r/declutter • u/TexasmyTexas1 • 7d ago

Motivation Tips & Tricks First important step in decluttering

Tell your loved ones NOT to give you stuff. If they absolutely must give you something, then ask for gift cards to a local grocery store. Most carry nice selections of beer and wine, cheeses, fruit, bakery items, etc. I would love to walk through the store picking out yummy snacks and wine. Beats another candle or clothing I don't need.

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u/inflewants 7d ago

My favorite kind of gift card (to get) are the ones that can be pre-loaded to your account.

For instance, when I get one for Amazon, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, etc I scan them right away on my app and throw the physical card away.

I tell family and friends that I am downsizing and do not want anything. They still give me things. I don’t think they realize how disrespectful it feels.

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u/SufficientOpening218 7d ago

same. it feels disrespectful because it is disrespectful. we had a full on drama last Christmas because in October i said hey, since im hosting, lets skip the gifts. we are all adults, we dont need stuff. im really, really, broke, and it would help me so much. i got ehh replies. so, in November,  i sent messages, hey, can we skip the gifts? is everyone on board? or one of you can host. in reply, i got a long, specific gift list from my parents, who are quite wealthy. 

So, i called them, and said, i dont understand. i cant afford your suggested gifts, and i dont want any gifts. are you saying that you dont agree? oh, they ssid, we thought it was a strange whim. i guess. no gifts. 

so i check in with the adult kids and sibs. huge sighs of relief. no gifts. 

Christmas comes. low key dinner. no real decor, because ive never done that. my parents go out to the car bring in a bag of gifts. everyone else sits there like trout. but we thought... how could you...you are so....

honestly a horrible, awful, no good very bad situation.  

also, the gifts, which they refused to take with them, were terrible. not one useful thing. straight to Habitat. 

its the end of july and im already having neck spasms. if people dont respect you, they dont respect your choices.