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Post by auntkelly on Nov 8, 2016 15:11:42 GMT
We've recently moved from a big family sized home to an empty nester style house which is almost exactly half the size of our previous home. I fell like I got rid of half of our stuff before we moved, and now that I'm unpacking, I'm getting rid of half the remaining stuff.
I'm doing pretty good so far, but every once in a while I wonder if someday I'll regret getting rid of so much stuff. I particularly worry about the sentimental stuff. I have so many things which belonged to my grandmother and mother. I've kept quite a bit but I've also given a lot away. I feel guilty giving away stuff I know my mom and grandmother treasured. I just worry someday I'll be sad I gave away so much.
Have you ever later regretted giving away stuff?
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Nov 8, 2016 15:14:15 GMT
I regret letting go of only one item. Knowing that, it's so much easier to let things go.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 2:27:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 15:15:13 GMT
I feel the same way about things that were my mothers. My SO makes a good point whenever I waver: those things don't really represent my memories but rather are things that my mother purchased for her own gratification. I'm just used to seeing them around. Kinda makes getting rid of things a bit easier.
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Post by Prenticekid on Nov 8, 2016 15:21:35 GMT
No regrets and among other declutters, I decluttered my entire house a few years back. As to your mother and grandmother's items. They already treasured them. They have served their purpose. Someone else is loving them now. You're good.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Nov 8, 2016 15:22:34 GMT
No. I have never regretted anything I've given away. In fact mostly I feel guilty for keeping things I have kept that I don't love because that honors no one and makes me sad. I am sure when we unpack next month I will part with even more.
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,739
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Nov 8, 2016 15:23:16 GMT
Not so far. Still in process.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 8, 2016 15:23:48 GMT
I feel the same way about things that were my mothers. My SO makes a good point whenever I waver: those things don't really represent my memories but rather are things that my mother purchased for her own gratification. I'm just used to seeing them around. Kinda makes getting rid of things a bit easier. This just helped me!!! Thank you.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,626
Jun 27, 2014 2:21:22 GMT
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Post by valincal on Nov 8, 2016 15:24:08 GMT
We moved into a condo two years ago and had to downsize and declutter in a big way. I feel like we got rid of half of our stuff! No regrets. Out of sight, out of mind for me.
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,174
Location: Alabama
Jan 29, 2015 16:24:49 GMT
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Post by janeinbama on Nov 8, 2016 15:29:19 GMT
Anything of my grandparents I offer to my sister and then my cousins. My grandparents lived near us in later years so we ended up with lots of their "stuff". We got nothing from my other grandparents' home - second marriage and my grandmother died first. My grandfather's daughters disposed of everything in the mid 80's. If I ever see my 5 year old oil portrait at a flea market I will snatch it up.
I also shop estate sales and flea markets. I try to maintain balance of 1 in 1 out. So far so good.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 2:27:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 15:29:30 GMT
So far, no regrets.
Well, not really. There was one kitchen gadget that I could've used but it would've been the first time I used it in two years and likely wouldn't use it again.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 8, 2016 15:41:09 GMT
Usually no, but every once in a while I'll decide to get rid of something only to end up having an actual need for that very thing a week after we donated it, threw it away or recycled it. Especially the recycling. It seems like no sooner do I recycle the giant bag of plastic bottles (cardboard boxes or tubes, magazines, etc.) I'd been kicking around for three weeks, we get a note home from school that they need a bunch of what I just dumped for some class project. Story of my life, I swear.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 2:27:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 15:41:14 GMT
I feel the same way about things that were my mothers. My SO makes a good point whenever I waver: those things don't really represent my memories but rather are things that my mother purchased for her own gratification. I'm just used to seeing them around. Kinda makes getting rid of things a bit easier. This just helped me!!! Thank you. I'm glad! I'm still in the process of following my own advice.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 8, 2016 15:44:28 GMT
This just helped me!!! Thank you. I'm glad! I'm still in the process of following my own advice. Decluttering sentimental items is so hard!
