View Full Version : October Purge
happystuff
10-2-21, 3:49pm
Don't see this started yet, so here I go.
Today was our town wide yard sale. Since it is normally a time for siblings and friends to come and we hang out for the day, I did get a permit. As it turned out, nobody else could come, but I did put out my "yard sale" stuff and pulled some items out of the donation box. Actually sold more than I thought!!! Made a couple bucks, but more importantly only had about 10 items come back into the house. I'm guessing I purged about 25-30 items.
Husband took a car model and some big acrylic cases to Restore for Habitat to sell. Hooray. It is nice when bigger stuff goes. I took another bag of fabric scrap to my neighbor and found her door open and no one home. Got her notified (she is in rehab) so she could call her cat sitters and have them check on her cats and lock her door.
Later I pulled six quilting books (little value on Ebay for the time it would take) and stuck them in the book donation box we are taking to the library.
catherine
10-2-21, 11:47pm
Need help on deciding what to do with these items that are in my garage in NJ. My son will be purchasing the house at the end of the month and so we have to finally just come to terms with the rest of our stuff that's in the garage and basement. In particular, my son has the township bulk trash truck coming on Wednesday to get rid of some of their old furniture and a piano. He is giving us the opportunity to trash the half dozen big items of ours that remain in the garage.
Here is a description of the things on the list--can you please let me know if you think I should sell or trash these items?
1) An Eastlake dresser with mirror that used to be in the summer cottage I stayed in. It's in very good condition.
2) 2 tiger maple twin bed fourposters that used to be my great-aunt's. They are part of a bedroom set--my VT son has the dresser, and my NJ son is using the end table. The problem with the beds are they are unusable because of the archaic frame--no mattress would fit unless I had a carpenter come and update the frame. But who even would want two twin fourposters anyway?? I'm tempted to dump them but the wood headboards and footboards are very nice.
3) 70's era round Ethan Allen table with 4 rush ladder back chairs. They were my mother's. They are in OK condition--refinishing or painting would probably do them good, but they are as solid as a rock.
4) A large antique natural wood plate rack. We bought it at a consignment shop but it's way too big for our little house now. I bought it for $65 I think about 15 years ago and it's still in very good condition.
I think that's it! Should I try to sell these items? Should I keep and store any? (in particular I hate to give up the Eastlake dresser.). Any opinions?
mschrisgo2
10-3-21, 1:42am
Catherine, my suggestion is to list items 2, 3, and 4 for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Put a reasonable price on them, I’m sure they will go quickly. Any kind of wood is hard to come by right now, someone will appreciate nice wood, even if they have to do a little work before using the items.
#2- focus on the head and foots boards- list for $150.
#3- list for $100.
#4- list for $50.
I realize they are in NJ and your son would have to deal with the sales, but far better than sending to the dump IMHO.
The Eastlake dresser would bring several hundred dollars here in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you love it, store it or figure out how to use it in your home. (Take the mirror off, and use it as a sideboard in the dining room? Entry hall?)
Except for #1 I would put the items on the curb now and see if anyone takes them and if not on the bulk trash truck they go.
Your son offered the bulk truck. He didn't offer to set up online accounts and be your antique dealer.
Except for #1 I would put the items on the curb now and see if anyone takes them and if not on the bulk trash truck they go.
Your son offered the bulk truck. He didn't offer to set up online accounts and be your antique dealer.
haha.. absolutely, he's not my antique dealer. If we don't trash the stuff we will take repossession of them this month and figure out what to do with them from up here. VT SIL is a picker & seller of used items with a bay in a vintage consignment store so I could hand them over to him to sell and share profits.
mschrisgo, I really appreciate the specificity of your advice--you sound like you know what you're talking about. Are you in antique sales?
Teacher Terry
10-3-21, 11:39am
It took me 6 months to sell a double bed which was Eastlake and walnut and in perfect shape. I did get 250. I would definitely sell or give away. Don’t take good furniture to the dump.
rosarugosa
10-3-21, 4:58pm
I was in the mood today (anything to avoid staining benches, lol), and I've purged a wicker laundry basket, a set of cereal bowls, an ornamental plate, two serving bowls, four bone china dishes and a set of dessert plates. We have such limited storage space in our kitchen and we've got a whole lot of stuff that we just never use. I should actually Marie Kondo the kitchen cupboard (take everything out and then decide what goes back in). I'll bet if I only put back the items that we regularly use, we would have more storage apace than we need. I don't think I can be that draconian though because some of the stuff is really pretty and/or sentimental.
