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[geezerette]

I haven't really been actively decluttering this past year, just trashing or donating things as I decide I don't want or need them.

When I looked over my donation piles, I realized that most of what they consisted of were things I had bought recently (within the last few years) and didn't like for one reason or another so consequently ended up not using.  This was a bit of a bitter pill for me to swallow since I couldn't blame any of it on my husband, it was all me.🤗

So my mantra for the New Year is to be mindful of what I bring into the house and into my life.  I don't need anymore hair or skin care for months, and I may not outlive most of the clothes I have "stocked".  

I have to resist the sales until I can get my current inventory reduced, no matter how much they tell me I can save!😄

[magicmoodz]

@rnmom 

Thank you for starting our 2025 decluttering thread. You have helped so many of us to stay on the straight and narrow with our efforts to live with less!

I was inspired yesterday to once again sort through my makeup discarding the eyelash primer and two mascaras I use, replacing them with new for the new year.

I then moved on to sorting through all our meds to ensure everything was not expired and tossing lots of stuff that was almost gone or duplicates of things we had already replaced.  

Ok, it wasn't much, but to me I felt as if I accomplished a project and a great way to start the new year!

Speaking of new year, wishing happiness to all!❣️

[gidgetgh]

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@geezerette wrote:

I haven't really been actively decluttering this past year, just trashing or donating things as I decide I don't want or need them.

When I looked over my donation piles, I realized that most of what they consisted of were things I had bought recently (within the last few years) and didn't like for one reason or another so consequently ended up not using.  This was a bit of a bitter pill for me to swallow since I couldn't blame any of it on my husband, it was all me.🤗

So my mantra for the New Year is to be mindful of what I bring into the house and into my life.  I don't need anymore hair or skin care for months, and I may not outlive most of the clothes I have "stocked".  

I have to resist the sales until I can get my current inventory reduced, no matter how much they tell me I can save!😄

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@geezerette - yeah, since I live alone, I have no one to blame but me, LOL. I tend to be an impulse shopper and like you sometimes see that the things I am donating or taking to consignment are more recent purchases. I also am going to try to be more mindful of that this year. I can be a little fickle with things. I love it today when I buy it, but in a few months?  Sometimes not so much. 

[gidgetgh]

@rnmom - thanks for starting this year's thread.

I continue to plug along at donating and consigning. I really do well at living a clutter free life and I'm proud of myself for that, but I am constantly looking and tweaking.  It's just a purposeful part of my life.  Things I take to consignment has slowed down quite a bit because I just don't have that much stuff to take them anymore.  Same for Goodwill.

I wish us all well as we go through 2025.

[gidgetgh]

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@4kitties wrote:

Happy New Year to all reading here and trying to purge our "stuff".

I have not posted on this thread lately, but I made a lot of progress the last six months or so.  I am so proud of myself and Mr 4kitties.  We did a big purge of our basement.  I went through seasonal decor, stored in boxes, and made many trips to Goodwill.  My daughters took some of my excess kitchen stuff too!👏🏻👏🏻. I finally got rid of items I did not think I could ever part with.  Don't miss them one bit!

Our big coat closet was emptied and we both got rid of some old coats, hats, scarves and gloves.  That closet looks amazing right now.  There is enough room to hang up guests coats when they come over and a bit of space on the upper shelves too.  

My main goal right now is to finally settle some items that belonged to my parents. My brother and sister, both keep saying they want to keep some of these items but I cannot seem to get them here to pick them up.  Some of the items are valuable and I need an appraisal to assess our individual share.  They seem to not understand why this is necessary but I have no other way to determine our one third each.  I have decided to give them another couple of weeks, and then I will issue an ultimatum.  🤣🤣🤣

That should get their attention!  I will get it settled one way or the other though as I am tired of storing these items and need to settle these matters.

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@4kitties - it's amazing, isn't it. "Did not think I could ever part with".

