DeCluttering Your Home FASTER | How to Get Rid of Your Stuff
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- Опубликовано: 3 июн 2024
- Feeling bogged down by clutter and lacking the motivation and time to tackle it? Decluttering can be daunting, but fear not! Let's simplify the process and pave the way to your dream clutter-free home. Check out these 17 tips for turbocharging your decluttering efforts, straight from a seasoned real estate expert who navigates moves daily. With these decluttering hacks at your disposal, you'll swiftly and efficiently reclaim your space. Let's roll up our sleeves and get this done!
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Jerry Pinkas Real Estate Experts
604 N 27th Ave
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-839-9870
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Disclaimer: All information given in my videos is meant to be educational. This video is not intended to replace your research or provide legal, investment, or financial advice. For legal advice, consult a lawyer.
I'm a 78 year old man, and I'd add this advice to much younger people, such as those that are just starting out and don't really own anything. First thing to understand is that everything you buy or acquire somehow will require some level of your time and space; the obvious thing is not to buy it in the first place. Live very frugally and carefully. All those shiny things come out of your income. Why buy a book when you can go to the library and get it for free and you aren't looking after it, lugging around for the rest of your born days, only at some point having to figure out how to get rid of it.
Things used to cost a lot more, relatively speaking, than they do now. 'Cheap' is a drug: don't take it. Mini -storage businesses never used to exist; now they are everywhere and well used. They are full of 'stuff' cluttering people lives and that is one way to get it out of sight. Don't buy it in the first place!
A very, very wise advice and so true. I am way younger, but I came to the same conclusion. After wild consumering young adult years I've made a U turn as I volonteered at clothes swap and saw the insane amount of clothes women store in their wardrobes. Plenty of stuff was brand new, with a price tag, never worn. We've started composting, repairing clothes and small machines, making our own candles and soap, growing our own vegetables, participate in sharing economy...But our chicken are the champions of recycling - they eat bran which is a mill waste, cooked potato that can't be sold because of its shape and is also a waste and old bread from bakeries and shops that isn't sold. And they give eggs, meat and poo for compost. Oh, and the sum at the bank keeps growing and growing..
@@anitagorse9204 Good for you. And this way of thinking should be taught in school. It is, after all, just common sense thinking about how to live your life: ie live it for quality not quantity.
I love my IPad for downloading and reading books. The only ones I have kept are my watercolor instruction books and it's great.
As much as lies within you - stop buying 😂
Clutter is a deadbeat roommate that never leaves the house and pays no rent.
Or any roommate..
My nephew living with his aunt and he pays no rent and hasn't for several yrs, he helps out around the house, he has been cleaning up her house for the last 4 yrs as she is a hoarder and he's been getting rid of stuff including some of his possessions to their local goodwill, other antique stores etc and he pays for gas to use her truck which he does on a regular basis and helps with groceries, every month. He has money, a job but doesn't make enough money to be able to pay rent but he tries Bless his heart for @ least trying and caring enough to want to help her make her living conditions more livable, and sanitary
The cost of living and rents are through the roof it's way more than what he makes working and it's hard for him to try and save any money most paydays but some paydays he manages to be able to save even a little bit and put it away
@@e.r.470 Is he working on getting some kind of training or education to enable him to make more money?
Is Clutter a cat?
I recently saw a comment on a channel by a woman who said that people are only decluttering because the books and media told them too. That they should keep their stuff. Spoken like a person who has not had to clear out a relatives home after they passed/had to move. I had to clear out my Grandmothers home as we needed to sell her home for her care. She led a spartan lifestyle (thank goodness), but it was still a lot of work. My FIL house had to be put up for sale for his care, he had more stuff than my Grandma. Not to mention the times I have helped friends clear out their relatives places. My Father passed and he had two storage lockers full of sports memorabilia plus a room at my parents house that was full. It took my sister and I around two years off and on to sell that stuff for our Mom. This put me over the edge. I do not want someone to have to go through what we went through on my behalf. I am not a hoarder, but had a lot of stuff. I am not, nor will I be, a minimalist by any means. However, I have managed to get rid of around 50% of our stuff. It is an ongoing process. Good luck everyone!
Been there, done that! Experience and pain teaches, better to learn from other's pain!
I'm 73 and decluttering because I don't want my relatives to be stuck in the same way.
My mom did hoard, and family did not help for various legit reasons (mostly). I had all the same reasons.
I’m making a season of elimination happen now!
Thank you, yes! I feel for you and this is a good message!
In age of consumerism, please people, please declutter once or twice a year.
And do it larger scale when reaching 50's.
It's so unfair to the family who will aid the elderly if they persist with living in own home...Unless they are super active seniors and do minimize.
I'm 68, husband 71. We've moved several times, downsized twice, now two storage lockers only until we decide to buy small or build small.
I've moved dozens of times when young in family of 9.
Aided moving friends and family many times. Aided moving our adult children many times...
Aided with clearing elderly relatives homes many times.
We lost 9 family( Aunts/Uncles step parents, cousins just before covid. Lost Mom 2022.
Mom.lived In single wide mobile home with two add on rooms, a carport and large 15 x 15 shed.
Sis lived with her. The stuff we hauled out of there was ridiculous. Most to dump, lots given away.
Sis still took a lot when we got her moved to the Coast.
