RUclips posts playing in the background.
So “declutter baby items” just jumped out at me. I am 71 years old and found one of MY baby shoes, labeled “Laurie” in my mother’s dresser when I cleaned out her house upon her death. So I still have it now. Hee, hee! It sits out on dresser of guest room and I get to tell the story whenever anyone notices it.
That's so cool
Just brought like 10 blankets to the humane society. It felt so good to think of those poor animals enjoying a soft fluffy like new blankets I’ve been hoarding for years! Lol !
You're awesome❤❤❤
It's also a good idea to bring 'rags' to the veterinarian's office,washed in hot water.They use them for many purposes.
Our humane society throws out tons of blankets, sheets and even big bags of petfood when the best by date comes. Incredibly stupid and wasteful!
Donating to anyone who needs something feels wonderful.The restaurant in front of my house throws away towels by the dozen.I put them in my washer on HOT and when they are dry,I take them to my mechanic for his workers to use for whatever.If you can,help out others.
If you staple all your receipts together, you get a dandy little booklet that shows you why you have no money 🤣
I don't know why I laughed so hard at that😂
😂
Haha😂
😂😂😂
I resemble that remark!
I keep my old journals. They’ve got photos, poetry, stickers. I love them.
I think a lot of us are were raised by grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. We were taught to hold on to things, just in case. I've gotten a lot better than I used to be. I've decluttered and downsized considerably over the past few years, going from a 3-level home to a single-wide manufactured home.
Mother cluckers mug could be a cute pen/paperclip cup on the shelf behind you. 🤔
I also believe most recent event of Covid and shortages have created a continuation of the just in case, or stock up thinking my grandparents had
Everything I get rid of something, I find that I need it for my differing circumstances. I repent of wasting money.
Too true, or we're the product of those raised by those Grandparents. Anyone feel like times are starting to become echoes of those earlier ones, & we may need that Frugality once again 🤔
Absolutely agreed! It is by far the hardest conditioning to overcome-the need not to be wasteful and to stop automatically looking at something and thinking of all the other POSSIBLE uses for it and just let it go.
Hahaha, I'm swiss and the Fondue set is almost a household staple here😂 The melted cheese fondue is a typical meal here for winter evenings ;) and we also use the set for a hot pot kinda dish, with hot bouillon and we put meat on the forks, it's the traditional christmas meal in my family 😅
I’m not even a little, but no one will take my melty cheese 😂😂
Hello from sunny Arizona! That sounds like a fun Christmas tradition…..my kids are very attached to all of our Christmas traditions and they recall many happy times as we run through them. That’s what life should be made of…fun family times that mean so much because we are all together. 😎
I’m not Swiss but I love the fondue pot and your Christmas tradition. I also have a tortilla maker and love homemade tortillas.
I had fondue in Chamonix, France many years ago, and it was one of the best meals I ever had.
I just wanna follow up that I shared this video with my mom, and I saw yesterday that she bought some fondue cheese 🤣🤣
How have I never found this channel before?? You're hilarious!!
For lost socks I took them to my classroom as whiteboard erasers. The kids LOVED being able to wear them on their hand and erase with them. When I first introduced them they had a good laugh and were a total hit!
If the socks have holes I will use them for cleaning. I stick my hands in them and use them for my hub caps bath tub etc.
Me, too!! My students would store their markers in the socks when not in use!
What a GREAT idea!’
Put it on your hand and dust then pitch when dirty
How can you donate lost socks?
We have a cork board on the wall behind the dryer just for pinning up socks that lost their mate. Has worked great for 30 plus years. Plus if I need a cloth for dusting ..... guess where and what I use!
Im so proud I found you today. I needed you desperately and you make me laugh. You have 1 more Clutterbug on your hands. 😊🎉😊
🤗
I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. I put your videos on while I'm cleaning and your soothing voice and no nonsense attitude make me feel like I have a friend right here with me. I work for a well known tool manufacturer. My job is very physical with a lot of heavy lifting. I also have fibromyalgia and arthritis so I'm in lots of pain all the time. I tend to put the housework off until the weekend, then I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to start and I put it off. I recently discovered the power of an hour and it changed my life! thank you so much!
I do too but I must admit I cringe every time I hear amazeballz or crazy pants
It was a turning point for me in my decluttering when I donated my fondue pot new in box, ten years after receiving it as a wedding gift. Reality check: I want to be the kind of person who has fondue parties but I don't actually want to do the work and clean it after. Instead, I told myself I'm allowed to treat myself to that overpriced fondue restaurant once in a while.
My son puts all of his socks in a small laundry bag and washes the whole lot of them at one time, so he never loses socks. He is a genius.
I put them into laundry bags too. The moment they remove their socks, they put in a designated spot where I toss them in a laundry bag daily.
