THANK YOU so much for watching!! If you want to see more on this topic, you might also like "Make the Boundaries the Bad Guy" ruclips.net/video/R1YOP0Cuelo/видео.html it has lots of examples of boundaries or limits you can put in place to make decluttering easier!! - Dawn
How can you have only one bin for Christmas stuff? I have three bins plus boxes. I went through a box yesterday and through away an old Teddy Bear I had kept since my brother's passing. It was sentimental but very old, and I figured it was time. I would like to pare it down to two bins plus boxes. lol Or maybe three bins?
@@TheMinimalMom The only thing I decorate is my living room - and it's small. there are some things I don't even put on display because I don't have room (like I once did) This Christmas I'll be getting rid of some stuff. And I won't be buying or accepting any more. Oh, I want to thank you. Watching one of your videos gave me the idea to get rid of some things. I really can't call myself a minimalist yet, but there's a little less. :)
If one were to have a new foster child, one might need 2 more blankets for them so they feel like one of the family? PLEASE tell me what is wrong with this thinking! :--)
Decision fatigue is real! I have actually caught myself putting random stuff back in a box or cupboard, because that's what i have always done with it in the past! Now, i realise that it means :1. Get rid of that thing, and 2. Take a break!
My decision fatigue sets in early everyday! I’m ready to do a major declutter. Then I go to start, and there is so many LITTLE things that I just end up closing the drawer back and going back to my regularly scheduled program ☹️
I used to have 4 huge totes with extra besides for Christmas. Now it’s all in a plastic file box that I with back issues can easily lift. I decorate in about 20 minutes. 😊Even though I own a small fraction of what I did in 2016, and have many years behind me of collecting, I long to be free of more and am working towards that goal. I’m enjoying the journey! Love your channel! God bless!
Wow, so timely. I've been organizing my storage bins in my basement, I had about 15, went thru every single item. Emptied about 5 bins, but I feel I could have done better, and yes, shuffled the bins I kept to the other side of the basement. Sigh! It's better but still a work in progress!
Your videos have been so helpful and I just started watching a week ago! Tote shuffling, closet cramming, all of it, lol! I work a full time job but also have a side hustle I'm growing, so there are always little dollar store items or boxes I end up keeping because "I can use this to sell..." or to package items. But, I am tired of the clutter everywhere, so we started by getting rid of food containers and pots/pans we didn't need or use. We are going room to room, decluttering. And I am excited!
Tote shuffling! I will need to share this with my mother. We moved several times when I was a kid and usually by the end of packing things were haphazardly thrown in boxes or totes and moved to the new home. Some of these boxes ended up in my grandmothers basement where they sat year after year. When she passed away and we needed to get her house on the market we went to clean out what we had stored in her basement. I opened up one tote with nothing but papers. Notebooks, scratch paper with random phone numbers, lots of mail (mostly junk!) both opened and unopened. Some of it must have been salvaged from the fire we had in '98 because there were phone bills from 1996 in there!
Thanks to Amanda D. for saying "USE THE STUFF!!! Have your baby WEAR THE CLOTHES!! Don’t wait for a nice enough occasion. Life itself is a pretty good occasion :)" I so agree. I save too much stuff in case I have an occasion to use it. I either need to use and enjoy it or pass it to someone else who will use it and not store it away. Especially with clothing. Thanks Dawn for this video. I am totally guilty of tote shuffling.
Do you have a camera on my life? I have rooms and a garage that resemble container ships, filled with 150 liter crates to the ceiling, full of 'stuff', all beautiful items that I just know I will use sometime down the track. Thank you for your talk that makes absolute sense but also makes me quite anxious and even nauseous. However, at some time in the future I know I need to gird my loins and tackle it. Thank you for your videos, they are inching me closer to the fateful day when downsizing must happen. I did actually throw something out the other day??!!
Does the 1 tote for Christmas include all your ornaments and wreathes and stuff like that? I feel like I have alot but I don't know if I could get to one bin. A challenge for November I guess :)
I'm 66. I've have the most organized crap in all of Missouri for 35 + years. This spring I found a wonderful woman who supports herself as a resale shop. I've donated it all to her. I'm FINALLY near the end of my journey to declutter. You've been a big motivator for me to keep going. Love your family and your values!
@@marysimpson8457 it FEELS great to let go! After having to dispose of my parents belongings I promised myself I'd never do that to my son. This channel has been a wonderful final push for me. 😊
@@cindym6138 I agree wholeheartedly! Items from my parents are of sentimental value and hold dear memories, but I have learned to take a photo of the item allowing me to walk back down memory lane at any time. My grown kids have no need or desire for these old treasures, so why have I held onto them thinking one day they might see the value in them. Same goes for my mother's hobbies....I have her collection of quilting patterns, fabric, yarn, crochet books etc. I let go of them by donating to a quilting/sewing club, where they can put it to great use.
You have such a talent of being a friend to strangers through a computer screen! 😄 literally everyyyy time I finish watching one of your videos, I feel like I had a coffee date with a friend and feel reenergized. I’ve watched some RUclips creators and thought “well that was a waste of time” and that has never crossed my mind with you and your videos. So thanks for keeping it real and being relatable. You’re a fantastic human 😉
@@greenize1959 The emotional aspect is probably the hardest part of getting rid of inventory. I know that watching Dawn has helped me and I hope it helps you. Prayer has helped me with many different aspects of my life and I believe it can help you. Having someone help me go through things is crucial for me. I truly hope you get the Heavenly and earthly help you need to make your dream a reality. Your happiness and peace of mind are worth more than any of the items you have that are taking that away from you. You might think of a $10, $100 or $1000 item that is in the way of you feeling peace. YOU are of infinite worth (there is no price tag big enough to hold the numbers of your value =). You are worth doing whatever it takes to have peace of mind. Blessings on you.
I used to have soooo many totes, in the past few years we have gone through them and eliminated at least half if not more. Our solution to keep from tote shuffling was to donate the totes right along with the stuff and get them out of the house so they couldn’t be filled again and then committed to not buy any more totes. I have been tempted but have not bought a tote in 2 years!!!
I love the ‘set boundaries’ approach. And sometimes those boundaries change. At one time I had 1 bin for gardening supplies, and now I have 3. But it’s because seasons in our life change as do priorities! Back then I was storing lots of clothes for future babies, and now that we’ve got our 4 I’ve got more space (and time) to give to my gardening hobby. The boundaries are what save our sanity by not overfilling and cluttering our space. Love it!
Absolutely! Husband said "you're just moving stuff from one spot to another". Two truck loads to dump, four to thrift shop, got rid of ten 50 gal totes full of stuff. Completely liberating!
So happy for you--and your garage! My grandmother was a Peggy. ❤️ She would have been 120 next year! And boy did she leave trunk loads of junk when she died. I'm just glad I was so young when it happened or I probably would have tried to keep it all - haha! It's never a bad time to lessen our inventory.
Ruth Gaynor we have 3 children (1 already died) 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and I don’t want anyone to feel responsible for my “stuff”. Dawn has helped me to realize I can let go of other’s stuff too without feeling guilty lol really freeing for me. Thanks for the comment
I moved into my home 6 years ago and the only part of my house that was a problem was the basement but, my health deteriorated over the next 3 years and I wasn’t physically able to manage the inventory. It’s been a tremendous frustration for me because I like things organized and in their place. I feel as if I’m choking! I’ve also realized I have way to much inventory so I’m purging every room, closet, drawer, box, bin, and cabinet because I want to breath again. It’s difficult because I’m alone but still determined. I’ve learned quite a lot from you Dawn and appreciate what you do. (My health has improved significantly thanks to a life saving heart transplant!)
I just have to say... Everyone always talks about the KonMari method as being the end-all and be-all. But I find your videos so much more helpful and "real!" Thanks for consistently fantastic & helpful videos!! 🖤
I did the KonMari method a couple of years ago and loved it but a year later I realized that we still had kept too much stuff. That's when I discovered Dawn - The Minimal Mom. It has literally changed my life! My husband says our home is so peaceful now. Getting rid of "stuff" has made room for relationships. :)
Excellent idea, as I work in a kennel, there r some dogs (& cats) that would love a cuddly blanket. The owners of the pets boarding often bring their own but inevitably they get dirty quickly & need to be washed, so its nice to have a replacement blanket until they get theirs back. So yes! Try donating to Animal shelters & Animal boarding facilities.
Great idea! I'm a huge animal advocate so I really like your suggestion. I don't use all the towels & soft throw blankets I've accumulated. Now I'm inspired to let go & feel happy to contribute. Being able to provide comfort to precious pets warms my heart. Thank you!
Dawn In an effort to save myself I declutted totes to the basement. This year the basement flooded about 3 feet deep. All that was stored was lost. The Lord works in mysterious ways🤔
I’m literally walking to my basement right now to go through some totes. This video was just the encouragement I needed to hear to stop the tote shuffling!! Thank you!
When we donated our Christmas stuff the man said, "It looks like you're never going to have Christmas again." LOL Nope, just years of accumulation. On a technical note, I really like the section headers on the video. It makes it easy to navigate through. Thanks for the encouragement on this journey to minimalism!
Opened the comments to basically say this! Orange vase filler and a candle with a little bead vine thing around the bottom would be SO cute! I’d love them 😂
Oh man. It's been a while since I sat down to watch a minimal mom video. I have done nothing but watch your channel for the last 24 hours. The last 18 months of my life has been wild. But I need some serious calm in my life. Who better to look to the the women who inspired me to try minimalism. I took 12 trash bags to the thrift store today 😭😂🤣😬 so happy to be in this part of the internet. Thanks for reading, Carrie Spencer ❤️💚❤️💚
Hi Dawn, before you get rid of all the extra blankets, if you plan on camping often, you may want to consider having one for each of your children's bunks in the camper. When I was a child and we camped a lot, my mom had the camper fully stocked with items, whose home was the camper. It had its own linens, kitchenware and even our "camping clothes." I know that many would argue it goes against minimalism, but it does drastically minimze all the mental energy and time needed to get ready to go camping, especially with children. And you never forget anything, like warm coats :) When we got home, she would wash all the linens and clothing and put them immediately back into the camper. It took very little effort to prepare for a family adventure...we just needed to add food, hook up the camper, and off we went!
