November Decluttering [Archive] - Simple Living Forums

Float On

11-1-12, 7:55am

Any goals? I'm aiming for 100 items out the door. I'm going through winter clothes with every family member and being brutal. Do you really wear it? Do you really like it? Do you have several in the same style? And what do you need to replace? Anything we bring in to replace or needed items we will deduct from the list. So if we donate 100 items but need to buy 4 pair of shoes then we'll still need to find another 4 items to send out the door.

I told son #2 that he's first so last night while waiting to see if we'd have any trick-or-treators he got a head start.
1-3 winter coats that were ill-fitting or 'not his style'
4-8 sweaters/shirts he has no interest in wearing
9 a printer no one wants in the house
10-15 paperback books
16 I found I had a pair of clark shoes that are beyond repair so they went to trash

(there is a growing pile by the front door again)

rosarugosa

11-1-12, 8:34am

Yes, my goal is to have nothing sitting on the cellar floor. Sandy reminded me that we are occasionally subject to water down there, so storing items on the floor is unwise. We have lots of storage shelving in the cellar, so if everything doesn't fit, then there is too much stuff! An added wrinkle is that Mom seems to have had some sort of epiphany and wants to get rid of stuff - but is eager to give it all to me. I want to help her declutter, but not by turning it into my clutter!

shadowmoss

11-1-12, 9:43am

Hmmm. One of my goals is to have my appartment down here in Honduras set up such that I can pack up and leave in one day when I finally get a job back in the States. A lot of my stuff doesn't need to head back north. So, I'll commit to 100 items. I'm somewhat cheating in that I have about a dozen things in the donate drawer to give to my neighbor right now. He is a former Peace Corps volunteer who stayed here when the PC left Honduras and volunteers in an orphanage in town. That makes it easier to hand things over somehow.

try2bfrugal

11-1-12, 10:16am

I don't have any specific goal except to continue to dejunk. We got rid of quite a bit this year in the neighborhood garage sale, one dump trip, bags and bags of shredded paper to the recycling center, bags and bags of stuff to Goodwill, many books sold to the used book store, some stuff sold back to Amazon for gift cards, and there is still clutter and way too much stuff packed away in the garage.

We decided to stay in our house instead of downsize for at least the foreseeable future as it is less work to just cut expenses and stay here than it is to declutter and have to move.

shadowmoss

11-1-12, 11:24am

Well, it is amazing what I can decide to let go of when I'm looking at having to move it. :)

Selah

11-1-12, 11:34am

Reading this inspired me. I'd just gotten a new skirt for a job interview in a "dati" (i.e. Jewish orthodox) school, where all the women are required to wear skirts or dresses below the knee. All of mine were knee-length or higher, and since I only had less than 24 hours' notice about the interview, I ran into town and bought the first one I could find, which was NOT at a great price. I decided to scour my closet to see if I could declutter at least one item to compensate for the room the new skirt was taking up. Surprisingly, the stuff that I wanted to get rid of was exactly the stuff I MIGHT need if I get the job! (You have to keep your collarbones, elbows, knees and cleavage covered.)

Anyway, I got rid of a few pieces of paper, a couple of hair ornaments that never worked well (they would slide off, defeating their purpose), and a nasty pair of nylon socks that I'd worn out.

I'm surprised at how effective these threads are...I'm really having to search each month now for clutter. That's a great feeling!

Float On

11-1-12, 2:15pm

Selah, I'm wondering if you can combine any of your clothing to extend the lengths? I got to thinking about adding length to a skirt with a contrasting or coordinating other skirt. Could be fun and and would fit in with the color blocking trend.

I'm also amazed when we have these 100 item challenges how I'm able to come up with another 100 or so things...but always do.

Gardenarian

11-1-12, 2:32pm

YES! It's time to get rid of most of the toys - dd is ready and I am way past ready!!
My other goal is to re-organize my desk. I no longer have a "place for everything" so I need to set up new file folders and so on.

fidgiegirl

11-1-12, 6:34pm

My goal is the attic. I want to organize my teaching materials.

