With Christmas only a few weeks away, now is the ideal time to declutter your children’s toys, to make way for new gifts from Santa! If you’ve been meaning to sort through the toys to donate or sell, Kristina Duke from Decluttering Diva is here to share her top tips about how to tackle the job.
In the latest episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Rachel and Sarah sit down with Kristina Duke, Decluttering Diva, to find out how we can declutter our lives… so we can have a more simple and less stressful Christmas! In the episode, you’ll learn…
About Kristina Duke, Decluttering Diva
Kristina Duke is a North Shore Mums of three kids, and is the lead of organiser and founder of Decluttering Diva since 2013.
Since its inception Decluttering Diva has grown to a team of 6 professional organisers servicing clients with chronic disorganisation, hoarding disorder and/or ADHD issues across Sydney.
Kristina takes clutter seriously and has recently been accredited as NSW’s 1st Certified Professional Organiser in Chronic Disorganisation through ICD – a not for profit organisation that provides education and training to professional organisers and related professionals who specialise in working with the population affected by chronic disorganisation.
When she isn’t organising Kristina loves DIY projects in her home, op-shopping, and singing – hence the Diva name
Where to donate toys
Donate running shoes to Shoes 4 Planet Earth
Recylcing
Where to sell toys
If your toys are still in excellent condition and you'd like to sell them, try Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and other Facebook local Buy & Sell groups.
Essential Details: Decluttering Diva
#theparentingcouch #theparentingcouchpodcast #parenting #northshoremums
With Christmas only a few weeks away, now is the ideal time to declutter your children’s toys, to make way for new gifts from Santa! If you’ve been meaning to sort through the toys to donate or sell, Kristina Duke from Decluttering Diva is here to share her top tips about how to tackle the job.
In the latest episode of The Parenting Couch podcast, Rachel and Sarah sit down with Kristina Duke, Decluttering Diva, to find out how we can declutter our lives… so we can have a more simple and less stressful Christmas! In the episode, you’ll learn…
About Kristina Duke, Decluttering Diva
Kristina Duke is a North Shore Mums of three kids, and is the lead of organiser and founder of Decluttering Diva since 2013.
Since its inception Decluttering Diva has grown to a team of 6 professional organisers servicing clients with chronic disorganisation, hoarding disorder and/or ADHD issues across Sydney.
Kristina takes clutter seriously and has recently been accredited as NSW’s 1st Certified Professional Organiser in Chronic Disorganisation through ICD – a not for profit organisation that provides education and training to professional organisers and related professionals who specialise in working with the population affected by chronic disorganisation.
When she isn’t organising Kristina loves DIY projects in her home, op-shopping, and singing – hence the Diva name
Where to donate toys
Donate running shoes to Shoes 4 Planet Earth
Recylcing
Where to sell toys
If your toys are still in excellent condition and you'd like to sell them, try Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and other Facebook local Buy & Sell groups.
Essential Details: Decluttering Diva
#theparentingcouch #theparentingcouchpodcast #parenting #northshoremums
Welcome to The Parenting Couch with Rachel Chappell and Sarah Levett. Honest conversations about what parenting is really like. Because let's be real, it can be hard, proudly brought to you by North Shore Mums.
Unknown Speaker 0:18
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Parenting Couch Podcast. I'm Sarah Levett.
Unknown Speaker 0:24
And I'm Rachel Chappell. And today I am extremely excited about our guest. She is a Decluttering Diva, which speaks to my heart. Her name is Kristina Duke. She's a mum of three. She's a North Shore Mum, and she has a passion for changing the world, one drawer at a time. If you are overwhelmed by the stuff in your life, Kristina is an amazing person to get around to your house. And today we're going to be chatting with her about cluttering and Christmas. So Kristina, welcome to the show.
Unknown Speaker 1:03
Thanks for having me. I'm so excited. I love talking about declutter Christmas. I think someone actually a notion mums literally just put a post up about stressing about Christmas and I was like declutter, right, like do less.
Unknown Speaker 1:15
Exactly. So how do we declutter Christmas?
Unknown Speaker 1:20
I look, there's heaps of ways we can do it. But let's start with the obvious of the amount of toys your kids are going to get so declutter before Santa comes, that's the first thing and I'm really passionate about getting the kids involved in that process and getting them used to the idea of letting go and making choices and knowing that their items could go to good, you know, for somebody else, I think that's a really important teaching message to do. And obviously, when they're younger, you might have to start with something like you presort the toys and you take out all the rubbish, the ones from you know, the fast food stores and stuff, and you junk, those ones, and then maybe let them pick out a smaller amount. So it's not too overwhelming. But yeah, to cluttering the toys before Santa comes, because what are you going to do on Christmas Day, when you have to fit them all in that wherever you store them, and you're already a fool? You're gonna make big trouble.
