Introduction
C.L.
Welcome!
Here's what I've been doing lately with my child's old school papers and a
lot of other piles of paper which have been ignored in the past. When I'm
watching television, I'm sorting papers. The ones that go in the trash get
taken out of the house immediately after the program is over.
June wrote in message <6ctbb6$4...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
>Hi...
>
>I've been lurking around the ng for a few weeks and decided to brave a
>post.
<snip>
>My worst problem (besides that my apartment is tiny) is all the mail that
>comes in. Everything gets opened and looked at. Then gets stuffed back in
>the envelopes and thrown on the couch. The couch is a huge pile of bills,
>credit card receipts, ATM receipts, junk mail, mail order catalogues,
>magazines, software I bought in the summer and still haven't installed,
>etc. etc...... It's so bad now that there's room for only 1 person to sit.
>
>I read a post about going through the mail over the trash can. I'm starting
>with that so that new clutter doesn't accumulate on the couch and I end up
>having to sit on the floor.
>
>I hope to start posting declutter reports soon.
>
> June
>
>
June
Hi...
I've been lurking around the ng for a few weeks and decided to brave a
post. I'm a second generation clutterer on both sides of my family. My
mother and sisters are neat clutterers and hoarders. Most stuff is in boxes
and labeled. My father and I are messy clutterers and ratpacks. My father
is forever saving broken appliances because "the plug is still good". And
he's 87. That's alot of broken appliances.
Dan Goodman
In article <6ctbb6$4...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>,
Advice: Don't put _anything_ back in the envelope, if you can possibly
help it. If an address you need is on the envelope, paperclip the
envelope to the contents.
--
Dan Goodman
dsg...@visi.com
http://www.visi.com/~dsgood/index.html
Whatever you wish for me, may you have twice as much.
Bob Hermann
June <jtan...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in article
<6ctbb6$4...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
> Hi...
Welcome, June!
> I've been lurking around the ng for a few weeks and decided to brave a
> post. I'm a second generation clutterer on both sides of my family. My
> mother and sisters are neat clutterers and hoarders. Most stuff is in
boxes
> and labeled. My father and I are messy clutterers and ratpacks. My father
> is forever saving broken appliances because "the plug is still good". And
> he's 87. That's alot of broken appliances.
My gut reaction was that cluttering isn't "inherited." But then I started
reflecting: one of my problem areas was old college papers and books.
When I started thinking about it, when my father died, I remember helping
my mom clear out box after box of his old college textbooks, and this was
40 + years after he graduated. Maybe one can learn bad habits which lead
to clutter.
> My worst problem (besides that my apartment is tiny) is all the mail that
> comes in. Everything gets opened and looked at. Then gets stuffed back in
> the envelopes and thrown on the couch. The couch is a huge pile of bills,
> credit card receipts, ATM receipts, junk mail, mail order catalogues,
> magazines, software I bought in the summer and still haven't installed,
> etc. etc...... It's so bad now that there's room for only 1 person to
sit.
>
> I read a post about going through the mail over the trash can. I'm
starting
> with that so that new clutter doesn't accumulate on the couch and I end
up
> having to sit on the floor.
>
> I hope to start posting declutter reports soon.
Paper clutter is the biggest problem area for me. I have been making good
progress in '98, though. Several years ago, I bought "Conquering the Paper
Pile-Up," by Stephanie Culp. This year, to "force" the issue, I started
following her system in an almost robot-like fashion. I keep a small wire
basket directly beside my back door (the one I routinely enter by). As
soon as I enter my house, I sort the mail. All junk mail is immediately
deep-sixed; I don't even bother to open most junk mail anymore. (My
township recycles junk mail, so I always have an old grocery bag handy for
it.)
The remainder goes into the wire basket. Immediately after dinner, I take
the basket into my den and finish the sorting process by following Culp's
system exactly. I try not to skip even one day--it was hard at first, but
is slowly becoming a habit.
The emotional lift that I have received as the piles of clutter have
disappeared has made the effort worthwhile. I had to undergo some
emotional trauma with regard to some items: my college textbooks and
papers, and old magazines and professional journals. But I saw the wisdom
of Culp's writing; she repeatedly points out that if you haven't referred
to an item for years, in most cases that is concrete proof that you can
(and probably SHOULD) get rid of it. (Use common sense here--follow IRS
guidelines for financial records.)
In addition, modern technology has helped me. I found out that the
publishers of several of the professional journals I receive offer back
issues on CD-ROM. I immediately ordered these and when they arrived, I was
able to dump (recycle!) 5+ years worth of clutter in one fell swoop.
Four years ago, I bought a HP 100LX "palmtop" computer. It has a wonderful
information management system that I use as an appointment book, Rolodex,
note-taker, etc. By itself, it probably saves me several reams of paper
per year.
I still have a ways to go--Rome wasn't built in a day--but the effort is
worth it, it really is.
Good luck!
Bob
----------------------------
Remove "nospam" out of e-mail address to reply.
