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Post by Linda on Jul 29, 2023 4:25:54 GMT
linda I’m really impressed with your photo organizing/downsizing, and a bit jealous! This is the thing I think that would positively impact my scrapbooking the most. Thank you - between my photos, my MILs photos, and my mum's photos...there's a ton plus I have a dh and 3 kids all taking photos (both phone and camera)...I really need to get on top of it all and have a plan moving forward...I'm getting there. part of it is managing expectations (mine and theirs) about what I can/will do and what I've decided not to do (ie scrap ALL of my childhood photos - I'm scrapping ones that speak to me or help tell a memory I want to keep but I'm getting better at not expecting myself to scrap every photo Still a ton to do but I keep plugging away at it and I'm making progress. |
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Post by cecilia on Jul 30, 2023 2:47:54 GMT
Finished the photo project, at least with purging. Threw away a bunch. Saved some, about 20 are getting scrapbooked.
Took recycling off today and filled up a box for GW. Went to a fundraiser yard sale and bought a few things. (6 shirts for sale, 2 of which are getting redonated because I overlooked stains; 2 jars for coins; 3 toys for Baby; 2 books for me.)
Been throwing away a bunch of stuff off the back porch too.
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Post by Linda on Jul 30, 2023 3:33:04 GMT
well done ceciliaI've gotten the pile of photos I set aside from yesterday's pile of photos scrapped! YAY! I went to Hobby Lobby and only bought 4 sheets of paper which I've already used! I went to WM and only bought 1 shirt...I've been tossing and/or donating lately because many of mine are old and too big. I went through my fall scrappy stuff and tossed a bunch of leftovers that won't get used Broke down all the cardboard boxes in the garage so they can be brought to recycling tomorrow I have a stack of photos on my desk that will be getting mailed on Monday (yes, the recipient has requested them) I put another book in the donation pile after finishing it. So some small accomplishments but I'll take that. DH is planning on assembling my Kallax tomorrow which means the broken bookcase it's replacing will be leaving and I'll take the opportunity to see if some of the contents can also (it's mostly holding photos and memorabilia that I still need to sort and label but there's a few other things that perhaps don't need to stay) |
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 30, 2023 10:36:41 GMT
So some of the issues I'm having is how to get rid of stuff I just don't want to throw away. I've tried to donate and many places won't take these items. If you've had to get rid of these, how did you do it?
A lot of items get put in a box on the curb on the evening before trash day, with a "free" sign on it. Curb shopping is big where I live.
1. Old pens, pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters. A lot of unused stuff, but they're incomplete sets or loose items from giveaways or open packages. Schools around here seem to want only brand new items or complete sets. Out in the curb shop box. It either gets taken by someone who wants it, or trashmen/women toss it into the truck.
2. Notebooks, notepads, blank sheets of paper, like open binder paper or construction paper packs. I have some notebooks that have a few pages torn out, but still usable with plenty of pages left. The other stuff is mainly from giveaways or freebies from the mail. I don't mind putting it all in recycling, but who knows if it will still end up in a landfill. I also seem to have an excess of different sized envelopes. I use all of these ttypes of items to write my lists. I'm always writing to do lists, grocery lists, etc.
My library also has baskets of "scratch paper" for people to jot things down on. Maybe ask if they want it?
3. Gift bags. I have too many gift bags still in reusable condition. I only use them if something is odd sized, otherwise I wrap gifts. Make it a plan to use only gift bags until they're gone?
Or just recycle/trash them all in one fell swoop.
4. Cleaning supplies. Again, no place will take liquids or household cleaners. These I really don't want to toss or pour down the drain, but I have a big bag that's been sitting in the garage for over a year. Our city has a hazardous waste drop off center for stuff like that.
Also, sometimes it is more important to get it out of your home by any means necessary, even if that means everything goes into the trash in one week, so that an important task can be accomplished (giving your dd her own room).
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 30, 2023 10:44:50 GMT
I had a big decluttering week.
