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

[mspym]

A friend who recently moved house asked if I had any large jars she could have for her kitchen. You bet I do! She gets containers and I get more shelf space. YAY.

[Loretta]

I freecycled a recliner that was excess in my livingroom, it’s feeling much more spacious.  I swear I need a professional feng shui guru to tell me how best to configure my long, dark, and skinny livingroom. 

[Frugal Lizard]

I de-cluttered all my allium seeds - there were several packets of old seeds plus the three types of new seeds have way more than I actually need.  I decided to start them all  and see what happens.  Onion seed does not last in dormancy for long.

I just want to note how much nicer it is to do a task, such as boiling down sap, when I have to pull out equipment that I use once every two years, and it is not hard to find or to extract from the storage place and not really dirty after being in storage.  Sweet bonus for de-cluttering.

[happyfeet]

Went thru all my stamps for stamping and packed up a bunch to sell  and it that is a fail - then donate.  Many for mid 1990's - guess they are vintage now. :)

[Loretta]

Lord willin’ a lady is coming to pick up a lamp that my ungrateful cat is always knocking over.

This week I am thrifting some painful shoes and slippers and ordering new models that hopefully won’t inflame my aggravated hammertoe.

[oneday]

Sold another furniture piece today.  It was something I liked and didn't necessarily want to get rid of, but for the last 15 years, its function has been "to take up space", and I no longer need things that take up space.  And not worth disassembling and storing either.

Good for you, finally recognizing this!

I just want to note how much nicer it is to do a task, such as boiling down sap, when I have to pull out equipment that I use once every two years, and it is not hard to find or to extract from the storage place and not really dirty after being in storage.  Sweet bonus for de-cluttering.

You're living the dream, @Frugal Lizard

Great discussion question, @MayDay !

I'm making a renewed effort at paperwork sorting and tossing. Always room for improvement there! Got a bit done over the last few days.


Today, walked with BF to the little free library where he exchanged several books. While the quantity of books remains constant, at least these books will be useful. The other ones were door stops to us. I'm taking credit for reminding him to bring the books.

So far, have kept up on entering receipts into YNAB the same day the purchases were made, and have been able to keep up with the mail. The back log is still there, but at least not growing.

One of the books from the little free library turned out to be not what he expected, so that will go back to the lfl on the next walk.

Craigslisted two floor lamps today!

And identified four things to attempt to sell. 🤞

[halftimer]

Gave away 8 items this week, mostly clothing and similar that were in good condition but not exciting enough to sell. A family member mentioned they needed some more work shirts, and I quickly offered them some options and we were both happy that the sizes were good and out they headed.

[LaineyAZ]

I'm actually halting any de-cluttering and am temporarily in re-cluttering (?) mode.  There's a big garage sale set for mid-May to raise money for a local charity, so I'm keeping what I think will sell, e.g., kids board games, costume jewelry, kitchen items, etc., and setting it aside in my garage until it's time. 

I have no problem holding on to things like this if there's a definite date for it all to be out of the house.

[meadow lark]

Dropped off a completely full hatchback of clothes, Christmas stuff, and books at a thrift store.
Finally took the Kaboom automatic toilet cleaner (love those!) off my kitchen counter and to my wife’s store and installed it.
Discovered an antler in my back seat (under the clutter) that has probably been there since we evacuated from Hurricane Laura in August.  Daisy June Dagger Paws is enjoying trying to make it disappear.

[SunnyDays]

Daisy looks just like my next door neighbour’s dog.  She’s a digger too.  By the way, vets hate antlers - they break dogs’ teeth.

I’m working on a new pile of stuff to donate/sell.  Tomorrow a bag of clothes and 2 pictures go to the thrift store, a couple of tops to the neighbour, and so far I’ve found 7 nice glass jars to sell.  They’ve been sitting around far too long and now that I have finger and wrist problems, are too hard for me to open.  Also, a riding helmet to sell.  I’m expecting to find more stuff in the next few weeks.

[meadow lark]

Oh no! So frustrating trying to find long lasting chewies that she wants to play with that aren’t dangerous.

