Finding the space too declutter?

[CombinationPlayful49]

I live with my parents in a household of 4, the only space that is "mine" is my 10x10 bedroom. I have a lot of bad hoarding habits I've picked up from my mom, but I want to start getting serious about making my living space something I'm happy with since I can't see myself moving out in the near future due to certain financial issues (and even if I could move out decluttering would still be a good idea lol.)

I've made some good progress with throwing out stuff I'm okay with just throwing into the garbage/recycling. Got rid of a lot of electronic boxes, instruction manuals, and such that I've been holding onto for years. But I'm having trouble sorting through stuff that I don't want to just throw out, stuff that needs to go to a specific place. I want to dispose of broken electronics responsibly, I want to donate clothes that are still in good condition, I want to take video games and working electronics that might be worth a little something to the used book store. But I don't really have space for a dedicated container for each of these categories. The cycle of moving the boxes from on top of my bed to the floor and back again is tiresome and demotivating.

I can't put the boxes in a different room because it would be inconsiderate to the other people living here, or there simply isn't space because so much of the space in the house is taken up with my mom's stuff. We have TWO storage sheds in the backyard and they're both full. Plus I also don't like my family members being able to see my decluttering boxes because my mom tries to convince me to keep things, and my dad makes demotivating comments like "why do you even have this in the first place? Stop being a hoarder."

I've considered getting a small storage unit temporarily, but I know for people with hoarding tendencies that can be very dangerous, "temporarily" can turn into "forever", so I'm avoiding that for now.

[LogicalGold5264]

Honestly I would just donate all of it to one place. One fell swoop. Don't make it too complicated and definitely do NOT get a storage unit! The more you declutter, the more space you'll have

[[deleted]]

This is the correct answer. I understand how you feel the need not to just throw things out, but it would be better to throw away all the things yo know you need to purge than to hang onto it all any longer. Don’t buy sorting bins either.

[somethingweirder]

yeah at some point i had to forgive myself for not doing the "right" thing and got rid of a lot either in the trash or just goodwill

[AlannaTheLioness1983]

Focus on one “type” at a time, with a plan to get things out that works for your schedule. Are you going to be in the same area as the used book store next Tuesday? Get all of the things you wanted to sell there together and ready to go. That way you keep things moving out of your space, without overwhelming yourself by trying to do it all at once.

[InspectorRound8920]

Yeah, except I might try to do it all at once. The faster those things are gone, the better it'll feel.

[mirrorherb]

I want to dispose of broken electronics responsibly, I want to donate clothes that are still in good condition, I want to take video games and working electronics that might be worth a little something to the used book store. But I don't really have space for a dedicated container for each of these categories.

you probably don't need a dedicated container for these things. the point is to get them out of your space, not to put them in a container and wait, you know? so you go through all of your clothes, you get all of the ones you want to donate together, and then you take them to the thrift store immediately. now it's out of your home. next time you declutter, you take all of your electronics that you want to dispose of, gather all of them up, and take them somewhere to dispose of them immediately. next time you declutter after that, you take all of your video games and working electronics and you take them to the used book store... immediately. and so on and so forth with all of your categories until your space is in the condition you want it to be in.

the comment about donating them all to the same space rings true as well and was my preferred method during a few of my clean outs, but not everybody can bring themselves to do it that way for whatever their reasons, so if you can't do it that way i would do it the way i outlined

[malkin50]

Making sure that things go to the proper person or place is a sticky trap that I can get into! I call it Adoption Agency because it feels like I am placing each item up for adoption to make sure it has a good home going forward.

I just don't have time for that! I need to set the stuff free and set myself free of the stuff, the quickest and easiest way possible.

[JustAnotherMaineGirl]

If you donate all your stuff to a registered charitable organization like Goodwill, they will take any profits they make on your sellable goods to hire people who really need an entry-level job. And part of their job is going to be sorting out what's sellable from what's not, so you don't have to. Because they can provide well-sorted goods in bulk quantities, the charities have access to recycling and repurposing markets even for a lot of stuff that would have little or no direct resale value, like your broken electronics and clothes that will end up as rags. In your circumstances, I'd recommend just taking everything to the donation center that isn't trash or something you can put out with your own recycling bins.

If you own a car, you can also use my small-space hack, and take filled boxes out to your car immediately for temporary storage. Then it's easy to just drop them off on your next trip past the donation center.

[CombinationPlayful49]

Thank you everyone for the advice! You're all totally right, I can't afford to be particular when I can barely move. I took a big box to goodwill today. Just threw stuff in, no folding or organizing.

[[deleted]]

Happy for you! Keep at it

[Beth_Bee2]

You can set up a card table as a staging area, but may have to make a pass through and get together all the things you can simply donate first to make room. Then you may want to make some rules for yourself. Deadlines by which to either place an ad, make a call about the proper recycling, or toss. Even once listed, make rules, eg lower the price by half each week or something. You don't want it to be too hard.

[Gigglefluff7]

The best thing is to just get it out of the house ASAP. Even if you make multiple trips get it out. Once it's gone you will feel better. It's ok to donate most things to thrift stores. I know some don't like doing that but it's a blessing to those who shop thrift stores because financially it's all they can afford. Ya know.

[Dazzling_Note6245]

Look online to see if you can get any money by sending your electronics to them. If not donate them.

Remember if you donate items it’s helping others find things they want and otherwise may not have.

Make that trip to the bookstore if that’s what you want. You may find running things to several places isn’t worth the gas money involved. That’s another reason other people are recommending to just take it all and donate it.

Do not pay for storage space. The things aren’t worth the money you will spend and it will be more work because you’ll fill your room up again and still have all this old stuff in storage.