View Full Version : October Purge
rosarugosa
10-1-17, 7:56pm
I'm about halfway through the seasonal closet clean-out, and 9 items gone so far between the 2 of us today. That means we're at 61 clothing items out net for the year (I don't count socks and underwear, and net is after offsetting with any new items that came in). Also 4 books out and a chipped soap dish. I'm not exactly striving to be ultralight (pun intended), but certainly striving to be lighter.
I realized recently that what I really want to do most of the time is go for a walk. So I'm trying to prune out things and obligations that suck up my time and keep me from doing what I really want to do.
Decluttering, frugality, mindfulness, life's purpose - it all ties together, doesn't it?
I'm reading a rather wonderful little book, How to Walk, by Thich Nhat Hanh. I think I've found my pathway to meditation and mindfulness, and it's a foot path.
Chicken lady
10-1-17, 8:56pm
Rosa, that sounds lovely!
my October purge area is going to be my kitchen. I am slowly moving items to the new kitchen as I need them. At some point, the new kitchen cabinets will be full, the old kitchen will be empty, or I will have gone through Thanksgiving and Christmas and not moved things. Except in very special cases (for example - I'm not canning this year, but I plan to put my jar litter with the canning stuff in the basement - I may find other things like that that should be stored in the basement, not the kitchen) those things will go.
as I am pulling things out of cabinets, I am finding things behind them that I forgot.
today I found two small bowls I can happily part with (and some other things I need to make sure dh can part with when he gets back in a week.)
Family members, a neighbor and I cut down a tree that was getting too tall for comfort and leaning onto the neighbor's property. He volunteered to haul away all the pieces his son did not take for firewood and we all loaded in his pickup. I also cut down more small items. In 2 weeks yard waste pickups for the fall start. After that I will declutter inside. I did throw out one stained pillowcase.
Oct 02/17 I am in on this and trying for 5 items a day.....I haven't done it for awhile and amazingly the
more I get rid of the more I see to get rid of....
--two of dear husbands Lion's club dress shirts like new...Donated
--two gift cards to Lion's club fundraiser....Donated
--two really stained tea towels...Rag Bag
--3 cutting broads stained and very rough shape ...Garbage
--2 plastic containers for pouring oils..very icky and unsafe...Garbage
--4 samples of shampoo etc. partly used in travel bags...Used up then recycled
--2 pass dated makeups....Garbage
--1 Swimsuit like new that doesn't work for me now...Donation
--8 Bras new or like new that don't work for me now...Donation/giveaway
--1 Beachy type bag I have never used...Donation
Whoa if I could just keep this up I would love it!!! To Date 27 items
Danna, I like the 5 things a day idea and will start today--so I need 15--let's see if I can do that! As in now.
Teacher Terry
10-2-17, 1:36pm
I went through my closet yesterday and found enough stuff to fill a bag. In the past month I have bought about 6 new shirts so some of the old needed to go. I do think that is a good method for keeping things from becoming overwhelming.
rosarugosa
10-3-17, 5:06am
Out with a pair of worn-out shoes and 5 more books.
Our closet still has a lot in it, but at least there is some wiggle-room now. It is easier to see what is in there and it is gradually becoming a more functional space.
Now that you can see more you can toss more. Good work RR and everyone!
This 3 day wekend I want to tackle removing and tossing the old insulation. My original goal was Labor Day weekend but then we had company come.
--two of dear husbands Lion's club dress shirts like new...Donated
--two gift cards to Lion's club fundraiser....Donated
--two really stained tea towels...Rag Bag
--3 cutting broads stained and very rough shape ...Garbage
--2 plastic containers for pouring oils..very icky and unsafe...Garbage
--4 samples of shampoo etc. partly used in travel bags...Used up then recycled
--2 pass dated makeups....Garbage
--1 Swimsuit like new that doesn't work for me now...Donation
--8 Bras new or like new that don't work for me now...Donation/giveaway
--1 Beachy type bag I have never used...Donation
Whoa if I could just keep this up I would love it!!! To Date 27 items
To Oct 03/2017
--10 items made up into 2 gift baskets for auction at charity...donation
--2 pair of underwear...needed to go in garbage...(thinking is that if I had an accident/got sick even at home would
I be embarrassed to be taken to the hospital...my mother always said that...lol...I have become my mother)
--2 magazines...1 to recycling and 1 to donation bag.
