I’m a veteran mover, with over ten corporate moves during our 47 married years. We’ve found that smoothing and stacking the packing paper is the best solution. Once you get a stack about 6” high, then fold the stack in half and stand it up in an open box. Repeat and stuff more piles like that until the box is full. Empty boxes are flattened and grouped by size. Once all boxes are unpacked I advertise the paper and boxes on Craigslist or on Facebook and they go like hot cakes.
Dear Erica, I am a 74 year old woman. I've been widowed and lost some of my sons who passed on to be with the Lord. I remarried and followed my new husband to some mountain land. We live in an RV, which I have removed all I could that reflects an RV and turned into a cozy home. I had no problem with letting go of years of collecting stuff for this transition. Now that my family is not a big as it was, even though I have grandchildren and some great grandchildren, my challenge is my sentimental things. I don't know how many paper photos, photo albums and cards and trinkets I have. I cannot bring myself to saddle the family I have with all of this. The other day I purged my cards. I picked out a few that the older ones might want. The rest are stored in my memory. I burned them. Now I am dismantling my albums. I have a pile for my son, my grown granddaughter, and I have given them my blessings to keep what they want and do whatever they want with the rest. I keep only pictures of family, all scenery pictures go into the trash. I have made me a very small photo album to keep. I tell you this, because we older people have paper photos. I know you younger people keep most photos in your phones. That will be a problem later on too, but the paper photos and cards are a problem for many my age. We will have to face this now if we don't want our kids and grandchildren to face what to do with it all when we pass. Fortunately my family already have the furniture, paintings, dishes, heirlooms etc. now. I think you are delightful and you have inspired me to face what I need to do now at this stage of my life. All I have left of years being raised by a great family, having a wonderful marriage and raising 3 delightful sons and many awesome grandchildren and now great grandchildren are my photos, albums and trinkets. So I have to be sure what needs to been done here. Just thought I'd share this. This stage is yet to come for you. But your mantra is still perfect.
I've been in the process of decluttering for about two years now and am now stuck on the photos and trinkets that you are talking about. I'm so impressed that you've been able to reduce your photos to one album! Wow! I've taken tons out of albums and am slowly getting rid of some, but your idea of only keeping the ones with family is good. That'll help me a lot. 😊 Thanks for the inspiration.
I have four grown kids and 18 grandkids! (3 acquired!) No great- grandkids yet. Married 44 years. I’d love to see someone do some videos of older people downsizing. I think it’s so much harder with the sentimental things! Especially when people dear to you have passed. I love Erika’s videos and advice - she is so real and honest. But - I agree it’s so much harder when you’re older and have hung on to things for so long. My mom was like me - she passed 20 years ago and I have a lot of her things - even her childhood report cards which her mother saved! I have several generations of items - grandparents, parents, mine, my kids and now my grandkids! But there is too much! I admire you for being able to let go of so much. My advice is to start decluttering while you are young!
I admire your clear decision making with the photos. My husband also suggested that I could take photos of things I have kept, that I have still wanted to keeo, such as photo Christmas cards of friends and cousins, our siblings children, with the thought to have them to follow as their families have grown up. I haven't done that yet. It is something I want to consider. But it is in the sentimental category, and I have much nonsentimental to deal with still. I really enjoy watching Erika's videos, and her mantra is great. Why focus on that which is not so important to our lives and hearts. Focus instead on what we want to keep. I need to write this down for me too!
We saved our moving paper and used it as a base layer for garden box since it doesn't have printing and is not chlorinated. We also use it to start fires we will be cooking over. I ironed several large pieces and cover our school table when we will be doing a messy craft or use it as table paper for large coloring.
My purging/moving mantra was and still is: Stay. Away. Trash. Literally: stay away trash!! I’m so over “stuff”. I thank God-and the military for showing me what’s important in life. And it’s not stuff. Still so proud of you and the progress you’re making in your life.
What I love most about your videos is that you describe the emotional and thought process to letting go. Some of the hoarder videos seem to focus on the horror show and necessity of declutter instead. You address the decision making which is the heart of the matter, all the arguments a person must have with themselves to achieve the transformative change. I descended into mess with the decline of my financial and my social life. My priorities and incentives changed. I had no one to impress. I kept everything because I had no purchasing power. I collected what I knew I might be able to fix. Finally I grew old enough for retirement income and that brought the return of some stability and a margin of disposable cash. But I still lacked a motivation to overcome my inertia. All my major appliances are broken and so much else needs repair. Its daunting. Coronavirus made no difference at all in my daily life. I was already a hermit. But what did happen was the cash stimulus. Its enough money that I can hire a plumber and get all the leaks repaired. Its so bad that I have to keep the main valve shut off except for refilling my bathtub every few days. I use that for my reservoir. I wash my hair in a bucket and take sponge baths. I have a lot of declutter to do so he has room to work. But the thought of a hot bubble bath, a kitchen faucet, a flushing toilet, a dry basement floor, a washing machine, and a garden hose keeps moving me along. This place looks better than it has in years. I get a little closet to phoning that plumber every day. And meanwhile, I can feel my attitudes towards my possessions shifting. There is much I am now eager to discard and donate. One thing that is working very well for me....I bought a dozen clear plastic totes and some smaller size. I use them to sort items. The totes will eventually be used for storage in my attic to replace the mystery cardboard boxes. Thank you for the encouragement that you did not know you gave me.