Also would like to organize the camping stuff.

There are two huge "to sort" piles up there, too.

Will think about buying plastic bins for it. I go back and forth - anyone have thoughts? I hate to spend my hard-earned money to store junk. But if it helps to consolidate the things we really do use on a seasonal basis, then maybe it's worth it.

Also going to get the basement cleaned out. If we're gonna have junk, by God, it's gonna all be on one place - the ATTIC. I want exercise machines in the basement.

Meezer_Mom

11-1-12, 7:05pm

A lot of families lost everything in Hurricane Sandy. Does anyone know of a church or organization accepting gently used itemsfor them? Thanks!

larknm

11-1-12, 8:07pm

I just set out on the street a blood pressure machine (I have one I use more often), a pretty, useful basket (I have others), a sheet, a pillow, a blanket we don't use, donated 7 books to library and little cartons of organic soup to the salvation army food place. Also a dog bed our dogs wouldn't use.

My motivation is so we can live in half our house this winter and get way lower heating bills. For this to work in a livable way, we need less stuff.

danna

11-1-12, 8:37pm

Nov 01
I usually try to do 5 a day if I am in a serious decluttering mood but, I did put out a couple of boxes this month to Good Will
but, I went to the local Library sale a week back and bought 50 books/magazines. I don't feel too bad because they cost me $6.00
for all of them.
I like the 100 items a month so I will try for that.
So far today
1--large still good body pillow--gave away to someone who will use it
10--file folders--donate
2--magazines
Total 13

shadowmoss

11-2-12, 9:53am

Per the question about how to store stuff, I use a lot of the 2.5-3 gallon ziplock type bags. I then can put them in a larger plastic tote, if needed, and it isn't as difficult to sort through the tote to find what I need, and the bags are clear. Also, clear/opaque totes let you see what is in them so if you have all the same size stacked up (also easier) you can tell from the outside which one might have what you are looking for.

I'm not the 2 10'x20' storage unit, move my stuff around 2 different countries, gal for nothin'. :)

Float On

11-2-12, 10:25am

I do buy plastic storage totes for the attic storage because cardboard boxes seem to draw silverfish......and I HATE silverfish.

fidgiegirl

11-2-12, 5:50pm

Thanks for the tote advice. I will think on it a bit more. It's a half-story attic so they should be squat enough to tuck down under the roof where there isn't much clearance space. shadowmoss, I like those big ziplocs a lot, and have used them at work to organize curriculum kits.

Off-topic, are you trying to move back to the US?

fidgiegirl

11-3-12, 11:05am

Today's plan:
- Clean off all flat surfaces in our living areas/bedroom and put it all where it belongs
- Run the pumpkins to the compost site
- Run the hazardous waste to the drop off site
- Start the giveaway box
- Evaluate freezer food to see what I can make from it. Time to get some of it used up.

All loosely decluttering! Trying to state this goal to see if I'll actually get it done today.

shadowmoss

11-5-12, 5:28pm

figiegirl: With January's paycheck (I get paid once a month) I should have consumer debt paid off and the house in Nashville will be on the market. Once I'm debt free I will try to find a job back in the States. With all the debt I just kept getting further and further behind at the jobs I could find.

My current goal is to have the apartment so I can pack it to be shipped back in 1 day or less. To that end I'm going through everything. I only put 1 top into the donate pile this weekend. Next weekend I'll try for more. I do know that a lot of this stuff here won't be shipped back, I'll sell or donate it before I leave. However, I'm using it in the meantime.

Kat

11-6-12, 9:00am

Well, since I am about to haul a bunch of baby stuff back into the house (cringe), I guess I'll try to get rid of what I can, too. :-)

Yesterday I tossed three spices. I need to really go through my spice cabinet, though, because I know there are more that can go. I also decluttered a plastic frisbee and four small stuffed animals.

