View Full Version : January Purge
I gave away a microwave today!
I gave away a microwave today!
Good start!
Teacher Terry
1-7-21, 12:52pm
Have been to the thrift store 6 times in last few weeks. Packing to move and have filled 20 plastic tubs and am done except for my clothes and pictures. Had no clue so few things in this house were mine.
That is a revelation, Teacher Terry. thinking of you as you move on and hope all stays peaceful and beneficial to you.
Have been to the thrift store 6 times in last few weeks. Packing to move and have filled 20 plastic tubs and am done except for my clothes and pictures. Had no clue so few things in this house were mine.
Wow! That will certainly make moving easier.
Wore a sweater to work yesterday and realized I don't love it. I'll wash it and put it into the donate bag.
Got rid of a few more things from our clean-out of the storage shed yesterday: a spot-remover machine, skateboard, tall planter pot, golf club, and tabletop.
Total for month: 6.
Pitched a pair of pants I don’t like and don’t fit well anymore.
Partially went through the bathroom before starting work this morning.
No diving this weekend so I’m planning on a massive declutter. Actually looking forward to it.
A friend is living in Mexico temporarily. She got her cave diving training down there. She’s in Tulum, on the Yucatán peninsula. Even got her temp residency permit as it allowed her to buy a vehicle. She has worked remote for years. With the pandemic, she headed down there. Anyway, she’s renting a furnished place. She went down with dive gear and little else. That has really inspired me. Not that I want to travel like that but the minimalism.
21 plastic bags. I have been going to stores in less red zones and been so focused on finding them I forget to bring in my reusable bags, so the plastic ones have been piling up.
Sold $620 worth of scuba gear today.
I took 15 items to Goodwill and the local animal shelter and ten books to another charity. New total for month: 31.
12 full kitchen garbage bags (13 gallon) gone. Clothes, non-sensitive papers, a few books, just a whole bunch of crap. Glad to have it gone. I’m beat.
I got rid of four more things: two packages of bubble wrap and two buckets. New total for month: 35.
mschrisgo2
1-10-21, 3:53am
Gave myself a week to purge my closet of winter clothes, by way of trying on a few things as I was getting dressed each day. All of the things that didn’t feel good got bagged up. I did laundry this morning, so the 2 shirts I wore but decided I really don’t like- feel like they are cut weird in the sleeves/shoulders- were washed and added to the bags to go. I found out our Goodwill store is open, and recycles cloth, so I made 2 bags clearly marked for Recycle, and 3 more bags of good, clean winter shirts, sweaters and pants. I will drop them off when I do the grocery run on Monday. Also have 4 large sweatshirts, way too large for me now, that I will drop off for donation to the grape workers who are coming in to our area this week.
Also, talked to my cousin, who is making sleeping mats for the homeless out of plastic bags. I have amassed a huge pile of plastic bags, since we aren’t allowed reusable bags because of Covid. I carefully folded and rolled them into a flat rate USPS box that I will mail to her on Monday. Feels silly, sort of, because she only lives an hour from me and I would normally drop them off to her, but- we are being safe.
This has become a kind of game- who can use the things I’m not, and where can I take them?
rosarugosa
1-10-21, 7:24am
I was going to store some holiday decorations inside a trunk that we use for a table, and low and behold, it was already filled, mostly with a collection of straw hats and baskets. So many hats and baskets are in bags ready to be donated.
GeorgeParker
1-10-21, 9:17am
Are there any rules or methods required in these monthly purges? Or are they totally free-form where you just eliminate whatever you can and report the result here?
Just post whatever you like.
rosarugosa
1-10-21, 4:15pm
Are there any rules or methods required in these monthly purges? Or are they totally free-form where you just eliminate whatever you can and report the result here?
Definitely free-form :)
Put some holiday decorations, a large decorative bowl a few more items in the donate/sale container in the garage. There's a possibility we may move in the next year, so I'm looking at things through my "do I want to pack, move, unpack and find a place for this" glasses.
I'm stalled, or paused, or ?