The play kitchen, two toddler shopping cart push toys, and a scooter all left. Those were big items out of the basement and off of my mind.
three large bags of miscellaneous odds and ends from school supplies and crafting projects out.
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 30, 2023 12:55:20 GMT
LavenderLayoutLady I cried when I got rid of the play kitchen and shopping carts! It felt good, but I was sad we wouldn't have toddlers again. My grandchildren are both teenagers now. I dropped off a load at Goodwill from my parent's house. We are finally getting my mom to purge.
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Post by Linda on Jul 30, 2023 14:03:51 GMT
So some of the issues I'm having is how to get rid of stuff I just don't want to throw away. I've tried to donate and many places won't take these items. If you've had to get rid of these, how did you do it? 1. Old pens, pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters. A lot of unused stuff, but they're incomplete sets or loose items from giveaways or open packages. Schools around here seem to want only brand new items or complete sets. 2. Notebooks, notepads, blank sheets of paper, like open binder paper or construction paper packs. I have some notebooks that have a few pages torn out, but still usable with plenty of pages left. The other stuff is mainly from giveaways or freebies from the mail. I don't mind putting it all in recycling, but who knows if it will still end up in a landfill. I also seem to have an excess of different sized envelopes. 3. Gift bags. I have too many gift bags still in reusable condition. I only use them if something is odd sized, otherwise I wrap gifts. I'll keep a few but I have stacks taking up space. Not even sure where I would donate these. 4. Cleaning supplies. Again, no place will take liquids or household cleaners. These I really don't want to toss or pour down the drain, but I have a big bag that's been sitting in the garage for over a year. the school supplies - I would offer to a teacher (esp in a less privileged area), a daycare, a Girl Scout troop, or offer up on Buy Nothing the free mini pads of paper I use for quick notes but Buy Nothing would work for that also. Gift bags - I see those at our local thrift stores so I would donate if in good shape Cleaning supplies - Buy Nothing or drop at the hazardous waste collection (we have a dropoff at the dump or once a year they do a drive-through spot in our area where they unload the boxes/bags from your vehicle for you. But ultimately - if no one wants the stuff or if finding a good recipient is causing too much stress/delay, then put it in a box out by the kerb the day before trash pickup with a sign FREE and either someone will take it or the trashmen will and it'll be okay |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 31, 2023 3:30:24 GMT
My win was taking a 3 day road trip and only buying book mark or smaller items for souvenirs. Many thanks to the Pea that told us she buys book marks on vacation and puts them in a bowl to look at occasionally. I'm SO copying you! In the past I would have picked up some mugs, Christmas ornaments, or other items that take up space. Definitely a win!
I used to buy souvenirs too.
Now I try to go the "flat" route. Love the bookmark idea. I usually get postcards.
And my biggest gift to myself is taking selfies. And asking my kids to snap one of me.
My favorite souvenirs are those flat pressed pennies you can make in those crank machines for 51¢! They’re fun, they’re decorative, they cost almost nothing and take up no space. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 31, 2023 3:35:13 GMT
Went into the basement to see what can go. Realized that there was still a big black bag that was supposed to go out last week, that I forgot to bring up. :  :
I went through the Halloween things, and Easter things. Both are down to one small tote each. Tossed old bunny ears, three old egg dying kits that don't work anymore (found that out this past Easter when another kit from the same lot didn't work. Should have tossed them then). Tossed cheapy photo props that I used when my kids were much younger, and haven't used in a long while.
I put aside a bunch of toddler/ very young kid toys that the kids haven't used in years. I'm going to ask them today what they want to keep and what can go.
Last night I realized that I never bought a durable storage for my artificial Christmas tree. It's still in the original cardboard box, and I really don't want that (I find cardboard attracts bugs).
What do you store your fake trees in?
I bought a really nice canvas type bag on clearance for 75% off at JoAnn’s after Christmas several years ago. It works great, keeps my tree free of dust and it’s easy to store. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 31, 2023 3:58:30 GMT
Last week’s win: quickly unloaded six of DD’s outgrown swimsuits on Buy Nothing.