Zinia2
>I read a post about going through the mail over the trash can. I'm starting
>with that so that new clutter doesn't accumulate on the couch and I end up
>having to sit on the floor
June,
I don't know if you saw my post earlier, but I sent a letter to Mail Pref
service to stop junk mail, & also to Equifax Credit service not to forward my
name. Two years ago, I started writing return to sender on all the junk mail I
received, & that cut down on a lot. For those of you who like all the offers,
you might miss them, but I am glad to have less temptation.
To reduce clutter too, I am in the process of consolidating charges. I am
dropping on department stores & gas cards, and will only use one Visa & MC if
needed. I was so sick of trying to match receipts with bills etc. I love how
streamlined my bill paying is getting. I have read these books for a long
time, & that is one area that is getting straightened up in my life. I also
chose automatic pay on everything I could: gas, electric, phone etc. It keeps
it easier. I use Quicken which I find keeps my act. balanced - I use duplicate
checks now & don't bother with a register. Once a week or twice a month I log
all the checks in.
On the other hand, I have big problems still with my closets & kid's rooms. I
guess one step at a time.
Ann Mcmanus
"June" <jtan...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>Hi...
>
>I've been lurking around the ng for a few weeks and decided to brave a
>post.
Dear June,
Welcome! This is a pretty good group for supplort and BTDT (been there,
done that) sort of commiserating. Stick around! Promise yourself that
just for today you will not bring any new clutter into the house. Promise
yourself that just for today, you will de-clutter the existing mess for 5
minutes (you'll work up to 30). Promise yourself, that just for today,
you'll sign on here and post what you did. (It feels REALLY good!)
Just for today!
Ann
Ann Mcmanus
dsg...@visi.com (Dan Goodman) wrote:
>
>Advice: Don't put _anything_ back in the envelope, if you can possibly
>help it. If an address you need is on the envelope, paperclip the
>envelope to the contents.
>--
>Dan Goodman
>dsg...@visi.com
>
Dear Dan,
This is excellent advice! Tossing that envie right away gives you one
less piece of trash to get rid oflater!
Ann, whose DH is NOTORIOUS for opening, reading, stuffing
Ann Mcmanus
"Bob Hermann" <herm...@nospamerols.com> wrote:
>
>
>My gut reaction was that cluttering isn't "inherited."
My greatest fear is that it MIGHT be! My mother wasn't a clutterer, but
my aunts (her sisters) are/were. The amount of rubbish we had to go
through when my older aunt died 3 years ago nearly sent my family to the
nearest "funny farm." The reminder of THAT is what keeps me plugging away.
Ann, who tossed a couple of 30 year old compurt science texts recently
(think about it!)
suequill
Hi June!! I'm glad you finally spoke up and joined the fun!! Well,
I think this is fun. This isn't life and death, no one is dying
exactly, and everyone is so helpful. The reports are encouraging
and keep me working at it.
I did learn years ago to concentrate on one spot at a time. Pick
something up, look at it, and decide what to do with it then do it.
I seem to have this focus problem. It is like when you move in to
a new home and notice that the walls need painting. The longer you
live there, the less you notice that the walls need painting unless
you make yourself focus on the walls!!
People in their 70's and 80's were around during the
depression and many have their roots in clutter dating back to the
depression. People just couldn't let go of a good plug, because if
they needed one at some point, they wouldn't be able to afford it.
My Mom still saves rubber bands and lids, along with many other things.
I don't save rubber bands and lids because she did. My clutter is
different. Perhaps this dates to clutter rebellion as a kid. Our
way to rebel was to reject their particular clutter and develop our
own personal clutter!!! I don't remember a doorknob in the house when I
was growing up that didn't have a rubber band saved on it!!
Today, I couldn't find a rubberband in the house if my life depended
on it. I automatically throw them away and just can't help myself!! ;)
BTW, my daughter collects rubberbands. <VBG>
Welcome,
Susie
June wrote:
>
> Hi...
>
> I've been lurking around the ng for a few weeks and decided to brave a
> post. I'm a second generation clutterer on both sides of my family. My
> mother and sisters are neat clutterers and hoarders. Most stuff is in boxes
> and labeled. My father and I are messy clutterers and ratpacks. My father
> is forever saving broken appliances because "the plug is still good". And
> he's 87. That's alot of broken appliances.
>
> My worst problem (besides that my apartment is tiny) is all the mail that
> comes in. Everything gets opened and looked at. Then gets stuffed back in
> the envelopes and thrown on the couch. The couch is a huge pile of bills,
> credit card receipts, ATM receipts, junk mail, mail order catalogues,
> magazines, software I bought in the summer and still haven't installed,
> etc. etc...... It's so bad now that there's room for only 1 person to sit.
>
> I read a post about going through the mail over the trash can. I'm starting
> with that so that new clutter doesn't accumulate on the couch and I end up
> having to sit on the floor.
>
> I hope to start posting declutter reports soon.
>
> June
suequill
> >Hi...
