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Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life
America's top cleaning expert and star of the hit series Legacy List with Matt Paxton distills his fail-proof approach to decluttering and downsizing.
Your boxes of photos, family's china, and even the kids' height charts aren't just stuff; they're attached to a lifetime of memories--and letting them go can be scary. With empathy, expertise, and humor, Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, written in collaboration with AARP, helps you sift through years of clutter, let go of what no longer serves you, and identify the items worth keeping so that you can focus on living in the present.
For over 20 years, Matt Paxton has helped people from all walks of life who want to live more simply declutter and downsize. As a featured cleaner on Hoarders and host of the Emmy-nominated Legacy List with Matt Paxton on PBS, he has identified the psychological roadblocks that most organizational experts routinely miss but that prevent so many of us from lightening our material load. Using poignant stories from the thousands of individuals and families he has worked with, Paxton brings his signature insight to a necessary task.
Whether you're tired of living with clutter, making space for a loved one, or moving to a smaller home or retirement community, this book is for you. Paxton's unique, step-by-step process gives you the tools you need to get the job done.
Your boxes of photos, family's china, and even the kids' height charts aren't just stuff; they're attached to a lifetime of memories--and letting them go can be scary. With empathy, expertise, and humor, Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, written in collaboration with AARP, helps you sift through years of clutter, let go of what no longer serves you, and identify the items worth keeping so that you can focus on living in the present.
For over 20 years, Matt Paxton has helped people from all walks of life who want to live more simply declutter and downsize. As a featured cleaner on Hoarders and host of the Emmy-nominated Legacy List with Matt Paxton on PBS, he has identified the psychological roadblocks that most organizational experts routinely miss but that prevent so many of us from lightening our material load. Using poignant stories from the thousands of individuals and families he has worked with, Paxton brings his signature insight to a necessary task.
Whether you're tired of living with clutter, making space for a loved one, or moving to a smaller home or retirement community, this book is for you. Paxton's unique, step-by-step process gives you the tools you need to get the job done.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
799 people are currently reading
4,322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews
February 5, 2023
3 stars - a good read if feelings and memories are holding you back on your decluttering efforts. A bit more memoir than I needed though�
February 26, 2022
I battle with keeping too many things because I am so sentimental. 5 stars because I'm succeeding with a cleanout that is taking months, but involves clearing out decades worth of stuff. Go slow...to go fast.
April 13, 2022
My job is more about helping people achieve peace of mind than anything else. It's a psychological and even spiritual process that I help facilitate."
Matt Paxton is a decluttering and organizing expert with over twenty years of experience who helps people during a move, downsizing, or just wanting to declutter their home. After his first decluttering job with his first client Etta, he started his company, Clutter Cleaner.
I admired his dedication to assisting others in their times of need. It's all about decluttering, downsizing, and moving on with your life. This book provided some helpful advice on how to declutter quickly and effectively. The author also offered plenty of reference materials and cleaning tips invaluable for people in the USA.
However, it wasn't what I was looking for, and I was seeking a way to get over the emotional attachment to personal belongings. He shared his clients' stories in each chapter, and there were some chapters that I thought the book was written for people in a different age group (downsizing due to retirement) and people who had to clean out the family home after a death. It became more of a guidebook for deciding what stays and goes when decluttering other's belonging rather than our own.
Nevertheless, two main takeaways from this book are:
� Matt's Twelve Tips for getting started. I liked the Ten-Minute Sweep idea the most. This rule is just to get you in the habit of decluttering. We need to commit to those ten minutes every day until it becomes part of our daily routine.I am doing it currently, even though not every day.
� "The best predictor of whether you'll need an item is whether you are currently using it or have recently used it."
Overall, this book wasn't bad; only the content I was looking for wasn't there. However, I believe that the tips might be useful for me in the future. I still would love to recommend this book to anyone who plans to declutter/downsize, and maybe you can read the chapters that apply to you only.
🌟: 2.8/5
Matt Paxton is a decluttering and organizing expert with over twenty years of experience who helps people during a move, downsizing, or just wanting to declutter their home. After his first decluttering job with his first client Etta, he started his company, Clutter Cleaner.
