scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,856
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jan 23, 2021 20:30:22 GMT
I'm updating my planner to include declutter/home organization projects every month. Each month I'm focusing on a different part of the house. Hopefully this keeps me on target.
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,663
Location: Ohio
Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Jan 23, 2021 20:59:59 GMT
I got closet organizers installed and clothes in the closet and drawers purged, the pantry purged and organized, and the fridge and freezer scrubbed down.
im looking for a great way to store teabags where i can see the types and that is taller vs wide but the sorter i ordered wasnt wode enough for my teabags so im back on the search.
my spring goal is the garage. it is a wreck.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 23, 2021 21:14:50 GMT
I have an update on my wedding pictures. I thought I had accidentally thrown out my wedding proofs when I was decluttering. Well I found them! I'm so relieved! I'm decluttering my home office and found the box at the bottom of a drawer. I plan on finishing decluttering my office this weekend. I also decluttered my shoe collection today. I feel like I can get rid of a couple more pair so I may go back to that later. Hooray!!! I'm so relieved for you! 😁
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 23, 2021 22:00:50 GMT
I purged and replaced, so I don't know if it counts, but it sure did spark joy for me.
I tossed my worn out sneakers, and replaced them with two new pairs.
Also tossed my old, worn out, socks all at once, and replaced them with 18 pairs of brand new socks. I love that new sock feel!
This year I'm trying to take better care of my feet, since I'm on them all day long.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,329
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Jan 23, 2021 23:53:23 GMT
Today DH and I finally got the 2 large Costco shelving units put together for the basement. We did a big purge of the basement and garage. Now I need to go through all the storage containers of holiday, decor and the kid stuff and purge what needs purging and reorganize the rest. I'm ok to somewhat take my time vs gotta finish over the weekend. It's one of those it's going to look worse before it looks better kind of projects.
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Post by Linda on Jan 24, 2021 0:46:22 GMT
I went through my shelf of religious books and pulled some out to donate and sorted throughy my booklets and holy cards and downsized some. Then I packed up those and DH's photo boxes and albums.
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Post by cecilia on Jan 24, 2021 2:33:47 GMT
Interor decorator friend gave us more stuff today. Some will go to GW. Some will go to booths. We may have to do a big sale at small flea market and drop a booth.
Trying to destash craft stuff for eBay. If we are still in big flea market the next time they do dollar day I may stick some of the craft stuff there. (Vendors are supposed to take $20+ value items and mark it $1. We have used it for clearance before).
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Post by tentoes on Jan 24, 2021 3:37:35 GMT
I purged and replaced, so I don't know if it counts, but it sure did spark joy for me. I tossed my worn out sneakers, and replaced them with two new pairs.
Also tossed my old, worn out, socks all at once, and replaced them with 18 pairs of brand new socks. I love that new sock feel! This year I'm trying to take better care of my feet, since I'm on them all day long. My one pair of shoes was delivered yesterday to replace the one pair of shoes that have a hole in the lining. I hate that!! But I like the new pair. I always buy the same kind, same size because I have foot problems, and this kind feels the best--with insoles! So, I have a pair for church, a pair for INSIDE the house, and a pair for OUTSIDE. When I get a new pair, they become my church shoes, the church shoes become my inside shoes, and my inside shoes become my outside shoes! and the old outside shoes gets tossed.
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Post by Linda on Jan 24, 2021 3:47:54 GMT
Packed up my Girl Scout shelf - it's all boxed. But I pulled out about a box worth to pass along to another leader, tossed some old papers, and shredded old receipts. Making progress. Now if I can figure out what room it's going to end up in - right now it's labeled GS Stuff - unknown room and it'll stay in the garage until I figure that out.