Last week’s fail: Never made it to the donation place with my big box of summer clothes. I’ll put it in the car and make it a priority to get it there this week.
I decided to participate in one final kid’s consignment sale to get rid of the last big toys that are worth something (DD gets the money from them, and they will definitely sell). I’ll also sell off the rest of the name brand, basically new without tags fall and winter clothes that I didn’t donate last spring because it was too late by the time I went through her stuff. It’s a little more work than donating it but less work than having a garage sale or selling on Marketplace and it will be good to get some cash back for all that stuff she never wore. I can then easily donate whatever doesn’t sell because it will be in season (fall/winter) for the donation place.
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Post by Linda on Jul 31, 2023 13:24:06 GMT
My favorite souvenirs are those flat pressed pennies you can make in those crank machines for 51¢! They’re fun, they’re decorative, they cost almost nothing and take up no space. We like those also and they are the perfect souvenir for children Finished another book - and it's been added to the donation pile. Reading through my library is a very slow method of decluttering but progress is progress. Cardboard went to the recycling drop-off. On a more scrappy note - I had a set of 4 page kits I got in a destash purchase that were 12x12 (I'm an 8.5x11 scrapper) and I cut them down and added photos/journalling and now they are in my album and not in my stash. I also got rid of another kit that made bags and gift card holders - I'm never going to use it so it left. DH is planning on assembling my Kallax tomorrow which means the broken bookcase it's replacing will be leaving and I'll take the opportunity to see if some of the contents can also (it's mostly holding photos and memorabilia that I still need to sort and label but there's a few other things that perhaps don't need to stay) Kallax is assembled and in place. Sent a few oversize items with DH to work for him to scan (they have a BIG scanner there). Found a few things to donate and a duplicate of mum's wedding photo which I'll give to my sister. Also two digital frames that I've added to my to-do list - ether I get them set up somewhere in the next 2 weeks or they'll leave. Bookcase isn't gone...DH has claimed it for the big garage to hold his woodworking books and magazines. I'll call it a win when it actually makes it out there from the house garage (it was raining yesterday so ...) |
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,447 
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Post by amom23 on Jul 31, 2023 15:14:53 GMT
I'm defrosting our upright freezer in the laundry room. It's something I make a point to do 2x a year. It's been pretty bad for a while and it's probably as empty as it's ever going to be so today is the day. Such a pain in the butt though.
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Post by Linda on Jul 31, 2023 15:19:01 GMT
I'm defrosting our upright freezer in the laundry room. It's something I make a point to do 2x a year. It's been pretty bad for a while and it's probably as empty as it's ever going to be so today is the day. Such a pain in the butt though. important to do but yes, such a pain. I've recently replenished my knickers, bras, and compression socks so went through and organised that drawer and tossed the ones that weren't in great shape and put some compression socks in the donation bin that I wore once and hated. |
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Post by scrapperal on Jul 31, 2023 16:28:39 GMT
So some of the issues I'm having is how to get rid of stuff I just don't want to throw away. I've tried to donate and many places won't take these items. If you've had to get rid of these, how did you do it? 1. Old pens, pencils, crayons, markers, highlighters. A lot of unused stuff, but they're incomplete sets or loose items from giveaways or open packages. Schools around here seem to want only brand new items or complete sets. 2. Notebooks, notepads, blank sheets of paper, like open binder paper or construction paper packs. I have some notebooks that have a few pages torn out, but still usable with plenty of pages left. The other stuff is mainly from giveaways or freebies from the mail. I don't mind putting it all in recycling, but who knows if it will still end up in a landfill. I also seem to have an excess of different sized envelopes. 3. Gift bags. I have too many gift bags still in reusable condition. I only use them if something is odd sized, otherwise I wrap gifts. I'll keep a few but I have stacks taking up space. Not even sure where I would donate these. 4. Cleaning supplies. Again, no place will take liquids or household cleaners. These I really don't want to toss or pour down the drain, but I have a big bag that's been sitting in the garage for over a year. I donated 1 and 2 to a local Boys/Girls club. They did not want the notepads with advertising and no one on FB or buy nothing wanted them so I ended up recycling them. Gift bags were either given to friends or donated. Curbside free on trash day might get rid of more stuff, as others suggested. Good luck! |
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jul 31, 2023 18:41:35 GMT
I cried when I got rid of the play kitchen and shopping carts! It felt good, but I was sad we wouldn't have toddlers again. It was definitely harder for me than I thought it would be.