Unknown Speaker 2:16
Oh, my God, and and you know, it's a bit different. Now, my daughter's almost 10. And so I like this new part, because the things are, even though maybe a little more expensive, big, like not, not all those little bits like the LOL dolls. And there was just like the amount of containers for the Lego and the LOL dolls. And I mean, I'm I love all over that container. I love the big storage. But I love what you say about especially gifting to charity, and the younger that they learn that and then then I think they have that autonomy, and they feel like they've been part of the decision when they get home and you've just thrown everything out. It doesn't bode very well doesn't, that'll be one.
Unknown Speaker 2:58
And the real reality is if you do that, when you throw people's through that things away, you probably without realizing are actually going to be causing some actual real damage. I mean, a lot of my adult clients or people who had their parents do those actions, well meaning, of course, but now they're traumatized. And they're like holding on to everything because they lost the power when they were younger, like, wow, even at this is it's quite a serious topic, but like, not letting your kids be involved and not being open and honest. I mean, you know, it's okay, every now and then to throw one of those paintings they've done away that wasn't particularly amazing when they're in preschool or something. But you've got to remember that these things can, you know, you don't know what's special, that rock or stick or a random thing that we don't think is special, they sometimes do think is special. And it's giving them a place to hold the special things like giving them a keepsake box or something. It's allowing them to maybe rotate things. And as I just getting them involved in the idea. I mean, there are so many amazing places that could use your declutter toys, which is one of the things I think most people ask me. They're like, what do I do with it? Like, I don't want it. But what do I do?
Unknown Speaker 4:08
Yeah. And where are those places? Because I've been putting off decluttering all the toys that we have. I know I don't go through it. But I do like it's just like, you've got this massive pile and it's like, oh, now what? Yeah, so where?
Unknown Speaker 4:24
Well, look, it depends on your times and what you've got the availability to do but Mike so you know, the local bookshop is obviously a good example. As long as everything's got its pieces of the games and puzzles and bits and pieces. The other one could be maybe a local playgroup that is running, because they're often like run on volunteer, or almost no budget so they could really use things that you're using. So I'm thinking like, those Scuderi kind of toys that kids ride on when they're in preschool and blocks and games that are pretty hardy so they would work for that. Your local preschool could use it I have it I was part Have a community preschool. So again, very low budget, and they would love things. So we'd bring them things like dress ups, things for the sandpit, sometimes like painting related things, but they often obviously buy it more in bulk. So they're probably getting good deals on it. But again, just these things like your kid grows out of the costumes, don't just chuck them away, but your preschool would love it. Obviously, there's the things those broken or yucky toys I talk about, like, like the McDonald's toys, we don't want to keep them because they're really cluttery. But you don't want to just throw them. So now they can be recycled in a hard plastic recycling at Thornlie. Waste. And I mean, how good is that knowing made a bad decision getting it in the first place, but at least into landfills?
Unknown Speaker 5:44
That place is amazing. Oh my goodness, I went there. One day, I was moving. And you know, I had to eat all the things that we accumulated in my garage and it was moving time and I had paint and I had metals and I just put it all in the car and they took it all obviously. There was much
Unknown Speaker 6:01
I went there yesterday and they taking videotapes now cassette tapes, Styrofoam X rays, like it's just the recycling and it's so it's so good that our council like you know, invest in that. We're one of the few places that gets that all in one place, which is really cool.
Unknown Speaker 6:23
You take your stuff there if you're not if you don't live in the home fisheye. So anywhere across Sydney, from anywhere or anywhere else on the north shore that does that or not. I know
Unknown Speaker 6:35
like there's some i know i Tarmin team, like they've got recycling, I don't think they have as many options like they do do everything. But I know that they're trying to improve as they go along. But that one's part of a tip. So it's quite stinky when you're the only ones very nice, which I love. Yeah, clean, very nice stuff. Obviously the other ideas are things like listing on your local freecycle or buy sell trade pages. I mean, there are again, people who are running home, daycares. single moms, parents with you know low income, they would love your declutter items because they can't afford to buy things new. When you think about things like I think about like a puzzle, like a wooden puzzle. They're really expensive when you buy them new, because they're hard wearing in the light. And when they've only got six pieces or 12 pieces. So it doesn't, it's not so stimulating for your kid after a couple of times. But again, you don't want to be buying like 50 of them because they Yeah, they cost work like $20 Each or something. So if you can recycle and donate or something like that. Even your local primary school would love some of your things. So things like board games, so when they have like those weather lunchtimes, they then have options for their kids to play. And you're thinking, Hmm, like, how would you think what would my kid like to do on a wet weather day? And then you imagine what crummy Miss faces resources they've got at their school? If you could donate some games, how good would that be? And it would help you right? Yeah. Along the same option OSH after school care programs, they would like things that like that. And then the other great one, which is in our areas, the peninsula toy recycle is so they take your toys, including stuffed animals, which is like the hardest one to do. Oh, and they, you know, give them a fresh lease of life. And then they pass them on to two places. So it sounds like is that on the northern beaches? Yeah, that's on the northern beaches.