Was going great guns. Found a way to give myself credit for the work, without a cumulative visual list. A problem if those lists trigger panic attacks, and they always have. But, okay, I"m in a slow time, or stalled or paused or just quitting. I had been purging stuff daily and I haven't for the past few days. To the point that when I was getting ready to go to the dump yesterday? I didn't. There wasn't enough to justify the trip.
So, I need to find a way to jump start myself, again. Not sure what that is. Last major push was in our bedroom. When the room is cleared enough, we can move the bed. After we move the bed, we can put up the last of the 4 floor to ceiling bookcases. That means I can put away more books. I went though one of the boxes last, and discovered most of the "missing" cookbooks. Big problem is that I have nowhere to put them, so they're stacked up in the kitchen, dining room, and living room.
Hm. Just describing that seems like what's stalling me is that I have this slug of definite "keeps" and nowhere to put them. If I cull things down enough to put them away, maybe that will disperse the logjam -- maybe?
--
Maybe that worked? I just went downstairs and had a flash about what to do with all the brochures and pamphlets. I have a swathe of war cooking books, frugal cooking, recipe booklets, etc. These are a PITA because they're hard to file in such a way that you can find them AND they're spineless. But being me, I have a lot of them. I looked at what was out that needed filing, the space, etc. and pulled out the preserving books and moved them to an empty shelf. I don't can, so I use these for recipes and inspiration. (I keep thinking I'll start canning too.)
Anyway, I have old library oak pamphlet boxes. I was trying to figure out the problem with the small stuff and went Doh! I have boxes which were made for this type of thing, and I filed the lot in one of the boxes. Added old 5 x7" indexes with pencil labels. They need better dividers, but all the booklets, etc. are put away and sorted. The canning books are all in one place. I used an empty pamphlet box, filled a shelf, and unstuffed an overstuffed shelf. Nothing to cull, but more order -- always good!
Teacher Terry
1-21-21, 11:35am
I have always loved books and read a lot. However, I am now getting them digitally. I parked down to 10 books. If I need anything I can look it up online.
Unfortunately, a lot of what I have isn't available digitallly and when it is, it's insanely expensive. I have housekeeping/frugality/cooking books/booklets back to before the Civil War. Most of them are in terrible condition, the only way I could afford them, so they're fragile. Many just aren't available digitally at all and when they've been scanned and are for sale? They're more expensive than the originals many times. Makes no sense to me, but I'm an old fashioned book dealer...
iris lilies
1-21-21, 12:33pm
I don’t think the world realizes how much printed matter is NOT available in digital form.
Over the past year I have purchased a couple of printed books because I casually wanted to read them, and they weren’t in digital form. But I’m not gonna keep them.
Unfortunately, a lot of what I have isn't available digitallly and when it is, it's insanely expensive. I have housekeeping/frugality/cooking books/booklets back to before the Civil War. Most of them are in terrible condition, the only way I could afford them, so they're fragile. Many just aren't available digitally at all and when they've been scanned and are for sale? They're more expensive than the originals many times. Makes no sense to me, but I'm an old fashioned book dealer...
NewGig, help me understand please. I thought that you getting completely out of the book selling business. Am I confused or misinterpreting your intentions.
I am getting out of bookselling. You can take the shop and stock away from the bookseller, but not the bookseller out of the girl, so to speak. The books I"m talking about are my personal books. I am still selling and culling books, trying to get rid of the last of the store stock. But I'm the daughter of two people who met because they were book people. Mom was a book seller. Dad was a book collector. To say that I have book collecting in my veins is not an overstatement. I met my husband of 30+ years because I rented a 2 bedroom house -- I was going to have a library. Instead I ended up having a roommate for 90 days, or that was the plan.
Even with a greatly reduced collection, books are part of who I am and probably always will be.
early morning
1-21-21, 4:35pm
pulled 4 mugs from the cupboard to donate. Not exactly a big space-saver, lol. We consolidated our tree ornaments, but didn't actually get rid of any, just packed them better, reducing the need for one box. Recycled a stack of small cardboard boxes we'd saved but don't need, and have a larger stack of sturdy boxes to give my SIL and DB. They are moving in place (Crap house that has limped along way past its expiration date, being replaced) but need to pack up everything.
rosarugosa
1-21-21, 5:29pm
I am getting out of bookselling. You can take the shop and stock away from the bookseller, but not the bookseller out of the girl, so to speak. The books I"m talking about are my personal books. I am still selling and culling books, trying to get rid of the last of the store stock. But I'm the daughter of two people who met because they were book people. Mom was a book seller. Dad was a book collector. To say that I have book collecting in my veins is not an overstatement. I met my husband of 30+ years because I rented a 2 bedroom house -- I was going to have a library. Instead I ended up having a roommate for 90 days, or that was the plan.
