GON Reader Letter #1
When Decluttering Becomes a Love Letter to the Past and a Gift to the Present
My husband died in March. We had been married 54 years. I needed to "declutter" our home from his belongings that I would not use.
Our two adult "kids" took his tools and we had lovely conversations about how they learned to use them. Their father was a craftsman and taught them well. My son helped me declutter the garage of tools I wouldn't use.
Your coaching about letting go of what doesn't serve me in this stage of life was perfect. I have memories and photos and the item goes to donation if I won't use it.
I feel a sense of liberation knowing my home is organized and items are purposeful. Thank you for your coaching. I continue to find objects and hold on to some for a while before they get placed or donated.
Best regards,
-- DeAnne, Seattle
GON Reader Letter #2
A Tiny Tool That Saves the Day (and the
Sink)
Hi Maria,
I needed a nail brush to remove stubborn dirt from under my fingernails, but
did not have one available. So I used one of those interdental picks with the tiny brush, which was just the right size to fit under my nails. It worked really
well.
I have also used the picks to remove mold from around the edge of the bathroom sink drain.
--
Linda T.
GON Reader Letter #3
The “Bring It to Him” Paper Strategy (No Nagging Required)
Hi, Maria!
I wanted to thank you for all the work you put into your newsletters. Nearly a year ago (October 14, my sister’s birthday) you gave some advice on how to get others to work with you without
nagging.
I tried all the tips, and found that what worked for us was me bringing the paper clutter to my husband, rather than ask him to go to it.
Once a week, I would pull five files, organize them by date order and then, without nagging, show him first all the contents that were older than seven years and ask what could be tossed; 95% of that was ultimately trashed/shredded.
Then I asked him to look at the rest of the file and to think hard about how essential it was. 25% of that was trashed/shredded.
Daily, I also went to unfiled paper piles and picked up a handful of papers (maybe 5-10 pages)
and asked him to toss as much as possible and designate where he wanted the remainder filed.
It has been slow going, but our consistency pays off. In nearly a year, we have gotten rid of over 3,000 pieces of paper with the daily stuff, and have emptied drawers and
drawers of files with the weekly condensing.
Happily, my sweet husband has also been much more thoughtful about the paper he allows into the house as he has been watching me pre-organize the files for his review and is beginning to understand how time-consuming his paper hoarding habit can be.
Thanks, again, for encouraging us to keep working, even in small increments; it really pays off.
We’re working on it in WI!
-- Deb Schmerda, Wisconsin
GON Reader Letter #4
Long-Distance Decluttering Accountability That Actually
Sticks
My friend and I have decided to declutter together. We have decided to get rid of 5 items a day.
She lives quite a distance away, so we report our results by email or phone daily.
-- Janet Reilly
GON Reader Letter #5
Use the “New Year” When It Works for You (and Pair It with a Budget
Check)
As a mom, I always used the new school year as my annual plan start. Now we are 78 and 84 so we use a few more services, but friends and family often help.
I check my special savings marked for Christmas, Weddings, Vacation, Home Maintenance and review the budget before the holidays for gifts and needed services (carpet cleaning in November, exterior windows in December.) That way by January I'm set for booking annual maintenance like furnace, and lawn care (with the annual discount.)
As
you can see, I am finishing two big tasks at once. Budget can be tweaked as I go, but it is done.
-- Cyndy Yonkman
On another note...
High-end beauty can be expensive, so I created this list of affordable beauty products that give you the same luxurious results for a lot less!
