The difficult choice to declutter your home...

**simplemom** · 08-12-2003, 07:54 AM

Dear frugal friends....

I am discouraged, this morning.

I've been up since 5 am. Sitting on the edge of my bed, wondering what should I do this morning...I see my bedroom...so packed and full of stuff.

I seem to use my room, to hide things, I didn't have time to organize elsewhere or things I don't know where to put, becuase I want to clear the living room, the kitchen, the kids's bedrooms...

I just went through one drawer from my desk, wanting to *try* to throw out papers, but I kept 3/4th of the papers. They are all important to me. Some are recipes, I found and want to save, some are recipe magazines, some envelopes, lots of journals I have written...

Each of my drawers are full. I also have another desk, downstairs and it's quite full, too. I also have boxes of school stuff from the children, since they started school...Can you imagine! 4 times all those school years!

I just don't know *where* to start. Each time, I start, I stop, because I get too overwhelmed. I have saved so much stuff...

How in the world will I ever declutter with this problem?!

**dz_blonde_girl** · 08-12-2003, 07:59 AM

You'll get it done! Today just isn't the day.

**simplemom** · 08-12-2003, 08:06 AM

I hope you're right...

**homesteadmamma** · 08-12-2003, 09:17 AM

Lucie, can I make a suggestion. Why not start with those recipes.

Find yourself a pretty journal (you can purchase them anywhere) and begin to copy those recipes you've kept. Once they are copied into your journal, all those scrap pieces of paper with recipes on it can be thrown out.

There, see you've started!!!

Unless you start at something small and get it accomplished, your never going to get the decluttering done.

**dz_blonde_girl** · 08-12-2003, 09:37 AM

I'm just about finished with my computer desk area. It was time. I just have a pile of papers to go through. Some of those papers are recipes. I will be putting them in a binder I got at Walgreens for .39. The ones that are on cards or cut out of the paper, etc, are in a 2 pocket folder with the rest of my cookbooks.

CJ had a good idea. Why not sort through all those recipes! Maybe you'll find something different to make for supper tonight! If you do lmk, my cooking motivation needs a boost.

**homesteadmamma** · 08-12-2003, 09:40 AM

WTG Karen on getting your desk done, I knew you could do it!!

**paelthom** · 08-12-2003, 09:50 AM

Lucie
Just a

to let you know I care. Hang in there. Start small. Yesterday I tackled dd's desk

It was a disaster and there was much screaming on her part but we did get it done. Today I hope to attack my bathroom cabinet. I have found that I can only do one small area a day or else I just panic. Some days I just can not get anything done. I have learned that God gave us some days that we are just supposed to rest and rejuvenate. Good luck and be kind to yourself.

**slowtypinwoman** · 08-12-2003, 09:59 AM

Pat took the words right out of my mouth. Start small Lucie. Pick one thing. Those recipies sound like a good place to start. Before you know it a bunch of all those nasty loose papers will be gone and in such a pretty journal too!

**lucy979** · 08-12-2003, 10:47 AM

I agree. Also don't try to do it all in one day. Give yourself a time limit. Do a little every day and you'll have it done in no time!

**Michelle** · 08-12-2003, 11:08 AM

CJ's idea is a great one. I was going to suggest something similar. I have taken photo albums with magnetic pages and put my loose recipes in there. I put dividers in there too so that the recipes are sorted by type.

It all starts with a little project. Once you get that one thing done, you'll be motivated to do more and not feel so overwhelmed.

(Now I need to go take my own advice

)

**Katybird** · 08-12-2003, 11:41 AM

Lucie

You will get it all done, don't get discouraged. You are under no time limit, if you don't get something done today, there is always tomorrow.

We are all here for you.

**Heather** · 08-12-2003, 03:27 PM

Lucie!

I know for me when we first moved here, we moved WAY too much stuff and it had to go. One of my problems was that I had kitchen things in the laundry room, clothes in the livingroom, I first tried to get everything in the appropriate room. The school/computer lost out big time because all books and papers went in there and was it full! And then after that I went room by room and generally tidied the others so they didn't get out of hand. I love my bedroom for peace first thing in the morning and at night so that is the first room I did and went from there.

I know you can do this Lucie!! We are here for you!!