Got rid of a lighted haunted house Halloween decor with plans to get rid of a Halloween wreath too. I never liked it since I got it and I found something that I like better that should be delivered later this week.
rosarugosa
10-4-21, 12:17pm
I culled several more things from the cupboard since my last post.
I just took a little walk to the center of town and dropped off expired medication at the designated box at the police station, and an old cell phone and a pair of glasses in the Lion's Club donation box. The universe rewarded my efforts - I found 61 cents on the ground, lol.
DH said last night that I shouldn't get rid of everything we own. This is hilarious, because this isn't even remotely likely; we have lots and lots of stuff like most middle-class households in the US. (Ultralight would probably break out in hives in our stuffed little cottage). I am also totally scrupulous about never getting rid of anything of his without his OK, not even something of mine or ours if he actually or potentially uses it. I can only assume that I was expressing a steely resolve that was formidable!
Teacher Terry
10-4-21, 12:32pm
Medications don’t actually expire but their efficacy just slowly goes down. At one point they didn’t have a expiration date. Medications that were 30 years old found in time capsules still were 50% effective. Since I read that I quit throwing them away. Rosa, that’s funny about your husband.
rosarugosa
10-4-21, 1:21pm
Medications don’t actually expire but their efficacy just slowly goes down. At one point they didn’t have a expiration date. Medications that were 30 years old found in time capsules still were 50% effective. Since I read that I quit throwing them away. Rosa, that’s funny about your husband.
Terry: the real reason why I disposed of this drug is because it is anticholinergic, which has been linked to dementia, so there is no way in hell I would ever take it again. I am ordinarily OK with using drugs that are far beyond their dates. The fact that it expired several years ago was just icing on the cake. ;)
Teacher Terry
10-4-21, 1:45pm
Yikes I would get rid of it too!
rosarugosa
10-4-21, 2:00pm
Here is a list of common anticholinergic medications:
https://www.elderconsult.com/resources/medication/anticholinergicmeds/
Multiple "to go" cups from places that give discounts for using their cup. I rarely have the cup.when I want it - so six of them went in the recycle.
Water bottles - don't fit the bike holder, and prefer a large cup with lid and straw for daily use.
A larger plastic jar with lid. Haven't needed it, so out it goes.
mschrisgo2
10-4-21, 10:06pm
About 20 very flimsy nursery pots.
and the old refrigerator!
Yay!
rosarugosa
10-5-21, 5:35am
About 20 very flimsy nursery pots.
and the old refrigerator!
Yay!
Wow, a refrigerator is a big one!
One pair of shoes and four T shirts, none of them comfortable anymore.
A pillowcase that developed a rip.
rosarugosa
10-7-21, 8:37am
I culled 6 shirts so far is the seasonal closet clean-out.
rosarugosa
10-9-21, 11:12am
I just sold a pair of shoes on eBay, and I have another pair in the donate/give away basket. I'm now at the break-even point with clothing of 28 in and 28 out for the year, but I do hope to send at least a couple more items out the door.
I used the FB gifting page to give away a set of dessert plates and a commemorative dish to a couple of local women. I also managed to unload - um - gift - a small pitcher and a holiday ornament to one of the women. They were really pleased to receive the items, so that made me happy.
As a result of my stored hurricane water leaking, the pantry got a clean out. All cans stayed, but lost some dried beans, pasta and some rice. What didn't get damp I repacked into glass storage so they aren't at risk going forward. Lost a few boxes of mixes, too - rice pilaf, etc. Also, a jar of expired mincemeat.
At least I know what's in storage, and stuff is preserved more long term, instead of the store packaging.
Dropped off 5 moving boxes worth of books at the freebie tables at an event I attended. The great book cull continues.
Teacher Terry
10-10-21, 2:09am
Great progress Hana!
rosarugosa
10-10-21, 5:34am
Hana: 5 moving boxes is a pretty big deal!
Lmerullo: That is too bad about the lost food, but it sounds like you made the best of it and are better positioned going forward.
rosarugosa: Thanks, our goal is for every book to fit on the bookshelves with the only exceptions being library books and books we're actively reading. Having to be creative since area thrift stores and the friends of the library are not accepting donations due to lack of storage space. We're also buying fewer paper books, husband has kindle unlimited and I have found a bunch of free anthologies on the kindle.
Need help on deciding what to do with these items that are in my garage in NJ. My son will be purchasing the house at the end of the month and so we have to finally just come to terms with the rest of our stuff that's in the garage and basement. In particular, my son has the township bulk trash truck coming on Wednesday to get rid of some of their old furniture and a piano. He is giving us the opportunity to trash the half dozen big items of ours that remain in the garage.
Here is a description of the things on the list--can you please let me know if you think I should sell or trash these items?
