View Full Version : September Purge
Another month, another challenge.
A sweater is going in the trash tonight - just worn out.
I didn't want to start a new thread for a question that I have. It's a need vs want question. If you need to declutter something, it is pretty obvious that you should declutter it. I have several things in my house that I want to declutter but there really isn't a need neccesarily.
Items like a blanket that is in a drawer in our living room that no one uses. It's not bothering anything so there isn't a need to get rid of it. I just want to but for some reason I am hesitant because it's not bothering anything. I also have items in a downstairs closet. Again no one uses it but again, they aren't bothering anything either. We have a large pet carrier and some "action figures" that are just collecting dust.
I guess my question is I am wondering if I should get rid of them just to get rid of them or forget they exist and leave them be???
Whever answers first, I will take their advice hence the reason for not wanting a separate thread.
iris lilies
9-4-22, 10:08am
I didn't want to start a new thread for a question that I have. It's a need vs want question. If you need to declutter something, it is pretty obvious that you should declutter it. I have several things in my house that I want to declutter but there really isn't a need neccesarily.
Items like a blanket that is in a drawer in our living room that no one uses. It's not bothering anything so there isn't a need to get rid of it. I just want to but for some reason I am hesitant because it's not bothering anything. I also have items in a downstairs closet. Again no one uses it but again, they aren't bothering anything either. We have a large pet carrier and some "action figures" that are just collecting dust.
I guess my question is I am wondering if I should get rid of them just to get rid of them or forget they exist and leave them be???
Whever answers first, I will take their advice hence the reason for not wanting a separate thread.
I don’t want you to take my advice just because I answer first! But consider my ideas.
I operate with the idea that there is nothing wrong with empty space. That blanket that you will never use is in a drawer, what if the drawer was empty? An empty drawer opens up potential for putting away things that you WILL need for the future. That future might come at a time when you don’t have time or your head isn’t in a space to de-clutter the blanket.
You also mentioned figures collecting dust. That is a huge NO for me, my environment is made worse by junk sitting around not displayed in an aesthetically pleasing way, getting dirty. That is yucky.
All of that said, please do not think that my environment is perfect. The house I’m living in is unorganized, dusty, and it will be a couple years before we have everything put away. But my condo is pristine and perfect, and everything is there because I want it there.
I want to bring my house to the level of perfection that is my condo!
Klunick, I have the same problem...but Iris's idea of empty drawers is something I need to embrace fully! I might work on that slowly. Right now I'm purging weeds!
I have no problem with empty drawer idea. In fact most of the drawers in most of my house are empty. That is the only thing in any living room drawers in fact. The action figures are my husband's and he probably doesn't even remember he has them. He literally bought them and stuck them in a closet. This was about 15-20 years ago. He wouldn't even notice them gone. They are in a closet in the basement where I never go so it really doesn't matter if I get rid of them or not. It is just in my mind... why keep it though.
I would ask if husband would mind selling them and then try to sell them and the crate and convert them into cash to use for something fun, like a weekend at a country inn.
iris lilies
9-4-22, 5:41pm
I have no problem with empty drawer idea. In fact most of the drawers in most of my house are empty. That is the only thing in any living room drawers in fact. The action figures are my husband's and he probably doesn't even remember he has them. He literally bought them and stuck them in a closet. This was about 15-20 years ago. He wouldn't even notice them gone. They are in a closet in the basement where I never go so it really doesn't matter if I get rid of them or not. It is just in my mind... why keep it though.
I offer the idea that purging the action figures is work that must be done. Theoretically, you are putting off the work. You're putting it off until you're older and less able. Or perhaps until you have a very tight deadline such as when you have to move and it will just be one more thing of 1000 things that you have to do. Or it is work that someone else will have to do if you get hit by a bus and you know the value/provenance of these action figures whereas they will not.
And if you're talking about getting rid of them by selling them, one by one, Lord that is a LOT of work. Get hopping, and do it now before you have a tight timeline where you have to get rid of them!
