Continued: Getting rid of stuff / Clearing out clutter! PART 2

[zygote]

I did a big digital declutter because my dropbox was getting full. I also need to send my work computer to IT soon and wanted a nice, clean back up first. I didn't realize how much mental energy was being taken up wading through an old file organization system that wasn't serving me anymore. Much better.

[okisok]

NotJen, if you have (oops, buy?) those plastic sleeves for papers, they have the holes for the binder and the plastic will protect your recipes from splatters.

I might have a few of those sleeves.  I do have a 1-hole punch I can use, it will just be a little more work.

This is how I store my recipes. They wipe right off, they're easy to clean, and easy to reorganize. When the pages get too gross, I just switch out the page and keep the recipe.

[NotJen]

Listed 9 new things to FB Marketplace over the last couple of days.  Most were from the pile I was supposed to deal with a long time ago, and some were things around the house that caught my eye.  One item already went to the post office, and the others are put away in the 'eBay closet'.  There are still a couple of things left in the pile that I either need to list or throw away.

[slackmax]

Made up the last pouch of powdered pudding mix, so I recycled the box. Not bringing any more pudding mix into the house.

Similarly, found old package of powdered alfredo mix in fridge. Used some of it yesterday, will eventually use it all up, not replace.   

Still enjoying, and noticing, the extra space in the fridge since I got rid of the old quart container of peaches.

Found an old empty jar of kikkoman soy sauce in a cabinet. Keeping it cuz it looks so interesting, and cuz I have been so good at using up, and recycling containers for a lot of the other stuff in there.   

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Listed four Papyrus sealed gift card holders this weekend on eBay. Sold, & they are on their way to their new owner.
-Decluttered & organized stationery drawer, & turned previous large tub into container for school supplies. Entire area is much better organized, easy to use, & tidier.
-Went through & adjusted eBay listings to group like items, adjust pricing, etc. Made a quick sale this afternoon.

[diapasoun]

Partner got some hand-me-down clothes from a friend; he took what he wanted and the rest, plus a vase, went to Goodwill yesterday.

Turned a tiny bit of clutter into organizational help by using an old stationery pack box to hold some seed packets. Once seeds are planted, it all can get recycled/tossed!

[Frugal Lizard]

An empty scrapbook paper container, a whole box of leftover craft kit paint tubs - all of them empty or dried to a solid rock with the lid adhere on forever and another bin of various paints that I haven't cracked open since 2017.  These are now gone from the craft cupboard and two shelves are empty!

[slackmax]

Two empty shelves! Nice.     

[Poundwise]

Got rid of two bookshelves which were blocking access to my garage freezer and workbench, and some nursing paraphernalia. I also got rid of our old dishwasher.  Craiglist free section is the bomb!

[SunnyDays]

Well, I had thought I was done with decluttering last year, but since then, I have found the following items to donate:

- 21 books
- 2 glass bowls
- garden stepping stone
- bag of wax melts
- phone charger
- lettuce keeper
- 3 TV dinner trays
- sieve
- 3 tennis balls
- various greeting cards
- cookie tin
- over-door hanger
- various cat toys
- 2 vintage tupperware containers
- candle
- eye glass case
- 6 drinking glasses
- box of straws
- various sewing supplies
- 2 huge cardboard boxes

I managed to just get it all out of the house in the brief window of thrift stores being open between 2 lockdowns, so glad for that.  Now its been decided by the powers that be that they are an essential service, so if I find anything more, it won't be sitting around for months.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Crushing it, @SunnyDays ! Nice work. I've slowed down my progress this week. Work is busy, but I have tomorrow afternoon off & am hoping to find some junk to get out of the house.

[Frugal Lizard]

DD saw the paint in the give away pile and now it is back in the cupboard.

[Swish]

So round 2 I cleaned out the garage of a ton of junk. Hope this motivates some of you to get off your butts and free up a parking spot. We can now fit the car in the garage again!

Chainsaw - $350
Skill saw - $50
Spare wrenches - $40
LEGO phone - $25
Tonka truck - $5
Clipboard - $3
Corelle dishes - $30
Bike - $20
Bunk bed - $200
Bar table - $125
Memory stick - $4
Extension cord - $4
Dora wallet - $2
Motherboard - $10
Graphics card - $20
WeeRide copilot - $40
Helmets - $8
Shoe bench - $50
Baby chair - $3
Shop vac - $40
Toy chest - $10
Pro shop Voucher - $100
Random lights - $10
Fridge - $500
Outlet - $5
Worklamps - $20
Axe - $5
Fan - $5
Clock - $4
Art - $35
Grinder - $15
Cooler - $30
Laptop Battery - $8
Reciprocating saw - $40
Bouncer - $25
Bike - $35
Tv stand - $125
Skate bar - $5
Oscillating saw - $50
Diesel oil - $20
Chainsaw sharpener - $30
Chariot stroller - $650

Total: $2,756

Wow! High prices. Where do you live? How did you sell the stuff? Yard  sale?

@slackmax we are in Canada so if in the US adjust for currency. We sold mostly using facebook market place and kijiji. There is a PIA factor but I just piled it all in middle of garage for a few weeks and what ever didn't sell we donated/threw away. Some of the bigger items were pretty high end as well and in very great shape, chainsaw, fridge, chariot. My problem now is my parents found out and dropped a bunch of their crap off to sell so might be best to keep it a secret ;)

[NotJen]

After making some more sales on Marketplace recently, I scouted the kitchen again and listed 4 new items/sets.

One is a wire basket that I like and could probably use if I got rid of 1 of the other 2 similar containers I have displayed in my kitchen.  But the fact that I haven't used it ever in this house (that I remember) means that it really should go!

I still need to decide if I want to keep my small-pot drip coffee maker.  I haven't used it in a long time, but it's nice to have a backup in case my primary brewer goes.  I wouldn't go out and buy a backup, but since I have it already...

[Sibley]

DD saw the paint in the give away pile and now it is back in the cupboard.

If I'm reading the right post, those paints were dried out, correct? Toss them. If your DD has a fit, your DD will not die.

If however I'm misunderstanding and those paints are still good, then your DD had better start using them. Soon. Because if you get through the next month or two and she hasn't touched them, then out they go and she can have all the fits she wants - she had her chance.

[MountainGal]

Excellent job, everyone!

Recently:
~Mailed off a bunch of Harley Davidson items to a friend who still rides.
~There are two pairs of eyeglasses ready to be donated to the Lions Club bin.
~Will give a stack of cookbooks to a younger neighbor who likes to cook.  (I also have 3-ring binders with plastic sleeves for my old recipes.  Now days I just look up recipes online.)
~Focusing on using up last year's gift wrap, cards and bows in order to not buy anything new.
~Three gift bags full of Christmas decor, stockings, etc. went to families who might appreciate it a few weeks ago.
~Received a gorgeous food arrangement in a reusable basket.  My neighbor mentioned last weekend if I ever wanted to part with it....  So, when I do my annual holiday baking in a few weekends, I'll put what I bake for her family into said basket.

[Frugal Lizard]

DD saw the paint in the give away pile and now it is back in the cupboard.

If I'm reading the right post, those paints were dried out, correct? Toss them. If your DD has a fit, your DD will not die.

If however I'm misunderstanding and those paints are still good, then your DD had better start using them. Soon. Because if you get through the next month or two and she hasn't touched them, then out they go and she can have all the fits she wants - she had her chance.

The dried out pots were in the garbage.  The ones back in the cupboard still have some juice.

[Sibley]

DD saw the paint in the give away pile and now it is back in the cupboard.

If I'm reading the right post, those paints were dried out, correct? Toss them. If your DD has a fit, your DD will not die.

If however I'm misunderstanding and those paints are still good, then your DD had better start using them. Soon. Because if you get through the next month or two and she hasn't touched them, then out they go and she can have all the fits she wants - she had her chance.

The dried out pots were in the garbage.  The ones back in the cupboard still have some juice.

Cool! Your DD gets to do some painting soon.

[oneday]

Recycled last year's tax guide! Prompted by getting this year's. Now I know I don't need it after tax season is over, and will recycle the new one sooner.

[mspym]

I used up a bottle of shampoo! [I am working through the backlog of half-bottles]

[Weisass]

Sold a bunch of baby stuff in fb, tossed a pile of clothes the kids wore through.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Dropped off a bike with a friend. It's now out of our garage & back to its rightful owner. More space, & less mental energy worrying about getting it back

[Roadrunner53]

I have to laugh, once in a while we turn on QVC and watch some of the products being demonstrated. Everything the hosts talk about is a must have. One of the hosts always says he has a set in a particular color. Seems he has one of everything that QVC has ever sold. Does he live in a warehouse? LOL! Every time I buy something I cringe because I have no more room for anything! I took a rosemary potted plant from outside and brought it in for the winter and it is almost impossible to find a surface to put it on.

[Cassie]

Going to declutter my Xmas decorations because this is the time of year to donate. Also have another small closet to go through.

[Frugal Lizard]

I consolidated bins and found some empty ones.  Don't need to store empty bins in the house.  When they are in the garage they naturally lessen in numbers.  They get loaded with stuff to give away or loaned out and never reappear.  They don't do that in the basement.  Four bins and two cardboard boxes left the house empty.  And two bins and one box need to be sorted through by DD.  If she doesn't undertake it be mid week I am going to help her out. 

@Cassie  - I have put up all the Xmas decor I want and there is one and a half bins still full of stuff.  I think it is time for a major purge for us too.  Three bins left the house last year! 

Do you all feel a weight being lifted whenever you get a major load out of the house?  I shake my head at myself - so much money spent, so much plastic generated forever.  I have got to do better.

[NotJen]

Do you all feel a weight being lifted whenever you get a major load out of the house?  I shake my head at myself - so much money spent, so much plastic generated forever.  I have got to do better.

Yes! Every time something leaves, I imagine the weight of the house lessening.

Since it's been just me, I've been pretty good at not bringing a lot of stuff in.  I'm starting to get better at getting rid of gifts I won't use, instead of letting them sit for years and years.

[okisok]

Accidental decluttering: cracked a champagne flute, tossed it out.

I did exactly the same thing this week. I couldn't decide if I needed all of the champagne flutes I had, then I broke one. So the universe worked it out for me :)

Went through all of the Xmas decor and got rid of half of it. A coworker that wanted a certain type of ornament got most of it. The rest went on the curb and were gone within a day. I'm working on using all of my Xmas cards before buying more, no matter how cheap they are on clearance.

Went through the coat and clothes closets. Have a box and two bags to drop off at Goodwill. I came home from work on Friday irritated with the pants and top I was wearing. I washed them and put them both straight in the donation pile. I'm trying to get rid of everything that doesn't make me feel good when I'm wearing it.  I'm slowly replacing with good quality items that work for me right now, not when I lose weight or change jobs or get a new hobby. I want my whole closet to work for me now.

I've stripped the bedroom of all the extraneous stuff including a duvet cover, shams, little rugs, and all the junk that accumulates on the nightstands.  Some items are going into a tub in the closet to decide if I still want them in 6 months. If not, I'll donate them. Right now it's warm and calming and simple.

The items that haven't sold on Marketplace are in the donation pile, too.

Small project this week has been starting a new habit of taking care of the mail as soon as I get it. The 'only touch it once' philosophy at work. Straight to recycling or pay the bill or read the letter/card. If I don't have time to do that, I don't go to the mailbox until I do. It's taking way less time than putting it aside, knocking over the pile, moving it from the table to eat dinner, moving it to the desk, adding to it, etc. Not letting clutter into the house!

[slackmax]

Since the kitchen sink drain was getting very slow, I was under the kitchen sink today for my every-six-months 'clean the sludge out of the pipes' ritual.  Saw a gallon plastic bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap in the corner, leaking out of the bottom.

Since it had only about a quarter inch of product left in it, I took it out and put it somewhere I'll see it every day. I'll try to find something to use up that last quarter inch on, then throw out the empty jug. Can't recycle it, since it's got stuff stuck to it inside. 

One more gallon of free clean dry space under the kitchen sink. Ahhhhhhh......

[Sibley]

Since the kitchen sink drain was getting very slow, I was under the kitchen sink today for my every-six-months 'clean the sludge out of the pipes' ritual.  Saw a gallon plastic bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap in the corner, leaking out of the bottom.

Since it had only about a quarter inch of product left in it, I took it out and put it somewhere I'll see it every day. I'll try to find something to use up that last quarter inch on, then throw out the empty jug. Can't recycle it, since it's got stuff stuck to it inside. 

One more gallon of free clean dry space under the kitchen sink. Ahhhhhhh......

So, you have a mostly empty, leaking container of cleaning products that you don't use on a regular basis. Why are you keeping this again? You freed up the space under the sink. Free up the space wherever you put it and just toss it now.

[slackmax]

Since the kitchen sink drain was getting very slow, I was under the kitchen sink today for my every-six-months 'clean the sludge out of the pipes' ritual.  Saw a gallon plastic bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap in the corner, leaking out of the bottom.

Since it had only about a quarter inch of product left in it, I took it out and put it somewhere I'll see it every day. I'll try to find something to use up that last quarter inch on, then throw out the empty jug. Can't recycle it, since it's got stuff stuck to it inside. 

One more gallon of free clean dry space under the kitchen sink. Ahhhhhhh......