Even with a greatly reduced collection, books are part of who I am and probably always will be.
I culled a lot of my personal collection, but I still have about 500 books in my tiny house (I think that's what I had counted) and I'm comfortable with that amount. When I go into a house and I don't see any books, I wonder what is wrong with the people who live there. I can totally understand why you would always have a substantial book collection.
frugal-one
1-21-21, 5:56pm
I have number of holistic "medical" books. Many answers cannot be found (or buried very deeply) online. I also have a number of cookbooks that I use regularly and combine recipes sometimes from more than one source to make them healthier. Admittedly, I could cull a few and will when I decide to vacate this abode. I have a number of fiction books that I should either read or part with but am in no hurry. I am with rosarugosa.... I wonder, too, what is with people with no books???
I culled a lot of my personal collection, but I still have about 500 books in my tiny house (I think that's what I had counted) and I'm comfortable with that amount. When I go into a house and I don't see any books, I wonder what is wrong with the people who live there. I can totally understand why you would always have a substantial book collection.
A friend remarked on this once, and I replied that none of my books were visible to most people that visited, being shelved in more private areas. Maybe visitors would consider me illiterate unless I let them browse my Kindle. :) I keep cookbooks and various other volumes upstairs, and art and craft books in a downstairs bedroom. I probably have a couple hundred physical books and 2500 digital ones.
Some clothes. I had them waiting until the trash started to smell but the bag was not full, which rarely happens in winter, but when it did I was prepared.
iris lilies
1-21-21, 8:45pm
A friend remarked on this once, and I replied that none of my books were visible to most people that visited, being shelved in more private areas. Maybe visitors would consider me illiterate unless I let them browse my Kindle. :) I keep cookbooks and various other volumes upstairs, and art and craft books in a downstairs bedroom. I probably have a couple hundred physical books and 2500 digital ones.
Yes, our third floor holds the shelving for our library so few books here are visible to visitors. As an exceedingly disciplined buyer of books, I dont stuff every nook and cranny with them.I value their content, not necessarily their physicality. I remember back when I was about 25 I purged a lot of the books I owned then and vowed not to grow my book collection huge since I would be working in libraries. I always have some “reading” books around, but not many. My big collection came in the form of illustrated children’s books which I am now purging.
Funny that the one section of books I was not able to purge until recently were the ones from my childhood. But now they dont hold much meaning to me, I kept 3 and tossed the rest. Only a couple were in good enough shape to send to the local bookstore.
I gave four packages of juice boxes to a friend with four kids (my kid didn't like them for some reason). New total for month: 35.
I culled a lot of my personal collection, but I still have about 500 books in my tiny house (I think that's what I had counted) and I'm comfortable with that amount. When I go into a house and I don't see any books, I wonder what is wrong with the people who live there. I can totally understand why you would always have a substantial book collection.
I have gotten rid of a lot of books too, but I probably still have more than 500 (mine and my daughter's), though we did purge about 150 last summer. I'm the daughter of an English professor and a librarian, and for me, books in a home just signal warmth. They are part of what make me feel at home in my home. 500 seems about right to me too, though I have a little ways to go to get there. :)
Yes, our third floor holds the shelving for our library so few books here are visible to visitors. As an exceedingly disciplined buyer of books, I dont stuff every nook and cranny with them.I value their content, not necessarily their physicality. I remember back when I was about 25 I purged a lot of the books I owned then and vowed not to grow my book collection huge since I would be working in libraries. I always have some “reading” books around, but not many. My big collection came in the form of illustrated children’s books which I am now purging.
Funny that the one section of books I was not able to purge until recently were the ones from my childhood. But now they dont hold much meaning to me, I kept 3 and tossed the rest. Only a couple were in good enough shape to send to the local bookstore.
