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Neatniks vs Clutterbugs - war forever?

janni1234
janni1234
All my life I've been a magnet for clutter. All my life neatniks have looked down their immaculate noses at me! It hurts. Basically I love order. I'm happiest when everything is in its place. Then things happen, my back gets bad, I get sick, other things take my attention - and clutter magically appears. Have any of the neatniks ever offered to help put things back in order? You bet not!
Now, I'm looking at turning 76 shortly and began thinking about what I'm going to be leaving for someone else to sort through when I finally get off this planet. I've just GOT to downsize! Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Is it a state of mind? Is it your personal situation?
I have one big long-haired dog and two cats, one of them long-haired. I have a husband - sigh.... I have collections. Used to sell on Ebay and keep thinking I will again. Even my garden is a-clutter. I've managed to turn every area possible into a flower garden. Am I obsessive? Anyone else out there who can relate?
Jan
yogacat
yogacat
I Relate totally! I too strive to downsize, but, I continue to bring a 'treasure' or 2 into my Castle...I am very cluttered right now.
I am so happy when I organize, but it doesn't last long!
janni1234
janni1234
We need someone with a success story - to give us hope. If you have succeeded please post and tell us how!
Thanx,
Jan
LucilleM
LucilleM
Every couple of months I drive to the Goodwill with a few bags I've filled with things that I no use. Rule of thumb for me - have i used this within the last year -- if not it goes in the bag. Last month I took out 30 bags -- some went to Goodwill and the rest in the garbage. My home looks pretty good. In my young years I use to be obsessive about a clean and orderly house but I have gotten much more relaxed. I actually hate housework but on the other hand I hate living in a mess.
janni1234
janni1234
Thanks Lucille, I'm going to try to be ruthless in this coming week and fill some bags. I'll be hauling them to the AMVETS thrift store because that's a nice one in my area. Wish me luck, okay?
Jan
LucilleM
LucilleM
Good luck Jan. You sound motivated and it is so nice to live in a less cluttered house.
LucilleM
LucilleM
Also Jan you don't have to do this all in one day. Have the bags ready and when you see something that needs to go to Amvets -- put it in the bags. Just remember to take the bags to Amvets after you have collected some filled bags. Ha ha -- you don't want your entire house cluttered with bags.
MDlady
MDlady
I had a full basement of stuff. Slowly, but surely, with pick-up from Purple Heart, I'm getting rid of a lifetime of accumulation. I'm trying to clear out stuff that I haven't used and clothes that I haven't worn for years. It feels good to see the piles get smaller and the basement get clearer..
missd12932
missd12932
Well my hubby is a hoarder, He saves everything, bottles, plasctic containers, etc, He has most of his mom and dad's stuff, his uncle's
all who have passed away.

The living room is almost full and the spare bedroom is full of stuff.
Whenever I go to clean he says no no, I need to do that. And of
course he never does. So after 20 some years i just don't worry
about it.

He does the laundrey, washes dishes and cleans and waxes the
kitchen floor. The rest of the house is a mess.

But he is good to me so I'll live with the clutter.
ozziequitter
ozziequitter
Well. shamefully i am a neatnik, i drive my family crazy, i drive me crazy and happily there is no cure, i love neat, i love housework, i am cursed....i went to visit my son and his family, my grandaughter said.'mummy hid the vacum cleaner nan' ...hehehe i had a great holiday anyways and my dil said she looooved the clean and tidy kids rooms. My only downfall is books, i have oodles so i turned an old bedroom into my own personal library.
Neatniks and Clutterbugs, what a beautiful war...long may we both rule.
release2find
release2find
Ozziequitter, just stop by my house until you run out of things to do!! lol. I gave away lots of clothes to a church group (yes, a year later I finally lost weight such that all of that would now fit--lol)..I have bagged other clothes to "go through" to decide what I will donate to the local thrifts and church groups. Now, I need to find a rent-a-husband agency that will tackle my utility room. I had lots of big items taken away and have not re-cluttered. One area at a time. Working on my office next..Mainly papers and books--should be a blast going thru it all.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I downsized last year from a 4 bedroom townhouse to a tiny tiny condo; my younger son cleared out my house & helped me move; I gave up a ton of stuff!! my son is a neatnik; I do miss some items but a major change in lifestyle was absolutely necessary for me to survive(at times I could have murdered my son) but I am settled & love my tiny home
ROZIA
ROZIA
I am a neatnik too . there a bag going to the goodwill about every other week . I leave one the bedroom and one in the dining room and slowly they get filled ... tey say if you havent worn it or used it in 3 yrs toss it...
perplexed46
perplexed46
We have moved 3 times in 11 years, so we have gradually de-cluttered, but we still have things to go through. I gave some sentimental things to our daughter, before we moved back to Florida. An Idea we used was to keep a certain number of sentimental things and take photos of the rest.
deleted_user
deleted_user
As i get older and more forgetful, I find it very helpful and necessary to declutter . . . makes finding the things I need or the things I misplaced much easier. Plus, I don't want my son to have to wade through a bunch of junk when I die. I find I am much happier in an organized home.
littlemac
littlemac
Hi Ozzie, you are way overdue for a visit at my house girlfriend!!!
I would welcome you with open arms. You can stay as long as there is clutter......:) ha ha ha, but you know better that that. If you were on your way to my house I would probably get it all cleaned up in no time.