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,151
Member is Online
Jun 26, 2014 5:46:37 GMT
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Post by lindas on Nov 8, 2016 15:47:21 GMT
Yes, my vast collection of Wilton cake pans. I started collecting them when DS was little, about 38 yrs ago, and when we moved here I got rid of 90% of them at a yard sale. I sold them way too cheap considering what they are going for on eBay now. The only thing that eases the pain is I know they went to a good home. The lady that bought them said they were for he son who was in Culinary school and his passion was baking and cake decorating.
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 8, 2016 15:51:38 GMT
We moved into a bigger house 1.5 years ago, but we lost that house's giant storage space, so had to get rid of probably 50 boxes of stuff we have been lugging around for 20 years. Knick knacks we would never display that belonged to deceased relatives; two sets of dishes from my grandmother; art we didn't like; blankets we didn't need; and countless other things that people had given us over the years that we were keeping around out of guilt.
Oh, and some craft supplies from the 90s that I am clearly never going to use.
I have missed none of it. Zero. And it was freeing to get rid of all of the "just in case" and "maybe someday someone will want it" stuff we've dragged through life for that long.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 2:27:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 16:29:55 GMT
sometimes I remember something and wonder where it is....I can never remember if I got rid of it, or just can't remember where I put it! So, no.
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Post by femalebusiness on Nov 8, 2016 16:30:06 GMT
Only one item that I regret. It was my favorite floor length black and gray diagonal striped dress. I loved that dress and wore it a lot. I still miss it today. Of course it was a size six and I wouldn't be able to get my big toe in it today, but I still miss it. I always wish I'd kept it and cut it down to a skirt.
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Post by Monica* on Nov 8, 2016 16:34:14 GMT
I take a picture and then let it go. Label the picture or scrapbook it. Can always look back on it later.
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Post by idahopea on Nov 8, 2016 18:41:45 GMT
Thank you all! Your words have inspired me today! I am about to start some decluttering in preparation for the holidays and needed to hear this today.
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Post by papersilly on Nov 8, 2016 18:44:21 GMT
I get in an angst over doing it but always feel very glad and relieved afterwards.
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Deleted
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May 5, 2024 2:27:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 18:45:35 GMT
Never. If I don't love it, I don't miss it. I've slowly gotten rid of many gift knick knacks that outlived their joy. I figure that I had them for a long time and enjoyed them, but it was time to move on.
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Post by bc2ca on Nov 8, 2016 18:45:36 GMT
I haven't regretted anything I have purged. I do regret not snagging a couple of my mom's steno pads with her handwritten recipes when dad cleaned out their house. Both for the recipes and sentimental value.
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Post by anniefb on Nov 8, 2016 18:46:30 GMT
I haven't regretted anything I've decluttered so far. In fact just the opposite- feeling lighter and less burdened.
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MorningPerson
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,505
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Jul 4, 2014 21:35:44 GMT
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Post by MorningPerson on Nov 8, 2016 18:58:16 GMT
One helpful mindset that I once heard regarding decluttering is to imagine your kids having to go through all your stuff and make the decisions that you should be making yourself right now. Don't put that burden on them.
(Disclaimer: I've barely started my decluttering; do as I say, not as i do!)
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Post by secondlife on Nov 8, 2016 19:12:20 GMT
Here and there I will have given something away and thought later that maybe I shouldn't have, but the freedom to do what I need to do in my house and for my own sanity still outweighs the occasional sadness to have discarded something I later went looking for.
My parents sold the house I grew up in as a child and there are some things I sincerely wanted out of the house. I didn't get them. My life has gone on just fine and I am not sad about it now. Nostalgic maybe. But I live in a very small house with very limited storage and am working hard on being less of a pack rat anyway so the experience of letting go of some family items taught me that material things have only the value attributable to them, but the memories have value beyond that.
