[QuietLunatic]

One of the hardest things for those of us who hoard junk is actually letting go of it and getting rid of it. I hate having yard sales--they're just too much trouble, so I'm donating everything that is still good, but which is just taking up space in my house. If I haven't used it in a year, I probably don't really need it any more. My church is having a yard sale in July, so I'm putting aside boxes of movies, plastic stuff (like old Tupperware), toys, clothes and books to donate to the sale. I've also put good clothes in the Red Cross box near the bank. It feels so good to get rid of the stuff!

[Flubb10]

I don't have a problem with getting rid of old things. By significant other on the other hand. We live in a small place and his stuff is always around. Some of his old clothes I want to throw out, but he wants to keep them. I mean old hideous plaid shirts?!??

[silverstreak]

If I haven’t worn something in a year, it is likely that I won’t be wearing it so I send it to a thrift shop. I hated letting go two of my great dresses but I don’t fit into them anymore so why keep them around.

[silverstreak]

One more thing..I hated to get rid of those dresses because they were well made, which is what I can’t say about the clothes out there now. People seem to not be interested in quality anymore. That’s why I invested in a good sewing machine. I figured that I will save money and the hassle of shopping for second rate clothes in the end. The only thing I like buying are sweaters.

[hummingbird42256]

Makes me want to clean and declutter just talking about it....lol I have bad knees and can't seem to do the things I want to do anymore. I have to drive 14 miles just to get rid of my clutter. If the family will go along with it. I usually want till the kids are in school. I am a neat freak by habit but over the years and 3 kids later I have learned to live with the clutter.

[carebear]

I hate cleaning it out but I love the feeling of finally getting it done. I find it hard to part with stuff but eventually I find I forget about it.

[silverstreak]

Originally Posted by carebear

I hate cleaning it out but I love the feeling of finally getting it done. I find it hard to part with stuff but eventually I find I forget about it.

I agree carebear. I hate cleaning it out but love the feeling of having a clean, organized place especially since i work out of my home. I have a rule now. What I haven’t used in the past two years, whether it is clothes, objects, whatever, I give away. I am better at it now than I used to be. I think not letting go of physical stuff corresponds to us not letting go of emotional stuff too. It gets a lot easier when you get older. You can’t take it with you in the end anyway!

[Fizz]

It is hard getting rid of somethings and I am truly a pack rat, my husband is the same to a point, but we have different ideas about what should be kept and what should be tossed. One thing the whole family can agree on is that a yard sale is a great way to clear things out!

[silverstreak]

Originally Posted by Fizz

It is hard getting rid of somethings and I am truly a pack rat, my husband is the same to a point, but we have different ideas about what should be kept and what should be tossed. One thing the whole family can agree on is that a yard sale is a great way to clear things out!

How do you decide what to get rid of? It’s interesting that people are pack rats with certain things but not others. I wonder what creates emotional attachments to some objects and not others and what the psychological basis of it is.

[silverstreak]

It would also be fascinating to get a psychologist’s point of view on the subject. I would check more than one point of view, not just one of them since there might be different reasons.