Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,637
Member is Online
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Aug 29, 2022 10:16:04 GMT
Do you do one item in, one item out? Do you hold onto things that you wear minimally? How do you get rid of items that you don't want anymore? I'm debating this because I really don't want them to end up in a landfill somewhere. In theory I'm one in one out, but in reality I just don't go beyond what my wardrobe space can hold. I recall reading once that the pareto rule is also true on our wardrobes, we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. I keep a few things that I only wear occasionally: a pair of dress pants, a couple of nice tops to wear with them, one cocktail dress. I still have my work clothes even though I've worked from home almost every day since March 2020 as my company hasn't yet finalised how many days they want us back in the office. I try not to keep everyday items, either work or casual, that I just don't reach for. If I find it to be uncomfortable/doesn't quite fit right/is just not my favourite and I have enough other options that I do wear then I'll pass it on. I don't have any great answers for getting rid of things I no longer want, I've always donated to my local Salvos or St Vinnie's.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 29, 2022 10:49:06 GMT
So here's a question for you... I've been on a decluttering/purging/ organizing tear for several weeks now. My problem is that I plow through the obvious stuff with no problem. But then there are those last items in every room that keep me from finishing my efforts. So the room still looks cluttered and I can't check it off my list because I'm not sure how to proceed. Does anyone else do this, and if so, what is the prevailing wisdom on the best way to knock it out? I like the suggestions that include getting the stuff out of the room. Find an out of the way place (garage is ideal if you have one) and move it all. Enjoying the room in that pared down, more open and airy state may be just the motivation you need to get rid of everything else. Plus having to walk around or fall over that stuff in another location may make it even easier to let it go.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 29, 2022 11:05:57 GMT
My question is when it comes to clothing how do you know when you just hit too little? Do you do one item in, one item out? Do you hold onto things that you wear minimally? How do you get rid of items that you don't want anymore? I'm debating this because I really don't want them to end up in a landfill somewhere. Either way I feel like I need to work on paring down some more. I almost don’t believe the ‘too little’ scenario is possible. None of us will ever pare down that far. And you did the challenge of wearing the same dress for days on end. You know it’s possible to function with fewer items of clothing. That said, I do believe there’s such a thing as ‘too much.’ It’s stifling to have too many choices when one opens a closet. It inevitably ends up crammed in there where it’s hard to see, difficult to extract, wrinkled once in hand, and so forth. Plus I dare say, a fair amount is not the right size, fits weird, a color you don’t feel great in, doesn’t make you happy, or you simply keep it over guilt at buying it. There’s no magic formula. For each of us it’s highly dependent on lifestyle and personality. Every time I edit my closet, I feel better and better about it. I know I’m not to my personal sweet spot yet because each time I go back to the project there’s still work to be done. I may get to the day when I open the closet and find nothing that doesn’t belong, but it’s okay if I don’t because I enjoy the process of judging each piece and purging what no longer suits. As far as how/where to get rid of clothes - don’t let worries over that be your excuse to hang onto items that should go. Sell or donate. Just get them out of your closet.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 29, 2022 11:33:59 GMT
Spongemom Scrappants I like your philosophy that there's no such thing as too little. I did go through my closet in May. I pulled out all the bigger clothing I had had in storage and put away my smaller clothing (my weight really fluctuates and I don't want to buy new every time it moves). At that time I did some purging. Since then I have bought some new pieces. Yesterday day, I was putting some clothes away and I realized I had ordered 3 new sweaters (all secondhand) and so I did a quick scan of my closet and I was able to pull out 9 items for trash and 12 to donate. Mostly dresses. I figured if I hadn't worn those dresses all summer, it was time to go. I will donate them. But I was choosy. The stuff I wouldn't pick up at a thrift store, I trashed. So either way, some clothing is going to end up in a landfill. It's sad but really I had some pieces that have already lived their best life. It's hard finding a balance really. Because I know from that dress challenge that I can totally live with less. But I really don't want to. I don't want only a few dresses to choose from. I do like variety. But I don't want to get caught up in consumer culture anymore either. And I did this summer order two stitch fix boxes to change up my wardrobe (I really do like a surprise) but then felt guilty about buying things brand new that weren't ethically made and environmentally friendly. So I felt myself slipping into bad habits again. But I really did need a couple of pairs of dress pants and jeans. And those are harder to find from good sources.
