The FastDay Forum

I'm enjoying reading this thread very much. I hope this suggestion is not off the topic. But if you are (or aren't) moving, this book can help with the planning and decision-making as well as deciding what to keep, especially when moving to a smaller space:

http://interiordec.about.com/od/movingt ... gstyle.htm

Also, I have several bags packed to go to the Salvation Army sometime soon--you guys are inspiring me!

Good group here! Well done all.... Yes I would be guilty of being a hoarder but now with family grown, I seem to be able to let go of stuff. We had nasty heating job few years ago so every room had to be cleared/stuff moved about. It was a bit like moving house. I got large no of clear plastic storage crates and now have stuff still in them stacked to ceiling in a spare room. Just the process of moving stuff about within the house, generated a decision to keep or not. Having dealt with death of relatives and their possessions is another good prompt. I think of who might come after me and what a job they might have!

Re vacuum bags: I find they seem to lose their suction after a bit but for short term and also for travel,they are excellent.

I have got those plastic storage boxes too, they're great and because they're stackable the footprint is only the size of one of them.

I hope I'm not the only one to admit to this one but I have just decluttered a pile of stuff from beside my bed. Half read papers and magazines. I won't tell you how long it's bean there but the good news is that it took me all of 5 minutes

I hope I'm not the only one to admit to this one but I have just decluttered a pile of stuff from beside my bed. Half read papers and magazines. I won't tell you how long it's bean there but the good news is that it took me all of 5 minutes

Oh I'm the same @Wendy Darling I take catalogues and holiday brochures to bed with me and they somehow multiply and breed! Need to tackle them tout de suite!

Last week it was the hall cupboard I cleared, it is still a treat every time I open it. This week I attacked under the stairs. It's a win win situation fast days pass easier, a day of NEAT and a lovely clear space. Hooray.

ooops i love buying things from charity shops. Jeans, plates, bowls, jumpers, tshirts... in they come into my wardrobe and kitchen. Declutterers bring them to the shops, i bring them into my house.

i guess thats not the spirit of this tent. but it sure feels good to get a bargain and i do use them all and if not (like that top the other day didnt feel right i just bring it back)

Expecting visitors to stay next week so lots of cleaning/decluttering going on... it is a great motivation to make a move on slowly accumulating piles of stuff. For a quick boost and to get started, how about emptying and cleaning ONE cupboard even shelf in kitchen. It is amazing how much stickiness there to be found and of course out of date stuff pushed to back and forgotten. A whole new thread there!! when is some food item fit to be dumped or perfectly fine even in past 'sell by' etc.

Brilliant idea @cobham it doesn't take long to do a shelf or any other small place does it? and a great motivator to do another. We are the same, got visitors staying for a long weekend next week and we are having a celebration party. Of course if this wasn't happening you can be sure we wouldn't be doing all this. Have got more things for the jumble sale and have a reasonable dent in the garage now. Shamefully though, this has been cleared so we can get rid of the clutter in the conservatory into the garage. Thankfully though, this has been planned and everything is in plastic storage crates.

We are pleased with our efforts though and have got rid of lots, either by throwing out or sending to the jumble sale. It's hard though, I keep unearthing things that I can't possibly part with. There are 20 years worth of memories in there. WENDY, GET A GRIP!!!!

There are also a lot of memories of unlabelled batch cooking efforts and food past it's best in the freezer so I took a deep breath and chucked the lot as it was bin day today. The freezer is currently defrosting. It didn't take long, I should really start keeping an inventory again and doing this on a regular basis.

Cleared a whole heap of old paperwork today! Two shredders full
Also,ready to chuck my old pillows..i was worried how to replace them as i like very thin pillows,but someone told me to look for " stomach sleeper" pillows..have just ordered some x

@Wendy Darling I have done my handbag today - does that count??

I think so SD! X

Yes @silverdarling that counts. My handbag is shocking...... full of receipts and the like. YES my new one

Well if it makes anyone feel better I had a large pile of reading material by the loo which has gone and I also cleared a cupboard to make space for my new steam cleaner - just had loads of different bags breeding in there and miscellaneous rubbish like pills to take back to the chemist etc! There is always more to do in this house but you have inspired me to get going (I am well overdue on submitting work expenses - only because sorting all the dreaded receipts is such a nightmare!!)

I'm thinking of moving into this tent and staying for a year or two, that's how long it will take me to declutter my house and my life. I've started on my handbag and purse, that's as far as I've got.

I've been sorting and clearing the garden, does that count? With the help of my son we have recently got rid of loads of broken garden machinery, old pots, garden tools etc., also junk from the garage and I can now see the floor.

Every room in the house is overflowing, I've been putting off the worst hoard - my bedroom. I've wanted to clear it for a few years, it will get done if I stay here and read through the comments and then re-read them all again.

So much stuff, everything is part of my life, so many happy and sad memories to sort through.

....and the books how do I bring myself to part with them? But I will!