Unknown Speaker 8:26
Yeah, great. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 8:29
We've got a lot of stuff to our
Unknown Speaker 8:32
bet you. My daughter's my daughter. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 8:37
I'm kind of at that stage. My youngest is seven, and she still plays with toys, but not much longer. But I still think there's a lot of stuff that we've got that she just play with. And honestly, we have just got so many toys. And yeah, it's just kind of sitting down, isn't it? And just going through and go. When was the last time we played with this? Like, how do you actually sit down with your child? And is it like, are they genuinely happy to get rid of stuff? Or how do you go and sell it
Unknown Speaker 9:08
to them?
Unknown Speaker 9:09
I think it depends on your kid. Like I know, some kids are more sentimental than others. And like my son would, he was happy to get rid of most of his stuff we really loved like when he got rid of his Lightning McQueen thing. So we was like quite young about eight. And he declared his massive Lightning McQueen collection and he did want some money for it. So we put it at a low price on the buy, sell trade. And then he got to actually give it to the kid and get the money from the parent and seeing that it was going to another you know, younger boy, it helped him to understand it wasn't just getting, you know, thrown away but it'll be you know, passed on. I think it's important to respect that about our kids like they are I want to use the word grieving like it is a loss. They're missing something they growing up. They're realizing they're not little anymore and respecting that. And again, respecting that They might be something they want to keep just for sentimental value, but you've got to limit it. Because otherwise, as I said, they'll have a storage shed when they're older of all the toys. And you'll be like, What about reIated? And so I created like features, like a memory box, and it, you know, special things, ones that will particular memories, or someone's special port for them. You know, maybe someone's past and they got a book from someone and you don't want them to get rid of that that's really special. So.
Unknown Speaker 10:26
And what about all the mums that have got young kids and they're still playing with their toys, and they're going to be playing with them for a very, very long time. But you still got so many toys? How do we deal with the volume of toys that we actually don't want to get rid of? Well, I
Unknown Speaker 10:40
guess then that's the key of like, when Christmas comes to they're not bought by more toys. So to say, well, I've got enough, we've we've reached our quota. This is the amount that we can fit in the Billy bookcase or whatever we've allotted. And then to choose to do something like experiences for your gifts instead. So you're getting to change it up. So yeah, when their pre schooling age they using all that stuff. But do they need more? I don't think so. Or maybe doing a group gift I know for my kids, because I will fairly close in age, we did like a group gift, which was like the trampoline one unit. And that was from everyone, because we didn't need 500 more prisons. So grandma, grandpa, the uncles, the Auntie's everyone kicked in, so that we could get that group gift that they would use for gosh, I felt like about 10 years, it was a good percent.
