View Full Version : October purge
It hurt my heart but I had to trash two Halloween decorations. One was a wreath that I dropped and it literally split into two. Form was made of styrofoam and snapped when I accidentally dropped it trying to hang it up. No idea how it happened because it wasn't a hard fall. Also got rid of a mini flag. I used to just pin it to my porch but decided I didn't want to do that anymore.
A couple pieces of kinky lingerie I will never wear again.
rosarugosa
10-6-23, 6:20am
I gave a bag of clothing to a local woman who does volunteer work and was doing a clothing collection for a group of women in recovery. She was specifically looking for sizes S/XS, so that is my niche! So far this year, I've bought 16 clothing items and donated 25, so I am ahead of the game. (My little sister thinks it's the funniest thing in the world that I track this on a spreadsheet).
A sweater whose sleeves have stretched way too far. I felt like I was swimming in it. I typically wear my clothes out until they are too bad to donate.
rosarugosa
10-6-23, 2:09pm
A sweater whose sleeves have stretched way too far. I felt like I was swimming in it. I typically wear my clothes out until they are too bad to donate.
That is commendable Jeppy, and I clearly cannot say the same. DH wears his clothes until they are ready for the ragbag. I definitely buy clothes that are wants rather than needs, although I've come a long way. I bought a couple of cute shirts on vacation, because they were so cute! And they fit! I am a very careful laundress, so my clothing almost never does wear out, except for shoes, socks and underwear.
I've always had a hard time finding clothing that fits me well. I'm also pretty fussy and I have zero tolerance for anything that is the least bit uncomfortable. My sister says that clothes shopping with me is like shopping with an autistic child, although surely that's a bit of an exaggeration! I needed to buy some good walking shoes this year, and I tried on dozens and dozens of pairs. I finally found something I liked a lot from Skechers, so I bought 3 pairs, with 2 stashed away for the future. I am hoping not to have to try any shoes on again for a very long time.
I definitely have clothing issues.
iris lilies
10-6-23, 2:39pm
No one wants my clothes when I’m done they are dirty, stained, sometimes torn. Most of them originate from the thrift store anyway.
Rosa I used to have no trouble with my feet until I got some gouty joints. I hope your feet do not change in the years ahead and you can still wear those squirreled away pairs.!
rosarugosa
10-7-23, 6:12am
No one wants my clothes when I’m done they are dirty, stained, sometimes torn. Most of them originate from the thrift store anyway.
Rosa I used to have no trouble with my feet until I got some gouty joints. I hope your feet do not change in the years ahead and you can still wear those squirreled away pairs.!
I know, that has occurred to me! Fortunately/unfortunately, I don't consider Skechers to be the most long-lasting of shoes, so I don't think we're talking about too many years into the future. Merrell clogs used to be my daily wear, but they changed the style and newer versions were no longer comfortable. A knowledgeable salesperson in a shoe store confirmed that the change was them and not me, lol, and they have since made some modifications that might make them work for me again. But I would never wear clogs for walking shoes. My last pair of walking shoes were by Chaco, and they don't seem to be making a laced-up walking shoe anymore.
I'm also finding that newer shoes tend to have memory foam insoles, which wear out pretty quickly relative to the rest of the shoe. I think I need to find a good quality replacement insole, and would welcome any suggestions. I have a pair of Clark clogs that look practically brand new on the outside, but the insoles have gotten all mushy and crappy.
flowerseverywhere
10-8-23, 4:21am
Just cleaned out a 95 yo relatives house. She moved in when she was 5.
there are boxes and bags full of yarn, fabric, clothes, books, old plastic toys and so on. The total number of 10 hour workdays we all did so far would be about 15. We need to go back, but SIL and her kids will be there for 2 full days each then SIL will stay on. We are about 25% done. The chest freezer was packed, the oldest bag of food was labeled 2004. Obviously most was pitched. I bought several hundred skeins of yarn to a knitting group, and boxes of fabric, thread, trims etc to a church sewing group. SIL is cleaning out food cabinets today. I must have thrown away 500 empty yogurt, cool whip and similar containers. 100+ flowerpots a neighbor kindly took.
