actually - i can declutter alot. i have no problems giving things away or selling things. i have already gotten rid of alot and still have more to go.

the problem is the broken stuff. if its little - i can toss it. we have a great recycling center near by so that helps with other, sorta larger things...but there are tons of things i can't get rid of and i don't have the heart to toss them knowing they are going right into a landfill to never decompose!!!!

i currently try and buy things with a keener awareness of what will happen to it should i have to toss it - but believe me - my kids especially still get tons of junk.

also - appliances and electronics break all the time! when i drive by someone's house and see chairs and lamps in the trash i cringe...yet - what else are you supposed to do with it?

that reason alone is behind why i still have a cluttered home.

how do you all just do it? i know that if i just do it - fill bags and bags of junk i'll feel lighter. i'm sure the guilt will leave too - outta sight outta mind kwim?

but doing it is what is hard.

any advice? i need a lightbulb moment please!

Tell me what broken things you can't let go of. That might help me help you in thinking about what would be good to do with them that wouldn't feel so wasteful.

The biggest thing is, if you can start, that one big purge you usually start with helps so much, it releases all this energy that gets you to keep on going, because you realize how awesome it is to have that space in your life and house.

But seriously, what big broken things are you holding onto? Let's brainstorm creatively on what to do with them.

i tossed a vcr today...and i know what you mean. it broke my heart. noone on our freecycle wanted it....

As far as I know salvation army has folks who attempt to fix broken electronics and appliances so they can be sold to earn money for their causes. We try to donate broken appliances and electronics to them. They usually will pick up. So does St.Vincent de Paul society.

I hear ya!!

I would not throw anything like that away, either. Goodwill, Salvation Army etc always takes useable goods.

I love Freecycle. But i don't think it's the total answer to getting rid of good stuff. A lot of folks who want/need items don' have computers or internet access.

i don't put anything like that in the garbage.