I have been using sock clips, which I got on Amazon about 15 years ago. I no longer see my specific ones on Amazon, but they work great. Because most of my socks are the same colour, it ensures that I am always using the same pair. OCD at play. LOL
YES! Please donate your kids coats, gloves, and hats. There are so many children that need these items!
Ask at elementary schools for a donation center, some have a donation center in the school district now.
A lot of places that give donations to needy people only take new things. They sell the used things to people like me lol.
1. Empty Boxes 2. Expired Food 3. Clothing that is too small 4. Extra Bedding 5. Old Planners 6. Nasty Towels 7. Lost Socks 8. Cleaners you are not using 9. Expired Medication 10. Boots and Coats 11. Novelty Mugs 12. Food Storage (containers) 13. Excess Serving Platters 14. Fondue Set 15. Appliances you never use 16. Vases 17. Old Bills (already payed) 18. Burnt out candles 19. Bathing Suits 20. Puzzles and Board Games 21. Baby Items 22. Halloween Costumes 23. Christmas Decorations 24. Old prescription glasses
@linaballestas6670
Thank you 😊
Has anybody ever r.e.a.l.l.y fondue'd more than once, or maybe twice?!?!? I witnessed my Mom de-dust her avocado green fondue set from the early 1970's for decades. It was in the Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog. It was a Christmas gift. It was avocado green. It was bugly. (but_ + ugly = bugly)
I know we had fondue once, in 1972 I think. Nobody liked it. 😂
I will NEVER allow a fondue set to cross the threshold of our home, period!!!!!
Thank you for this. I always want a list of the stuff mentioned in videos like this, otherwise I forget.
Thank you❤❤❤❤
You just saved me 54:00😊😊
Oh! My! GOSH!!! You were so right! I paused your video and went straight to my fridge. 18 items filled my trashcan! Including 4 different containers of Mayo!! Ugh.... THANK YOU!!!
Same here 😂😂😂
My mantra when my kids were small-"Don' put it down, put it away! And, only feet and furniture belong on the floor!
That's very similar to the 1-touch rule! I'm trying to instill this in my children
OHIO-only hold it once
Once all my kids moved out, I took all our board games and card games to our family Christmas at my parents’ house. The three generations played through each game and decided if it was still a keeper or if it should be donated. We kept about 40% of them to play next time we had a family gathering. The rest went to Goodwill. Most of them had been purchased there originally 😊
I just recently shredded my tax returns from 1987. I wish I was kidding. 🤦🏼♀️
😂
We recently sold our house and shredded tax returns from 2007🤦♀️
You have me beat but I have every copy from each year since I was 19. (20 years) lol
And, we are TOLD to keep tax returns forever- more guilt! And storage
😂😂😂
Cass, I break down and keep some smaller boxes, for Poshmark orders. In the last few months I finally tossed the twin size sheets, from my son’s twin beds. They are in their 40s and have their own homes and we don’t even have the beds anymore.
I’ve recently retired from teaching and finally have the time and energy to declutter. I started with the school supplies by inviting my colleagues over to “shop” and take whatever they wanted. I have done everything you said…with usable mugs, I have potted small plants in them and used them as gifts. I also take it slow…I found an organization that will pick up every two weeks, so I pack up 3 or 4 boxes at a time and schedule a pick up. I have a long way to go but I am making progress! Thanks for the reinforcement that I am focusing on the right things.
OMG I still have my 1st paycheque from over 50 years ago! I am overwhelmed!
If you have a burnt out candle in a beautiful jar that you want to keep, stick it in the freezer for a few and the last of the wax will pop out. I have used them for pen and makeup brush cups.
Yes! They ARE useful and pretty. Anytime you can “repurpose” something , do it, but ONLY if you really will! Donate them. I’ve been seeing the most beautiful things made with repurposed things, so donate them, people will grab them up. Not me, lol
I up-cycle them by decorating them and gifting them.
Fondue sets are SO necessary when the electricity goes out in the winter and you can't get out. Have heated up soups, water for tea, milk for hot chocolate, etc using it when the electricity is out. Grew up in the country and learned this from my Mom. Live in the country now and have used it multiple times!!!
I never would have thought of this!
One of the better things about living in the north-east is that natural gas stoves are much more common, here. If the power goes out, we can still cook, including baking in our oven.
I have used it too. Also a food plate warmer powered by candles. Believe it or not it works!
I save ends of candles in case Shit Hits the Fan SHTF because they can make fire starters with dryer lint or cardboard curled into tuna cans. Dump in all in the same labelled bin or box. Bin better in case of rats and mice.
I just used my fondue pot when the power was out! Worked like a charm! Don’t throw away blankets either because if the power goes out in winter, you’ll need them!