--1 more like new bathing suit ..donation
Total to date: 42
I have been working through all the old spices hanging around the house for over a year now. I finished the last of the curry powder yesterday and only have cinnamon left. My thinking is that I should eat fresh herbs preferably grown myself not dried, powdered, processed spices imported from halfway around the world.
rosarugosa
10-6-17, 4:06pm
I am overjoyed to learn that Savers accepts stuffed animals! If these were chewed up old teddy bears, I would have parted with them a long time ago, but these are really nice imported hedgehogs and a couple of bats and an armadillo. I have no use for them at this stage of my life, but they were too nice to just throw away. Glad I will be able to re-home them.
Danna: You are really on a roll!
Yppej: We did the spice cabinet a few years ago, and there were things that had been there for decades and probably as yummy as ground dust by that point. We do like to use some things that we cannot grow (at least I don't think we can grow cumin and turmeric), but are trying to be a little bit wiser about buying only things we use. If it's something we use infrequently, we buy the tiniest size possible.
I have heard tumeric is really healthy so I might buy it again. I got a new mug to replace one I keep at work that has a white interior and gets to looking grungy from tea stains if I don't bleach it all the time. When I am back at work Tuesday I will toss the old mug.
I have to use the cloves in my cabinet which have literally been there for years--they are whole cloves, and I bought them to stick into oranges for Christmas presents, and then never did that...
rosarugosa
10-8-17, 6:46pm
Me too, Tybee! Whole cloves that never even got close to an orange!
Today I wore a really pretty shirt that kind of rides up funny when I move around, not exactly sure how to describe it. Bottom line is that the shirt looks good if I don't move, or if I tug at it constantly, and I don't consider either of those to be acceptable options. So into the wash it goes and then into the donation bag.
I persuaded DH to look through his suits and fall shirts yesterday, and he parted with a suit and a shirt. He worked at Brooks Brothers for many years, so he has a substantial wardrobe that was relevant in a previous life, but not his current one. I understand how it can be hard to let go, so I just try and gently coax him to reassess these things periodically when I'm doing the seasonal closet clean out.
We're building up a sizable collection for Savers.
Family members, a neighbor and I cut down a tree that was getting too tall for comfort and leaning onto the neighbor's property. He volunteered to haul away all the pieces his son did not take for firewood and we all loaded in his pickup. I also cut down more small items. In 2 weeks yard waste pickups for the fall start. ....
We've been busy doing the same thing here at my little rental house. Had a professional tree service remove a 40' palm tree and grind the stump down for total cost of $1,550. It was not 100% stable and was right on the fence line with the neighbor. We're now removing smaller trees ourselves which had also been planted on the fence line.
Why oh why do people plant right up against the fence ??!! It's taken many labor hours and several trips to the dump with the debris and it's still not done.
I got what was labelled a watermelon knife at the supermarket hoping it would be better on butternut squash. It isn't but will replace the old stained big knife I have. I also tackled some paperwork.
I managed to take 14 items to Goodwill yesterday, so that's my total for the month so far.
Teacher Terry
10-16-17, 1:39pm
I went through my clothes and kitchen again so have a bag to donate.
My extended family has decided to have a garage sale, and asked to have it at my house in January. Our area is particularly popular for these sales, so I agreed.