Thank you for sharing your experience. We recently bought a trailer and I was having minimalism guilt at buying a 2nd set of stuff I already had in my house. I'm now starting to realize that I can't make "packing the camper" a huge task or I'll start resenting going out because it's too much work (especially if it's every other week!) And I don't have to worry about forgetting stuff! If we ever give up camping, I can just donate the camper set :)
This isn't a camper thing, but when I used to travel a lot on business & with my kids, I had a separate set of grooming stuff (blow-dryer, hot rollers, makeup, skin care) and device power cords in my suitcase. Made packing a lot easier
We have lived in our house for 42 years... My attic was full of stuff. So I have spent quarentine sorting through all of it. I finally finished yesterday. I bought each of my adult children a nice giant duffle bag with wheels. I sorted and threw tons of stuff away, I took pictures and sent to my kids to ask them what they wanted. I also had 4 small totes with , special stuff in it. They can go through that later and then throw it away. I took a picture showing them where everything is. In the garage on shelves. The whole house seems lighter, also if nothing is in the attic we have no reason to go up there. So no chance of us falling down the stairs.
I did the same thing in my attic early in lock-down, ie texted pics to ask if they wanted it or not. The attic is decluttered now & a weight is lifted!😅
I’ve been texting my kids pictures as well. I’m surprised at the things they want me to keep for them. In some cases it eases my guilt about not wanting to keep things myself. I shall not share the channel with them until they’ve moved what they want out of my house. ;)
@@wendybp2867 Good for you! Now after the totes are packed give them a deadline to pick them up and store at their homes! Then you will feel even better.
I just did this yesterday. I have lost a closet to my son who is making a home office. So I definitely have to pare down. I had dated a tote of home dec items with the last time I had looked in it. Five years ago! I had pillows that were stored away. I purged it, including the totes stuff was stored in! After six months of decluttering, I am still amazed at how much more there is to get rid of!
Congrats on that realization, it means you are continuing to evolve, and focus in on your best self, and are approaching a life where you do not have to serve stuff, but you have just enough stuff that serves YOU.
My kids get very sentimental about their items too. They would often have givers/sellers remorse. I found a way that helps them through this is to tell them that we will not give/donate their stuff straight away. We will store it in a container for a little while (month or so). Then if they do have remorse about parting with one of their items they have the opportunity to buy/swap it back. I found that helped my kids a lot with giving away their stuff. They knew that they had time if they realised they made a bad decision. Hope this helps someone 💕
This is the approach I just decided to take with my husband. We're hoping to move to a new state by the end of this year and I do NOT want to pack and move and store all this junk, that we have packed and moved and stored already for the full 2 years that we've lived in our current place without touching once. I told him this morning I'm making a box of things that I know we won't miss right now and we can go through it together before we move and decide if the stuff is worth keeping. A lot of the stuff in there is stuff I have no problem getting rid of but he has protested getting rid of in the past, but there are plenty of "just in case" type things that I've held on to too
@@marygallagher7062 I am sensitive to candles these days..... but I was thinking candy or little games/toys for teal pumpkin trick or treating. Lol. Although I would likely have to refill the candy a few times.
@@cecectconnecticut344 yeah. Someone really didn't like that I said that. Lol. Personally for me, these would be a use once and probably donate rather than store item. Lol. But they are too decorative for my typical style. I like very utilitarian items.
I understand getting rid of home decor items that you just found in a store and bought. It's harder with sentimental items. I got rid of a stuffed T-rex from my childhood. I regret it to this day, because it was a unique toy, and I have 2 boys who like dinosaurs. My grandma got rid of a doll made with her mother's hair, and she has missed it ever since. Some memories are worth keeping.
You have to let go of the guilt of having discarded something. Ask yourself: if it was a stuffed toy, would it have reasonably been in good enough condition for your kids to play with after years, if not decades, spent in storing? Would they have even wanted to? There are always a lot of 'what if's when decluttering, but 99% of the time, it's better to just say goodbye.
I threw away two of my childhood books that had unfortunately been stored improperly and smelled bad. I threw them away. I wish I had photocopied them, so I could still read them. I cannot find other copies anywhere, they are too old for that. But at the time I was so sad that they were in such a state that I got rid of them. Before giving or throwing an item just consider another way to enjoy them if you liked the item.
@@lelexoxo303 Yes, it was in very good condition. That's why I donated it and didn't throw it away. And I got rid of it when my older son was 5 or 6. He's 10 now, so it wasn't that long ago.
We’ve limited our Christmas stuff to a hope chest, including the tree. So glad to keep it minimal to add a touch of Christmas without overwhelming our limited storage space for the other 11 months a year.
yes! I've had that happened to me - the relative that comes cover and dumps a bunch of stuff of and says "here it is yours!". After moving to our new house, my in-laws also moved. One day they brought a pick-up load of trash bins of my husband's stuff. We had lived without this stuff for 11 years. Instead of dealing with the stuff, he went out and bought lots of storage bins and now four years later they are still taking up space in storage. I keep simplifying my stuff as that seems to be the main advice for married couples where one wants to be minimal and the other doesn't.
These are all excellent guidelines Dawn, thanks for these. We forget that every single item that we purchase requires management, whether it be time, space or energy or all three. And we have to ask ourselves how do we want to spend our time and energy and our money.
May I suggest that when you bring the ‘gifted’ items to the shelter, bring them in the cleaned up totes you don’t need. When you have not much, something to put things in can be handy. 😊
We have a charity here in Australia (not sure if you have it in the USA) where we donate good quality, good condition handbags to shelters for women with things like makeup, hairbrushes, dental products, toiletries and sanitary items in them.
I try to remember that SOMEDAY = NEVER. Oh, I have "organized" my knitting to a fair-thee-well. Outcome? I STILL have more yarn, books, tools than I will EVER need. I'm girding myself for battle!
@@wondergalc431 yes that is a great idea, but as a foster parent, lots of kids came to us in the middle of the night and you need something available to offer some comfort immediately.
@@greatauntlizbethg9137 The children can be asked if they would give a blanket to the child without one - teach the lesson Dawn wants to teach from day (or night) one.
Honestly I’m so glad you addressed this! I’m in a minimizing mindset, and I know my kids function better with less stuff around, but my husband does NOT get rid of anything. I’ve always told him i am sick of shuffling things!
I am with you! My husband is reluctant to let go of things too. I found I can't ask him to go through too many things in one night and picking easier things for him to let go of helps. I keep in my mind that its also an emotional/mental loss that is felt. Plus letting him see how much nicer my stuff is when it's not so much stuff. Slowly by surely we will get them on board.
@@leanneb6622 I made a rule for myself last year, "Use it, display it but don't store it." It helped me to part with many, many possessions. Maybe help him go through his things and ask him what he might want to display or get some use out of.
My husband gets mad when I ask him to go through a box or drawer of his stuff, so I've decided to leave his stuff alone, and do everything else. There's tons of stuff to declutter that doesn't belong to him (and I can sneak a few of his things out the door that I know he won't miss). haha
I'm the odd person who hasn't heard this phrase before! I was afraid of putting a limit of the number of Christmas and holiday totes, so I really liked that you said the number can be different for us all. I enjoy decorating for each season and making it different each year, but using the same things (although not necessarily using everything every year). I like the idea of gathering like items together. I recently did that with some of my decor that I rotate using throughout the year because the various pieces had been stashed in all sorts of places. It was indeed an eye opener, but also so helpful to have it all together when I redecorate and put things away. I loved your soothing and gentle tone of voice as you explain the thought process. It is truly helpful as so much of this is emotional. Thank you, Dawn. 💕
I started to dread dragging out the totes at Christmastime and wouldn't even use half of it. I chose a closet shelf in my guest room and filled it with some clear sweater boxes and broke all of my holiday decor down into groupings. Now I can just decorate gradually, pull the bin with stuff for my dining room. Just looking in there and seeing everything at a glance and knowing that is all there is makes me feel so good.
Love this video! It’s not just tote shuffling, it’s closet shuffling, shelf shuffling, pantry shuffling or any other storage area in the house! We move things around to the point where they are packed in so efficiently and tightly! When we do pull them out it’s like pulling stuff out of a black hole. It’s amazing how much we pack into small spaces just to “hold on” to it.
I just cleaned off three shelves in the pantry today. I threw away a bunch of empties. Kids don't throw away the empties and it drives me nuts! The part that drives me the most crazy is my husband's wood working things and tool box.
We moved house about 3 years ago, and we just packed up all our junk and moved it. When I started my minimalism path a year ago, I approached every tote or box with the hope that it could all be donated, and I would only keep things if I HAD to!
I know what you mean! We have moved house on the average of every 21 months over the past 54 years. NEXT TIME I'm not moving stuff I don't want or need. It's hard enough to move it to the car so I can deliver it to the thrift store or the dump. I'm not a minimalist. I'm just not interested in keeping stuff that requires more work from me than value it gives in return. Does that make sense?
For 12 years, I stored part of a set that I wasn’t using (matching throw pillows, shams, and valances for a bedroom set when all we use is the comforter & curtains). I stored those things in a bin, moved them to a new state, kept them in storage in 5 different houses, and I justified keeping them for 12 years because I didn’t want to separate the set. This summer, I admitted to myself that I’ll never use the things I was storing, and that whoever buys them at a thrift store won’t know or care if they didn’t get the matching comforter and curtains. GONE. So freeing!