So many happy memories tied up with having been able to give them the play kitchen and accessories. (It was something I had always wanted as a kid, but didn't have.)
My favorite souvenirs are those flat pressed pennies you can make in those crank machines for 51¢! They’re fun, they’re decorative, they cost almost nothing and take up no space. Ooh yes! I love these too! I have a couple dozen, all in a tiny little box. And yes, at 51 cents, such an easy "yes" when kids ask if they can make them.
clearance for 75% off at JoAnn’s after Christmas Good idea!
I should definitely wait until Christmas clearance to buy.
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Post by cecilia on Jul 31, 2023 18:43:23 GMT
Took 3 boxes and 1 trash bag of clothes to GW. Had to mail something. People going to have to buy a new printer. Seems like it's been one little thing after another this year.
My free listings on eBay reset at 2AM CST tomorrow so I need to list a bunch tonight.
Also need to stock booths and donate stuff we have had a while.
Also need to take stuff to teacher. Have a number to call to get into the building now.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Jul 31, 2023 21:10:46 GMT
Cecilia, if you have card making supplies could you make cards to sell at your booths?
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Post by cecilia on Aug 1, 2023 14:04:52 GMT
Cecilia, if you have card making supplies could you make cards to sell at your booths? I have some. I have been making so junk journal embellishment kits/boxes bags for Arts and Crafts fair with some of it. I will post a photo when I get the latest one when I am done. They really don't sell in my booths at the flea market so I may try another event soon with them. It's like $40/table. In Little Rock. It's thrift clothes/handmade/upcycle/art type stuff. |
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Post by cecilia on Aug 2, 2023 15:57:07 GMT
Cooling shelter is needing bottled water donations and we have some extra cases so we are going to drop them off on the way to my echo in about 90 minutes.
I need to go to flea market and pull stuff and then put new stuff in. Sold nearly 30 books so we need to add more there.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 2, 2023 16:17:35 GMT
Ok, I'm in (likely not the first time).
I suck at this so I am starting by boxing up the clothes I don't think I want but am paralyzed when it comes to actually getting rid of them because... what if.
I currently have a pretty large unused basement so the box can go down there.
I'm going to organize and declutter my main living areas (bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, living room, kitchen) and leave the garage, basement and the kid's three bedrooms and bathrooms for them/later.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Aug 2, 2023 16:25:28 GMT
freecharlie If you have the space, then saving them for a while longer isn't a bad idea. Make sure it's a good plastic bin with a tight seal. Otherwise you risk the clothes being attacked by bugs/moths and/or mildew. It helps to date the box with a future date - 6 months out is a good - and revisit the box then. If you wait too long the clothes will be out of style (even classic clothing changes with time) and will be of less use to anyone else. Also, you really can't consider it decluttering until you've moved them out of the house for good! 
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,761
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Post by mich5481 on Aug 2, 2023 16:27:40 GMT
Ok, I'm in (likely not the first time). I suck at this so I am starting by boxing up the clothes I don't think I want but am paralyzed when it comes to actually getting rid of them because... what if. It might help to start small - get rid of things that don't fit right or the color is unfortunate. I'd also recommend getting rid of anything that your ex may have picked out. |
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 3, 2023 14:03:54 GMT
I'm working on helping my mom purge her large home in anticipation of moving mom and dad to a care facility later this month. OMG. She's 86 and really struggles to let us throw anything away. She's really happy for any of us to take items. Donate? Maybe. She literally shouted at me about an opened bag of disposable diapers that are a minimum of 25 years old, based on youngest granddaughter's age. Surely we know someone with a baby that can use them!!!