[SunnyDays]

Oh no! So frustrating trying to find long lasting chewies that she wants to play with that aren’t dangerous.

Try Duvoplus Rubber Mint Bone.  It’s a slightly bendy rubber, very dense with some weight to it, with a mint taste and holes for peanut butter etc.  It’s impossible for a dog to tear a piece off.  Comes in 3 sizes and different colours.  I got mine at Petvalu.  Totally safe.

[Fresh Bread]

I'm trying to re-read a few books to see if I still want them. Just finished one and I'll be leaving it in the bookshelf at the holiday place I'm at. Too easy!

[meadow lark]

Sunny days, I’ll put that on my list of things to try.  Thanks!

[oneday]

Reminded BF to take the book to the little free library on his way out the door. It counts!

[NotJen]

Sold two things yesterday that I had been previously stood up for multiple times.  Yay!  One person even paid me $5 more than the asking price, with no comment about overpaying.

[Sugaree]

Sold some baby toys yesterday.  Gave the money to DS, who promptly bought more stuff.  At least he bought smaller stuff than what went out the door.

[Weisass]

Finally got the high chair out the house. End of an era.

Funny thing, I tried to give it away for free and nobody was interested, so I put it for sale for $5 on the local virtual yard sale and had tons of interest.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Sold 3 skincare samples (birchbox subscription I was gifted). Out of the house
Also, returned cleats that didn't fit my teen. I was really lazy & didn't feel like going in person to the stores. Done. Items we don't need out the  house, with the bonus of money back

[MayDay]

We decluttered 4 boxes of tile from the basement workshop onto the kitchen wall! One small box of extra remains in storage in case of breakage.

Today I am going to go through a few closets and cull a small volume of items. We don't have any large areas at this point, it's just the continually sweeps over time as things accumulate.

I asked on the last page if anyone had changed the habits that got them into this mess..... I found it humorous that every response was along the lines of "well you see I personally do not actually have a problem" lolol. I will fully admit I need to do better!  For me it is a combo of anxiety around stuff (too much stuff that is!) and interest in "improving" things, ie decor, my wardrobe, and having the money to just go buy whatever is of interest and not need to really shop around and save and make sure I really want it. Like for our new puppy- I just buy her whatever toys or treats or whatnot that I want to try, and then inevitably some don't work out and need to be re-homed.

This weekend I am thinking I will tackle a sweep of the garage, the hall closet, and my closet. The garage had it's hanging shelves taken down for the upcoming electrical project. so now that stuff needs to be reorganized (or gotten rid of). The hall closet has a lot of misc linens and towels that we probably won't ever really need. And at work I keep getting gifts of branded merchandise, so I can just donate some of the older ones I never wear, as it seems unlikely I'll ever need 6 work shirts (we normally wear business casual and the branded shirts are worn fairly rarely).

Happy weekend everyone!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@MayDay - I think there's quite a gap between hoarder, and continually focused on getting rid of things. I find that it's a daily task, and like laundry, your work is never done. I spend more time on decluttering & organization than most people I know, but I also enjoy it & I'd define our house is pretty streamlined (as much as you can be with kids at home). But, I also have hot button areas that are way less organized than others, and my husband does not share my school of thought on clutter. At all. At all. So, we're a bit of a push & pull.

As for today, I sold a pair of new shin guard sleeves (my kids wear the shin guards directly in the socks), & a under shirt my husband bought & didn't like. Junk out of the house, money in.

[slackmax]

Relisted a wooden end table with built in drawers on top, on Craigslist. Last time I got a two inquiries about it, but no interest in buying.

Also picked out 60 old utility bills from the pile for recycling. 

Rummaged through the greeting card supply and found a nice thank you card to send to my sister-in-law.

[mspym]

Thinking about MayDay's question, I think it can be hard to answer because of the assumptions made in the question. The habits that got me here?
- One would be buying books that were not available in the library, that I read and traded with friends and were part of my social community. My interests moved on and I no longer want to carry them around. So is the habit I need to discard buying books? Outgrowing hobbies?
- My other area is clothes, again I buy things when either an item wears out, or is about to, or my style changes. Is the habit I should discard entropy and fabric being an ephemeral material? Or should I keep wearing clothes that no longer reflect who I am? Sure, I could theoretically learn to not care about the opinion of strangers but *I* also don't like to wear ill-fitting/worn-out clothing that makes me feel bad.

