amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,447 
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Post by amom23 on Jan 31, 2023 17:29:18 GMT
I feel like I should be decluttering more things, but I'm at a point where I've decluttered my own things to where they fit in the space I give them. And the rest of what I see as clutter is not mine to declutter. Even my youngest kid is at an age where he can decide what is important to him and what is kept. Not to say the house is clutter free (it isn't) or even tidy (nope), but it's not my stuff, so I can't decide its fate. I felt it was my job to teach and encourage my children to declutter their personal spaces. They were taught it is okay to let things they no longer use or enjoy go. My kids grew up learning they weren't obligated to keep every gift given to them. Now as adults none of my children are pack rats or seem to have unhealthy attachments to stuff. My DH like my children sometimes needs encouragement to declutter his closet/office/garage, etc. It's usually simple like me asking if there are any work shirts that he doesn't wear that we can toss since his closet is getting a little full. |
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Post by cecilia on Jan 31, 2023 20:16:44 GMT
We probably won't have trash pick up Thursday due to icy roads. So I am trying to price things for booths now. Then after we unfreeze I will start working in my shed again.
Did drop off a trash bag full of clothes and a gift bag full of odds and ends at GW yesterday. Did buy a couple things to use/mark.
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Post by ntsf on Feb 1, 2023 1:17:23 GMT
I have my dad's slide collection.. 10,000? slides? I decided today to go through some of them and toss.. mostly landscapes.. I am also refreshing what is in the collection. before he died, I digitized many of his big outdoor trips.. climbs and backpacks, and he organized some into albums so have metadata on them.. and he labeled stuff at random times.. so I got rid of some and started a pile to send to my brother.
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Post by callmenutz on Feb 1, 2023 3:59:40 GMT
I am finally finished in my office/scrapbooking room! I have a few piles waiting for people for when the ice melts. The only thing I have left is two large tubs of family photos and memorabilia, some dating back to the 1890’s! I started to go through it all but it was stressing me out because it will take forever and will stop my momentum. I decided that it can wait until I’m MUCH older or I can go through it a little at a time while I watch TV in the evening.
I got rid of a ton of stuff! I keep going in the room on my way to bed and opening the closets and just stand there and stare! 😂😂😂
Next up is the basement. I won’t have a problem with my side but my husband’s side will be a different story! 😩
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Post by ntsf on Feb 1, 2023 4:04:02 GMT
I bought 4 clear bins and sorted family stuff into dh's mom's side, dad side, my dad's side and my mom's side. this was a good first step. then sorting into albums..
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Feb 1, 2023 17:34:01 GMT
My mom let me clean out her tiny laundry room. How nice! Years ago I was banned from organizing my mother's kitchen. She claimed she could never find anything once I'd left. Let's just say my organizing abilities did not come from her! Clearing out her house after she passed was a nightmare! |
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by mich5481 on Feb 1, 2023 19:25:43 GMT
I have been buying so much make up and skin care for someone that never actually uses what I buy! So I am throwing out anything over 12 months old that has been opened and used just a few times. I will keep it all to a minimum and only allow myself to buy more once I use it regularily for a few months. That will empty out a lot of my bathroom cabinets and linen closet. I think I get overwhelmed with too much stuff and don't use it. I already gave away some things to my kids, but the rest will get thrown out. I've been doing that too! I check dates on checkfresh.com for a number of items, and let's just say a bunch of stuff should have never moved with me in 2020!! 😳 |
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Post by maryland on Feb 1, 2023 22:50:31 GMT
I have been buying so much make up and skin care for someone that never actually uses what I buy! So I am throwing out anything over 12 months old that has been opened and used just a few times. I will keep it all to a minimum and only allow myself to buy more once I use it regularily for a few months. That will empty out a lot of my bathroom cabinets and linen closet. I think I get overwhelmed with too much stuff and don't use it. I already gave away some things to my kids, but the rest will get thrown out. I've been doing that too! I check dates on checkfresh.com for a number of items, and let's just say a bunch of stuff should have never moved with me in 2020!! 😳 I think part of the reason I never use my skin care stuff or makeup is because I have too much, and I don't know the order to use it all. So if I just keep my most recent purchases and get rid of the rest, I may start to use them. Then if I make it a good habit, I will allow myself to add to my collection after researching how to use it! It;s so nice to have less stuff! |
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Post by Linda on Feb 2, 2023 0:10:46 GMT
tossed my old Croc sandals and bought new ones. Tried on a pair of sandals I've had in the closet for several years to see if they were any better with socks (for around the house - I can't go barefoot at all) - 2 hrs in and they hit the donation bin as well. Also added a pair of cheap slip-on sneakers that are too big. I need to replace my everyday sneakers but I've been waiting for my custom inserts to come in so I can make sure they work nicely together. I really need to call the podiatrist and check on those.