Total for the month: 7

Tussiemussies

11-6-12, 9:10am

I love to look through catalogues I don't buy any thing except when there is a big holiday sale, like right after Christmas. Didn't really realize it but I had 3 huge piles of catalogues. Two were hidden away in Armoires so they weren't in plain view. I collected them all and they went out to recycling, where we will get a coupon to BBB for recyling a certain amount, and I need some fleece sheets so that was a great decluttering for me!

shadowmoss

11-6-12, 9:23am

Used up three bottles that had small amounts of shampoo and conditioner. I'm in a use it up mode, so if felt good to toss the containers. Still not quite up to 1 a day for the month, though.

fidgiegirl

11-6-12, 7:09pm

Have yet to clear off all the flat surfaces of the house, but did get the hazardous waste taken in, yippee. Also Jack-o-lanterns were dropped at the compost site. We used up some freezer food, comically enough my hubby came home from hunting that night with huuuuuge cupcakes leftover from Costco so I cut those in half and froze them in old yogurt containers for him to take for work desserts. He likes a little sweet bite at work, and they would have gone bad otherwise (I couldn't partake due to my gluten free diet). So we're down a package of meat or two, but up 12 cupcake halves. :)

Need to count up and make a list of the giveaways for this week's pickup and box them up.

Bought a new frying pan, stainless steel to last forever. I threw our flaking one in the garbage, and our other small one that is a good camping size will go in the camping stuff. I also seasoned a small cast iron fry pan so that we have one of that size. It had been sitting in the cupboard for a long time but for a long time I washed it incorrectly and it had no seasoning on it. Now we are back at one small pan and one big pan, and no nonstick garbage pans!

fidgiegirl

11-6-12, 11:44pm

One more surface down + all regular filing done, and 21 items prepared for donation.

Need to do the archival filing upstairs - maybe tomorrow.

Spoony

11-7-12, 9:14pm

Gardenarian

11-8-12, 4:51pm

Well, I haven't done anything yet! Sometimes I have to let things percolate in my mind for a while and then one day I'll just get everything together and be done with it. I hope I reach that stage soo....

Tussiemussies

11-9-12, 5:16am

Well now that our move is in the near future, we have plans to get rid of a kitchen table with 4 chairs. A futon with pad, two mattresses and boxsprings, a small refridgerator, broken TV and outdated electrical items. DH threw out about 8 bags of old unusable clothes.

Don't know if I posted this before butI love to just look at all sorts of catalogues. I really had a collection going here hidden away in places so I collected them all up and they went to recycling. The biggest task will be after we move... Those 250 boxes we have stored in the basement. DH just organized it all for the movers and said he thinks it is more like 300. A little bulk of that is craft items which are mine, but otherwise all I want to have leftover is our items for attic storage...well we are going to take a few boxes every weekend and keep it manageable! :)

rosarugosa

11-9-12, 5:50am

Gardenarian: Same here, but I'm OK with that. When it gets too cold to do things outdoors I'll be more motivated to do things like clean the basement, and winters are long!

shadowmoss

11-9-12, 9:20am

This weekend I'm going through my clothes and shoes. Half of my shoes have been stored in a duffle since I moved down here 2 years ago. Some of that is that I now live in the tropics and don't need my heavier shoes. However, when I move back I'll want to buy new ones, so I'm going to try to part with a bunch of what I have now. In some cases, though, donating heavy shoes down here isn't doing them any favors. I'm shooting low, say 2 pr shoes gone and 10 tops gone. I hopefully will blow goal that out of the water.

danna

11-9-12, 10:21am

I usually try to do 5 a day if I am in a serious decluttering mood but, I did put out a couple of boxes this month to Good Will
but, I went to the local Library sale a week back and bought 50 books/magazines. I don't feel too bad because they cost me $6.00
for all of them.
I like the 100 items a month so I will try for that.
So far today
1--large still good body pillow--gave away to someone who will use it
10--file folders--donate
2--magazines
Total 13