My step Mom says she's going to live as long as she can in a quite remote area..so that will be a job too. However she's decluttering each year.
But still has lots. She's 86. Still golf's, walks, gave up curling last year.
We've just packed up moving from a tiny house, and now helping our daughter, son in law prepare to sell their house, with barn property. They will hopefully move to 2000 Sq ft for rest of their lives.
I'm exhausted..still helping older sis who needs hip surgery..in-between packing, decluttering at daughters ( pregnant(. Watching grandson..
So, agree with you, older people need to downsize, or at least declutter yearly.. give heirlooms to children each year!
It's hard enough doing Estate paperwork, let alone work of emptying lifelong possessions.
@@coolwater55 you can well imagine the nightmare I had to deal with, because my parents upsized after us kids were out of the house, claiming that they needed a large enough house to host families with grandchildren. I have one picture of a family gathering from 1991 and, they never hosted another family gathering!
Family did not want to help them clean out when they needed it and my dad was afraid to clean it out when my mom first went in memory care.
He didn’t want to return to the house that he built, I imagine for good reason, with the horrible memories of what I found.
Neglected my house for four years while I was helping my parents and have to figure out what to do with the stuff that I don’t want inside that my dad thought was necessary to bring from his house, like his snow boots. He was no longer shoveling snow, since 2021.
To get rid of my stuff I had a yard sale.
Everything was $1
Clothes, table, chair, skis, books……… Everything!
I made $600 and got rid of 90% of my stuff.
People were buying stuff they didn’t really need or want but it was only a dollar so they bought it anyway.
Wow they should watch this video!
Brilliant!
Good on you
I think I may try a $1 sale
If I had known I'd have come and bought loads. I love stuff. Don't know what's wrong with you all!!!
I donate to a thrift store where proceeds go to rescue and foster animals. Makes it easier to let go of things knowing it will save a kitten 🤷♀️
Where is the thrift store? I would love to donate there! What a great cause!
I wish I knew of one. The place I go donates to their church, which is better than Goodwill where they are so rude.
We bought our home in June of last year. We downsized our stuff considerably. We have nothing in storage, nothing in boxes, not even a junk drawer. Our garage only has our two cars and nothing else. It feels good that we have a very organized and clean home. I don't want to leave our son with a bunch of our stuff when we pass.
I couldn't DISAGREE more! I ONLY buy used stuff these days, for about 15 years now. I have found the most amazing treasures for a fraction of the cost of retail, and it is FUN! I found at Goodwill for example a beautiful, ornate, gold fireplace screen locally at Goodwill and paid about $35, later finding it in a Frontage catalogue for like $350! My whole house is full of pre-owned stuff. Why should I buy new crap made in China?!
You are so right!!!
Yeah clutter is great. Keep cluttering with other people's cast-offs!
Debbie, I both agree and disagree with you.
Yes, I do try not to buy new stuff if I can help it.
My house too is nearly all furnished with pre-owned items and all my family's clothing are pre-owned (except for underwear & socks). I was able to keep our family of 4 in a presentable home & garments on a salary of $25K for about 10 years. As retirees now, we have even less money but we need nothing because we learned to re-purpose
most things, donate or gift others with good items no longer needed or beloved, and had the JOY of living a simplified lifestyle while never going in to debt--even during years of under-employment or layoffs. When simplicity but Beauty become a lifestyle, much much LESS is wanted while basic needs never are neglected.
Have been married twice. Both of my husbands felt entitled to "help" me purge unnecessary stuff when we moved. I noticed that they both removed things of great memories or sentimental value to me. All of their keepsakes remained. My adult son has done the same thing. I refuse to let anyone else touch my things anymore. If they want to toss my stuff, I'll be dead soon enough.
I'm so sorry you experienced that. That's so unfair and cruel.
Funny how people who re marry tend to find mates with the same habits…😮
I'm sorry that happened to you. People shouldn't touch other folks things.
Before I moved from a 2000 sq ft house to a condo in another state, I had to seriously downsize. I had 4 garage sales, listed stuff on fb and OfferUp, had Salvation Army pick up some furniture and took a ton to goodwill in many trips. I narrowed it down to a U-Haul pod and what would fit in my minivan.
I’m doing the same exact thing! Sold sooo much and donated a small box truck load. Pod arrives in a few days. I’m down to 20 totes and 2 leather recliners. Very calming now. I’ll purchase a new small dining set when I land :)
Well done
I the summer of 2021, when I was 57, and my husband 62…we UPSIZED…into a 3300sq ft home on acreage…I have had SO MUCH FUN decorating my larger home, and doing gnome/fairy and floral gardens outside. I’m a very organized person(almost OCD), so my seasonal/holiday decor items are very organized and have lots of room to store them. I decorate with a plan and buy only what I’ve got a PLAN for in an arrangement….I see the BIGGEST problem is people purchase things they see they like, but WITHOUT having a pre-conceived plan on HOW TO USE IT….We have only ONE life…so I’m doing this WHILE I STILL CAN…when I cannot take care of it all, and get too tired to decorate, I’ve got a plan to sell it!
@@1timeslime971 OK
I’ve found that donation centers don’t want a lot of items. Sets of rarely used dishes for example. Even ones that are still for sale on the company’s web site. Very discouraging.