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Post by cecilia on Feb 2, 2023 3:38:01 GMT
Threw away Baby's bedding that had gotten wet and gave him 'new' bedding, aka the stuff that was stained,ripped, etc.
Also trying to get stuff ready to donate to GW next time I get out, which looks like Friday.
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Post by cecilia on Feb 2, 2023 18:46:56 GMT
I need to throw away Baby's toys that are in the yard. They are all old stuff animals. The steps are still icy so I am going to wait til they thaw to take care of the yard. (Recycling got blown into the yard too. Dang it. Thankfully it's the back yard and not the front).
Still working on pricing stuff and GW donations. May take the flea market stuff down there tomorrow. Crossing fingers I can get out tomorrow. Things are really starting to melt now. Would have already gotten out of I wasn't so afraid of falling.
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Post by cecilia on Feb 5, 2023 6:59:29 GMT
Filled up a 13 gallon trash bag of toys that were no longer played with/wet/dirty and threw away. Also got some medical waste to trash. (It's wound care stuff like gauze and tape, so nothing that needs special consideration. My Mom has been getting home health to come check on it daily and change the bandage. This was from her fall on 1/7. She done that much damage to her arm).
I need to tackle the 'junk tote' in my closet. My Mom had been trying to organize my room during one hospital stay and put a bunch of stuff in a tote. I hid it in my closet. I need to work on it. It has the CPAP I had that was recalled. No idea what to do with it.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Feb 5, 2023 13:41:25 GMT
cecilia Toss the CPAP. I don't know if you have to pay per bag or by weight for trash, or if you have tax funded municipal pick up, so take what I offer next with a grain of salt. (I used to live where we had to pay per trashbag - and the bags could be no more than 25lbs - so it made deciding what absolutely needed to go in the trash, and what could be stacked for another day, a real chore) Trash anything that is not working for you. Anything broken. Anything that you tried to sell but it just didn't. Anything that takes up a space that you would like to use for something else. Anything that bothers you for any reason even if you can't quite name the reason why. Anything dirty. Anything that makes you sad, or gives you a bad feeling. And sometimes it's easier to start by looking at a room/space and deciding what you would like it to be. And then making a list of what you need to do to get it there.
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Post by cecilia on Feb 5, 2023 19:42:47 GMT
cecilia Toss the CPAP. I don't know if you have to pay per bag or by weight for trash, or if you have tax funded municipal pick up, so take what I offer next with a grain of salt. (I used to live where we had to pay per trashbag - and the bags could be no more than 25lbs - so it made deciding what absolutely needed to go in the trash, and what could be stacked for another day, a real chore) Trash anything that is not working for you. Anything broken. Anything that you tried to sell but it just didn't. Anything that takes up a space that you would like to use for something else. Anything that bothers you for any reason even if you can't quite name the reason why. Anything dirty. Anything that makes you sad, or gives you a bad feeling. And sometimes it's easier to start by looking at a room/space and deciding what you would like it to be. And then making a list of what you need to do to get it there. It's through the county and everyone is required to have pickup service. I think we can have up to 70 pounds in it, and can get another bin. I think we are also allowed to put one bag or box on top of the bin. Everything in the bin has to be bagged or boxed, which makes sense The city/county partner and do a 'spring fling' where they put dumpsters throughout the city for residents to put trash in. We usually pile our big stuff up behind the shed and haul it to one of the dumpsters. |
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Post by callmenutz on Feb 6, 2023 23:11:31 GMT
This past weekend a kitchen table and chairs, a recliner, two lamps, several bags of kitchen items, crafts and a couple of bags of stuff that my kids wanted left the house! This afternoon I took a load to St. Vincent DePaul. Tomorrow an Ab Roller leaves and Sunday a vinyl closet leaves! To say I’m happy is an understatement! 😁