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Post by jennoconnell on Jan 24, 2021 4:20:00 GMT
Just sharing a little tip regarding gift cards. I love gift cards because they take up very little space. We tend to get mainly restaurant gift cards as gifts. However, they sometimes end up sitting around for months, even almost the entire year! This year, I am doing things differently. In the past, I'd just set them aside until such time that we decided we would visit a restaurant we have a gc for. The gc was often an afterthought. Now, I am scheduling meals so that we use up the gc's no later than February. For example, we had a Ruby Tuesday's gc so, last week, I calendared a Ruby Tuesday's takeout night to ensure we'd use the gc right away as opposed to who knows when this year. We have a gc for a crab place and plan to use that one next week. This is really smart, especially because so many businesses are struggling now. It would be such a waste if the restaurant closed and you were unable to use the cards. (This happened to us with two gift cards we had).
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Post by jennoconnell on Jan 24, 2021 4:35:19 GMT
Last week, I gave away some duplicate craft items to another crafter. I also went through my mixed media supplies and discarded anything that was dried up. Most things are still useable, but it was a good reminder to use stuff like that before it goes to waste.
This rainy weekend we accomplished a task that has been nagging at me for years. When we combined households, we found ourselves with a ridiculous number of books and DVDs, including a lot of duplicates. The kids moved out and took some of the duplicates with them. This weekend we finished going through the rest of it, gave away some items on our local Facebook Buy Nothing group, set aside other items for donation, pulled out any borrowed items to return, and got everything out on the shelves in order and alphabetized (sooooooooooooo satisfying). I was even able to store some games and display some family photos on the shelves.
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Post by buddysmom on Jan 24, 2021 4:59:37 GMT
Last weekend my DD 27 gave me the ok to clean out her closet. She's been out of the house since she was 18. She put aside a few things she wanted, I went through it and found some things that she may want and put them aside.
Most of the stuff was clothes from middle school that she bought at Goodwill, etc so I didn't feel that I should donate them again as they were probably 15+ years old and not really in good shape.
She had TONS of fabric but unfortunately it was in a giant toy chest and smelled very musty. So I couldn't donate that either. I don't know where/how/why she got all that fabric. Back in the early days of the pandemic I told her I was buying fabric to make masks and she mentioned that she had some in her closet...I had no idea it was this much. I could have made a mask for everyone on the planet... but they would have been asphyxiated by the icky smell.
But I did donate a bunch of stuff. About 95% of the stuff is gone. YAY!! Plus I was able to get some ancient stains out of the carpet in her bedroom and closet. Win!!
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 24, 2021 11:59:00 GMT
tentoes That is a great shoe method! I'm terrible about replacing my sneakers before they have holes and are too worn out. That's why I bought two pairs, so I have one waiting for me when the first pair wear out. Ladies, you are all doing great! cecilia I wish you luck selling. I know it can be a rough market right now, but hopefully those with cash in hand make their way to your goods.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 24, 2021 12:37:58 GMT
This year I'm trying to focus on the footprint I leave in my home, and this world. And if I would be embarrassed for those I love to clean up behind me if I were to pass.
I only have one hobby, scrapbooking. There are, admittedly, lots of albums. It's my weakness, I guess.
But I am focusing on not having an enormous stash. I haven't bought dies or stamp sets in years, and don't plan to.
I'm trying to use down my papers and embellishments. For me, stacks of paper represents possibilities. But someone cleaning out would probably think I'm nuts.
I've been tossing more and more of my stuff. I don't want to be a burden. I remember when my brother died, and all his stuff was just deemed trash, and put in a dumpster. Only his cat was given to a friend. Granted, he didn't have bars of gold or fine antiques, but to have the sum of your life deemed worthless garbage? That's harsh and sad, and a rude awakening. (Because of family and life things, i was not offered to help cleaning his apartment, and it wasn't my place).
Anyway... Maybe today I'll go through my stuff more and find more to toss.
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Post by natscraps on Jan 24, 2021 13:33:44 GMT
The shredding thread inspired me to tackle one of the decluttering projects I’ve been procrastinating on. I made it through three file boxes of paperwork yesterday and organized our files. Most of it ended up in the shred bin. Still have two huge rubbermaid bins worth to go through that moved with us three years ago, but at least the past three years is dealt with.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 24, 2021 14:40:29 GMT
Tossed a pair of old dingy, several years old, house slippers.
