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I’m answering your decluttering questions in today’s podcast.
* My husband has a neurodegenerative disease that will take him from us far too soon. I am his caregiver and the demands of that role will become more and more of my focus over the next few years.
My question is, how should I handle stuff that should be saved for his children from a previous marriage? I don’t want to tell them to come get this stuff before your dad passes away, as it feels somewhat premature. It’s more than I will be able to manage as time goes on however.
*Do you have any advice on how to not get super mad at ‘normal’ friends (aka people who think they are untidy but are really super organised?)
* I’m wondering how the heirs to a crafter can determine the monetary value of a handmade item. I am specifically interested in quilts, ceramics and paintings.
*What do I do when I don’t remember that I have an item until I have bought a second one and see the first one when I am putting that second one away?
*I have small windows of time I can declutter but when I do, I don’t get rid of very much. I find myself setting things aside or finding a “home” for it, even if that’s a box on the floor. I do follow your steps but I feel stuck. I need help to get it out of my house.
*My question is, what if space is not a problem? Is their another way I can frame the container question? I am fine with having lots of empty spaces, but still feel I have too much stuff for my brain to manage.
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Dana’s advice about decluttering and using shopping apps is good. Because I alternate shopping at 2 grocery stores without good apps, I take a different approach.
In the WriterP app on my phone, I have 1 file for Andy’s with all of our staples listed in store order. I have another file for Super1 with all of our staples listed in that store order.
I have a 3rd file called Shopping List, which is my working document. I put each week’s menu plan there and expand upon it with each night’s ingredient list.
On grocery day, I *copy* the relevant list of staples into my shopping list. I go around my house *deleting* items we have enough of and placing asterisks in front of things I need to buy.
In the kitchen, I can check things in list order or by zone – snack bar, pantry, fridge, freezer, etc. Recently, list order has seemed to go more quickly, even though I’m walking around more.
For cleaning and laundry supplies, paper products, and grooming supplies, we used to keep the staples *plus a backup* in each and every relevant room – which meant that we had more than would fit functionally *and* it was harder to keep track of how much we had.
We switched to keeping backups in a central location, which means shopping day includes a little restocking time in the bathrooms or kitchen – but it *also* means it’s super easy to confirm exactly how much of each item we have.
This is a very intense approach to managing ones shopping list and household supplies, but it really helps me work with my AuDHD brain to make sure that everything’s in order and nothing’s forgotten. Plus I don’t buy more than I need.
Best of luck with your home!