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,305
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Post by lindas on Feb 7, 2023 0:03:48 GMT
I’ve been moving along at a snails pace but I did clean out the cabinets in the laundry room today and now have a shelf and a half of empty space in them. So much stuff jammed in those cabinets, especially on the top shelves that I didn’t need. I also decluttered and reorganized the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I have space leftover there now too. I was shocked at the number of duplicate things I had, all opened and half used. Who in their right mind needs 5 opened boxes of quart sized food storage bags.  |
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Post by callmenutz on Feb 7, 2023 0:37:06 GMT
I’ve been moving along at a snails pace but I did clean out the cabinets in the laundry room today and now have a shelf and a half of empty space in them. So much stuff jammed in those cabinets, especially on the top shelves that I didn’t need. I also decluttered and reorganized the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I have space leftover there now too. I was shocked at the number of duplicate things I had, all opened and half used. Who in their right mind needs 5 opened boxes of quart sized food storage bags. Any pace is better than no pace at all! And I am guilty of having too many boxes and rolls of storage stuff because my daughter is on a one woman crusade to save the earth. She bought reusable/washable everything and gave me her stuff. I’ll use it all eventually and I don’t want to throw it in a landfill so…. |
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Post by cecilia on Feb 7, 2023 0:44:08 GMT
I’ve been moving along at a snails pace but I did clean out the cabinets in the laundry room today and now have a shelf and a half of empty space in them. So much stuff jammed in those cabinets, especially on the top shelves that I didn’t need. I also decluttered and reorganized the cabinet under the kitchen sink. I have space leftover there now too. I was shocked at the number of duplicate things I had, all opened and half used. Who in their right mind needs 5 opened boxes of quart sized food storage bags. Any pace is better than no pace at all! And I am guilty of having too many boxes and rolls of storage stuff because my daughter is on a one woman crusade to save the earth. She bought reusable/washable everything and gave me her stuff. I’ll use it all eventually and I don’t want to throw it in a landfill so…. Your daughter sounds like me. Our county doesn't recycle soda cases so I save them for trash containers for outside trash. I have several I have to use. |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 7, 2023 2:38:33 GMT
Filled up a 13 gallon trash bag of toys that were no longer played with/wet/dirty and threw away. Also got some medical waste to trash. (It's wound care stuff like gauze and tape, so nothing that needs special consideration. My Mom has been getting home health to come check on it daily and change the bandage. This was from her fall on 1/7. She done that much damage to her arm). I need to tackle the 'junk tote' in my closet. My Mom had been trying to organize my room during one hospital stay and put a bunch of stuff in a tote. I hid it in my closet. I need to work on it. It has the CPAP I had that was recalled. No idea what to do with it.Did you file with the manufacturer when it was recalled? I did and I have an appointment tomorrow to exchange it for a new one (at no cost to me). It’ll be one for travel since I bought a new one when they were first recalled. Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s too late for you to be able to do this or not, but it seems it’d be worth it to check. |
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 7, 2023 14:45:18 GMT
I cleaned out my linen closet. I needed to reorganize after just sticking stuff in there after my move. I can't believe how much crap I tossed.
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,305
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Post by lindas on Feb 7, 2023 16:28:42 GMT
I decided to tackle the basement this morning. So far I’ve cut up 12 old boxes for recycling, filled 6 large trash bags, on my 3rd box of stuff to donate and next is to put the Christmas decorations back where they belong. Even after all that it doesn’t look like I made a dent in the amount of stuff that’s accumulated down there.
