Giving things away, just for practice....

[LBR]

I'm on a determined, if slow, mission, to make my little tin house as comfy as possible. Part of this means getting rid of things I've imagined myself making good use of, someday....

Ever so often, I just give something away which I quite like (tho' not crucial to every day life), something which tweaks my heart a bit to let go of, just for practice. I rarely ever miss the things. I'm getting better at finding just the right person, and the right time and way to give these things. The things I miss, are because some of my choices about giving the items away weren't as fitting as they could have been.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying making some progress in getting a bit of breathing and moving space in here.

And enjoying practicing letting go.

Anyone else up to such things?

[Milims]

Oh yes! I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes it's just sooooo hard to part with something you've had for ages, despite the fact that you haven't used it for years! That said I did get rid of and replace just about everything when I divorced my x - too many bad memories - even from the dishes! So in that respect it was quiite easy. I do find it easier to give things away if I know they are going to a good home. We also make good use of Freecycle - not just for giving stuff but also for being given other peoples stuff!

[evelyn]

I have developed a sistem that works really well, for me at least, i dont bring anything into the house i dont really need, then there is part two of the sistem, if i havent used it for 12 moths it gose in the shed, if then i havent used it in another 12 months it gose to friends family or the charity shop or jumble sale.

I know it is a slow prosess but i find it far less stressfull.

Good luck with your sorting out!!

Eve

[LBR]

Evelyn, that's a good system. A shed would be handy.

Right now, the things that "just must go" are in the hallway, and in the way.

[StripyPixieSocks]

I was just lying in bed last night thinking about getting rid of a load of stuff I don't use... or won't be using for the foreseeable future (like the cross trainer we got off Freecycle then my health hit a nose dive) so most of it has gone of Freecycle today.

I'm a hoarder I admit it and I find it hard to part with stuff I think I need... probably because I have never had alot of money and was brought up in a never throw anything away type of family

[evelyn]

Yes the saying " make do and mend" is still ringing in my ears from my slightly batty elderly aunt, also her other favorate " waste not want not" she still wairs the dressing gown my brother and i got her for christmas 1977, we offerd to get her a new one a few years ago but got rather abruptly told that there was plenty of life in the one she has and ofcorse "waste not want not!"

Eve

[growingthings]

Absolutely!

After the family doubled in the last 3 years. DH and I have maintained that we will not to be suckered into believing that our children need all the toot that their (rather more affluent) friends have got. Or like my BIL who moved to a four bedroomed house with his wife and only child because there wasn't enough room!

I can't complain all that much tho' as we have inherited some rather nice things that they have 'replaced', furniture etc. that we would never have afforded ourselves.

We also move unwanted stuff out, but mostely under the cover of darkness as DD1 is developing a taste for hording the bizarrest of stuff. (I caught her ramming 5 pairs of knickers and a tin of baked beans behind her chest of drawers the other day - does she know something we don't?)

[evelyn]

Well if the world turns on its head at least she will have somethig to eat and clean pants, kid's are very odd little folk i have 3 and was made a granma 4 months ago, and i have seen some very odd behaviour over the years and i am sure my grandson will not dissapoint me in that department either.

I tryed to bring my kid's up to understand that new and lots of it is not always best, it all went a bit by the way side when they got to high school, but the 19yo is slowley comig back to the idea, maybe its becaue she now has to pay for thing her self.

Eve

[StripyPixieSocks]

Ahhhhh... so far this week we have Freecycled

Cross Trainer
Foot Spa
Fish Tanks
Books
PC Monitor

It may not sound alot but when I'm talking about books I mean from 6 sacks full down to just 1 lol about 5' square worth just in books alone

We've still got alot to go through but it feels fantastic!

[LBR]

StripyPixieSocks, I agree. It does feel quite nice to be making progress. Congratulations on yours!

I have now got almost all my books on the shelves. I have two boxes full in the car waiting to go a book dealer. I've given many to a church library, and to neighbors. Took a thesaurus to a neighbor today. She didn't know what one was, and was thrilled to have it. She loves to look up things, and I thought she'd quite enjoy it.

It's been drastic for me, and not easy to part with so many books. I just don't have the space for them. And I definitely do not want to live in a bigger place just to have more books. I know people who've bought bigger houses, or moved to larger apartments because their libraries got so large. It just took making some definite decisions about categories.

I do love getting things flowing. It's such a lovely feeling to know the items are being used and enjoyed.

[ina]

I've made inroads already, too - as I've just recently decided that it's time for me to move on. Since I don't know where I'm moving, chances are it will be a much smaller place than I have now.Sooooo:lots of stuff going out.

I really hate doing that, but I think I will have to chuck out quite a few books. Nobody here would want them (old German paperbacks, mostly). Does anybody know whether paperbacks can be recycled - or would I have to take the covers off?

[SarahJane]

I cant give books away...... I have got this strange obsession with books. I would rather spend hours trawling second hand book shops than going to buy new clothes. I rarely buy clothes as any spare money goes on books!!
I did invest in some new bookshelves this year but still have boxes of books I would like to have out on shelves.
I am even funny about lending books out, maybe I am just odd!

Maybe those of you getting rid of books either to freecycle or charity shops, could list them on here first, if you have the time of course. I would quite happily pay p&p. Maybe others would too.

I always have to have a pile of books by the bed, ready to read.

As they say "one mans trash is another ones treasure".

[Shirley]

I've made inroads already, too - as I've just recently decided that it's time for me to move on. Since I don't know where I'm moving, chances are it will be a much smaller place than I have now.Sooooo:lots of stuff going out.

I really hate doing that, but I think I will have to chuck out quite a few books. Nobody here would want them (old German paperbacks, mostly). Does anybody know whether paperbacks can be recycled - or would I have to take the covers off?

I'm a grateful recipient of some of your 'stuff' - THANK YOU!!!!!!

I'd try charity shopping the German books before recycling Ina, or freecycle.

[LBR]

Ina, I buy books in German from library sales, used book shops, charity shops, etc. There are many who really want things in German. If you don't want to try to get some money for the paperbacks, perhaps a library has a "free box". Or there could be a German something-or-other society which has a library or book swap.

[ina]

Thanks for all your tips. I've heard that even the one charity shop I was thinking of that has a lot of German customers can't sell German books.... But I shall try freecycle - good idea - there might be a secret German lover or student out there!