Today, I am putting a wool cardigan that is itchy in the donation box.

[Sibley]

I asked on the last page if anyone had changed the habits that got them into this mess..... I found it humorous that every response was along the lines of "well you see I personally do not actually have a problem" lolol. I will fully admit I need to do better!  For me it is a combo of anxiety around stuff (too much stuff that is!) and interest in "improving" things, ie decor, my wardrobe, and having the money to just go buy whatever is of interest and not need to really shop around and save and make sure I really want it. Like for our new puppy- I just buy her whatever toys or treats or whatnot that I want to try, and then inevitably some don't work out and need to be re-homed.

Part of this is likely that self reflection is hard. And change is even harder. The people who really need to do that reflection and make fundamental changes are thus less likely to do so. There's been a handful of people on this thread at one point or another who I really thought needed help dealing with underlying problems which lead to them getting too much stuff, or inabilities in getting rid of it. Each has been extremely resistant to the idea that they have a problem.

[Plina]

I think the thing most of us could work with is the incoming stuff. I have stopped accepting stuff that I don’t have a use of. Corporate gifts that I know I will not use will not enter my apartment. Conference gift bags are not accepted etc.

It drives me crazy when my parents show some random crap that they have gotten from their employer and it is stuffed in some cupboard or when they don’t get rid of stuff they don’t use anymore because it is a gift from x.

@Sun Hat I took some help from a professional to identify which kind of styles fit my body type. That have helped with shopping and today I can dismiss about 90 % of the clothes in a store by a glance. I also buy most of my stuff online. I also promised myself that I would not use any clothes I would not use outside of my home in my home. In other words even though I walk around with yoga pants and/or some other fitness clothes I am not going to wear something I would not wear in a gym.

This has actually allowed me to downsize my wardrobe because everything fits and is mostly matchable.

[Raenia]

For me, I fixed the habits before I started the decluttering process.  I was never a hoarder, but was a typical consumer so had a lot of stuff coming into the house.

1. Started using the library and Open Library, and only buying books that either a) aren't available, in which case I donate them when I'm done, or b) I already know I will want to reread many times.
2. Stopped impulse buying things, especially clothes.  Frugality is great for preventing new clutter coming in.
3. Started saying no when people offer me things for free, especially my mom.

The actual decluttering process is almost an afterthought.

[SunnyDays]

I certainly have a problem with clothes. Not so much in the volume that I have in the house, but in how I buy it. I have anxiety issues  and low self-esteem, so I buy all of my clothes online and tell myself that I don't care that they're ill-fitting. Then, when I look like a slob, I don't take care of my clothes, and end up ruining the sloppy clothes and then discarding them when they're too bad for even me to wear out of the house. It ends up churning through a lot of clothes, but changing the pattern would require hard emotional work, so it's easier to go online and buy myself a new wardrobe for $100.

People tend not to post such things because 1) it's a downer, and 2) problematic behaviours usually hide uncomfortable feelings

Have you ever seen the "What Not to Wear" TV series with Stacy London and Clinton Kelly?  People are "turned in" by friends and relatives who are appalled at their clothing choices and then re-dressed by the hosts.  The people learn why they dress the way they do, what actually suits them, how to identify clothing that works for them etc.  It sounds shallow but actually gives the people some insight into their overall psychology and they tend to feel a lot differently about themselves by the end.  I found it really interesting.  In your situation, it sounds like your clothes buying methods are perpetuating your low self esteem.  Maybe it's time to try something different?

[MaybeBabyMustache]

For me, I fixed the habits before I started the decluttering process.  I was never a hoarder, but was a typical consumer so had a lot of stuff coming into the house.

1. Started using the library and Open Library, and only buying books that either a) aren't available, in which case I donate them when I'm done, or b) I already know I will want to reread many times.
2. