View Full Version : April Purge
I have started throwing away things associated with the car I traded in.
Teacher Terry
4-9-21, 10:42am
We still are purging the junkmaster’s junk so may fill another trailer for the dump. Also have stuff for the thrift store. I have been selling items on Nextdoor and Facebook marketplace as well as putting stuff outside for free. I am probably winning April queen purger as well as March:)).
Having a pop-up garage sale with a girlfriend tomorrow morning. Hoping to get rid of a lawn mower, trimmer, and about 6 square feet of stuff.
Teacher Terry
4-10-21, 12:01am
Good luck Becky!!
iris lilies
4-10-21, 11:01am
We still are purging the junkmaster’s junk so may fill another trailer for the dump. Also have stuff for the thrift store. I have been selling items on Nextdoor and Facebook marketplace as well as putting stuff outside for free. I am probably winning April queen purger as well as March:)).
We bow to you, oh Purge Queen!
I got nuttin’. oh wait, yesterday in a fit I pulled 3 pieces of framed at off the walls and pitched to outdoors. Will take to dumpster today. The sad story behind this is, I found two pleasant and nicely framed complementary prints at Goodwill. Finding decent art at the thrift store is unusual.
So anyway I brought them home because I knew exactly where I would put them. As I was prying off the Goodwill label I accidentally poured GooBeGone all over one of them and that immediately seeped behind the glass frame and ruined the matting. Well you know after that, no point in keeping it.And by then I already had the original prints off the wall but I was tired of them, they had two defects, and I’m throwing the whole batch into the dumpster.
Teacher Terry
4-10-21, 11:30am
I love my new title IL:)). Worked all day yesterday and sold a expensive wood dog gate and a nice cabinet for the bathroom. A guy took half the firewood and another will take the rest today. It’s expensive to buy. We gave the roto rooter machine and construction items to our neighbor who is very nice. All the houses around here have plumbing issues unless they have re-lined or replaced the sewer line. I am really hoping we finish today.
The mask I poked holes in and wore once after doing so. I got some thinner more breathable ones after that. I can't wait for the day I can purge all masks. A customer was complaining the other day he got a vaccine but is still stuck wearing one.
I've completed transferring all of my music CDs to a memory stick, computer, and and an external hard drive. I debated selling the CD player on eBay and it had a small problem so the simple thing was to take it to be recycled. My recycler takes CDs for ten cents a piece. I suppose most people sent these to the landfill, but I'm going to fess up to the recycling fee. My count is up to a hundred and will end up to be maybe twice that. That was a lot of money sunk into music in the day. My correct digital money sink is Amazon Music which is separate from Amazon prime, which I don't have. It is actually pretty nice and has everything, but at ten dollars a month it may be temporary.
happystuff
4-11-21, 9:44am
Gave a friend an almost full can of paint. She was looking for white, but didn't want to spend the money and I remembered I had some left from when the new pantry shelves went in and got painted. Win-win for both of us!
Teacher Terry
4-11-21, 10:26am
Had a long working day yesterday but today will be shorter and we will be done except for renting a truck and taking a load to the dump. I may not help as none of this crap is mine. Another man took the rest of the firewood and another guy knocked on the door asking if he could have the wood in the dump pile. It was good wood and I had more in the backyard I hadn’t carried out yet so that’s a win. My ex will be gone today. He slept here last night for the last time. My girlfriend is spending the night tonight. I have entertained myself in the evening buying some stuff online such as a crystal chandelier for the dining room and a matching floor lamp for the living room. Becky how did your sale go?
happystuff
4-11-21, 8:35pm
A friend asked for a recipe that was part of a binder a group of us put together. I spent several hours looking for it - to no avail - but managed to shred three bags worth of old documents/papers and got them into recycle for pickup tomorrow.
rosarugosa
4-12-21, 5:42am
I've completed transferring all of my music CDs to a memory stick, computer, and and an external hard drive. I debated selling the CD player on eBay and it had a small problem so the simple thing was to take it to be recycled. My recycler takes CDs for ten cents a piece. I suppose most people sent these to the landfill, but I'm going to fess up to the recycling fee. My count is up to a hundred and will end up to be maybe twice that. That was a lot of money sunk into music in the day. My correct digital money sink is Amazon Music which is separate from Amazon prime, which I don't have. It is actually pretty nice and has everything, but at ten dollars a month it may be temporary.
