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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 21:45:53 GMT
Oh I love a de-clutter. Not sure if it fits anymore? Get rid. If you don’t know, you’ve not worn it in a long time. Get rid. Not worn it in a long time? Probably doesn’t fit. Get rid. Bag of clothes you’d forgot about? Don’t look, get rid.
I went digital 2 years ago. If I could get it on my iPad, I got rid. Get rid of the DVD player and CD player then take it from there. I have a small ottoman that now houses my dvd collection, book collection and cd collection. Photos albums, signed membrobilia and tickets are all kept in another, along with the old Madonna calendars.
Travel light I say. Keep the things that mean the most and - as I’m still young - I keep the things I might like to show the eventual kids and grandkids. Programme and tickets from the first Cursed Child performance? Keepers. Wicked programme? Not so much.
I have to declutter my kitchen next week. I fear I have too many pans. Never enough spoons though. Why is it that spoons are like socks? Every time I put them in the dishwasher I swear I lose one.
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Post by Tibidabo on Jan 19, 2019 22:28:16 GMT
Why is it that spoons are like socks? Every time I put them in the dishwasher I swear I lose one. Well, there's your answer. Don't put your socks in the dishwasher. My mantra - If in doubt, chuck it out. No clutter at Tibidabo Towers. None. Nada. Never. I'm more than a tiny bit appalled at you messy lot.😖😱 Go tidy your rooms!
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Post by poster J on Jan 20, 2019 0:53:32 GMT
Took two massive bags of stuff to the charity shop yesterday and threw other bits and pieces in the bin - very satisfying! The problem with going to drop donations at charity shops though is that I always seem to end up buying something at the same time... Marie Kondo recommends an extreme method like putting all your clothes on the bed, all of them and going through each item but this is scary. I do that at least twice a year. I don't talk to them though...
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Post by showgirl on Jan 20, 2019 6:20:46 GMT
My "clutter" issue isn't with things I've bought - I can be ruthless about those - but with unsuitable gifts from close family, especially hand-knitted jumpers etc. I'll never wear them & not being the handicrafts type myself, I can't unwind them & make something else, but how can I give away something made with hours of love and care by someone who thought I would cherish it?
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Post by nick on Jan 20, 2019 9:37:18 GMT
My "clutter" issue isn't with things I've bought - I can be ruthless about those - but with unsuitable gifts from close family, especially hand-knitted jumpers etc. I'll never wear them & not being the handicrafts type myself, I can't unwind them & make something else, but how can I give away something made with hours of love and care by someone who thought I would cherish it? Yes be careful. My wife spent months making a patchwork quilt for her sister as a wedding present 30 years ago. And she's still not quite forgiven her for never using it.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 20, 2019 11:46:12 GMT
I love this topic, Im a social worker and find the topic of hoarding fascinating. I am at the other end of spectrum, with everything in its place. A carrier bag is always on standby for trips to the charity shop. My music is now digitised. Some novels I keep. All Sondheim programmes are kept albeit strictly for reference purposes! Cookery, theatre and travel books are all neatly stacked on bookshelves. In my book (well stored) A person needs belongings but they need to be tidy
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2019 11:55:13 GMT
oooh that is some beautifully clean space there!!
I actually spent yesterday clearing out my office space and giving the bedroom a tidy. The former is the only space that accumulates 'mess' because various papers and files get 'filed' in piles until I can store or no longer need them. In fact in the process of sorting some I was in mid conversation with a producer friend and found the script of the first thing we worked on...two years ago. Oops!
But it is now suitably tidy. I can't even work on a cluttered desk!
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Post by peggs on Jan 20, 2019 12:13:51 GMT
Inspired by here I've started planning in my head what can go, it's a start, albeit a theoretical one at this point. @someone in a tree I do like your little box shelves that fit above doors etc, good use of space.