I admired his dedication to assisting others in their times of need. It's all about decluttering, downsizing, and moving on with your life. This book provided some helpful advice on how to declutter quickly and effectively. The author also offered plenty of reference materials and cleaning tips invaluable for people in the USA.
However, it wasn't what I was looking for, and I was seeking a way to get over the emotional attachment to personal belongings. He shared his clients' stories in each chapter, and there were some chapters that I thought the book was written for people in a different age group (downsizing due to retirement) and people who had to clean out the family home after a death. It became more of a guidebook for deciding what stays and goes when decluttering other's belonging rather than our own.
Nevertheless, two main takeaways from this book are:
� Matt's Twelve Tips for getting started. I liked the Ten-Minute Sweep idea the most. This rule is just to get you in the habit of decluttering. We need to commit to those ten minutes every day until it becomes part of our daily routine.I am doing it currently, even though not every day.
� "The best predictor of whether you'll need an item is whether you are currently using it or have recently used it."
Overall, this book wasn't bad; only the content I was looking for wasn't there. However, I believe that the tips might be useful for me in the future. I still would love to recommend this book to anyone who plans to declutter/downsize, and maybe you can read the chapters that apply to you only.
🌟: 2.8/5
July 26, 2023
After participating in an AARP webinar, entitled, "Declutter and Downsize: A Conversation with Matt Paxton and Nikki Boyd," I couldn't resist purchasing Paxton's new book, based on his professional career and his PBS television series. "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life" came to me at exactly the right time in my life - as I am caring for aging parents who will soon need alternative housing, and who have a lifetime of possessions to go through.
Takeaways:
1. Most importantly, Paxton walks the talk. One of the fundamental principals of his work is that it isn't stuff that is often important, it is the stories behind the stuff. If we preserve the stories, we don't need the stuff. In each of the chapters that take the reader through the entire process of decluttering and downsizing, Paxton shares his own story, as well as the stories of his clients to exemplify each of his points. I found much of this very moving, as I could personally relate to so much of it. The "story" approach was a new take on the issue. From this, I realized that I need to be a better listener when working with our parents, to hear the stories about the items that they have personal attachment to. I tried it, and it worked! My mother and I had a long conversation about it.
2. Chapters include: "Uncover the Stories Behind the Stuff," "Define Your Finish Line," "Take the First Baby Steps," "Sort Through Pictures and Documents," "Decide What to Keep and Build Your Legacy List," "Decide What to Give Away," "Decide What to Sell (and Where to Sell It)," "Clean Up," and "Move Forward." The "Legacy List" idea was particularly intriguing to me. It led to lots of thought and writing in my journal about the five items from the home that I grew up in that would be most important/meaningful for me to keep.
3. Each chapter, as well as the end of the book, includes extensive resource lists that Paxton has actually had experience working with. An excellent tool for any person working with parents, moving him or herself, or wanting to clean and declutter a living space.
This one won't go on the bookshelf. I will keep "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff" handy so that I can refer to it often. I will recommend it to my friends and family as well. Just terrific!
Takeaways:
1. Most importantly, Paxton walks the talk. One of the fundamental principals of his work is that it isn't stuff that is often important, it is the stories behind the stuff. If we preserve the stories, we don't need the stuff. In each of the chapters that take the reader through the entire process of decluttering and downsizing, Paxton shares his own story, as well as the stories of his clients to exemplify each of his points. I found much of this very moving, as I could personally relate to so much of it. The "story" approach was a new take on the issue. From this, I realized that I need to be a better listener when working with our parents, to hear the stories about the items that they have personal attachment to. I tried it, and it worked! My mother and I had a long conversation about it.
2. Chapters include: "Uncover the Stories Behind the Stuff," "Define Your Finish Line," "Take the First Baby Steps," "Sort Through Pictures and Documents," "Decide What to Keep and Build Your Legacy List," "Decide What to Give Away," "Decide What to Sell (and Where to Sell It)," "Clean Up," and "Move Forward." The "Legacy List" idea was particularly intriguing to me. It led to lots of thought and writing in my journal about the five items from the home that I grew up in that would be most important/meaningful for me to keep.