Unknown Speaker 11:26
I think like you're saying they're also like, it's kind of a, like a monitoring thing that goes on. And so when people are asking what they can buy, because my daughter's birthday is in January, so their ads are all in quick succession. And then we're done for 12 months, you know, but that means it's big coming in. And, you know, I think then kind of having an inventory of what you've got more what you could use more of, and then sort of, I'm gonna know, they're gonna ask for things and put things on a list naturally, as well. But as you say, then it's kind of like, you need to be a little bit more in charge there, of course, to about well, like, you know, we've got, like, X amount of LoL or whatever it is, it may we could have some more crafting stuff, you know, and then and then offering those ideas to people when they ask because, yeah, that's how it just gets out of control, isn't it? If you let, I hate to say it, but if you do let people just go and buy as like fleas. You know, I don't know, I prefer to be told something like, if I'm buying for one of her friends, or you know if even for people I know, I'd rather they tell me? Because truthfully, I don't want people buying me stuff that I don't I don't either, especially at this juncture, you know, I don't know, maybe that you ladies, but I find like, I don't really care. I don't really need you know what I mean? Like much? Yeah, it's changed. And so, but you know, if someone does want to get something I'd rather be going. I'd like some tea towels, or the love of the DJ, but I also always need more to eat out or towels, or I don't know, because I like to refresh them, you know, X amount of time or, you know, mom gives me vouchers, and I go shopping. But you know, I think that that's that's the part too isn't it is kind of like, you need to know what you've got what you don't know. But that's a tricky thing, too, is like I think it doesn't sound to me like you do minimalistic. You do decluttering. So yeah, but I guess the less you start with, the less you have to worry about then to the
Unknown Speaker 13:23
Yeah. And I think it is it's a hard conversation. Don't get me wrong. I remember I told my mother in law, we didn't want her bag of stuff arriving at you know, when she'd arrived with like, lots and stuff that she got in from garage sales and art shops. And she just thought more was more. And then we had to sort of say, how about we let you know what LEGO model, you know, my son would like so he could get what he wanted rather than 50 things that we didn't want. And then you know, and she, she, it was hard for her. But she was okay. And I mean, in the end like the world kept going. And she was okay. But you've got to remember, this is your house, and you've got to set your boundaries. And it's hard to do. And if we don't set it, then how are we going to teach our kids to set it, you know, and it's it has this flow on effect. So, again, people think that decluttering is such a light hearted kind of topic, but it really does have quite deep ramifications about these skill sets you're setting for down the line and how we respect our space and respect. What we want to fill it with, I mean, I know for some of my clients when they get a lot of presents for their kids and they don't want to get rid of them. They might either put them away and have like what they call a rainy day box. And maybe it was we might call it now the COVID break you gotta find the lockdown box, but maybe put some stuff away for when you've got a you know, the school holiday week and it's raining and you're like, What am I going to do and all those things that were put away at Christmas could then be brought out. Maybe you put them away and then maybe re gift them if you got too many mean, let's not be you know, our kids just don't they won't remember like, a couple of months later, they'll probably forget what they will put away anyway.
Unknown Speaker 15:08
We'll just put that aside and you'll just forget about it and then so if you need to present here we go.
Unknown Speaker 15:14
I am guilty Guilty as charged because all my life she hasn't touched it still sitting in the wrapping a gift or something she doesn't care. She doesn't want to she's got so much other stuff, especially the crafting stuff. I mean, even though it's no fun, we like that. But you do add stages tend to get, you know those great things where you can make all sorts of different things that are awesome. Yeah, no, I'm up for that. I don't have problems without
Unknown Speaker 15:42
real let's say you got too much crafting stuff, or you've got some other things put away. There are some really great initiatives that would take your crafting stuff that I bet you do. So one of my favorites is called the sewing basket initiative. And so anything to do with craft more, some more grown up craft, but they'd still take the other things, things to do scrapbooking sewing, any of those needle works and stuff. So even like half done kits. So if you've half done a tapestry or a neat needle craft and then you aboard, you can donate it and they will be able to sell it at their sewing basket shop, which is like a basically an op shop for craft. The people who work there have got disabilities and it helps them get a job. I mean, it's like a beautiful win win win win, isn't it? So where's that located? Oh, there's one up on the Central Coast is one done in Newington, which is not too too far away for us notional mums. And I think that's about it. But if you check the achieve Australia website, they've got more details.
Unknown Speaker 16:40
Okay, great. All these all these amazing ideas and locations, we'll be sure to pop them in the article that goes along with this podcast. Because yeah, I can't write fast enough. All these amazing tips you're sharing, I was
Unknown Speaker 16:55
thinking about all the other things that we get for our kids like sport related things and how quickly they go through it. Or maybe they run out of their soccer shoes faster than they wore them out. And there's places that will take those as well. That's like shoes to planet earth is one of those. And even things like bikes, like how quickly do your kids. I mean, my kids grew out of their bikes faster than they wore them out. It was just Yeah. And there's bike initiatives. So there's one called bikes for life and a bicycle garden.com. And they take bikes, even with not all the parts, they might use the parts to fix other bikes and again, like being able to pass it on to someone else that can help out.
Unknown Speaker 17:32
Absolutely, it's a big one is school shoes, like either they trashed them or you have they just grinded them to quickly and then you know you're spending 120 or $140 on a pair of Clark's shoes. And then they're out of them. Yeah. There's there's charities that take them as well, isn't there? Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 17:53
I'll find some info. And I'll send it on to Yeah, yeah, those types of groups. And that's the thing like you, it's hard to keep your ear to the ground. As a busy mom of all the different initiatives. I try my best to keep my finger on the pulse. But I even miss some sometimes. But it's that thing knowing and I know not all mums, we are a very generous group. I mean, it's just such a beautiful community and I think everyone's very well meaning but they're so busy in life and so that's why one of the best things about our services, we actually take your decluttering thing the things you declutter, okay know how hard it is to get it actually to the shop actually to drop it off to the recycling center. And it's like the best and we say we we do things for national mums smiles to you, we might get things maybe you got a whole lot of stickers or something or coloring pencils. And you know, it's stocking stuffers. And the kids don't really need them you can get them to them to go into the hospital bags. I mean, great yeah. many cool things.
