As I sit here lining out all the various projects and challenges I am planning for the next year I decided to go ahead and start the new thread for this next year for those who are gung ho for a major decluttering challenge. I realize it's a few days early, but now I can have a link to refer back to from my main projects/challenges list!!
So, here we go!! I had to give up on this year's challenge cause of all kinds of stuff, but I totally am planning on making the 2012 goal. I've already got some stuff that needs to go to various places sitting in my garage that will be the start of my 2012 items!!
Last night I went through all my tights/pantyhose and got rid of 10 items. 1 bag of general trash (some ripped hose, empty packages, etc.) and 4 pairs of tights that I never wear to donate. Also went through a clothing drawer and got rid of 5 old tshirst.
1 deepfreeze, given away to my cousin. A free golf towel and a bag of tees from a tournament, donated. I also picked up another cheque for $96 and change from consigning some clothes.
1 pair of shoes that DS has grown out of, garbaged as they've been well loved. 1 pair of tights that ripped and ran today! They were practically new too! sigh...
Oh my goodness, it's OCTOBER! How did this happen? I've got to get cracking. I admit, I thought this would be easier. It's not the deciding what has to go. It's just the doing that I'm putting off. I'm going to be kicking myself when moving day comes and I'm tossing unsorted things into boxes, vaguely thinking I'll sort it after we move. That simply never happens.
We've gotten rid of a fair bit but I haven't been counting at all.
BUT.. I am currently prepping a box of toys/kid stuff and there are roughly 50 items in there, so I'll add that to my total.
I don't think I'll make it to 2012 items by December 31st, but I think I can do 1000. Another 400 or so items and I think our house will become bare bones..
I have to tackle the children's clothing and I'm finding it EXTREMELY difficult. There are at least 100-150 items that can 'go'. My problem is.. I'll look at a piece of clothing and fond memories will flow back and then I can't bear to part with it.. Or I'll find shirts which have a couple of very small stains and it makes me sad that it will be torn up by goodwill to be used for 'scrap material/cloth' when it's still perfectly usable as a shirt. Plus I have this wierd thing about knowing something that used to clothe my child is now being used to wipe up grease/something disgusting somewhere. I'd rather keep the shirt in storage unused, than pass it for scrap cloth. Yes, I have issues with re-purposing for scraps.
I don't know why, but I just do. I don't have these issues with my own clothing -- I happily pass them on for any purpose.. It's just my children's clothes.
Where do I send slightly stained but still perfectly usable (no tears/holes/loose threads or thinning fabric) clothing to? Any ideas would be appreciated.
I have to tackle the children's clothing and I'm finding it EXTREMELY difficult. There are at least 100-150 items that can 'go'. My problem is.. I'll look at a piece of clothing and fond memories will flow back and then I can't bear to part with it.. Or I'll find shirts which have a couple of very small stains and it makes me sad that it will be torn up by goodwill to be used for 'scrap material/cloth' when it's still perfectly usable as a shirt. Plus I have this wierd thing about knowing something that used to clothe my child is now being used to wipe up grease/something disgusting somewhere. I'd rather keep the shirt in storage unused, than pass it for scrap cloth. Yes, I have issues with re-purposing for scraps.
I don't know why, but I just do. I don't have these issues with my own clothing -- I happily pass them on for any purpose.. It's just my children's clothes.
Where do I send slightly stained but still perfectly usable (no tears/holes/loose threads or thinning fabric) clothing to? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Cleaned the coat closet and the shoe closet from summer to fall/winter today and also moved summer clothes downstairs, and winter stuff upstairs for myself.
1 potty insert - no longer used
1 broken pair of sunglasses
1 purse with broken strap
1 small bag of garbage
2 ball caps
1 headband
4 pairs of old, holey shoes
1 shoe missing its mate
2 shirts garbaged (one with a big stain, one with a big hole)
Oh my goodness! We made SO, SO, SOOOO much progress today!!
300+ items out the door today alone. Several boxes going to goodwill and unfortunately some unusable stuff (broken, torn, a single peice of an item we no longer have) in the trash (only 2 small bags). This was only 6 hours work. I attacked the hideous back room which was crammed with boxes, bags and so much stuff atop stuff from our last move and was absolutely amazed at all the stuff just sitting there dusty and unused for almost one year. Goes to show how much we really can live without. I've become so detached to stuff as of late, so it wasn't too emotionally draining to part with anything. I've got more to go.. but won't be able to start working on it until next weekend.
I feel absolutely awesome right now!!
I think I take back my comment about another 400 items and the house being bare bones (back when I was only at 632 items total).. I've got more than that to go.. I think it's another 400 or so items from this point onwards.
DD: 'Mama, I think I can give up my unicorn now. I know I said I wanted to keep it, but I don't really play with it. So maybe we can give it away?'
965/2012
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