December Decluttering or 100 Items

[SteveinMN]

Okay, the accountability got to me.

I went through the pantry and the freezer to cull and (most importantly) list what I have in there so I can build meals around those items. I came up with a few cans of Cream of Whatever soup that will be donated to the food shelf -- we typically never used soups like that.

I put up a stockpot full of chicken and turkey carcasses to make chicken stock; that cleared a lot of room in the freezer.

And I now have a list of items (like a pound-and-a-half of beef short ribs) which I kept bypassing because they wouldn't make a meal by themselves -- but could with maybe another small portion of whatever it is.

I also composted a few containers of grains of indeterminate age and variety. They came off the bulk rack at the co-op, so no good idea of what they were or what they were for. Note to self: mark the grain type and purchase date on the bulk sticker. My recipe calls for a cup of whole-wheat flour, not a cup of PLU 8729.

I'll add three items (soups) to my decluttering total. Still not close to 100.

[ejchase]

Congrats, Steve, on your kitchen decluttering. I'm a big believer in baby steps. They count!

I'm in the midst of a big purge here, and I managed to drop off 40 more things to the thrift store yesterday. 88 + 40 = 128 for month.

I'm hoping I'll be able to eke out a few more before the end of the year.

Thanks to all of you for the inspiration. I've reached 713 for the year, which I'm pretty sure is a personal best for me.

[fidgiegirl]

It's so amazing how it can add up. What we find incredible is after a few months, we can barely even remember what we got rid of, yet when it was here, it was either "important" or invisible.

Keep it up, everyone . . .

[Float On]

I think I'll be happy with the 60 for this month. I did go over the 100 goal in NOV so I'm o.k. with 60. I don't think any of us received anything for Christmas that would automatically be sent to the thrift shop. My parents and DH's mom all went in on the big ticket item for the boys so not a lot came in.
I am so looking forward to our January accountability.

[Float On]

Dec 31....tonight I will declutter about 1 million needles from the carpet.
It was a beautiful Christmas tree but what a mess!

[ejchase]

2 old laptops which we haven't used for years to the recycling center plus 14 more items to the thrift store.

128 + 16 = 144.

Family arrives tomorrow at 10 a.m., so today is my last day to purge, and I hope to make the most of it. After they arrive, I'll be busy with them, then we go to see family out of town, then I start work again on Monday and it will be hard to find these large blocks of time to devote to the house.

I swear, though, doing all this decluttering has been such a relaxing way to spend my time off. I feel so much happier when I face the mess. The next challenge for me will be to figure out how to keep up with decluttering even when I'm busy at work. I keep trying to establish everyday routines for decluttering and cleaning but haven't managed to stick to them yet.

[ejchase]

It's so amazing how it can add up. What we find incredible is after a few months, we can barely even remember what we got rid of, yet when it was here, it was either "important" or invisible.

This is so true!

[mschrisgo2]

55 subtotal

6 Mugs to a friend
7 old computer manuals into the recycle
2 pairs, worn out slippers and shoes, to trash
14 pieces of clothing to thrift store
3 dog "bones" into the trash
13 plastic lids/dishes to recycle
4 quilting books to neighbor

December Total: 104

Yay!! I made it!

[fidgiegirl]

It ended up being a really fruitful month, everyone!!!

[ejchase]

15 more items to the thrift store. 144 + 15 = 159.

Happy New Year, Everyone!