I did it several years ago. My house is easy to clean now and I stay on top of it. The feeling is so good
That's good to hear, because this is the result I want - need! My ongoing health issues make housework hard so with 'stuff' cluttering my home it is harder still. Good to know you are keeping on top of it as that is another issue.
Sometimes it’s just best to give away your SELL pile, especially when you know damn well it will sit around sabotaging your goals for a year and a day.
I'm almost there. If I can't get it together and have a garage sale this summer it's getting donated!
@@bahba9247 Believe me, you never regret it. I don’t have time to sell things on eBay and trot my rear end to the post office. Once that stuff is gone it’s off your mind 🌸
If you are selling, it has to be worth at least 50$ or have some other historical/sentimental value. What is worth less, just toss it away/donate.
@@bahba9247 I always have a free box at my yard sales. I set it out by the curb so that people can pick through it on their way out. I also keep adding to it as the day goes on or the second day. It helps me not be left with things that I will have to haul off in the end🙂
You made me laugh out loud. I do agree with you.
Dear sir - please don’t overuse the swirling effect- it’s so distracting but great content.
swirling effect makes the video spin
Agree. I just listen to it, but I had to quit watching. Also, the background itself is wavy.
Totaly agree.
Yup
Don't distract from your content. I had to look away to hear your advice.
Start minimizing as early as possible before a move. It'll take longer, be harder than you think. I was moving cross country, already a minimalist, and I assessed every item asking myself if It fits with the new life I want for myself. Too many of us haul baggage around most of our life because we think we should. I was able to get all worldly possessions in my suv, turn the key and head out to the new life.
GOOD FOR YOU. This must've been an awesome feeling!
I used to do that. What happened?
You still need a place to sleep and a place to sit, was the plan to buy new (to you) at your new home?
@@deadcatbounce3124 If I felt as if I needed it, yes.
@okiejammer2736 Yes, most freeing experience of my life. For the first time in a long long time I felt really alive.
Guilt is clutter. We keep things out of guilt. And it becomes a huge burden.
Like old family framed photographs. It's sentimental, you feel you should hold on to them, but they're literally strangers to you. What to do?
My mom was a hoarder and I watched people's mouths drop with disgust as they entered our house and saw stuff was stacking on top of everything else, including the chairs so guests could not even sit down. It was embarrassing, but my mom thought all of her items were worth something, even the $1 beanie babies and the ceramic angels. It just kept getting worse and worse. My brother and I live very simple with little because we have trauma from our childhood.
As a child of hoarders I understand.
It’s a disease…. Hoarding gives them a sense of comfort they never had before.
The swirling is making me ill. I'll listen, but I will not watch!
swirling effect makes video spin it makes you not watch
I doubt he has anything worth listening to, anyway.
Lost me at pics of man buns.
I was watching a RUclipsr that was answering her viewer’s questions about why she didn’t save the clothes that her kids outgrew as hand me downs being that she had 9 or 10 kids . They lived in a very small 3 bedroom house ,she said she didn’t have the room or time or energy to be maintaining a bunch of old clothes. She also said everything we have will eventually be trash . I find that I need to just let it go ,and stop trying to find the ‘perfect’ place for it to go. When I donate clothes I don’t agonize over if a garment is good enough and would people want it .I trash socks,underwear,torn or stained items and donate the rest and let them decide if it is OK to keep. I don’t want to burden myself babysitting a bunch of ‘trash’.
You are now burdening the charity workers. Just toss. Save the charity tine and money. Now they have to arrange for disposal of your garbage. That's not fair or helpful.
@@rubyannr6898 I don’t give them the bad stuff but if it is questionable I donate it. I figure that got some free good stuff they can use what they can and trash the rest. I was wearing the items in the not so distant past someone else might need them.
@beckyshell4649 That sounds utterly reasonable. Some people hear, "Let them sort it," and that's the end of the thought process. Your way sounds good for everyone.
@@rubyannr6898 A burden through your eyes is a paycheck and food on the table for another.
And places like good will are non profit not a charity. The ceo of good will makes MILLIONS 2”while NOT paying his staff a living wage. I donate to local banks who also are non profit but employee local workers and often run local food banks.
Absolutely right.
Hurricane Katrina was a major help in getting rid of "stuff/everything" for me and my family.
One of the best/worst things in my life.
Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.
When I declutter a specific room, I usually clutter my other rooms
Exactly.
😄
I’m using “Swedish Death Cleaning”. My husband and his brothers and spouses had to clean out his Mom’s house after she died. It took a couple of days to remove all the “stuff”. After that, I swore my kids would never have to do that for me. I think with all the decluttering I’ve done it should only take a few hours to clean out our house. I enjoy the lack of “baggage”.
If you ever hate getting rid of things just imagine that if you died tonight what would happen to that stuff anyway.
I am age 81 and " trying " to get the wife to let go. She has 20 year old clothes all neatly stacked in the walk in closet, neatly because I
did it. She grew up very poor in the Philippines so I often think perhaps it is harder to get rid of something because she had so little. I
personally am going to sell or donate some old Disney comics, reprints because the originals went 50 years ago. Western dvd's, a set of
ten Silver western medals that took me 10 years to complete the set. Old memories are the hardest to let go but like you said, can I or will I
ever use it again. Will I ever watch the movies again, No. Gone, Big items are not a problem, it is the STUFF in drawers, closets, shelves that
are the hardest to get rid of. YOUR KIDS ' DO NOT ' WANT YOUR STUFF, unless it has a President's picture on it.