Your story really touches me! I wish you all the best, and that you soon can enjoy your bubble bath! You keep going for your goal although a lot to overcome, and that is so inspiring! 👏💚💛🧡💖
I hope that you will keep us posted on your progress. Don't forget that plumbers have seen a lot, it doesn't need to be anywhere near perfect to call them in. I'm rooting for you!
Something we did with our games and puzzles (thanks pinterest) was to break them down and put them in the zipper pouches you put into binders to hold pens. They sell them at the dollar store. Everything is compact and takes less space. Directions go in them and if I need the picture on the box I cut it out and put it in the baggie too. Game boards get stacked in a pan holder or magazine holder, or if you feel fancy can be framed and hung for decoration and used in the frame. We put masking tape on the back of the boards so sitters and family knows what board is for what game. We find pieces don't get lost now.
Unsolicited advice :) For games, if the height of your storage space allows, it's so much nicer to keep the games stored vertically (like books on a shelf). It's easy to retrieve any box you need without having to lift other boxes, you avoid ending up with wobbly piles of boxes on top of each other and it easier to see what you have.
As much as I LOVE to get rid of all the things that I am not currently using, I always keep baskets and containers that I enjoy even if at that moment it doesn’t have a purpose. I can not tell you how many times I reorganized, or decluttered and was so grateful I kept my extra containers in my storage area. Can't wait to see your home when you have it all set up the way you love.
Yeah. You're finding another level to the joy of minimalism. After an initial purge the desire to let go of all that extraneous stuff sets in. Applause applause
It’s taken her a lot time to get from agonizing to energetic, but I know what you mean. She’s inspiring! Inspires me to let go of emotional attachments so that I can be energetic and not bogged down when I declutter too!
Santorini is a great game! I learned recently, that you don't need to keep the game box. Put it in a cloth bag, or in a Tupperware container. It's just a cardboard box afterall!
7:36 my heart ached a little when your boy genuinely asked "can I have a hug" I had a huge fight with my mom months ago, and it's still kinda cold between us, and I'm so needing a hug right now
@@0570dev i'm not living with her as I'm grown-up haha I'll try something next time I see her, but she said pretty hurtful things so I'm still processing and healing my wounds for now Thank you for your concern tho ! I really appreciate it
I don't know exactly what you went through, but you'll have to do some soul searching to decide whether she can realistically come into your life in a healthy way again. In my case, my mom can be in my life, but I can't expect to get what I need from her. So I get what I need from my husband and son instead. I had to adjust my expectations and limit the amount of time I spend with her in my space. I also have to explicitly tell her when she's not respecting my boundaries or when she says something hurtful. In my friend's case, her mom has too many mental health issues that she isn't trying to address. She is a truly toxic person and can't be in my friend's life in a healthy way. One day, maybe she'll see the work she needs to do, but not now. Wishing you the best. It isn't easy and it takes time. 🤗
I am so proud of your progress and your mindset, these videos are so calming to me when I feel like my mind is scrambled..I’m so glad I found your channel..hugs from Sweden 🇸🇪❤️
Watching Erica's videos reminds me that I never want to move again. After 20 years raising our kids in one house, we moved 7 years ago. So much stress buying and renovating one house while listing and showing the house we were living in. And we rented a Uhaul and moved it all ourselves! No thanks, if we ever move again we're definitely hiring movers. I wonder if one could also hire a person to unpack and put it all neatly away? Maybe Marie Kondo.
Glad you kept the longaberger gathering basket made in my home town! 😃. Use the rope basket to tote laundry to rooms. Buy a new game ( the one you play all the time in taped up box!). Nice job unpacking and making decisions. Did a much better job than I would do! Still haven’t gotten easy to toss stuff mentality. I’m gonna borrow your mantra! Hope you are enjoying the pool now!! Hugs!
Miss Erica, I absolutely LOVE seeing how much more you're decluttering right out of the box! Please save as many "unboxings" for the camera as you can!!! 😁😁😁
When you held up that white cottonbasket I said donate, donate and then you said it 😆💪 well done with painting the dress, Becca! Love that there’s always time for a hug!
