Margie and anyone else who is trying to

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2001
Margie and anyone else who is trying to
8
Sun, 11-02-2003 - 9:00am
declutter and simplify and who lives with a packrat. Margie,I know from some of your posts recently that you are seriously trying to declutter and simplify. Well, I'm in serious need of that also. I also know that we share a similar problem with a pack rat DH and I also have a DD who's a packrat as is evidenced by many plastic tubs and bags of materials from her past 2 years of teaching. DH just keeps bringing stuff home particularly from his aunt's house that we are in the process of selling. Somebody will ask him if he can use it and of course he says yes and it's trying to find space in our little house for more stuff that we can't use. How have you been dealing with packratitis? DD's stuff I want sent over to a storage center. We have a client from the office that has offered me a very reasonable rate to store her stuff. But of course she needs to go through, weed out, throw out and consolidate. But I'm having a little more difficulty with the "newspapers" of events that are stashed that "can't be thrown out" syndrome and the stuff that keeps appearing after trips to the inlaws. I think he just keeps bringing the stuff home because he's afraid to say no and figures it saves that person from figuring out how to dispose of the stuff-but it certainly isn't helping me! Anyway endless words later-how are you managing with your decluttering and simplifying?

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Sun, 11-02-2003 - 10:58am
I'm thinking of throwing DH and DS out of the house to declutter my house!!!Honestly they are both driving me crazy with their messes.I can't even find my kitchen table thanks to dh!!I'm going to get him some containers to put his stuff in and it's coming off my table.

I've laid the law down to both of them and they are both shaking in their shoes..NOT.

Miss P




 

Avatar for eclectic5777
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 7:05am

Oh Susan,


I wish I had time to respond this morning but I'm headed out the door to work and I've got a deadline looming over my head there and I found a problem with the project on Friday.

You Were Born An Original...   Don't Die A Copy

Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 10:51am
Let me know if that laying-down-the-law tactic works for you. If it does, I want you to scare the begeebers out of my DH. My entire living room (read: half of my apartment) is filled in every nook and cranny with computer crapola. Parts, parts of parts, cases, etc. My dining room table (yes, it's in the living room) is covered with boxes and bins full of screws, nuts, bolts, wires and whatnot. There is about a 12 inch square area right in front of it all where you could actually work on something. My sofa (read: loveseat with an attitude) is also covered with repair manuals, computer magazines, boxes of stuff, etc. MY computer desk is covered with parts and cases but no actual working computer. I have a portable dishwasher (next to the living room) that is also covered with magazines and whatnot. It is a delicate balancing act to get it to and from the sink without spilling the whole works on the floor.

It's very simple, we need a bigger place. Unfortunately, there is nothing around that we can afford that will let us keep our dogs. We've decided against buying a home for now.

Listen to me rant and rave. Guess I had something on my chest, huh? Just so you all know, you're not alone when it comes to messy DH's. It will get so bad someday that he'll break down and clean it up only to complain constantly while doing it.

Men. Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em.

Lori

Lori

Avatar for eclectic5777
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 1:20pm

Susan,


My de-cluttering is moving slower some days than I'd like it too but I need to take things slowly so not to upset the pack rat at my house.

You Were Born An Original...   Don't Die A Copy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 1:39pm
Are you sure??We can't shoot them???I may need to see that in writing!!!!I can't think of any man I'm happy with today.DS left dishes at the computer last night.DH misplaced a bill in his pile of stuff which I found today, past due!!!!Even the service man has ticked me off today.

And know what really makes me crazy about the mess they leave???When I mention it I some how become the "witch" who is always nagging!!!!

Wow, speaking of ranting and raving....

Miss P




 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 1:40pm
I see your point about the box idea.Ok, then I'm going to plan B. I'm stuffing DH in a box!!!!

Miss P




 

Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 2:20pm
You crack me up! At least cut air holes in the sides of the box for him.....
Avatar for eclectic5777
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 11-03-2003 - 2:54pm

DH treats our whole downstairs like it is his dorm room.

You Were Born An Original...   Don't Die A Copy