So, you have a mostly empty, leaking container of cleaning products that you don't use on a regular basis. Why are you keeping this again? You freed up the space under the sink. Free up the space wherever you put it and just toss it now.

Reread my post, Sib.  I'm going to use it up, then toss it. Don't worry, if I can't find something to use it on, I'll just toss it with the quarter inch inside it too.   

[SunnyDays]

Since the kitchen sink drain was getting very slow, I was under the kitchen sink today for my every-six-months 'clean the sludge out of the pipes' ritual.  Saw a gallon plastic bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap in the corner, leaking out of the bottom.

Since it had only about a quarter inch of product left in it, I took it out and put it somewhere I'll see it every day. I'll try to find something to use up that last quarter inch on, then throw out the empty jug. Can't recycle it, since it's got stuff stuck to it inside. 

One more gallon of free clean dry space under the kitchen sink. Ahhhhhhh......

So, you have a mostly empty, leaking container of cleaning products that you don't use on a regular basis. Why are you keeping this again? You freed up the space under the sink. Free up the space wherever you put it and just toss it now.

Reread my post, Sib.  I'm going to use it up, then toss it. Don't worry, if I can't find something to use it on, I'll just toss it with the quarter inch inside it too.   

What I would do is put the remaining liquid in a small container and throw out the original one.  Sometimes downsizing is just as satisfying as decluttering.

[okisok]

I'm with Sibley. If the Murphy's oil has been under under the sink since the last cabinet clean out six months ago and you don't need it, just toss it. It's a quarter inch of sludge in a cracked bottle, AKA trash.

Checked the mail and threw the crap in recycling. Wrote checks immediately for bills, stamped them, and put them in my bag to mail from work tomorrow.

Sold another item on Marketplace for $20, right before I was going to take the donations to Goodwill. Might wait another day to see if anything else sells, but not much longer. The box in the dining room is getting on my nerves. I could always put it in the trunk and drive it around for a while :)

[Frugal Lizard]

Figured out a Christmas card design using up a bunch of craft supplies and envelopes that I had from my brothers wedding invitations more than 10 years ago. 

DD went through her two boxes of stuff.  One is totally ready for donation. The other box got stored away in her father's closet space - fine with me.  It can live there for as long as he doesn't need the space. 

I need to get the accumulating pile in the garage dropped off this week.

[Poundwise]

I was looking for family photos that one of my kids could use for a school project.
I found a cache of 2019 Christmas photo cards sent by friends and extended family. I was delighted to give him some cards to cut up, and to toss the rest. 

I'm preparing to send a small box of Christmas decorations to my elderly mother.  I am slowly getting over my resentment of her using our home as overflow storage, as I gradually clear the house of the immense crudstorm that engulfed us when I emptied her house.  We just gave away a giant framed print that she made us take last time we visited her... the stupid thing dominated our living room for months because the garage was too damp, it wouldn't fit up the attic hatchway, and the other rooms were too full. 

In a record fast turnaround, we turned some lumber I bought last month into garden trellises. Usually one could expect this stuff to age a few years in our garage, but Mr. Poundwise took charge and got the job done.

[Sibley]

I was the recipient of evidence of someone else's decluttering yesterday. My great aunt, who is probably in her 90s, sent me a Christmas card in a very nonstandard envelope. Included was a stack of pictures of me, from babyhood til adulthood, and a note that she found them while cleaning out a closet and thought I might like them.

I don't know that I needed the evidence of my terrible taste in haircuts over the years, but I guess I have it now and will add to the box of pictures in the desk. Box can stay.

[NotJen]

Managed to sell 2 DVDs today and made about $7, which is more than I expected to get for DVDs.

[okisok]

Filled a pretty zippered bag with travel toiletries and put it in the little food pantry in my neighborhood.
Sold an item on Marketplace.

[oneday]

Decluttered a sweater that brought bad memories of an old relationship, and a hand mixer which suddenly died.

[mspym]

Two bags and  two shirts donated, 2 books and a magazine in the street library

[LaineyAZ]

Cleaned out a junk drawer and found $5.50 worth of first-class stamps.

[slackmax]

Finally recycled an old, empty Kikkoman soy sauce container I had been keeping in the cupboard for its interesting shape.

 If I suddenly need an empty  Kikkoman container, that's OK, ha ha.         

[okisok]

@slackmax, great job on letting go of the container!

Used up some fabric and notions when a friend needed some clothes for a gift. Sent her home with more items so she could make more. Craft stash is a very reasonable size now.