Unknown Speaker 18:50
Yeah, absolutely. And yeah.
Unknown Speaker 18:53
Oh my goodness, I had no idea that it was so micro you know what I mean? Like you think about the bigger op shops and in the recycle center, but not like okay, there's a specific bike there's this place and there's Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 19:06
You have to because with my I mean, not every shop will take everything for one and some clients want to know like really know the nitty gritty. So we're very passionate to try and find like the thing that will really speak to them that will help them to let go because it's hard to let go you spend money on this stuff or money was spent on you and your kids and you want you want the best. You don't want to just to go in the rubbish bin and we definitely get that. But I think the biggest thing about Christmas and I think a lot of us are guilty of and hopefully we COVID And those lockdowns, we've gotten better with it but I think we just need to declutter our schedules like we don't have to go to every Carol's every Christmas party everything and we don't have to have everybody over like it could just be a smaller group and and that's okay, as well. Bigger is not always better.
Unknown Speaker 19:58
Oh, yeah, you i Hear about doing low key, you know, especially, I think, especially this year because we haven't had a lockdown, which is just obviously amazing, but also hard. Because we're all like, oh man, how do I slow down without being told by the government? I have to tell me and that's it. And I think everybody's feeling that. How are we in December almost, you know, there's all of that. And so I think maybe you're right, maybe that the COVID and everything else and I guess people did do a lot of decluttering with Piper at home or in COVID. I know my mom and a FERS lockdown, Laci Gleaner garage, and I have, so she just went in,
Unknown Speaker 20:39
and everything was closed. So there was no way to take it. You know,
Unknown Speaker 20:43
just put it in a pile. And then once it's open again, but you know, something to do, she lives on her own. And you know, like it was, you know, but so what do you recommend about like, how often, you know, because otherwise, it just accumulates, like, if you don't do decluttering X amount, how many? How many times a year, I'm gonna know that's a bit odd to say, because it is different.
Unknown Speaker 21:04
Look, it's different for everyone. I personally believe you have to schedule it in select, one of my things is always assigning a time. So whether it's weekly, monthly, quarterly, like you assign a time. So like for my kids, we used to do at the beginning of every school holidays, we do their wardrobes, before we'd go shopping for the next season's clothes. And it just was like they knew and even now, like they've grown up, and they like around the school holidays, even though they're not in school, they go into their wardrobes, declutter and go home to mom and dad. It's that thing, it's like editing before you go for the next shot. And then we brought it with like, you know, we go on to do mini golf or something, because we know it's painful to try and everything that you know is in your wardrobe. And in terms of time on try another pair pants, try and another pair of pants, you know, and they're like, I'm gonna die and like not gonna die, you just get this done. And then we can go have some fun, but we do that every school holidays. And then the other thing we do is we had a routine in our house, we call it reset Sunday, but it's that kind of a weekly resetting the house. And when you reset, you kind of find items that never find a home and then you kind of make decisions about do we really need to keep this it seems to just be moving one place to another and it doesn't own it doesn't live anywhere, doesn't seem to really get used. And okay, we're gonna let that go. Because there's only so many times you can trip over something in the front hall.
Unknown Speaker 22:28
Because I'm just thinking, like, I've got this bench area in the kitchen, that is just where I just put bits, and I'm not really quite sure where they go or don't actually have a purpose. You know, like, there's a broken necklace. And I'm like, I will try and get that fixed one day. It's been sitting there probably for six months. And I'm like, I'm just thinking about it now going, why is that thing still there? Like, I just need to pop it in the bin, because it's a $10 necklace seriously, but it's, it's just, it's there.
