topic Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today? in Home

Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

rnmom — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 11:06:06 GMT

Happy New Year to all of my wonderful fellow purgers on this thread!

I am so grateful to be able to share with all of you every day!

Here is the new thread for the new year as promised!

For those of you who may be new to the forum, this will be the third year of a declutter thread on this home forum. This thread is all about eliminating the things in our lives that no longer serve a function or bring us happiness. It's about getting rid of the excess and surrounding ourselves with things we love and enjoy.

We are here to get motivation from each other and encourage each other in the day to day struggle to keep our homes from becoming overwhelming.

Big purges, little purges, everything that leaves the house counts! So post it here and we will all celebrate together!

I'll start by saying that last night when I got home from work I tossed the 2019 calendar in the kitchen and put it in the recycle bin. I gotta pull out a new 2020 one! I cannot believe it's a whole new decade! Wow!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

Beauty$Junkie — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 11:23:08 GMT

Happy New Year! This was the perfect thread for me to discover this morning. I am having major work done in the laundry room and I can't believe how much stuff I have had to move out of there for the remodel. At 66, I need to do a major purge. It's hard for me to accept that my kids and grandkids will not want my valuable stuff LOL, so I need to clear it out. Thanks for starting off my New Year!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

rnmom — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 11:26:52 GMT

I also wanted to add that a few days ago I got the rest of my Christmas items all organized and put away. Everything is sorted into totes, the new decorations are put away for next year and everything is labeled with the assistance of my son who likes using my label maker

I also went thru my boxes and bags and organized them along with my wrapping supplies, so I think everything Christmas is all neatly organized and put away. It looks the best it has in ages.

I only tossed a couple more small things while I was down there: 2 rolls of ribbon with just a scrap on each, one more homemade Christmas decoration, and 3 small boxes. I added 2 ornaments to the donate pile.

We also relocated some things from our pantry to the basement, mostly hubby's canning items that won't get used until next summer/fall again, because it was getting too congested in there too.

In the process we decided to donate a belgian waffle maker that makes good waffles, but is a pain to use, and a silicone muffin pan. I remember when the siicone bakeware was all the rage, I got a whole set, and this lonely muffin pan is the only sole survivor because I only had one other muffin pan to bake muffins with. I got a new one for Christmas so the silicone one is history.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

rnmom — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 11:32:34 GMT

@Beauty$Junkie -Welcome, and Happy New Year! It's so wonderful to have you join us!

Isn't it amazing how much we can accumulate over the years? I'm still amazed at how much stuff comes in on a daily basis, even we're not actively trying to acquire items.

Please post often and let us know how things are progressing! I know that I for one get a lot of motivation and ideas from reading about others successes!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

beautybee — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:35:22 GMT

@rnmom Thank you for starting this thread.

Happy New Year everyone!

I gave some furniture to daughter who moved cross country. Sold another piece of furniture, and will have another gone by today. I feel so much lighter. We have moved around so many times, but it always amazes me how much we can accumulate in such a short amount of time.

I also have several bags for the charity shop in my car ready to donate.

Got rid of the 2019 calenders this morning.

I also decided to purge all of my credit card info. from the shopping channels and amazon. This way, if I really want something, I have to type it all in. I'm going to try to do a no buy year except for essentials. If I need something, I plan to buy it local. I've had to return several things lately and it's always such ahassell. One return has not shown up yet, and it's a pain to keep tracking it. That inspired my decision. Plus it's nice starting the new year with nothing on the cards.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

Laneysmom — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 13:26:23 GMT

Good morning fellow former collectors turned purgers...and Happy New Year!!! The morning is young but I've already made a welcome discovery. In the past 24 hrs. I've shed/purged 1lb.4oz. I've been going thru all my stuff for months.....and just gifted several family heirlooms to my older son and his wife...they love antiques. Goal for today is to shred old papers for at least an hour. This is my first posting here and I will return! Somehow posting my little purging accomplishments helps me to see that I am making progress. Will enjoy reading about your success as well. Have a great day everyone !!!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

Harpa — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 13:42:13 GMT

Wow! You guys are special and right on the ball! I see this post often and think how inspirational it is -- you are! Things to "set aside" (i.e., purge) to make room for anything else that needs to come along. Those things, not necessarily having to be materially.

And like you, I tossed out the old calendars to set up the new. Each new year, or day, or even a moment gives us an opportunity for cleaning house!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

withaK — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 14:10:37 GMT

Boy do I need to do this !!! I have two homes and two apartments thru out my small condo with a huge basement !!! We have mlate inlaws stuff, my prents stuff, a great-aunts apartment and our apartment scattered thru out. It all needs to go....my goal today is two boxes from the basement !!!!!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

gidgetgh — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 14:27:37 GMT

This morning, on a whim, I put a....a.....I don't know what to call it. Not a music box because there is no box, but a porcelain birds figurine that you wind up and it plays music.