Good for you for taking the time to process your feelings before tackling the boxes! You may be one of the most self aware people I have ever seen. Your journey has helped me a lot. This week I removed a large dresser from our bedroom and replaced it with a 3-drawer chest that sits inside the closet (it is NOT a walk-in). I have been very motivated by your videos to get going through all my "stuff"! Thank you!!
This may sound silly, and you may have a more eco friendly idea in mind, but what about keeping some of the packing paper for Christmas wrapping. If you wanted to jazz it up try holiday stamps, or letting the kids paint them and hang dry them. That way they are getting another purpose, and then head to cloth and other eco options next year. Just a thought
All the PAPER! We are in the midst of unpacking from a move too and the sheer volume of boxes was overwhealming… then to find they are mostly paper! Our county recycling knows my husband by first name from all the loads he’s taken there with flat boxes and paper.
Thank you for the great example you set! I got 2 HUGE containers of random homeschool curriculum given to me (some 6 months or more ago!!) out of the hot garage and went through it tonight. I am soo glad that part is done!! I’ve been feeling guilty for having it and not using it! Thanks so Much for showing me to just start, and do what we can when we can.
Questions... Where are your favorite places to donate? What types of items would sell instead? What do you do with the little things that you find in the bottoms of drawers or find multiples of? Keep or just toss? You do an amazing job. I have been looking for real life decluttering and I am loving your chanel so much. Love that you are not put on or show off, just life! Such a Beautiful Family too!♡ Thank You and your husband for his service to our country!
When you mentioned how many boxes you had on a different video it didn't surprise me. I had so many boxes that had 1 item in it then stuffed with paper. We always declutter before we move, while we are moving, and then as we unpack but there's always more. I need an ounce of your motivation and energy!
Erica, You are an inspiration :)! You have accomplished so much, you should be very proud of yourself, and I'm very happy for you! Blessings to you my friend.
You continue to inspire me-GO GIRL ❤️ What percentage of what you moved to your new home have you decluttered, would love to see a video on what you thought you needed when you packed up to move to what you actually need.Thank you x
I like how you said “I don’t want to carry these pictures from house to house”. We are in the middle of a move and I don’t want the many items I have for any future moves either.
Erica, you have the most beautiful hair..... ❤️ Watching you declutter/unpack brings me back to your video, when you had gotten home from a vacation and realized you had so much Stuff, and began your journey into minimalism, look at you now, so proud of you. Loveeeee the house, hope you all had fun in the pool 🏖🏊🏻🤽♀️🤿
I went through my little closet while I listened to you. I was surprised to find four winter clothing items to donate! Deciding what to keep! Tuesday: Donations dropped off !
Erica I was just thinking that you have declared sooo much stuff that if you move again you may be able to just pack all the boxes yourself and then you won’t need as much packing waste! I’ve been decluttering today too, sorting through all of our old homeschool papers and condensing before starting the new year!
Having out interior house painted after an emergency whole house replumb. Decluttering as we clear each room to paint. Found a lid to no container as well! I had to laugh!
What I loved best: 1) the hug in the middle of it all and 2) that you have somewhere for the boxes to be before you have time to address them. In downsizing, we have had nowhere other than the middle of the downstairs for all the boxes until we deal with them! 😩 But we are getting unpacked in record speed because I can’t live that way!
I love your philosophy & how u think things thru...! You r the greatest woman EVAH!!! U just plow thru & made me laugh over & over re: so much paper, lol! Thank you so much for the unpacking videos... I keep saying: more, more!
Go Erica, go! 1. That fabric basket could work well to hold blankets next to the couch. 2. The picnic basket needs it's handles down to fit on top of those cabinets better, hehe. 3. Games. Put all your games in extra large zipper baggies and ditch the boxes. I really don't like game boxes. Hope you find all the pieces to Santorini!
It always impresses me the way you take a step back and rethink how to tackle the situation when you come to a stop. I'm more of a quitter myself... 😅 I'm definitely going to try your mantra, I think it would help me. When I go through my closet, I always use "Would I buy this if I was trying it on at the store?" to know if it's a keeper. It is easier to make a decision when one changes the perspective a little.
Erica, your mantra has changed my life! I had decluttering goals for today, and I adopted and applied your mantra and, it went so much faster! I decided what to keep and got rid of the rest 😁Thank you so much for your videos... God Bless and keep you and Andy and your family!! 😁🤗🙏🏻💖
I love that mantra! This past weekend I went through our games. I decided to get rid of a pile of them that we haven't played in years. It was liberating. And freed up a shelf for one of my daughters.
my husband and i are trying to sell our house, so most of our 'stuff' is in storage and has been for a few months. the only thing i have missed is my essential oil diffuser/nightlight. i think i will use your process when we do get moved and start unpacking so i know what to find a home for and keep and what to let go. thank you for your videos and your personality. i don't like the drill sergeant type declutterers because i think my brain rebels. i'm by no means a minimalist, but i do need way less stuff. thank you again!!
