<p>Um…I’m retired. That’s one reason I do NOT need ten pairs of black slacks! That is in addition to,the black jeans, and black cord jeans I really wear!</p>
<p>I was faced with eight pair of black slacks spread across the bed. Afraid they all went back in the closet.</p>
<p>Today I came across my kids’ Little League and soccer shirts, one stack for each kid. They weren’t so into sports that I would want to save them but still, I spent a lot of hours on the sidelines . . .</p>
<p>1moremom-- they are easier to give away if you take a picture of them :)</p>
<p>I assume you mean the shirts? I have about a million pictures, with my kids in them. 
When do we start the thread for people with rubbermaid bins full of old photos? (I’ll wager we already did and I missed it.)</p>
<p>…and then we will have to start a thread about what to do with terabytes of digital photos. :D</p>
<p>My husband scanned all of our photos and those of our extended family. We have a Facebook group with one side of our family and the photos have brought much pleasure to many generations and particularly to older relatives living far away. </p>
<p>I just started taking “memory” photos on my iPhone. Will consult with H sometime soon on how to organize them. </p>
<p>This “memory” photo concept has enabled all in my family to get rid of that special shirt, jeans, book, and other things that bring back memories but are no longer needed. Once things are gone, the order of the space is awesome! </p>
<p>We still have an entire walk-up attic and basement to clean-out. Still working on bedroom, office and kitchen stuff. I’m chipping away at it. One large garbage bag a week :).</p>
<p>1moremom- I meant just a picture of the shirt/s. I like taking pictures of sentimental items before giving them away. It makes the giving away/discarding easier for me.</p>
<p>psychmomma: 3 dumpsters of stuff? Wow, I’m impressed.</p>
<p>Heh, I wish it was impressive but in hoarder’s paradise it is only a start. I am thrilled to have accomplished a paper-free path to the family room and a very livable family room. I filled 3 dumpsters because everywhere was waist high with stuff and no visible floor or surfaces. Only 9 rooms to go plus basement and garage. At my own house, I have plenty of things I can part with during our bag a week, but none of those things include 300 yogurt containers or every daily newspaper going back to 1997.</p>
<p>^^^^ Oh. My. God.</p>
<p>^^ That is why this bag a week is such a great idea! We are simplifying our own lives while also saving our kids in ways they don’t even know. :)</p>
<p>I’m going to tackle the “memory” clothes–many sports related-- and have t-shirt quilts made from my kids’ favorite ones. My goal this summer is to purge the attic. It was the plan for last summer, but after getting gutters and a new roof and re-doing a rental, I ran out of steam and it’s too cold in the winter.</p>
<p>psychmomma, I feel your pain. My MIL wasn’t “technically” a hoarder, but boy, was her house a mess. After visiting her, DH would come back to our house and then wander from room to room with a large black garbage bag, throwing out anything that wasn’t nailed down. He really wanted to do that at his mother’s but didn’t get the chance until she passed away.</p>
<p>^^Me too. My MIL is a hoarder. I hate my H to go there because he comes back on a rampage and throws out everything he can find here. We once filled ~40 bags in her kitchen, then I repainted, wallpapered etc. This included all the mentioned yogurt cups, styrofoam stuff from McDonald’s, etc. Next time we went, full again. We are dreading cleaning out that house when the time comes. OTOH, not sure my mom is much better. Her collections are beautifully displayed, organized, and cleaned, but there’s so MUCH stuff. Then her landscaping is just as vast. I’m fearing it will be even more difficult because it will need sorted and sold rather than just dumpsterized. We are determined not to do that to our kids.</p>
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<p>It is truly amazing to me how many families have at least one hoarder, and usually several of varying degrees. This is my third time at mom’s. I’ve done the cleanup/re-fill up dance twice before. Third time’s a charm - and every bit of progress stays - because now she lives with me!</p>
<p>Just wanted to keep the thread going. Today was Trash Day, and I discarded about 25 bags–lost count when my spouse offered to carry some of them to the curb.</p>
<p>I have purchased 180 new, large kitchen garbage bags! Trying to keep the momentum going.</p>
<p>I feel like I have gotten as far as is easily possible with my clothes. I need to hit closets NOT full of clothes but full of other stuff. </p>
<p>What do you all do about gift wrap/bags/ribbons etc?</p>
<p>Now that college applications are complete, my daughter and I went through all her college brochures and tossed them. A small garbage bag full! She kept up the momentum and is cleaning out old folders and school work she doesn’t need any more. I’m hoping I can take credit for her bags!</p>
<p>Tempemom, I have two long plastic bins in the basement. One holds Christmas gift wrap and associated ribbons, and the other holds birthday, baby shower, general gift wrap.</p>
<p>^^ I have one of those tall Rubbermaid wrapping paper holders for rolls, a large party bag filled with all the other gift bags and a smallish plastic container with a lid filled with bows and ribbon. I don’t buy any replacement stuff until I’m below half on my stash.
QM - 25 bags- wow! That’s real progress.
I think I’m going to work on the kitchen cabinets tomorrow.</p>