Teacher Terry
9-5-22, 2:50am
I took a big bag to the thrift store on Friday.
I think I learned about this blog from someone here, perhaps Razz?, but anyway, Rhonda's latest post is very relevant to this discussion. She just did a large decluttering prompted by the death of her husband. My favorite part:
"I resolved that from now on I'll deal with excess by not buying it in the first place and if something I already have becomes superfluous, I'll get rid of it. No more putting things in a box or a cupboard to gather dust for years simply because I couldn't decide, or was too lazy to deal with it there and then. This has been life changing for me and it makes me happy every day to get out of bed and look at what I've done. I'm not looking after junk I don't need now, I have extra space inside my home, it feels right and I'm SO glad I did it."
Here's a link to the post (https://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/).
Klunick, if it were me, I might keep the blanket and purge the action figures and other brick-a-brack you don't need. Blankets always seem to come in handy. Guests, picnics, wrap for furniture. moves, covering your car back seat if you have to transport a shedding dog. If you have enough blankets for all of those purposes, then get rid of it, but if I have one or two too. many of things, it's probably blankets.
As for the September purge, we are having a multi-family yard sale next week in my little neighborhood enclave. Of course, we did THE Purge 5 years ago, but as it nature's way, more unnecessary stuff has wound up in our house, outbuildings, and storage unit. I'm looking forward to this Mini-Purge!
I have a donation pickup scheduled for the end of this week as well as the fall town-wide yard sale coming up next month. Will gather stuff that won't sell at the yard sale for donation and then start gathering stuff up for the sale. I'm really hoping to get a significant amount of stuff gone.
iris lilies
9-5-22, 11:07am
I am spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to get rid of—responsibly—a defective Ipad that has no trade in value.
if anyone here has a sure fire suggestion that does not involve me driving to the Apple store ( an outer circle of hell) then please tell me. So far I have:
1. Identified electronics recyclers who used to be in St. Louis but now are in Illinois. So no I’m not driving to another state to dispose of a small thing.
2. Sent email to the local Mac headquarters (computer repair folks) to see if they would take it. No response.
3. Went online to apple.com, assuming they would take it if I mailed it. But they want a serial number to send me a Mail back kit. I didn’t have a serial number because I had already removed device from my account.
4. Went online to Best Buy, but they seem to want to take the machine only if it has trade in value. Mine has no trade in value because the home button doesn’t work.
5. Called apple.com support to lay this problem at their feet. Apple support lady very helpful and friendly, suggested I look for the serial number on the actual case of the iPad. Voilà! It was there.
6. with new additional information of the serial number of my device, I went to apple.com online section about disposing of their product. Going around in circles now because it seems they will only send me a Mail back kit if my machine has trade-in value. My machine has zero trade-in value because it is defective.
I’m stymied. Honestly, there’s no way I would spend this amount of time on something like this if I was still in the working world. I probably would’ve just thrown in the landfill and forget about it.
I’m having ridiculous adventures in disposing of computer Wi-Fi equipment as well.
rosarugosa
9-5-22, 12:05pm
There is a guy in my town who recycles laptops and computers. He had posted on our local FB giving page that he was seeking these items. I had some hesitation about handing laptops over to a stranger, but it turned out we had a friend in common, she was able to vouch for him, and I passed a few laptops to him. Maybe you could try asking one of your local FB group if anyone recycles tablets?
I didn't want to start a new thread for a question that I have. It's a need vs want question. If you need to declutter something, it is pretty obvious that you should declutter it. I have several things in my house that I want to declutter but there really isn't a need neccesarily.
Items like a blanket that is in a drawer in our living room that no one uses. It's not bothering anything so there isn't a need to get rid of it. I just want to but for some reason I am hesitant because it's not bothering anything. I also have items in a downstairs closet. Again no one uses it but again, they aren't bothering anything either. We have a large pet carrier and some "action figures" that are just collecting dust.
I guess my question is I am wondering if I should get rid of them just to get rid of them or forget they exist and leave them be???