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 29, 2022 11:51:56 GMT
So here's a question for you... I've been on a decluttering/purging/ organizing tear for several weeks now. My problem is that I plow through the obvious stuff with no problem. But then there are those last items in every room that keep me from finishing my efforts. So the room still looks cluttered and I can't check it off my list because I'm not sure how to proceed. Does anyone else do this, and if so, what is the prevailing wisdom on the best way to knock it out? Would you buy those items again? Are they useful? Are they easily replaced? If you don't love them or use them, out they go. Are they something you might use, but cost say less than $20? Let them go.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 29, 2022 14:11:39 GMT
I will donate them. But I was choosy. The stuff I wouldn't pick up at a thrift store, I trashed. So either way, some clothing is going to end up in a landfill. It's sad but really I had some pieces that have already lived their best life. It's hard finding a balance really. Because I know from that dress challenge that I can totally live with less. But I really don't want to. I don't want only a few dresses to choose from. I do like variety. But I don't want to get caught up in consumer culture anymore either. And I did this summer order two stitch fix boxes to change up my wardrobe (I really do like a surprise) but then felt guilty about buying things brand new that weren't ethically made and environmentally friendly. So I felt myself slipping into bad habits again. But I really did need a couple of pairs of dress pants and jeans. And those are harder to find from good sources. I volunteer at a really busy thrift store in our town that supports the hospice organization. I work in the back pricing vintage and antique items for them as that's my area of expertise but I'm very familiar with their processes in general. The reality is a lot of clothing and cloth items (linens, towels, etc) get trashed. Our store can be very picky about the quality of the items they put out because they get such a large amount of donations. Cloth is 'trashed' separately from other stuff through because they do have a recycling buyer for it. So once a truck is filled, off it goes and we get another empty truck to work start on. The issue is there is really too much 'stuff' in the world in general. And it all gets more and more disposable every year - paper goods, fast fashion, styrofoam, and on and on. I admire your consciousness about this and I know there's room for improvement with it on my own life. But... even if your intention is to do better going forward, you have stuff from the past you're wrestling with now. Let that stuff go. Don't let guilt over 'where' it's going keep you stuck with a closet that makes you feel bad every time you open the door. Just my two cents.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 29, 2022 14:41:13 GMT
I'm glad to see some companies recycling Spongemom Scrappants. I recently bought underwear from Parade. They are great underwear and they are made from recycled fibers. I get what you're saying too. Making changes going forward doesn't mean I have to hang onto the past. Heck, I feel better just knowing I'm trying to be a part of the change. 100% is always an unrealistic goal. But little changes make a difference..
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 5,890
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 29, 2022 15:42:00 GMT
Well this last week I organized dd's medical supplies.
I received a corner desk from a friend and had dh cut the legs down so it could be used as a side table to the chair dd sits in for infusions.
We were running out if space with supplies and space to hold needed items for her infusion. I was using a TV tray and her medical cart and the couch and the back ledge.
It has one big pull out drawer and a shelf on the bottom.
On the bottom shelf is her sharps container that is blocked and safe from ds and the dogs. Also there is her trash can.
The drawer has her extra supplies.
The table top comes in handy to hold her sharps Co trainer and trash can as well as her battery candle, visual sensory items, phone, Switch & case, headphones, and a few small stuffed she likes to have with her.
I am part of a community gifting page. Moms put up no longer needed items and you can ask for a needed item.
I like that it was my friend ds and it reduced waste. I didn't have to buy a new one and it didn't end up in a landfill.
Since the extra supplies are no longer in the hutch, I organized that space as well.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,637
Member is Online
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Aug 30, 2022 8:19:59 GMT
Another win today, I had a small stock pot and a tin of mostly full paint that looked very different painted on a large area than the sample suggested, so I listed both on my local buy nothing group over the weekend, and both were picked up today. I even got some lemons and olives in return for the paint!
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Post by mikklynn on Sept 2, 2022 13:22:02 GMT
I sort of pre-purged, LOL. I was near the Container Store and did NOT stop. There is nothing I need. I just love that place.
I'm sure many of us that have done major purging are trying not to buy more stuff. I'm really trying to change my thinking on buying.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,637
Member is Online
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Sept 9, 2022 10:08:16 GMT
A miracle has occurred, my DH voluntarily cleaned out his wardrobe! We went clothes shopping to replace some worn work and gym wear, so most of what went out was replaced by new, but he did take the opportunity to pull out some additional clothes which he then dropped off at his Mum's to donate to her church. We got two bags of donations, and a couple of things went straight to the rubbish.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,402
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Sept 10, 2022 18:54:56 GMT
I've been adding to my toss pile and my donate pile. I honestly don't know how I keep finding more things to purge. It's crazy! Now that fall is coming I feel the urge to purge whatever else I can since it's so much harder to get stuff out of the house in the winter and I seriously don't want a toss pile in the garage for months on end.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,637
Member is Online
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Sept 12, 2022 8:16:15 GMT
I did a quick run through of my drawers and wardrobe as I put the washing away yesterday. I generally consider I'm pretty good about pulling out things I no longer wear, but I took the opportunity to go through my work clothes which have been untouched for the last 2.5 years. I pulled out a couple of tops I just know I won't want to wear again, along with a cardigan, which have all gone to the donate pile. I also sorted through my shoes, and between DH's recent clean out and what I've added today, we've got 7 pairs to donate.