Wow Rogar, that is a major accomplishment. We probably have about 500 CDs, and just the thought of converting them all makes my head spin. How long did your conversion take? Any words of wisdom to share?
Got rid of a bunch of stuff Saturday with a quick garage sale with a girlfriend. Most of what didn't sell I donated. Gave a hightop table and 4 chairs to my son and STB DIL for their new apartment. Selling the lawnmower today since we don't use it anymore.
Wow Rogar, that is a major accomplishment. We probably have about 500 CDs, and just the thought of converting them all makes my head spin. How long did your conversion take? Any words of wisdom to share?
Five hundred is a lot! Most of my conversions were done last winter. I set a work area up on my dining table and copied onto my laptop hard drive first, then backed up to a thumb and external drive. It took several days doing a handful at a time and had a few more to do this winter. This tutorial is just about exactly my procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebup5FiAt-k
About the only glitch I ran into is that only after I'd started did I discover the way to set the audio quality being saved. I think my even my old ears can tell the difference between an MP3 at 128 kbps and the higher quality rates. So I saved some at 128 kbps and the rest at 320 kbps. I think the higher rate is close to CD quality on my system for as much as I can tell. Once everything is in a folder on the hard drive, copying the folder to a thumb or external back up drive goes fast. I was a little worried about how much memory everything would take up, but my final tally is 160 CD's and on my thumb drive it takes about 15 GB of memory. There is a mix of different qualities so it could be more if everything was at the higher quality, but it's still not taking up much memory.
I'm hardly a computer or audiophile expert so there may be other or better ways, but that's what I did and it worked fine. If you want to get an estimate or how long the whole process would take, it's pretty easy to try a few and see how it goes. I used an older laptop with a built in cd/dvd drive, but would guess it could take longer if you need to use an external cd/dvd drive?
rosarugosa
4-13-21, 5:06pm
Five hundred is a lot! Most of my conversions were done last winter. I set a work area up on my dining table and copied onto my laptop hard drive first, then backed up to a thumb and external drive. It took several days doing a handful at a time and had a few more to do this winter. This tutorial is just about exactly my procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebup5FiAt-k
About the only glitch I ran into is that only after I'd started did I discover the way to set the audio quality being saved. I think my even my old ears can tell the difference between an MP3 at 128 kbps and the higher quality rates. So I saved some at 128 kbps and the rest at 320 kbps. I think the higher rate is close to CD quality on my system for as much as I can tell. Once everything is in a folder on the hard drive, copying the folder to a thumb or external back up drive goes fast. I was a little worried about how much memory everything would take up, but my final tally is 160 CD's and on my thumb drive it takes about 15 GB of memory. There is a mix of different qualities so it could be more if everything was at the higher quality, but it's still not taking up much memory.
I'm hardly a computer or audiophile expert so there may be other or better ways, but that's what I did and it worked fine. If you want to get an estimate or how long the whole process would take, it's pretty easy to try a few and see how it goes. I used an older laptop with a built in cd/dvd drive, but would guess it could take longer if you need to use an external cd/dvd drive?
Thanks, Rogar. Maybe a project for next winter, but that's a good reminder to hold onto my old laptop with the CD drive a bit longer!
Teacher Terry
4-13-21, 6:15pm
So the junk master took the last of his stuff yesterday. My purging rein has come to a end. I have nothing that I don’t want. I am so tired that I had a 4 hour nap today. Glad the sale went well Becky.
Well done, TT. Enjoy a break from moving stuff.
Thanks, Rogar. Maybe a project for next winter, but that's a good reminder to hold onto my old laptop with the CD drive a bit longer!
sure. I might add that it took several days, but only a couple or few hours a day. It wasn’t a big ordeal.
happystuff
4-14-21, 12:12pm
Congrats, TT! A job well-done!
So the junk master took the last of his stuff yesterday. My purging rein has come to a end. I have nothing that I don’t want. I am so tired that I had a 4 hour nap today. Glad the sale went well Becky.
Thank you TT! Congratulations on completing such a herculean task!
I returned 7 online purchases. I always count these as part of my purging because I have a history of not returning stuff which then ends up as clutter.
Got rid of some clothes I haven't worn for a few years, or if I did squeezed myself into them and was uncomfortable all day. It took me a while to admit to myself I will, barring getting cancer or something, likely not be a size 8 or small again, I am a size 10, and to accept that. This type of emotional side to decluttering is what I find hard.