I’m a grown “kid” of a mom in the same situation. My stepfather just passed and he was a pack rat lol. My mom is bit of one too. She’s trying to clear things out now. Soooo tough!
@@kimberlydeprey 😄
President's picture! 😂😂😂
She's got to get over all of that. Maybe take her to counseling? Believe me; nobody wants all that stuff! As a child of someone like that I didn't. Plus, your having grief from the loss also especially if it's sudden.
I'm in the same boat...Filipino wife
Great for an analytical person with lots of stuff. Great for Swedish Death cleaning. I make it easy. 10 minutes a day. I can do that. Now I'm organized enough that right now I'm letting go of 3 things a day, trash or donate. I keep a bag by the front door putting donates in as I go. I take it to a donation center once a week. It's not always easy letting go thinking I may need or want it later that's most people's major 'LET IT GO' issue. Si now I think of it as giving to someone else. Makes it eadier.
It’s marvellous that you are making a real effort to turn your house into a home again. You won’t regret it, it will be an enormous weight off your shoulders, it’s very freeing. I’ve moved house a lot over the years and have had to declutter each time ~ it’s amazing how much ‘stuff’ we collect over time, that we don’t actually need.
I saw an article on Swedish Death Cleaning ~ intrigued by the title, I read it and it reminded me of the awful job I had of clearing my mother’s house , garage and garden after she died. It was so stressful on top of my grief and everything else. I don’t want my children, who all have health problems and other difficulties to have to deal with all my ‘stuff’ when I die, so like the Swedish custom, I have got rid of almost everything I DONT NEED. I still have some things to sort out now I’ve moved to a much smaller home but like you, I’m getting there. Your family will be grateful for many reasons.
I got over my "might need it later" mindset that was keeping my home cluttered, when I retired and volunteered once a week (still do) at a non-profit social service organization that provides food and clothing to very low income families in my surrounding communities. Seeing the tears of joy on a young couple's faces when they are able to get warm clothes for their children, or cooking utensils for their new home after living in their car for a year, or appropriate clothes for a job interview, etc. etc., really helped me understand how privileged I am to have been able to accumulate all that clutter in the first place! Now when I have something I'm not using, I don't ask myself if it's something I should keep for that unlikely "just in case" scenario, and instead think about how much the item is going to mean to someone who needs a helping hand. It's a win-win.
I had started dating a woman I knew for years, and after about a year we decided to move in together. I had never seen her apartment.... big mistake... once I saw it. I helped get her cleared up over a couple months after the official move, but it didn't take long for things to start piling up. I'm the exact opposite person...so it put quite the strain on our relationship. In the end it didn't work out, but I did realize she didn't want to live that way, it's was clear she didn't know how to only live with what you actually need or use, or not to buy ten of something when you only needed one, it was a deep seeded emotional thing that causes that behaviour.
A key to sanity is controlling the inflow of items. I've learned to avoid "sets" which are designed to encourage consumers to spend "just a bit more" for extra items they don't need or use. One is left juggling extra possessions in an effort to access the items actually used then throwing away the unused portion/item of the set. Whether it's cookware, glassware, cosmetics/polish, tools, office supplies, cleaning supplies, linens/sheets, socks, food, etc. I buy the best quality of an item that I want/need and avoid extras of any kind.
That is good advice. Thank you. Never thought of it that way.
This is great for getting me going. You do imply that one has the space to start making all the different piles of things however. I actually have been throwing things out every week since a bad builder wrecked my house and caused the chaos I am trying to sort out now. By getting rid of several bags of excess above the normal weekly rubbish, I start to see hope for the time soon when I do a great sort-out into 'rubbish', 'keep' 'donate' piles.
I want to put in a word for the older folk like me who have become disabled and are in pain. The younger generation do not understand how difficult this makes life. For example, carrying the washing downstairs is a major task now and extremely painful and leaves me in such pain I can hardly do anything else. Being old, alone and in pain is very difficult and prevents me doing the things I want to do.
@ellyess7203 - This is true for so many of us. I may decide to go through all of our books and give some away, for example, but then I realize I really need to do laundry, or clean bathrooms, etc. These days I can do one extra thing per day only, or the pain will knock me down and I won't even be able to cook dinner. A friend in the same condition hires someone to help her do it, but I can't afford that. I don't have a solution, but am sending you an empathetic hug.
There are now people who will come and help you declutter! It's wonderful ❤
Maam, I'm 72 yrs old & was only able to walk max 400 steps a day.
I bought a Near Infrared mat & a belt size pad 4 wks ago... ive stopped my pain meds, up to 5000 steps every other day (2500 alternate days) & have lost 15 lbs. I feel great mood too. Plesse look into YTube vids talking about tjis new therapy. Canadian researchers are also finding huge improvements with dementia, Parkisons & brain injured people! Goid luck, God bless
So so true in every respect! Especially the part where he says 'nobody wants your junk even if you think it is not junk!
I found a charity that meant a lot to me, and I happily donated many things. It was liberating. Those things were oppressing and taking up space.
I love my stuff. In fact I have everything I want to own. Whatever needs fixed, I got the part and and tool to fix it with.