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Post by MZF on Sept 15, 2022 19:40:33 GMT
Went through ALL my fabric--got a garbage bag full to donate to my niece. Also, started working on quilt tops--I've got 6 ready to quilt--tops, batting, backing all ready to go. I'm going to do the smaller ones (42" x 56"), then decide if I'll do the larger ones or send them out. I also went this morning to the SPCA Thrift shop and donated almost all my stamping supplies, punches, and some knitting & sewing books. I had culled these a while ago and they've just been waiting to be donated--so, now it's done. (I copied my post from a different thread rather than type it out again)
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Post by lg on Sept 18, 2022 11:00:49 GMT
So here's a question for you... I've been on a decluttering/purging/ organizing tear for several weeks now. My problem is that I plow through the obvious stuff with no problem. But then there are those last items in every room that keep me from finishing my efforts. So the room still looks cluttered and I can't check it off my list because I'm not sure how to proceed. Does anyone else do this, and if so, what is the prevailing wisdom on the best way to knock it out? I like the suggestions that include getting the stuff out of the room. Find an out of the way place (garage is ideal if you have one) and move it all. Enjoying the room in that pared down, more open and airy state may be just the motivation you need to get rid of everything else. Plus having to walk around or fall over that stuff in another location may make it even easier to let it go. I second this idea. I have a huge plastic lidded container on the back porch that I fill with all the: Will I ever need this? Do I like this? Or, more importantly, I’ve never liked this! I’ll disappear this from the house and see if the kids/dh notice I was gifted this and I don’t really like it I bought this but I’ve never used it I’ve kept this all these years and I think it’s time to let it go items. I find once it’s in that container it doesn’t come back into the house again, and I then have it ready to take to a donation place with minimal effort. As it’s in a lidded container it also means that the items don’t get dirty or ruined by water so I can still donate them when I’ve made my final decision. It also means that it’s out of sight so kids etc aren’t reminded of the item and how much they “love” it. If I regret having any of the items in the container I can easily bring them back inside but it has not happened one time!!! This system means I’m not constantly cleaning around the items, or putting them away, or making the kids put them away, and I’m able to evaluate them without their usual context (this is the vase I’ve always displayed on the shelf here. I don’t like it but I’ll put it back in the shelf again and again and again in its place after I’ve had to dust around it over and over and over again even though I DON’T LIKE IT). This system has also helped me a lot with sentimental items I’ve found hard to part with as I make the decision to let it go but have a safety or just in case clause that helps me do so in a way I’m comfortable with. Once the container is full it’s time to go!
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,637
Member is Online
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Sept 25, 2022 4:16:36 GMT
I went through my filing cabinet today and pulled out a bunch of old paperwork, which I've already shredded and added to the recycling. DH also cleaned out his last two clothes drawers. He didn't get rid of much, but a few things have either gone to the rubbish or into the donations bag, and more importantly, both the drawers now close easily.
And a digital win, as I was backing up my external drive today, I took the opportunity to delete some (bulky) files and folders I no longer want or need.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,402
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Sept 25, 2022 17:47:23 GMT
I'm working on adding to my pile of donations to be dropped off next week. Today I'm doing another pass through our coat closet (being ruthless) and my bedroom closet. I have a lot of decor items I plan to let go of this go around.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Sept 25, 2022 20:24:23 GMT
I have been going through and organizing the storage room. We have boxes of energy saving lite tubes we had purchased on sale and are slowly replacing the old energy saving fluorescent tubes in the basement. I found two light lens covers we don’t use anymore and wanted to throw them out or donate to the Habitat for Humanity store. dh suggested we sell them online for $1. Saves us gas to donate them. Took 2 dead tubes out of the basement and took down 9 old working tubes in the basement and put up new energy saving ones. Sold them along with the light/lens covers for $10 on Friday and 10:30 pm to a young couple that bought their first home. We put that money towards charities we support at Christmas time. Also re-cycled some boxes. Thought the items had lifetime warranties. They don’t, so off they go. Starting another box of items to sell or donate.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,402
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Sept 30, 2022 20:47:14 GMT
The most amazing thing happened today.....my MIL finally let me help her start decluttering her clothes. She has the equivalent of 3 bedroom closets plus dressers stuffed full. We spent an hour and a half and only tackled her tops in the main bedroom closet but filled 3 big black garbage bags. MIL seemed pretty happy with the results. I absolutely took it all home with me and we agreed to work again 1 morning next week. She is almost 86 and I'd say an organized/clean hoarder. MIL basically has the opposite of my mind set of don't use or wear it then get rid of it.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Oct 1, 2022 23:24:13 GMT
Took items to the Salvation Army this week. They gave us a coupon for 20 per cent off twenty dollars or more. Took it in the store and gave it to someone with a cart full of clothes etc. We took metal recycling in (including an old globe) and got $6. Took 1/2 hour yesterday, went through and listed more items for sale. One item was free and got picked up today
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Post by mikklynn on Oct 5, 2022 11:51:33 GMT
I got rid of an old bed frame and headboard, yay! They were from our very first bed, so 43 years old.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,402
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Oct 5, 2022 13:28:47 GMT
Yesterday I dropped off a car load of stuff at Goodwill. It was about half mine and the rest from MIL closet clean out. I still have some more of my stuff to donate, but my car was too full so next time.
