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October Declutter 500 items Challenge - Page 10

post #181 of 268
10/9/06 at 12:51pm
also being picked this morning (more freecycle)
an umbrella stroller
a step aerobics step (bought this at a yard sale and thought I would buy some videos and use it. Ha! - it's been sitting in the garage. Going for a walk or to the gym is more my style)

31/500
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post #182 of 268
10/9/06 at 1:19pm
tossed 3 bags of trash, toys and newspapers dh had in there 'for when I get a chance to read them' out of my van and storage area. 8/500
post #183 of 268
10/9/06 at 4:21pm
This weekend we got rid of:

19 maternity things
1 old pizza tray and a cup
15 boxes/bags of cans bottles ect to be returned
6 old college books

returned a glove and grocery bag

and I am also going to count the big stack of thank you/birth announcement cards I finally got sent off as an item

total is now 221
post #184 of 268
10/9/06 at 5:01pm
I freecycled today:

a bag of condoms leftover from our pre-baby days (but not expired)
a painting that I never liked
all the jewel cases from my CDs (put them into binders)
a lamp
2 sewing boxes - I keep getting them as gifts and I don't sew.
post #185 of 268
10/9/06 at 5:12pm
Tossed out a pile of items from my scrapbooking drawers. Have another pile ready to give away.

Two things I am having trouble figuring out how to declutter:

1. Old photo negatives. In twenty years of taking pictures I have never gone back to have pictures made from old negatives (aside from the month I first had them developed, when I ordered any copies I wanted). I have tons of old negatives. Should I toss them? Will I regret doing so?

2. Leftover portrait pictures. You know - you go to Olan Mills or Portrait People and have your child's picture made. For each pose you get an 8x10 and a zillion little pictures. They also sometimes throw in an 11x14. I've put the 8x10s into the scrapbook - the grandparents have been given all the portraits they need. Now I still have a bunch of wallet, 5x7, 11x14 pictures, some going back seven years. Should I keep some of them? How many? How can I bear to throw away professional pictures of my children! Help me!
post #186 of 268
10/9/06 at 5:38pm
Teensy- Not sure on #2- I have the same problem! On #1, do you have someone who lives at a distance from you who might be willing to store your negatives (you could even offer to store theirs in return)? This way, if a disaster hits your home your negatives would be safe.
post #187 of 268
10/10/06 at 1:06am
Maybe scan on computer save to disk? I just started tossing my negatives and feel okay I have them backed up. Now I use snapfish for my 35 mm pictures so they store them online incase something bad happens.


425/500 so close!!!
post #188 of 268
10/10/06 at 7:39am
We're up to 83!
post #189 of 268
10/10/06 at 9:03am
I'm not sure on our count, but I imagine we are actually pretty close to 500. My parents came to visit and helped us clean out a ton of stuff!!

DH and my dad took 2 huge loads to the dump. (About 20+ rotting boards leftover from our deck remodel. 2 awful couches full of allergens and broken frames. Broken fiberboard bookcase I carried with me from TN 10 years ago. Keepsake box of stuff from my childhood which had been partially eaten by rats in our garage. Not sure what else - it's to early in the a.m. to ask DH.)

We still have a fair amount of garage sale type items so maybe I'll look into freecycling or something since we're just now getting into the rainy season here. Not so good for garage sales.

We also have several computer components awaiting recycle and we have a bunch of paint cans, etc. left by the previous owners that need to go to Haz. Waste.

Mom and I cleared off the dining table (we can dine now!) which included I have no idea how many pieces of paper - several bags of recycling from junk mail. I'm going to call today and get off the list for the credit card companies solicitations. Yuck. We shred more stuff just due to that. Also, looking into paperless banking - I'm tired of paper statements. We always balance the books in Quicken/online anyway. I've already eliminated several other paper billing sources by switching to online billing.

Oh yeah. And at least three big hairballs. We have a long haired dog that sheds.

Hopefully DH and I can get through the clothes in the next week. DD has several things which don't fit. So do we. I already have a few bags of stuff to donate.
post #190 of 268
10/10/06 at 9:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teensy View Post
Tossed out a pile of items from my scrapbooking drawers. Have another pile ready to give away.

Two things I am having trouble figuring out how to declutter:

1. Old photo negatives. In twenty years of taking pictures I have never gone back to have pictures made from old negatives (aside from the month I first had them developed, when I ordered any copies I wanted). I have tons of old negatives. Should I toss them? Will I regret doing so?