there is a room full of things that one of the grandkids is going to try to sell.
keep carrying on with your purges. This person was born in the twenties, lived through the depression and WW2 rationing and victory gardens. The fridge had about 40 butter wrappers to butter pans and so on. Don’t let others clean up your mess. It will take us months to even be able to put the house on the market.
we encouraged her to let us help her clean out through the years but she accused us of wanting to steal her stuff.
rosarugosa
10-8-23, 6:31am
Oh no, Flowers, I do not envy you that task! We are fortunate that Mom has allowed us to do some major decluttering in recent years. She used to have hoarder-level rooms of stuff where you could not even use the rooms. She did somehow get better about it and accept our help in getting rid of stuff and making her home more comfortable and livable. It definitely makes life easier with her Alzheimer's and her constant dizziness that there aren't piles of crap all over the place.
iris lilies
10-8-23, 7:28am
Flowers, I will be interested to know when you look back at this clean out if it was worth the time you all spent.
For me, ain’t no way I am spending 10 hours days for weeks to mess with yogurt containers.
I guess my method would be: scoop up all of the personal papers necessary to settle the estate, then hire local appraiser to walk through and take any large items of value to sell for me. Finally, hire dumpsters and chuck the rest into dumpsters.
rosarugosa
10-8-23, 10:30am
I just gave away a set of cocktail glasses via my local FB giving page. I also dropped off a bag of miscellaneous stuff to the thrift store yesterday.
Three bags of stuff to the Goodwill including some jigsaw puzzles that just don't appeal to me that much and came from there in the first place. Can't even remember what else was in there.
flowerseverywhere
10-8-23, 12:29pm
Iris this was definitely worth it. Lots of really old good stuff found that had tremendous family value. We found money in books, boxes, envelopes etc. in a box labeled linens I found really old silver wrapped in the linens that was sold for $2000. BIL has a brother who does estate sales so he’s been giving us advice on what to keep and where to sell it. Plus we really had fun.
today some of the grandkids are there and sent pics of them dressed in some vintage clothing from the attic. It is the newer stuff, like plastic containers that was on the surface.
im sorry it was hidden away for so long.
But how great that you are all coming together to go through this, and all benefitting. Well done!
iris lilies
10-8-23, 12:48pm
Iris this was definitely worth it. Lots of really old good stuff found that had tremendous family value. We found money in books, boxes, envelopes etc. in a box labeled linens I found really old silver wrapped in the linens that was sold for $2000. BIL has a brother who does estate sales so he’s been giving us advice on what to keep and where to sell it. Plus we really had fun.
today some of the grandkids are there and sent pics of them dressed in some vintage clothing from the attic. It is the newer stuff, like plastic containers that was on the surface.
im sorry it was hidden away for so long.
that’s good then. I did think about the old relatives who hide money in books, that is difficult to deal with. Also, sterling is always worth selling regardless of the fluctuations in the silver market. It’s just that so many people think their silverplate utensils are worth something and they are not, or they will offer up grandma’s diamond ring as the thing worth money when really it’s that old sterling silver put away in the drawers that’s worth the money.
A pair of shoes will go in the trash tonight. They are stretched out of shape and the cardboard innards that give it shape are poking through into the shoe.
rosarugosa
10-13-23, 5:49am
I have 2 more bags ready for the thrift store. I also cleaned out the shed yesterday and have 3 bags for the trash and a bunch of retired birdfeeders to give away.
2/3 of the gutters are cleared of Norway maple helicopters....I called the tree guy today to see about taking the dang tree down!
Got rid of the keyboard/mouse I didn’t like after spending a day at home working on it. Someone on Buy Nothing group was asking for one shortly before I posted mine so it went quick. Replaced it with the same model I bought for use in the office. Much better.
iris lilies
10-13-23, 1:45pm
2/3 of the gutters are cleared of Norway maple helicopters....I called the tree guy today to see about taking the dang tree down!