I get a little disheartened because I have been sorting through so much and yet there seems to be more, you encourage me to keep going as it must come to an end. I’ve sorted cupboards, garage, rooms and somehow more stuff appears, maybe I just move it around 🤷♀️🤦♀️😳🙄
next time you move, make a point to tell the movers that you do not want excessive paper. Then stay available while they are working and randomly walk around the house. Don't hover, but let them know that you are watching what they are doing. They are your employees while they pack your things and should follow your wishes. 3 of my own military moves and 10 as a kid. I learned this trick from my mom, who had worked for a moving company doing military moves before I was born.
Seeing all that paper reminded me of the time my family moved, one of the times, back in the 1970's: there was all that white packing paper and I covered it with drawings, had a GREAT time. Another favorite was the shirt cardboards from the laundry where my father had his shirts cleaned and sometimes he brought home obsolete forms from the insurance office where he worked. Not obsolete for drawing paper!
What the heck erica! I can't even remember how to play uno and you know every of your 300 games and even with how many pieces they came and where pieces are missing and wich pieces ?!?!?! 😂😂😂😂 i feel you are a robot - WOW!! 😂😂
I'm in awe of your ability to stand back and take the time you need to strategize your approach. I don't know why I always give myself added pressure by setting a time limit. I have to learn how to get over myself. Thanks for sharing another great video!
I’m a veteran mover, with over ten corporate moves during our 47 married years. We’ve found that smoothing and stacking the packing paper is the best solution. Once you get a stack about 6” high, then fold the stack in half and stand it up in an open box. Repeat and stuff more piles like that until the box is full. Empty boxes are flattened and grouped by size. Once all boxes are unpacked I advertise the paper and boxes on Craigslist or on Facebook and they go like hot cakes.
Dear Erica, I am a 74 year old woman. I've been widowed and lost some of my sons who passed on to be with the Lord. I remarried and followed my new husband to some mountain land. We live in an RV, which I have removed all I could that reflects an RV and turned into a cozy home. I had no problem with letting go of years of collecting stuff for this transition. Now that my family is not a big as it was, even though I have grandchildren and some great grandchildren, my challenge is my sentimental things. I don't know how many paper photos, photo albums and cards and trinkets I have. I cannot bring myself to saddle the family I have with all of this. The other day I purged my cards. I picked out a few that the older ones might want. The rest are stored in my memory. I burned them. Now I am dismantling my albums. I have a pile for my son, my grown granddaughter, and I have given them my blessings to keep what they want and do whatever they want with the rest. I keep only pictures of family, all scenery pictures go into the trash. I have made me a very small photo album to keep. I tell you this, because we older people have paper photos. I know you younger people keep most photos in your phones. That will be a problem later on too, but the paper photos and cards are a problem for many my age. We will have to face this now if we don't want our kids and grandchildren to face what to do with it all when we pass. Fortunately my family already have the furniture, paintings, dishes, heirlooms etc. now.
I think you are delightful and you have inspired me to face what I need to do
now at this stage of my life. All I have left of years being raised by a great family, having a wonderful marriage and raising 3 delightful sons and many awesome grandchildren and now great grandchildren are my photos, albums and trinkets. So I have to be sure what needs to been done here. Just thought I'd share this. This stage is yet to come for you. But your mantra is still perfect.
I've been in the process of decluttering for about two years now and am now stuck on the photos and trinkets that you are talking about. I'm so impressed that you've been able to reduce your photos to one album! Wow! I've taken tons out of albums and am slowly getting rid of some, but your idea of only keeping the ones with family is good. That'll help me a lot. 😊 Thanks for the inspiration.
And you also have your great memory!
I have four grown kids and 18 grandkids! (3 acquired!) No great- grandkids yet. Married 44 years. I’d love to see someone do some videos of older people downsizing. I think it’s so much harder with the sentimental things! Especially when people dear to you have passed. I love Erika’s videos and advice - she is so real and honest. But - I agree it’s so much harder when you’re older and have hung on to things for so long. My mom was like me - she passed 20 years ago and I have a lot of her things - even her childhood report cards which her mother saved! I have several generations of items - grandparents, parents, mine, my kids and now my grandkids! But there is too much! I admire you for being able to let go of so much. My advice is to start decluttering while you are young!