Whever answers first, I will take their advice hence the reason for not wanting a separate thread.
If they're bugging you in any way (even thinking about them like you are here) why not chuck them? Then you will be uncluttering your mind.
Yesterday sold my old waterbath canner and 10 quart jars to a young mom for $20. She's just getting into canning and I'm getting out.
Made a reservation online with our waste collectors to do a bulk item pickup: old broken barbecue, broken vacuum which cannot be fixed, broken fan, broken unfixable pressure washer, plastic barrel left by former tenant.
I placed a new in-box (a gift to DH form kids, he's never opened it) gas blower on the Facebook Marketplace with a note not to ask if it's still available, that I would note if it was sold. Of course I got a dozen DMs asking me if it was available. People are such a$$holes. No one has truly asked to buy it. Probably because it's gas-fueled. I am going to approach the guys who mow & blow the neighbor's yard when I see them if they would like it. Along with two weed whackers we own (also gas--DH's property). I bought my own battery-op ww last summer; I can't even manage the weight of those gas ones for long.
I am spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to get rid of—responsibly—a defective Ipad that has no trade in value.
if anyone here has a sure fire suggestion that does not involve me driving to the Apple store ( an outer circle of hell) then please tell me. So far I have:
1. Identified electronics recyclers who used to be in St. Louis but now are in Illinois. So no I’m not driving to another state to dispose of a small thing.
2. Sent email to the local Mac headquarters (computer repair folks) to see if they would take it. No response.
3. Went online to apple.com, assuming they would take it if I mailed it. But they want a serial number to send me a Mail back kit. I didn’t have a serial number because I had already removed device from my account.
4. Went online to Best Buy, but they seem to want to take the machine only if it has trade in value. Mine has no trade in value because the home button doesn’t work.
5. Called apple.com support to lay this problem at their feet. Apple support lady very helpful and friendly, suggested I look for the serial number on the actual case of the iPad. Voilà! It was there.
6. with new additional information of the serial number of my device, I went to apple.com online section about disposing of their product. Going around in circles now because it seems they will only send me a Mail back kit if my machine has trade-in value. My machine has zero trade-in value because it is defective.
I’m stymied. Honestly, there’s no way I would spend this amount of time on something like this if I was still in the working world. I probably would’ve just thrown in the landfill and forget about it.
I’m having ridiculous adventures in disposing of computer Wi-Fi equipment as well.
There are generic electronics recyclers here. That's where I got rid of my old equipment.
iris lilies
9-5-22, 1:47pm
Today I received an email from Apple with “ return kit” instructions, so yay! One of the several interactions with Apple generated this return kit. I can mail it to them, problem solved.
Then, on to the next technical challenge.
When I win the lottery I will hire in this order 1) a cook 2) a tech person
I am spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to get rid of—responsibly—a defective Ipad that has no trade in value.
if anyone here has a sure fire suggestion that does not involve me driving to the Apple store ( an outer circle of hell) then please tell me. So far I have:
1. Identified electronics recyclers who used to be in St. Louis but now are in Illinois. So no I’m not driving to another state to dispose of a small thing.
2. Sent email to the local Mac headquarters (computer repair folks) to see if they would take it. No response.
3. Went online to apple.com, assuming they would take it if I mailed it. But they want a serial number to send me a Mail back kit. I didn’t have a serial number because I had already removed device from my account.
4. Went online to Best Buy, but they seem to want to take the machine only if it has trade in value. Mine has no trade in value because the home button doesn’t work.
5. Called apple.com support to lay this problem at their feet. Apple support lady very helpful and friendly, suggested I look for the serial number on the actual case of the iPad. Voilà! It was there.
6. with new additional information of the serial number of my device, I went to apple.com online section about disposing of their product. Going around in circles now because it seems they will only send me a Mail back kit if my machine has trade-in value. My machine has zero trade-in value because it is defective.
I’m stymied. Honestly, there’s no way I would spend this amount of time on something like this if I was still in the working world. I probably would’ve just thrown in the landfill and forget about it.