We had one of those gutter guard systems put on last year. I was SHOCKED that DH agreed to it since WE MUST DO EVERYTHING OURSELVES. Ugh.
But I mentioned to him all of the old men who fall off ladders when they are cleaning gutters, and perhaps that made an impression.
Anyway, I am waiting to see how well these gutter guards work. One of our friends has them on his house and swears by them.
Anyway, I am waiting to see how well these gutter guards work. One of our friends has them on his house and swears by the,.
We had them installed nearly 20 years ago. Our yard is heavily treed and our gutters used to catch seemingly all our leaves as well as some from the neighbors, I was constantly up there trying to clean them. I think I've been up there once since installing the guards, I love them.
Oh Alan, What kind of gutter guard did you get? I envision the helicopter clogging the guard. We can suck our out with the shop vac and the attachment but it is hard and tiring and at 74 and 75 I'd rather not be doing that 2 or 3 times a year! Of course, for the price of removing the tree we could hire someone to do the gutter for a LONG time! It's just finding the right person. Looking for someone to paint our big shed. My goal is no ladders ever!
Oh Alan, What kind of gutter guard did you get? I envision the helicopter clogging the guard.
The brand name is Gutter Helmet, it's a solid cover with a rounded edge over the outside edge of the gutter which allows water to flow into the gutter while leaves and other debris flows off. I had the same concern with helicopters since we have 3 red maples in the front yard which seemingly dump tons of helicopters each spring but so far they haven't been a problem, the few that do flow into the gutters seem to wash right through.
Here's a pic for reference: (Not my roof, but identical product)http://carolinagutterhelmet.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/gutter-helmet-photo.jpg
mschrisgo2
10-14-23, 9:26pm
Our local food bank is having a rummage sale at the town festival tomorrow. A few days ago, I took a box and opened every drawer and door in my home and boxed all the little odds and ends of “good stuff” that I obviously wasn’t using—> ended up being THREE boxes full! Felt so good to drop those off, and even better when the woman receiving boxes said, “ohh, This is the kind of stuff that sells really well!” And I tell you friends, right now I cannot recall one single item I put in there. Out of sight, out of mind, and now-> Gone.
iris lilies
10-14-23, 9:27pm
Our local food bank is having a rummage sale at the town festival tomorrow. A few days ago, I took a box and opened every drawer and door in my home and boxed all the little odds and ends of “good stuff” that I obviously wasn’t using—> ended up being THREE boxes full! Felt so good to drop those off, and even better when the woman receiving boxes said, “ohh, This is the kind of stuff that sells really well!” And I tell you friends, right now I cannot recall one single item I put in there. Out of sight, out of mind, and now-> Gone.
I wonder what it is it sells really well! Interesting and good for you
All the ant traps, which I only keep up for a season, and which weren't completely effective. Next year I may just use a spray.
Sending some old jewelry settings and other gold to the scrap dealer online, we'll see. I am making a fund for repaying myself for the outlay of the 4 burial niches. We may try an ebay account to sell stuff and put the money into the fund.
happystuff
10-15-23, 9:17am
Sending some old jewelry settings and other gold to the scrap dealer online, we'll see. I am making a fund for repaying myself for the outlay of the 4 burial niches. We may try an ebay account to sell stuff and put the money into the fund.
This is one area that I have not started to go through and declutter. I don't wear much jewelry at all and actually have some pieces that might have some value. Thanks for this reminder.
Thanks Alan for the information about Gutter Helmet and photo.
iris lilies
10-16-23, 11:57am
DH! In a surprise move did the following:
He gathered all of our excess garden tools after consulting with me, and took them to the local auction house. They sold last week and we got a check for $72.00.
so he is not entirely a hoarder.
Next up: he needs to load up his truck with all of the scrap metal around here and take it in to sell.
iris lilies
10-16-23, 12:05pm
Sending some old jewelry settings and other gold to the scrap dealer online, we'll see. I am making a fund for repaying myself for the outlay of the 4 burial niches. We may try an ebay account to sell stuff and put the money into the fund.
