View Full Version : January Declutter or 100 Items
Let's get this year started off right.
1-2 puzzles
3-4 baking pans
5-15 son #2 suit jackets, pants, ties, uncomfy shoes
16-20 a few books
21 strainer
22-30 donation items for food pantry
I decluttered by putting everything that I needed in a van and moving cross country. I bought almost everything I needed at thrift stores example bread oven for 7.00, jeans 1.00 pair, toaster 2.00, crock pot 3.00. The only thing I bought new was a bed because i didn't want used mattresses. Anything I can't sell I donate. Being organised is great and less stuff is better.
I didn't count them up, but took a big bag of items from the attic into work today. They never were meant to stop off in the attic, but ended up there, so I brought them to their rightful home at the office.
Let's say 10.
Jan 02..............I am trying for 5 items a day for 105 this month
--4 magazines to recycling
--2 magazines to charity box
--2 Christmas things from tree I did not like too much (no meaning to me) to charity
Total 8
I have been trying to downsize for a while. I own less stuff but I am trying to own only what I use and need.
So far I have gotten rid of:
1. 24 metal hangers 2. 12 shirts. 3. 10 dresses. 4. 9 roll package of paper towels 5. 2 boxes of pop tarts that I do not need to eat! 6. 1 Omelet pan.
I cut cut my hair and I am wearing it short so I got rid of: Extra hair products, 1 flat iron, and 2 packages of hair rollers.
I am going to get rid of more stuff later. Next weekend I will downsize the shoes I do not wear.
happystuff
1-5-14, 10:00pm
I took the tree down yesterday and today I went through all the Christmas ornaments and decorations. I don't have an exact count but several ornaments and items went to into the goodwill box and a bag's worth went out to the garbage. I downsized from three big crates to one smaller crate plus a three drawer plastic organizer. (Hard to describe, but believe me, it's LESS!)
several ornaments and items went to into the goodwill box
Way to go on the decluttering! Get that stuff to Goodwill pronto, however. Around here, anyway, they no longer accept "seasonal" merchandise (ornaments after Christmas, golf clubs in winter, etc.).
Way to go on the decluttering! Get that stuff to Goodwill pronto, however. Around here, anyway, they no longer accept "seasonal" merchandise (ornaments after Christmas, golf clubs in winter, etc.).
Actually, there is actually a thriftstore I go to and drop the stuff off. The only requirements they seem to have on donations is electrical ones must work - and they will test to make sure. I should be okay with the Christmas stuff, but it's just a small bag anyway.
31 - heavy coat
32-40 shirts
41-42 3 pieces of pottery I'm tired of
43-50 magazines (will drop off at dealership where I get oil changes at a discount - they never have any good shelter mags)
51 - basket with cloth washable liner (washed the liner)
52-60 some jewelry items (will let son's girlfriend pick through first, then another girl, then rest to thrift)
Wow, Float On...you're a decluttering machina! I'm inspired.
On a related note---new hubs and I combined our Christmas ornaments and set aside 6 (!--mostly HIS!) ornaments to donate. Now I'm hearing (Steve?) they may not take them??? Really?
I've seen smaller time thrift stores actually store seasonal stuff away for when it's time again.
On a related note---new hubs and I combined our Christmas ornaments and set aside 6 (!--mostly HIS!) ornaments to donate. Now I'm hearing (Steve?) they may not take them??? Really?
A small amount of ornaments donated right now might still be accepted, while they've got the other stuff "on clearance". But we have taken items to Goodwill out of season and have been told to leave it in the car; they can't accept them.
Different thrift stores undoubtedly have different rules. But the supermarket-sized thrift stores here likely would spend a lot to store out-of-season items; not sure it makes financial sense for them to do so.
I mostly use a hospital thrift shop. They've never looked through my bags when I drop things off...but then again I'm probably known for dropping off 'good stuff'. Everyone around here still has night time drop boxes so you can drop off at 2 a.m. if you feel like it. All of them have added boxes that are harder to get into due to theft. I watched a few ladies one time while waiting for my son at pre-school they were going through the library thrift box and pulling things out and putting them in their car. I gave the library a quick call but it was early morning and they hadn't shown up yet. Noticed the next time I was there you could only drop off during open hours and the box was moved inside the door.
happystuff
1-12-14, 11:19am
Was able to resume some decluttering yesterday and hope to do more today. So far:
- about 20-25 pair of earrings
- basket making supplies boxed to be shipped to a friend
- interfacing material also boxed
- rug braiding kit also boxed
Today I'm hoping to add a few books, games, etc. Time to hit the "family" room!!!
fidgiegirl
1-12-14, 11:28am
I'm feeling a pull to declutter some projects lately, either by getting them finished or officially abandoning them. Still need to assess which ones, though. Today I hope to finish a scarf for my DH when I go to my sister's to do some crafting.
Related . . . over to the "three things" thread to report!
The dust is just now starting to settle from our holiday family visits over here, so took my first baby steps back to decluttering: returned five borrowed items (2 books, two pie dishes, one pair of toddler pajamas) to a neighbor today.
