Purging...How much is too much

I am trying to finish a big purge before the end of the year. I have a craft room, but I also have stuff stored in the closet of the spare bedroom. Honestly, I don't even know what is in that closet. Someone could go into it and purge it all and I probably won't miss any of it. BUT ... When I go through it myself, I will find some reason to keep it - it's cute, pretty, rare, etc. I am trying to be tough and honest with myself. I am setting aside a dedicated area in my craft room for my scrapbook stuff, and can only keep what fits in that area. I will probably get to that closet by next week.

It was actually easier for me to purge when I had a LSS that had garage sales. Selling my stuff there took away the guilt of getting rid of things I had spent money on. Now I donate or toss.

I did this earlier in the year, but need to go through things again and clear more out. I've been doing the whole house with the 'Konmari' method - so decluttering by category and only keeping things that spark joy. The only craft things I sell are things like Papertrey Ink stamps and dies where I know it's worth listing and I'll get a reasonable price. Otherwise everything gets donated, recycled or tossed. I agree you have to be ruthless!

I need to do this as well. Thanks for the tips!

i have been purging for about a year now (packed things for a move about a year ago now): when i was first packing i thought i was ruthless but then upon unpacking i realized i kept more than i needed to. i have had success selling stamp sets and some other things on the project life shop and swap as well as on the paper trey ink FSOT forum but i have also donated lots of things. one thing to consider if you are hoping to sell items is the amount of time it takes to do so and whether or not that is worth it to you. stamp sets are relatively easy because the cost for mailing is easy to include in the price of the item. that said, by the time you photograph it, upload to a for sale site/forum, answer questions, obtain shipping quotes, post it, remain in touch until the item is received by the buyer, you really need to consider if you are willing to devote that time to earn a few dollars. stamp sets, imho, are worth the trouble because, as i said before, they are easy but for most other items, i find it easier just to donate.

on my january list of things to do is one 'final' purge. i simply have more stuff than i can reasonably justify. i hope to take a year long break from buying and really use my things after which i will re-evaluate how much i should allow myself to purchase. good luck. it is a big job but feels so good to get it done.

When I began to take photography more seriously I realized it would require a reconfiguration of my space. It's one thing to have a camera and another to have a tripod, a pair of softboxes (lights), foam boards, reflectors, and various wooden surfaces. But that was only the tipping point. The food props were next and after several weeks of craft shopping plus the swag overflow from a recent conference, order became a necessity. I'm also an avid canner and I've amassed a nice collection of Weck, Quattro Stagioni, and Fido jars. But these larger pieces require creative storage solutions. There are obvious hobbies that will require more space than others. But the key is maintenance and a solid organizational plan. .

I don't know if it's possible to coordinate with other people in your area (here or elsewhere). But I think it would help and encourage you to know that the snowball effect isn't contagious. There is also something to be said about packing things away. Unless you have excellent retention or you're specific in its placement, it's probable you'll forget what's there. Taking pictures beforehand and having them nearby (and on your phone when you're shopping) will keep you abreast of your supplies.

You can do it. Don't dismay.