But can you find it all the time right away when you need it? And if looking for it say with people watching is it sort of embarrassing? I said the same thing for years. I’m only 30. And realize I serious need to declutter and get rid of stuff. I have TONS of stuff! I begin realizing about six months ago that there’s really no point in having all the stuff when I need something there’s just so much crap for me to find that one item
My parents weren't exactly hoarding stuff, but they stored everything for decades and I mean everything. It took us 5 years to declutter. I figured out there's zero chance I will be able to sell everything so I decided to donate. I loaded my car four to five times a year with everything from tech to clothes to kitchen machines and took it to bring-take events, organized by sahms with large families. What was left went to Caritas/Red Cross. My estimate is we donated 20.000-25.000€ worth - sorry, not sorry for every single piece of crap. Breathing easier is more precious than money.
I sold my collections for $$$$; 1980’s skateboards, Schwinn Krate Stingrays. Now, I have a lot of garage space!
I’m with you. Sounds like we have/had the same things. Stingrays, 80’s bmx, Sims skateboards and vintage t shirts were my big bank items
Yay you😊
The trick is finding value.
I slowly decluttered when preparing to move from a large 3 bedroom house to a 4 room cottage.
No regrets. I review my stuff every season.
I'm 74. I get rid of stuff every day. There are Hoarders in my family, so if I don't use it or wear it, I toss it or give it away. I seldom buy anything new. I'm emptying
my top shelves because my climbing days are limited. Tina, Al's wife
I'm 78, and wish my life was that easy. My significant other raises a big fuss with everything I try and toss. So its a nibble, nibble process getting rid of anything that isn't mine.
Convincing my wife is almost impossible. I have no problem getting rid of stuff. Most of the clutter is in the basement. I donated a lot of old clothes on our last move. I also gave away a snow blower and mower to a neighbor since I was moving to a 55 and over. We still have too much for our next and last move.
Put the extra in storage and have her pay for it. Maybe that will show her the cost of hanging onto things. Too harsh?
@@kimberlydepreyhaving worked with a family member with this kind of feelings, that’s gonna hurt too much. Perhaps as a final step?
She’s got a need for the stuff, not a greed for it. I don’t understand why.
Refocusing onto experiences with living the new place over things helped me ease them into donating. Took time.
Basements flood, you could make a case for going through the stuff to find what you guys would like to protect, and along the way toss the garbage (as in actual garbage) and duh donations (which is the stuff that you’re like, why do we have this?). Dana K. White has a declutterring method that isn’t emotional, it’s based on the space that you have and making things only better as it’s no mess. She’s got videos on RUclips for free info and books if you prefer, but it’s pretty simple. Might work for you as it’s not you trying to pry things away, she can keep anything, just not everything.
@@desereetouchet9294 Omigosh! My mom (born 1928) loved to save department store boxes, ribbons, tissue paper. And Christmas stuff that was NEVER used. I hired an African man to clean out that big laundry room. It took him just 20 minutes, we took 12 garbage bags out the back door. I was so happy, I gave him all the cash I had, $140.
Excellent..I had to play it 7 times cuz cognitive self but at least don't give up folks
If I had given up I wouldn't have 4 1/2 years clean and sober off of every illicit drug and pharmaceutical addictive cigarettes and booze right now so never never give up never and I love you
Make the swirling stop I’m getting sick
I always love to just peruse antique shops and try to build personal glimpses of the individual lives of those who have passed from this life. Collections of beer tap handles, fishing lures, music records, jars of buttons, cooking utensils, books, and on and on. It’s almost as good as people watching at the airport!
Oh gawd, I wish I could get rid of the crap in my house. Especially the crap other people have left here!
Can't you? If other people have left it there, send it to them or tell them to come get it?
@@chrisjohnston7403 you might want to tag the correct person.
I'm gonna do a box sale
Load up similar items into one box
Put a ten dollar price on it
Take the whole box
Make bigger bills
Get to re-home more stuff!
But, ya got to stick to the no picking rule!
It's the whole box, or nothing.
peace
Your audio is great. The video portion is very busy! So choppy! Wiggley transitions are distracting. I would enjoy a calmer approach.
We are moving to what will be our last house and decluttering. This is the house my son will have after we are gone . Luckily, we have very similar tastes, so we are just doing the new home furnishings, etc, in what I know we both enjoy. I've asked him and made sure he won't have to deal with anything except the folder containing all needed legal documents after I'm gone. My father left no will, etc, and I REFUSE to have my son deal with too much as I know how it is. It's to much to go thru the stuff,deal with finances, etc
It's off topic from the decluttering conversation, but get your son set up as Power of Attorney on your accounts. I've found that the PoA that the lawyer drew up seems to be not good enough for the broker and insurance and hospital/medical system - they all want their own forms, and they legally can't talk to him about anything without that. I don't know about the bank as my parents added me to their accounts many years, ago and they would occasionally request that I write a check to make sure the bank doesn't fuss over my signature. It's also been a godsend to know my parent's email password, as that's where notices of missed payments or payments coming due get sent, so I could track things down. My folks moved to Assisted Living yet still refuse to sell the house, so being able to find the service companies so that they get paid was essential. With most payments these days being automated, it's helpful for day to day life, but the day will come when those payments can be discontinued.
For when/if your organization skills start going, it's also helpful to call any service companies now and ask that the son be added as an alternate contact, I did that with the plumber that they use and with the pool company (local company) and a couple others, they carried the bill for 6 months and never cut them off, until I started checking my parent's emails and saw that it wasn't getting paid.
