topic Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge in Home

Home--250 Freedom Challenge

Sooner — Mon, 25 May 2026 15:24:58 GMT

250 Things by July 4th

I have just issued myself a challenge to free my house of 250 things I have either overlooked, pushed back to deal with later, or really do not need to keep by July 4th.

I am going to keep count and focus on things I don't want to deal with, things I "like" but have too many of, and different areas of my house.

And on July 4th if I make it I will celebrate my house's freedom, my blessing of having too much stuff, and of course the freedom and joy of living in America!

I think it may be easier than I think, but a goal and a date should (and I emphasize "should" ) keep me going. Wanna join me?

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

haddon9 — Mon, 25 May 2026 15:43:50 GMT

Good for you!

A few years ago we had a dumpster in the driveway to clear out stuff we had in the garage & basement. The dumpster was so big I commented to DH about offering our neighbors space to see if they need to get rid of anything.

He said lets see how much we have first. We ended up filling the dumpster!

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

cjm61 — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:14:33 GMT

I like your challenge @Sooner . I could not come up with any amount close to 250 though. We have a garage sale every 6 months so I don't have that much to get rid of. Good luck.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

Sooner — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:59:44 GMT

@cjm61 wrote:
I like your challenge @Sooner . I could not come up with any amount close to 250 though. We have a garage sale every 6 months so I don't have that much to get rid of. Good luck.

@cjm61 No pencils? No knicknacks? Glasses? Hats? Sox? Stuff you got free with cosmetics? If not, I admire and congratulate you! Not even old undies or wash cloths????? Body wash you don't like?

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

lynnie61 — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:14:53 GMT

@Sooner I've been decluttering on and off for two years. But I'm joining your challenge. Trashed some, donated ALOT. I know I can find 50 things a week in 5 weeks. Three homes into mine in 2024. It will get me restarted and energized. I've donated for vets pick ups usually every two months.

Still way too much stuff that can go. Stationary, gift bags, kitchen STUFF, clothes and a garage that's better but still not great. I found a box of so many office supplies, more than I can use in a lifetime. Those may go to a school or daycare. Challenge on........

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

rockygems123 — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:30:24 GMT

@Sooner

I really like your idea of celebrating the freedom of your house and its things!

The lists for decluttering that I have are getting bigger and it's starting to get overwhelming.

Like the idea of having a goal that isn't next week. Will be keeping that in mind and start small.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

DSD2 — Mon, 25 May 2026 17:50:24 GMT

I applaud your ambitious project!

I would love to clean out our basement but dumpster rental is very expensive and hub and I are older so we won't be able to carry out the heavy things. I'd love to hire a "Got Junk" company but that isn't possible right now.

I always donate clothes, furniture and other things but I do need to purge and am making a concerted effort not to keep things I don't use or need.

Best of luck to you!

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

beach-mom — Mon, 25 May 2026 18:05:49 GMT

@Sooner - What a great and innovative idea!

I keep putting things off and haven't done a major cleanup in a while. I plan to spend an afternoon clearing out, then something comes along and I have to take care of it now!

So I'm going to TRY to join you - I'll keep a list!

I actually planned to go through makeup today, then started watching Memorial Day ceremonies on TV. I spent years walking in our town's parade with Girl Scouts, dance troupes, and Cub Scouts. It's raining here, so I would rather stay in. It's supposed to stop, but we'll see.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

I am still oxox — Mon, 25 May 2026 18:18:43 GMT

About to clean my bra drawer, this is a big thing for me need my hubbies help the drawer is huge and overfilled

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

just bee — Mon, 25 May 2026 18:35:45 GMT

@Sooner

What a fabulous idea!

It took a house fire to get me to finally pare down.

What I learned is this: It's better to choose to do it than be forced to do it.

You have my full support.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

geezerette — Mon, 25 May 2026 19:25:12 GMT

I don't know if I can make 250 items, although if I count each piece of junk mail I get in the next few months I probably can meet that goal with no problem.

But after reading this, I started in with some old clothes I know I'll never wear again, and old heels I would kill myself with if I even tried putting on. One pair of leather shoes was so old they looked like reptile from all the cracks! 😳

So, thanks for the inspiration to get started! 👍

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

cjm61 — Mon, 25 May 2026 19:30:16 GMT

Haha @Sooner , nope, I clean out my cabinets, drawers and cupboards every couple months. I know, I know, I'm a little organized obsessed. One of my daughters does the same thing.