So for right now we'll continue the decluttering but we'll be putting most of it aside for the sale; what doesn't sell will be donated afterwards.
happystuff
10-21-17, 6:45am
Just finished up a week off work - a "stay-cation". Besides visiting friends and family off and on, I spent a lot of time tackling the clutter in my living room. Decided to get rid of the heavy, old tv stand. Replaced it with a corner shelf unit that needed to be cleaned off first and required moving a bookshelf as well as the old tv stand, etc. etc. One of those "must destroy the entire room to accomplish one thing" type of jobs. The bookcase is/was actually totally full of photo albums and boxes. I've gone through and removed photos of half filled albums and put those in for donation. Also went through and removed photos from old and broken frames, etc. I now have a manageable amount of framed pictures to display and my next project will be to resume scanning photos onto sd cards. Feels to actually see the progress in the whole room.
I got rid of a few worn linens but have not done much. With full employment in my area the commute gets worse and worse and the service at businesses is also deteriorating. Last night it was too underperforming people in the supermarket checkout who held me up for 15 minutes. But places that pay lower wages are losing their better staff. I noticed it at the doctor's office this week too. New staff never ordered the shingles shot I had requested. So by the time I get home I do not feel like decluttering.
Teacher Terry
10-21-17, 3:37pm
When I worked f.t. I never decluttered during the weeks. It was too much. I would do it on the weekends.
happystuff
10-22-17, 8:21am
When I worked f.t. I never decluttered during the weeks. It was too much. I would do it on the weekends.
I agree. I'm usually so tired by the time I get home from work, that decluttering is the LAST thing I want to do! But I'm hoping my renewed motivation lasts for a little while. There is still a lot I want/need to get done. lol.
ApatheticNoMore
10-22-17, 9:34am
I agree about being tired, besides where exactly are you supposed to take stuff after work to leave it off, thrifts aren't actually open for donations at that time etc. (though they are for shopping). So at best you put stuff in a pile to *actually* get rid of on the weekend anyway! I don't find it that big a chore, except the taking stuff places part, and not that big, but it is an outing and places do have to be open. I don't want to do anything on the weekdays at all, but I cook, I go to the gym, it's all forcing myself, I'm tired and don't want to do anything really ...
Chicken lady
10-22-17, 10:50am
Bummer ANM, our goodwill is open for donations whenever it’s open, so I can drop stuff on the way home from work.
two days a week I usually go in late, so I can drop on the way to work then.
i try really hard not to drive on weekends. If we are doing something fun, dh usually drives.
iris lilies
10-22-17, 11:03am
This month I got rid of the last of the Lily Society's show equipment. The last background panels went to our local Ikebana professor. DH drove 7 tubs of stuff up to Iowa to hand off to the Iowa lily club. While I have some items around my house still, I have a planned use for them and if that use doesnt come to fruition, I will toss them.
I still have $$$ in our treasury to disburse but am waiting for certificate of dissolutin from our Secretary of State's office. I have been filling out forms and communicating with three State offices to bring this beast to closure.
Now, the local dahlia society here is planning to close but Thank God I am only peripherally involved with that group and will have no responsibility in cleaning out THAT storage shed.
I tossed a pair of gardening gloves that had the fingers poking through. I'm reading L'Art de la Simplicite which says in part, "Anything in an interior that is not absolutely fit for purpose becomes a minor irritation, like a slight but nagging headache or toothache." That got me thinking.
Teacher Terry
10-22-17, 7:10pm
So last night we go out to dinner and my DH says that he wants to purge all the junk he has but is not good at it. I ask if I can help and he says yes which he never has before. I tell him that when we get rid of the stuff in the 1 car garage then I will help him sort his tools, screws, etc so he can have the workshop he has always wanted. So we started today. I make the initial decisions and then he can look at what I put in boxes for him to look through. I have filled both the huge garbage cans and recycling container in just a few hours. I am both good and fast at this. Although, it will take time becaue there is so much of it.
iris lilies
10-22-17, 8:36pm
So last night we go out to dinner and my DH says that he wants to purge all the junk he has but is not good at it. I ask if I can help and he says yes which he never has before. I tell him that when we get rid of the stuff in the 1 car garage then I will help him sort his tools, screws, etc so he can have the workshop he has always wanted. So we started today. I make the initial decisions and then he can look at what I put in boxes for him to look through. I have filled both the huge garbage cans and recycling container in just a few hours. I am both good and fast at this. Although, it will take time becaue there is so much of it.