Unknown Speaker 23:00
But we all do it, we all do it. And we have these little things. And so it's just been mindful, I think we often are just so busy running around chasing the kids and doing activities and everything else. And it's, as I said, making a practice. And so for us it was this, as I say reset Sunday, I mean, the motivation came out because I had the kids in the car over the weekend, and everything was crazy. And then I go to a client on Monday and I was like, which is the clients and which is my kids stuff. And if I took it to the shop, I'd be in big trouble. So I basically said, You guys need to clean this stuff out of the car. And otherwise you're gonna lose your things. So, but it started a practice of mindfulness thing of like, you know, sitting, looking at the calendar and setting a meal plan and repacking bags and putting shoes away and all these little practices, which they make you just aware of stuff. And then when you're more aware you make better choices about what you're buying, because you think where's that gonna go when I bring it home, but also just thinking about Yeah, how busy life is and do I want to be chasing after 3 million things. I mean, I'm not a minimalist by far, but you know, the more shoes that your kids have to leave at the front door, the more trouble you're gonna have. So predominantly, kids really just need school shoes, sneakers and sandals. Like if you really thought about it, like little kids are doing the same thing almost every day. They're pretty creatures of habit. And if you only have three pairs of shoes to trip over then you're going to be doing much
Unknown Speaker 24:26
I love that
Unknown Speaker 24:27
there are a lot of available like people you know that now there's like those shoe storage boxes like oh, we don't need them because there's only two of us in the house but you know, like, like they're awesome that you have by the door. That's great. So you guys find as a decluttering diva that you are that like must help you a lot as times gone on and there's like all these storage options available to be able to then
Unknown Speaker 24:51
there's a lot of storage options available but storage is not the key because if you have too much you're just storing the clutter like I have clients with those beautiful shoe cupboards, but their kids still don't get them in or they're. So your storage has got to actually suit what you're doing. And a lot of people, we, we often get to clients houses, and we're decluttering containers. And they're like, you're getting rid of my containers. I'm like, Well, what are we containing? Like? You've got, like mindful choices beforehand. It contained clutter is still clutter, let's just be real. Okay, I'm gonna Yeah, exploit that myth it's about containing is to make things have a system. That's what the container is about. It's not about storing stuff. Because stuff Yes, has been used is really just clutter. So it is, and I mean, wow, because I just see it every day. I mean, I thought I mean, I think to Rachel, like my, my clientele, predominantly, really busy people. And they're busy because they've got multiple kids, maybe kids on the spectrum or with disabilities, husbands with busy jobs, maybe no husband, when you think of all these factors we need to simplify. You have more issues, you need to make your house just even less.
Unknown Speaker 26:04
Yeah, so yeah, there's so many benefits, isn't it? I mean, it is there's such a psychological link isn't there between the amount of clutter like I know, after I've just done a big declutter, which I need I am actually in need of doing one, you just feel so much lighter. Like you, you can find this less stuff to get messy. So actually, it's just it's a win win. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 26:30
what's little things like, I mean, I'm thinking a lot of people might buy their kids like new drink bottles for the you know, they like or they need a new drink bottle, because they always lose this, that that kind of philosophy. But then we go into their house, and there's literally 50 drink bottles. And when you have 50 drink bottles, you then have to wash 50 drink bottles. But yeah, you have one per person. And I know this sounds really strict, but it's just the reality, like, you're one of the person, you have one to wash, and instead of 50 to wash and it's making less work for everything less clothing means less washing means less folding, impalas and the cycle continues. And we I think, in general, we think of we have more than we have more options. And but we know with our kids, I mean, most of the kids I go to, they have like a five by five, you know, Billy, and one of those cute bookshelves filled with toys. And they, they don't even access maybe 10% of that, because they're just so overwhelmed by options. So you could actually give them like three things, and they'd be happy.
Unknown Speaker 27:31
Yeah, it is amazing. I find like whenever you go on away on a holiday, or you know, say you go for a week up the coast or whatever, they'll just take a few toys, and they're fine with it. Like they don't need all that stuff. They just choose their favorites. So I just need
Unknown Speaker 27:45
a blanket and a chair. Well,
Unknown Speaker 27:47
and
Unknown Speaker 27:49
actually, the reality to that is I work in after school care and yesterday afternoon and their kids were you know, tap water stream fountain mod. Like it's in spite, you know what I mean? They're just and then you know, they're left actually with it. You know, it's amazing what their imaginations will exactly do and what they'll create from, like you say, not much, or Yeah, especially outside and the texture. And I mean, it's just the most incredible thing to watch. Is that,
Unknown Speaker 28:19
like how we used to live like we like the days, I know, I mean, I remember my mind growing up was like, We backed on the bush we'd have a knapsack. Remember those kind of yellowy color that? You get your knapsack, you get some food or meat, you go for a bush walk, you make a copy in the bush and you just come home before dark. I mean, I mean, obviously, the world's a little bit different. But you can still have a tracker app on your kid maybe to make sure they can refer to just go out in the bush and make a cubby house out of sticks with their friends.
Unknown Speaker 28:57
Absolutely. Yeah, freedom.
Unknown Speaker 29:00
And the reality is that freedom, that feeling that you're we're all talking about is the thing. That is the whole point of why we want to declutter Christmas, we don't want to burden ourselves, our kids, our families, we don't be putting ourselves into debt, putting ourselves you know, we'd like the space stress, whatever it is the whole point. It's supposed to be a time of joy and giving. So why do we want to make it stressful?
