Take your life’s possession and divide in half, and then again! That’s what my forthcoming move feels like.
With Downsizing I’m doing this while still active. Goodness knows how older people do this.
It’s not just the active side of going into the loft, emptying the shed but also the emotions as you look at the items you bought.
PHOTO ALBUMS
It was easy to dispose of some holiday pictures when I know I also saved them digitally, but earlier ones when the children were small, our honeymoon. There’s too much emotionally commitment so these are boxed to be looked at later.
CLOTHES
Why did I let myself put weight on? It makes me so sad to see clothes I can no longer fit in, but still like. I feel like a failure. I know they say you shouldn’t keep clothes you can’t fit in, but I want to lose my excess weight. Not back to a size 10/12 but a couple of stone should see me back in most of my clothes. I’ve bagged up the ones I really like and will give myself a deadline. But there were plenty that I’m not so keen on. I’ll try and sell but if not, I’ll give them away.
BOOKS
I’ve probably given away half of my books and some I never even opened. I’ve still got too many, so my mum is looking after my novels. I’ve got my shelves filled, and when they will be packed it will make it easy to put them up again. But today I opened a big chest and there are loads more books. My plan is to skim and either they go, or if I want them another book must go the one in, one out rule!
CROCKERY
Never sure why I ever thought I would need so many glasses, and why did I buy e.g. a cake maker and never use it, a waffle maker used once; thermal serving dishes. All off to the charity shop, or Freegle, but again such a waste of money.
THE WASTE OF MONEY
It is clothes and more. We all do it – buy things and never wear/use them. There is so much waste involved the time we spend choosing and buying, the space we need to store and the money that we need to earn to buy these things.
I’m being more cautious from now on both making sure I need things and being clear on where they will go. I think one in/one out works well for books and clothes and a long think before buying kitchen things. I can visit my local American Diner if I want waffles!
THE TIME AND COMMITMENT
I have a very expensive HIFI/home cinema but today have decided to move to using a good quality soundbar less cables, no need for a professional installation team, the sound won’t be as good, but I will be in a flat, so I need to think of my neighbours.
THE SENSE OF RELIEF
As I make choices, I feel a sense of lightness. Removing most things is bringing me joy, especially when I can get some money for them. We’ve made over 3000 selling stuff we had around the house and garden, with more to come once we sign contracts. I’m being careful too on what I buy for my new home, so pleased to find a table, just what I wanted for about 20% of the new price.
OFFICE STUFF
This has been quite hard, especially folders of material I’ve had for over 15 years, but I’ve never looked at them so this weekend they’ll be skimmed through and I want at least half in the recycling bin. Lots of office equipment too, but I will never need laminators, white boards etc luckily, I found a school and charity that wanted them.
DOWNSIZING WHEN OLDER
In a smaller way I’m helping my mum. I’ve given her all the bedding and accessories from my spare room, and we’ve made her bedroom like new. Purple curtain, bedding, cushions, lamps. So, it looks like a hotel room. We’ve then changed her bathroom, and, on this visit, we’ve gone through all her toiletries/makeup. How much stuff did she have, and why did she need 4 opened e.g., eye makeup remover? We filled a bin with stuff she no longer needs, and it will make it easier for her to find. On a previous visit we went through all her crockery and kitchen stuff. It is sad to give away her wedding crockery, but I don’t want it, she doesn’t need it and we hope it finds a home elsewhere.
SHOULD WE ALL PRETEND WE ARE DOWNSIZING
If, like me, it is 14 years since you have moved you too will have a lot of stuff. Now I wished we had reviewed more regularly, but we had the space so we kept things.
I wonder if it is helpful to take an objective view of what we have and to deal with the selling/disposing on a more leisurely basis rather than, like it is for me, it is becoming a full-time job as you get ready to move.
I would love to know your thoughts on this.
Image by Jean van der Meulen from Pixabay