I generally don't keep fiction around, but I have bought a few of my childhood books for nostalgia's sake.
I have friends where both people in the couple were editors. The husband was a book collector and dealer as well. The wife always looks underfed, she's just like that. Her then grade school kid looked the same way. They had new neighbors in their swanky NYC suburb neighborhood who offered the kid food when he'd been playing withe their kid... and reported the couple to the police because obviously, they weren't feeding the kid. (I stayed with them for long periods, that wasn't true.)
When the cops came to talk to them about "starving" their kid, one cop looked around the house and was heard remarking something like, "You can tell these people aren't right -- there's too many books here."
My friends moved.
Teacher Terry
1-22-21, 11:33am
There was a time that I couldn’t imagine getting rid of my books. But I never read them more than once. I also had 2 copies each of my dissertation and both thesis so only kept one of each. The only person that read it was my second MIL. I have gotten brutal in regard to things and am so happy since I am downsizing. The kitchen has more cabinets than I need so can use the high ones to hold other things. I don’t miss my bookcase or dusting my books either:)).
iris lilies
1-22-21, 11:47am
I generally don't keep fiction around, but I have bought a few of my childhood books for nostalgia's sake.
Yes, I thought about the few books from my childhood that I donated to the bookstore because I was thinking what if some woman my age is out there looking for this book? I think one of them even I checked and there was no mention of it online. It’s not an important book, it’s just an old 1950s one.
catherine
1-22-21, 11:47am
When I went through The Purge I got rid of about 100 books, but I had already gotten rid of 200 about a year earlier. I kept the books I couldn't bear to give away, either because they were sentimental (given to me by someone), or were personally autographed by the author, or I'm likely to reread or refer to portions of them in the future. They fit into 3 banker's boxes when we moved, and they are now in my compact barrister bookcase.
I have to say if I didn't have an extensive library on Kindle I'd have had a lot more banker's boxes of books.
iris lilies
1-22-21, 11:51am
I have friends where both people in the couple were editors. The husband was a book collector and dealer as well. The wife always looks underfed, she's just like that. Her then grade school kid looked the same way. They had new neighbors in their swanky NYC suburb neighborhood who offered the kid food when he'd been playing withe their kid... and reported the couple to the police because obviously, they weren't feeding the kid. (I stayed with them for long periods, that wasn't true.)
When the cops came to talk to them about "starving" their kid, one cop looked around the house and was heard remarking something like, "You can tell these people aren't right -- there's too many books here."
My friends moved.
I am watching “pretend it’s a city “a tv documentary series about Fran Leibowitz and the city she loves, NYC. In it she rambles on about New York City life. She has 10,000 books in her collection and has to service that collection within her limited means to find an apartment to house them. That is tough in NYC.
iris lilies
1-22-21, 11:52am
When I went through The Purge I got rid of about 100 books, but I had already gotten rid of 200 about a year earlier. I kept the books I couldn't bear to give away, either because they were sentimental (given to me by someone), or were personally autographed by the author, or I'm likely to reread or refer to portions of them in the future. They fit into 3 banker's boxes when we moved, and they are now in my compact barrister bookcase.
I have to say if I didn't have an extensive library on Kindle I'd have had a lot more banker's boxes of books.
I have a few autographed by the author, but if I had been smarter I would have had them not do a personal inscription with my name. They would be easier to sell.
My favorite inscription is from Dave Barry, the humorist, who wrote “to my closest personal friend “which is funny because of course I’m an anonymous fan.
I’ve had no issues getting rid of a lot of books. Popular fiction type stuff is easily passed around friends, especially right now with seniors not wanting to go to the library. I simply request I don’t want the books back and others get to read them. I’d drop off some with the senior friend i grocery shop for, then she passes them on to neighbors.
catherine
1-22-21, 12:12pm
I have a few autographed by the author, but if I had been smarter I would have had them not do a personal inscription with my name. They would be easier to sell.
My favorite inscription is from Dave Barry, the humorist, who wrote “to my closest personal friend “which is funny because of course I’m an anonymous fan.
