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The Kitchen Table

Decluttering my house has turned me into a Scrooge!

16 years ago

(I posted this on the Organizing the Home forum, but meant to post it here.)

My birthday is in a couple of days, and tonight, my sister gave me a very nice set of nesting mixing bowls, with handles and pouring spouts. I tried to be gracious, but the only thing I could think of was, "Oh, no, more stuff! Where in the world am I going to put them?"

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Comments (19)

hayjud_mn
16 years ago
I think that is a very good mind-set to keep. Since I have thinned things out and have learned to live w/o clutter,I always think exactly that every time I think about bringing something home.

Another thought:
When you think you need to buy more hangers -- You really need to get rid of some clothes! lol

Keep up the good work!
Jasdip
16 years ago
I've got the perfect solution.....Send them to ME!!!!
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Jasdip
16 years ago
I thought the same thing when Mom gave me Bridgette over the weekend Joann. (See my introduction post).
But I found room.
pekemom
16 years ago
Maybe you can get rid of something else to make room for
the new items.....
By the way, Happy Birthday!!
kacram
16 years ago
sounds like a cool gift. I'd donate
your old ones.
soxxxx
16 years ago
I come home with items from garage sales on Saturday and set them on the table or bar.

Then on Monday I struggle to find places to store them until I can use them in the way I had envisioned. Then I sometimes forget that I have them.

I think I should learn a lesson from this, but haven't yet.
kayjones
16 years ago
Soxxx, you are exactly like ME! LOL

Exactly what you posted describes me. Once a year, in the spring, I go through every knook and cranny and make a trek, with SUV loaded, back to the thrift store, from whence the items came!!!
User
16 years ago
That's what they tell you, when something moves in ..... move something out.
joann23456
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, hayjud_mn!

The thing is, I don't use mixing bowls, except for pancake and muffin batter. I use my Kitchen Aid for everything else, and I have one big ceramic mixing/serving bowl that I keep around for everything else. And when we remodeled the kitchen last year, I cleared out everything I don't use regularly.

I would have kept the mixing bowls and put them in the back of a closet somewhere, but my sister realized I didn't love them and decided to return them. I know she only bought them because they were in a catalog of overpriced stuff used as a fundraiser for my niece's school.
susanjf_gw
16 years ago
regift? toss old and use new? return and get something else?

do you cook alot that sis gave them to you?
nicole__
16 years ago
My house is fairly big and I just don't want any more stuff...unless it's a decorative item that I think adds pinoche. :0) I donate anything people feel they HAVE to give me...
suzieque
16 years ago
I didn't realize that things bought from school fund-raiser catalogs could be returned! Learn something new every day!
jannie
16 years ago
My MIL used to donate her Christmas gifts to charities as soon as the holiday was over. One Christmas, I gave her a set of glass hot-and-cold mugs. Unfortunately, she died just a few weeks later. I asked her daughters, if you find the mugs, can I have them? They loked for 6 months but the mugs were gone. (Altho I do suspect one of them may have taken them.)
User
16 years ago
I'm fortunate that my family doesn't live near me. I can mainly discard as I like. My biggest problem is dh who will give me something like a new camera I don't want and then give away the one I was using.

Off topic, but I had read the thread on the American Girl doll. My dd had been asking for one too. I gave her the look alike doll for her 7th birthday this weekend and she loves it. The 9 yo girl next door has one too and they played with them all evening until bedtime.
susanjf_gw
16 years ago
adella...our target has just stocked for the am-g look alike...if you need christmas ideas...
bengardening
16 years ago
here is another thought to go with hayjud. When I see all of these people coming out of stores with all of those totes of all sizes I think maybe you should just get rid of some things instead of buying storage bins to put it in. Another thing is all of those storage units that people pay rent on year after year. I heard that most people do not even go to them or no what is in them and just keep making the payments on them. What a waste of money. That is the time to really start decluttering.
Jasdip
16 years ago
I was just reading the other day that in the 1960's storage units didn't exist. Then in 1996 I think it was, there were 2 billion square feet of storage. Quite the industry where so many people are paying someone to keep their excess. Right up there with buying bottled water....
oldgardener_2009
16 years ago
I'm the same way. If someone wants to give me a gift and asks what I'd like, I always say flowers!
joann23456
Original Author
16 years ago
Jasdip, I'm always commenting on those storage places! They just keep building them. What in the world do people put in there?

Suzique, I didn't know you could return the stuff, either, but my sister said that the packing slip included return instructions.

And I know what you mean, Oldgardener. Flowers work for me, too.

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