I’m having ridiculous adventures in disposing of computer Wi-Fi equipment as well.
I had that problem and went to the Apple store and they put a button on my home page that I clicked on and it worked very well. As a matter of fact, when I got a new iPad I kept that button to use. If that is the only problem with that iPad it may still be usable???
iris lilies
9-5-22, 3:24pm
I had that problem and went to the Apple store and they put a button on my home page that I clicked on and it worked very well. As a matter of fact, when I got a new iPad I kept that button to use. If that is the only problem with that iPad it may still be usable???
I did not need to go to the Apple store, I installed the button myself. And yes it works well enough but I really don’t want to mess with a device that isn’t doing what it supposed to do. And last week it didn’t seem to be taking up a charge, but at the moment it is fully charged. I think it is wonky and I don’t want to mess with it anymore.
If they're bugging you in any way (even thinking about them like you are here) why not chuck them? Then you will be uncluttering your mind.
That is what I thought so I did. Also found other things to get rid of.
2 blankets
1 pet carrier
A bunch of action figures
A race track set
I forgot my newer reusable water bottle at a meeting and my backup is in really bad shape. I'm going to toss it and just refill a disposable plastic water bottle from work instead of buying a new one.
When I get home from work, I am going to toss a candle. I need to come to the conclusion that I am not a candle person, just like the idea of candles.
A cannister vacuum and two large cans of Dinty Moore beef stew.
Also, some drink glasses, cups, water bottles, and bowls. Oddly, the cups and bowls tripped me up but in the end, I got rid of them.
iris lilies
9-10-22, 7:13pm
When I get home from work, I am going to toss a candle. I need to come to the conclusion that I am not a candle person, just like the idea of candles.
I’m not a candle person either and I don’t really understand the fascination with him.
Some years ago I got a set of those battery operated ones as a gift. And I was thrilled because I had talked about them to my friend who later gifted them. And then I bought myself another set. So I had a whole bunch of them. And then I ended up with multiple controllers and I didn’t know which one’s control switch and then the batteries are out and out and yuck. I put them all in a box and sell them for two dollars at the last sale we had.
Been on a decluttering kick today for some reason. As well as what I posted earlier, I also got rid of one pair of earrings, four holey socks, and an eyeshadow palette.
Took another bag of clothes to the Goodwill. Summer stuff I've had that I did not wear at all this summer. So out it goes.
I gave 3 hand-me-downs from my daughter to someone on our Buy Nothing group, threw out a yoga mat that got damaged, and took 8 items to Goodwill. Total for month so far: 12.
Teacher Terry
9-11-22, 12:57am
I don’t like candles either.
I’m not a candle person either and I don’t really understand the fascination with him.
Some years ago I got a set of those battery operated ones as a gift. And I was thrilled because I had talked about them to my friend who later gifted them. And then I bought myself another set. So I had a whole bunch of them. And then I ended up with multiple controllers and I didn’t know which one’s control switch and then the batteries are out and out and yuck. I put them all in a box and sell them for two dollars at the last sale we had.
I don’t like candles either.
Makes me feel better to see there are others that aren't candle people. Felt like I was the only one at times.
Weeds, plants killed by drought, plants dried out because it is the end of the season (not due to drought).
If I were to have candles, they would be the fake kind, but I would heed Iris Lily's experience to avoid the multiple controllers.
threw out a yoga mat that got damaged
Wow, rough yoga class!?
I had planned on decluttering a large pot, a 9x13 pan, and a measuring cup. But... I realized I had already gotten rid of the pot and I could use the pan for another use. I did get rid of the measuring cup and also found a colander thst I no longer needed/used.
If you are looking for the best cattery in Melbourne Australia then you must visit the Cooinda cat resort (http://cooindacatresort.com.au/)
I had a great experience with them.
iris lilies
9-14-22, 11:23am
Makes me feel better to see there are others that aren't candle people. Felt like I was the only one at times.