I admire your clear decision making with the photos. My husband also suggested that I could take photos of things I have kept, that I have still wanted to keeo, such as photo Christmas cards of friends and cousins, our siblings children, with the thought to have them to follow as their families have grown up. I haven't done that yet. It is something I want to consider. But it is in the sentimental category, and I have much nonsentimental to deal with still. I really enjoy watching Erika's videos, and her mantra is great. Why focus on that which is not so important to our lives and hearts. Focus instead on what we want to keep. I need to write this down for me too!
I have found RUclips videos by The Clutter Fairy (Houston) to be VERY helpful for photos, sentimental, and keepsake items.
Your kid asking for a hug!! Melts my heart 😭
We saved our moving paper and used it as a base layer for garden box since it doesn't have printing and is not chlorinated. We also use it to start fires we will be cooking over. I ironed several large pieces and cover our school table when we will be doing a messy craft or use it as table paper for large coloring.
Love that your little boy asked for a hug. 💕
AND that you stopped to give one to him! 💖❤💖
My purging/moving mantra was and still is: Stay. Away. Trash. Literally: stay away trash!! I’m so over “stuff”. I thank God-and the military for showing me what’s important in life. And it’s not stuff. Still so proud of you and the progress you’re making in your life.
I'd use that white basket for blanket storage ♥️ I've been looking for one at thrift stores, but no luck yet haha.
That soft white basket would look great with a tall plant sitting in it!
That's exactly what I thought, a huge palm-tree would look lovely in there. Plant lovers XD
What I love most about your videos is that you describe the emotional and thought process to letting go. Some of the hoarder videos seem to focus on the horror show and necessity of declutter instead. You address the decision making which is the heart of the matter, all the arguments a person must have with themselves to achieve the transformative change. I descended into mess with the decline of my financial and my social life. My priorities and incentives changed. I had no one to impress. I kept everything because I had no purchasing power. I collected what I knew I might be able to fix. Finally I grew old enough for retirement income and that brought the return of some stability and a margin of disposable cash. But I still lacked a motivation to overcome my inertia. All my major appliances are broken and so much else needs repair. Its daunting. Coronavirus made no difference at all in my daily life. I was already a hermit. But what did happen was the cash stimulus. Its enough money that I can hire a plumber and get all the leaks repaired. Its so bad that I have to keep the main valve shut off except for refilling my bathtub every few days. I use that for my reservoir. I wash my hair in a bucket and take sponge baths. I have a lot of declutter to do so he has room to work. But the thought of a hot bubble bath, a kitchen faucet, a flushing toilet, a dry basement floor, a washing machine, and a garden hose keeps moving me along. This place looks better than it has in years. I get a little closet to phoning that plumber every day. And meanwhile, I can feel my attitudes towards my possessions shifting. There is much I am now eager to discard and donate. One thing that is working very well for me....I bought a dozen clear plastic totes and some smaller size. I use them to sort items. The totes will eventually be used for storage in my attic to replace the mystery cardboard boxes. Thank you for the encouragement that you did not know you gave me.
Your story really touches me! I wish you all the best, and that you soon can enjoy your bubble bath!
You keep going for your goal although a lot to overcome, and that is so inspiring!
👏💚💛🧡💖
So great to hear that doing so this work is going to mean that all of those plumbing problems can get fixed.
I'm so proud and pleased for you 😊
I hope that you will keep us posted on your progress. Don't forget that plumbers have seen a lot, it doesn't need to be anywhere near perfect to call them in. I'm rooting for you!
Something we did with our games and puzzles (thanks pinterest) was to break them down and put them in the zipper pouches you put into binders to hold pens. They sell them at the dollar store. Everything is compact and takes less space. Directions go in them and if I need the picture on the box I cut it out and put it in the baggie too. Game boards get stacked in a pan holder or magazine holder, or if you feel fancy can be framed and hung for decoration and used in the frame. We put masking tape on the back of the boards so sitters and family knows what board is for what game. We find pieces don't get lost now.
You might want to tape the picture from the box (or a photo copy) onto the back of the game board.
Unsolicited advice :) For games, if the height of your storage space allows, it's so much nicer to keep the games stored vertically (like books on a shelf). It's easy to retrieve any box you need without having to lift other boxes, you avoid ending up with wobbly piles of boxes on top of each other and it easier to see what you have.
Maria, that's a genius tip!
Agreed!
Love that one! I'm going to try it today!
My teanage daughter suggested that a few years ago and it works so well! It's a game changer, lol!
@@karenarmstrong7495 😂😂😂😋
It was actually a good thing that those boxes were mostly paper. You didn't have nearly as much stuff to go thru as you thought.
As much as I LOVE to get rid of all the things that I am not currently using, I always keep baskets and containers that I enjoy even if at that moment it doesn’t have a purpose. I can not tell you how many times I reorganized, or decluttered and was so grateful I kept my extra containers in my storage area. Can't wait to see your home when you have it all set up the way you love.