Edit: It's probably sufficient to write down/share your userID and pw for many sites such as utilities that are on autopay, but for bank/brokerage/insurance/medical, do it the right way and set up the PoA. For years my father shared his brokerage PW with me, but at one point I called them to ask a question about his account, and even though I had my father's permission to log on, I could literally see the Rep doing a face palm when I said I knew the account info with my father's permission. Not having the proper paperwork on file opens them to a lot of liability, so do it the right way to make things easier in the long run.
You would be surprised what people will buy, if priced right: Scrap wood, CDs, appliances. However, you have to decide what your time is worth. Also, a sign on your lawn with free can do wonders. Lots of poor people around and lots of hoarders.
My neighbor regularly puts things out on the curb with a Free sign, and it usually goes in a couple days. I assume he's also posting on Craig's List or FB so people know it's there. Some of it would be easier to throw in the trash, but if it's free someone will usually take it.
I can honestly say I'm not attached to Things anymore. It's a good feeling!
Thank you for your timely video. Going through this now…a second time! Got rid of a lot of my parents things when they passed 12+ years ago. We are in our 70’s and I’m decluttering again, the rest of mom’s things and mine. (Not touching hubby’s things as he’s not ready). Taking clothes to free store, books and magazines to library, junk to thrift store, electronics to Best Buy to recycle. Have 30+ boxes ready for auctioneer I’ve worked with before to pick up as there are a lot of antiques. The kids don’t want any of it.
It can be overwhelming. Just throw 2 items you don't need every week. That's over 100 items a year tossed out, or 1,000 items in 10 years. Plus, AVOID buying things you don't really need.
Jerry, i am going through this right now! Moving to Myrtle beach in three weeks thanks to your wonderful team. I love you guy's your the best!
Thank you Susie! We are super excited for you! And so glad to help you with your plan! :) See you soon
Your video came up on my YT feed so I thought I'd scope it out while I ate my lunch. You seem like a very nice man who sincerely wants to help people with their clutter situation. My only issue is with the sorting into piles.....THEN using the One Touch method.
At that point, you've already touched it twice. I won't directly promote a decluttering expert's channel here, but IMHO, there is a better, simpler way to declutter....a "no-mess" decluttering system. If I had to come back to piles everywhere and go through all that stuff AGAIN, I would be discouraged. I think that's why many people are largely unsuccessful at decluttering. Once someone declutters enough, the organizing part is mostly done. 🙂
Yes Dana’s system rules!
That sounds like Dana K White's method! The very best method of downsizing your stuff and you never have piles of stuff to be tripping over. I highly recommend her RUclips channel.
The moment I heard him saying to create piles, I was like "nooooo"! And then to go back and re-sort through things again?
Jerry, thank you so much. I’ve been avoiding the much needed declutterring in my house, but you have given me some good advice on how to tackle my clutter.
Why do I miss some of my stuff after I get rid of it
There are several items I got rid of stuff that I wish I could get back. If you take care of items it is a collection, if you don't it is clutter.
Didn't know about the Home Depot Bagster thing. That could come in handy. In my urban neighborhood with a lot of foot traffic we'll set boxes out front marked "Free" with stuff. Have to be careful to not to pick up more stuff than we set out.
You can be sure if you get rid of something you’ll need it tomorrow
That's a myth......
@@martaescobar7625 My experience
Timely topic for me. I am starting to declutter and identifying valuable major newer items to sell. Huge life changes also take some transition/processing time so I've let go in layers like an onion but need to make some greater steps even without a fixed timeline. My place is not cluttered but this is extreme downsizing so will do some initial donations and determine what to sell and then ask a family member to help price some things.
Excellent presentation. It was logical and orderly. The part about the satisfaction felt when the space is clean is so true. It is the same when you began saving and investing money as well.
Have had several clean outs to make space and from changing premises. After disposing of several irreplaceable items I now sort stuff and leave it a few months then return and review and generally salvage about 10 - 20% out of the selection.
This would be so much better without the annoying whooshing sound every time the picture changes. Couldn't watch the whole video. Irritating.
When I saw the title, my initial thought was not what he was thinking at all, and he's right, you do need to declutter your place every so often. I totally understand how it can be overwhelming, but something Mack of Midwest Cleaning has said as he does this, both as a living, but as a hobby/special interest (he's autistic) is start on one section of the room, and work your way around it, clearing/cleaning a 4x4 Ft section, even if first just to utilize as a clean landing for your cleaning supplies, moving them as needed to another clean area as you go around the room.
Since he was cleaning/clearing out of hoarding homes, there was no time for sorting out for recycling, trash etc as one, where he lives is mostly small towns without the ability to recycle so most items that do get tossed, get tossed into a dumpster in many cases.
Also, if dealing with a hoarder, getting rid of stuff will likely make the issue worse, not better. So best to sort items in like/similar items into tubs and consolidate as much as you can, tossing pure trash so they can get around the house. If the hoarder goes into therapy and gets help, then they can get to where they are ready to get rid of much more stuff.
Sometimes, just cleaning a home is getting it to a livable state, IE, getting rid of any biohazards that are present in the home, like rat feces, dead nats, dog/cat feces, dead/expired food being among the tasks. But for the rest of us, it simply means getting rid of items no longer of use to us, recycle, upcycle, sell or donate, and then toss the rest.