Unknown Speaker 29:23
Yeah, yeah. And you know, as you say, it is like Sydney is so expensive at the moment. And you know, I'm seeing posts from women in the Facebook group just going I'm really stressed. I can't give them you know, my children. I can't treat them the way I want to, but it's, you know, there's other ways of treating them that isn't necessarily materialistic products. And of course you want presents under the tree because, you know, sand is gonna come and stuff but it's just, I guess, being more mindful about that. And, you know, as you say, getting friends you know, being specific with friends about gift ideas, so you're not getting stuck After that they don't want any expectation young saw a post on, it wasn't Inotia mums, that was some Brisbane mom she'd posted a photo she'd been too big W. And she posted this photo on Instagram of this overflowing trolley of gifts for her four year old. And you know, the comments were just like, you're just setting yourself up for failure because setting them up with that expectation of getting that number of gifts. At that age, it's just and it just, it just is so wrong. And so you know, it's that mentality of the more prisons I give them, the more
Unknown Speaker 30:46
that's going around, it's been going around for years, where you give them like, one thing to read one thing to wear and one thing to maybe play with or something. So you're giving them something that education or something that they need, like new pajamas, or clothes or something, and then something else. And then maybe even having an option there where you, you know, you say oh, and the other tradition we're going to do is before Christmas, we're going to declutter some stuff. And we're going to take it to, you know, one of these different groups that we found, and like start get start really young with the idea of giving and because I think we forget that it's not just them taking it's actually giving and that needs to go both ways. That exactly setting up for expectation. I mean, there's that. I think so many people remind people this time, like if you give your kid the most expensive present from Santa, and then there's an you know, poor kid down the road, and they're not, ya know, and it's like, this whole thing that's centered. Yeah, we need to make more simplified even with what Santa gives, because he's gonna give it to the to the kid in every place. So let me just import System Center. instead. Yeah, the PlayStation four or whatever it is. This year? I mean, seriously, I don't know. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 31:58
Oh, my goodness. Yeah. So whatever, no more laws of LLS and all those ones.
Unknown Speaker 32:04
I tell you as a professional organizer, little toys on my worst nightmare. But you know, we make it work.
Unknown Speaker 32:10
And also the little tiny shoes and the little that they come with? It's got this little container full over the little bit. So
Unknown Speaker 32:20
I'm sorry to say sorry about that. But yeah, I think it's just changing up the thought process. And I know for us, like, we even decided like, for years, we haven't even done a Christmas tree. We did like a wall tree with like tinsel, just because the space it took to have a tree is sometimes really intimidating for some households when they've already gotten a lot of stuff. So we did like a wall tree or I've done a really streamline tree or maybe just a tabletop tree. It's even that like just paring down the decorations. Because I mean decorations cost money. But also like, do you need to have it look like, you know, the Griswolds? So yeah, that kind of thing. And again, it depends, I guess, different families, different traditions, but we started doing different traditions like that. And just because the pressure of trying to fit a tree in my lounge room at that stage. It was honestly I was like, if I put a tree and we can't actually physically watch television, there's no room, you know? So yeah, like, figure out different ways. And it's not because we were cluttered. It's just fitting people and stuff in the house. But I think also you're getting presents that aren't always toy related. So it could be yes. A new beach towel or swimmers or something like that. So it's something for the season, but it's not necessarily going to be toys, but something that still cost us lots of money. I mean, it's good swimmers
Unknown Speaker 33:41
love. Yeah, but they can Yeah, you're right. It costs a lot but quality. You know, that's yeah, you know, that's, you know, like,
Unknown Speaker 33:50
a good hat to wear to the beach. Or it could even be like a little gift pack of like sunscreen and lip gloss for a girl because that's the sort of thing they need. But they expensive for us as parents to buy. But if you give it to them as a gift, and it might seem a bit cheap, like buying sunscreen, I'm like we're saving their skin for the rest of their life. That's not a bad thing. It's one yes. Definitely differently. And I love the idea of giving a book for sure. My kids are not big readers, but you know, I still tried when they were younger.
Unknown Speaker 34:24
Yeah, that's so trying on that one. You mean amazing. I just thank you. There's so much. So I'm so much. That's why
Unknown Speaker 34:33
I could talk about decluttering for like a year. I reckon. You're passionate, very passionate. Yeah. That's why I haven't seen now because you just I can't do all of it. So I had to get more people on the team.