So true!🙏⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What about putting the packing boxes and paper on your local NextDoor or Craigslist? People are looking for that stuff all the time.
The white basket you love...put a plant pot in it!
nice and useful
Yeah. You're finding another level to the joy of minimalism. After an initial purge the desire to let go of all that extraneous stuff sets in. Applause applause
Girl, you deserve a pool day, after all that hard work.🤣
Took a trunk load of stuff to donate on Sunday. So freeing to let it all go and stop shuffling it around my house!!
White basket use it in your boys room either for dirty clothes or pick up toys i have the Same and it's very practical
Your level of decluttering energy is goals. When we declutter in my house it’s agonizing.
It’s taken her a lot time to get from agonizing to energetic, but I know what you mean. She’s inspiring! Inspires me to let go of emotional attachments so that I can be energetic and not bogged down when I declutter too!
Santorini is a great game! I learned recently, that you don't need to keep the game box. Put it in a cloth bag, or in a Tupperware container. It's just a cardboard box afterall!
7:36 my heart ached a little when your boy genuinely asked "can I have a hug" I had a huge fight with my mom months ago, and it's still kinda cold between us, and I'm so needing a hug right now
Maybe if you offer her one? I hope it works out for you.
@@0570dev i'm not living with her as I'm grown-up haha
I'll try something next time I see her, but she said pretty hurtful things so I'm still processing and healing my wounds for now
Thank you for your concern tho ! I really appreciate it
I don't know exactly what you went through, but you'll have to do some soul searching to decide whether she can realistically come into your life in a healthy way again.
In my case, my mom can be in my life, but I can't expect to get what I need from her. So I get what I need from my husband and son instead. I had to adjust my expectations and limit the amount of time I spend with her in my space. I also have to explicitly tell her when she's not respecting my boundaries or when she says something hurtful.
In my friend's case, her mom has too many mental health issues that she isn't trying to address. She is a truly toxic person and can't be in my friend's life in a healthy way. One day, maybe she'll see the work she needs to do, but not now.
Wishing you the best. It isn't easy and it takes time. 🤗
@@wanderlust9372 That's hard! I hope you find a way to heal
Here a tight virtual hug for you😊❤️
The BEST part of this video...when your son asks for a hug!!!! Awesome love.
That white cotton basket might be good for pool towels?
Or blankets in the living room!
If your kids have any of those little toys like the little tiny hatchimals or Shopkins those could make good game pieces.
Oh! That's a good idea! I will hold on to that one.
Lego men too 👍
Or they can craft their own one day.
Or pieces from games you're getting rid of anyway.
I am so proud of your progress and your mindset, these videos are so calming to me when I feel like my mind is scrambled..I’m so glad I found your channel..hugs from Sweden 🇸🇪❤️
Watching Erica's videos reminds me that I never want to move again. After 20 years raising our kids in one house, we moved 7 years ago. So much stress buying and renovating one house while listing and showing the house we were living in. And we rented a Uhaul and moved it all ourselves! No thanks, if we ever move again we're definitely hiring movers. I wonder if one could also hire a person to unpack and put it all neatly away? Maybe Marie Kondo.
Glad you kept the longaberger gathering basket made in my home town! 😃. Use the rope basket to tote laundry to rooms. Buy a new game ( the one you play all the time in taped up box!). Nice job unpacking and making decisions. Did a much better job than I would do! Still haven’t gotten easy to toss stuff mentality. I’m gonna borrow your mantra! Hope you are enjoying the pool now!! Hugs!
I love that reframe of focusing on what to keep
I love watching you unpack those boxes!!! Your pool is a great way to exercise also. You are doing such a great job. I love your channel. 💗
Miss Erica, I absolutely LOVE seeing how much more you're decluttering right out of the box! Please save as many "unboxings" for the camera as you can!!! 😁😁😁
That box stuffed with packing paper that just had a few plastic hangers!!! Wow!?
It’s horrible.
When you held up that white cottonbasket I said donate, donate and then you said it 😆💪 well done with painting the dress, Becca! Love that there’s always time for a hug!
Just love you Erica, you are so real. In your intro I can see how much you actually want to do this. Thinking of you all in the USA from the UK x
It’s amazing how you still keep finding stuff that you want to get ride of after all this time.
I love when you have a project that seems so daunting but you are able to handle it relatively quickly!!
My favorite part of this video is when your son asked for a hug♥️. I like the “keep” concept! Love your videos!
Good for you for taking the time to process your feelings before tackling the boxes! You may be one of the most self aware people I have ever seen. Your journey has helped me a lot. This week I removed a large dresser from our bedroom and replaced it with a 3-drawer chest that sits inside the closet (it is NOT a walk-in). I have been very motivated by your videos to get going through all my "stuff"! Thank you!!