Jewelry is a good thing to sell on eBay because it’s small and easy to ship.
Shipping costs are so high! I’ve been sending iris to friends and I’ve spent more than $25 in shipping. I don’t mind giving away Iris but the shipping makes me crazy. I’m getting reimbursed for some of it.
Speaking of shipping costs - I mailed out a no longer made , highly sought after mechanical pencil and some leads to a diving friend who does lots of underwater survey work. I’d never used it. Cost me $5.10 to ship in (in a small cut down Amazon plastic envelope) from the Chicago area to FL. Friend reimbursed me, but I was like, dang!
I am going to have to ship the four sets of cremains and I have to send them express mail--wonder what that is going to cost.
iris lilies
10-16-23, 2:01pm
I am going to have to ship the four sets of cremains and I have to send them express mail--wonder what that is going to cost.
Ugh. A lot! Will they be in heavy containers?
frugal-one
10-16-23, 4:37pm
I am going to have to ship the four sets of cremains and I have to send them express mail--wonder what that is going to cost.
Dumb question: why do you have to send express mail? Could UPS, FEDEX or some other carrier do it at a cheaper cost?
It is only legal to do it via USPS, and they require the express mail. The lady at the post office has been helping me; there are a lot of rules and labeling.
I am sending them in special shipping urns which are lightweight but the ashes themselves weight5-7 pounds a person, I think. I think I will send them each separately so the boxes aren't too heavy.
Apparently I haven't gotten rid of anything since I started this thread on 10/1. Guess a sweep around the house is in order. I have a couple things in the back of my mind. Namely all the containers I have for "decanting". I tend to keep things in their original packaging but there were some items that I decanted just to see if it's easier. Laundry pods, dishwasher pods, sugar, flour and cat treats are really the only things I've tried decanting. Not seeing much benefit in doing that so as things get used up, I will toss the container and just keep things in original packaging from now on.
iris lilies
10-18-23, 10:13am
I just learned that DH took an old weathered garden bench to the auction house along with other stupid old ugly stuff that needs to go to the landfill. I can’t believe this junk will sell, but having been to that auction once and having seen the old ugly dirty junk they peddle, the bench may sell.
He pulled in this bench from the alley years ago when someone threw it away.
Got rid of some old seed boxes in the barn. Changed my grandparents' ashes into the mailing approved container and threw out the canisters they were in from the 1960's. Burned the cotton that was in there.
The cost to ship all four sets of ashes was $328.
iris lilies
10-18-23, 8:16pm
The cost to ship all four sets of ashes was $328. that is a lot, but to be expected.
that is a lot, but to be expected.
Yes, it is also far less than driving down there would have been. I will go visit next year when the weather is good, maybe get the kids to come.
Apparently I haven't gotten rid of anything since I started this thread on 10/1. Guess a sweep around the house is in order. I have a couple things in the back of my mind. Namely all the containers I have for "decanting". I tend to keep things in their original packaging but there were some items that I decanted just to see if it's easier. Laundry pods, dishwasher pods, sugar, flour and cat treats are really the only things I've tried decanting. Not seeing much benefit in doing that so as things get used up, I will toss the container and just keep things in original packaging from now on.
Since it was fresh in my mind yesterday, I decided to start on the decluttering of the decanter items. Still had the bags the sugar and flour came in so I put both back into their respective bags and washed out the containers. I had the cat treats since December and there wasn't much left so I just tossed the treats and washed out that container too. Too many laundry and dishwasher pods right now so it will be a while before those leave the house but it will happen sooner than later. This morning, I got rid of the last 2 remaining socks I had in my drawer. I wear my husband's anyways because they are thicker and don't get holes in them after a few wears.
Canceled a video subscription I did not realize I had made on Prime. Supposed to get a refund.
A pack of boat toilet paper
Back in 2020/2021 when there was no toilet paper in stores, the only place I could find toilet paper was at our local marina. Apparently I was the only one who thought outside of the box and got TP there. It was always readily available.
