Help! How do I get over my fear of throwing out my useless stuff?

Lizzy, I am exactly where you are right now! We know it's not rational, but there's an emotional thing involved. I'm intelligent and know I should be able to de-clutter, but it's hard. My husband and son laugh with me about it, but I know it's really starting to bother my husband. I fill a bag, then do nothing with it. We have one charity that does pickups every few months, and when I got into the swing of doing it, that helped a lot, because I'd have several bags ready for them - but I've gotten out of doing that lately. I have recently joined our local Freecycle group and have good intentions of making offers there of things to give away. The motivation is another thing entirely.

I think we have to start small. I think this weekend I will make sure I go through a box of old dishes, box them up, and I will post them on the Freecycle site. I pledge to do this for sure. Okay, that's a big step. Okay, it feels better to tell someone.

Good luck -- we both need it.

I have three recommendations for you! First, you can place them on the Yahoo Auction. The nice thing about the Yahoo Auction is that they don't charge you a listing fee!!! Sell your items this way. If you need help with the listing, let me know, I would be glad to walk you through it.....it's EASY and PAINLESS!!

Second, there is the EBAY auction, although they charge listing fees. I have learned there are a lot of deadbeats on the site...so do that at your own risk!!

Lastly, there is always FreeCycle, which you are essentially donating your items, but at least you get to choose who gets your stuff. Go to www.freecycle.org. It's a website that people use to give away there clutter or things they just don't want. The rule of the game on this website: the item has to be free, and legal, and legit!

I hope that this helps!

1) CUT UP THE CREDIT CARD & THROW AWAY THE PEICES.

2) The credit card purchases were part of a spending pattern that needs to change if you are not going to continue to weigh yourself & your future mate down with things you do not need & clog your closets while simultaneously inflating your credit card debt with the 21% compound interest per year [you are paying with your hard earned money].

3)Get into a plan a regular saving; starting first with paying off the debt.

4)Some great advice given here above about throwing away things a little bit at a time, getting help with the project, donating to charity or selling on consignment or an auction.etc.

Good Luck!

;-)

I also have a hard time throwing things away. When I go to the closet I come up with some reason to keep things . Like I could use this fabric to use on a sewing project (you have to laugh I can hardly see and have not been able to sew since 1995). You will be proud of me last year I took everything out of my closet that I have not worn or used in one year. I sent it all to Goodwill. That was the closets with clothes now if I would stop collecting kitchen items it would be even better I love antiques so I collect them and I also like my modern appliances

I know what you mean!! Two summers ago I lost 40 lbs, and had a ton of clothes I couldn't wear, but I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it because I remembered buying each one- i bounced a check to buy that suede suit, that casmere sweater I found on clearence for 70% off, etc.. Finally, I just sold it all on ebay, and used the money to buy clothes that fit me. Also, moving to a new place REALLY helped me decide what was useful to keep and what was just "stuff." If you look at your closet with that 'moving & packing' mindset, you'll probably see which things you can live without.

Getting $$ back for my clothes & things made a difference for me, so check into ebay, or local resale shops. Since it sounds like you want to cut back, not exchange it like I did, maybe you could put the money into a savings account, or a christmas club account for next year.

To be honest, I don't know why you threw up blood. I also don't know why you think weighing 120 pounds is bad when you're 15. I have lots of friends that weigh around that and they don't look fat at all. But a better way to lose weight (if you still want to) is to just eat less. You'll feel hungry for like a few weeks or so but your body will adjust.

The way I see it - If you clean up and throw things away you're not using, it makes space for new items. Also, when I know all of my things are cleaned and organized, and I know exactly what I have and where, it clears my mind. If you get it done, it's so much more relaxing to come home to than having to worry about the mess and wondering where everything is. Good luck!

Check in your area for consignment shops - you will not get full price back but could receive some monetary value to help pay back into the credit card.

This time of year there are so many that need to be remembered in need tho - if you have lots of items that you "selfishly bought but never used" than this is the same as giving something brand new to another in need.......

many are still recovering from the Hurricanes, many have tragic events such as fire, accident.........

many families ending in divorce are struggling to rebuild even during this time of year - donations are of great help to any of these situations......."but for the grace of God, there go I".

If these items have become dustcollectors, it is time something good come of them in some form - the choice is in your hands!

Try starting out slowly and throwing away or donated just a few items. Maybe something that you didnt like the way it fit you or something that is too small or too big on you.

You need flylady.net.

Give this stuff to your local thrift store, and "Bless" someone else with it that can use it. You are right about the garage sale, and even if they would allow you to have one, you probably might never get around to doing it.

This stuff is holding you down, weighing on your subconscious, and draining your energy.

Or sell them on eBay.