I clean out things and put in a trash pile or a garage sale pile. When you clean things out every few months you don't acquire as much.

As for cosmetic give aways? Body wash I don't like? Hmmm, well, I don't believe I've ever purchased any body wash I didn't like but when I buy in excess I use as prizes for Easter and Christmas. Freebies I put all in a box and use them as a white elephant gift at Christmas. People actually love it.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

AuntG — Mon, 25 May 2026 20:21:08 GMT

You should share this on the Declutter thread. It's a neat concept. If I could count pennies, pencils without erasers, and paperclips, I might reach 250. I'm always on the lookout for things to trash, but our house is pretty good. I'm donating a big box of household items to the school rummage sale next week. My problem is the neighbor brought over a few things, and I've already pulled out two bookends she had that I NEED (yeah, right).

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

Snowpuppy — Mon, 25 May 2026 20:39:02 GMT

I don't have 250 items in my entire house 😆

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

Sooner — Mon, 25 May 2026 20:39:23 GMT

OK. I did a trial run today and honestly, the goal and the date do help. I had a lot of new socks I knew I'd never wear--so they went (yes, I did count a pair as one item). Three new bras I didn't think would fit me well--tags still on. I probably would not have included them except for my count.

Also a couple of jewelry cases I'd been hanging on to. I wound up with 26 donated and 18 in the trash. And I found things I will use too.

I found a beautiful Estee Lauder powder case I probably gave to my mom and she never used. I will!

So, I had a good day and am thinking about what areas to target in June. And what seemed daunting is now something I can do and not mind so much. It is going to be mostly things I have avoided.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

Sooner — Mon, 25 May 2026 20:41:28 GMT

@geezerette wrote:
I don't know if I can make 250 items, although if I count each piece of junk mail I get in the next few months I probably can meet that goal with no problem.

But after reading this, I started in with some old clothes I know I'll never wear again, and old heels I would kill myself with if I even tried putting on. One pair of leather shoes was so old they looked like reptile from all the cracks! 😳

So, thanks for the inspiration to get started! 👍

@geezerette Thank you for posting! You just made me think about some things I REALLY need to part with! You did me a great favor with that!

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 25 May 2026 20:57:07 GMT

I really like this concept so thanks for sharing. I'll probably do a combo of decluttering and doing things I've been putting off. It'll be nice to celebrate the freedom it will bring.

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 26 May 2026 01:38:35 GMT

Well shoot, @Sooner! Too bad you didn't come up with this challenge a few weeks ago. I'm counting that anyway. We cleared out a ton of dishes and accessory pieces - easily 150 pieces, followed by eliminating 3 pieces of furniture, a big wall clock, 3 rooms and 1 hallway, 2 sets of stairs of carpet and padding, and a 4 pc. set of kitchen chair seat cushions. Then I tossed a bunch of expired and unwanted skincare, haircare, and makeup - probably close to 30 items (or more). The other day I worked on kitchen cabinets and tossed expired stuff - not much, maybe 20 items. I also took 2 window cornices, 7 valances, and 4 curtain panels to the trash.

I'm still short 17 items but I'm going to keep going, even though the elimination will be interrupted by some appointments and travel.

We'll see...🤞

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

rnmom — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:42:04 GMT

I will second what @AuntG said!

We have an ongoing Declutter: What Have You Purged Today? thread and would love to have you join in there to share

Re: Home--250 Freedom Challenge

Sooner — Tue, 26 May 2026 13:38:03 GMT

@rnmom wrote:
I will second what @AuntG said!

We have an ongoing Declutter: What Have You Purged Today? thread and would love to have you join in there to share

@rnmom I have many times, it is a great site. But this isn't about purging. It is about those little nests around the house that most of us have and ignore. Or the things you haven't had the umph to deal with. It's a specific number, and a goal, and not an ongoing thing.

Until July 4 to unload and look forward to freedom from some things. Yesterday I cleared out the sock mess I have avoided. I have another drawer in mind today. And 250 is significant, so I'm having fun thinking and doing toward that goal.

In the last year, I've emptied our attic of things leftover from the last move, and it was ongoing and very difficult. To me that is purging. This is about short term fixing and freeing!