3. Each chapter, as well as the end of the book, includes extensive resource lists that Paxton has actually had experience working with. An excellent tool for any person working with parents, moving him or herself, or wanting to clean and declutter a living space.
This one won't go on the bookshelf. I will keep "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff" handy so that I can refer to it often. I will recommend it to my friends and family as well. Just terrific!
August 17, 2024
People don't miss stuff. They miss the people behind the stuff.
Believe me when I say, I am not a hoarder. However, I have a hard time throwing things out that have memories attached to them and as a result I now simply have too much STUFF! When I found this book, I immediately thought that this might hold the secret to help me start decluttering. I find that even the thought of going through my "stuff" and trying to declutter causes stress. I applaud anyone that is good at getting rid of "stuff"! Even as I started reading through the first 10 pages of this book, I could feel my heart rate pick up speed and I just knew that my blood pressure was on the rise. Decluttering is not an easy or a one day job.
The author, Matt Paxton, hosts a show on PBS called Legacy List and has frequently been on Hoarders on AMC. He is a public speaker and radio personality on themes such as downsizing and decluttering. In this book, he covers important topics including:
🚮Identifying your goals.
🚮Determining what's holding you back.
🚮Where to start.
🚮How to sort through pictures and documents.
🚮Deciding what to keep, sell, or give away.
🚮Tips and tricks for getting the job done.
There are a lot of stories in this book about actual people who hired Mr. Paxton to help them declutter. Not all the information will appeal to everyone, but the stories usually share hidden gems of knowledge that can be used in other people's situations.
I am a long way from being finished with this daunting task, but this book has motivated me to start taking baby steps toward achieving my own decluttering goals. If you don't see me on ŷ, you will know what I am doing! Wish me luck! 🍀
Believe me when I say, I am not a hoarder. However, I have a hard time throwing things out that have memories attached to them and as a result I now simply have too much STUFF! When I found this book, I immediately thought that this might hold the secret to help me start decluttering. I find that even the thought of going through my "stuff" and trying to declutter causes stress. I applaud anyone that is good at getting rid of "stuff"! Even as I started reading through the first 10 pages of this book, I could feel my heart rate pick up speed and I just knew that my blood pressure was on the rise. Decluttering is not an easy or a one day job.
The author, Matt Paxton, hosts a show on PBS called Legacy List and has frequently been on Hoarders on AMC. He is a public speaker and radio personality on themes such as downsizing and decluttering. In this book, he covers important topics including:
🚮Identifying your goals.
🚮Determining what's holding you back.
🚮Where to start.
🚮How to sort through pictures and documents.
🚮Deciding what to keep, sell, or give away.
🚮Tips and tricks for getting the job done.
There are a lot of stories in this book about actual people who hired Mr. Paxton to help them declutter. Not all the information will appeal to everyone, but the stories usually share hidden gems of knowledge that can be used in other people's situations.
I am a long way from being finished with this daunting task, but this book has motivated me to start taking baby steps toward achieving my own decluttering goals. If you don't see me on ŷ, you will know what I am doing! Wish me luck! 🍀
April 9, 2022
It just wasn't what I expected. It more the nuts and bolts of the how to let go (these are companies that will come help, these are the places you can sell your stuff) rather than the emotional side of how to let go which was what I was looking for. Well written and enjoyable to read, but the content I was looking for wasn't there.
October 21, 2022
This is one of the most helpful books I have read on decluttering. It provided me with lots of concrete and (relatively) easy-to-implement ideas on how to declutter and organize. Told with humor and lots of examples, I found it very helpful, especially when considering my pack rat mentality which he refers to as "Why You Can't Let Go." He lists documents one MUST save and describes how to handle accumulated books, clothing, magazines, etc. He devotes an entire chapter to my biggest bugaboo: photos, both printed photographs as well as digital collections. Now, if only I can get my act together enough to put his ideas into action!
To start or not to start, that is the question!
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to keep
The years and years of accumulated junk,
Or to take arms against the sea of paperwork!