Different category but same theory- I had 12 coffee cups that came with my china that I NEVER used, but I kept them because they were “part of the set”. I finally donated them (probably someone will make cute container candles with them) and haven’t regretted it once. Also since then my kids have broken at least two of the dinner plates anyway 🤣
Hi Dawn! Great video-love it. Just a suggestion...maybe put some throws/blankets in the camper so you don’t always have to pack and shuffle them from your home? Or do you already have blankets in there? :)
Yes! Very good idea especially with unpredicable weather. We have 2 fleece blankets in our car. Early morning soccer games can be colder than expected.
Yes, and budget for her have family budget for a new blanket for the new foster child (ren) to pick out. Getting to wrap up in something the pick out and can take with them when they go "home" wherever that may be is special. Little things like that bring so much security. Also, understanding that the child's threshold to get rid of things will be so much less, everything is "special". -from a long time foster and adoptive parent
Have been purging like mad putting like with like... except I need to sell my stuff. Unemployed full time caregiver. I’ve got the time & I need the funds.
Yup. Actually getting the stuff out of the house has been a huge block for me too. I'm too embarrassed to say how many months multiple totes of outgrown baby clothes have been in my living room. But! I recruited my husband to do the listing and as of today 6 of 12 lots are out of the house! More lots will go up this weekend and some stuff may need to be donated but there is hope- we can do it!
Does Tote Shuffling sound familiar? Why yes. Yes it does. I did not know there was a word for it. My hallway is still taken up by totes of outgrown or clothes that I or my kids aren’t wearing. But I’ve kept to sell or donate. Over a year and I have no hallway as they are still there and the mess has only grown around them with stuff that doesn’t fit in the totes. Downstairs same thing.... This summer I decluttered more clothing from my kids and they are in these boxes to donate. Can’t put them in garage as that is full of cardboard boxes I don’t have time or space to recycle, as well as other totes of various things, some to clean, some to donate, some to sell, some to keep, lots of baby stuff etc. Just today I thought, maybe I should donate ALL of it. I don’t want to have to literally throw it away which seems terrible. But am almost desperate enough to do so. Not sure if any donations places really need or want my stuff... according to some sources there is already way too much heading to donation centers. So that has stopped me just donating. And having time to make all these runs to donations. I certainly don’t have time to sell things but for things that are so expensive and still good condition it’s really hard. Thanks for the tips! 💕xo
Domestic abuse shelters often take in women and kids (babies thru teens) in the middle of the night who might have left with only the clothes on their backs. They welcome donations of clothes, toiletries, and household items.
As a nurse, I am concerned about your safety. Would the stuff slow you or your family down from being able to leave your house in a hurry in an emergency? And could the extra tons of card board boxes or other stuff at some point be a fire or trip hazard? I don't mean to be scaring people, there truly is safety and blessing in letting things go. And you will be setting a beautiful example for your children. You can set it on the curb with "Free" sign on it.
Ulli Nelson hi thanks I appreciate your concern. The items are in plastic bins mostly so I don’t think major fire hazard. Luckily our hallways are wide so we can easily walk by the stuff. But that is part of the problem why it has sat so long lol. However i do feel a burning need to clear this clutter asap. 💕
Ann W Hi thanks for the reminder! I will check this option out. Would love to see that our items go directly to anyone who needs them, rather than resale. 💕xo
Mine puts a dollar value on everything but rarely actually sells it. Waits for me to write the ads. I've got too many other things to do so it's still here 🙁
I am a blanket hoarder. I have a very hard time getting rid of them. I like your idea of a shelter donation. I also heard in another video that animal shelters are great for blanket, linen, and towel donation. It makes it easier.
So helpful! It's a rainy day here. I think I may finally tackle a pile of papers in my bedroom I've been moving around... it's starting to slide and spill over everywhere! 🙈
To Hearts & Minds at Home I hear you. Our paper clutter is a real monster. I attempted and did alot of old paper decluttering last year but still there's more. Slow and steady wins the race; I gotta start again 15-30 mins daily. And I need to rewatch Dawn paper declutter video.
I am actually in the process of going through each and every box and tote that has been squirreled away to stop this exact problem from continuing. Hubby wont let me part with any of the kids stuff and I dont touch his...I just box it, inventory and label the box and I'm ruthless with my own stuff
We call this "stuff shifting" or just plain "churning" at our house! I'm ready to tackle the garage with your tips! I especially like fully dealing with each item. I think that is the key point!
Up until now, I've been a "lurker", but this really speaks to me. I needed to hear it today because I live in a less than 200 sq ft area and I have waaaay too many totes (and inventory). Now I know what to do about it. Thanks!
I am trying so hard to get rid of "stuff". I am doing what I can with my "stuff"! John likes to keep "stuff" just in case! Recently we bought a new tub mat the other one was worn out. He "suggested" that I wash the old one and keep it just in case. I stood my ground and said No! :)
Watching some older Minimal Mom videos that I somehow missed. This is such great advice. My only worry though is the current economy here in 2022. Prices on everything are literally skyrocketing. Restaurants are using stickers for prices so they don't have to print new menus every week or two, because the prices are climbing so crazy fast. There's no way you could have known this a couple years ago when this video was made. Less inventory to manage would be wonderful, but the current insane rate of inflation makes me scared to get rid of things that would now be much more expensive to replace. Almost everything seems to be more expensive than the $20 dollar or less replacement rule you explained in another video. 😟
🙋♀️ I'm guilty of that! Maybe I should go through my things again and get rid of some things once and for all! 😬 didn't know I was doing that until now🤦♀️
I used to do this more, but I still move things to a “sell” pile and then never try to sell them. I’ve tried to learn and be more realistic on what has value and my time is worth $. So now I usually donate right away, but sometimes I still find myself doing this.
I have found myself in this same boat- half of my basement turned into boxes that said “lawn sale” on them, then I’d have a sale and maybe make $200.00.....not worth the time, effort and space! Also, seeing some of the things again would make me reconsider keeping it😳! I’m a donator now, only sell really big things on Facebook- and most times I give that away too!
About ten years ago, I inherited items that belonged to my mom and dad and both sets of grandparents. My dad was very sentimental so there was a lot of stuff. It was easy to get rid of the obvious trash, but then I got stuck. About five years ago, I used the KonMarie method to clear out clothes, books, paper, misc items; I got stuck on the sentimental items. By sentimental items I mean things like my childhood toys, and things that had belonged to other family members (whether they liked the items themselves or not when they had them I would never know!) I had an appraiser (who had no interest in buying any of my items so I thought she would be fair) come in after I had displayed all my items and she priced them all out for me. Most of the items were worth less that $25 which really shifted my perception of these items and I was able to donated the ones that I didn't enjoy. I knew I wouldn't take the time to sell items that I could maybe get $25 for!
I watched the first two points in my free time, then was able to walk around saying to myself “fully deal with it” and “use it or lose it”. Even those two tips helped so much. Thank you! PS I did watch the rest later.
I used to closet shuffle. Move things from one to another. No longer! I’m so happy with clear closets now! I also have limited my bins for Christmas, and now when I shop, I EASILY pass up new things so that I don’t even have to consider trading new with old. Easier to save money and space by just passing on the new. 😁👏👏👍 You inspired this! Thank you, Jennifer 🥰
My husband is still struggling with getting rid of something he paid money for. We have 2 circular saws. EVERY TIME he goes to cut a piece of wood, he always goes to one saw. When I ask why he doesn't use the other one, he says, "Oh, it doesn't have enough power. It always gets hung up on the wood. This one's way better." Then I suggest getting rid of the 2nd one and he's like, "No way! I paid like 50 bucks for that!" Very frustrating. And we have the same discussion item after item. And I'm the one who ends up trying to find space for everything in the garage, our home office, kitchen, etc. He feels personally attacked and I think he also feels like I don't value the money that was spent. I really do! But I try to explain that I value our piece of mind and space to move and relax too! All the spaces I've simplified and keep neat make everyone feel relaxed and de-stressed. Keeping it doesn't recoup the money. He's come a loooong way in simplifying, but we are still working on communicating and compromising with this.
Keeping it doesn’t put the $50 back into his pocket. But then I’m also guilty of having a spare saw or two... always reaching first for the lightweight cordless that hangs up. Just this past weekend I had help, & they insisted on using the good saw... which got the job completed before the tropical storm blew in.
"trying to find a space for everything" - that's the phrase that gets me. Why is it that the one who insists on keeping something can't be bothered with finding an appropriate place to keep it? - OR take care of it? (dust, clean, etc.) Why is that the wife's job?
@@sunshine3914 You are SO right! He did grow up in a home that was NOT simplified, if you know what I mean!! And even though we've been married for 25 years, I know habits are very hard to adjust. I hear him tell his brother how organized our home is and how his bro should let me help them simplify, too. I'm so touched that he's acknowledging my efforts and how it's benefitted our family in such a positive way. But HAHA it's still so hard for him to part with things! And I want him to see it as a positive thing. Baby steps!
@@bobbidunn8512 Right? It's tough! He grew up in a really bad hoarding home. To this day, even after all the simplifying we've done together it's hard to watch him try to clean his office or the garage on his own. He just kind of puts things in piles and gets distracted by every item he touches. He gets so overwhelmed. He was never taught HOW to declutter or organize or let things go. They had very little of value, and he works tirelessly to provide for us, so anything we buy he feels the need to hold on to. I see where he's coming from and he's slowly learning to see where I'm coming from too. Our home has always been pretty clean, but now it's becoming more peaceful and open as I simplify more every day. He really enjoys that and I'm just waiting with the best patience I can for him to keep coming around. I knew what I married into, so we'll forge ahead together!