OMG, you’re adorrrrrrable! I love your personality. Hahahaha…. Empty boxes, so true…😄😄😄
Some landfills will take unused or partially used cleaners and set up a "shop" for people to come pick the ones they want for free, or very cheap. This is especially nice for people struggling financially.
I love the one cupboard idea for entertaining! I have several locations for cake takers and platters. I'm decluttering now that I have a RULE! One cupboard for entertaining. YAY!
I love this dedicated area for entertaining items! Thank you. My man just lost his area above the fridge😂
So helpful and you are a natural comedian!
I melt the old candles on top of my Franklin stove when burning a fire and dip pinecones in them to use as fire starters. They also make nice gifts.
😅 I did the same, except I never gifted them I ended up using the several I made. 🔥❤️
Thank you for mentioning that sheets, blankets and towels can be donated to the animal shelters. I buy myself new towel sets every two years and the old ones go to the Animal Rescue Legue. They make great dog and cat beds, so there is always a need.
Many churches will take the old sheet and blankets for quilting . The quilts are used for people who do not have blankets, some quilts are auctioned off to make money so children can go to camp free and may other things
My mother-in-law was put into a nursing home recently for dementia. She can't remember all the things she kept in cupboards. The 20 ( I kid you not) 20 dinner sets. The cupboards and cupboards of old towels that we donated to animal shelters are towels she doesn't remember she kept. The time and effort it took her to clean all the clutter around her house for years is what I will remember of her. Always cleaning and rearranging. It took three huge trucks to take away the rubbish. It was a sad way for her son ( my husband ) to do. I will never do that to my kids. I keep on top of it.
When we were “staging” our home to sell, I had to declutter all bookshelves and 'flat surfaces'. I became so used to the empty spaces ♥️ that I’m now obsessed with NOT filling them back up! Thoughts?
Hint: I sold stuff, donated stuff, threw stuff - It felt SO great that it's now a lifestyle, keeping constant watch over what comes into our house! 👀
That’s wonderful thanks for sharing
Oh goodness, the planners. I stand at Walmart staring at them, salivating. I love them. My track record tells me that I will fill it out for the first month and then I will never remember to look at it again. But I still want them. 😂
Girl! SAME!
A calendar will sync the days and their dates every 7 years.
Me too😢
I can't plan a day let alone plan for a year.
Another excellent place to donate jigsaw puzzles is Senior Apartment complexes. These are subsidized units for elderly people (also disabled adults). Most are living on a very limited income. There's always a Community Room, and in my building, there's always a jigsaw puzzle in progress on a dedicated table. It's an open source project, with people sitting down for just a couple minutes, or an hour. But puzzles can be expensive, so almost no one buys them just for themselves. Depending on the place, they may also accept appropriately themed games, large print books, and certain genres of DVD and CDs. You generally can't just drop them off, because Senior buildings usually have locked security doors, but the manager will tell you what they can take. Particularly if you're in a rural(ish) area, Seniors may not have access to Goodwill, or thrift stores much, because those stores are in the next city over, and many elders no longer drive outside the local area if at all.
The rest of these suggestions are specifically just for those of you who physically & emotionally HAVE THE CAPACITY to do some calling around and dropping off (and help) or you're getting ready to START the decluttering process and the thought of just throwing stuff out to get it out is so anathema to you (even with Cas's excellent permission) that it's what's keeping you stuck, here are some ideas, particularly if you're in a rural-ish area or somewhere where everything's close by:
Our local food pantry takes cleaning items, even opened ones. Opened ones, they'll use, and unused ones they'll save some for later use, but they also give them out to clients. Laundry detergent also. And clean reusable bags. OFFICE SUPPLIES: these places run soley on private donations and grants from funding sources. Those grants are almost never allowed to be used for administrative expenses. Everything from printer paper to white out, pens & pencils, dry erase markers, even sometimes used cellphones or laptops. Because we're rural, ours also take everything from bedding and towels, to highchairs, bottles & baby items, dishware & household items. Also if you've overstocked, hygiene items that are unopened & not expired. Oral hygiene items, razors, soap &shampoo. Menstrual and incontinence products & baby diapers are a huge deal. People who have to choose between buying food or diapers are gonna buy diapers. So if Baby's outgrown their nappies, you're menopausal and have stuff left over, or you're decluttering after a elder has died and there are incontinence items, I'd call your local food pantry. Having said all this, not all pantries take household items, etc, and those that do, have limited storage for nonfood items, so do call first.