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Post by Linda on Oct 5, 2022 13:43:48 GMT
I went through my cardtock and patterned paper and organised it - tossed a few sheets of glittery paper that nothing adhers to (ok -I haven't tried superglue but...).
Also went through my scraps and tossed anything I didn't see me using.
It's all so much neater and organised now
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Oct 10, 2022 19:56:57 GMT
Last of the garden is cleaned out except for two stocks of dill. I am dehydrating some of the other dill. Yesterday, I froze some dill. dh planted garlic. Dh and ds added compost etc to part of the garden, We put some of the perennial pots with plants in them in the garden for the Winter. I have been reorganizing items in the storage room and have more items for the donate box.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Oct 21, 2022 23:22:10 GMT
Thank you soooooo much for this thread. A week ago we cleaned out and defrosted the chest freezer. They do not sell the One quart 78 mm gem canning jars, seals or lids in Canada anymore. People are looking for them. We sold all but six of them. Two hundred and twenty dollars in all for chariities we support and more room in the storage room. We kept some small, medium and large wide mouth jars. We don’t can as much as we used too. The past three days I have been taking 15 or 20 minutes at a time (thanks for the suggestion) and decluttering. Yesterday, we found some diving gear. dh doesn’t dive anymore. He only did it a few times. We donated it to a dive shop while we were out. When I look at something I think to myself “does it bring me joy”. I just went through a box that has Olympics glassware. It is going to be donated. Good to enjoy the burst of energy while it is here,lol.
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Post by ntsf on Oct 21, 2022 23:38:06 GMT
I went through some bags of my dad's papers I had just grabbed and brought home (he has passed). I filled a recycle bag with paper, found a few things I didn't know he had, etc and reorganized the pile of slides and pictures I have in one corner of my study.. I have been waiting for 8 months for new bookshelves to arrive.. still waiting.
I found a few things to throw up, and a few for goodwill pile. I took all the pictures out of two sticky albums, finished scrapping all my sister's pictures (she had no childhood pictures at her house). sort of found a place for the portable air conditioner in study. (it is too heavy to store in basement)..I also spent more time organizing scrapbook stuff
not too motivated, but I figure little steps count.
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Post by mikklynn on Oct 22, 2022 13:55:32 GMT
I cleaned out the bench in the mudroom yesterday. I have 2 small bags for Goodwill. Now the only things in there are umbrellas. I think it will make the perfect place to store Christmas gifts.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,402
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Oct 22, 2022 20:17:54 GMT
Quote of the day: "The easiest way to be organized is to have less stuff."
I haven't been doing too much decluttering, but rather more cleaning and organizing. Things are looking pretty good around here.
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hilldee
New Member
Posts: 6
Oct 23, 2022 7:25:55 GMT
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Post by hilldee on Oct 23, 2022 7:50:58 GMT
Hi, I’m new here I used to love 2Peas, but fell out of scrapbooking when we returned home from the US. (about 15 years ago… what can I say… I made myself busy there for a while…) I took home my enormous stash of supplies, then added to them when scrapbooking was popular in my country for a while. Then we moved. Twice. So I’m committed to hoarding supplies, at least Now, I have decided, declared and wowed to take up scrapbooking again. Because I love it, and all supplies have survived two moves after being moved across the world. I’m setting up my home office/craft room and need to work out where everything is supposed to go. My goal for today - put all finished albums in view, all unused albums and album related stuff away, and the current album with my supplies. Wish me luck! -dee
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Oct 23, 2022 8:06:58 GMT
hilldee, welcome to twopeas Which country do you live in now?
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