We have too much stuff. I want to get rid of some things but I'm afraid once we get rid of things, we'll need them or want to use them and we'll have to buy them all over again. Case in point, candles. So many candles and no where to store them! What to do with things like this? How do you store them?
My husband likes to buy in bulk and now I have so many things in this house I want to throw away but I'm afraid as soon as I do, we'll need them.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
I do the rule: Have I used it in the past 12 months? If not, it goes! It's hard to get rid of things sometimes, but I hate clutter so I often go through and clear things out. I haven't missed anything I've gotten rid of yet 
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6703 posts
Give it all to your mom. lol. I'm de-cluttering and my mom wants a lot of it, so all the more to her!
I like the idea of "if it's been a year, toss it." You can find a way to justify keeping anything and everything, but if it hasn't been used in a year and isn't sentimental, I'd toss/donate/eliminate it.
nectarine / 2765 posts
Ugh, I am right there with you! We have the same quandary. With twins coming soon we desperately need to downsize but like you, I'm worried we'll get rid of stuff and miss it later. Think we may just bite the bullet and get rid of things. The house will be easier to keep straight with less stuff.
watermelon / 14206 posts
I just parted with things that I haven't touched in years...I just had to come to the realization that I'm not ever going to use them and they were just taking up space.
honeydew / 7687 posts
That is something that has been helpful as we move each year - if I can't remember using it, I don't move it with us again!
Would it help if you donated it or gave it away on Freecycle? Then you have at least some good karma/tax write off to offset any anxiety about re-buying.
pomegranate / 3521 posts
@mediagirl: your candles are my lotions... I should have the most hydrated skin EVER. I had to purge - just know that you have enough to get you by and in the amount of time your candles "run out" you will want another scent/style..etc and its not the end of the world. The storage space is worth the "potential additional cost". Watch an episode of hoarders. It will inspire you.
honeydew / 7488 posts
I'm no help .. I have bags and bags of stuff destined to goodwill but it has all been sitting in my closet for..
A year. I just need to take it over but so lazy...
pomegranate / 3329 posts
I really need to clean out the boxes in our garage. I like to think I'm organized, but when I walk out there I see that I'm not!!
It's hard when you know you're going to use it in the future, especially an expensive item.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I just did a big purge between moving and having had stuff in storage for 5 years and I will tell you most of the stuff, I didn't even miss!
What can you sell?
papaya / 10560 posts
I follow the same rule as bao. If it hasn't been used in 12 months i either put it in the trash or donate it. I'm getting rid of a ton of stuff with baby 2 coming and I consider ourselves to already be pretty minimal!
grapefruit / 4187 posts
The biggest thing we do to purge is getting rid of clothes that are worn/old or we just don't wear anymore. Then I'd say it goes by category - if we already have a few of something then we get rid of the 'extra' that we don't absolutely love. You might regret throwing out ALL of the candles, so maybe choose a reasonable amount that are the nicest to keep around. We also have predetermined storage spaces for things, like I have a craft basket - anything that doesn't fit in has to go, so I'm really picky about what I keep. And when we swap out seasonal clothes they have to fit in the bins we already have, if not then we get rid of things. I think getting rid of duplicates or cheap things you don't love is the easiest place to start, then being honest with yourself about what you'll really use in the future helps purge even more.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
We swap out seasonal clothing. We store winter clothes in storage bins & keep them in the attic, and when winter rolls around I wash them then pack up our summer clothes. That really helps clean out our closets!
I try to keep the house as clutter free as possible, so I follow the 6 month rule. If it hasn't been touched in six months, it gets boxed up and thrown out or donated. The exception to the rule is books (we keep those) and movies (still trying to figure out what to do with our DVDs!) but we donate a LOT. I also go through our clothes seasonally and purge since we get new clothes for our birthdays & Christmas, and we've also both lost a lot of weight!
At the moment we are hanging on to toys for future children.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@looch: good question. I have been going through stuff in the kitchen and family room and making boxes and bags I have labeled "Yard Sale." Some things I'm not even bothering to sell and just toss. Then I take the bag to the garbage can outside so I forget about the things. We definitely have LOTS of things that can be yard sale items and after this yard sale, everything we don't sell is being donated. No questions asked.
@Mrs. Jump Rope: @Bao: I like the 1 year rule. I'm starting to go through our closets and know the stuff at the back of the closet hasn't been worn in at least a year, if not 2...or 5. The good stuff (RL polo shirts) will be yard sale material. Everything else can be donated.
@Reese: yeah. The show Hoarders scares me!!! I have watched a few episodes and afterwards, I always get the itch and just start throwing things away.
grapefruit / 4671 posts
We also follow the 1 year rule as much as possible. Wgen we were renters, we moved so often that it really helped with pruging, but now that we won't be moving for a long time I will have to be much more diligent about this.
pear / 1992 posts
@Modern Daisy: I love your tips about having a set amount of space each category can take up - if you have more than fits, pare down until it does!
We just moved into our first home (that we own) and we are now staring down the reality of exactly how much space we have. I've kept a lot of things 'just in case' but now we know where we will be for many years as I unpack I need to set firm limits on what stays with us.
Good tips everyone, thanks!
cantaloupe / 6800 posts
@mediagirl: If you have a crapton of candles, put them on Craigslist or one of the wedding sites that has a classifieds sections maybe?
We're having a yard sale this weekend! We just pile up a bunch of crap and keep it in the attic until my mom/sister come up with enough for us to have a big yardsale.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
space is $$ too. If we haven't touched it in a year I immediately throw it out or donate it. Even if it's something like an unused candle. There's probably a reason why I haven't used it-- it's ugly, or smells too strongly-- which means I probably will never use it and should not have bought it in the first place!
We buy in bulk and right now we have a set of yaffa blocks (remember those??) in our basement that stores our bulk things (straws, disposable utensils, printer paper, etc) and it drives me bonkers. I can't wait to have a storage-only basement or garage so I can invest in some great metal shelving and a FANTASTIC label maker.
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