I've decided I'll just take everything she's willing to part with and dispose of it later.
Funny story - I took all her records to Electric Fetus in south Minneapolis to sell. I got $7.15. It was a fun throwback to the 1970's to walk in there! They did pay the most for a couple of my old albums. The 1960 era country music didn't sell, except for Charlie Pride.
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Post by alsomsknit on Aug 3, 2023 14:11:22 GMT
We finally got Mom’s old meds out of the house.
Have a couple more books to donate. Question is library, GW, or the book store I usually donate them to. Wonderful, Privately owned store.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Aug 3, 2023 15:11:28 GMT
I've decided I'll just take everything she's willing to part with and dispose of it later. That is the easiest way to get rid of stuff sometimes. Does everything have to be sorted before you move them, or will be you able to continue the purge after they move to the care facility? |
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Post by Linda on Aug 3, 2023 17:32:36 GMT
I'm working on helping my mom purge her large home in anticipation of moving mom and dad to a care facility later this month. OMG. She's 86 and really struggles to let us throw anything away. She's really happy for any of us to take items. Donate? Maybe. She literally shouted at me about an opened bag of disposable diapers that are a minimum of 25 years old, based on youngest granddaughter's age. Surely we know someone with a baby that can use them!!! I've decided I'll just take everything she's willing to part with and dispose of it later. Funny story - I took all her records to Electric Fetus in south Minneapolis to sell. I got $7.15. It was a fun throwback to the 1970's to walk in there! They did pay the most for a couple of my old albums. The 1960 era country music didn't sell, except for Charlie Pride. Good luck mikklynn - I think you've got the right idea with taking everything and then dealing with disposal - be it to the trash or donation or selling. Hopefully you can do a bigger clean-out once they are moved (and I suspect moving in will show them that they have to keep less because there just won't be the space) welcome freecharlie - I've found it easier at times to start with the low-hanging fruit - so the clothes that aren't comfortable or are stained or worn or were your x's favourites on you. You can always go back through again at a later date (decluttering involves maintaining by going back through regularly) and you'll likely find more that you're ready to get rid of then. I downloaded an app to my phone - Toss - it gives one small decluttering task a day - you can do it and it'll ask how many things you tossed (trash/donate/sell) and it keeps track; you can skip it and get a different task, or you can delete the task if it simply doesn't apply to. Two days ago it had me deal with old receipts - I'm mostly on top of that but there were a couple that needed tossing. Yesterday it had me pick a drawer or cabinet in the bathroom. I actually did my drawer, the wall cabinet, and under the sink (so everything except dh's stuff) and got rid of quite a bit - which surprised me because if you had asked, I would have told you, those areas were in good shape. Today it's the undersink cabinet (ok first it suggested perfumes and colognes but I don't own any so deleted that one). |
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Post by cecilia on Aug 4, 2023 0:00:02 GMT
Have craft stuff loaded up again. Hopefully I can drop it off at the school tomorrow. Need to take stuff to booth too and get stuff out to donate.
I donated some stuff to GW Monday and I need to get another pile going ASAP. Probably going to need to get a new printer. Ours has decided to stop working.
I managed to throw away two bags of trash from the back porch today, which is really good. Some of it was dog bedding that was moldy and toys that were destuffed.
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Post by Linda on Aug 4, 2023 3:40:32 GMT
I didn't manage to tackle under the sink today - adding it to tomorrow's to-do list.
I did finish up a big scrapbooking project and I sorted through the leftovers from it - tossed some, put away some, and put the rest in a baggie for donation.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,688
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Aug 4, 2023 4:23:24 GMT
I cleaned out my pantry today. I'm trying to be better at using what I buy, but there were some products past their best before date that have now gone.
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Post by cecilia on Aug 4, 2023 16:54:04 GMT
Dropped 4 boxes of craft stuff for teacher before Dr appointment.
Dr seems to think I am in the manic phase of my bipolar, which makes sense since I am getting like 3 hours of sleep a night and cleaning/working like crazy in the AM. I hope I get it under control soon. It
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