We can't, we can't, we can't and then one day, it's ok to let Items go.  I'm finding now that in some cases, I don't even need to take a picture of the item anymore. I used to do that and keep the picture on my phone as a memory, but not as much anymore. 

[amyb]

Happy New Year, peeps~wow...y'all are ON IT already here!

Baby steps continuing for me...

Went through my makeup box...I did a good purging last few years of lip glosses and other things there, without adding too much new, so there wasn't a ton...but..

RIP favorite Mally lipglosses (3), she doesn't make any longer and I held onto way longer than I should have! I really had stopped using them, and last time I did it had gotten thicker, tackier, and didn't taste right, so bye bye...nobody got time for lip bacteria in 2025, am I right?!

Tossed a Mally compact that the concealer was gone in, but still had the setting powder. These were the old quality one you could take out the inserts...so, I took out the setting powder & put it into a small empty compact I had saved of hers. Out with bigger compact, consolidated to small one. That's ALL for makeup...

I do need to replace my Laura Mercier "Bare Babe" lip gloss, which is about 5 years old, and near the bottom, but didn't toss yet. I only use that in summer....and yes, I keep makeup longer than "experts" advise.

Went through a box in my bureau where I keep product/mfr/tags of some clothing, for care info, extra yarn & buttons they give. Tossed some old stuff didn't need.

That's all for my not so BIG start...but it's a start.

From the last thread...my freezer felt good to look into today...all neat & organized! I'll peruse pantry, cabinets, but I believe everything in there is up to date. Well....all except that Kansas City Steak "flavor packets" from some 2020 filets we bought....not sure they have an expiration...also not sure I'll EVER care to use those on meat so....yea.

I also have to say...my Christmas decorating this year was so much more organized to get out of storage, put up & will be to put away, as compared to years ago with all my random paper bags stored with things wrapped in tissue! Now everything is neat in Periea boxes, and my older two plastic bins. Payoff from some strategic work over these past few years.

Ok, all for now! Have a nice NY Day, all!

**I lied...Update...broke down cardboard boxes, and spare paper/plastic bags to toss. (Still have too many but I use them for weekly recycling collecting/tossing & outside when planting/pruning, dug out plants being tossed etc)

Also magazine rack, outdated local business flyers, coupon catalogs.

[amyb]

@gidgetgh "It's just a purposeful part of my life." 

I love that. I feel that way too. I've always been a pretty good yearly declutterer, inventory reviewer etc. Pretty consistent...though I've really gotten even better in the last decade...more organized, as I've adopted better systems and better storage products came out.

I believe our consistency, support, inspiraton from others here, momentum, as we've all been on track on this thread, to all degrees, helps make it "a purposeful part of all our lives." Tks for that good mantra @gidgetgh  

[JudyL]

@rnmom  - It's been about a year or so since I posted here but thought I would start this year with a small purge.  Went through closet and got rid of boxes that I kept when I purchased an item in case I needed to return it.  Funny thing is, I don't have the items any longer!  So out when a few boxes.  Purged a lighted makeup mirror that I don't use and went through some clothes for donation.  Have also tossed a few small things here and there the last couple of days but can't remember what they were now.  Kind of purge as I go along.  Had knee surgery in November so have to do things in short spurts but this is a start!  

[amyb]

Just did the fridge purge! (the other day I only did the freezer)

Before I took out the recycled bags/boxes/catalogs

I went over the fridge...way more in there that needed to go than I realized. (Everything's been buried under holiday cooked items, leftovers...and now that that's dwindling down...I could see what was old and still there. Out! All good now.

Now, THAT is THAT for me today!!

Going to relax and catchup on some tv streaming...and online stuff. I mean, it IS a holiday, after all.

[Fifi1]

Happy New Year!

lazy day, made us brunch with mimosa's and dh fixing ham for dinner.

mentally deciding what my purge plan will be next few days!  Hope that counts!

did see some glasses and plastic glasses in cupboard we never use, and odd/end mugs people gift you, but never use - going in donate box!