This is epic! My DH would not ever allow me to interfere with his hoard.
I found some junk in the basement, most too bulky or heavy to go out in the trash, but I will be getting rid of an old car cover and wooden mousetraps I'd forgotten about.
Teacher Terry
10-23-17, 12:41pm
IL; before you get too excited I told DH last night I would finish up the boxes today and he said he thinks it is stuff that he needs to go through. We all know what that means!thumbsup!. I am going to try again today to talk to him about this. Of course his office is a disaster also but I guess baby steps.
iris lilies
10-23-17, 1:31pm
IL; before you get too excited I told DH last night I would finish up the boxes today and he said he thinks it is stuff that he needs to go through. We all know what that means!thumbsup!. I am going to try again today to talk to him about this. Of course his office is a disaster also but I guess baby steps.
awwww, shoot. Weel then, maybe later.
Teacher Terry
10-23-17, 1:54pm
At least the garage is about 30 boxes lighter. However, I just remembered that the deal for me to sort his tools, screw etc was that the garage had to be clean so maybe I can use this as leverage:~)
Since the last I posted on Oct 10
--two of dear husbands Lion's club dress shirts like new...Donated
--two gift cards to Lion's club fundraiser....Donated
--two really stained tea towels...Rag Bag
--3 cutting broads stained and very rough shape ...Garbage
--2 plastic containers for pouring oils..very icky and unsafe...Garbage
--4 samples of shampoo etc. partly used in travel bags...Used up then recycled
--2 pass dated makeups....Garbage
--1 Swimsuit like new that doesn't work for me now...Donation
--8 Bras new or like new that don't work for me now...Donation/giveaway
--1 Beachy type bag I have never used...Donation
Whoa if I could just keep this up I would love it!!! To Date 27 items
To Oct 03/2017
--10 items made up into 2 gift baskets for auction at charity...donation
--2 pair of underwear...needed to go in garbage...(thinking is that if I had an accident/got sick even at home would
I be embarrassed to be taken to the hospital...my mother always said that...lol...I have become my mother)
--2 magazines...1 to recycling and 1 to donation bag.
--1 more like new bathing suit ..donation
Total to date: 42
I have been a very busy lady
--1 toilet bowl and holder...garbage 2 more pairs of underwear, 6 mugs to a charity for making gift baskets
--6 packages of chocolate...2 small containers to charity...1 Neti pot to charity
--8 cans of food to Food Bank....4 Magazines to charity....
---1 Large Bakers Rack sold on KIJJI...6 books to charity
--1 more tea towel.....2 T-shirts to the rag bag
Total 82
There has been more but goes to show you that if you don't write it down you can't even remember you had it...lol
Wallpaper remover, about 10 years old, and thickened too much to use.
Returned 7 items to a couple of different stores today. I'm counting this because in the past, things not returned turned into permanent clutter, so it's progress that I got them returned! New total for month: 21.
Williamsmith
10-29-17, 6:00am
A box containing brand new and in the original box from 1987......a Pyrex coffee percolator and replacement parts. 12 items sold to a collector in rural New York for enough to pay for dinner for two. Opened up a nice empty space in my garage. Boom.
After IL's thread on can openers I looked at mine. The gears were rusted out so I replaced it for less than $3.00. I have not been doing bigger things because there is no room for them in the trash with all the old insulation I am getting rid of bit by bit each week.
Mini step - got DH to agree to donate a set of Time-Life WWII books that will clear off an entire bookshelf, however, they're not out of the house yet. I'll remind him this weekend. He's also agreed to go through his suits and ties and donate most of them now that he's retired.
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