It's time to let it go. We will never use it as we don't have a boat so there is no need for it. I did get a large pack of regular TP once things went back to normal that I can access if the world decides to go nuts again.... God forbid!!
iris lilies
10-21-23, 8:37am
What is boat toilet paper?why cany you use it up?
What is boat toilet paper?
It's a light weight, flimsy toilet paper designed for systems with holding tanks. It quickly dissolves in water and doesn't gunk up the waste outlet.
It's a light weight, flimsy toilet paper designed for systems with holding tanks. It quickly dissolves in water and doesn't gunk up the waste outlet.
Yep. Very flimsy so not the best to use on a daily basis for a family of 4. I would rather let a boater use it for it's intended purpose. Best for emergency use only. Haha!!
happystuff
10-25-23, 12:13pm
1 bag and 4 boxes of stuff picked up by an organization we donate to. YAY! Have part of my family room back! LOL
Working on the yard. A friend will come by this weekend to take some plants that I need to thin.
Finally pulled the trigger on getting rid of two sets of bedding. We would switch them out every week but we really didn't like either set. We had our favorite set and then these two. I just didn't like having beds unmade for half the day but I would have that than hating the sheets that were on the beds for a whole week.
Landed up cutting down a tree today.
rosarugosa
10-29-23, 6:14am
We dropped off 2 bags of clothing and miscellany to the thrift shop on Friday.
The huge half a maple tree that fell down in the storm when I was out of town has now been removed by my husband and turned into neatly stacked firewood and cutting boards that he is making-- he's never made cutting boards, but we have these glass topped stoves, and a cutting board that you can put hot pans on seems like a nice present. Amazing how something that was pretty traumatic can end up being a win!
Just got rid of 22 items of clothing. Wish I could get rid of more, but need something to wear.
iris lilies
10-29-23, 7:16pm
Just got rid of 22 items of clothing. Wish I could get rid of more, but need something to wear.
I know I have clothing to get rid of, but I can’t do it because all my clothes are not out in one place. Our house is still in disarray due to construction. I don’t have closets in my room. So my clothes are strewn around in either totes or bureaus. the few things that need to be hung up are in the downstairs coat closet. It will be another year before my room is organized.
sigh.
Bought a new, much nicer electric kettle. Gave the old one away on Buy Nothing group.
The huge half a maple tree that fell down in the storm when I was out of town has now been removed by my husband and turned into neatly stacked firewood and cutting boards that he is making-- he's never made cutting boards, but we have these glass topped stoves, and a cutting board that you can put hot pans on seems like a nice present. Amazing how something that was pretty traumatic can end up being a win!
That’s great. Please share a photo of a cutting board once he’s made them.
iris lilies
10-29-23, 7:21pm
DH said we got a $42 check from the auction house for the absolute junk we took there. It included an old dirty ugly bench that DH hauled in from the alley years ago, someone’s discard. I’m now convinced people will buy anything in that horrible sale. I’ve been to it once and its wares are disgusting.
That's cool, that he made money from something he got from the alley.
My gold I sent in yielded $133. I did better when I took some to a local jeweler, but this was really convenient; they sent the prepaid packages to your house.
That’s great. Please share a photo of a cutting board once he’s made them.
I will--he doesn't own a planer so they will kind of rough, but the knife cuts make them rough anyway. I will need to sand the edges though. They are drying now. In his typical enthusiasm, he made nine of them, so now there's that.
rosarugosa
10-31-23, 6:28am
I will--he doesn't own a planer so they will kind of rough, but the knife cuts make them rough anyway. I will need to sand the edges though. They are drying now. In his typical enthusiasm, he made nine of them, so now there's that.
Oh no, enthusiasm is good, but nine cutting boards might be a bit too much of a good thing.
Post shed clean-out, I have given away two bird feeders, with a few more listed on my local FB giving page. DH had mentioned that we had a lot of bird feeders that we don't use taking up space, and he was right.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.