1) An Eastlake dresser with mirror that used to be in the summer cottage I stayed in. It's in very good condition.
2) 2 tiger maple twin bed fourposters that used to be my great-aunt's. They are part of a bedroom set--my VT son has the dresser, and my NJ son is using the end table. The problem with the beds are they are unusable because of the archaic frame--no mattress would fit unless I had a carpenter come and update the frame. But who even would want two twin fourposters anyway?? I'm tempted to dump them but the wood headboards and footboards are very nice.
3) 70's era round Ethan Allen table with 4 rush ladder back chairs. They were my mother's. They are in OK condition--refinishing or painting would probably do them good, but they are as solid as a rock.
4) A large antique natural wood plate rack. We bought it at a consignment shop but it's way too big for our little house now. I bought it for $65 I think about 15 years ago and it's still in very good condition.
I think that's it! Should I try to sell these items? Should I keep and store any? (in particular I hate to give up the Eastlake dresser.). Any opinions?
I would vote to get someone--self, VT sil, or NJ son, to get a truck and bring all items back to Vermont and store with sil as they all sound like things you would want to keep in family. If that not possible, I would probably ship the bed frames and Eastlake dresser up to Vermont. It is not that hard to get an odd sized mattress made or found for the beds. They would be great for grandchildren. I would definitely poll the kids and ask for help with this as they probably want them in the family too.
rosarugosa
10-12-21, 8:26am
rosarugosa: Thanks, our goal is for every book to fit on the bookshelves with the only exceptions being library books and books we're actively reading. Having to be creative since area thrift stores and the friends of the library are not accepting donations due to lack of storage space. We're also buying fewer paper books, husband has kindle unlimited and I have found a bunch of free anthologies on the kindle.
Hana: I had a similar challenge for myself a few years ago. My books were all shelved, but I wanted to shrink the footprint of the book collection. I culled a lot of books, and when I counted them, I had 500 after the culling. So I still have a lot of books, but a lot less than before!
I don't know if this is an option for you, but my town has a local free giving page, and people often give books away, and there is a Savers store nearby that accepts books.
Teacher Terry
10-12-21, 12:34pm
At one point we had 40 boxes of books. Sold a bunch to professional book sellers and then donated the rest. Now I only read on kindle.
iris lilies
10-12-21, 12:55pm
Need help on deciding what to do with these items that are in my garage in NJ. My son will be purchasing the house at the end of the month and so we have to finally just come to terms with the rest of our stuff that's in the garage and basement. In particular, my son has the township bulk trash truck coming on Wednesday to get rid of some of their old furniture and a piano. He is giving us the opportunity to trash the half dozen big items of ours that remain in the garage.
Here is a description of the things on the list--can you please let me know if you think I should sell or trash these items?
1) An Eastlake dresser with mirror that used to be in the summer cottage I stayed in. It's in very good condition.
2) 2 tiger maple twin bed fourposters that used to be my great-aunt's. They are part of a bedroom set--my VT son has the dresser, and my NJ son is using the end table. The problem with the beds are they are unusable because of the archaic frame--no mattress would fit unless I had a carpenter come and update the frame. But who even would want two twin fourposters anyway?? I'm tempted to dump them but the wood headboards and footboards are very nice.
3) 70's era round Ethan Allen table with 4 rush ladder back chairs. They were my mother's. They are in OK condition--refinishing or painting would probably do them good, but they are as solid as a rock.
4) A large antique natural wood plate rack. We bought it at a consignment shop but it's way too big for our little house now. I bought it for $65 I think about 15 years ago and it's still in very good condition.
I think that's it! Should I try to sell these items? Should I keep and store any? (in particular I hate to give up the Eastlake dresser.). Any opinions?
crap…I need a set of antique twin beds! Too bad you are so far away. My personal carpenter could fix them up. But if they require too much work, no one will want them. So, you never used them?
The Eastlake dresser is practically worthless, useful only to people who will give it a coat of chalk paint.
At this point in our lives, I cannot understand hanging on to furnishings I don’t have a place for. If you dont have a place for them now, you never will. If your children dont wish to be burdened with them, let them go.
They are just things.
I’m twisting myself into a pretzel trying to figure out a way to use a glass chandelier that will not work in my condo or in my Hermann house. It has slight sentimental value but really I just want to keep it because it’s pretty and what if I need it someday? But then where am I going to use it “someday?” If not in my next two abodes. I’m 67 years old, last abodes will not accomodate glass chandeliers. I need fo let this idea go, or just strip off the dangly glass bits and toss the rest.
iris lilies
10-12-21, 1:08pm
rosarugosa: Thanks, our goal is for every book to fit on the bookshelves with the only exceptions being library books and books we're actively reading. Having to be creative since area thrift stores and the friends of the library are not accepting donations due to lack of storage space. We're also buying fewer paper books, husband has kindle unlimited and I have found a bunch of free anthologies on the kindle.
After my big book weeding project last year, I find myself in the enviable position of having more bookshelves than books in our future houses.
but then I remember that DH has his own books and he will never ever get rid of them, not ever. They will outlive me. But they don’t get to sit in bookcases necessarily although I may let him have a couple of shelves. If this sounds controlling just know that he has college science textbooks squirreled away that he will never ever get rid of. That is a level of hoarding I won’t support in my home. If he wants to keep them packed up in a box somewhere that is his business.
Teacher Terry
10-12-21, 1:25pm
Catherine, if your kids don’t want the items and you don’t have room at your house then time to let them go. I had a full size walnut Eastlake bed from 1840 in perfect condition. It took me 6 months to sell it for 250.
Tags off some clothes I have now worn and washed enough I know I will not return them. I had 14 tags from 3 garments. This industry isn't very eco-friendly.
I am also starting a project I do each year to go through my recipe binder, retry all the recipes, and cull as appropriate.
I love the recipe idea, Yppej. I have a binder and keep meaning to do this. Then I get all excited reading all the different recipes, and then I never get to cooking them.
Burnt four grocery bags of papers I brought home from my parents' house. I burned my grandmother's medical bills from 1965! Feel like I am releasing their spirits so they can be at peace.
Teacher Terry
10-16-21, 2:46pm
Now with everything online no need to keep most paper bills so much less for heirs to deal with. I get all my bills digitally.
We gave away 12 books of my daughter's to a friend who is a third grade teacher trying to build a classroom library.
Teacher Terry
10-18-21, 11:43am
I didn’t sell my dog crate at my friend’s garage sale and I also have 2 bags of clothes that are too big for me. My son is also gathering stuff for the thrift store.
File this under accidental decluttering - I have lost a cardigan sweater. I think I left it at the last Board of Health meeting. I had debated throwing it out last year, since it's brown which doesn't look good on me since I let my hair go gray, but I wore it there because I'm going to look ugly anyways with a mask covering half my face. Then it got warm and I took it off and left it on the back of my chair.
I've decided to declutter the sweater I'm wearing today at work. I don't love it and I certainly have plenty of others. I'll wash it up and put it in the current box of stuff for the thrift store.
mschrisgo2
10-21-21, 4:48pm
Microwave oven, it growled, clunked and stopped when I tried to use it the other day. Added it to my neighbor’s pile for special trash pickup. (We get one “large pickup” a year included in our garbage fees and I already used mine to get rid of the old refrigerator.) Considering whether or not to replace the microwave…
Some pictures of people in Nebraska circa 1920-1925. I just didn't know who they were, and Grandmother did not write their names on the back like she usually did.
happystuff
10-22-21, 9:47am
I've decided to declutter the sweater I'm wearing today at work. I don't love it and I certainly have plenty of others. I'll wash it up and put it in the current box of stuff for the thrift store.
This is the easiest way to declutter clothes for myself with no regrets afterwards - LOL.
JaneV2.0
10-22-21, 10:47am
I just decluttered two leaf bags of clothes painlessly, with Ridwell. Just put them on the porch. No need to schlep out to the car or waste gas.
catherine
10-22-21, 11:16am
I just decluttered two leaf bags of clothes painlessly, with Ridwell. Just put them on the porch. No need to schlep out to the car or waste gas.
Yeah, I've used our Vietnam Veterans of America pick-up service to purge 2 houses of unwanted clothing and housewares. SO easy.
JaneV2.0
10-22-21, 11:34am
The regular pickup service seems to be on hiatus, maybe due to COVID or labor shortages. I hope it's temporary.
I don't make a special trip to drop stuff off - I put it in the back of the car and when I'm close by the thrift store, I drop it off.
Yeah--I miss thrifting. Now it's time to release items back to the thrift stream.
Five aluminum drinking bottles. These were the first gen, not insulated. They would sweat with cold drinks. Also, the mouths were too small for ice cubes to go in easily.
One of hubby's work shirts (don't tell but his office has asked me to purge out the less presentable ones). His annual supply of new will be here soon!
A zip.out jacket liner. It would never occur to me to zip the liner in, I would just grab a sweater to wear if it were that cold.
Gave away a bookcase (put it on the curb), so my total for the spooky month of October seems to be the very appropriate 13!
Yesterday was board games and dvds. Also a candle that had seen better days.
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