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I've been trying to get rid of things as well. The encyclopedia set has been going out in the garbage pick up 3 volumes at a time...next week will finish that off. A goodwill trip to get rid of things accumulated. So much more to do, but I'm working on the easier stuff.
Also, husband is going through old Workbench magazines and culling...lots for the recycle bin!!!
I spent the day helping Mom to declutter. We tossed 5 bags/boxes of stuff, filled a box for the SA, and filled a shopping bag of paper for recycling.
I don't know my count for the month but I did get rid of some things I'm proud of.
1. A while back I decided to stop wearing all high heels shoes. They hurt my back these days. Life is too short for that. But I was holding onto my last three pairs because they're so pretty. And an expensive European brand. But I got rid of all three finally. Of course I bought 2 more pairs of flats. But baby steps. I'm down one more pair of shoes and have less than half of what I had a year ago.
2. When we painted the condo I bought those containers with the built in brushes for touch ups. That a year they all sat in my laundry room. I finally put the paint in the containers. What was left, I listed for free on craigslist. Someone came and picked it up last night. Down three partial cans of paint and what I have left is protected so it will be good when I need it.
3. When I got married 21 years ago, my mom talked me into registering for a super fancy china pattern. It was something she wanted, not really me. It had gold trim and I'm not a gold trim kind of girl. She bought me the tea pot for the pattern and literally no one else bought me any pieces of this super expensive, super fancy china. I've held on to that teapot for 21 years, simmering with resentment every time I looked at it that I allowed my mother to steamroller me that way. I bought a vintage 70s teapot with strawberries on ebay and stuck the fancy teapot in the Goodwill bin. Total number of items effectively the same, but now I have a teapot that makes me smile when I use it.
4. This isn't quite done yet, but I've finally got a commitment and date from my sister and BIL to pick up the big dresser I'm no longer using but was too nice to just give away. Her dresser is falling apart, so she will use it. This is 2 out of the three big pieces of furniture I decided to get rid.
Other random items this month that have been sent to goodwill:
1 Ikea tray
3 books
1 pair 'jelly' shoes that were never as comfortable as they look
1 drape front sweater that I liked the idea of but felt dowdy in
1 plastic measuring cup thing that came with the stick blender but is never used.
Threw away
1 jar deep conditioner that was awful
1 bottle of after sunburn care stuff that was way past expiration
Combined three packages of light bulbs into one and threw way 2 empty packages.
Also, earlier in the month, I created a wardrobe capsule and put all the rest of my clothes into storage boxes on top shelf of my closet. The idea is that when I get tired of what's in the capsule or it wears out, I can just shop my closet. I might do a post about this later.
Sloeginfizz: I was never a high-heels girl; I only owned one pair in my life, but I commend you on being able to let go of pretty & expensive shoes and stick with what is comfortable (we're lucky we live in a time when you can actually get cute comfy shoes) and major kudos on the teapot!
Jan 15....everyone is having a really great month!
Welcome Sloeginfizz!
---2 long strands of Christmas tree beads put in the charity box
---1 grocery bag of recipes/crafts/home and yard items and articles that had been torn from old magazines but not used
put in recycling.
Total to date 74
Jan 16
Cleaned under the kitchen sink...
---1 Dish drain to charity box
---2 cleaning products (of unknown age) to hazardous waste box
Total to date 77 items
Passed on a book I read to a friend. Total for month: 11.
Yesterday I browsed through five years worth of a holistic dog magazine, which filled three large binders. After taking out articles I'm keeping, they fit in a 1", bulging binder. The rest I may put on Freecycle in case there are any holistic-minded dog owners out there.
Also did this with holistic horse magazines and was able to give most away to my horse's hoof trimmer.
I went through my old letters today. Sorted out and got rid of about half. I ditched letters from people I knew in college who wrote once and then never wrote back. Cards where nothing substantial was written inside. That sort of thing. I had the momentary impulse to get rid of them all but refrained. I don't get many letters these days and now they all fit inside one small box that formerly held candy. That's little enough for whoever is handling my estate to deal with.
We we shredded about 3 months worth of credit card offers, privacy notices from bank accts, etc. I don't know why we let it build up like that. I'm not sure this really counts as we would have done it eventually. I don't really count it decluttering when getting rid of something you usually would, like the wrapper after you eat the food.
Combined two partly full shampoo bottles into one. Not mine, but husband's. I only ever have one going, but he's not so mindful about certain things. He never noticed. Nor did he notice when I poured the travel size mouthwash the dentist gave him into the big bottle.
Next up, listing the day bed on Craigslist. It's the 3rd of 3 big furniture pieces I wanted to get rid of.