I had given it to my mother in law for Christmas one year while I was dating my husband. When she passed away I brought it over to our house. My mother in law has been deceased for 15 years now and this morning when I saw it sitting on top of my lingerie chest in our bedroom it just did nothing for me. So into the Goodwill bag it went. No regrets. It's been sitting there since we moved into our house almost 15 years ago and never hit my purge radar, but today was the day.

I also have spent some time in the last few days removing myself from email mailing lists. As the emails have been coming in from various stores and restaurants, I've been unsubscribing.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

CAcableGirl2 — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:04:48 GMT

And so it's another year and I'm still working on purging. My son and wife have been purging lots of childrens items as they grow and my garage is getting a lot of items being held until the April garage sale.

Today the Christmas items come down, and the house gets cleaned, so I'll be looking for items to donate and clear out. I purchased a new combo oven/air fryer/toaster so 3 appliances will be replaced by one, saving some space on the countertops.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

Ainhisg — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:28:07 GMT

In mid-November, I started selling odds and ends on Facebook Marketplace...mainly Temp-tations bakeware/dishes along with other brands of dishes. This is such a much better method of selling things than having a garage sale! As you find an item to sell, you can just take photos of it and post them and the description...done! No need to put things back in an area of your home and garage waiting for that garage sale and cluttering up yet another area of your home! Then you just meet the buyer in a safe location, and that's it!

I price all of my stuff cheaply as my goal is to gain space, and if I make a little money in the process, so be it! I think this is why I've had great success selling this way--cheap prices! I find that you can't get as much as you do on eBay, but you can get more than what you would ask at a garage sale, plus you have hundreds/thousands of people who see your offerings instead of just a few who frequent garage sales, so if priced right, things sell reasonably quickly.

A friend of mine sells on FB Marketplace so gave me some suggestions on how to do it safely and efficiently. Using her advice and lessons learned from my own experience, I highly recommend it! If anyone is interested in advice on how to effectively sell on FB Marketplace, let me know.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

queendiva — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:36:01 GMT

Happy New Year fellow Purgers. New year, new thread.

No purging planned for today, but back at it tomorrow, probably starting with whatever needs to be tossed from the Christmas decor storage corner of the basement. If I didn't use it this year, I will not use it in the future.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

gidgetgh — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:44:47 GMT

I've been on a roll this morning, burning off some nervous energy.

In the bag for consignment- 1 new with tags nightgown, 1 brand new hand lotion, 2 purses, 1 wallet, 2 brand new shower gels that I just bought and after years of using it, I don't like the scent anymore. Oh, and two brand new zippered pouches/card holder things. Oh and a new package of knee hi hose in a color I don't think I'll ever use.

In the bag for Goodwill- 2 purses that I don't think will sell at consignment, 2 new nightgowns but the tags are off so I can't take them to consignment, some brand new gift bags that I didn't use and don't want to hold on to, a small wallet/card holder thingy, 2 stuffed animals. There are a few other small things in the bag also.

In the trash went some knee hi hose. 4 pairs maybe. I'm surprised they didn't disintegrate when I took them from the drawer.

The consignment shop I go to is going to be accepting transitional/spring items starting January 16th. I have 4 tops to take to them then. I've had them put away for awhile but they'll finally go. Once January 16th gets here, I'll go through my closet more thoroughly.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

Mominohio — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 16:19:33 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
This morning, on a whim, I put a....a.....I don't know what to call it. Not a music box because there is no box, but a porcelain birds figurine that you wind up and it plays music.

I had given it to my mother in law for Christmas one year while I was dating my husband. When she passed away I brought it over to our house. My mother in law has been deceased for 15 years now and this morning when I saw it sitting on top of my lingerie chest in our bedroom it just did nothing for me. So into the Goodwill bag it went. No regrets. It's been sitting there since we moved into our house almost 15 years ago and never hit my purge radar, but today was the day.

I also have spent some time in the last few days removing myself from email mailing lists. As the emails have been coming in from various stores and restaurants, I've been unsubscribing.

@gidgetgh

Reminds me of something I got rid of a year or so ago.

My mother in law took very sick, very quickly back in the early 90's was rushed to the hospital and gone within just a couple of days. It was Christmas season, and no one brought anything to her room while she was there. I purchased a small little basket with a faux holiday greens arrangement in it for her side table. When she passed, it came back home with me.

I kept it in the with the Christmas things for decades, and used it once in awhile as just a little remembrance of her. We got virtually nothing when she passed (she had virtually nothing, very poor) except a butter churn (glass jar kind) that they used to actually make their own butter in. I kept that displayed in the kitchen year round.

One year unpacking holiday, I looked at that basket of greens (and it was very pretty) and decided it only made me sad every year when I saw it as I sorted through the holiday decor. The butter churn made me happy, as it was a part of her younger, healthy life, with promise ahead. The basket was nothing more than a reminder of her untimely death and suffering.