Soft white basket could be a good grocery shopping bag!
Sometimes you can go to the website that's on the game box and order the missing pieces.
Never thought of that!
You could repurchase games at Goodwill or a garage sale really cheep just for the missing parts.
eBay has a lot of random game pieces as well.
You tossing the tissue paper is a whole mood 😆
Put the brown blanket in the white basket so you can store it in a closet or out for people to use! Blanket baskets are the best ❤️
This may sound silly, and you may have a more eco friendly idea in mind, but what about keeping some of the packing paper for Christmas wrapping. If you wanted to jazz it up try holiday stamps, or letting the kids paint them and hang dry them. That way they are getting another purpose, and then head to cloth and other eco options next year. Just a thought
Wow what a great idea
Or like painting/drawing paper for the kiddos in general
She is trying to de-clutter, not keep papers "somewhere" to "possibly" use at a later date.
How about spend money for some experience, not buying new stuff
As she is giving away the boxes, she could give away the paper, too. At least the sheets that aren't crumpled too much.
I can’t believe you find time to share with us, but you know we are pulling for you to get settled and so love to see how you are doing!
Woo hoo! More decluttering magic!
All the PAPER! We are in the midst of unpacking from a move too and the sheer volume of boxes was overwhealming… then to find they are mostly paper! Our county recycling knows my husband by first name from all the loads he’s taken there with flat boxes and paper.
Great job! Just a plastic snap lid container will work perfect for Santorini!
Thank you for the great example you set! I got 2 HUGE containers of random homeschool curriculum given to me (some 6 months or more ago!!) out of the hot garage and went through it tonight. I am soo glad that part is done!! I’ve been feeling guilty for having it and not using it! Thanks so Much for showing me to just start, and do what we can when we can.
Questions...
Where are your favorite places to donate?
What types of items would sell instead?
What do you do with the little things that you find in the bottoms of drawers or find multiples of? Keep or just toss?
You do an amazing job. I have been looking for real life decluttering and I am loving your chanel so much. Love that you are not put on or show off, just life! Such a Beautiful Family too!♡ Thank You and your husband for his service to our country!
As a military family we pack and move ourselves and one big reason for it is because of how the packers pack the boxes. #somuchpaper
When you mentioned how many boxes you had on a different video it didn't surprise me. I had so many boxes that had 1 item in it then stuffed with paper.
We always declutter before we move, while we are moving, and then as we unpack but there's always more.
I need an ounce of your motivation and energy!
Aaaaah, the giant brush!!!(6:13)
You still manage to impress me, Erica. Go swim you ""box with paper emptier" XD
Erica, You are an inspiration :)! You have accomplished so much, you should be very proud of yourself, and I'm very happy for you! Blessings to you my friend.
Watching you while doing a major decluttering in my apartment. Keep up with the good work.😊
You continue to inspire me-GO GIRL ❤️
What percentage of what you moved to your new home have you decluttered, would love to see a video on what you thought you needed when you packed up to move to what you actually need.Thank you x
I like how you said “I don’t want to carry these pictures from house to house”. We are in the middle of a move and I don’t want the many items I have for any future moves either.
Erica, you have the most beautiful hair..... ❤️
Watching you declutter/unpack brings me back to your video, when you had gotten home from a vacation and realized you had so much Stuff, and began your journey into minimalism, look at you now, so proud of you. Loveeeee the house, hope you all had fun in the pool 🏖🏊🏻🤽♀️🤿
Thinking you might find that white soft side basket rather handy. Pool towels, dog toys, tote bag for car....
Great job keeping up the momentum!! Regarding missing playing pieces for Santorini...my kids like to create Lego characters if they ever lose one!
I went through my little closet while I listened to you. I was surprised to find four winter clothing items to donate! Deciding what to keep! Tuesday: Donations dropped off !
Erica I was just thinking that you have declared sooo much stuff that if you move again you may be able to just pack all the boxes yourself and then you won’t need as much packing waste! I’ve been decluttering today too, sorting through all of our old homeschool papers and condensing before starting the new year!
Having out interior house painted after an emergency whole house replumb. Decluttering as we clear each room to paint. Found a lid to no container as well! I had to laugh!
Love the way your kids take part in the unpacking. Great way for them to learn.
What I loved best: 1) the hug in the middle of it all and 2) that you have somewhere for the boxes to be before you have time to address them. In downsizing, we have had nowhere other than the middle of the downstairs for all the boxes until we deal with them! 😩 But we are getting unpacked in record speed because I can’t live that way!
This is high level decluttering! I need to exercise this discipline in my garage! I have a few things I need to redistribute! Thanks very much!
