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Welcome 2007: January Decluttering Challenge...

post #1 of 459
12/31/06 at 12:56am
Thread Starter 
Happy New Year Mamas, let's start the new year off right by clearing out every little thing that's not blessing our lives.


For January, set your own goal 150? 300? 500? 750? 1500? What can you let go of to make space for peace, serenity and blessings in your life?

Do you have crafts that have gone long uncrafted? Do you have pantries full of dishes and food that's been hanging around unused for years?

How about the bathroom? Closets?

You can freecycle, craigslist, donate and plain old discard.

I know that in early April will be the right time for the "treasure map" exercise to intentionally create our experience this year. The time between now and then is perfect for cleaning up and clearing out and preparing.

List your items here to keep motivated and see what kinds of things others are letting go of. If you're intimidated, set a modest goal. If you exceed it you'll feel soooo successful!

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
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10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
post #2 of 459
12/31/06 at 1:14am
I will probably set my goal at around 350 for January. I've gotten rid of at least 1500 since mid November. I'm starting to run out of things to get rid of I'm glad you mentioned craft items, though, b/c I have a ton of scrapbooking stuff that I will probably never get back to. I need to get rid of that stuff for sure. Before that, though, I need to finish my closet and bathroom before baby arrives.
post #3 of 459
12/31/06 at 1:17am
I'm SO on board that I've already started looking for things I'm going to aim for 150 things. I already have a trip planned to the Salvation Army for next week to drop things off.
post #4 of 459
12/31/06 at 1:43am
*
post #5 of 459
12/31/06 at 1:50am
Actually, I'm going to live daringly. Let's make my goal 400!
post #6 of 459
12/31/06 at 1:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ekblad8 View Post
I will probably set my goal at around 350 for January. I've gotten rid of at least 1500 since mid November. I'm starting to run out of things to get rid of I'm glad you mentioned craft items, though, b/c I have a ton of scrapbooking stuff that I will probably never get back to. I need to get rid of that stuff for sure. Before that, though, I need to finish my closet and bathroom before baby arrives.
I have lots of craft stuff too...Maybe if you get a big container for it all or bag up what you'd like to pass on you could list it in the trading post for $$ or trade---not to create more work for you---LOL! Ok, forget I said that, just bag it up and donate it. I have soo many craft items---I'm great at decluttering but I tend to hang on to the crafty stuff---even if I'm not using it!
post #7 of 459
12/31/06 at 2:08am
hey v-mama thanks for the thread! did you start an improvement one as well?
post #8 of 459
12/31/06 at 2:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mama2babybeans View Post
hey v-mama thanks for the thread! did you start an improvement one as well?
yep! link's in the siggy!
post #9 of 459
12/31/06 at 2:18am
I'm a newbie but I am soooo ready! I'm going to start with a goal of 100 things.

Unfortunately, my DH is a lot more attached to stuff than I am. He basically thinks we should hold on to everything that crosses our paths, especially gifts. Anybody have any advice for dealing with such a situation?
post #10 of 459
12/31/06 at 2:35am
I am going to do my first challenge. Oh wish me luck. Last time it was too much for me to count, I didn't want to think about it just let it go. I know how many bags left my house, but not the item number. I think this time I might be ready. This probably isn't the way to go about it, but I have had a hard time setting aside some time to go through things. So I have just been throwing random things in our spare room. I kinda plan to throw just about everything that is lying around our house into that room and spend the day in there sorting into trash, donate, keep piles. That way it is kinda removed from the area and i can look at it in a detached way. I am not sure if it is going to work, but I know my house is looking less cluttered and I am liking that, so I think I am going to have to think hard if I want to put more stuff into that pile.
Also, a technical question. When I did my first sweep I put aside two boxes of kitchen stuff. My husband had a hard time with this and our compromise was that we would keep it down in the basement for so many months and if we didn't go into it we would get rid of it. Well, if I get rid of it this time, does that count for my count this time??? I know I could make it be however I want, but I was just wondering how other people thought...
My goal, I am going to start small, since I really have no clue how much 100 items is, 200 items. That is what I want to get rid of this month.
My husband did give me some incentive, though I know it is just his way of putting off a conversation. He told me we could consider getting rid of the couch if I finished the decluttering He thinks he is tricking me. But I plan for him to be so flabbergasted over the state of our house that he might actually consider it. Wish me luck
post #11 of 459
12/31/06 at 2:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VnJW View Post
Also, a technical question. When I did my first sweep I put aside two boxes of kitchen stuff. My husband had a hard time with this and our compromise was that we would keep it down in the basement for so many months and if we didn't go into it we would get rid of it. Well, if I get rid of it this time, does that count for my count this time???
I would count it, since it's still in your house and I will count anything that goes out that door!
post #12 of 459
12/31/06 at 3:00am
I'm in. We've been decluttering for ages...and I'm feeling like we've hit the nitty-gritty, "I'm torn over this," "I'm attached to this" stuff.

I'll go big...400! (It was just Xmas...so that makes it a bit easier to approach.)
post #13 of 459
12/31/06 at 3:03am
This is a GREAT idea...I am gonna aim for 150 things...since my apartment is small, and I am constantly gettin rid of bags and boxes of stuff.
post #14 of 459
12/31/06 at 6:53am
Subbing.
I've read the past 2 challenges, and I'll try to join this month. I'll set my goal low, around 100, but hope to pass it.
post #15 of 459
12/31/06 at 9:58am
I'm in - I will formulate my goals today. I have a bunch I am thinking anout but I need to prioritze and decide which ones I really want to focus on.
post #16 of 459
12/31/06 at 10:51am
I'm in! Setting my goal at around 150. We are in the process of going through our storage boxes and getting rid of stuff, we did a bunch yesterday already...should have saved it a few more days. (Although, it is still in the house so i guess technically I can count it as being gone in January? Hmmm, maybe I will increase my goal to 200...)
post #17 of 459
12/31/06 at 12:22pm
I'm in! We took a big load to Goodwill yesterday, I purged all my clothes that having been hanging around forever. I sent 67 shirts, 30 pants, 6 shoes and 4 purses to goodwill. I also gave away bags of things to 5 friends. So probably double that total. My closet is DONE! Now onto the kids stuff and all the other rooms, especially the kitchen. I'm going to say 300 things. I'm also going to be reorganizing the toys. I've already purged them, but I need to seperate out and store the things that are too young for my oldest and too old for my youngest, so they aren't in the way.
post #18 of 459
12/31/06 at 12:39pm
subbing!

I want 1000. I did 500 no problem last year when I created the 500 item challenge and as I recall as a group we had well over 10,000 items that were taken out of the house. A lot of paypal wasd raised as I recall too!
post #19 of 459
12/31/06 at 1:15pm
I'll say 200 for starters, mainly because yesterday I got rid of (by trashing, freecycling etc.) 6 trash bags full of stuff. So my bathroom, the kitchen, and the living room don't need any more decluttering. I just need to do the other bathroom, the bedroom, and Jacob's room.

200 is a LOW goal lol.
post #20 of 459
12/31/06 at 2:42pm
I'm in for 500 this month.

I better go get started....

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Decluttering, Organizing, & Simplifying › Welcome 2007: January Decluttering Challenge...