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Deleted
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May 5, 2024 2:27:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 20:24:16 GMT
This is such an interesting thread! I am in the same boat as many of you, trying to let go of the inherited family sentimental stuff that will never be used or displayed, just kept because it was Momma's (or whoevers). My mom moved in with me 2 years ago at the same time I started providing daycare for my 3 month old grandson. The amount of stuff that exploded into my house was suffocating! My Mom lived here 5 months before she passed away and after she died, my sister and I had a huge estate sale to empty out her 4 bedroom house that was filled to the brim with her treasures. I let go of a lot of the sentimental stuff then, and I'm working on getting rid of a lot of stuff I've saved from my own childhood now. My father is still living and I have a lot of stuff that will be gone when he is gone, too. My DH and I have always been "savers" but I just reached my limit and really don't miss much that I've let go of so far.
One thing I really don't know quite what to do with.... both my grandmothers were quilters. I have a large stash of beautiful hand made quilts. Both my kids have taken a few but aren't really interested in the rest as they are not the right size, color, etc. My sister has her own stash and occasionally brings me one that she doesn't want to keep. I have given a couple away to interested relatives, but I have no idea what I'm going to do with most of these quilts. My mother hoarded them and never used them. I have one on each bed now...and do rotate them around.
I am currently in the process of listing my childhood dolls on ebay. Madame Alexander dolls from the 1960's. No boxes or tags and they are in gently loved condition so I won't get much for them. I have 2 grandsons. Will I regret getting rid of them if I have a granddaughter someday? I don't think so. My own daughter never was interested in any of them except one small one.
Sorry, I seem to be rambling. To answer the question, occasionally I think of something that I've let go of.... but I don't miss it for long.
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Post by pierkiss on Nov 8, 2016 21:50:53 GMT
I regret getting rid of most of our baby girl clothes and supplies (swing, bouncy seat, etc). Only because here we are, 3 years later having another baby girl. Other than that I have no regrets.
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Post by workingclassdog on Nov 8, 2016 22:00:32 GMT
Yes there are a few things...
One a purse that I could have kept in a toy box but since the clasp was broken I tossed it... normally I empty the pockets and for some reason I just tossed it.. A DAY later I remembered that all my grandmother's jewelry was in a bag in the purse that my mom gave me. My oldest DD and I were going to have a ring made out of it for her high school graduation. I still haven't told my mom.
All my cross stitch stuff. I had TONS of books, material, copies of patterns.... gave it all to a friend.
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Post by mcscrapper on Nov 9, 2016 0:28:40 GMT
I am starting to feel the declutter bug myself. My hang up is the massive amounts of scrapbooking and other craft crap I have in this one closet. Luckily, it is all very well organized but it is jam packed in there.
I am really struggling with letting it go. I've been really busy with life and going to grad school but that will be over in 32 days! I keep saying I will get back to it one day but I haven't. I think I am going to give myself until April to decide if I am ever going to use it or not. If I do decide to let it all go, I'm just going to have to dump it all in the trash. I cannot put myself through the agony of trying to sell it. I'm just SO torn over it!!! Some of the other craft stuff is easy to toss and I know having an entire closet to make room for a lot of other things will give me a lot of satisfaction but that scrapbooking STUFF represents a great period of time for me. My mom and I used to get together at least one weekend a month and just work and gab and eat and work some more all weekend long. I had just divorced and bought this little house and having my mom here with me was important and meaningful. It is hard to let it all go.
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 9, 2016 0:39:43 GMT
I regret giving away about 50% of the stuff I have given away, because I attach meaning and sentiment to everything. My biggest regret though is that I did not keep up with decluttering and getting rid of stuff. I've held on to stuff that I know I need to get rid of.
But I finally made contact with a local museum who agreed to accept a large Colonial spinning wheel and some other items. I wish I could take advantage of it in a big way and give them all kinds of antiques I have that I'm not ready to part with yet.
The main thing that is motivating me just a bit is that I am going to be 60 on my next birthday and I know my boys don't want my stuff. So I need to let go. But emotionally it's hard. I still haven't recovered emotionally from tossing all my cards and letters and that was over 25 years ago.
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