February 12, 2022
This is Nonfiction/Self-Help on sifting through personal belongings of yours, a loved one, or a client and helping them to declutter, downsize and move forward in life. The author seemed very personable and I loved his commitment and his desire to help others when facing this need in their life.
The author makes so many valid points especially when helping others through this. I liked this one. It felt a little long at times, but he seemed completely genuine. So 3 stars.
The author makes so many valid points especially when helping others through this. I liked this one. It felt a little long at times, but he seemed completely genuine. So 3 stars.
March 16, 2022
This book was not what I was looking for. It was a detailed guide into the nuts and bolts of how to get rid of items after a death or downsizing. I was looking more for how to get through the emotional attachments to things, not the website address of where to list items.
February 15, 2022
good book for moving
I liked the book but I didn’t love it. It felt like it was written for people who either wanted to start a decluttering business or were moving. I like minimalist books so much but this was not that.
I liked the book but I didn’t love it. It felt like it was written for people who either wanted to start a decluttering business or were moving. I like minimalist books so much but this was not that.
March 20, 2022
It was the title that drew me into this one. Trying to settle my parents' estate has been emotionally challenging, but also mentally and physically a lot of work. This book was comforting in a way that helped me feel like I wasn't alone in this situation, that so many people are trying to deal with "stuff" and the emotional attachments and memories that are a part of them. There were some good ideas for organizing important documents, creating a legacy list, and where to sell/donate items but mostly it was confirming that "things" are not the people we loved, and it is ok to let them go because our love will never let go. I'm more determined to declutter and downsize so my own kids won't need to labor over a lifetime accumulation of stuff. This was a good motivator.
April 4, 2022
This book has been inspiring during spring cleaning. While most of the tips are geared towards those who have been in their homes for decades and who are actively moving and down-sizing, there are good tips for those who desire to be intentional about avoiding those future spaces. (And sometimes it is unavoidable as these spaces are inherited.) The focus is on telling stories and sharing memories as a way to recognize our relationship with things, and I thought this was a significant early step in the process. The section on photos was eye-opening: there's no need to keep double photos, blurry photos, or photos of people you can’t remember or dislike.
August 20, 2024
Really valuable, practical information and guidance on how to declutter and free yourself from so much stuff. I really would give it a 4.5. Couldn’t give it a 5 because of the parts that felt a bit like advertising for companies. I don’t mind hearing about a brand of cleaning product that works well. I didn’t want to hear so much about companies. This is a very small criticism though. Overall, this book is very good and is really making me think about getting rid of some of my stuff!
May 29, 2024
3.5 stars
I didn't realize this author has a tv show called 'Legacy List'... I'll have to check it out on PBS.
I didn't realize this author has a tv show called 'Legacy List'... I'll have to check it out on PBS.
Audiobook source: Libby
Narrator: Matt Paxton
Length: 5h 12m
February 6, 2024
Not just for seniors
This book is a good resource for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their “stuff� and wanting to simplify. Whether you are dealing with the passing of a relative or simplifying your own life, the author relates to the idea that getting rid of possessions can be a very emotional journey and it doesn’t happen overnight. The examples sharing how others traveled the journey of decluttering were easy to identify with. The Resources section helps identify types of items that can be sold, donated or just need to go the trash.
This book is a good resource for anyone who feels overwhelmed by their “stuff� and wanting to simplify. Whether you are dealing with the passing of a relative or simplifying your own life, the author relates to the idea that getting rid of possessions can be a very emotional journey and it doesn’t happen overnight. The examples sharing how others traveled the journey of decluttering were easy to identify with. The Resources section helps identify types of items that can be sold, donated or just need to go the trash.
May 26, 2022
Loved it! It was well-written, and made me feel like he was right in the room with me, discussing all that can be done. Explains things thoroughly and honestly. I learned some things I didn't already know, too. Shared a lot with the reader and makes you feel like you can actually accomplish the tasks - IF you decide to do it. I would give the book more than 5 stars if I could. I also love his PBS TV program. (I took my time reading the book, so I could absorb everything it taught. I am sure I'll revisit it again, too.)