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Post by cecilia on Feb 7, 2023 17:32:29 GMT
Filled up a 13 gallon trash bag of toys that were no longer played with/wet/dirty and threw away. Also got some medical waste to trash. (It's wound care stuff like gauze and tape, so nothing that needs special consideration. My Mom has been getting home health to come check on it daily and change the bandage. This was from her fall on 1/7. She done that much damage to her arm). I need to tackle the 'junk tote' in my closet. My Mom had been trying to organize my room during one hospital stay and put a bunch of stuff in a tote. I hid it in my closet. I need to work on it. It has the CPAP I had that was recalled. No idea what to do with it.Did you file with the manufacturer when it was recalled? I did and I have an appointment tomorrow to exchange it for a new one (at no cost to me). It’ll be one for travel since I bought a new one when they were first recalled. Anyway, I’m not sure if it’s too late for you to be able to do this or not, but it seems it’d be worth it to check. I filed a claim with Phillips. I am currently using my old ResMed one. I need to get new supplies anyway so I will need to talk to the company that supplies them. I will ask if I need to throw it away or bring it in. I actually thought the CPAP was what was making me so sick since the episodes happened when I was asleep. Then the October episode happened and it was something else. Not sure how much decluttering I will get done today. Hopefully I will get a bunch done tomorrow since it's going to rain all day and the day before trash day. |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 7, 2023 20:57:10 GMT
I decided to tackle the basement this morning. So far I’ve cut up 12 old boxes for recycling, filled 6 large trash bags, on my 3rd box of stuff to donate and next is to put the Christmas decorations back where they belong. Even after all that it doesn’t look like I made a dent in the amount of stuff that’s accumulated down there. Isn’t that frustrating? I’ve had the same issue and to keep my motivation I took pictures of everything that was leaving the house. It felt good to look through them. Have also read that some people keep a tally of the number of trash bags and donation boxes they’ve gotten rid of. |
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Feb 7, 2023 23:04:51 GMT
I'm impressed with how much you've gotten rid of callmenutz. Must feel great! I took 3-4 bags and a small box of stuff to the thrift store the other day. I keep a container or two going all the time so I can toss just one thing if I run across it. Give it a couple of weeks and "just one thing" becomes a decent little amount in the back of my car on its way to donation. |
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by mich5481 on Feb 8, 2023 1:09:53 GMT
I took some time today and filed a bunch of paperwork. I still have more to file, and I need to properly label the folders, but it felt good to get that little bit finished today.
I also found my HSA debit card in the paperwork pile, so that made me really happy!!
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Ryann
Pearl Clutcher
Love is Inclusive
Posts: 2,643
Location: PNW
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Post by Ryann on Feb 10, 2023 20:34:23 GMT
I went through our mugs and pulled out 8 that are too small or weird shapes. We've figured out in the last couple years we prefer to use standard shaped 15oz mugs for tea/coffee, so I want to get rid of ALL the 12oz mugs. DW will want to keep a couple I think, so I'll wait for her input before I purge what's left. Small steps forward!
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,682
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Feb 11, 2023 2:10:05 GMT
I went through my shed this morning and pulled out several old tins of paint, then loaded those, and some tins I'd previously pulled out, and dropped them all off at our local recycling station.
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Post by lg on Feb 11, 2023 2:26:59 GMT
I went through our mugs and pulled out 8 that are too small or weird shapes. We've figured out in the last couple years we prefer to use standard shaped 15oz mugs for tea/coffee, so I want to get rid of ALL the 12oz mugs. DW will want to keep a couple I think, so I'll wait for her input before I purge what's left. Small steps forward! How do mugs multiply? I’ve just gone through mine again and gotten rid of more again and there are still. More. There. Only two of us use them!!! |
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Ryann
Pearl Clutcher
Love is Inclusive
Posts: 2,643
Location: PNW
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Post by Ryann on Feb 11, 2023 3:05:18 GMT
I went through our mugs and pulled out 8 that are too small or weird shapes. We've figured out in the last couple years we prefer to use standard shaped 15oz mugs for tea/coffee, so I want to get rid of ALL the 12oz mugs. DW will want to keep a couple I think, so I'll wait for her input before I purge what's left. Small steps forward! How do mugs multiply? I’ve just gone through mine again and gotten rid of more again and there are still. More. There. Only two of us use them!!! They really do! Especially when you can stack up the 12oz mugs in the back. It’s crazy town back there. |
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Post by bunnyhug on Feb 11, 2023 6:35:29 GMT
I went through our mugs and pulled out 8 that are too small or weird shapes. We've figured out in the last couple years we prefer to use standard shaped 15oz mugs for tea/coffee, so I want to get rid of ALL the 12oz mugs. DW will want to keep a couple I think, so I'll wait for her input before I purge what's left. Small steps forward! How do mugs multiply? I’ve just gone through mine again and gotten rid of more again and there are still. More. There. Only two of us use them!!! I've been doing pottery for about a year and a half ... so my 'creations' are finally something that I can actually use as opposed to really ugly paperweights ... I've started sending home mugs with my book club every time they come over  By the time I finally get good enough to sell what I make (or give it as a 'real' gift!), I will have cleaned out my mug cupboard dozens of times! The positive is that I'm getting really good at letting go! |
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By the time I finally get good enough to sell what I make (or give it as a 'real' gift!), I will have cleaned out my mug cupboard dozens of times! The positive is that I'm getting really good at letting go!