"STUFF"

Great post! I watched the show in horror. It is also the topic in my column that I will be writing about over the next few weeks.

This week is realizing there is a problem.

Next week...how to tackle it.

Following week...what to do with the stuff.

You can never get enough information on this & it's something I deal with on a daily basis & see with my clients. That show was an extreme example of what many of us have to deal with to improve our quality of life.

I routinely comb through all the 'stuff'. If I havent used it, and may one day need it, I'll buy it again. If I cant afford it, I doubt that the world will end (although the economy on the otherhand...).

My best friend just died in a house stuffed with 'stuff'. It did nothing to save her. Clutter, on the other hand drains you, until you get to the point that you just cant handle it. Lots of problems take that form. If you can do it; it's best dealt with head on.

JackieRodzinski (TheInquiringEye)

Where is your column published? I'd really be interested in what you have to say.

The things I have a hard time letting go of are things that belonged to my mother who died ten years ago and my daughter who died five and a half years ago. I feel like I am throwing away all I have left of them when I get rid of their belongings!

And the giant "paper shuffle" we all seem to deal with on a regular basis--how do we conquer that?

It runs every week in the local daily paper. I'll share the tips. Actually I probably have copy from a past article that would apply.

let me look...

Here is a part of my column on downsizing (edited: local references removed)...

Moving can be traumatic. Downsizing even more so. Imagine moving from a large home with years of accumulation into a smaller home.

Here is a guide to help with the downsizing process:

Start early

Get organized

Establish a floor plan for furniture placement

Home staging your house to prepare it for sale

Removal of all unwanted items…sale/donation/disposal

Find a qualified mover

Get packing

Professional cleaning service

Unpacking & new home set up

It helps to start early. Start by getting rid of the things you won't be moving. That's the hard part....deciding what to get rid of and what to keep. Getting rid of the clutter and unwanted items will also help you sell your house. Houses do not show well when they are overloaded with boxes and lots and lots of stuff.

Start categories based on item value. Here is how to break it down according to value & how to dispose of it:

No Value:

It's all the junk in your house. What! You are saying you don't have junk in your house. Are you hoarding the plastic bags you acquire from the supermarket? How about those plastic take out containers? If you haven't read the pile of magazines and old newspapers from 2 years ago do you really want to move them to your new home and not read them there? See what I mean. We all have junk. Get rid of it. It will only cost you time and money to haul it with you. Don't forget all the expired medicine and food.

What to do with it? Throw it in the trash.

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Functional value:

This would be the items you use daily or weekly. Do you really need 2 can openers? Probably not. How about 3 boxes of plastic wrap? Limit the items you have been stocking up on. This may mean you need to stay out of those warehouse stores. Downsizing means you won't have as much storage space in your new home so the giant size/ bulk items are something you need to ween yourself off of. Household items such as lamps and everyday dishes also fall into this category.

What to do with it? Yard sale, donate, consignment shop, flea market.

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Emotional value: Toughest category there is. These are the heirlooms, the china, the photos, the keepsakes. Only you can make the decision on what you absolutely must keep. Ask yourself what is it that makes this item sentimental. Share the story. It is important not to make assumptions about other's feelings. Some memories have more value remaining in your heart and mind than the item itself.

What to do with it? Keep it within the family or use them.

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Financial value: It is very important to have everything appraised before you do anything. Antiques are any item over 100 years old. Items may be valuable collectibles, signed pieces, have historical relevance, rare, unique, retro or a hot trend.

What to do with it? Auction, antique dealer, ebay or specialty collector.

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The key to a successful downsizing move is to start getting organized early and have a floor plan. It is important to create a detailed floor plan of your new place. This will help you decide what pieces of furniture you need to move and what to get rid of. Focus should be on function of the furniture in each room. The floor plan will also help the movers properly place the furniture on moving day.

Allow yourself to go through the emotional process and accept the fact, you will get sidetracked. Feeling overwhelmed? Consult a professional for help. You may need any of the following services: a professional organizer, a decorator, a mover, an appraiser, a junk removal service, or a retirement move manager. If you don't have a downsize plan in order, it will cost you more money to move all the stuff you don't need. More importantly, once you have moved, it will cost you your precious time trying to get organized with all the stuff you really don't need in your new place.

I take a trash bag every couple weeks and walk through my house and pick out things I don't need and things my husband can't do without. He is a pack rat. Readers Digest from 10 yrs ago. He never reads them just saves them. If I take a few things at a time he never misses them. I do this with my things too. Like old slips that don't even fit me anymore. I do the closets to. An old blouse here and a shirt there. And out to the the trash can. I need to start in the basement next. Takes awhile but it thins things out.

That's the spirit, dotcom; 'need' is just a frame of mind.