April 9, 2022
Matt Paxton's tips on how to let go of the stuff while maintaining the stories and memories about the stuff.
I read this in a day and found some useful hints that will help when my parents move to assisted living in a few months.
I love 'Hoarders' and Matt Paxton is one of my favorite declutterers on that show. He seems like a super nice guy who found his calling to help people dig their way out of material things that drag them down.
I read this in a day and found some useful hints that will help when my parents move to assisted living in a few months.
I love 'Hoarders' and Matt Paxton is one of my favorite declutterers on that show. He seems like a super nice guy who found his calling to help people dig their way out of material things that drag them down.
April 25, 2022
Excellent advice in an easy-to-digest format. He uses case studies to illustrate his points. Unlike other similar books, he acknowledges the emotional aspect and encourages you to utilize the emotional memories to help you declutter and downsize. There are additional resources that were not available as part of the audio book. I highly recommend reading this in the print version rather than listening to it so you can take notes and easily reread sections that particularly speak to you.
April 4, 2022
I'm on my second listen-through of the book because there is so much information that I want to make sure I at least mildly remember ;D
I always appreciate books (or shows, or YouTube videos) that don't treat sentimentality, in and of itself, as a weakness or a sin. This book is written pretty compassionately, with just the right amount of "no-nonsense" where it counts.
I always appreciate books (or shows, or YouTube videos) that don't treat sentimentality, in and of itself, as a weakness or a sin. This book is written pretty compassionately, with just the right amount of "no-nonsense" where it counts.
April 24, 2022
Very readable. In the back are 30 pages of charts and lists of resources, backed up with a website to keep the info current.
November 28, 2023
Several helpful tips! The audience is more for those going through a passed family member’s things or someone looking to downsize in a move. Still, I’ve taken away the main idea of holding onto the memories that things represent while letting go of the actual stuff.
May 1, 2022
This book is especially good for older people seeking to downsize after many years in a bigger home. Also useful for people dealing with their deceased parents' possessions. Has advice applicable to others as well.
December 6, 2022
This was probably one of the most practical books on downsizing I've read. The author not only walks the reader through the decluttering process, but also provides solid examples and even resources that are available to people in the US. While not everything was applicable to my current lifestyle, I have some great tips to keep in my back pocket.
Things I likes about this book:
- It is written with the understanding that Americans, especially American immigrants and the Silent Generation, have a different relationship to memories and things than other nationalities do. There is no one-size fits all solution to decluttering.
- The majority of the author's clients are seniors looking to downsize and move into retirement communities or apartments, but his techniques can be applied to young people looking to move out on their own, downsizing themselves, or dealing with the estate of a loved one.
- Because the author works with elderly homeowners, he is sensitive to the fact that these people lived during a different time, such as the Great Depression, where items weren't in abundance and everything from newspapers to socks had to be stashed away. Their "stuff" may not be valuable, but it is invaluable to them because of the stories and memories it holds
- Not sure what to get your parents or grandparents for their birthday? Paxton suggests giving them an hour or two of your time to sit down and let them tell their stories. Or help them start the decluttering process by driving donations to a center for them.
Useful and Informative, this was a well-Organized decluttering self-help read.
Things I likes about this book:
- It is written with the understanding that Americans, especially American immigrants and the Silent Generation, have a different relationship to memories and things than other nationalities do. There is no one-size fits all solution to decluttering.
- The majority of the author's clients are seniors looking to downsize and move into retirement communities or apartments, but his techniques can be applied to young people looking to move out on their own, downsizing themselves, or dealing with the estate of a loved one.
- Because the author works with elderly homeowners, he is sensitive to the fact that these people lived during a different time, such as the Great Depression, where items weren't in abundance and everything from newspapers to socks had to be stashed away. Their "stuff" may not be valuable, but it is invaluable to them because of the stories and memories it holds
- Not sure what to get your parents or grandparents for their birthday? Paxton suggests giving them an hour or two of your time to sit down and let them tell their stories. Or help them start the decluttering process by driving donations to a center for them.
Useful and Informative, this was a well-Organized decluttering self-help read.
