One box at a time and decide where everything goes. Put it away, trash it, or give it away. I'm still looking at boxes packed up 4 years ago when we moved. Then I have a double storage shed, and a 30x80 metal building that my DH has crammed cars, building materials and assorted carp in for almost 35 years. Told him if he died and left that to me I would dig him up and beat him to death and then have the biggest "garage" sale EVER!!

So, how do you get yourself motivated to do a job that you really don't want to do?
When you are really ready to 'start' on it, you will.

The mess in our basement has been hanging over my head since May of '07.
Mine has been hanging over mine for a lot longer than that, but since I am alone, it is really no one elses business.
In fact, I put a locking doorknob on it to discourage friends who jokingly said they were going to go down and clean it up for me. No thank you!

I would love to hear how all of you keep yourselves going until the job is finished.
I agree, one box at a time. Is there any real reason why it has to be finished today, tomorrow, this week, or even this month? If not, then just work on it if and when the spirit moves you. Chances are that once you start, you will be so pleased with even just a small accomplishment, that you will want to do more.

When I am ready to tackle mine (maybe this winter) I will maybe do it 4 square feet at a time, or something similar. Eventually it might all be done by spring.

Sue

My husband and I moved to Tx for 7 years and back to Mn. There were boxes never opened once we got to TX and back to Mn. I threw everything away after one year back in Mn. I had been threatening to do it and finally did. I never said anything, I doubt he even knows I did it. But after 18 yrs there is more of the stuff in the garage again, stuff from old hobby that is outdated and he would never use again. I think the junk is having little baby junks like rabbits cause of the ammount of junk.

I'm seriously considering renting a "dumpster" and loading it up. Then have it hauled off.

Not very Green!

Gayle

OH MY! From what I read...I am not alone!

paws...you have way more than I. If I were to measure the area of crap that I have to plow through it would be about 8x8, two boxes high. If I had a 30x80 building to tackel...well, just call the paddy wagon and take me away. But, you have your DH who is adding to your pile. In my case, I am the only one who can sort throught it all. If I let him, my husband would back up the pickup, load it up and haul it to the dump.

chem...I like your idea of a locking door. In my case that would not be easy. The room in question is where my work space it for projects/crafts/sewing. It also holds the furnace and oil tank. We need access.

izzie...You followed through, you did it. Good for you. I'm not at that point as yet but, I can see that day is just around the corner.

So far today, I have gone through bags of old clothes and shoes and have them ready for the thrift shop. Next I will try to organize stuff that I am not ready to get rid of.

Question...what do you do with old but still in perfect condition stuffed animals. I have two boxes of Gunds. Adorable, good, clean. I know a lot of second hand shops will not take them. Any ideas?

Thanks, kids. Now I need to get back to work...

sooey

You might want to contact either a local women's shelter or police department about donating the stuffed animals.
Many women who are escaping domestic abuse aren't able to take many things for their children and they may have forgotten to bring along a child's special friend. Police officers may also carry stuffed animals when called to a domestic dipute, accident scene, or some such situation where there may be children involved and give them to the kids if they need to be distracted or transported in the cruiser.

gayle...you are a very brave women. No, not very green but, very efficient!

boston...excellent idea! I had not thought of that option for the stuffed animals. I can run them through the dryer to kill any dust mites. Thanks.

OK, back to work, again...

sooey

Have a radio or some music to listen to, something to sip on,( better if it's non alcoholic ), your telephone, and take a timer to the basement with you and set it for 15 minutes or maybe 20 minutes. Some of the times the 15 or 20 minute spurts are more than enough time before you want to walk away from it, but other times you'll see how much you've accomplished and will want to keep on going.

When going through your stuff, be very ruthless about what you do with it. So what if it looked so good as a decoration at one time. It had its day. So what if it used to fit and you looked cute. You have clothes in your closet that you wear now and you've made it just fine without those. Give the stuff away or sell it and let someone else enjoy it.

If there are things that tear at your heart strings, save one box to put them in. After you have gone through all your boxes go back and look thrugh that box of stuff you couldn't part with. Often, decluttering really takes a load off your shoulders that you didn't even know was there. It feels so good. You may then feel up to getting rid of that box.
Good luck to you.