61-62: living room furniture 4 pieces sold for $200 (what I paid for it 2 years ago, nice furniture that was brand new but the lawyer I bought it from didn't like living here so sold everything cheap so he could move back to Lexington, KY) the new young couple who just closed on their house will have some nice pieces to get started with. I'm replacing it with 3 pieces and no cash out of pocket because it was Christmas gift money.
63-73 sold the remainder of my packing supplies from the studio to another artist friend. Counting it as 10 because it did take up a lot of space but I'm not going to count the individual pieces but there is half a big roll of bubblewrap, boxes in 8,10,12,14 square, a box of handle bags, gift boxes 4, 6 square, several rolls of packing tape, etc. Only charged her $70.
74: rolling storage bin
75-76: two studio carts
77-79: storage bins
80-85: of dresses and sweaters I'm not going to wear
happystuff
1-19-14, 11:03am
I'm feeling a pull to declutter some projects lately, either by getting them finished or officially abandoning them. Still need to assess which ones, though. Today I hope to finish a scarf for my DH when I go to my sister's to do some crafting.
I have done this and continue to do this, but it's one of the harder declutters for me. I keep thinking "I'll want to do this some day when I have more time!"... which, in reality, will be never. lol.
We have a "craft day" every now and then between us siblings. Usually starts early in the morning and continues through to evening. Fun to sit and watch everyone do their own thing but still be together.
mschrisgo2
1-19-14, 4:17pm
January, so far:
14 - pieces of clothing
9 - socks without mates (to a kindergarten teacher who uses them for hand puppets)
13 - books to same kindergarten teacher
9 - books to library for their sale
3 - large bags of shredded paperwork
2 - bags of paper that did not need to be shredded
6 - empty cartons to recycle
Subtotal: 56 -- Doesn't sound like much but my house looks and FEELS so much better!
fidgiegirl
1-19-14, 9:09pm
Doing so great, everyone.
early, I agree on the craft days. My sister and I do it once in a while. It is fun to be together and be productive.
I have done quite a few things, including grooming the dog which was bothering us (not my best job at it, if his new nickname of "choppy" is any indication, but meh, he's cleaner) and have mapped out some errands tomorrow morning, mainly to drop of different kinds of recycling that is piling up. I like that it is not going in the garbage but don't like the dropping it off all over the city part. Luckily our recycling options will be expanded over the next two years, saving some of the running around.
happystuff
1-22-14, 9:34am
Just one more item to add right now... finished another jigsaw puzzle! LOL. They are my "reward" over the holidays. Did 3 this year and the third took a bit longer than I thought it would (less time to work on it as the holidays winded down). So it is complete and is in the goodwill pile. Should be able to drop off everything previously listed plus more by next week!
86-90 more plastic Rubbermaid bins (we used a lot of these to store and transport our glass when we'd travel for art shows) as I'm clearing out the studio I'm using them to gather items going to thrift shop...and passing the bins along with the items.
91-100 electrical lights, cords, plug ins, bulbs, track lighting etc (a lot more than 9 individual items but we'll call it that to wrap up the month for me) it's boxed and ready to go.
A couple things to add to my list but my home computer security won't allow me to open and edit past posts on this message board.
101 - a phone/fax/copier that I have fought with for 12 years when it comes time to replace the ink roll. Last night I had to change the roll and it got caught up and tangled and I said - hey, this is one of the benefits of closing the business! I can always borrow the fax or copier at church (and make a little donation to the office fund when I do). So....it's headed to the computer recycle center along with...
102 - my good old trusty hp 7960 printer. This one I'm sad to see go. Prints photos nicely and has put up with my abuse for years. Even kept working after I dropped it while re-arranging the office 2 years ago and has worked great even though it's been rubberbanded together and the sides are popped out. It's tired and worn out and takes about 20 minutes to print one simple print out from a spread sheet. I have another little printer that I plug the laptop into so I guess I'll move that one to the office.
103 - a two drawer file cabinet. Got everything I need down to the other 2 drawer cabinet. All old business files will go to storage in the attic. May try to list on craigslist or donate.
mschrisgo2
1-23-14, 1:51am
Subtotal: 56
1 - surge protector (popped)
1 - modem (quit working)
1 - shredder (quit working)
2 - extension cords (old and brittle, from the Christmas deco boxes)
9 - various cords, from phones, printers, cameras
2 - very old cell phones
ALL 16 to the electronics recycling drop-off
1 - blue tooth for cell phone
1 - blue tooth charger (both to my daughter)
New subtotal: 74
Emptied and threw out a drawer full of DH's old receipts, papers, etc.
Got DD to go through her old dresser and we got a laundry basket full of give-aways
DDIL got DS to go through his old dresser and threw out a couple of drawer's worth of stuff
Freecycled 7 cases of hot cocoa Keurig pods
Am posting on freecycle a set of 5 books on blogging
ETA: One huge benefit of having DS/DDIL live here is it's forcing us to find room--granted this space-mining is so that they have room for their stuff while they live here, but once they leave--all the dregs of stuff from when the kids grew up here will be gone.