Dawn, when you said, 'for my mom, it's like 12', I laughed out loud! I fit into the 'mom category without a doubt! Earlier this year, I actually gave away 2 Christmas trees, with all the decorations, including the tree skirts, and I still have too much! You have inspired me to at least clean out my garage, so the car fits into it again. Thank you for your positive can-do attitude and motivation. ~Margie
I'm not much of a decorator. When my husband and I celebrated our first Christmas together four years ago we bought a Christmas tree and a very scant amount of ornaments to go on it, it looked a little pitiful. Every year we've added just a little bit more and now I have one tote dedicated to Christmas and that is my limit.
We have been sorting thru my in laws things for the past few months. My father in law passed and my mother in law went to an assisted living facility. I don’t think they ever threw away anything in their 60+ yr marriage. It’s so overwhelming and I’m working on helping my husband to go thru stuff and not want to keep things we don’t need or use. He’s been kinda hard to convince, but I think it’s starting to make sense to him. Thanks so much for this video!
Yes please! My mother is EXTREMELY sentimental. She is also a paper saver. She still has my dads pay stubs from the navy. He got out in 1975. In fact she has every paystub he has received during there entire marriage. My dad would love to get rid of stuff, but wont fight my mom over it. Their house is so cluttered I wont stay there when we visit. I get a hotel room nearby. My youngest sister and I have talked to them about it. (We will be the ones dealing with it when the time comes). But they just arent ready/willing. So when they DO get rid of things, we are super supportive. Is there a gentle way to move the process along? Or should we just continue to give grace and patience and know that we will have a job on our hands when the time comes?
My in laws just chuckle and say "you guys sure have a lot of stuff to go through" .... I personally don't see anything funny in that statement. My husband and I are in our early 60s and I'm already telling him we're not leaving all of our stuff for our kids to have to go through.😉
I second the book Swedish Death Cleaning, but I am afraid it’s the character/personality, not the age/ life role. My father has started to do it on his own. Really systematically and diligently (including getting absolutely NO new things). I have been doing it, even though presumably (and hopefully) I have a long way to go, I still don’t want my children to have to deal with it, my husband is difficult, my mother won’t budge. And not surprisingly she has the biggest amount of stuff. I dread the moment when it will all fall on me.
I used to tote shuffle big time. Even as a teen I would empty my room of everything but the bed, sort, organise (a bit of declutter too) then put it back in a different way. I was always super pleased how I'd managed to condense everything down, packing it in a much more functional way. Now I'm adopting a more minimalist lifestyle I can see what a constant waste of time this was. I've got rid of stuff this year that I've been moving around since I was that teen! What a relief it has been to finally release that burden. I started looking at things thinking "if I'm not using it in lockdown then when is it going to happen?" There's still too much, it's a work on progress but I'm seeing it in a different way now!
One thing I’ve started doing for holidays and seasonal decorating is using organic items that will then be able to be used up or composted like actual pumpkins instead of plastic, real fur boughs inside instead of the fake, it feels better for me to support friends and local businesses when we buy or pumpkins and trees to decorate and less stuff to put back in bins later!
What a great pep talk for me, as we look forward to the holidays. I love that you mention that it might not be just one Christmas tote for others, but the point is to set boundaries. 💛
When my parents passed away we kept so much stuff, some useable some sentimental. When my in laws passed a few years later, the same happened. Three households can accumulate a lot of stuff that ends up in boxes. Then they keep getting shuffled around the house. Finally, slowly making those hard decisions. We don't want it to be our children's burden and it just feels good to be "lighter".
I'd assign some for just camping that stay in the camper unless being washed. Then if they get dirty or wrecked it doesn't matter as much as the other ones you keep in the house. It's nice to have for sleeping if cold or at the campfire. Just an idea.
What funny timing. My parents are building us a "tiny apartment" space in their basement. I'm decluttered to become more minimal so we can fit into that space. But my mom presented me with 4 tubs of sentimentals and my daughter's baby clothes since she's clearing space in her basement. I got rid of 3 tubs of stuff! Love your videos Dawn!
Love this! I moved house last year and did the tote shuffle dance from room to room multiple times before pulling myself together and following you and realising I needed to reduce my belongings and stop the tote shuffle dance 💃. Love this channel. Thanks. 🥰
Marie Kondo has nothing on you, girlfriend! I have learned so much and have been so inspired by your methods than that "spark joy" lady in the short time I've followed you. The light bulb went off for me when you called my clutter by it's true name - inventory to manage!! Removes all emotion and guilt, so I can let it go. Love it, and love you!
Yep, confusing organizing with purging. Guilty as charged. And using vacum sealed bags to stuff more into a space than it should hold. Guilty! I just did a garage purge for the 2nd time in 4 months and guess what? 1st purge = 3 carloads donated, this purge = 1 carload donated. Now how did that happen? I am the type that must purge, take picture of space, then just sit with it awhile and think as I look at the picture or room itself. Ok, I know what is in that corner, let me think if I will be using that this year. I have to mull it over in my mind. So while the garage has had 2 major purges in the past 4 months, next summer there just might be a #3.
THANK YOU so much for watching!! If you want to see more on this topic, you might also like "Make the Boundaries the Bad Guy" ruclips.net/video/R1YOP0Cuelo/видео.html it has lots of examples of boundaries or limits you can put in place to make decluttering easier!! - Dawn
How can you have only one bin for Christmas stuff? I have three bins plus boxes. I went through a box yesterday and through away an old Teddy Bear I had kept since my brother's passing. It was sentimental but very old, and I figured it was time. I would like to pare it down to two bins plus boxes. lol Or maybe three bins?
@@marilynking4003 It doesn't take much to make our house feel festive because it's small and the Christmas decor isn't competing with other decor ;)
@@TheMinimalMom The only thing I decorate is my living room - and it's small. there are some things I don't even put on display because I don't have room (like I once did) This Christmas I'll be getting rid of some stuff. And I won't be buying or accepting any more. Oh, I want to thank you. Watching one of your videos gave me the idea to get rid of some things. I really can't call myself a minimalist yet, but there's a little less. :)
If one were to have a new foster child, one might need 2 more blankets for them so they feel like one of the family? PLEASE tell me what is wrong with this thinking! :--)
@@colleenbarry5197 Nothing. It's inclusive. If the child moves, let them take their blanket. ♥
I've noticed the tote shuffling begins when my decision fatigue sets in.
I think so for me as well.
You will get there, it takes time, years even.
Decision fatigue is real! I have actually caught myself putting random stuff back in a box or cupboard, because that's what i have always done with it in the past! Now, i realise that it means :1. Get rid of that thing, and
2. Take a break!
Yes, that's true.
My decision fatigue sets in early everyday! I’m ready to do a major declutter. Then I go to start, and there is so many LITTLE things that I just end up closing the drawer back and going back to my regularly scheduled program ☹️
I used to have 4 huge totes with extra besides for Christmas. Now it’s all in a plastic file box that I with back issues can easily lift. I decorate in about 20 minutes. 😊Even though I own a small fraction of what I did in 2016, and have many years behind me of collecting, I long to be free of more and am working towards that goal. I’m enjoying the journey! Love your channel! God bless!
Wow, so timely. I've been organizing my storage bins in my basement, I had about 15, went thru every single item. Emptied about 5 bins, but I feel I could have done better, and yes, shuffled the bins I kept to the other side of the basement. Sigh! It's better but still a work in progress!
Right, Doreen, it is a process!!!
Your videos have been so helpful and I just started watching a week ago! Tote shuffling, closet cramming, all of it, lol! I work a full time job but also have a side hustle I'm growing, so there are always little dollar store items or boxes I end up keeping because "I can use this to sell..." or to package items. But, I am tired of the clutter everywhere, so we started by getting rid of food containers and pots/pans we didn't need or use. We are going room to room, decluttering. And I am excited!
Tote shuffling! I will need to share this with my mother. We moved several times when I was a kid and usually by the end of packing things were haphazardly thrown in boxes or totes and moved to the new home. Some of these boxes ended up in my grandmothers basement where they sat year after year. When she passed away and we needed to get her house on the market we went to clean out what we had stored in her basement. I opened up one tote with nothing but papers. Notebooks, scratch paper with random phone numbers, lots of mail (mostly junk!) both opened and unopened. Some of it must have been salvaged from the fire we had in '98 because there were phone bills from 1996 in there!
I literally had my own brother bring me 6 of my totes from home just last month. Lol I can't wait to use this system on them!
Thanks to Amanda D. for saying "USE THE STUFF!!! Have your baby WEAR THE CLOTHES!! Don’t wait for a nice enough occasion. Life itself is a pretty good occasion :)" I so agree. I save too much stuff in case I have an occasion to use it. I either need to use and enjoy it or pass it to someone else who will use it and not store it away. Especially with clothing. Thanks Dawn for this video. I am totally guilty of tote shuffling.
Do you have a camera on my life? I have rooms and a garage that resemble container ships, filled with 150 liter crates to the ceiling, full of 'stuff', all beautiful items that I just know I will use sometime down the track. Thank you for your talk that makes absolute sense but also makes me quite anxious and even nauseous. However, at some time in the future I know I need to gird my loins and tackle it. Thank you for your videos, they are inching me closer to the fateful day when downsizing must happen. I did actually throw something out the other day??!!
Does the 1 tote for Christmas include all your ornaments and wreathes and stuff like that? I feel like I have alot but I don't know if I could get to one bin. A challenge for November I guess :)
This is one of the main reasons I started this journey a few years ago because I’m a professional mover of stuff 🤦♀️
3:26 "if I think about putting all three of them in my Christmas tote"
"Crash"
"If I think about putting all Two of them in my Christmas tote" 🤣
I'm 66. I've have the most organized crap in all of Missouri for 35 + years. This spring I found a wonderful woman who supports herself as a resale shop. I've donated it all to her.
I'm FINALLY near the end of my journey to declutter. You've been a big motivator for me to keep going. Love your family and your values!
Organized crap! 😂 So true!
When I read that I almost spit out my coffee!
Same age bracket and same region....I bet I could give you a run for your money as far as having organized stuff in need of purging.