May 21, 2022
We are a diplomatic family and have done a ton of moving. We have also downsized my in-laws to assisted living a couple of years ago, and just completed another stage in that process (unloading more items in storage). I read this book after hearing an interview with the author, thinking OK, maybe there is something I can still learn here for our next inevitable move or downsizing project!
I also volunteer in a thrift store, and so I see the other side of downsizing: all the boxes and boxes of random stuff brought in by the exhausted children of parents who have moved into assisted living or passed away. I truly admire the older folks who bring in their own items before it gets to that point. It's often difficult for them to let go, but they are so relieved once they have done it. We hear "I don't want my kids to have to deal with this" pretty frequently.
I would say that there is not a lot in the book that is new to someone who has moved a lot, however, it is an easy (occasionally amusing) read, and includes some good "rules of thumb" and truly useful suggestions for how to donate or recycle items. I think it would be really helpful to 1.) any older person trying to downsize for a move, 2.) anyone trying to deal with an estate or 3.) anyone who is moving house without a great deal of experience in the process.
I also volunteer in a thrift store, and so I see the other side of downsizing: all the boxes and boxes of random stuff brought in by the exhausted children of parents who have moved into assisted living or passed away. I truly admire the older folks who bring in their own items before it gets to that point. It's often difficult for them to let go, but they are so relieved once they have done it. We hear "I don't want my kids to have to deal with this" pretty frequently.
I would say that there is not a lot in the book that is new to someone who has moved a lot, however, it is an easy (occasionally amusing) read, and includes some good "rules of thumb" and truly useful suggestions for how to donate or recycle items. I think it would be really helpful to 1.) any older person trying to downsize for a move, 2.) anyone trying to deal with an estate or 3.) anyone who is moving house without a great deal of experience in the process.
January 5, 2025
I have read innumerable books about decluttering, simplifying, etc. Each one has been very satisfying, giving me much to think about and to apply to my simplifying journey. Best of all, each book has renewed my motivation to continue on this immense project of unloading seventy-six years of accumulation. Yes, I do have some clothes as well as pictures from my infancy. My husband is also engaged in this task. I bought Paxton’s book for him. I hoped that, written by a man, it would support Roger in his simplifying journey. Mostly I thought the book looked very practical and concretely logical, that it would appeal to the engineer in Roger. Periodically, I would notice the book languishing on one of Roger’s to read piles. Looking for something to read to give me a break from the �.of the current world, I picked it up. Well, the book met all my expectations. It is a very comprehensive resource for the challenges of simplifying. It has step- by- step guidance for simplifying from the why’s to the how’s. The amount of information and its logical presentation is amazing. It gives advice in context of different scenarios from clearing out a relative’s home to moving to another place. I must admit, rather shamefacedly, that there are three things that I didn’t expect. These all probably related to sexism on my part�.as you’ll see. Many apologies to Matt Paxton and undervalued men. Here’s what I did not expect. First, is the importance the author gives to the EMOTIONAL component of the simplifying journey.Next is the engaging writing style which uses particular clients (composites?) to unfold their stories. Third, is the very strong environmentally supportive approach he uses in dealing with the objects being removed and in the cleaning products and methods used. I would recommend this book to anyone wherever they are on their simplifying journey. Thank you, Matt Paxton!
May 20, 2022
Matt Paxton is probably best known for his work on the TV series Hoarders. But, in this book he gives tips on how to declutter, downsize, or move with all the experience he's learned in over twenty years of working in the industry. Each chapter focuses on a particular step or issue in the process - for example how to best sort through photographs and paperwork or how to most efficiently sell your belongings or decide what to sell vs. donate. And in each chapter he also includes either a personal story or a story from a client who highlights that particular chapter's topic. Along the way he gives TONS of detailed tips and company/business information.
I've always been fascinated by hoarding and I always liked the episodes of Hoarders that Matt was on, but I put this book on hold before I even realized he wrote it. I'm not a hoarder, but I'm also far from a minimalist. I wanted to read this book to see if it had some tips on dealing with more of the emotional side of family/personal stuff. There were some emotional tips, but it was mostly more practical/physical tips on how to manage the stuff. But, I did like hearing more of his personal story and the book was very well-written with lots of helpful information.