Your local head start program may take preschool age appropriate puzzles games & books and possibly some other cleaning, office or hygiene items like diapers, one extra clothes in case of "accidents". Domestic violence shelters will likely accept most or all of the above stuff as well as women's and children's clothing, because some arrive with almost nothing, because they just ran, and they're trying to get all the things for women needing to start over. ELECTRONICS, ESP cellphones for clients. If you're in America, Lions Clubs are everywhere, and vision is their thing. They accept used prescription glasses of all kinds, and there's usually a drop off box in the vision center in Walmarts. Local Community Centers and Senior Centers, if you have them, will take craft items, yarn, and other age appropriate stuff. Many of these places will also take canes, walkers & rollators.
Remember, this is a resource, not a guilt trip. I know all this, have worked in some of these places, but I am also disabled -- and I do just toss stuff at times when I just don't have the ability to handle one more step of anything, or it takes too much to get it there cuz I don't have a car. And I feel guilty. I have to put that in perspective all the time. But if you do have the capacity, and if you're holding on to stuff because you're that earth conscious you bear to toss it, or you NEED to feel your stuff is appreciated, people in these places WILL appreciate it. If it's paralyzing you, Then take 15 mins to Google these types of places in your town or area of the city, make a few phone calls to check what they can use, pick one place, and work that donation box into your process.
💕💕💕our toaster is over 53 years plus old, it was so out of style Silver Color in the 70’s, still working, it was Eddie parents when they first married, they both deceased, it is in style today, we are both 72, it has the longest cord😂😂😂love listening to you
How cool is that?!
I envy your classic toaster!
So cool! I have a friend with an old Mac desktop & a microwave just as old… works of art. So expensive & modern looking… should be in a museum.
I stopped at my junk drawer three times this week and removed two to three items each time to the trash. Decluttering one inch at a time.
😂 lol!, I’ve been working on mine for a week now. Seriously! What is some of this stuff in here?! My hubby has help to contribute some strange things that I have no idea what they are. We’ve been in this house for 8 years now and this drawer has a triple divider. There are things that I found in the very back that made me go “hmmm!”. When I asked him what’s this or that , he said “ oh that’s a piece that went to such and such which we no longer have but you never know when you might need it “. Really!? I put all his little strange pieces and parts in a container and put them on his workbench in the garage. Problem solved! Still working on the rest though. Hope to finish today. It’s the last drawer and the last of all the cabinets in our large laundry room. Next I move on to finish my kitchen. Like you said one inch at a time. I never in my life thought it would take me this long to reorganize anything in my home. My closet is a nightmare! Saving that for last! I’m not a saver and never have been but my husband is and in this house we share a huge closet. We had separate walk ins in our old house. Now his nightmare is in-cringing on my space. I have to ask him to be able to move any of his stuff. Drives me crazy! 🤪 he has so many pairs of blue jeans that he can’t wear it’s ridiculous! Someone could really use them! When I ask him about them he tells me he’s going to lose weight. Been saying that for 4 years….. as he tells me to go buy him 4 more pairs of jeans that he can wear 🙄 time to let go of the old jeans and make space for the 4 pairs he can wear! I guess I should stop with the venting now! That could go on and on about or closet and his gradual take over of “stuff “ we don’t need! 🤬
@@teresarussell8264 I giggled. My son is like your husband. Once I got started though he helped clear out an entire room and ran the vacuum. Yay.
At an elderly friends house for a goup lunch and reached for the salad dressing. Opened it and when it wouldn't pour even after shaking, I looked discreetly at the expiration date - had never been opened and it was dated almost 10 years ago!
My 90 year old mother’s linen closet used to stress me out. Last month I found out that it was stressing her too. She’s getting ready to move to a smaller place, so I took this as a sign to help her de clutter.
I pulled everything out of her closet, dumped it on the couch and we went through it all. She had old twin bedsheets. She doesn’t have any twin beds in the house! I asked her permission for everything and we ended up with a massive garbage bag full of old linens, curtains and table cloths for donations. She is so happy with her new closet. Winter blankets on the top shelf, 2 spare bedsheets (1 for winter) on the next shelf, table cloths (zip-locked in a and sorted by size) on another shelf, and spare toilet paper and paper towels on the bottom.
She wasn’t ready to depart with everything, but boy did we make a big dent😅
I don’t even want to talk about her bathroom cupboards and closet… let’s just say, there were enough packages of bandaids to supply a hospital.
Working on her cleaning closet next.
You are a loving child, Shannon!
Have a great new year with your mom. 💕
You must be a wonderful daughter ❤️
Thank you for asking your mother’s permission before getting rid of her things. I cared for my mother in an independent senior living facility. It was painful to watch my neighbors’ offspring order their elderly parents around (as if the latter were little children). And? To cavalierly toss possessions without consulting dad or mom.
Coats, warm socks, blankets, gloves, hats , ...i keep a few in my truck for if i see someone who is in the cold and needs something.