> >
> >I've been lurking around the ng for a few weeks and decided to brave a
> >post. I'm a second generation clutterer on both sides of my family. My
> >mother and sisters are neat clutterers and hoarders. Most stuff is in boxes
> >and labeled. My father and I are messy clutterers and ratpacks. My father
> >is forever saving broken appliances because "the plug is still good". And
> >he's 87. That's alot of broken appliances.
> >
> >My worst problem (besides that my apartment is tiny) is all the mail that
> >comes in. Everything gets opened and looked at. Then gets stuffed back in
> >the envelopes and thrown on the couch. The couch is a huge pile of bills,
> >credit card receipts, ATM receipts, junk mail, mail order catalogues,
> >magazines, software I bought in the summer and still haven't installed,
> >etc. etc...... It's so bad now that there's room for only 1 person to sit.
> >
> >I read a post about going through the mail over the trash can. I'm starting
> >with that so that new clutter doesn't accumulate on the couch and I end up
> >having to sit on the floor.
> >
> >I hope to start posting declutter reports soon.
>
> help it. If an address you need is on the envelope, paperclip the
> envelope to the contents.
I don't have any paperclips either!! My mother collects them, so
I rebelled against that and automatically throw them away. Is
there a way to do this without rubberbands and paperclips??? <g>
Susie
suequill
Bob Hermann wrote:
>
> The emotional lift that I have received as the piles of clutter have
> disappeared has made the effort worthwhile. I had to undergo some
> emotional trauma with regard to some items: my college textbooks and
> papers, and old magazines and professional journals.
I think I'm having an anxiety attack!!! Can't I keep my textbooks and
papers? They don't take up too much room. I don't think I can do
this. I'm hyperventilating!!!! <G>
But I saw the wisdom
> of Culp's writing; she repeatedly points out that if you haven't referred
> to an item for years, in most cases that is concrete proof that you can
> (and probably SHOULD) get rid of it. (Use common sense here--follow IRS
> guidelines for financial records.)
>
> In addition, modern technology has helped me. I found out that the
> publishers of several of the professional journals I receive offer back
> issues on CD-ROM. I immediately ordered these and when they arrived, I was
> able to dump (recycle!) 5+ years worth of clutter in one fell swoop.
I'll check in to this for the journals, I'm not as attached to them,
but sometimes I need to refer to an old article. I have dumped a
bunch of journal in the past (I would have had nearly 20 years worth
if I hadn't) but at times I regret it.
> Four years ago, I bought a HP 100LX "palmtop" computer. It has a wonderful
> information management system that I use as an appointment book, Rolodex,
> note-taker, etc. By itself, it probably saves me several reams of paper
> per year.
>
> I still have a ways to go--Rome wasn't built in a day--but the effort is
> worth it, it really is.
I just want to keep my books, that's all. A 20 year old physiology
book just might come in handy someday. The body hasn't changed
that much!!
Susie
> Good luck!
I think I'll need it too.
Clicker
Actually I think cluttering is inherited! *g*
Maybe not biologically, but environmentally inherited. My
grandmother raised her family during the depression and afterwards had
a hard time throwing anything out. I grew up hearing about the
depression and how they saved the smallest bit of ribbon, ironing it
and carefully putting it away. Besides inheriting depression-era
thinking, I also inherited my grandmother's "clipping"
tendencies--clipping articles,papers, etc. and am an info junkie.
My grandmother was a warm-hearted, outgoing person who loved her
family unconditionally. I recently realized that I view super-cleans
and minimalists (those who throw things out easily, keeping the
minimal needed) as cold, frigid and unloving. However, in trying to
simplify and declutter my life I'm having to change my old wayof
thinking. With the changes I'm now making in how I think (clutter
does not equal security and love), the actions are following!
Clicker
On 24 Feb 1998 14:51:46 GMT, YED...@prodigy.com (Ann Mcmanus)
wrote:
Bill Longley
suequill <sueq...@pan-tex.net> wrote
>> Advice: Don't put _anything_ back in the envelope, if you can possibly
>> help it. If an address you need is on the envelope, paperclip the
>> envelope to the contents.
>
>I don't have any paperclips either!! My mother collects them, so
>I rebelled against that and automatically throw them away. Is
>there a way to do this without rubberbands and paperclips??? <g>
Well, you didn't mention drawing pins..... :-)
My trick is to have one, SMALL, pinboard by the door. Bills and their
reply envelopes are stuck on that till the end of the month, and then I
clear the entire board in one session on payday.
Just make sure the board is no larger than you need, or you'll save
things you shouldn't, and it MUST be totally cleared.
That reminds me: the over-large pin-board I used to use is still
somewhere around: I'm going to have to find someone that can make use of
that.
--
Bill (Bill_L...@callahans.demon.co.uk)
"Be yourself. Nobody else would take the job."
suequill
Hi Bill!
Thanks for the idea. I don't have a problem with pins so I think
I can do this one!! ;)
Susie