View Full Version : January Purge
happystuff
1-1-22, 10:33am
Just finished going through the 2021 files of old bills, semi-annual statements, etc and have them shredded, bagged and ready to go out in the recycle tomorrow. Let the new year of purging and decluttering begin!
rosarugosa
1-1-22, 10:48am
Wow, you are good! Haven't started yet, but I plan to tackle this week.
happystuff
1-1-22, 10:54am
Wow, you are good! Haven't started yet, but I plan to tackle this week.
Well, I wish I could take credit for being proactive, but we actually met with "our guy" last week and I needed to have everything updated for the meeting. LOL.
Bravo Happy Stuff! The job is done!
Teacher Terry
1-1-22, 1:48pm
I filled a trash bag with all the paperwork I threw away. I also purged some clothes I just don’t like anymore.
At 3:00 a.m. this morning - sometimes when I can't sleep I clean! Purged kitchen of many of the left over holiday goodies. Some goodies, unopened - I figured we don't need this stuff, so out it went. Haven't tackled the refrigerator yet, I am not a fan of cluttered frig. I joke that I like our frig to look like a poor college persons frig! It seems like when it is over filled food gets pushed to the back, covered up in the veg bin, etc and just goes bad.
Glad the holidays are over and we can do some more decluttering. Strange, but one of the things I dislike about the holidays is when I receive stuff and then trying to find a new home for them. Not to sound ungrateful, but it always a concern.
happystuff
1-2-22, 10:33am
It's probably deeply embedded into my psyche, but I have a really hard time throwing out food - unless it has gone bad. I'll give it away, but hate throwing it out. And I get what you mean about the holidays, Greg. Fortunately, everyone in my family seems to be moving towards consumables now.
Not a purge, but a followup on what Greg said; I really like putting christmas stuff away and getting the normal house back. I did not have to purge anything this year though because last year I got rid of half my ornaments before we moved, and I have exactly the right amount, and this year I gave the granddaughters several ornaments, and now I am down to 80 ornaments, which fit the artificial tree perfectly. It was fun to count them and figure if I live 25 more years and I get rid of 3 per year, I'll be at about zero when I die!
I gave my dear dil one of the family heirlooms on Christmas Eve, and it was hard to let go but it feels wonderful now that she has it, it's still in the family, and I have done my duty with respect to my mom and dad by passing it on and keeping it within the family.
happystuff
1-2-22, 10:46am
Not a purge, but a followup on what Greg said; I really like putting christmas stuff away and getting the normal house back. I did not have to purge anything this year though because last year I got rid of half my ornaments before we moved, and I have exactly the right amount, and this year I gave the granddaughters several ornaments, and now I am down to 80 ornaments, which fit the artificial tree perfectly. It was fun to count them and figure if I live 25 more years and I get rid of 3 per year, I'll be at about zero when I die!
I gave my dear dil one of the family heirlooms on Christmas Eve, and it was hard to let go but it feels wonderful now that she has it, it's still in the family, and I have done my duty with respect to my mom and dad by passing it on and keeping it within the family.
Very nice, Tybee. I did take the outside lights down yesterday, but am leaving the tree up for a while longer. I just don't want to let the holiday go yet.
Teacher Terry
1-2-22, 3:30pm
We have a small shelter here that will take food so I never throw away consumables that I don’t like. When I made spaghetti for 100 people for a fundraiser there was quite a bit left and they took it. I have 2 diamond bracelets, 2 diamond hearts and 2 sets of earrings. I am going to give my DIL one of each as she loves sparkling jewelry but just owns costume stuff. Now that I am not working it’s not being worn.
It's so great to give it to them while they are young and have a lifetime of enjoying them. . .
It's so great to give it to them while they are young and have a lifetime of enjoying them. . .
And knowing that it is actually going to the person you want!
Brought one big ban from mom's decluttering of homemade items like afghans. So that is not a big increase in the number of items I have.
Very nice, Tybee. I did take the outside lights down yesterday, but am leaving the tree up for a while longer. I just don't want to let the holiday go yet.
I am always very happy to let the holidays go, but last year, DH & I came to the conclusion that we liked the extra lights in the house in the evening during the dark months. Therefore I have some fairy lights and faux candles that we are keeping up until the daylight increases. They are plain white lights so not particularly xmassy. I guess you could call it part of our hygge efforts.
happystuff
1-3-22, 11:38am
I purged, I've been purged... I guess it can go both ways. Facebook is once again not allowing me to sign into my account. Granted I haven't logged on in... months - maybe?? But it is now trying to make me jump through hoops to prove who I am. So, for me at this point in time, FB is gone. I will leave the door open to possibly a new account in the future, but I don't think anyone should hold their breath for that to happen. I was only going to post on the marketplace to sell a few things anyway and only had about 18 "close and personal family/friends", so I can contact them easily and let them know, and probably enjoy a few pleasant person-to-person conversations!