Great idea.
I have a special needs son and we used my grocery receipts proof of the food we buy for him. It helped when DSI reduce his funds…I do have to get rid of older ones now!
I collect all the candle remains in a jar that I really like, recycle all the old jars, and then when I have a good amount I melt down the wax, stick a new wick in it and now I have a new candle with a unique scent. It's really fun! 😄
74 years of cluttered living is hard to overcome! I have a weaving studio and a quilting studio. I am trying to improve both but I have to do it in 15 to 30 minute blocks! You are an encouragement every time I catch your channel. Keep helping us! Thank you!
I sympathize .I had to move ftom a 3 bedroom ranch style home with a basement, two car garage and a shed. My passion is rubber stamping and I hav a hug stash. I also do some crazy quilting and jewelry making. Like you I do a little at a time
Oh my I’m also a crafter and use old towels for small quilted items. I’ve made quilts from T-Shirts and old jeans. Sewing is a passion so it’s hard to not keep fabric for future projects. Ugh
Can you pick either quilting or weaving & let the other one go. Sophie's choice, I know! You probably don't think so but you like one better than the other. Give it to the person who will inherit it when you're gone.
This is how I speak to myself to help me declutter... maybe helpful for you too!
The creative people have a hard time. To us, it’s all potential art!
I watched this video last October (2023) and it changed my life! I copied the list and started decluttering that evening and never looked back. I glommed on to your videos and found those of the Minimal Mom too and have been known to binge watch them for half a day for motivation and encouragement. My husband and I, the few times we moved, kept moving into bigger and bigger spaces and the moves always happened so fast we didn't really have time to go through and get rid of things before the move (Egad!) He died at Christmas 2021. So in October I realized it was time to make this MY house instead of OUR house. Decluttering the whole house has made it easier to let go of his things without feeling like I'm "throwing him away". My father died 12 days later and so I have a lot of stuff from my parents that I brought to my house that need to be dealt with too! (mostly paperwork, photos and things I wasn't ready to let go of when we emptied out the family home) Your decluttering and organization wisdom and examples have been absolutely inspirational for me! I also really appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable and share your own experiences and weaknesses with this effort. It keeps reminding me that this is something I can succeed at too. Thank you SO MUCH! - Carol
I have a Rubbermaid tote (bin) of empty boxes. It gets emptied during Christmas for presents. Once the Bin of Boxes is full I don’t keep any more that year 😂
Tie the lost socks in knots and take to the animal shelter for them to play with. I brought a lot a few years ago for the dogs and they loved them!
First of all…you are so funny! I really enjoyed this video,so much so that I went into my kitchen while I was listening to you and organized my cabinets!!!! I think I have 24out of 25 of the ‘things you don’t need’ 😮 I recently took control of my financial situation and actually made some small investments. It made me realize how much I DO have. It helps. Thank you for what you do and how well you do it!
Just decluttered under my friends sink....she had a LOT of cleaners! I helped her to simplify, she felt so much better!
When my mom passed I found a family who had to leave their decorations behind when they moved.their toddler daughter squealed with happiness and it made me so happy!
I have dragged my moms crap across the country every since she died 20 yrs ago. She made such a big deal about leaving it to me because I wouldn’t throw her special stuff away. All in boxes cluttering my garage. BUT I have been cleaning the boxes out for the last four years and have got rid of a ton.
I've just scratched the surface of decluttering. Your videos are very inspiring. Thank you
I cannot tell you how many times I related to you in this video! So many of your views/reactions are so REAL! Loving all of your advice but really loving the way you deliver it! 😂
Things to add to your next declutter list: shopping bags, greeting cards you've received, dry cleaner bags and hangers, empty jars, appliances that don't work, hair and skin products that you didn't work for you (or are older than your kids!), empty or old paint cans, storage containers that didn't work, old purses, and every paper that your kids scribbled on! I could go on!
Yea I just got the extras out of cabinet put on a bag incase we find the container I am waiting to toss them before February lol
I have a new one as a gift fondue never used .
O love my processor can't part never
Used waffle maker a few time years ago lol cost is why money I wish I could sell them oh I followed what you said in tough love video I got all stuff and vets did not come I was up early to be ready by 8am they did not show
Please do dont stop
A couple of candle jar hacks:
1) clean the jar out and use the jars for things like hair ties bobby pins Q-tips cotton balls and other items that you put in your medicine cabinet.
2) reuse the jars to put scented wax in.
I have kept receipts in a specific house binder for large house improvement projects such as new windows, a remodel, new floors, etc. I am going to be selling my house after many years of living there and the property has increased 3x in value. These receipts will be critical to avoid paying too much in capitol gains taxes in the US and I’m finding that many vendors don’t keep these invoices on file for long. But other than that… thanks for all the decluttering reminders!