I've always been fascinated by hoarding and I always liked the episodes of Hoarders that Matt was on, but I put this book on hold before I even realized he wrote it. I'm not a hoarder, but I'm also far from a minimalist. I wanted to read this book to see if it had some tips on dealing with more of the emotional side of family/personal stuff. There were some emotional tips, but it was mostly more practical/physical tips on how to manage the stuff. But, I did like hearing more of his personal story and the book was very well-written with lots of helpful information.
August 20, 2022
This book isn’t necessarily needed all the time. However, it is needed for very specific points in life and I think it will be very valuable. If you know someone who is a hoarder, this book might help them. If not them, it will definitely help the people trying to help the hoarder.
If you know someone who is moving and downsizing due to age or circumstances, this book is very helpful in sorting out what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate.
If you are in a situation where someone has died and you are left with all of their belongings, this is also super helpful. As my parents are aging and have a ton of things, especially stuff they have kept from their own parents, there is a helpful guide in the back that gives you websites and tools to use on how to determine if items are worth money or not. There is also a really helpful section on storage units and whether or not those are beneficial. The anecdote in that section was really eye opening.
The part that I find ironic and funny about this book is that while it won’t pertain to me at this exact moment, it will pertain in the future. Therefore I need to keep it in my growing collection of books instead of purging it, hahahaha.
Thanks so much to Portfolio books for a gifted copy!
If you know someone who is moving and downsizing due to age or circumstances, this book is very helpful in sorting out what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate.
If you are in a situation where someone has died and you are left with all of their belongings, this is also super helpful. As my parents are aging and have a ton of things, especially stuff they have kept from their own parents, there is a helpful guide in the back that gives you websites and tools to use on how to determine if items are worth money or not. There is also a really helpful section on storage units and whether or not those are beneficial. The anecdote in that section was really eye opening.
The part that I find ironic and funny about this book is that while it won’t pertain to me at this exact moment, it will pertain in the future. Therefore I need to keep it in my growing collection of books instead of purging it, hahahaha.
Thanks so much to Portfolio books for a gifted copy!
January 20, 2024
I heard about this book when the author, Matt Paxton, was a guest on The Art of Manliness podcast. The author's story of how he got started in his career as a downsizing and decluttering expert was intriguing. I listened to the audiobook edition as I worked my way through our cluttered cabinets and closets.
This is an excellent book with tips for decluttering, downsizing, moving or even staying put. The book is packed with helpful anecdotes and resources, beneficial for yourself or helping others with the process. It is doubtful that I can bring myself to watch the television show HOARDERS which the author is a featured cleaning expert, but I am motivated by this book and gained helpful bits of information. I also appreciate how this book seems to be part memoir, one of my favorite genres!
This is an excellent book with tips for decluttering, downsizing, moving or even staying put. The book is packed with helpful anecdotes and resources, beneficial for yourself or helping others with the process. It is doubtful that I can bring myself to watch the television show HOARDERS which the author is a featured cleaning expert, but I am motivated by this book and gained helpful bits of information. I also appreciate how this book seems to be part memoir, one of my favorite genres!
December 11, 2024
This is the book I went to the library for because many influencers recommend it as a good place for more information when one is decluttering our own memorabilia plus the stuff we have inherited or been given as gifts from family and friends. You know what I am talking about--some simple thing that has an emotional attachment--but now there just may not be space for it now.
This book has 30 pages of Resources.
The most important task is to tell the story that this thing triggers, and write it down. Then take a photo. Will that be enough of a memory for you?
I give this book 5 stars.
This book has 30 pages of Resources.
The most important task is to tell the story that this thing triggers, and write it down. Then take a photo. Will that be enough of a memory for you?
I give this book 5 stars.
February 29, 2024
I really didn't plan to read this, but stumbled upon it while walking through the library and found myself intrigued. It has some grammatical errors, but overall was an interesting read with lots of great tips and insights - even if you're not moving. Matt inspired me to go through my closet and donate, even taking the time to find the best fit for WHERE to donate items.
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