Linda

Question...what do you do with old but still in perfect condition stuffed animals.
I believe my Goodwill and the one other local thrift shop takes stuffed animals, and would especially welcome them if they were in perfect condition. Even small ones are welcomed, and sometimes bagged several to a bag for purchase. I pick up cheap stuffed animals, with no buttons or choking hazards for my puppy. I can't see paying the price that is on 'real' stuffed dog toys. She seems to like them really well, and carries them around a good bit yet, though she is 1 1/2 years old.

Yes, you are not alone, so don't feel like you are the only one who puts off chores we dread starting.

In the words of Mark Twain, "Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do the day after tomorrow."

It seems that is my motto a good bit of the time.

Sue...enjoying retirement

Sooey, don't do it all at once. Pace yourself. Count how many boxes there are. Then do one a day. Bring the box upstairs and do it up where there's lots of light. Good luck.

OK,Kids, it is after 4:30 here and I am just about ready to stop for the day. It looks better in there and I was able to get rid of at least 3 large boxes. Some of the stuff went into the garbage, some to the church thrift shop and other stuff that I could not part with went into another box that I will go through again at a later point...thank you Linda. We still have two large boxes of books that need to stay as is, until we have both space and a new bookshelf. Tomorrow we will work on organizing the garage which will free up more space so, we will be able to re-arrange some stuff. The biggest boxes we still have in there, from our move, are 3 boxes of lamps and lamp shades. Nothing can be done with those until we have the living room painted. Hummm...painting, another huge job you all might have to help me get through.

Thanks, Kids. I used many of your suggestions. I had the radio going, had lots of water and ice to keep me happy. I concentrated on one box at a time, took breaks when I needed and as soon as a garbage bag was full, my husband took it right out to the garage. He was a big help. I even feel better about the three large boxes of stuffed animals. So, I still have a lot of work to do in there but I have gone as far as I can for now.

My husband was a big help but, I think that the biggest help I had, was all of you. Each time I took a break, I checked in here at the KT. You kept me going. Thanks.

So, I hope you all get lots of rest tonight coz, tomorrow we work in the garage...OK?

sooey

I like the idea of doing a couple of boxes at a time. I do about the same thing when I weed the garden, say that I'm going to do a certain area and then be done. I often times go beyond that area and it sure feels good to accomplish that much. The best time for yard sales around here are Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day. I have tried to get help from DH to sort and mark for the storage shed sale, and so far no help, I'm NOT doing it alone again, so we missed out on the entire "season" this year. With the economy, I'm sure a lot of people will be looking for bargains and we have some great stuff stored. Sigh, now to tackle the closet in the computer room.

Is it not possible to donate the Gund bears to a hospital for children, or some day care centers? A relative of mine just had a yard sale and she had several Gunds in mint condition and they did not sell.We were very surprised and she was not asking much money for them either. I am talking $10.00 to $20.00

june

Hi june,

I'm not sure about the hospital or day care centers taking stuffed animals. When I worked at a nursery school we did not take stuffed toys as donations or buy them new because of the dust issue. I was involved with our local school system when we had to get all stuffed animals and upholstered furniture out of the classrooms. So many children had allergies and asthma we could not allow such items in school. I will try our local police station and also check out the agencies that run womens shelters. I'll keep some of them but I sure don't need three big boxes of them.

sooey

Sooey are you from the Cape? For some reson I thought at one time you mentioned living on Cape.

June

Hi gemini. Yes, I am on the Cape. As in Cod. Is that the Cape you were thinking of?

sooey

Yes Sooey, gorgeous Cape Cod.My brother has a summer home on the 'fingers' in west dennis. We were down there just a couple of weeks ago. Absolutley gorgeous. Love the cape in the fall.

june

Old age/nursing homes love stuffed toys for the seniors. Especially those who are returning mentally to being a child again. They comfort everyone.

I've been working on my basement for the last year - I can now move easily in my crawlspace. I'd still like to just 'get rid' of more things but they are not mine - DH's. I don't worry if things are packed right - I just make sure the box is labeled so I know what's in it. When/if I ever reach the point of 'sub-sorting' boxes there may be more things to think twice about. I have one large rubbermaid container for tossing the trashy stuff in - not allowed to bring it back once I've tossed it. Then like you - charity, recycle and garbage. I bag stuff in hefty garbage bags, tied them off for the charity and take them outside right away and pile them up on the patio. I don't store them in the house waiting for the charity run.

I too take a radio/CD player, cold drinks and show no mercy.

One box at a time is one box done. One box ahead is better than not!

You go girl!