I bought donated flower vases from the thrift stores for decoration for my son’s engagement party, those are something people really will find a use for. I donated them back after the party.
Just listening to you. I feel like my best friend walking me through all my mistakes
When I got married in 1982 my moms friend gave me a vase at my shower. I was all excited and proclaimed loudly, “ Oh I can put all the flowers in it Patrick will give me!”. The giver said, “ Oh honey, I’m so sorry, let me return it for a smaller one!” Lol true story. I still have the vase of course. I was always the one to fill it. 😂😂😂
I actually gave my husband a printout of when I wanted him to buy me flowers, and I think he actually crumpled it and threw it into the trash.
Lmao
You are right about boxes, our on exception is that we move a lot because we are military. We keep boxes broken down in a corner in the basement for when we move again.
That was us. We just moved so much!
This is great advice and you are spot on. I never considered that I will never use my footlocker of towels. I never thought about giving the towels and blankets to homeless people or pet shelters.
My daddy had a ton of mugs that his neighbor brought him from all over the world. When he passed I wanted to keep them all. They’re beautiful and from places like Egypt, Paris, Germany. I mean everywhere. I picked the most beautiful ones and use them all through my house like for qtips, pencils and I made a candle with one. I gave some to friends. I do have a few in my home for decorations. The other hundred lol mugs are in storage.
My mother saved everything her children gave her forever. When she passed I tried to give them back to my sibling or gifts from her siblings to them. My sister who gave my mother cookie jars told me to just take good photos of them. She has the photos that give her those moments of
Nostalgia but do not take up the space. She has since digitized them and Wallaaaaa even less space. Hint hint for those with small artists😊
Cas, your 4 bug categories have been a lifesaver to my family. We've finally figured out we have a bee, a ladybug, and a butterfly and know to organize based on the butterfly tendencies now. Suddenly, we're all happier and tidier! You are a miracle worker! ❤❤❤❤
I am guilty!!!
But memories
Crunchy
OMG!!! Finally, I found you again! I came across your videos about 8-10 yrs ago, before I really started watching YT and you taught me so much about cleaning. Believe it or not, your always in my head when I start cleaning! Your kind of like my cheerleader, pushing me on. I always think to myself, 'what would Cas do with this?' You've kept me on track, on these yrs later and I had to let you know and say: Thank you!!! You have no idea how happy I am right now!!! ❤😊!
I go through my novelty mugs every three - four months. I cut my philodendron plant and put the cutting in these cups filled with potting soil and drop them off at independent living centers etc. as a cheer up for residents.
Great idea!!
Love this idea. It's a win-win!
Love it ❗
I am copying this idea! Thanks!
I find the shape of vacuum cleaner boxes to be very useful. You can store wrapping paper, mops, brooms, curtain rods, etc in them. But I wouldn’t keep them if I didn’t use them.
I agree
I have never laughed so hard as I go through my stuff as a stage 3 cancer survivor. Reflecting on my varied identities of attention. A wock. The “vase”. Listening and getting a six pack. In gratitude of your honest sharing and frankness. Great ideas. Let’s get real who are we trying to be vs who life reminds of who it tells us we are. The what if can paralyze. Letting go knowing it can all go. Curating daily living. I do a deep clean once a year with weekly cleaning routine. Stress makes me procrastinate. I love having my favorite things on display and a clean organized space. It makes me relax immediately. No anxiety searching. Helps with work stress. Yet my purges trigger my mom. Seems hoarding runs in my family. I’m examining hoarding and anxiety, fear attachment, depression, OCD, self parenting motivation interpretation, social acceptance investment and need for economic literacy. Great hacks, self inquiry and means to move out of stagnation. Thank you for all you do that goes seen and unseen. It’s appreciated.
You are so welcome!
This is the best decluttering video I’ve ever seen! I have lots of this stuff. Didn’t realize how ridiculous it was. I also like that she’s sitting in a nice, pretty room, not among lots of clutter like most other videos which adds to my own clutter stress.
I work with dogs- love your recommendation for donating towels and blankets. You can directly make an animal feel safe and comfortable. The impact of those donations can be tremendous! Thank you ❤
And donate the boxes for the kitties, they all love those boxes!!
I've been married for 57 years, 7 kids and lots of pictures, every birthday, graduation , wedding, grandkids are now at 22 and two greats grandsons. I have been decluttering almost daily for 1 .5 years and still keeping at it daily, I have a 4-drawer file and a two drawer file. They are getting free of clutter daily. I'm taking two boxes of outdated entrepreneurial trainings.