Unknown Speaker 34:45
Yeah, absolutely. Because I remember Christina we met when nautral moms first started about 10 years ago and you were just starting your business by yourself. And now you've got seven declutters operating all over Sydney. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 34:58
no, it's super fun. Wait, I don't know. I can't even tell you how many 1000 things we declutter every week and take care centers and shops and stuff and seeing people getting that. That feeling that nice, light feeling on them, you know, and every day I get to get that, and it's pretty amazing. So flattering. Hi, every day. That's why I'm so happy. I love this. Awesome. Secret. That's my secret. I get to do the thing that everybody does just once a year. I do it every day. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 35:34
I get that feeling later on today, I think I'm gonna dive into the toy room and love it. So good talking to you. We've only covered Christmas. But there's plenty more we can talk about. So we'll get you back again all the time. In 2023 Ah.
Unknown Speaker 35:56
And if you'd like to have Christina or any of her team, now come out and give you a hand especially this time of year or over the holiday period is a great time. decluttering david.com.au is where you can find them and their services. And thank you so much for your tips for us today, though. And now this was your time. Thank you. No worries at all. Have a beautiful day. Thank you. You too. Thanks, Christina. Hi. Yeah, well, that was amazing. So much to think about. And it's a bit tiring, though, is anyway we've decided as a result of that, that from now on, we're going to do five minute episodes Declutter. I think that sounds gonna roll.
Unknown Speaker 36:34
I think we need to declutter all aspects of our life. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 36:37
Rachel. From kids.
Unknown Speaker 36:40
Sounds good.
Unknown Speaker 36:41
I don't listen to this. I don't say which ones? No, no, no, no. Otherwise, and Oh, yeah. And this is our second last episode, actually, for season one for the year, which is sort of sad and exciting, because we'll take a bit of a break but we'll come back. In that episode. It will be an audio obviously, as well as we're going to do a video too because you know, just thought that'd be a bit of fun and face to face to the voice we had to put put that off, didn't we Rachel by a couple of weeks because your hair straight and broke. And that's? Well,
Unknown Speaker 37:13
it is it is an essential appliance. I've never declutter my hair straighteners. I did break one a good one a couple of months ago. And then I've been using my daughter's hair straightener, which isn't quite as good. But then we went away last weekend. And I left it at the apartment. No, so. Oh, yeah, it's not really even worth it's only a cheap one. So I've just so you know, I'm hoping Santa might bring me a new really good hair straightener
Unknown Speaker 37:40
is a hobby. Hobby. Hey,
Unknown Speaker 37:43
I'm about to drop that hint, I think or leave
Unknown Speaker 37:48
the link to the one. Yeah, but he might look at your hair and think, Whoa, I know what, Rachel. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 37:56
I think Christmas is too far away. It's got to come like next or sooner tomorrow.
Unknown Speaker 38:00
Yeah. Just quickly, though, on that. I don't really because because you wear headphones and everything. And yeah, what? What happens to your hair if you don't have the strike? And what's the situation you do?
Unknown Speaker 38:11
It's just both like, I just call it buff chucker. Like it just I've got very thick hair. And then it's wavy. And it just, it just doesn't, it just looks so much better when it's straighter. I just, I've always straightened it. And I love it straights.
Unknown Speaker 38:27
So how long does it take you to straighten?
Unknown Speaker 38:29
Oh, not that long these days? Because the Straighten is if you have a good straightener, it's only sort of 10 minutes. Wow. So start underneath and work your way up. And yeah, it's great. I love it. Yeah, it's good. It's actually it's an easy thing to do. But yeah, not when you ever makes you
Unknown Speaker 38:45
feel good. And that's the time of year. You know, it's all about I mean, honestly, I just drive around listen to Christmas carols, and I'm happy so that's, yeah, I know. I have the opposite problem to you. I can't curl my hair because it's so straight. It doesn't want to do anything. It's Oh, wow. Yeah, boring. Guys. Nana
Unknown Speaker 39:06
we're never happy with what we've got our way
Unknown Speaker 39:08
night and listen to us got. Wise, so wise woman after all?
Unknown Speaker 39:15
Absolutely. Yeah. Thank you, ladies and gentleman, if there are any men listening, I don't know if we've got many men listening. But if you're here, welcome. Thank you for tuning in. We'll be back with our Christmas special in a couple of weeks. And we will looking forward to sharing what we're doing of Christmas.
Unknown Speaker 39:33
Just love an opportunity to talk about Christmas. So that'd be fun. We could catch up and we'll have a video and yeah, it'd be awesome. And then that'll be it.
Unknown Speaker 39:42
That'll be it for 2020 Oh, take take a bit of a breather. Yeah. And be ready to face the next year with gusto and excitement.
Unknown Speaker 39:54
Right? Awesome. Yes. See you later.