So, towards that endeavor, I'm off to post elsewhere about online, non-FB, local marketplaces to sell stuff!
iris lilies
1-3-22, 11:52am
It's probably deeply embedded into my psyche, but I have a really hard time throwing out food - unless it has gone bad. I'll give it away, but hate throwing it out. And I get what you mean about the holidays, Greg. Fortunately, everyone in my family seems to be moving towards consumables now.
I am always very happy to let the holidays go, but last year, DH & I came to the conclusion that we liked the extra lights in the house in the evening during the dark months. Therefore I have some fairy lights and faux candles that we are keeping up until the daylight increases. They are plain white lights so not particularly xmassy. I guess you could call it part of our hygge efforts.
Wait until the batteries go out on all those faux candles. A couple days ago I boxed up all of mine, about a dozen, Along with their controllers and I plan to donate them to the Conservancy sale. I just cannot be bothered to buy the tiny batteries figure out which batteries are working and which ones are not, is a controller that doesn’t work? the candles?
I am not a candle person but I really liked those faux ones. Until the batteries ran out.
Wait until the batteries go out on all those faux candles. A couple days ago I boxed up all of mine, about a dozen, Along with their controllers and I plan to donate them to the Conservancy sale. I just cannot be bothered to buy the tiny batteries figure out which batteries are working and which ones are not, is a controller that doesn’t work? the candles?
I am not a candle person but I really liked those faux ones. Until the batteries ran out.
Mine take AA batteries, so they are very easy to replace. They aren't those button batteries. I used to be somewhat of a candle person, but with a young cat leaping around, I'm not so keen on open flames.
A cross pen box with a very foxed interior, from a set my dad bought in 1970. I have polished the silver pen and pencil and I am using the pen and DH was given the pencil. Dad doesn't seem to have ever used them, saving them for "later" so here it is later, and we are trying to use all these things now.
But we didn't need the box.
Started the great utensil drawer purge. Removed a bunch or rubber bands that no longer stretch, a rusty knife, broken pieces of plastic and some random bits I don't recognize. Can close the drawer without slamming or rearranging stuff.
Next is pulling everything out and taking an inventory then cleaning the drawer and being honest with what we actually use. Pretty sure we don't need three wooden spoons.
iris lilies
1-5-22, 2:31pm
Moved 1/20 of my garden club junque out to the trash. Our trash collection is spotty these days because they’re having a very hard time getting drivers and also Covid is hitting refuse workers. Anyway – I heard the garbage trucks come through the alley and now I’m rushing to get stuff out there before dumpsters are full. This is another advantage of being retired, I can get to the dumpsters before people who work.
This morning I emailed someone I haven’t talk to you in nearly 2 years, asking her if she wanted some of my cast off flower show containers. She is thrilled to think that she’ll get a few things and I’m happy to deliver them to her house, getting them out of my basement. I can’t count those as “gone” yet though but at least I have a plan.
Sent my nephew some very nice stuff from my dad, including a railroad watch and a silver belt buckle. Feels good to have these heirlooms passed down and out of my life, responsibility for them over.
Teacher Terry
1-6-22, 12:37am
That’s great Tybee.
Leftover holiday beverages (non-alcoholic) went to my workplace and have already been used up. Crackers and cookies to my dd for the grandsons. A few toys went that way also.
A pair of hubby's pants with holes that show undergarments in the trash. More to shirts and towels cut into rags.
Two bottles of baby shampoo finally used up.
A spatula that didn't stay attached at the handle has been trashed and a new one purchased. DH had put glue on it once, but the dishwasher must erode it.
iris lilies
1-7-22, 12:23am
I tried one of the Christmas presents that I was on the fence about and yeah, NO. Put in the burn pile to burn up on the fireplace.
Library is accepting donations by appointment only with certain restrictions. We can donate one box of books only, and we have to show proof of residency. Appointment booked for Monday morning, Saturday project is find the biggest box that can fit in the car and fill it with books.
the biggest box that can fit in the car and fill it with books.
Lol!!!
If your goal is just to purge, I've been known to sprinkle books around town in the Little Libraries. Do you have them near you?