The average American woman is a size 16 to 18, yet most models and mannequins display something else.
https://www.byrdie.com/average-body-weight
I got rid of 3 items through my local Buy Nothing group. Total for month: 10.
Got rid of some clothes I haven't worn for a few years, or if I did squeezed myself into them and was uncomfortable all day. It took me a while to admit to myself I will, barring getting cancer or something, likely not be a size 8 or small again, I am a size 10, and to accept that. This type of emotional side to decluttering is what I find hard.
The average American woman is a size 16 to 18, yet most models and mannequins display something else.
https://www.byrdie.com/average-body-weight
Yes, Yppej, the key is acceptance! I used to have an eating disorder and weighed quite a bit (I'm sure I was a size 16 or larger) when I started to recover. It was such a huge positive milestone when I said to myself, "You may be this size for the rest of your life, so buy clothes you love that fit you at this size." It's a great way to affirm you love yourself at any size!
Gave two big plastic pots to a neighbor looking for some. New total for month: 12.
DS and I cleared some junk out of the basement in preparation for delivery of a new dryer today.
Got rid of some of my husband's horrible containers that he saves--old yogurt cartons etc. for screws. This after I discover he had an entire bankers box full of metal cans that he had taken the labels off.
The flotsam jetsam containers give me the creeps, it's just like an episode of Hoarders.
Also got rid of a present my brother gave me, because it upsets me every time I see it, and he has been really mean to me lately, dismissive and judgmental about my reactions to our mom in the nursing home, and I just don't need something around that makes me unhappy. I talked to him yesterday and he said something to me and I realized after the conversation, and I actually told him during, that I'm not mad about what he says, I'm hurt.
I am realizing there's a difference, and that I don't have to progress to anger, I can just stop communicating with him as much as possible, and protect myself from further hurt.
It was a nice gift, but I have such negative feelings about him now, and need to release it so I don't have it there making me feel bad.
Congratulations, Tybee, on stepping away to protect yourself. It is so hard to do, but realizing what YOU need and being able to recognize hurt and releasing the things/people that hurt you is a huge step. Sending you hugs.
Teacher Terry
4-20-21, 9:49am
Tybee, I think it’s more common than you think people hoarding stuff that’s actually garbage. If my second husband kept a container he actually used it. My recent ex not so much. When parents need care it’s often a source of sibling conflict. Luckily my mom always had her mind and knew what she wanted. We all respected her choice to live alone and sacrifice safety. She’s been gone 12 years and with all of us older I think all 3 of us would make the same choice for ourselves. It’s really difficult with dementia because decisions have to be made for the person. Hugs:)).
We've had an extremely dilapidated outdoor table and chairs out in our backyard ever since we moved in ten years ago. I finally posted them on our neighborhood Buy Nothing group, and a neighbor said she wanted to try to restore them, so off they went - 4 chairs, one table.
New total for month: 17.
The old dryer turned out to be unrepairable and is disassembled in the basement. Does anyone know if any components like the drum can be sold as scrap metal?
The new dryer arrived yesterday and wouldn't fit through the door - no, neither of us thought to measure - so DS disassembled and reassembled it and it works. Another item off the household to do list.
iris lilies
4-21-21, 9:24am
The old dryer turned out to be unrepairable and is disassembled in the basement. Does anyone know if any components like the drum can be sold as scrap metal?
The new dryer arrived yesterday and wouldn't fit through the door - no, neither of us thought to measure - so DS disassembled and reassembled it and it works. Another item off the household to do list.
ANY metal can be sold as scrap. DH got $46 this week from the scrappers. But you will get very little, here it is only worth it for a guy woth a truck collecting the stuff to take it in.
Here, old appliances set put in the alley in the morning disappear by afternoon from scrap collectors.
happystuff
4-21-21, 10:58am
Broke out the shredder and got rid of five years/folders. Still motivated, so will continue cleaning out more old files/papers. Four small bags of shredded paper into recycle!
Threw out 3 old pairs of my daughter's sneakers - alas, they were to worn down to pass on to a younger kid.
New total for month: 20.
I am still sorting through things from the cars and feel like a bag lady moving from vehicle to vehicle. In a two week period I drove 6 cars - son's as mine was having issues, mine when his was in the shop until mine died, parents' until I could trade in mine which I was able to restart, new car #1, loaner when new car turned out to be a lemon, new car #2.