NOV 09/12 Todate
--2 books--returned to owner
--1 Crock pot with broken lid handle--emailed company and believe it or not they are going to replace the whole pot
it seems because the screws and bits of black plastic went in my food they want to make me happy. This happened last year
and I had not thought about complaining. I find it helps to complaining very pleasantly. Sending the old one to Charity someone might at least have the lid
--1 "Majic Bullett" recieved as a gift and much used but broken (No help from that company at all, I think they just want you to buy another.)--Garbage
But I am sending the containers to Charity someone can use them as extras
--7--plastic containers stained or missing lids --to recycling
--5 --booklets--recycling
--1--bag of coins rolled and taken to the credit union--savings account
Total 30-----I am falling behind need to do some work today...lol

Float On

11-9-12, 10:31am

I'm behind too. I think think I hit a lazy brick wall this week.
17 - a cracked and scratched vinyl background for my photography
15 - backtrack two because my order for 2 new backgrounds arrived
16 -metal water bottle (didn't like the way it sweat)
17-19 tossed 3 makeup items that were getting old

shadowmoss

11-9-12, 12:12pm

Makeup. Now there's an idea. I know 2 items I should throw out already.

fidgiegirl

11-9-12, 8:48pm

We put out 21 items at the curb today. I forgot to grab the giveaways out of the basement - doh!

ToomuchStuff

11-11-12, 11:43am

Sold a small file cabinet this morning. Next, I'll sell my big L-shaped desk and hang the wall/laptop desk. I also bought a new laptop to replace my desktop computers. I'll post the desktops and desk on Craigslist this weekend. While waiting for those to sell, I'll purge/shred/scan as much paperwork as possible.

Do you scrub the computers hard drives?

I have no particular list, I just (finally) started. I would start before and backslide, and I thought I need to just do some everyday and keep on it, to set a new habit. I did this once before, years ago, after surgery (decided to get into better shape, and cut back on eating right before Thanksgiving). I figured if I couldn't do it during the holidays, what made me think I could do it other times of the year.
So now that the cold is setting in, and it will be getting dark sooner, I am saying the heck with it, and starting from the inside of the house, out.

fidgiegirl

11-17-12, 8:01pm

Schlepped some more stuff to the attic from the basement (seasonal, sporting goods, etc.). Set up a shelf that was in pieces for seed starting in a few months. Now all our pots and that are up off the floor. Also we decided we will set up a small TV that we have instead of looking for (and needing to buy) a stand for our big one. We have brackets and wood so we are going to set up a shelf so it is nice and high for when I use the Nordic Track or eventual treadmill. Also, now that the basement is cleaned out we can bring in some patio chairs and the bikes. Our one-car garage can then be used for one car! Yeah!

fidgiegirl

11-17-12, 8:33pm

Just set the electric/gas bill to eBill. One less piece of paper coming into the house. Small victories add up!!!

shadowmoss

11-19-12, 11:15am

Well, I did pull out all my shoes, 37 pair. I have given away all the low hanging fruit. So, I've determined to wear each pair to make a determination on whether I'll actually wear them again. Also turned the hangers on my tops the other way and will turn them back as I wear them. Still using up the small quantities of stuff in bottles and such. Also going to use up my pantry, small as it is. Just surprising to me that I can't find 'easy' things to get rid of anymore. Oh, one top is too small for me, so it did make it to the donate pile. There is hope...

nordette

11-19-12, 2:14pm

I have been decluttering our kitchen. After a bit of discussion we decided that we're not going to throw any more large parties at our place again. For one, everyone these days is coming up with their own idiosyncratic diet that accommodating people or inviting people who won't be all snooty about other's dietary choices is more of a heartburn than I care to experience.

So I donated dozens of plates, cutlery, pans, cups, glasses, a spice cabinet (added all spices to a spare shelf that was hard to get to by moving the fridge to a different area of the kitchen), lots and lots of random glass jars and a myriad of lids that I couldn't find the bottoms to. So the shelves that were occupying all these items is now turning into a proper pantry. I made a lot of kim chi last night and they now have a place where they can be stored while they marinate and ferment.

I am only keeping enough to feed four people. If we're going to have more people it is going to be a Bring Your Own ___ affair.

I am also using up all the various tiny tubes of creams I've picked up from hotels over the years.