In just a little bit, I'm going to go through more stuff, hopefully toss more.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 24, 2021 14:42:35 GMT
This weekend I have been working on my younger two boys’ clothing. It drives me crazy that they just throw things in any drawer and call it good. I can’t find anything in there when getting youngest sons clothes out for the day now that he is back at school. I am organizing their clothes and taking out what doesn’t fit. Today we are going to clean the rest of their room (probably just a regular clean, but it also needs to be de-cluttered as well but I’m not sure I have time for that, and that will lead to more stuff to deal with that gets piled in my newly cleaned bonus room. I took down the Christmas tree the other day.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 24, 2021 16:42:41 GMT
iamkristinl16 I can relate! My youngest two just seem to shove their clean clothes anywhere. It's been nearly a full year of all virtual school. Absolutely zero time for me to do a real deep clean.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 24, 2021 16:56:36 GMT
So, I went through more of my stuff.
I tossed a 5 year old purse. Four of those years, it was my daily, every outing, purse. It definitely showed it.
I hadn't tossed it before because it was a gift, and I was worried that my dd would be upset. So, I asked her & she wasn't even a little upset.
I don't know why I thought she would be or why I attached those feelings to it.
i also cleaned out a few other odds and ends.
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Post by cecilia on Jan 24, 2021 21:49:15 GMT
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,739
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Jan 24, 2021 23:30:39 GMT
Purged tons a couple months ago. Because I moved. Not the most stress free way to do it but it gets it done quickly.
Then I promptly broke my clavicle so the new place getting organized hit a wall. I'm FINALLY slowly getting back in the swing of things and hope to get things organized and go through stuff that has been untouched since move. Shelves for unfinished area in basement are coming as are shelving for living room around TV. Hate that it's dead of winter now as some stuff is in garage and would have liked to finished out there in warmer weather. That stuff will probably be last on my list, maybe spring before I get to it. DS is helping when I need it for high stuff as arm still aches and tires easily.
So although, it's been comfortable and livable, it's slowly getting personal touches to become more homey.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 24, 2021 23:55:20 GMT
Does anyone have tips on not letting this become too overwhelming? Part of my problem is the time that the projects take, and part of it is finishing the project--getting things to the donation center or selling, the trash, putting random things where they need to go.
Right now my plan is to make a monthly calendar and focus on small parts of each room at a time. I seem to do better when it is a project that is smaller rather than tackling a whole room at a time. For example, today I ended up going through my younger kids' whole room--clothes included. It looks great now, and they have been told that I will check it each day and they won't be able to have screen time the following day until it is clean. Doesn't have to be perfect but their room was a huge mess (not just with stuff, but with garbage behind the bed, etc. Part of this process is that we need to KEEP things clean and picked up on a regular basis so that cleaning doesn't take all day. It is driving me crazy.
Anyway, we got rid of a garbage bag worth of trash, at least the same for donation, and a stack of clothes that I can't decide if I should donate or sell. I tend to let things sit around for a long time before selling so I am either going to just donate it or tell myself that the money I make will go towards a new Ikea drawer set for my makeup. Maybe that will motivate me to get it done.
Now all of that trash is in the kitchen and DH has been cooking so that room is a mess...Ugh.
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Post by Linda on Jan 25, 2021 0:04:25 GMT
we dropped off donations today - yay - out of my house. AND dropped off recycling (we don't have kerbside) iamkristinl16 - I think you're on the right path with small sections at a time. For the kids - we do weekly housework on Saturday mornings (ok - it's kind of fallen by the wayside as weekends are taken up with new house projects lately) and that includes picking up their rooms, changing sheets, and vacuuming. I pretty much only toss or donate. Selling is a huge time suck and I don't have highprice items. Not worth it to me. We probably WILL do a garage sale sometime after we move (once it's safer to do so) but I'm not setting stuff aside now for it - I just suspect that as we unpack and get organised we'll have some furniture and storage items we won't want/need.
