Ask Us Anything: Answers to Your Questions, Plus Ultra-short Topics - The Clutter Fairy Weekly #210

I love how respectful you are about other people's stuff and ask them questions to get them thinking about why they are keeping it all. Thanks for a fun, useful episode!

All You do here makes such a positive difference in all of our lives !❤

I am downsizing in place...before I actually move and downsize . I am living Now, as if I had Already moved to a much smaller space. . I have been "reducing" my furniture beforehand. For example, I donated the top half of the china cabinet, but kept the bottom half . I replaced the big metal filing cabinet, with a small rolling file cart. I replaced shelf storage boxes , with the back of a door mesh shoe organizers. I gave away one large freezer. I gave away all of my gardening supplies and indoor plants and instead switched to just fresh flowers. I have given my adult children all of their things and most of their photos, so I can focus on decluttering my own possessions. I stopped buying new clothes, because there will not be large closets. My pantry is almost empty now, and I have switched to fresh food , that I do not have to store. I donated most of my holiday decor, and switched instead to holiday food and real holiday flowers. By downsizing in place Before I actually move, this has saved me time and money, because I am not buying anything I might have to pack up, move, and fit into a smaller space. I am not a minimalist, because I still have and do the same things. But instead I just switched to a "lighter" version of the same things.

Very interesting episode, thank you!

For the person thinking about a divorce after the last child has left the nest, I would think about where are you likely to be moving to. Is it going to be a bedroom you’re renting from an already furnished apartment to a whole house or anywhere in between. With that in mind, what in the garage (or the rest of the house) would you want/be able to take with you. Is there anything that is obvious trash or anything that you were meaning to get rid of anyway? After all you wouldn’t want to move or store trash and stuff that you know you don’t want. Then I would price out a storage unit that you think would be big enough for what you want to keep. How much would it cost for the number of months and years you would need it until the divorce? Add in the cost of moving the stuff into the unit (at least a moving truck, maybe even professional movers). Could you get what you would need (at least the basics) for that same amount? I have moved many times and the less stuff I have to move, the easier the move has been. I’ve never been married much less divorced but I can imagine that will already be a stressful time. I would want the transition to be as quick as possible.

When my daughter wanted to get three huge totes on wheels I worked out that bankers boxes of five pack the volume capacity would be more than the three huge totes on wheels They were storing items while living at a relatives… I persuaded her to get five bankers boxes in a pack. Which meant when she moved a few months later they were Not stuck with three huge containers to get downstairs out the house and loaded. The five Banker boxes with more volume capacity mathematically compared to the three huge crates on wheels Was easier for young strong adults to carry each of the five boxes easily without it being a two man job. I have taken note of the advice on this show previously … i 👍 for each episode I see on YouTube tysm💐💫

For people commenting on the podcast and the you tube videos: the podcast just has the title but the you tube video will have the title with the episode number with it. Hope this helps. First time i got the podcast one i was Wait Just A Minute because i like watching Gayle's reactions to comments.

I do prefer to see Gayle as she speaks, but YT just sent me to the podcast picture. I had to look ahead to see if the pic changed, now I'm watching this one and can see you guys. Thanks for the explanation.

41:30 You might need to keep the box for your laptop, as some repair warranties require you to mail/ship them your laptop in the original box. Otherwise, there is little reason to try to keep all the packaging.

Hi Gail and Ed I love your videos! I thought of a shorter version of the heading for last week: "You best and not so good areas." Nice photo for backdrop to today's topic(s). Best regards. G Ire

Thank you for explaining the 'two video problems.' I didn't understand what the heck was going on. YouTube was suggesting both. It doesn't matter to me; I appreciate your explanation, though.

Gayle, I hope you're ok! Re: the podcast thing - I have Notifications turned on, and YouTube has been sending me TWO notices, one for the audio only post and one for the usual video. I click them both and discard the podcast one. Thank you for another great episode, Gayle and Ed. I was gobsmacked by the observation that our giveaway/recycle stuff is not a cat, we don't have to find it a good home. That was a great quote. But then I wondered if ALL of our stuff is like pets, not just the stuff we're willing to jettison. Are these piles of paper and boxes of junk my PETS? People who love their pets believe the pets love them back. Do we love our stuff? We don't believe our stuff loves us, yet we get some kind of emotional nourishment from owning it. The poor folks who end up hoarding animals are those who started out with pets they loved, but have gone into a state of overwhelm, where they really can't give the animals good care, and have become helpless to take effective measures to deal with the situation. They know the animals are suffering. But they cry from shame and distress when people come to take the animals away. I think I would have a similar reaction if people, however kind and sensitive, were to come here to help me go through all this stuff, sort, toss, rehome, clean. Maybe when it was all done I would feel a tremendous sense of relief and gratitude. But it would be hell while it was happening. Thank you for listening.

Gail You always look so nice but today You look Incredible !🙂

Note: Lavendar can handle crappy soil and survive on minimal H2O.

Card board boxes attract cockroaches and mice. And it gradually mildews over time or rapidly in wet areas like basement.