More Xmas supplies used for wrapping. I've inventoried current supplies and don't need any gift wrapping stuff on post-holiday clearance, no cards, no tags, no ribbons, no boxes, no matter how deep the discount. It all fits nicely in one container.

I've cleaned out the closets so much that I have a bag of cheap plastic hangers to donate. I'm only keeping the nice velvety hangers. My clothes will be kept in better shape and it will limit the clothes I bring in. No hangers, no room.

[YellowCat]

Finally located a clothing donation box which was not overflowing so I was able to donate a big bag of clothes yesterday! I’ve decided during this pandemic that I won’t hang on to anything I don’t feel good wearing / routinely avoid in my daily clothing rotations. (Work clothes excepted, of course...I may need to go into the office sometime in the future...) So anyway that’s out of the house now!

I also dropped a big bag of books in the little free library box around the block from us. Eventually I’d like to also purge more of our old textbooks but for now all of our books fit into our bookshelves so it’s a step in the right direction.

I’ve been trying to declutter my yarn stash by using up the little bits in baby gifts. It’s fun and creative and I don’t have to buy anything, so wins all around. Admittedly my yarn stash is fairly large, so I’ll be knitting for a while :)

[okisok]

Took the donations to Goodwill the day after I loaded them in the car! My closet is roomy enough to see everything but I still feel like I have plenty to wear. The kitchen is in a good place with all drawers and cabinets spacious and easy to access. No more items stacked in precarious piles or having to unload the entire drawer to get to the bottom items.

Cleaned off the desk and recycled some bits and found homes for all the stuff on top. Wrote a thank you for a gift that came in and got a birthday card in the mail. The stationery box is still full but not overflowing.

Brought home a box from work to wrap a bulky gift. It didn't fit, so the box is back in the car to return to work. I'm not going to hold onto it in case I need it for something else. Worst case scenario I'll just stick a bow on the bulky gift and hand it over that way.

Going to start a small sewing project to use up some more fabric scraps. Doll clothes are such a satisfying way to use up small fabric pieces and spools of random thread.

[MayDay]

I bought many boxes of yogurt tubes my children USED to like on clearance for 1$ each. I froze them all as they were near expiration.

All gone, someone on Buy Nothing has less picky children!

H came home with a big bag of Christmas bows, ugh. I was feeling quite pleased that we used down everything until we had less than a shoebox full of wrapping supplies.

So overall we are neutral!

[Loretta]

I’m at my mother’s new condo and her fridge is on its last leg so we are trying to postpone grocery shopping as long as possible.  The appliances here are all probably 20 years old and when I used the oven last night it had dust in it.  Her baking powder expired in 2007, 13 years ago so that will also be disappearing. 

[Fresh Bread]

Today while I isolate for my Covid test results I did a konmarie clothing clearout. Big bag of clothes in the boot of the car ready for end of lockdown. So crazy when I've already done this 3 times in the last 2 years.

Tomorrow is books or paper, or both. And hopefully a test result so I can go walk the dog!

[Frugal Lizard]

I was doing the Christmas baking and using up as many of the ingredients I had around the house already.  With two celiacs in the house, we have a lot of different types of flours.  I found two empty jars in the baking cupboard.  I adapted some recipes to use up small bags of different nuts I "found" in the freezer.  I discovered three different bags of hazelnuts. 

There are a lot of random packages in the pantry - I pointed some of them out to the kids.  Hopefully they get consumed or if they aren't tasty, composted.

[slackmax]

Tired of the freezer door banging into a box next to it, so I allowed myself to 'just move stuff around' in the kitchen. I would much rather actually get rid of stuff than just move it around, but it made sense here. I put a few things under other things, inserted stuff into empty containers, and now  they take up less space.

And I can open the freezer door easily now.

Went though a drawer full of expired medicine and nutritional supplements and tossed some  of it. For some reason, that is difficult for me to do.   

[Raenia]

Some pants I ordered didn't fit as well as I hoped, so I packed them up to send back for exchange and got the package out of the house the next day.  Normally a task like that would sit on my dining table for a week or two before I got around to it.  Fortunately DH had an errand at the UPS store, so I made sure to have my stuff packed up in time to go with him.

Also moved a shirt I've been iffy on to the donate box.  Two sweaters soon to join it, as soon as they're clean.

ETA: Almost forgot!  I also wrote several holiday cards with old stationary, that will be mailed out tomorrow.  I think some of these cards have come with me through three moves!  I don't usually send Christmas cards, but this year decided our extended family could use the extra contact.  Also used some (unasked for) return address stickers that were sent to us by a charity.  I prefer to use them rather than just throw away.