Good for you!! You in those goggles are adorable!
Great job Erica!!!
I love your philosophy & how u think things thru...! You r the greatest woman EVAH!!! U just plow thru & made me laugh over & over re: so much paper, lol! Thank you so much for the unpacking videos... I keep saying: more, more!
Girl. You inspire me. ❤️
Ooooo Scategories! I love that game.
Go Erica, go!
1. That fabric basket could work well to hold blankets next to the couch.
2. The picnic basket needs it's handles down to fit on top of those cabinets better, hehe.
3. Games. Put all your games in extra large zipper baggies and ditch the boxes. I really don't like game boxes. Hope you find all the pieces to Santorini!
It always impresses me the way you take a step back and rethink how to tackle the situation when you come to a stop. I'm more of a quitter myself... 😅 I'm definitely going to try your mantra, I think it would help me.
When I go through my closet, I always use "Would I buy this if I was trying it on at the store?" to know if it's a keeper. It is easier to make a decision when one changes the perspective a little.
All that packing paper can be used for a portion of the 'browns' in the compost
Awesome thanks!!!
great vid- hope you had fun in the pool
Love Your Rocking Chair
It’s good that you returned to your old mantra...amazing how quick you flew threw those boxes...way to go...x
You have done an amazing job over the last year , I have really enjoyed following your journey 😁
Erica, your mantra has changed my life! I had decluttering goals for today, and I adopted and applied your mantra and, it went so much faster! I decided what to keep and got rid of the rest 😁Thank you so much for your videos... God Bless and keep you and Andy and your family!! 😁🤗🙏🏻💖
I love that mantra! This past weekend I went through our games. I decided to get rid of a pile of them that we haven't played in years. It was liberating. And freed up a shelf for one of my daughters.
I'm enjoying watching you process. You might benefit from checking out the Minimalist 90/90 Rule.
my husband and i are trying to sell our house, so most of our 'stuff' is in storage and has been for a few months. the only thing i have missed is my essential oil diffuser/nightlight. i think i will use your process when we do get moved and start unpacking so i know what to find a home for and keep and what to let go. thank you for your videos and your personality. i don't like the drill sergeant type declutterers because i think my brain rebels. i'm by no means a minimalist, but i do need way less stuff. thank you again!!
I get a little disheartened because I have been sorting through so much and yet there seems to be more, you encourage me to keep going as it must come to an end. I’ve sorted cupboards, garage, rooms and somehow more stuff appears, maybe I just move it around 🤷♀️🤦♀️😳🙄
There's always more 😕
I get so bogged down with it all
“Can I have a hug?”
Oh my mama heart!!
I am so proud of you! Your mindset is inspiring. When your precious son asked you for a hug, he melted my heart ❤!
Omg, that hug. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
you are awesome.
You did great Erica!
next time you move, make a point to tell the movers that you do not want excessive paper. Then stay available while they are working and randomly walk around the house. Don't hover, but let them know that you are watching what they are doing. They are your employees while they pack your things and should follow your wishes. 3 of my own military moves and 10 as a kid. I learned this trick from my mom, who had worked for a moving company doing military moves before I was born.
I wouldn't keep a ton of it, but my kiddos use the packing paper for drawing on.
I know it sounds alot of work but should make drawing pads for the kids out of all that paper .... recycle for the time being
Seeing all that paper reminded me of the time my family moved, one of the times, back in the 1970's: there was all that white packing paper and I covered it with drawings, had a GREAT time. Another favorite was the shirt cardboards from the laundry where my father had his shirts cleaned and sometimes he brought home obsolete forms from the insurance office where he worked. Not obsolete for drawing paper!
SO EXCITING WHEN YOU SAID - YOU didn't want anything in those boxes!! So proud of you.
Board games are always hard for me to part with! LOL I keep saying, well, some day Jon and I might play one again LOL
You did a great job!
Yessssssss you got this!!!!! I so remember this video when you wrote that phrase on your red paper 💗💗
Yay! Longaberger basket! Keep!
I hope you and the family had so much fun in the pool!!! Much Love from Kentucky!!
I was so proud of you, watching this video. I think your decluttering muscle has grown significantly, and it shows. Way to go!
What the heck erica! I can't even remember how to play uno and you know every of your 300 games and even with how many pieces they came and where pieces are missing and wich pieces ?!?!?! 😂😂😂😂 i feel you are a robot - WOW!! 😂😂
Keep those waterproof phone protectors for your own backyard!
You are THE Declutter Queen!! Btw-you are dropping weight like crazy!!! Keep up your great work!!!
I'm in awe of your ability to stand back and take the time you need to strategize your approach. I don't know why I always give myself added pressure by setting a time limit. I have to learn how to get over myself. Thanks for sharing another great video!