@@marysimpson8457 it FEELS great to let go! After having to dispose of my parents belongings I promised myself I'd never do that to my son. This channel has been a wonderful final push for me. 😊
@@cindym6138 I agree wholeheartedly! Items from my parents are of sentimental value and hold dear memories, but I have learned to take a photo of the item allowing me to walk back down memory lane at any time. My grown kids have no need or desire for these old treasures, so why have I held onto them thinking one day they might see the value in them. Same goes for my mother's hobbies....I have her collection of quilting patterns, fabric, yarn, crochet books etc. I let go of them by donating to a quilting/sewing club, where they can put it to great use.
We call those plastic totes “clutter coffins”...they gotta go!
You have such a talent of being a friend to strangers through a computer screen! 😄 literally everyyyy time I finish watching one of your videos, I feel like I had a coffee date with a friend and feel reenergized. I’ve watched some RUclips creators and thought “well that was a waste of time” and that has never crossed my mind with you and your videos. So thanks for keeping it real and being relatable. You’re a fantastic human 😉
I was just telling my husband & kids I have a new friend ...we all laughed but I really think I could be friends with her!
She is refreshing to watch, very knowledgeable about minimalism, and so kind.
I couldn’t put it any better!! Dawn has lifted me out of many blah moods and I love her !!!!!!
I feel the same way too 😁
YES! And sometimes the idea is something I do but the way you suggest to mentally process the habit makes it so much easier. 💗
I like that you call it "inventory" and talk about having to "manage" your things - that takes the emotional out of it.
Me, too. Game changing mind set shift.
Absolutely!! The first time I watched a video from Dawn and she said the word "inventory" something just clicked for me!!
@@sgia2154 Same!!! It made a world of difference as far as how I look at things in my house and if they are worth my time to manage them.
I struggle with the emotional aspect of it all. But, I dream of how nice it would be to not have so much to “manage”.
@@greenize1959 The emotional aspect is probably the hardest part of getting rid of inventory. I know that watching Dawn has helped me and I hope it helps you. Prayer has helped me with many different aspects of my life and I believe it can help you. Having someone help me go through things is crucial for me. I truly hope you get the Heavenly and earthly help you need to make your dream a reality. Your happiness and peace of mind are worth more than any of the items you have that are taking that away from you. You might think of a $10, $100 or $1000 item that is in the way of you feeling peace. YOU are of infinite worth (there is no price tag big enough to hold the numbers of your value =). You are worth doing whatever it takes to have peace of mind. Blessings on you.
I used to have soooo many totes, in the past few years we have gone through them and eliminated at least half if not more. Our solution to keep from tote shuffling was to donate the totes right along with the stuff and get them out of the house so they couldn’t be filled again and then committed to not buy any more totes. I have been tempted but have not bought a tote in 2 years!!!
Love this. Clean and efficient way to deal with the excess. Thanks
Great idea!
I love the ‘set boundaries’ approach. And sometimes those boundaries change. At one time I had 1 bin for gardening supplies, and now I have 3. But it’s because seasons in our life change as do priorities! Back then I was storing lots of clothes for future babies, and now that we’ve got our 4 I’ve got more space (and time) to give to my gardening hobby. The boundaries are what save our sanity by not overfilling and cluttering our space. Love it!
Absolutely! Husband said "you're just moving stuff from one spot to another". Two truck loads to dump, four to thrift shop, got rid of ten 50 gal totes full of stuff. Completely liberating!
Impressive!! Way to manage your stuff! You've given me extra encouragement.
haha for a sec there i read your comment as: "got rid of 50 fifty gal totes full of stuff!" (was thinking WOW! theyre even worse than i am!)lol
Wow awesome work! It does sound liberating!
Congratulations
Inspiring!
Just did this to our garage, boy is it ever freeing!! At 75 I am hurting lol but no more keeping in case someone needs. Love your videos ❤️
Yay! Way to go Peggy!
So happy for you--and your garage! My grandmother was a Peggy. ❤️ She would have been 120 next year! And boy did she leave trunk loads of junk when she died. I'm just glad I was so young when it happened or I probably would have tried to keep it all - haha! It's never a bad time to lessen our inventory.
Ruth Gaynor we have 3 children (1 already died) 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and I don’t want anyone to feel responsible for my “stuff”. Dawn has helped me to realize I can let go of other’s stuff too without feeling guilty lol really freeing for me. Thanks for the comment
Dear Grandma Peggy- you are inspiring me! I have to start now with decluttering my things and not wait. Much love to you, Ardis
Ardis awe thanks❤️
I moved into my home 6 years ago and the only part of my house that was a problem was the basement but, my health deteriorated over the next 3 years and I wasn’t physically able to manage the inventory. It’s been a tremendous frustration for me because I like things organized and in their place. I feel as if I’m choking! I’ve also realized I have way to much inventory so I’m purging every room, closet, drawer, box, bin, and cabinet because I want to breath again. It’s difficult because I’m alone but still determined. I’ve learned quite a lot from you Dawn and appreciate what you do. (My health has improved significantly thanks to a life saving heart transplant!)
I was in same situation 7 years ago, car accident, baby, finally starting to feel better and that I can take this on.
Christine Macdonnell
What a neat story! Praying for your recovery- both in health and decluttering 😉
So glad you are better! I did the same, decluttering because of my health! We need to take care of ourselves, not our extra stuff!!!
So glad you are better! I did the same, decluttering because of my health! We need to take care of ourselves, not our extra stuff!!!
Christine Macdonnell
Just put a box of things in a box and place a "FREE" sign on the curb. Do that every trash day, and they will be gone in no time.
I just have to say... Everyone always talks about the KonMari method as being the end-all and be-all. But I find your videos so much more helpful and "real!" Thanks for consistently fantastic & helpful videos!! 🖤
Thank you so much!
Agreed!! Her videos have been life changing for me!
also agree, Dawn's videos inspired me to declutter our ranch home and after a year and a half we are DONE! feels so good.
I agree!
I did the KonMari method a couple of years ago and loved it but a year later I realized that we still had kept too much stuff. That's when I discovered Dawn - The Minimal Mom. It has literally changed my life! My husband says our home is so peaceful now. Getting rid of "stuff" has made room for relationships. :)
When I went through kid blankets we donated to an animal shelter...makes it easier for the kid to give it up
Excellent idea, as I work in a kennel, there r some dogs (& cats) that would love a cuddly blanket. The owners of the pets boarding often bring their own but inevitably they get dirty quickly & need to be washed, so its nice to have a replacement blanket until they get theirs back. So yes! Try donating to Animal shelters & Animal boarding facilities.
I volunteer for a cat rescue shelter and blankets and fleeces are always welcome.
Great idea! I'm a huge animal advocate so I really like your suggestion. I don't use all the towels & soft throw blankets I've accumulated.
Now I'm inspired to let go & feel happy to contribute. Being able to provide comfort to precious pets warms my heart. Thank you!
Also farm animal sanctuaries. Pigs love snuggling in blankets and hay.
Dawn
In an effort to save myself I declutted totes to the basement. This year the basement flooded about 3 feet deep. All that was stored was lost. The Lord works in mysterious ways🤔
OMG tote shuffling is my organizing method, lol.... work in progress
I think “make the boundaries be the bad guy” is one of the most helpful things you’ve ever said. 😊
I’m literally walking to my basement right now to go through some totes. This video was just the encouragement I needed to hear to stop the tote shuffling!! Thank you!
Don't go in the basement! Mine is scary. As is the garage.
When we donated our Christmas stuff the man said, "It looks like you're never going to have Christmas again." LOL Nope, just years of accumulation. On a technical note, I really like the section headers on the video. It makes it easy to navigate through. Thanks for the encouragement on this journey to minimalism!
Honestly the first item looks like a pumpkin! Would look super cute with an orange candle in them. Hopefully someone does that too lol
That is what I thought also, it looks like a pumpkin.
I thought pumpkin as well. Dark orange candle would like nice in it. I would totally love to pick something like that up at a thrift shop.
Fill it with candy corn. Duh!
Opened the comments to basically say this! Orange vase filler and a candle with a little bead vine thing around the bottom would be SO cute! I’d love them 😂
I liked it too, reminded me of a pumpkin as well!
Oh man. It's been a while since I sat down to watch a minimal mom video. I have done nothing but watch your channel for the last 24 hours. The last 18 months of my life has been wild. But I need some serious calm in my life. Who better to look to the the women who inspired me to try minimalism. I took 12 trash bags to the thrift store today 😭😂🤣😬 so happy to be in this part of the internet. Thanks for reading, Carrie Spencer ❤️💚❤️💚
Hi Dawn, before you get rid of all the extra blankets, if you plan on camping often, you may want to consider having one for each of your children's bunks in the camper. When I was a child and we camped a lot, my mom had the camper fully stocked with items, whose home was the camper. It had its own linens, kitchenware and even our "camping clothes." I know that many would argue it goes against minimalism, but it does drastically minimze all the mental energy and time needed to get ready to go camping, especially with children. And you never forget anything, like warm coats :) When we got home, she would wash all the linens and clothing and put them immediately back into the camper. It took very little effort to prepare for a family adventure...we just needed to add food, hook up the camper, and off we went!
Thank you for sharing your experience. We recently bought a trailer and I was having minimalism guilt at buying a 2nd set of stuff I already had in my house. I'm now starting to realize that I can't make "packing the camper" a huge task or I'll start resenting going out because it's too much work (especially if it's every other week!) And I don't have to worry about forgetting stuff! If we ever give up camping, I can just donate the camper set :)
Zoe - Your Mom was brilliant! What a great way to simplify. I love how minimalism can look different, and work differently, for every family. =)
Wow- that's a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
This isn't a camper thing, but when I used to travel a lot on business & with my kids, I had a separate set of grooming stuff (blow-dryer, hot rollers, makeup, skin care) and device power cords in my suitcase. Made packing a lot easier
We do this too, minus the clothes, and it’s SO much easier. I’m way more likely to say yea to a spontaneous camping trip.
