Getting rid of clutter Japanese style

[Samurai_Jerk]

A Japanese how-to has Americans tossing out clutter by the bagful

By the time Anna Kate Mackle of Tampa Bay, Fla., got a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (the book by Japanese organizer Marie Kondo that has taken the U.S. by storm), she had given decluttering the college try — a few times. Needless to say, it didn’t take.

But something about Kondo’s deliberate and unique method made Mackle rethink her process. “(My family) had been trying to declutter and would do a little bit at a time, but not ever finish,” says Mackle, the principal harpist for the Florida Orchestra. “So we went through the steps that she talks about in the book, and she talks about going in a specific order.”

While other decluttering books suggest tackling one room at a time or discarding five items a day, the KonMari Method outlined in the popular book (2 million copies sold and counting) pushes people to do a complete home overhaul.

Kondo recommends starting with clothes before moving on to harder-to-part-with items such as books and even pictures and heirlooms. In each category, all items must be put on the floor, then picked up and touched one by one. The only question you need to answer to keep the item is, does it spark joy?

clutter.jpg

[Russell]

That may be a useful trend in areas in the U.S. where houses are not too big on average, like in SF.

[Coligny]

Check artikul...

Konmari bull...

Ok...

I'd declutter here easily if the bulshit of recycling/trash sorting didn't require a diploma from the MIT and the budget of the US Navy... Just park a dumptruck under my window and give me 2-3 days...

[legion]

Simple way is to chuck out one extra thing every gomi day

Did this when I realized how much crap I'd accumulated.

[Coligny]

How many fridges could you discard that way ?

Dumptruck 4 life...

[matsuki]

I'm in the process of doing this right now...but my hold up is me trying to get some $$$ for the more valuable things I need to be rid of. Yahoo Auctions is not nearly as reliable as ebay for that.

[inflames]

So what's the proper way to dispose of mummified relatives? Also, what's the best way to dispose of them while not being caught (so I can keep receiving pension payments)?

[Takechanpoo]

clutter.jpg

this kind of garbage room style is totally out-of-date. its a legacy of showa era.
the cutting edge is minimalistic style among the younger j-generation who just put only minimum necessaries for living on their room, containing me.

[Samurai_Jerk]

So what's the proper way to dispose of mummified relatives? Also, what's the best way to dispose of them while not being caught (so I can keep receiving pension payments)?

BBQ

clutter.jpg

this kind of garbage room style is totally out-of-date. its a legacy of showa era.
the cutting edge is minimalistic style among the younger j-generation who just put only minimum necessaries for living on their room, containing me.

Bullshit.

[Russell]

clutter.jpg

this kind of garbage room style is totally out-of-date. its a legacy of showa era.
the cutting edge is minimalistic style among the younger j-generation who just put only minimum necessaries for living on their room, containing me.

LOL.

Did Japan already have flat-screen televisions in the showa era?!?

[Russell]

I'm in the process of doing this right now...but my hold up is me trying to get some $$$ for the more valuable things I need to be rid of. Yahoo Auctions is not nearly as reliable as ebay for that.

What negative experiences did you get on Yahoo Auctions?

[legion]

How many fridges could you discard that way ?

Dumptruck 4 life...

if you pay, as many as you like

[Coligny]

How many fridges could you discard that way ?

Dumptruck 4 life...

if you pay, as many as you like

Not here...
You need to pay AND buy another appliance...

[legion]

How many fridges could you discard that way ?

Dumptruck 4 life...

if you pay, as many as you like

Not here...
You need to pay AND buy another appliance...

you don't have to buy another appliance, you just have to take it to the shop that sold it, if the shop is unknown or gone you can fill out a form

[Salty]

Does it provide joy?

Earbuds, floss, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet brush, dish sponge, floor mop, vacuum cleaner, broom, dust pan, shoes, socks, underwear, ….

I am guessing that I won`t be very socially acceptable after a few days….

[kurogane]

Does it provide joy?.

She must be retchworthy company, but you can see how this sort of schlock would register with all the cat lady hoarder loonies that pay attention to this shiite. Add in a healthy amount of unintended racism (Oriental Wisdom!) and I think the girl just secured her retirement package. Am I missing something or is it agreed that is is simply the latest collaborative effort between the No Shit Sherlock Foundation and the Ministry of the Bleeding Obvious, distracting the vapid and inane with light entertainment and shiny baubles since Time Immemorial?

A 40dumbthing cat lady friend told me that the key to the original is that she writes "well" (I assume that means it's dripping with mawkish treacle and precious platitudes), so with a good translation this might keep the loonies on the path long enough for us to take back the interwebz.