Out it went.

Moral of the story

For me, I want 'things' that belonged to people in my past. I love them, I use them, I find remembrance and comfort in them (some of them).

What I don't need is EVERYTHING from their/my past. And I don't want things that make me sad from their past. I just have to choose the things that speak most (or happiest) to me.

Isn't it amazing how long we hang on to some things, and all of a sudden, we realize they no longer have meaning, or we let go of the sad meaning they have been holding for us.

Happy New Year, my friend.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

Mominohio — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 16:23:46 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
In mid-November, I started selling odds and ends on Facebook Marketplace...mainly Temp-tations bakeware/dishes along with other brands of dishes. This is such a much better method of selling things than having a garage sale! As you find an item to sell, you can just take photos of it and post them and the description...done! No need to put things back in an area of your home and garage waiting for that garage sale and cluttering up yet another area of your home! Then you just meet the buyer in a safe location, and that's it!

I price all of my stuff cheaply as my goal is to gain space, and if I make a little money in the process, so be it! I think this is why I've had great success selling this way--cheap prices! I find that you can't get as much as you do on eBay, but you can get more than what you would ask at a garage sale, plus you have hundreds/thousands of people who see your offerings instead of just a few who frequent garage sales, so if priced right, things sell reasonably quickly.

A friend of mine sells on FB Marketplace so gave me some suggestions on how to do it safely and efficiently. Using her advice and lessons learned from my own experience, I highly recommend it! If anyone is interested in advice on how to effectively sell on FB Marketplace, let me know.

@Ainhisg

I've been doing the same for a couple of years now.

Garage sales were failing for me, we live rural, and no traffic to warrant doing well with one (I tried!!).

I agree that you don't get Ebay prices, but more than a garage sale. And I just take the items to the garage (have a small table set up out there) after listing. If it doesn't sell in a certain amount of time, I load it into the car for donations.

I know a lot of people don't want to bother, but I made several thousand dollars doing this in the last couple of years. It really helped to use that money to pay cash for parts of our kitchen remodel this past summer.

Down in the basement again today pulling up things to list! LOL

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

queendiva — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 16:24:02 GMT

Bring on a cleaner, leaner and more organized 2020!

Two things that each one of us could use right away to get there:

1. Follow Peter Walsh on Facebook. His annual 31 days of decluttering starts today. A new and different challenge for each day this month, different from years past. Do not postpone- today's challenge is easy! Gotta keep the Happy in Happy New Year. If you are new to our group and don't know where to start, feel overwhelmed or just want some guidance, follow Peter. You will not be sorry!

2. GiveBack Box.com: Use your boxes that have accumulated from on line holiday shopping for a good cause while decluttering. Check out the site, fill the box(es) with the type of clutter they accept, print and attach a free shipping label and mail it to them. Mail your clutter for free to someone who will put it to good use and get it all out of your home. You can even print a donation receipt. How cool is that?! I just saw this posted on FB.

Happy New Year! One day at a time.

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

wagirl — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 16:48:48 GMT

7 boxes and bags of asst stuff to donation yesterday---recycled many more moving boxes -----still more to go!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

jeanlake — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 17:37:11 GMT

Being tidy is an ongoing, daily mindset, eh? Appreciate knowing many are on the same page. My daughter keeps a bedroom at my house - lives in California for her airline job. She has so many clothes and I coaxed her over the holidays to give her SM & MED clothes to a family of 12 kids; 8 girls. The girls were delighted. Their joy encouraged daughter to go through her closet again. Win/win. Less clutter and joy in giving.

This morning I was packing for a trip and will be gone for several weeks. I kept pulling items out of my closet then thought -- wait a minute -- there's a washer/dryer in the rental. So I put back half of my wardrobe. Being tidy is such a mindset. I'll keep improving!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

BunSnoop — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 18:01:07 GMT

25 Pullover Tops: Went in basement to put away Xmas decorations, etc. Saw many Rubbermaid tubs of clothes. Went through a couple of them. QVC shoppers...remember Fashion Formulas?? Got rid of about 8 Fashion Formula tops. Gosh, some of these are probably 20 years old!

Some outfits were soooo cute. It was hard to let them go, but I was determined that they needed to go as many no longer fit, and probably never will, and some are just very dated.

Got in the mail a notice that the Cancer Foundation will be in our area in a few weeks, so I'm going to try to keep gathering more for them.

Thanks everyone for helping me be motivated! Happy New Year!

Re: Declutter 2020: What have you purged today?

DecorDiva — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 18:03:15 GMT

I've been putting away Christmas decorations, and there are some things I would like to donate, but none of the charities in my area take any Christmas things after Christmas. I guess they will live in a box in my basement until next holiday season. I did manage to put together a box of household items and decorations that I'm going to take to a veteran's charity this afternoon. I'm really going to make an effort in 2020 to reduce in all categories.