Someone I met at a wine event in Hermann actually lives in St. Louis not far from my St. Louis neighborhood. Anyway – she’s known as “the candle lady “at the St. Vincent de Paul store because she is the volunteer who takes all their donated candles, melts them down, and reforms them into new candles that they sell at the store. In my mind I could only think of all these candles turning into an icky gray brown color, but she must merge like colors with like colors because they are all ok. I thought that was an interesting volunteer job.
rosarugosa
9-15-22, 6:19am
I always liked good quality candles, but I haven't been inclined to burn them much in recent years because we have cats. I have this nightmare vision of a cat tail in flames, so I am extremely judicious about when and where I burn a candle, which means it just doesn't happen most of the time. Plus who stays up past dark? Hah.
Last year, a friend gave us a set of faux candles (one set with one remote) and we did enjoy them a lot during the darker months of the year.
We follow the tradition of a bayberry candle burned to the socket on Christmas eve. I like to give them to my children and give them as housewarming gifts. Last year my dil also got a set of sterling candleholders since she had nothing to hold the candle in, so that warmed my heart, to have her keep on with the tradition.
Much like eating lima beans on New Years Day. . .
Much like eating lima beans on New Years Day. . .
Lima beans? We've always done the blackeye peas thing.
You know what Alan, so have we. I think I am getting dementia sometimes.
Teacher Terry
9-16-22, 1:23pm
Never heard of any of these traditions.
Black eyed peas in Georgia. Black eyed peas and collards in South Carolina, we discovered when the grocery store was sold out of collards on NY's eve.
Hoppin' John in Charleston has both of those things and in Charleston that is the tradition.
But we were from Georgia.
My mom would always call me and ask if I remembered, because it was supposed to make you wealthy, or let you keep what money you had.
Got rid of one sweatshirt and two t-shirts.
Decided I wanted all my shirts in one drawer which meant taking my sweatshirts out of the closet to put in the drawer. Everything fit but was a tad tight so a few things had to go.
More end of season plants. My hands started blistering and my barrels are full, so time to stop for the time being.
Black eyed peas in Georgia. Black eyed peas and collards in South Carolina, we discovered when the grocery store was sold out of collards on NY's eve.
Hoppin' John in Charleston has both of those things and in Charleston that is the tradition.
But we were from Georgia.
My mom would always call me and ask if I remembered, because it was supposed to make you wealthy, or let you keep what money you had.
The black-eyed peas represent coins and the collard greens represent paper money.
A can of hairspray
Some bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths
A couple ice packs that you use in coolers to keep things cold. We don't have any more coolers (already decluttered them a while ago) so why was I keeping the ice packs?? We do have a small round ice pack that we typically use for injuries that I will keep.
Got rid of some old batteries that I noticed had started to corrode because we have had them so long without using them.
Also got rid of some Tupperware as I only use 1-2 whenever my oldest gets home late from work and he wanted me to save him some dinner.
And two more t-shirts that had bleach stains across the chest area from leaning over the bathtub to clean and getting some of the chemicals on my shirt from the rim of the tub.
rosarugosa
9-26-22, 6:22am
A box of flavored vodkas and pre-mixed cocktails that we don't like or drink, expensive experimentation! I gave them to one of the moderators on our local Facebook giving page. She had a family birthday celebration coming up and was very appreciative.
happystuff
9-28-22, 10:28am
Had to formally dispose of old loveseat, but it is now gone from the sidewalk.
iris lilies
9-28-22, 10:59am
A bunch of files related to garden club activity. I have to keep certain files for seven years but every year I can dump some of it.
I've decided to just donate a bunch of clothes I've been trying to sell on Poshmark, etc. I started moving some Fall-weather clothes into my bedroom closet last weekend. I'll wait until the full transfer is done in a month and then take everything I cull out to the thrift store. I've had to reduce my cash charitable giving, so I'm telling myself this is another way to help others. Plus, I'm just ready to let go of the hassle of keeping track of stuff and a stuffed closet. 1st World Problem, I know.
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