[Coligny]

How many fridges could you discard that way ?

Dumptruck 4 life...

if you pay, as many as you like

Not here...
You need to pay AND buy another appliance...

you don't have to buy another appliance, you just have to take it to the shop that sold it, if the shop is unknown or gone you can fill out a form

I'd be happy to move to the version of japan where you live. But in the big T, no purchase no old appliance retrieval. If you purchase you can give back up to 3 appliances for a fee depnding on their size/category.

Been there, done that...

[yanpa]

I think what people are trying to get across is that you can pay money to a company which is not necessarily an applicance shop who will come along with a truck and relieve you of your old electric goods etcetera. I'm sure someone must have hit on that idea even in the back end of Aichi. If the worst comes to the worst, wait outside on the street until a little truck comes along broadcasting a repetitive message in the local lingo; as long as they're not selling hot sweet potatos or laundry poles (you can tell this by looking at the truck) they'll be happy to accept money to transport your old stuff to a convenient ravine or river.

[kurogane]

You guys!!!! Call him out when he is being a complete douche, but leave him his sad dreams of the impenetrable Maginot Line

[matsuki]

I'm in the process of doing this right now...but my hold up is me trying to get some $$$ for the more valuable things I need to be rid of. Yahoo Auctions is not nearly as reliable as ebay for that.

What negative experiences did you get on Yahoo Auctions?

Just saying things don't sell as well on there as ebay.

[Coligny]

You guys!!!! Call him out when he is being a complete douche, but leave him his sad dreams of the impenetrable Maginot Line

Fuck you, it almost worked...

[matsuki]

I think what people are trying to get across is that you can pay money to a company which is not necessarily an applicance shop who will come along with a truck and relieve you of your old electric goods etcetera. I'm sure someone must have hit on that idea even in the back end of Aichi. If the worst comes to the worst, wait outside on the street until a little truck comes along broadcasting a repetitive message in the local lingo; as long as they're not selling hot sweet potatos or laundry poles (you can tell this by looking at the truck) they'll be happy to accept money to transport your old stuff to a convenient ravine or river.

Or you can cart it to your local "recycle shop" if it still works...

[wagyl]

I think what people are trying to get across is that you can pay money to a company which is not necessarily an applicance shop who will come along with a truck and relieve you of your old electric goods etcetera. I'm sure someone must have hit on that idea even in the back end of Aichi. If the worst comes to the worst, wait outside on the street until a little truck comes along broadcasting a repetitive message in the local lingo; as long as they're not selling hot sweet potatos or laundry poles (you can tell this by looking at the truck) they'll be happy to accept money to transport your old stuff to a convenient ravine or river.

Or you can cart it to your local "recycle shop" if it still works...

A word from the experienced: take the used refrigerator to the second-hand shop in an upright position. They will not accept it if they think it has been lying on its side.

Also, expect next to nothing, if not a demand that you pay them the disposal fee.

[matsuki]

...and the reason is the you don't want to mess up the compressor by allowing the compressor's oil to leak out of the pump and into the radiative coils. It doesn't come out from them so easy. Though it can usually be remedied by letting it sit upright for a few hours before plugging it in.

[Wage Slave]

I'm in the process of doing this right now...but my hold up is me trying to get some $$$ for the more valuable things I need to be rid of. Yahoo Auctions is not nearly as reliable as ebay for that.

What negative experiences did you get on Yahoo Auctions?

Just saying things don't sell as well on there as ebay.

True - There aren't nearly so many buyers. That said, I was pleased how much my son got for his old cameras when he decided to trade up. Over 80% of the price he paid for them and one was a superseded model. There's something odd about the second hand market here. Things are either worthless or sell for way more than I think they are worth without much in between. Looking around somewhere like Hard Off has me shaking my head every time.

[matsuki]

Yeah, I think it's mostly about timing and, as you said, the qty of potential buyers.

Totally agree about the either priceless or worthless assertion as well. Especially for niche things.

[wagyl]

Looking around somewhere like Hard Off has me shaking my head every time.

Only in Japan does that not raise a snigger.

[Tsuru]

The term "trash pit" comes to mind...

[Wage Slave]

The term "trash pit" comes to mind...

Yep, but look at the prices. Generally about 80% of the new price if in good condition.

[Coligny]

The wastebaskets with brick powersupplies is a godsend. I even found the exact japanese equivalent of a modem powersupply that i brought from france... Damn if i could remember the brand name... It was on of those big playa used for rtc access at local isps...

Halp....

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