They actually remind me of Halloween rather then Christmas votives. 🤪😁
I was thinking they looked like fall pieces and could even be painted.
@@jeannieplett878 I agree...my crafty mind went there too! 🤪🤣
Thanksgiving/fall votive.
I was definitely thinking pumpkins!
I thought the same thing! They looked similar to pumpkins to me:)
We have lived in our house for 42 years...
My attic was full of stuff.
So I have spent quarentine sorting through all of it. I finally finished yesterday.
I bought each of my adult children a nice giant duffle bag with wheels.
I sorted and threw tons of stuff away, I took pictures and sent to my kids to ask them what they wanted.
I also had 4 small totes with , special stuff in it. They can go through that later and then throw it away.
I took a picture showing them where everything is. In the garage on shelves.
The whole house seems lighter, also if nothing is in the attic we have no reason to go up there. So no chance of us falling down the stairs.
Very smart
Yes, I never use attics for storage for just that reason!
I did the same thing in my attic early in lock-down, ie texted pics to ask if they wanted it or not. The attic is decluttered now & a weight is lifted!😅
I’ve been texting my kids pictures as well. I’m surprised at the things they want me to keep for them. In some cases it eases my guilt about not wanting to keep things myself. I shall not share the channel with them until they’ve moved what they want out of my house. ;)
@@wendybp2867 Good for you! Now after the totes are packed give them a deadline to pick them up and store at their homes! Then you will feel even better.
"Could I live without it?" Brilliant!
Her best one: “Do I really want to touch this again?”
I also like to ask, Would I buy it again at full price? and Could I replace it with something similar fairly easily?
"Could I live without it" was my big ah-ha phrase as well. It inspires me to only have the things I really need.
I just did this yesterday. I have lost a closet to my son who is making a home office. So I definitely have to pare down. I had dated a tote of home dec items with the last time I had looked in it. Five years ago! I had pillows that were stored away. I purged it, including the totes stuff was stored in! After six months of decluttering, I am still amazed at how much more there is to get rid of!
Congrats on that realization, it means you are continuing to evolve, and focus in on your best self, and are approaching a life where you do not have to serve stuff, but you have just enough stuff that serves YOU.
My kids get very sentimental about their items too. They would often have givers/sellers remorse. I found a way that helps them through this is to tell them that we will not give/donate their stuff straight away. We will store it in a container for a little while (month or so). Then if they do have remorse about parting with one of their items they have the opportunity to buy/swap it back. I found that helped my kids a lot with giving away their stuff. They knew that they had time if they realised they made a bad decision. Hope this helps someone 💕
I ALWAYS have givers/sellers remorse. It's almost a grieving process to let something go that I might use again.
LOL My brother avoided seller's remorse when we were kids by selling MY toys to the neighbor kids! Boy did he get in trouble.
This is the approach I just decided to take with my husband. We're hoping to move to a new state by the end of this year and I do NOT want to pack and move and store all this junk, that we have packed and moved and stored already for the full 2 years that we've lived in our current place without touching once. I told him this morning I'm making a box of things that I know we won't miss right now and we can go through it together before we move and decide if the stuff is worth keeping. A lot of the stuff in there is stuff I have no problem getting rid of but he has protested getting rid of in the past, but there are plenty of "just in case" type things that I've held on to too
Ahhhh...yes! We call that “snow plowing the hoard!!” Very guilty of that!! Looking forward to how you fix it!! Lol
I love that phrase! "Snow plowing the hoard!" 🤣
It would be great to see you use these tips on a video☀️
Funny!
Theresa 1967 that’s a very very good idea!! Thank you ❤️🙏🏻❤️ Would that be okay with you Minimal Mom?
Mention her channel and she will be thrilled❤️
But they look like pumpkins! Why would you use them for Christmas?
I agree! They would be so cute with short orange pillar candles. Three down the table with natural leaves underneath.
@@marygallagher7062 I am sensitive to candles these days..... but I was thinking candy or little games/toys for teal pumpkin trick or treating. Lol. Although I would likely have to refill the candy a few times.
They looked like pumpkins to me too!
@@cecectconnecticut344 yeah. Someone really didn't like that I said that. Lol. Personally for me, these would be a use once and probably donate rather than store item. Lol. But they are too decorative for my typical style. I like very utilitarian items.
🤣😂I saw pumpkins too🎃🤷♀️
I understand getting rid of home decor items that you just found in a store and bought. It's harder with sentimental items. I got rid of a stuffed T-rex from my childhood. I regret it to this day, because it was a unique toy, and I have 2 boys who like dinosaurs. My grandma got rid of a doll made with her mother's hair, and she has missed it ever since. Some memories are worth keeping.
You have to let go of the guilt of having discarded something.
Ask yourself: if it was a stuffed toy, would it have reasonably been in good enough condition for your kids to play with after years, if not decades, spent in storing? Would they have even wanted to?
There are always a lot of 'what if's when decluttering, but 99% of the time, it's better to just say goodbye.
I threw away two of my childhood books that had unfortunately been stored improperly and smelled bad. I threw them away. I wish I had photocopied them, so I could still read them. I cannot find other copies anywhere, they are too old for that. But at the time I was so sad that they were in such a state that I got rid of them. Before giving or throwing an item just consider another way to enjoy them if you liked the item.
@@lelexoxo303 Yes, it was in very good condition. That's why I donated it and didn't throw it away. And I got rid of it when my older son was 5 or 6. He's 10 now, so it wasn't that long ago.
This is going to sound completely ridiculous, but at age 42, I wish I’d have kept my plastic charm necklace and my sticker album 🥺
@@chapman1569 Try Abe's Books on line. He has a lot of sources for vintage books.
We’ve limited our Christmas stuff to a hope chest, including the tree. So glad to keep it minimal to add a touch of Christmas without overwhelming our limited storage space for the other 11 months a year.
yes! I've had that happened to me - the relative that comes cover and dumps a bunch of stuff of and says "here it is yours!". After moving to our new house, my in-laws also moved. One day they brought a pick-up load of trash bins of my husband's stuff. We had lived without this stuff for 11 years. Instead of dealing with the stuff, he went out and bought lots of storage bins and now four years later they are still taking up space in storage. I keep simplifying my stuff as that seems to be the main advice for married couples where one wants to be minimal and the other doesn't.
These are all excellent guidelines Dawn, thanks for these. We forget that every single item that we purchase requires management, whether it be time, space or energy or all three. And we have to ask ourselves how do we want to spend our time and energy and our money.
May I suggest that when you bring the ‘gifted’ items to the shelter, bring them in the cleaned up totes you don’t need. When you have not much, something to put things in can be handy. 😊
We have a charity here in Australia (not sure if you have it in the USA) where we donate good quality, good condition handbags to shelters for women with things like makeup, hairbrushes, dental products, toiletries and sanitary items in them.
@@kayelle8005 thanks for this reminder I want to see where we can donate such items in my country (Netherlands). 😊
I try to remember that SOMEDAY = NEVER.
Oh, I have "organized" my knitting to a fair-thee-well. Outcome? I STILL have more yarn, books, tools than I will EVER need. I'm girding myself for battle!
You need to keep an extra blanket or two for your future foster children.
I think it will be nice if they got to pick out their own special blankets
@@wondergalc431 yes that is a great idea, but as a foster parent, lots of kids came to us in the middle of the night and you need something available to offer some comfort immediately.
@@reneetittle2408 well her kids have 2 each, so they can use one of those. Unless the kid gets to keep it.
@@greatauntlizbethg9137 The children can be asked if they would give a blanket to the child without one - teach the lesson Dawn wants to teach from day (or night) one.
"Can I live without it?" That's a great question for me! Thanks for another great video, Dawn!
I’m famous for stuffing stuff in a closet especially when we’re having anyone over. The room “looks” minimal but not really. I need these tips!👍🏻
Honestly I’m so glad you addressed this! I’m in a minimizing mindset, and I know my kids function better with less stuff around, but my husband does NOT get rid of anything. I’ve always told him i am sick of shuffling things!
I am with you! My husband is reluctant to let go of things too. I found I can't ask him to go through too many things in one night and picking easier things for him to let go of helps. I keep in my mind that its also an emotional/mental loss that is felt. Plus letting him see how much nicer my stuff is when it's not so much stuff. Slowly by surely we will get them on board.
I asked my husband if you arent going to organize and put away whats the point of having it shoved in a corner and you dont even know it is there.
@@leanneb6622 I made a rule for myself last year, "Use it, display it but don't store it." It helped me to part with many, many possessions. Maybe help him go through his things and ask him what he might want to display or get some use out of.
My husband gets mad when I ask him to go through a box or drawer of his stuff, so I've decided to leave his stuff alone, and do everything else. There's tons of stuff to declutter that doesn't belong to him (and I can sneak a few of his things out the door that I know he won't miss). haha
This is my biggest problem. Just shuffling things around but never decluttering
My friend you're not the only one lol
We now have a small storage closet full of empty totes, saving for our next move.
I'm jealous- working toward that also!
We just moved and have 10 empty totes in the garage (Yeah!) A few more weeks, and the empty totes will be on their way out the door for good.
I'm the odd person who hasn't heard this phrase before! I was afraid of putting a limit of the number of Christmas and holiday totes, so I really liked that you said the number can be different for us all. I enjoy decorating for each season and making it different each year, but using the same things (although not necessarily using everything every year). I like the idea of gathering like items together. I recently did that with some of my decor that I rotate using throughout the year because the various pieces had been stashed in all sorts of places. It was indeed an eye opener, but also so helpful to have it all together when I redecorate and put things away. I loved your soothing and gentle tone of voice as you explain the thought process. It is truly helpful as so much of this is emotional. Thank you, Dawn. 💕
Don't worry. I help people declutter their homes and I hadn't heard of the phrase haha
I started to dread dragging out the totes at Christmastime and wouldn't even use half of it. I chose a closet shelf in my guest room and filled it with some clear sweater boxes and broke all of my holiday decor down into groupings. Now I can just decorate gradually, pull the bin with stuff for my dining room. Just looking in there and seeing everything at a glance and knowing that is all there is makes me feel so good.