My favorite autographed books are:
T. Boone Pickens, who I spent 3 days with at a rehab.
Duane Elgin, who I met at a seminar he was giving--I had brought my copy of Voluntary Simplicity which he signed
Joyce Carol Oates, whom I took my kids to Brentanos in Princeton to meet, expecting there to be scads of people there in line, and we were the only ones. She was standing there by herself so I was able to have a brief conversation with her before she signed American Appetites.
And then there's my copy of The Future of the American Negro, signed by Booker T. Washington, which I bought at a yard sale for $10. It is authentic--appraised by 2 independent booksellers.
iris lilies
1-22-21, 12:20pm
My favorite autographed books are:
T. Boone Pickens, who I spent 3 days with at a rehab.
Duane Elgin, who I met at a seminar he was giving--I had brought my copy of Voluntary Simplicity which he signed
Joyce Carol Oates, whom I took my kids to Brentanos in Princeton to meet, expecting there to be scads of people there in line, and we were the only ones. She was standing there by herself so I was able to have a brief conversation with her before she signed American Appetites.
And then there's my copy of The Future of the American Negro, signed by Booker T. Washington, which I bought at a yard sale for $10. It is authentic--appraised by 2 independent booksellers.
Catherine those are nice! For a while I actively hated Joyce Carol Oates but I haven’t read anything of hers for years to incite that dislike so I’ve calm down about that.
catherine
1-22-21, 12:48pm
Catherine those are nice! For a while I actively hated Joyce Carol Oates but I haven’t read anything of hers for years to incite that dislike so I’ve calm down about that.
Haha! What did JCO ever do to you? :). What don't you like about her writing? I love her, and We Were the Mulvaneys is the only work of fiction that survived The Purge (aside from the autographed American Appetites, which was OK).
I am watching “pretend it’s a city “a tv documentary series about Fran Leibowitz and the city she loves, NYC. In it she rambles on about New York City life. She has 10,000 books in her collection and has to service that collection within her limited means to find an apartment to house them. That is tough in NYC.
A friend just emailed me about this series. I love a good documentary!
I have a "meh" feeling about Joyce Carol Oates. I read something by her once and don't remember anything about it, so she apparently didn't inspire any animus in me.
On Thursday night, I mentioned to DH that I really needed a shelf in one of the drawer boxes which hold cookbooks. He put it up this morning. More organization, fewer wood scraps, neater. Hurrah! And yes, more culls too. I opened a box of plated metal pieces this morning. One piece is already in the antique store box. One is slated to be given to family for valentines (it's heart shaped) and the rest are out on a table, a plate was put away, but most of it sits on the table waiting for its fate to be decided.
I never or almost never entertain. Why do I need any decorative serving dishes? I have some silverplate I really love, but after I keep a few of those, then what? Most of it came from thrift shops for only a few bucks. I suppose I'll either put it in the Christmas stuff, since Christmas time is the only time I try and decorate with "bling" and actually use all this stuff, or get rid of it.
Teacher Terry
1-22-21, 1:13pm
I think we need to keep things for the people we are now and not for who we think we will be in the future.
I think we need to keep things for the people we are now and not for who we think we will be in the future.
Not sure that I agree with this. I have kept stuff that is coming in handy now such as a supply of fabric and yarn. Life was so busy for a long while that they stayed in storage for years but I am using them now as the opportunity and need arises like making covid masks.
I keep garden tools that will be easier to use in the future but not used as much now.
I think it does help to anticipate future needs in purging efforts.
My golf clubs I let go despite being able to golf easily now but my wants changed with time and interest I would rather walk my dog than golf as an example so while I sort of understand your view, I have reservations.
rosarugosa
1-22-21, 8:54pm
Not sure that I agree with this. I have kept stuff that is coming in handy now such as a supply of fabric and yarn. Life was so busy for a long while that they stayed in storage for years but I am using them now as the opportunity and need arises like making covid masks.
I keep garden tools that will be easier to use in the future but not used as much now.
I think it does help to anticipate future needs in purging efforts.
My golf clubs I let go despite being able to golf easily now but my wants changed with time and interest I would rather walk my dog than golf as an example so while I sort of understand your view, I have reservations.
I think it's a balancing act like so many things. We all know or know of people with crazy collections of jars or boxes or string being saved with the justification that it might be needed someday. It's also kind of foolish and wasteful to get rid of something and then have to buy it again, especially if it isn't cheap or easily sourced.