Also, with our house going back up from 2 people to 4, I'm more conscious of the everyday clutter, and I'm actively looking for ways to eliminate it every day. I've realized that, with my touch of adult ADD, just a couple of things out of place puts my brain in TILT mode--and I just blank out on growing clutter. So, their moving in, along with an unusual break in my project load, is getting me into implementing serious decluttering strategies. This is actually great!
fidgiegirl
1-23-14, 8:22pm
Wow, FloatOn and mschrisgo, rockin' it!! You too, Catherine!! Keep it up . . .
Major paper day today. I hadn't had one in two years! :0! It was long overdue. So now 2013 and 2012 are tucked in bed, the file cabinet was moved to a much more accessible location. We have an active file box right by the mail slot, and an "archive" cabinet that we rarely - but sometimes - need to access, and it was in the worst spot! We just had piles and piles of stuff around that needed to be filed because it was in such an awful spot. The business files are cleaned up, too (we have the same system for our minimal business paperwork). So we are much more ready for tax season, our house looks a lot better, and a weight has been lifted. Now to shred! DH has been doing that all day. :)
fidgiegirl
1-23-14, 8:23pm
Oh yes! And I felt better about my impending motherhood upon reading Miss Minimalist's recent blog post: http://www.missminimalist.com/2014/01/decluttering-update-hello-ebay-my-old-friend/
mschrisgo2
1-24-14, 12:40am
Subtotal: 74
14 - gift cards, either consolidated onto Amazon or Starbucks, or cut up because these was nothing left on them
(why were they in the drawer?!?)
New subtotal: 88
mschrisgo2
1-25-14, 5:29am
Subtotal: 88
3 partially used pads of easel paper (FreeCycled to teachers)
1 pr of slippers
1 sweatshirt
New subtotal: 93 (Only 7 more to go for the month! I will make it, I will!)
mschrisgo2
1-25-14, 11:04pm
Brush, comb, nail clippers, QuickStop, 2 towels, and a small bag of treats to my grandson for his new pup!
YAY!!!! 100 items OUT this month!!! Hooray!!!
Congratulations, mchrisgo2! You wear the crown this month!
I haven't been able to make decluttering a priority this month, but I did let go of a biggie today: my 1996 Toyota Corolla, which I drove for nine years, donated to charity - along with it, went a bottle of steering wheel fluid and two packages of interior light bulbs for it, so my total for the month is 9.
104-110 300 lbs of raw batch and 32kilos of color frit sold to another glassblower friend.
Still have a few 'that was our life and livelihood' items to sell off like our display and lighting. All the rest of the studio equipment left on Sunday and tomorrow a buyer picks up all my packing/shipping supplies. The studio seems huge now without all the equipment in it.
I haven't counted because I've been on a mission.. spurred definitely by my DS/DDIL moving in with us. I've given 5 big contractor bags full of clothes to the Vietnam Vets, I've thrown out two contractor bags full, I've given away hooks and boxes of keurig pods on Freecycle. I've sold a few things on eBay.
Today, my mission is to consolidate about three boxes of miscellaneous household items I no longer want and make a decision as to bringing them to the church thrift shop or calling the Vietnam Vets to see if they will accept them.
BTW, I pulled out my old copy of Karen Kingston's Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui and it, as well as this thread, has inspired me to put the pedal to the metal! It feels GREAT!
Morten Storgaard
2-8-14, 1:14pm
Nice thread. Good to meet some fellow downsizers :) I currently follow the 100 thing challenge, and try to only own 100 things for a year... Biggest step was definitely the clothes :)
Yesterday DH and I dropped off 4 cartons of books to the library.
Today I returned a pair of boots that I didn't wear for a year because DH bought the wrong size. I was able to return them for store credit--
(Yay!)
Everyone's stories about getting things donated to thrift shops reminds me of the time where I spent several days (!) decluttering our house in Nevada, taking carload after carload of stuff into our town's one Salvation Army store. The employees there got really irritated with me for dumping so much stuff on them in such a short time! Note to self: decluttering GRADUALLY is a less stressful way to do it, on self and on others!
Still have a few 'that was our life and livelihood' items to sell off like our display and lighting. All the rest of the studio equipment left on Sunday and tomorrow a buyer picks up all my packing/shipping supplies. The studio seems huge now without all the equipment in it.
Float On, did you have plans for the studio now? just wondering.
Dropped off at Goodwill: 3 boxes of miscellaneous household stuff, one bag of clothing, and one small end table that's been in the garage for over 15 years!!
Also cleaned out two desk drawers and got a Trader Joe's paper bag full of paper recyclables.
SteveinMN
2-10-14, 11:05am
Kind of got sidelined on this project so I could complete a couple others: submitting paperwork for our Health Care Reimbursement Account and our income taxes. We've already received the HCRA reimbursement and the taxes are with the accountant. That got rid of a pile of papers we'll no longer need. This weekend I carted a copy-paper box full of paper to be shredded down to our credit union (where, once a month, they let members take their documents for free shredding by a mobile shredding service).
DW also rearranged her "office" after it was repainted. I know she got rid of some stuff but I couldn't put a number on it.
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