Love this video! It’s not just tote shuffling, it’s closet shuffling, shelf shuffling, pantry shuffling or any other storage area in the house! We move things around to the point where they are packed in so efficiently and tightly! When we do pull them out it’s like pulling stuff out of a black hole. It’s amazing how much we pack into small spaces just to “hold on” to it.
I just cleaned off three shelves in the pantry today. I threw away a bunch of empties. Kids don't throw away the empties and it drives me nuts! The part that drives me the most crazy is my husband's wood working things and tool box.
We moved house about 3 years ago, and we just packed up all our junk and moved it. When I started my minimalism path a year ago, I approached every tote or box with the hope that it could all be donated, and I would only keep things if I HAD to!
That is such an awesome approach
I know what you mean! We have moved house on the average of every 21 months over the past 54 years. NEXT TIME I'm not moving stuff I don't want or need. It's hard enough to move it to the car so I can deliver it to the thrift store or the dump. I'm not a minimalist. I'm just not interested in keeping stuff that requires more work from me than value it gives in return. Does that make sense?
@@bobbidunn8512 You should look at Erica Lucas channel as a navy wife she has moved often and now has declttered
@@hazelmeldrum5860 yes she is an inspiration!
Hazel Meldrum - I’m going to check her out.
For 12 years, I stored part of a set that I wasn’t using (matching throw pillows, shams, and valances for a bedroom set when all we use is the comforter & curtains). I stored those things in a bin, moved them to a new state, kept them in storage in 5 different houses, and I justified keeping them for 12 years because I didn’t want to separate the set. This summer, I admitted to myself that I’ll never use the things I was storing, and that whoever buys them at a thrift store won’t know or care if they didn’t get the matching comforter and curtains. GONE. So freeing!
Different category but same theory- I had 12 coffee cups that came with my china that I NEVER used, but I kept them because they were “part of the set”. I finally donated them (probably someone will make cute container candles with them) and haven’t regretted it once.
Also since then my kids have broken at least two of the dinner plates anyway 🤣
I am a professional back-and-forth-stuff-mover-arounder...I hate it!
"back-and-forth-stuff-mover-arounder" I love it!
Hi Dawn! Great video-love it. Just a suggestion...maybe put some throws/blankets in the camper so you don’t always have to pack and shuffle them from your home? Or do you already have blankets in there? :)
Yes! Very good idea especially with unpredicable weather. We have 2 fleece blankets in our car. Early morning soccer games can be colder than expected.
Yes, and budget for her have family budget for a new blanket for the new foster child (ren) to pick out. Getting to wrap up in something the pick out and can take with them when they go "home" wherever that may be is special. Little things like that bring so much security. Also, understanding that the child's threshold to get rid of things will be so much less, everything is "special". -from a long time foster and adoptive parent
Have been purging like mad putting like with like... except I need to sell my stuff. Unemployed full time caregiver. I’ve got the time & I need the funds.
Yup. Actually getting the stuff out of the house has been a huge block for me too. I'm too embarrassed to say how many months multiple totes of outgrown baby clothes have been in my living room. But! I recruited my husband to do the listing and as of today 6 of 12 lots are out of the house! More lots will go up this weekend and some stuff may need to be donated but there is hope- we can do it!
Does Tote Shuffling sound familiar? Why yes. Yes it does. I did not know there was a word for it. My hallway is still taken up by totes of outgrown or clothes that I or my kids aren’t wearing. But I’ve kept to sell or donate. Over a year and I have no hallway as they are still there and the mess has only grown around them with stuff that doesn’t fit in the totes.
Downstairs same thing.... This summer I decluttered more clothing from my kids and they are in these boxes to donate. Can’t put them in garage as that is full of cardboard boxes I don’t have time or space to recycle, as well as other totes of various things, some to clean, some to donate, some to sell, some to keep, lots of baby stuff etc.
Just today I thought, maybe I should donate ALL of it. I don’t want to have to literally throw it away which seems terrible. But am almost desperate enough to do so. Not sure if any donations places really need or want my stuff... according to some sources there is already way too much heading to donation centers. So that has stopped me just donating. And having time to make all these runs to donations.
I certainly don’t have time to sell things but for things that are so expensive and still good condition it’s really hard.
Thanks for the tips! 💕xo
Donate it all!!! Let them sort, clean and chuck stuff for you! Free the hallways!!! ❤️
Domestic abuse shelters often take in women and kids (babies thru teens) in the middle of the night who might have left with only the clothes on their backs. They welcome donations of clothes, toiletries, and household items.
As a nurse, I am concerned about your safety. Would the stuff slow you or your family down from being able to leave your house in a hurry in an emergency? And could the extra tons of card board boxes or other stuff at some point be a fire or trip hazard? I don't mean to be scaring people, there truly is safety and blessing in letting things go. And you will be setting a beautiful example for your children. You can set it on the curb with "Free" sign on it.
Ulli Nelson hi thanks I appreciate your concern. The items are in plastic bins mostly so I don’t think major fire hazard. Luckily our hallways are wide so we can easily walk by the stuff. But that is part of the problem why it has sat so long lol. However i do feel a burning need to clear this clutter asap. 💕
Ann W Hi thanks for the reminder! I will check this option out. Would love to see that our items go directly to anyone who needs them, rather than resale. 💕xo
My issue is my husband loves to hoard! Lol he puts sentimental value on everything.
Mine puts a dollar value on everything but rarely actually sells it. Waits for me to write the ads. I've got too many other things to do so it's still here 🙁
I am a blanket hoarder. I have a very hard time getting rid of them. I like your idea of a shelter donation. I also heard in another video that animal shelters are great for blanket, linen, and towel donation. It makes it easier.
So helpful! It's a rainy day here. I think I may finally tackle a pile of papers in my bedroom I've been moving around... it's starting to slide and spill over everywhere! 🙈
To Hearts & Minds at Home
I hear you. Our paper clutter is a real monster. I attempted and did alot of old paper decluttering last year but still there's more.
Slow and steady wins the race; I gotta start again 15-30 mins daily.
And I need to rewatch Dawn paper declutter video.
You nailed it Sister 😂 you described me to a tee. I’m going to put a stop to this madness right now. God Bless you Dawn your advice was right on time🤗
I am actually in the process of going through each and every box and tote that has been squirreled away to stop this exact problem from continuing. Hubby wont let me part with any of the kids stuff and I dont touch his...I just box it, inventory and label the box and I'm ruthless with my own stuff
That was me for years, but we’re finally on the same page (for the most part).
"Just too much stuff!" Understatement of this century!💕👍🙏🥰
We call this "stuff shifting" or just plain "churning" at our house! I'm ready to tackle the garage with your tips! I especially like fully dealing with each item. I think that is the key point!
The real question is,
does anyone NOT TOTE SHUFFLE ?
Last Christmas I went from 10 to 5 totes...Will try for 3 this year...
Bravo! I went from 4 to 1 over a few years. It's a process for sure.
I was working on cleaning up my email in box as I was watching this. The list of steps works perfectly for decluttering emails also!
Oh my gosh - agreed!
Did some if that this morning - unsubscribing from about two dozen things I wasn’t even opening!
I've been doing that too! It's sooo nice to open up the inbox and only see a few.
I'm a few decades behind in email. :(
Up until now, I've been a "lurker", but this really speaks to me. I needed to hear it today because I live in a less than 200 sq ft area and I have waaaay too many totes (and inventory). Now I know what to do about it. Thanks!
I am trying so hard to get rid of "stuff". I am doing what I can with my "stuff"! John likes to keep "stuff" just in case! Recently we bought a new tub mat the other one was worn out. He "suggested" that I wash the old one and keep it just in case. I stood my ground and said No! :)
You go, Girl!
Watching some older Minimal Mom videos that I somehow missed.
This is such great advice. My only worry though is the current economy here in 2022.
Prices on everything are literally skyrocketing. Restaurants are using stickers for prices so they don't have to print new menus every week or two, because the prices are climbing so crazy fast.
There's no way you could have known this a couple years ago when this video was made.
Less inventory to manage would be wonderful, but the current insane rate of inflation makes me scared to get rid of things that would now be much more expensive to replace. Almost everything seems to be more expensive than the $20 dollar or less replacement rule you explained in another video. 😟
Oh my goodness, are you watching me? I'm going to keep purging until I feel the calm I want from a decluttered home.
I felt this today before I came across this video. It's a very daunting feeling, but I know we have to do this. 1/2 of the inventory!
🙋♀️ I'm guilty of that! Maybe I should go through my things again and get rid of some things once and for all! 😬 didn't know I was doing that until now🤦♀️
I used to do this more, but I still move things to a “sell” pile and then never try to sell them. I’ve tried to learn and be more realistic on what has value and my time is worth $. So now I usually donate right away, but sometimes I still find myself doing this.
I have found myself in this same boat- half of my basement turned into boxes that said “lawn sale” on them, then I’d have a sale and maybe make $200.00.....not worth the time, effort and space! Also, seeing some of the things again would make me reconsider keeping it😳! I’m a donator now, only sell really big things on Facebook- and most times I give that away too!
This is 💯 where I'm stuck!! Ughh I can't seem to break free of a perceived value that I should recoup!