I often do similar when I'm in a deep cleaning mode and do expect things to get worse, then better as you go through the room. Once, a few years ago, I went through my office and shredded 21Lbs of old stuff like taxes I no longer needed to keep, old receipts, junk mail that might get into the wrong hands, those with forms for credit cards for instance and I took all that to the UPS store and used their shredding service, paying $1 a pound to have it shredded, so $21 later, it was gone. Worth every penny, and all I had to do was stuff the shredding bin(s).
Doing this periodically like yearly helps keep things at bay and the job never gets too out of hand.
Getting rid of excess furniture can be needed. Sometimes if you have shelves and drawers they just get filled up. I got rid of old furniture that was too big and found i didnt need a lot of stuff that stored in them.
I used to donate all the time, but not anymore. The reason why is that places that accept donations charge people too much money for items that they received for free.
It depends. I think if you can find a place that is supporting what you think is a good cause and you're confident that most of the profits are going to support that cause, ( rather than a gravy train for the people running it ) it doesn't make sense for the charity to sell the item for very little only to have it bought and sold on immediately by someone else because they're getting such a good deal.
That is very true. People who do not really need the item buying and reselling is what has ruined thrifting for the needy.
SO what do you do with the things you no longer want/need?
Like Goodwill. What a scam!
Sounds like Goodwill, a for-profit corporation masquerading as a charity. Habitat for Humanity takes almost everything including building materials, furniture, housewares and books. I also donate to several local "real, charities that take clothing for people who are homeless or getting back on their feet from homelessness. Look around and you will likely find a good place for donations.
Jerry, sometimes I ,like I also did my father get mad at you. But after some thought and realizing you are usually exactly right I wipe my runny nose and follow your advice. ❤
Yeah, this is a great video. This is what I’m trying to do get rid of stuff I don’t want donate first go through the stuff I don’t know whether I want to keep her cell step-by-step. I really appreciate this video. Thank you.😁👍❤️
My difficulty is a spouse who will not let go of anything, stuff from childhood 60 years ago, papers and stuff in boxes and barrels inherited from parents, a sibling and even a cousin. Not a hoarder, but close to it. Very frustrating, and depressing.
I am that spouse to a degree. Wife died two years ago July and I now have her stuff as well as mine to go through. One box at at time. Same way you eat an elephant - one bite at a time.
Show your spouse this note you have posted, it may give the jolt needed! Good luck.
RULE #1. STOP YO BUY SHIT.
I just redid my bedroom but rather than cluttering more I got rid of the old decor. It was all cheap stuff so I didn’t mind at all pitching it. I try very hard to not buy shit because it does just add up and it mostly isn’t needed anyway. Just because it’s cute or pretty doesn’t mean it’s needed.
Nothing I have not heard before but I need to do it. Thank you.
Me too, I know it all in theory but it's getting my head - and bad back - in the right place to start! Good luck. xxx
Remember, it’s ALWAYS better to make piles than to have piles.
Thank you much for this info Jerry. I needed it!
thanks, helpful decluttering process
Well, people DO want your stuff, they just want it for nothing. They would love to take that nice guitar you have played on your whole life and offer you $5 for it. If you want to de-clutter, stop buying shit you don't need for starters.
I start with the recycling. That gets a lot out of the way quickly usually in 15’. I sort by glass, magazines/papers, and plastics 1&2. That goes right to the hatch of my van as soon as I have faithful of any of the three to take my next time I pass by there. Touching only once does it work for me but I highly on my data it does for you. I put like things together then I can evaluate how many of something I have asked myself which of them are still serving me? Ones that do not get donated. I check with family first then onto a charity. I rarely sell any item. I will donate a large chest of drawers and a triple dresser at some point to charity that is able to pick it up. If that doesn’t work, I will call that junk service that make sure to take it to a charity. If I get overwhelmed, I will do just a category. Such as when I cleaned up work table, I will deal with just the paperwork or just pharmaceuticals or just pens making sure they all work anyway so good to hear your tips. Definitely one step at a time.
I noticed over the years that people that have no money have stuff the less money you have the more stuff you have because you think that is what shows you have money.., stuff… it doesn’t have to be expensive stuff. It just has to be stuff look at what I have look how much I have it I must be rich.! mentality is everything people think if I have lots of stuff people think I’m rich or well off and then their mind they are look what I have. I must have enough stuff to be rich but here’s the thing it’s just stuff.
In my experience, poor people often hang onto stuff because they’re afraid they won’t be able to afford to replace it. In most cases this isn’t actually true, but that’s their fear and it governs their life.
I am of low income. There are things that are free or cheap. Clutter can creep in.
My ex has that habit. They pick shit off the side of the road and just weird crap. He said it was because he moved so much as a kid that he lost so much stuff and that’s why he collects crap. And yes, I said ex. My house now is beautiful and clutter/crap/ road garbage free!
You are always helpful, calm collected and straight to the point
Great video!
I had not thought of the pick up bags.
Useful info here! ❤ Now I will wait for your video on: Selling decluttered stuff !