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Post by glossie on Jan 20, 2019 12:36:41 GMT
We've moved a few times over the years and every time we've thrown away/redistributed so much stuff, but still managed to take 6 packing crates of books, bags of clothes, unwanted ornaments, and sundry electrical items including a Kenwood Chef and furniture to the charity shops. Also spent many a happy hour queuing at the tip to dispose of general rubbish from the loft, garage etc. Some of the stuff we sent to a charity shop was still in unopened boxes from our previous move... My general rule was 'If I haven't used it or thought about it in the last 6 months, then I most likely never will.' Although I couldn't bring myself to get rid of my theatre programmes and some CDs and DVDs. Getting rid of the several hundred books was the hardest for me, but we have a local library which we make good use of. We also went through all the photos we never looked at and chucked loads away. Then, a week later, a family member mentioned a particular visit to a film set for a TV series that had been shot locally which they'd remembered. The one we had photos of which we didn't think anyone would be interested in any more. Never get rid of old family photos though. That is something you can never get back and may well regret later. And I still have a wardrobe full of clothes I haven't worn or needed in the two years since we moved here!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2019 12:57:51 GMT
Never get rid of old family photos though. That is something you can never get back and may well regret later. oh I don't know, in my family there's a fair few who could do with being in the literal and metaphoric bin...
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 20, 2019 13:06:48 GMT
I understand people's reasons for digitising music but I think it's a shame we put space and convenience above quality.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jan 20, 2019 13:48:20 GMT
Have always been a declutterer, often thought, would it be possible to live an electronic life with very few possessions, MacBook, iPhone, iPad, Kindle, large TV/ Surround/ Hi-Fi System and a couple of guitars, even started to consider only having a limited wardrobe a la Steve Jobs but maybe with a more interesting colour palette. When I moved to London a few years went through everything I owned and if I had two of anything I needed I would keep the best or sell both of them and upgrade to one that best met my needs and a lot of clothes, magazines, books, vinyl, DVD’s were purged. My only weakness is my CD collection (kept incase my hard Drive fail), the CD's have been digitised at the highest quality and use a Mac with upscaling software, an external DAC as the heart of my Hi-Fi system, the only time these would be purged is if the rumoured CD / high quality Apple Music / Spotify service is launched.(have looked at Tidal and Quobuz but the selection is still patchy) Using Backdrifter scale, definitely think I’m leaning towards the f***ing psycho category.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2019 18:12:48 GMT
Also I own a lot of the same things like coats, or gloves, they're all just slightly different enough that I don't feel able to do without them e.g. waterproof but not warm, warm but only showerproof, downpour and blizzard proof but only suitable in field of mud. I totally own this as well.
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Post by nick on Jan 21, 2019 6:57:15 GMT
I understand people's reasons for digitising music but I think it's a shame we put space and convenience above quality. So you don't buy CDs or any modern music? All of which is digitised. It depends how you digitise it. There are "lossless" formats that keep all the quality.
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 21, 2019 10:35:20 GMT
I understand people's reasons for digitising music but I think it's a shame we put space and convenience above quality. So you don't buy CDs or any modern music? All of which is digitised. It depends how you digitise it. There are "lossless" formats that keep all the quality. No I meant non-physical formats such as streaming. I do buy CDs. What are these lossless formats? Even with that, I still like having a physical product that has an element of design.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 10:40:52 GMT
I still buy DVDs and CDs because if I don't own the physical product, then I don't really own it. And I don't mean that in some kind of snobbish modern-Luddite anti-digital way, I very much mean that if I buy an MP3 from iTunes or Amazon then I only own it for as long as iTunes or Amazon agree to my having an account with them, and as that is in no way a 100% forever guarantee, I will continue to buy physical copies of the media that I would be devastated to lose in the event of becoming a victim of major credit card fraud or an extreme online harassment campaign.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 10:57:32 GMT
I understand people's reasons for digitising music but I think it's a shame we put space and convenience above quality. I think the digitalisation of music can be a positive thing. Although I have always been exposed to a whole array of music tastes and willing to 'take a chance' on stuff I may not be previously aware/a fan of, Spotify has increased this willingness to explore music to a whole new level. The amount of stuff I'm listening to for the first time is fantastic and the 'if you like' section is a God send. I've definitely broadened my musical tastes and i wish there was a comparable platform for films (I know Netflix and Amazon Prime are around but they seem very modern focused and, just like my music, I want to explore as far back as possible.)