I had some extra tomato cages and pots that I thought I might use in the future, but yesterday, I figured out I don't need 10 tomato cages and 20 empty flower pots, so today I gave away 4 of the cages and 6 of the flower pots. It's a start.
New total for month: 45.
early morning
1-23-21, 6:00pm
I think it's a balancing act like so many things. We all know or know of people with crazy collections of jars or boxes or string being saved with the justification that it might be needed someday. It's also kind of foolish and wasteful to get rid of something and then have to buy it again, especially if it isn't cheap or easily sourced.
+1
Still have rabbit cages, chicken nest boxes, and related in the barn. Plenty of room for them there, and expensive to replace, should we decided to raise food animals again. It's not hard work, so our advancing age shouldn't be much of an issue, lol. I'd not had a garden in years but was really glad this past year for tomato cages, canning jars/lids/rings that I'd kept in the barn and/or cellar (not a good place to store any of the stuff I complain about needing space for). Also was able to use some of the seeds I had stashed. One never knows! I've also heard quite a few complaints from people who really missed those craft project materials and school supplies they'd Marie Kondo'd because they didn't spark enough joy. I DO get rid of stuff, and I know I over-think it, but overall that has served us well.
But of course YMMV!!! And way to go, ejchase - your journey to a happy tidy and pretty home inspires me! Thanks for inviting us along for the ride. . .
Teacher Terry
1-23-21, 7:39pm
I have never missed or had to rebuy anything I have gotten rid of.
A person in my local Buy Nothing group is collecting items for homeless people, so I offered a bunch of knitted hats, mittens, socks, and scarves. She offered to pick up because my ability to walk or drive is currently limited. I knit to relax and having less stuff in the apartment is relaxing, and people have something warm to wear. I'm calling today a win.
I sold an heirloom. It was a 6' netted German silver runner. I sat in a drawer my entire childhood. It sat in a drawer for the 20+ years since my Dad died. Why keep it? I was ready to take to auction, but it sold last week.
Yay!
Teacher Terry
1-29-21, 9:05am
Hana, it’s definitely a win. For years I knitted 100 scarves a year for the homeless. I may start again. New gig, it feels great to sell stuff that has been sitting around not being used. I just realized although my condo is a good size it only has 2 closets. I do have a storage area in the basement. I have a big box of photo albums that can go down there. My kids were going to rent a small storage area for their 4 snow tires and 60 big plastic bins for moving but now they won’t have to.
I made a big sweep through earlier in the month, but I’m going to go down to the next level. Probably this weekend as we’re supposed to get a lot of snow on Sunday.
Y'all are inspiring. I usually avoid this thread, but today it feels like maybe if I post my intentions here, I will have something to report Monday. I'm thinking on doing the 15-minute timer thing first, on our spare room/clutterville.
frugal-one
1-29-21, 7:04pm
I think I can handle 15 minutes too. Will work on my office.
I set the timer Saturday for 15 minutes and ended up decluttering for 33 minutes. I filled a grocery bag with junk drawer and clutter from on top of a dresser. Then DH and I took 2 grocery bags of old paperwork to a local shredding event. So, 3 grocery bags!
iris lilies
2-1-21, 2:55pm
I filled 5 buckets with books, identifying about 8 that I will try to seek on eBay.
It occured to me (brilliant, I know) that I can put 2 or 3 together in one lot and maybe sell for more than $10. That is all I want, $10 per sale, plus postage. I do not count eBay fees which are, of course, high. This eBay activity is an exercise in generating $ for our Park
conservancy, so it doesn’t really matter how much I profit.
Yep, it feels good -- but weird. That thing was in a drawer in my home my entire life. Don't need it; didn't need it. But it was always just there...
Sold our old bathroom lights. These were special ordered by us about 5 years ago. Got way less than they are new, but I like what we have now much better. Glad to get some of the $ back.
Teacher Terry
2-2-21, 12:10pm
Yesterday I sold my engagement/wedding ring to the family owned jeweler that made it 21 years ago. It’s a one of a kind design and I loved that ring. I am now 1k richer.
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