2. Leftover portrait pictures. You know - you go to Olan Mills or Portrait People and have your child's picture made. For each pose you get an 8x10 and a zillion little pictures. They also sometimes throw in an 11x14. I've put the 8x10s into the scrapbook - the grandparents have been given all the portraits they need. Now I still have a bunch of wallet, 5x7, 11x14 pictures, some going back seven years. Should I keep some of them? How many? How can I bear to throw away professional pictures of my children! Help me!
I have the same problem... can't get rid of pics etc... I got a tupperware container that is ust big enough to hold the biggest picture flat on the bottom and stored all the pics, negs, doubles etc in there and put it at the top of my closet. I also started to scan the pics that really are important and I never want to lose, burn them on CD and along with all of our computer backups and DH stores them at work.
post #191 of 268
10/10/06 at 9:43am
Recycled 14 old magazines/catalogs last night. I tend to hold onto those things forever.

45/500
post #192 of 268
10/10/06 at 10:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunflowers View Post
Items returned to store: 6
Items tossed: 9
Items freecycled: 11

Items purchased: 1 (a crockpot- I really needed it)

Total decluttered: 38 + 1 reclutter= 37
Pieces left: 463
up to 42/500

I have a question- I have an old carseat (like 14 years old!!) and I need to get rid of it. I don't want to put it out in the trash because I'm afraid someone will take it. It's really too old to be safe anymore. Any ideas on how to get rid of it safely?
post #193 of 268
10/10/06 at 10:33am
Thread Starter 
I would toss those old wallet photos left over from portraits. Save one and get rid of the rest.

I also tossed a bunch of negatives several months ago. This was of course AFTER I had made a scrapbook of old photos and realized I would not use the rest. I could always make a color copy of the pages if anyone wants the pics down the line.



As far as the carseat- find out if there is a carseat check offered near you. They inspect how your carseat is installed. They also take old car seats, accident ones etc to dispose of.

We keep finding stuff. I want to get rid of my stamping stuff. I dont sit down and do cards, I prefer scrapbooking. So I might put that up on freecycle.
post #194 of 268
10/10/06 at 3:01pm
So far I have freecycled 2 garbage bags of clothes, an old fish tank with accessories, a picnic set that i never used, 5 pairs of shoes, a pirate flag, 2 huge boxes of books, a bag of computer games, a toddler toilet seat, toddler plate set, and a huge bag of toys.

I have sold an n64 with all games and extras.

I threw away 2 VCR's and 2 huge bins of paper.

I think that is about 150 items.
post #195 of 268
10/10/06 at 3:57pm
Tossed or recycled 25 items.
Donated 21 items.

Running total:172/500

I also have about 75 items boxed up and ready to donate. I'm done with clothing, but I'll have to do another purge of my clothes after my baby is born and my body goes back to its old shape. I'm really anxious about all the papers I have to go through still. One box at a time...three weeks to go.
post #196 of 268
10/10/06 at 4:43pm
i've been on a roll this morning i think i got inspired by a trip to the antique store, seeing all the fun ways i really want to decorate my home, but knowing there's no way with all this clutter!

ok - so i went through my dds' room and cleaned out a HUUUGE laundry basket full of clothes and toys they'll never use. I may recycle the clothes into clothes for their dolls for christmas presents using a handmade pattern, or a quilt... but i'm not decided yet. either way - it feels good to have their room cleaned out and organized FINALLY!

next is our front bathroom... whew - lots of stuff in there that needs to GO!
post #197 of 268
10/10/06 at 5:07pm
I wasn't going to join because I am due with a baby in a week and I didn't think I'd have the time etc.

Well, it was easier than I thought!

I didn't count everything, but we got rid of two large plastic boxes full of clothing, another large box of shoes, a box full of toys, over a hundred cds, three bags full of books, untold papers-- school notes, old mail, and that kind of thing, two boxs full of kitchen items (pots and pans and cups etc), and there is still more to go . . .

Who knew there was so much to get rid of? Now I wish I had started counting! Too late now!
post #198 of 268
10/10/06 at 5:47pm
ok! whew! just finished up with the bathroom! i havent counted up the items to donate / sell yet (such as decorations/nail polish/ etc) but just for my throw-aways i'm at 25 i also scrubbed down the bathroom while i was in there so yay! hubby will be mighty proud when he gets home today
post #199 of 268
10/10/06 at 5:50pm
whoops -forgot to post my running total...

67 items from before...

+25 throw-aways from the bathroom
_______________________________

= 92 items so far (and i still need to add up the 2 laundry baskets full of give-aways!)

still need to do our master bedroom, our closet, our master bath, dd's closet, the kitchen, the living room, and our storage room.... i am SOOOO going to make it to 500!
post #200 of 268
10/10/06 at 5:51pm
and is anyone else finding all kinds of goodies they forgot they had?! i found tons of face creams and lotions - the milder ones without scents, etc, i'm giving to the kids for after-bath treats

i also found two bottles of essential oil - jasmine and eucalyptus! i cant wait to start using those again!