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 21, 2019 10:59:31 GMT
I still buy DVDs and CDs because if I don't own the physical product, then I don't really own it. And I don't mean that in some kind of snobbish modern-Luddite anti-digital way, I very much mean that if I buy an MP3 from iTunes or Amazon then I only own it for as long as iTunes or Amazon agree to my having an account with them, and as that is in no way a 100% forever guarantee, I will continue to buy physical copies of the media that I would be devastated to lose in the event of becoming a victim of major credit card fraud or an extreme online harassment campaign. Some good points there I hadn't thought of. Also, I too don't mean to come across in a Ludditesque way.
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 21, 2019 11:02:17 GMT
I understand people's reasons for digitising music but I think it's a shame we put space and convenience above quality. I think the digitalisation of music can be a positive thing. Although I have always been exposed to a whole array of music tastes and willing to 'take a chance' on stuff I may not be previously aware/a fan of, Spotify has increased this willingness to explore music to a whole new level. The amount of stuff I'm listening to for the first time is fantastic and the 'if you like' section is a God send. I've definitely broadened my musical tastes and i wish there was a comparable platform for films (I know Netflix and Amazon Prime are around but they seem very modern focused and, just like my music, I want to explore as far back as possible.) I agree it can be good for how you discover new stuff, I'm thinking more about ways of owning the stuff. Most of my music discoveries still come via radio.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 11:39:53 GMT
I mean it's all a matter of preference for how you engage with a medium and how much...someone I know was outraged last week that anyone would still buy DVD over Blu Ray...I explained I don't buy enough films or indeed watch enough to make forking out (even a relatively small amount) for a Blu Ray player worthwhile...it's just not a medium I'm that engaged with to make me care.
Similarly with music, I don't 'consume' in the buying sense enough to be that invested in sound quality and all the other things that come with the debates around hard copy ownership. If that's your thing, then great, but I'd wager for the 'average Joe' who listens while working, at the gym, in the car, streaming is decent enough quality.
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Post by The Matthew on Jan 21, 2019 13:13:19 GMT
I still buy DVDs and CDs because if I don't own the physical product, then I don't really own it. That's why I make a point of avoiding streaming services. They claim you can listen to / watch what you want when you want but quietly leave out the "so long as every single company in the chain wants to permit it". There's just one show I've bought and downloaded from iTunes (Tangled The Series) and if I don't get the chance to buy it on Blu-ray in due course I'll be giving serious consideration to ripping the DRM off it.
There's a show I like that's broadcast free to air in the US but also available on Netflix. Every so often its distribution contract doesn't get renewed until the last minute and loads of fans are up in arms over the disaster, and then the contract comes through and the crisis is over until the next time. And every time it happens everyone's shocked by the possibility of being cut off from the things they love, and every time it seems to take them by surprise. And I sit here banging my head against the keyboard wondering why people are buying into a service that makes everything unavailable by default.
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 21, 2019 13:49:15 GMT
someone I know was outraged last week that anyone would still buy DVD over Blu Ray I love the idea of someone being outraged by this.
