Today, it's "for real". That is, I must do more than de-clutter.

[no_hypocrisy]

I need to seriously donate or trash a lot of items in my home.

I'm 66+ and have accepted that I'm not going to have the same lifestyle -- and indefinitely -- as I've enjoyed so far. I need to plan for my next two decades.

Goodwill and Salvation Army can always use another functional slow-cooker, a gravy boat, glass containers, etc.

I honestly didn't realize how much unnecessary stuff I have.

[NJCher]

1. I've been doing this

My approach is to clean out every cabinet in my home. There are days when I drive an entire station wagon full of stuff to the donation place.

I will say this : it is exhausting.

It’s also nice to have clean cabinets.

I am not even close to done, but I don’t plan on moving for another 10 years.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. There are de-clutter efficiency experts

Give the home a little feng-szhui (?), make it more functional, redecorate!

My filing system needs attention. Online and in paper form. How life would hum if it were efficient, and all the clutter were cashed in to modernize everything!

An original cluttering expert wrote "Clutter's Last Stand" - Don Aslett I think was his name. He owned a cleaning company and eventually founded a clutter museum mid-west somewhere.

Post your secrets, DU awaits! We could squeeze more political production from these younger folks if we prevent clutter in their lives.

https://museumofclean.com/

Sharing the Value of Clean with the World

The ultimate mission and vision of the Museum of Clean is to sell the idea and value of clean, to put clean into the minds of all who visit. We want to expand the scope of clean into areas like clean homes, clean minds, clean language, clean community, and a clean world.

[Niagara]

3. If you have access to a consignment store, try to resell your decluttered items there.

Goodwill and Salvation Army are multi million dollar companies.


By taking your decluttered items to a consignment shop, you'll be supporting a small business and will make a percentage off what items are sold.


Good luck with what you decide to do, no_hypocrisy.

[FalloutShelter]

4. Good for you.

Better for you, better for those you leave behind, better for the planet. Ageing sustainably is so important.

My eyes were really opened dealing with the estate of my parents and my MIL. My parents insisted in remaining on a house that was way too big and filled to the brim with stuff. It was backbreaking and heartbreaking work to clean it out and get it ready for sale. I was painfully aware of all of the things that went straight to a dumpster. My MIL, on the other hand, sized down appropriately and after she left us, it was not a burden.
Mr FS and I downsized two years ago and we could not be happier to be living with less.
I am a big proponent of Swedish Death Cleaning.
Kudos to you..

[Freethinker65]

5. Decluttering is great. Perpetually decluttering/organizing is not so great.

Really try to commit to limiting what new stuff comes into your household or you will be repeating the sorting/decluttering/organizing process forever.

[MagickMuffin]

6. Check to see if there's a woman's shelter store

I donated to this store. They help women who have left a bad situation leaving all their possessions behind. This store helps them with reclaiming their lives by providing donations.

I helped a friend declutter after his wife passed away and a lot of clothing with price tags still on them. I’m glad I was able to help someone in need.

[mdmc]

7. We decluttered 15 years of foster care stuff and our stuff when we moved

When we became foster parents, we took in so much clutter in an effort to "provide" for the families that we served.
We spent $3k to dump much of it.
Now we live in a less cluttered house that still has a lot of clutter.
I'm going to make an effort today to reduce, reduce.