The ones near me are for children's books.
Went through the containers at the top of the coat closet - reorganized AND LABLED bins for winter hats, gloves, scarves and DH's ball caps. I did get rid of some caps that were mine or were filthy duplicates. I also put some older magazines in the recycling bin this morning. Also while putting away Christmas decorations on Saturday, I culled out a few things for the donate box.
Dropped off the large box of books to the library. Beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the great book cull. The goal to have all our books on the bookshelves except for books we're actively reading and library books. Think there's still a box or two of books in the storage unit, those will probably go straight to goodwill once they're uncovered.
iris lilies
1-10-22, 6:17pm
Cleaned off our bulletin board, tossing all but 2 ribbons I won in flower shows after taking a photo of them all. I would normally recycle these ribbons, but they all have writing on the back in pen so it’s not a supply of ribbons I can pass on to garden clubs.
Transferred misc. notes of phone numbers and business card contacts to digital storage. Moved two physical photos ( remember those?,) to ohoto book.
rosarugosa
1-11-22, 6:51am
I passed along 2 sets of bookends via my town's FB giving page, and met a local bibliophile in the process. We are now FB friends, and she introduced me to a a cool new FB group, "What Should I Read Next?" It's not like I actually need books to add to my list (understatement!), but there does seem to be some good discussion in the group so it's a bit like an online book club.
iris lilies
1-11-22, 10:16am
I passed along 2 sets of bookends via my town's FB giving page, and met a local bibliophile in the process. We are now FB friends, and she introduced me to a a cool new FB group, "What Should I Read Next?" It's not like I actually need books to add to my list (understatement!), but there does seem to be some good discussion in the group so it's a bit like an online book club.
Rosa you are our book guru!
rosarugosa
1-11-22, 4:56pm
You give me too much credit, IL. I do think this group overall tends to prefer non-fiction, but I'm just happy living in my own little fantasy world. :)
You give me too much credit, IL. I do think this group overall tends to prefer non-fiction, but I'm just happy living in my own little fantasy world. :)
Me too!
frugal-one
1-11-22, 5:41pm
Me too!
What? Likes non-fiction or living in a fantasy world?
iris lilies
1-11-22, 5:46pm
You give me too much credit, IL. I do think this group overall tends to prefer non-fiction, but I'm just happy living in my own little fantasy world. :)
I prefer novels but I’m often disappointed by the fiction I read.
when I did the big book purge last year, I kept as reading material (not the illustrated books) only 10 volumes. Those are my “ keep forever reading books.”
I have another 20 I will keep while I have room. These latter ones are in a uniform binding that looks nice on the shelf, and they’re slightly modern reprints of minor 20th century English authors, So I am not sure even that my local very large public library system has all of them.
What? Likes non-fiction or living in a fantasy world?
I like fiction, especially epic fantasy, but I don't necessarily live there, our neighborhood is zoned as reality only.
I joke that I like our frig to look like a poor college persons frig!
When I was a poor college student there was not a lot of food in the fridge but there were always at least a few cheap beers. Priorities! Now I have a kegerator so the (now expensive) beer is all there and our fridge is relatively clean and free of spoiled leftovers.
I am always very happy to let the holidays go, but last year, DH & I came to the conclusion that we liked the extra lights in the house in the evening during the dark months. Therefore I have some fairy lights and faux candles that we are keeping up until the daylight increases. They are plain white lights so not particularly xmassy. I guess you could call it part of our hygge efforts.
SO took down the holiday decorations inside the house on new year's day. Like you I'm glad for that. But he still hasn't gotten around to removing the lights outside. I'm actually hoping that he leaves them up for a while. They are just so cheerful when I walk down to the mailbox at the end of the workday.
As for purging, SO's bowling league decided to go ahead and do bowling tonight so my plan is to go through the two large boxes of orphaned computer cables that I've been collecting for the 20+ years that I've owned computers and get it down to one small box of cables that we might actually use at some point. Tomorrow is trash day so tonight is a perfect time to deal with that.
I like to keep the door of the fridge well stocked with beer as a form of energy saving thermal mass : -).
I returned 3 items to stores today and took 11 items to Goodwill. Total for month so far: 14.
Burned some more old papers of my parents. Wish I could burn them all.
rosarugosa
1-16-22, 7:22pm
Spent the afternoon at Mom's house with sister and we cleared out so much stuff. I didn't keep close tally, but we took out about 5 boxes and 3 large bags of glassware and kitchen items to be donated, sis and I each brought a few things home for ourselves (a slippery slope, I know, we are careful) and we put out 3 bags of trash and 2 bags of recycling. We are getting through the kitchen faster than I ever imagined!