Your advice to see not-fitting clothes as bullies has been so liberating and has helped me declutter so much! And also - nothing has been more of a relief than "only" having 3 sets of sheets, 2 blankets and 2 towels (I am a single lady so that's all I need). This idea that you need 50 bedsheets for different aesthetics or looks or guests or occasions and that you need so many towels that you can keep grabbing new ones until you have a giant pile of used ones... why?! I only have what I need. And it's so much easier to maintain.
I am a single female in a 1 bedroom place, so I only have 1 extra sheet set (in pink, I used to have a white comforter to offset. But now with my pink top micro-blanket, I prefer the white sheets to offset:)!
The current one that I like to use, I wash and put back on same day
(I DON'T use or put on the 'extra set' unless something were to happen, like company sleeping on my couch, or if I was sick and going straight back to bed after remaking the bed and leaving my preferred white sheets still washing or drying).
I really don't want any additional than 1 extra bc I don't have any additional sleeping options for more people! Lol
As for towels, I DO have at least 6+ kitchen hand towels (on purpose! I like to change them to a clean one very frequently, probably everyday! And since I only have 1or 2 loads of laundry each week (2nd load is the bedsheets. First load fits everything else for just 1 person!) Soooo that means that I need 7 I figure to be able to change it everyday of the week, plus a couple of extras in case they get dirty faster than normal. I currently have 6, and I'm planning on buying about 3 more, then stop. Butttt, that also is my 'space limit' for that item too!
As for shower towels, I have 3! 2 usually just sit in my closet as extras unused but don't really take up much room and do periodically come in handy if/when I spill anything OR if I drip a lot coming out of the shower and need yo dry the bathroom floor. OR if I take more showers than normal that week in between laundry so need to go through more than 1 or 2 towels:)
I LOVEEEE cuddling up on the couch with throw blankets, so 2 live on my couch ALWAYS, but neatly!!!
And NO throw pillows lol since my couch came with tons of its own cushions;) soooo very comfy!!!
I’m 77 and do not want to leave my kids with taking care of my accumulations! What I’ve done is create an extensive “prop closet”! These are seasonal, well beyond Christmas, fall (including Halloween), spring (including Easter), and summer, which includes the porch and the entry! Because I live where I have minimal friends (many of which cannot make it up the stairs to the living level!), entertaining is not common.
My “Stuff” means way too much to me and has got me thinking about what should be passed on to my kids, and family photos for many cousins. Things that belonged to my maternal Nan who was born in the late 1800’s, that are more than precious!
I’m always dropping things off at Goodwill and Salvation Army.
I have to say that my house is neat and very put together … until you see the attic and pantry! I do struggle with this issue almost daily, yet feel so relieved after dropping things off! My worry is the speed at which I’m accomplishing the needed action. I plan on living past 90, and should see great purging between now and then!
Just wanted to share the point of view we “mature” people have to deal with! God bless!
I'm laughing I found a huge wicker basket (I mean huge) full of old bills. I have been moving them out. It was so full I can't even lift it all at one time. Yes Coffee, well Tea cups, I love a huge cup of tea. I have done this before time to do it again. I thrifted a very expensive pair of sandals that now hurt one foot, I just put it in my Sal. Army bin to donate (I try to go to the Sal. Army every 3 month, now it's better). I have no bathing suits that don't fit. so proud! I turn all empty candles into planters for same plants., so I don't have to buy any. I have clothes that are too big, working on donating and selling them. Thank you for this, I needed this today.
You're welcome!
My story - I've moved from a 2500 sq ft home to a 850 sq ft apt. All the thrift stores in my area hit a bonanza. Now the RULE for apartment living is.... if 1 NEW thing comes in, 1 OLD thing goes out and I've been doing good about this aspect of keeping clutter at bay. Here's my dilemma- I just can't seem to part with cards and letters from family and friends. I always say to myself, when I die, my kids will go thru things and think, "oh look, mom did this or that," maybe I think they may get to know me a little better", I don't know. I think I need to see a therapist! 😅 I just love your video, I laughed out loud at some of things you were saying...you were reading my mind!!!
I employ the "1 item in, 1 item out" system too and for the most part do very well with this.
Some of the most treasured things I own are notecards with messages written in the 1940’s (by my relatives). During my university years, these were seen as a form of what academics call “oral history”. And? Yes, reading these did bring me closer to my (now-deceased) relatives. You have no need to apologize for being sentimental!
Hi Cas! I was a cleaner collector, so I made an effort to throw away ones I hate. I am now using up all of my extra cleaners. I have bought Blueland and I will only have those 4 cleaners, plus my marble and granite cleaners. I have cut my cleaners by 2/3 this year. I get excited every time I throw away a cleaning bottle. It feels amazing.