I got cancelled for vaccinations again. So, today was the day. I went through our files. In the recycle bin: manuals for stuff long gone (it's been hubsters' domain and he hasn't kept up).
A Trader Joe's bag nearly full of paperwork that contains personal and/or financial info. Our community does an annual "free shred-it" drop off at the Sheriff's office. Saturday it happens!
No paper shredder taking up space here. We just don't generate enough to make me want it sitting around.
Between the 2, about 10 pounds of trees will hopefully become new paper products!
Wohoo!
DH gave me permission to go through his clothes. I bagged up 5 large kitchen trash bags of clothes that are too small for him and dropped them at the thrift store this week. Pulled some items out that I though DS and maybe DD might be interested in. DS was by a couple of nights ago and took about 1/2 a bagful. Will winnow out a few things for DD and take the rest to the thrift store on my next trip.
Also sold a dresser and have interest in a coffee table I want to get rid of.
iris lilies
4-23-21, 11:49pm
I purged all “sent” email messages from the year 2018. Next up: 2019 messages.
I’m not sure it really serves a purpose to get rid of them, but it Certainly doesn’t serve a purpose to keep 99.9% of them either.
Teacher Terry
4-23-21, 11:53pm
Becky, you are making great progress!!
I continue to throw out clothes or put them in clothes purgatory until I have a trash bag that is starting to smell that I want to fill up and put out. DS has also been cleaning and our trash and recycling had no more room last week and will also be completely full for a few weeks to come.
A pair of women's slippers my sister left here and doesn't want as well as a pair of 2.0 readers went out the door this week to people on my Buy Nothing FB group.
I posted 3 votive holders for the 2nd time. I guess they are no longer "a thing". They are now in the Thrift Store box along with an Applique quilt pattern book and a small pencil sharpener (discovered there were 2 in the pencil cup on the counter).
Purge comes in small bites here as our major was over 20 years ago.
Teacher Terry
4-24-21, 11:49am
G, I am happy to be in the position of no longer needing a big purge. I will be mindful of what comes in. It’s a great feeling.
G, I am happy to be in the position of no longer needing a big purge. I will be mindful of what comes in. It’s a great feeling.
Welcome to the club :cool:
Gave 6 hand-me-downs to a neighbor with younger girls and one printer cartridge to another neighbor. So grateful for my neighborhood Buy Nothing Group!
New total for month:27.
Gave 6 hand-me-downs to a neighbor with younger girls and one printer cartridge to another neighbor. So grateful for my neighborhood Buy Nothing Group!
I was so happy to discover this FB group for my 'hood. I give things I hadn't considered discarding but someone asking for one, makes me think about how often I use it and whether I can make-do without it! So awesome!
A fraying bedspread, my third piece of bedding to go this spring.
happystuff
4-25-21, 9:44am
Got dh to take two pieces of workout equipment out of the basement and onto the "magic sidewalk". One piece is already gone - one to go!
Opened a cupboard in my quilt studio where I've always kept my office supplies. Today is the day.
7 binders, a short stack of folders and some manila envelopes have been posted on FB Buy Nothing! Wohoo!
Got rid of a bunch - a big bunch of empty boxes. Yes empty. You know the ones that we save just in case we need to ship something or need it for a present? All of those. Flattened and put in the recycle bin. All our kid's snow boots - actually the whole families snow boots. The kids are now adults and dw and I have other options. Plus big box of misc clothes, household items, etc. It is so satisfying when I drive away from the thrift store. I must admit we give some away some good stuff. I have seen the pile of other donations and think - hey, look in here - some stuff is like new! You might want to set this stuff aside for yourself!!
Just dropped off another couple bags of stuff at the thrift store and shipped two purses that I sold on Poshmark. I find myself thinking, "I really want to love this item" but I don't for whatever reason. That's a signal to let it go and find it's rightful owner.
I took 9 items to Goodwill.
New total for month: 36.
Teacher Terry
4-30-21, 3:26pm
I have a big bin for the thrift store that doesn’t work in my condo.
12 DVD's out the door! 5 to go. Love my FB Buy Nothing group.
happystuff
5-1-21, 11:30am
2nd piece of workout equipment was taken yesterday off the "magic sidewalk". Dh was actually happy! Now to see if a few more unused pieces can be removed!!! LOL.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.