Sorted paperwork, scanned what I needed to keep for future reference and shredded it all.
Sorted work clothing and listed 4 blouses, 5 pairs dress pants, and a pencil skirt on the local buy nothing group. Clothing is popular and the roads are still slick so I'll choose a winner tomorrow afternoon and make the arrangements for pick up.
Long story short, I mistakenly bought 3 times the amount of parsley I needed for a soup recipe last night.
I never do this, but I actually went back to the grocery store and returned the extra two tiny tubs of chopped parsley today. The credit was almost 10 dollars!
Why don't I return grocery store mistakes more often?! I will now!
New total for month: 16.
frugal-one
1-18-22, 3:58pm
Long story short, I mistakenly bought 3 times the amount of parsley I needed for a soup recipe last night.
I never do this, but I actually went back to the grocery store and returned the extra two tiny tubs of chopped parsley today. The credit was almost 10 dollars!
Why don't I return grocery store mistakes more often?! I will now!
New total for month: 16.
Parsley can be frozen. Works well in soup. Better yet, to return it, as you did.
It just depends on how far away the grocery is in gas and time. I have two squeeze bottles of ginger I now have to figure out what to make with it.
Returned a toilet part to hardware store.
Donated several jackets and a matching leather jacket and pants set to Salvation Army.
Put cans of tuna that accidentally was packed in oil (picky dogs only like water packed) along with juicy boxes and plastic utensils into a charity street side box like the little library.
Returned library books and at the same time donated a cookbook published locally. They should be able to get a few bucks for it.
I ended up purging a bunch of Christmas ornaments before putting away what I had out. I rarely used them and probably wasn't going to ever use them again since I really like just having red and silver ornaments on my tree this year. I also purged two sets of pajamas because I got two for Christmas. I've gotten to the point where it's really hard to find things to get rid of as I don't purchase much and what I currently have is stuff that I use. I get my "purge" fix by watching videos on YouTube of other people doing it.
I know we shouldn't purge for anyone but ourselves, but hubby's work clothes are out of control.
He's been the laundry helper lately - I wash, dry and fold and he puts away. Totally him volunteering to assume that role. Well, he's noticed how easy it is to put my clothes away, and how he must cram his in the drawers. He is going through slowly and allowing some things to get tossed! Yay!
mschrisgo2
1-21-22, 4:31pm
Old desk chair went off with the trash today. I bought it USED for $10- - 17 years ago! It was literally falling apart. I hope the new one lasts as long, lol.
rosarugosa
1-21-22, 5:57pm
Lmerullo: That's pretty cool that he is seeing from your example that less can be better!
Mschrisgo2: It sure sounds like you got you $10 worth!
I hope the new one lasts as long, lol.
Spoiler alert: it won't!
I gave away a bike that is now too small for my daughter on our Buy Nothing Group. New total for month: 17.
I’ll probably go through some more stuff this weekend.
My furnace died at the beginning of the month. I’m surviving fine with a couple of space heaters. New furnace has been ordered, but unknown when it will ship and/or be installed. The closet with furnace and water heater is off the living room, across the room from the unit door. I had to get rid of a ton of stuff I had piled on sofa (never use it) and stuff that was otherwise in the way. Sofa is cleared off and the corner by furnace closet is cleared out. The table that holds my 24” TV will have to be put away.
I’ve organized a lot of stuff and put it in my BR walk in closet.
Tradd, that sounds like you've seized the opportunity to do some good organizing!
I returned 5 items to stores today. New total for month: 22.
Did a pass through my kitchen last night while waiting for dinner to be done. Not much to toss except for some canned chicken that I bought for a recipe that I didn't end up making. Consolidated some stuff and threw away packaging. Also tossed an old smoke detector that was sitting in a drawer. I assume since it wasn't hanging up that there was something wrong with it and that was why it was taken down.
iris lilies
1-31-22, 11:53am
Yesterday I put a “Free” garden bench on Facebook, and the people who came to get it also bought two other garden pieces. $95 up.
A shirt relegated from regular wear to pajama wear a few years ago and now developing holes - not in embarrassing places, but it just doesn't make me feel good when I put it on.
Last week, I gave away a bunch of bath stuff from when my daughter was little (bath toys, non-slip pads, etc.). Total for January: 40.
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