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,739
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Jan 25, 2021 0:59:37 GMT
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Post by Linda on Jan 25, 2021 1:19:06 GMT
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 25, 2021 3:33:36 GMT
iamkristinl16 I have to be really, really realistic with myself about what I will do versus what I think maybe a better version of me should do. For example, I'm not going to sell stuff. I'm just not. I don't have the hustle in me. It costs me too much time and emotional energy. But I will trash things. Right out in the bin, even if it still potentially has some use in it. I have to give myself permission to make the decision that will give me the best benefit that day, or else I will hem and haw and wring my hands, and nothing will ever get done. Pre covid, i did used to donate stuff, but now my favorite thrift store closed permanently, and the other isn't accepting donations. I also accept that decluttering is an ongoing activity, and not a one off project. I give myself credit for each act of decluttering, and not only when the whole effort is finished (it never is). linda Yay! Donations out! PLurker Gorgeous & labeled! Love it!😁
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Post by Linda on Jan 25, 2021 3:47:55 GMT
I also accept that decluttering is an ongoing activity, and not a one off project. I give myself credit for each act of decluttering, and not only when the whole effort is finished (it never is). YES - I've been seriously decluttering for nearly 10 years and I still donate bags and bags and boxes of stuff every year. Part of it is that as time passes, kids grow up and their stuff isn't age-appropriate any longer, people gain or lose weight, interests change...and also stuff I thought was important to keep, isn't any longer. My aim is to touch everything in the house at least once and preferably twice a year (and do the same for the storage shed at least every other year - I aim for yearly but life happens). The other issue here, at least, is that DH is a shopper - thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales, clearance racks/shelves, ebay....he loves a bargain, he can think of a use for nearly anything, and has a very hard time parting with stuff. I had a win today though (I hope) - when we dropped off recycling, there were two old windows just sitting there looking for a new home. I said absolutely NOT. So he snapped a picture and shared with a coworker. She said yes please. So they are in our car but hopefully won't be by after work tomorrow. DH said he can just picture her husband's face...
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 25, 2021 3:53:20 GMT
iamkristinl16 I have to be really, really realistic with myself about what I will do versus what I think maybe a better version of me should do. For example, I'm not going to sell stuff. I'm just not. I don't have the hustle in me. It costs me too much time and emotional energy. But I will trash things. Right out in the bin, even if it still potentially has some use in it. I have to give myself permission to make the decision that will give me the best benefit that day, or else I will hem and haw and wring my hands, and nothing will ever get done. Pre covid, i did used to donate stuff, but now my favorite thrift store closed permanently, and the other isn't accepting donations. I also accept that decluttering is an ongoing activity, and not a one off project. I give myself credit for each act of decluttering, and not only when the whole effort is finished (it never is). linda Yay! Donations out! PLurker Gorgeous & labeled! Love it!😁 That is a good point. I do try to keep in mind that time is money and the mental energy spent is also important. I also agree that de-cluttering Is ongoing. I go through most of our house fairly regularly but there is always more that could go, and of course more that comes in. The good news is that my kids are getting older so the toys and amount of stuff seems to be reduced somewhat (at least comparing my older two to my younger two). I just need to increase the frequency of going through things so that there is even less stuff to deal with. I’m probably not as ruthless as I could be when I go through things.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jan 25, 2021 4:08:18 GMT
linda Stuff coming in is a huge hurdle for me. Grandma loves to buy thrifted stuff for the kids. And I admittedly overbuy at Christmas & sometimes birthdays too. But I don't buy toys between holidays. My oldest has a job, and the packages arrive daily. It's actually really stressing me out. I find I can really only control my own stuff, and other than necessities, I've no taste to buy myself anything. There are lots of things that I see and think, "Ooh, that's cute!" Gnomes are all the rage right now, and I think they're adorable. But it would just amount to clutter.
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Post by JoP on Jan 25, 2021 8:21:57 GMT
I cleared out a wardrobe in the spare bedroom. I’ve coats from hubs and I to donate to the homeless charity here.
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