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[rnmom]

In the last few days I've tossed a couple of things that were broken or didn't work: a stadium chair, a picture frame, a charging cord and a watch with no band. 

I also organized my plastic bowls and tossed one bowl that I can't find the lid and set aside to donate 3 small bowls with lids. 

[lynnie61]

We had some scaffolding that wasn't being used, and my SO said his brother in law could use it.  Glad it could be useful to someone.  Glad it's gone!  

[AuntG]

I have been resourceful in an effort to keep from buying more stuff.

My husband mentioned that it would be nice to have a second pillow to prop behind his back when watching TV in bed. I was going to toss two fairly new, but flat pillows. Instead, I discovered they would fit tightly inside a pillowcase, so he gave his "new" pillow a try, and liked it.

Then I was certain I'd need to buy new living room lamps with charging stations because our new recliners don't have charging ports. I looked and looked without success. All the lamps that fit our needs were expensive and utilitarian looking. I even considered getting new side tables with ports built in. Again, I liked what we had much better. It finally occurred to me that they make charging ports that work like an extension cord. I only paid $9 for one that I can place on a shelf in our end table.

[rnmom]

@AuntG - Isn't it nice being resourceful and saving money? Every penny counts right now, everything is SO expensive!

[lynnie61]

@AuntG  I set up a small charging station in my office.  (So many devices!). I also have a small charging disc on my nightstand, and I'm usually good for all day.  Between the phones, my iPad, his glucose monitoring device and my Fitbit, at least we know where they in the office.  

Pillows, don't get me started.  I bought new pillows last year, then our new beds included pillow upgrades!  So I just put a few away for the next few years.  

[wagirl]

HUGE day of de- cluttering for me---FINALLY----after almost 5 years in this apt, I got my closet all sorted out!!!! Have been planning this for months---I put a 4 shelf, 4 foot wire rack on wheels,  in there, to use the shelves for various stuff--sheets, extra blankets, pants, extra stuff--and then was squeezed into about 4 ft of where I could hang the rest of my everyday clothes---along with stuff on the top shelf of the closet and of course shoved all sorts of non apparal items in there too.Even after donating I could hardly move the hangers--have the skinny ones that have the hook and cascaded 4 or 5 items on one hanger---was a hot mess--so I decided to separate the rack  into 2-- which left the curtain rod and all that space to hang what I had in that 4 ft area before--put my sheets on the bottom shelf , my pants on the top and hung my t's and shirts and a few nicer pants, jackets and STILL----have room!!! Put the other part of the rack in my living room and added some cute baskets that are storing other things too. I also bought gi-normous vacuum seal bags and sealed the unused blankets, comforters, throws, placemats and assorted other bulky things that lived in my closet!! OMGosh----can I tell you how happy my "chi" is now??? Am estatic!!!

[ninjawife]

I had an enormous pile of clothes that no longer fit me.  I had my DD go through them and see if she wanted any of them since they are her size.  Some of the items I donated to Goodwill and the rest I am saving until the holiday season since we adopt families and I may be able to give away some of the nicer pieces.  If there is no one in the families we adopt wear that size, I will donate them to Goodwill. 

I have replaced the clothes that no longer fit me with smaller sized clothes but I have gotten rid of much more than I have brought in and I hope to keep it that way. 

[magicmoodz]

I feel as if I have been away for a good long time. I did create a post last weekend, but in reading it back I felt I was doing too much whining and deleted it.

Granted, we all are allowed to complain when we are having a bad day, but it bothers me when someone can't find anything positive to write. I don't want to be like that!

So I posted about our flooring project. I'm not sure if I posted about buying a new car--GULP! We set out to buy a used car one or two years old, but ended up buying new--DOUBLE GULP.

Then all of a sudden (and I don't even recall how this happened) we started exploring updating our HVAC system. It's a long story, but the community in which we live has extremely strict rules for replacement.  

We had an energy audit and while they are not in the business to sell equipment I asked how much a new system might cost. I about fell over when he said $17-22,000. Yikes! We were chatting with a neighbor who lives a couple floors above us and she said her system was in fact $22,000. There are rebates and tax credits to be had, but still...

When I opened my Credit Union statement the other day, I saw that they are conducting a "shred day" this coming Saturday. So my decluttering efforts have involved cleaning out all my files of stored invoices making lots of extra space in my filing system. I still need to purge broker statements and some  medical files. I also went through my closet recently and have 2 sweaters and a dozen shirts, tops and blouses to drop off at my charity. 

My new mantra is minamalist consumerism. I am quite proud of how I have pulled the reins in this year on buying clothes/shoes/handbags, etc. I am so happy with the way my clothes glide across 2 of my 3 closet rods. That third rod might be hopeless--it houses my hanging pants, skirts and dresses and doesn't have much room to add anything. 

Thank you to all who regularly report on your declutterung efforts. You are my inspiration!

[AuntG]

@magicmoodz I'm so glad we got our air conditioner and furnace two years ago. Prices have sky rocketed. One reason I've been keeping stuff I bought over ten years ago (clothes, shoes, lamps, quilts...) is because the quality of new things have gone down, and the prices are going up.

What brand of vehicle did you buy? Ours are 9 and 10 years old, but they each have just over 50,000 miles, so we shouldn't have to replace them just yet.

[Twins Mom]

@magicmoodz 

I had to chuckle about your efforts to do one thing and how they mushroom because we just did that.  Decided we needed to stay off ladders so gutter guards were in order.  As we completed plans, we asked how that works with Christmas lights.  Long story short, they had new product that fits on eaves and can be controlled by app (of course one needs to know how that goes).  That's probably the fastest we have ever moved on a project but we won't be getting out ladders.