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Post by Mr Snow on Jan 21, 2019 13:49:33 GMT
Progress so far... Underestimated no of books. 20 bags is only between 1/4 and a 1/3rd - although 'some' will stay. Its a lot easier taking them up to the loft in two and threes, than down agian in big bags. 2 full bags of clothes and one of 'rags' is nearer 1/4 total. mmmmmm BHF tomorrow collecting 2 beds and the turntable I kept - and that's the most emotional, even though it hasn't 'connected' with an amplifier in 25 years! Tried Netflix for first time (realy) yesterday. Interesting Feeling smug after a good start. Meanwhile a 'friend' asked when am I collecting my old bike!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 14:05:18 GMT
someone I know was outraged last week that anyone would still buy DVD over Blu Ray I love the idea of someone being outraged by this. They also went as far as to suggest 'people outside London' don't buy DVD players...I mean sure us out here in the country we're still running our movies on steam....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 14:12:05 GMT
I don't mind streaming services, I like having access to all sorts of things I wouldn't mind watching or listening to but without the commitment of paying for them (beyond my subscription fee), but I just treat 'em like a more cultivable version of TV or radio; all the channel-hopping, none of the ads, and I don't have to wait until that one particular hour on a Thursday night for the single radio show that caters specifically to my tastes. I'm just never going to fall into the trap of thinking that because I pay for Netflix, I therefore have guaranteed unfettered access to particular media in perpetuity.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 14:16:43 GMT
I mean it's all a matter of preference for how you engage with a medium and how much...someone I know was outraged last week that anyone would still buy DVD over Blu Ray...I explained I don't buy enough films or indeed watch enough to make forking out (even a relatively small amount) for a Blu Ray player worthwhile...it's just not a medium I'm that engaged with to make me care. Similarly with music, I don't 'consume' in the buying sense enough to be that invested in sound quality and all the other things that come with the debates around hard copy ownership. If that's your thing, then great, but I'd wager for the 'average Joe' who listens while working, at the gym, in the car, streaming is decent enough quality. You should have asked them why Blu ray is considered to have 'flopped' and DVDs still vastly outnumber them where both are sold. Off on a huge tangent, one of my great pleasures - I clearly don't get out too much! - is going around the amazing amount of charity shops I am lucky to live near and buying a whole eclectic array of films on DVD from about 99p to £1.99. At those prices I can take a chance on something and do a bit for charity too. Music streaming quality - especially through Spotify - has incredibly improved n the last few years and with a decent pair of headphones - mine are basic, in-ear, noise reduction Steinmeister which cost £45 - you will probably get a better sound through such sites than if you convert your own CDs to MP3.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 14:28:11 GMT
Off on a tangent but I very much enjoy getting DVDs from charity shops (even if I do eventually like books return them there) and this weekend I was very pleased to get the latest Sarah Millican tour DVD for 1.99! Comedy DVDs like music tours are one of the few I keep to watch over and over so I'm very pleased someone didn't want Sarah for Christmas it seems!
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Post by glossie on Jan 21, 2019 14:29:21 GMT
BHF tomorrow collecting 2 beds and the turntable I kept - and that's the most emotional, even though it hasn't 'connected' with an amplifier in 25 years! I also had a thing about picking up old musical cast LPs from charity shops. Got Chess, Sound of Music, JCS...all sorts even some original American Broadway stuff... but didn't have a turntable! I did eventually get one but have I played any of them? What do you think? I remember clearing out the kids' bedrooms and bagging up all the soft toys they'd (I'd) collected over the years - not the really precious ones (Ziggy and Little Ted still very much part of the family!) but all still had memories attached. I took them to a local charity shop and a while later, I happened to walk past and saw some of them sitting outside on top of old tables. My heart flipped and it was all I could do not to rush over and buy them all back. Couldn't walk past that shop for a very long time afterwards!
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Post by Backdrifter on Jan 21, 2019 15:31:31 GMT
I remember clearing out the kids' bedrooms and bagging up all the soft toys they'd (I'd) collected over the years - not the really precious ones (Ziggy and Little Ted still very much part of the family!) but all still had memories attached. I took them to a local charity shop and a while later, I happened to walk past and saw some of them sitting outside on top of old tables. My heart flipped and it was all I could do not to rush over and buy them all back. Couldn't walk past that shop for a very long time afterwards! I trust you never used to watch The Forgotten Toys, that series about a doll, a teddy bear and a couple of other toys who all get left behind after a house move, so wander off in search of children who will love them?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 15:34:51 GMT
That sounds traumatic as hell. Honestly, I think the anthropomorphisation of toys is the worst thing we can possibly do to children, the Raggy Dolls left me desperately sad for every single toy I see that looks unloved or unlovable, a solid 30+ years later, and I dread to think what's going to happen to the generations raised on the Toy Story franchise. We'll be a society that *would* throw away our toys but absolutely 100% literally cannot bear to.
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