I was raised by a Swiss mom and I grew up with Fondue on special occasions. Now I am an adult and found out WHY only on special occasions 😂 my fondue set has been in the attic for 10+ years 😂 it’s gotta go! You crack me up!!! I can commit to getting rid of my mast towels, extra bedding and my fondue maker! Thank you 🙏
Take all your extra bedding to local churches who make quilts out of them for the poor
Thank you for all you do, but especially the getting rid of negative talk/ thoughts. Such a Needed message!!!🎉
I keep my calendars in a memory box. They have everything that happened in my life in there!
Nothing wrong in keeping them if you have a good space for them. These are like journals to you. Perhaps though could ask yourself, are you afraid one day you'll forget those memories, maybe afraid no one else remember you were once here...? I used to to think these things. I kept diaries when I was younger. Then realized I didn't want someone else to read them. I no longer have them and it hasn't made my life the worse off for letting them go. Everyone is different though. But I would consider the question 'why' you have them and cling to them.
@@JaneH3675lol I just wrote a book on exactly this and then an ad showed up and my whole comment got erased. In short, I have been learning to let go. I don't remember things and that is ok. I have found there are a lot of things in life I'd rather forget anyway. I keep a few things that make me remember only the best.
@@JaneH3675 that's interesting. I thought people kept old journals to reminisce on their past. I've never been a journaler tho. I'm the type that buys planners and journals and never uses them 😅
I agree. I can look back at who I was with, what I was doing. Interesting and prospective.
Thanks for sharing this
I always hate getting rid of mine I threw one away yesterday
It had all the memorabilia from last year
This is the exact video I needed!! I am responsible for clearing out my grandmother's house and I feel like everything she ever purchased from 1952 is still in this house and I needed permission to throw things away. Everything is sentimental and I hate parting with things, but it's been two years and I have to clear these things out so I can make this my home now.
My inlaws kept everything from their two babies, and maybe some were from my husband's grandmother, too. The problem was, the dirt had gotten greasy and crusted on them, and they were not up to modern safety standards. Yes, we didn't want the playpen, which was probably from 1960. It's better to share and let them be used while they are still new enough to be useful.
Obviously I missed the live feed and am commenting over and over again on things as I hear it.
Ahahha I’m listening to this AS I declutter years of paperwork, books, cards, pictures etc! I have about the same issue with planners lol. I told myself this year I would overcome this self sabotage of a cluttered home! It really affects your mental state 😀
Hey, Dollar Tree has readers and they are great for having a pair in every room without breaking the bank
Oh my goodness....soooo funny...I was scrolling through RUclips trying to find something to watch to motivate me re decluttering/cleaning, found this, started watching thinking oh yeah yeah im sure these won't apply to me....empty boxes....ahh whoops....let me pull up a chair 😂😂😂😂
HAHAHAHAHA!
If you have old paper- bills, statements, grades, children's drawings, receipts, etc.- before you throw them away, shred them, or recycle them, ask your friends/ family if they would like them for making junk journals.
Post on social media any time you have paper goods, magazines, books, diaries, journals, papers. You can either give them away, or sell them to people who make junk, and art journals. We love this stuff! If you have a yard sale, include these things too! Make sure you mention them in any adds you put out.
Great tips as always. And I always love that you’re so honest, vulnerable & down to earth and just a little kooky at times💕😀
OMG just found Lemonchello Marinade from 2016 in the fridge! I like your style of explaining our reasons why we have kept stuff and why we should get rid of it. My mind shuts off with all the reasons I should keep it and I turn off the lights and leave the room. I forget how old I am because my mind is young. How much stuff does a great grandmother need!!!
This is great! I loved how you gave the little pep talk that we haven't discovered our best method of organization yet.
Cas!! You crack me up!!! I am 46 and just finished my struggle with glasses!!! They are now a reality and they live in my head, night stand, kitchen drawer and purse. 😂 they are different colors so I know which place they need to go back too! Love listening to you and I threw out my Mayo today!! 😂
I'm almost 80, & just cleared out our kitchen to get cabinets painted. Counters were completely covered w clutter as I keep buying but haven't gotten rid of the inherited & previously owned cups, serving dishes etc. Yes, very high cabinets & deep inside! & thick w dust! Thanks for holding the mirror up ! I did have a fondue set & gave it away to nephew about 10+ years ago & happily. Linen closet full...when I cleaned out kitchen I found 3 ice cream scoops & we have virtually never used! We did use a pancake cooker for a long time, burned it out!
I actually did hang onto our wooden highchair for "someday" when we had grandbabies, and now six of them have used it!
When I looked into a packed cupboard (I’ve lived in my house for 30+years) I think to myself, if I moved would I want to take this to a new house. Sometimes I am ruthless, and really just get rid of stuff. Stuff drives me nuts, and my husband is a bigger clutter bug than I am.