As Americans we do a mass a lot of stuff over a lifetime specially when you take into account other people's lives that you take on their junk when they pass. Finding out what you truly need and or want and will use sometimes can be a daunting process. Over a lifetime I've learned that a lot of people the decluttering gets clogged with emotional roadblocks. Many times holding onto things that don't make sense or not usable being attached to emotional trauma.
I LEFT 40 YRS of my LIFE in Massachusetts and thru my computer, my current clothes, and my BELOVED BUNJEE im my Life and i survived!
All standard recommendations but well organized..... Main thing I learned about that was new was a service called bagster from Home Depot
Moving from 56 squaremeter to 34 squaremeter..I have decluttered alot...it still will be 2 room and a kitchen...but lot smaller..not only decluttering things but also downsizing squaremeter..and I have no car!! Im i happy? Yes! Will i stay in a bedsofa ? Yes! Can you live in a very small space and still be happy? Yes! Do you go more outdoors? Yes! Because you only sleep and eat at home! Hace a wonderful day!!!
1. Rent a garbage skiff.
2. Have a yard sale where stuff is free.
3. What doesn’t sell by end of day goes in the skiff.
I don't have any clutter but want to share this with friends who need to do this.
The problem I have is its all good stuff. I wouldn't have brought it home if it wasnt! 😊
Couls you make a video on how to stage a house?
Especially big rooms with high ceilings.
We downsized from a 400 year old heritage UK property to a new Penthouse high tech apartment by the sea and got rid of 90% of our possessions. It took 2 years to do this….
I had a friend who had no fewer than 12 dinner sets because every time an older relative died no one wanted the dinner set she took it.
I went to an estate sales and there were several boxes of formal silverware for sale. I wonder if these were acquired from multiple deceased relative estates. How else would somebody have that many sets?
Recycling centers are doing less and less now. For example, our area no longer takes brown or green glass
Our recycle doesn’t take glass at all…and no plastic smaller than a softball…it seems like we’re going backwards!
Great Vid Bud......Pretend you 'croaked' last nite...THAT'S IT...PERIOD !!!!
I don’t want to get rid of anything I have.
I'm good at organizing my trash. I have been throwing things out for 2 years now.
I had to clean out my mother-in-law and my mother's house.
What JOBS that was. So I don't want anyone to have to throw my junk out for me.
Although , maybe it is what I need to do , LEAVE it for them so they won't collect STUFF so much.
Jerry Pinkas are those blinds behind you? I love em. Where does one find them?
Gift it forward to Salvation army thrift stores for re-use and to support the homeless cause! Great stuff.
My parents are both gone now. I have alot of stuff from my mom and dad because I am indian American and I celebrate both indian and American festivals and I know about both cultures.
So, I do celebrate alot of things both indian and American. I have added on my own traditions also.
I plan to write a will and take it to a notary and a lawyer and get my will officially signed and notarized in front of 2 witnesses.
This is because I have chronic illness and I am on lots of medications.
So, I am planning this. I am currently 47. Not sure after 50 what will happen. So I want to be prepared for anything. Life can be very very unpredictable. Sometimes.
Wrote notes
Gee
Tyvm
I subed
Thanks Jerry
As a senior I no longer want all my stuff. Sick of it. I’ve been giving away tons and have a lot more to go. It feels great. I say let someone else enjoy it.
I do this at least twice a year. One weird thing I got rid of was my high school yearbook. It has no meaning anymore and why would my kids want it.
I think that depends what you were participating in high school. In my case , I was on almost every page having a great time. And it shows my kids something of my life. And they love it.
@@zsrz4877 seems you were quite popular. That’s awesome. I did the thing with my kids too but they aren’t from where I’m from so they have no real connection to my high school years or people.
I took all my shit and put it into the dumpster when I moved from a house to an apt.
5:02 Than this keeping stuff is in containers. Than what? There is no room to place it back in the house or it will be messy again. So it stays in containers for the next years.
I know. It's just me
The thumbnail is misleading. I thought it would be information about helping my MIL, who is overwhelmed. As she sorts her items, she won't eliminate anything bc "niece/grandchild/some other relative might want this." I think it's bc she grew up poor, but she isn't poor now. Neither are her niece/grandchild/some other relative.
Would she set the things aside in boxes and then have the relatives come over to take the things they want? Whatever they don't want can be donated so others can use them.
Let her give it to them n they can get rid of it
I agree with you on so much, but the hardest part of clutter for so many people is the sentimental factor. You lost me when you did not acknowledge that at the start with any outlook of resolution.
I’ve learned my way to deal with sentimental keeps for the most part, I struggle with a survivalist mindset as a single income.
Spread your wings and maybe you have, but I really appreciate the highly focused purpose of your video
I am working my way through some of your videos and the rest of this one but wanted to record my memories at the moment.
I need my stuff. I don’t care if anyone else doesn’t want it. If that’s true don’t lock your doors just let people take your valueless stuff.
I did it for my parents. I did it because I loved them and my older brothers didn’t want any of it. Well maybe a few things. But who are you living for, yourself? Or others?
I’m obsessed with throwing stuff out now
It’s bad….
My dad passed away in 2020 and I had to go thru all his stuff
During this time we also planned on moving
Well I’ve had to go thru 29 years of shit
(We had 6 ppl living here now 2)
I cleared out the attic
Basement
Garage
Back room
Shed
But now I’m looking at my stuff and thinking if I die what do I leave behind do I need it…
I wish I wasn’t all or nothing