About ten years ago, I inherited items that belonged to my mom and dad and both sets of grandparents. My dad was very sentimental so there was a lot of stuff. It was easy to get rid of the obvious trash, but then I got stuck. About five years ago, I used the KonMarie method to clear out clothes, books, paper, misc items; I got stuck on the sentimental items. By sentimental items I mean things like my childhood toys, and things that had belonged to other family members (whether they liked the items themselves or not when they had them I would never know!) I had an appraiser (who had no interest in buying any of my items so I thought she would be fair) come in after I had displayed all my items and she priced them all out for me. Most of the items were worth less that $25 which really shifted my perception of these items and I was able to donated the ones that I didn't enjoy. I knew I wouldn't take the time to sell items that I could maybe get $25 for!
I watched the first two points in my free time, then was able to walk around saying to myself “fully deal with it” and “use it or lose it”. Even those two tips helped so much. Thank you! PS I did watch the rest later.
I used to closet shuffle. Move things from one to another. No longer! I’m so happy with clear closets now! I also have limited my bins for Christmas, and now when I shop, I EASILY pass up new things so that I don’t even have to consider trading new with old. Easier to save money and space by just passing on the new. 😁👏👏👍
You inspired this! Thank you,
Jennifer 🥰
My husband is still struggling with getting rid of something he paid money for. We have 2 circular saws. EVERY TIME he goes to cut a piece of wood, he always goes to one saw. When I ask why he doesn't use the other one, he says, "Oh, it doesn't have enough power. It always gets hung up on the wood. This one's way better." Then I suggest getting rid of the 2nd one and he's like, "No way! I paid like 50 bucks for that!" Very frustrating. And we have the same discussion item after item. And I'm the one who ends up trying to find space for everything in the garage, our home office, kitchen, etc. He feels personally attacked and I think he also feels like I don't value the money that was spent. I really do! But I try to explain that I value our piece of mind and space to move and relax too! All the spaces I've simplified and keep neat make everyone feel relaxed and de-stressed. Keeping it doesn't recoup the money. He's come a loooong way in simplifying, but we are still working on communicating and compromising with this.
Keeping it doesn’t put the $50 back into his pocket. But then I’m also guilty of having a spare saw or two... always reaching first for the lightweight cordless that hangs up. Just this past weekend I had help, & they insisted on using the good saw... which got the job completed before the tropical storm blew in.
"trying to find a space for everything" - that's the phrase that gets me. Why is it that the one who insists on keeping something can't be bothered with finding an appropriate place to keep it? - OR take care of it? (dust, clean, etc.) Why is that the wife's job?
@@sunshine3914 You are SO right! He did grow up in a home that was NOT simplified, if you know what I mean!! And even though we've been married for 25 years, I know habits are very hard to adjust. I hear him tell his brother how organized our home is and how his bro should let me help them simplify, too. I'm so touched that he's acknowledging my efforts and how it's benefitted our family in such a positive way. But HAHA it's still so hard for him to part with things! And I want him to see it as a positive thing. Baby steps!
@@bobbidunn8512 Right? It's tough! He grew up in a really bad hoarding home. To this day, even after all the simplifying we've done together it's hard to watch him try to clean his office or the garage on his own. He just kind of puts things in piles and gets distracted by every item he touches. He gets so overwhelmed. He was never taught HOW to declutter or organize or let things go. They had very little of value, and he works tirelessly to provide for us, so anything we buy he feels the need to hold on to. I see where he's coming from and he's slowly learning to see where I'm coming from too. Our home has always been pretty clean, but now it's becoming more peaceful and open as I simplify more every day. He really enjoys that and I'm just waiting with the best patience I can for him to keep coming around. I knew what I married into, so we'll forge ahead together!
My husband does the same thing, but he gave his younger adult brother his old tools. It seemed to help knowing the person he was giving it to.
Dawn, when you said, 'for my mom, it's like 12', I laughed out loud! I fit into the 'mom category without a doubt! Earlier this year, I actually gave away 2 Christmas trees, with all the decorations, including the tree skirts, and I still have too much! You have inspired me to at least clean out my garage, so the car fits into it again. Thank you for your positive can-do attitude and motivation. ~Margie
I'm a shuffler! Could you please make a video on the various options for recycling and donating? I'm the person who can't waste anything......
I'm not much of a decorator. When my husband and I celebrated our first Christmas together four years ago we bought a Christmas tree and a very scant amount of ornaments to go on it, it looked a little pitiful. Every year we've added just a little bit more and now I have one tote dedicated to Christmas and that is my limit.
I swear, tote shuffling could be listed as a family hobby. We’ve been working on breaking it in recent months though!
Do I want to have to manage it, NO, I will let the stores keep it for me when I need it, IF I ever need it.
Yes! Amen!
We have been sorting thru my in laws things for the past few months. My father in law passed and my mother in law went to an assisted living facility. I don’t think they ever threw away anything in their 60+ yr marriage. It’s so overwhelming and I’m working on helping my husband to go thru stuff and not want to keep things we don’t need or use. He’s been kinda hard to convince, but I think it’s starting to make sense to him. Thanks so much for this video!
Thank you. You have addressed everything I am dealing with this very morning. This is tremendous immediate help. 🥰
Yay, looking forward to your video! Always so happy to see the notification.
Thank you Ashley!
Sending love from Alabama. How do we get our parents to deal with stuff so we won't have to once they have passed?
Gift them the book: Swedish Death Cleaning. It's much more positive than the title suggests!
Yes please! My mother is EXTREMELY sentimental. She is also a paper saver. She still has my dads pay stubs from the navy. He got out in 1975. In fact she has every paystub he has received during there entire marriage. My dad would love to get rid of stuff, but wont fight my mom over it. Their house is so cluttered I wont stay there when we visit. I get a hotel room nearby. My youngest sister and I have talked to them about it. (We will be the ones dealing with it when the time comes). But they just arent ready/willing. So when they DO get rid of things, we are super supportive. Is there a gentle way to move the process along? Or should we just continue to give grace and patience and know that we will have a job on our hands when the time comes?
@@trinam2503 So sorry to hear! Have you done research on hoarding disorder?
My in laws just chuckle and say "you guys sure have a lot of stuff to go through" .... I personally don't see anything funny in that statement. My husband and I are in our early 60s and I'm already telling him we're not leaving all of our stuff for our kids to have to go through.😉
I second the book Swedish Death Cleaning, but I am afraid it’s the character/personality, not the age/ life role. My father has started to do it on his own. Really systematically and diligently (including getting absolutely NO new things). I have been doing it, even though presumably (and hopefully) I have a long way to go, I still don’t want my children to have to deal with it, my husband is difficult, my mother won’t budge. And not surprisingly she has the biggest amount of stuff. I dread the moment when it will all fall on me.
I used to tote shuffle big time. Even as a teen I would empty my room of everything but the bed, sort, organise (a bit of declutter too) then put it back in a different way. I was always super pleased how I'd managed to condense everything down, packing it in a much more functional way. Now I'm adopting a more minimalist lifestyle I can see what a constant waste of time this was. I've got rid of stuff this year that I've been moving around since I was that teen! What a relief it has been to finally release that burden. I started looking at things thinking "if I'm not using it in lockdown then when is it going to happen?" There's still too much, it's a work on progress but I'm seeing it in a different way now!
One thing I’ve started doing for holidays and seasonal decorating is using organic items that will then be able to be used up or composted like actual pumpkins instead of plastic, real fur boughs inside instead of the fake, it feels better for me to support friends and local businesses when we buy or pumpkins and trees to decorate and less stuff to put back in bins later!
Wow! Wow! Wow! What an awesome idea! I can't believe nobody has commented on it.
What a great pep talk for me, as we look forward to the holidays. I love that you mention that it might not be just one Christmas tote for others, but the point is to set boundaries. 💛
Im very guilty of tote shuffling. Very good video. Thank you.
When my parents passed away we kept so much stuff, some useable some sentimental. When my in laws passed a few years later, the same happened. Three households can accumulate a lot of stuff that ends up in boxes. Then they keep getting shuffled around the house. Finally, slowly making those hard decisions. We don't want it to be our children's burden and it just feels good to be "lighter".
I'd assign some for just camping that stay in the camper unless being washed. Then if they get dirty or wrecked it doesn't matter as much as the other ones you keep in the house. It's nice to have for sleeping if cold or at the campfire. Just an idea.
💗❤️I have a video request.
Can you do one explaining how having a consistent routine helps control clutter and disaster?❤️💗
“Could we live without it?” Genius!
What funny timing. My parents are building us a "tiny apartment" space in their basement. I'm decluttered to become more minimal so we can fit into that space. But my mom presented me with 4 tubs of sentimentals and my daughter's baby clothes since she's clearing space in her basement. I got rid of 3 tubs of stuff! Love your videos Dawn!
Love this! I moved house last year and did the tote shuffle dance from room to room multiple times before pulling myself together and following you and realising I needed to reduce my belongings and stop the tote shuffle dance 💃. Love this channel. Thanks. 🥰
Marie Kondo has nothing on you, girlfriend! I have learned so much and have been so inspired by your methods than that "spark joy" lady in the short time I've followed you. The light bulb went off for me when you called my clutter by it's true name - inventory to manage!! Removes all emotion and guilt, so I can let it go. Love it, and love you!
I totally do the tote shuffle - I spend way too much time looking in totes and not decreasing what is in them!
Yes, i shuffled my stuff around...until I met you. I'm on the journey and feeling liberated. Thank you Dawn.
Yep, confusing organizing with purging. Guilty as charged. And using vacum sealed bags to stuff more into a space than it should hold. Guilty! I just did a garage purge for the 2nd time in 4 months and guess what? 1st purge = 3 carloads donated, this purge = 1 carload donated. Now how did that happen? I am the type that must purge, take picture of space, then just sit with it awhile and think as I look at the picture or room itself. Ok, I know what is in that corner, let me think if I will be using that this year. I have to mull it over in my mind. So while the garage has had 2 major purges in the past 4 months, next summer there just might be a #3.
Hey, you've got a system that works for you! Hoorah!!!
Thx j.m. Appreciate u.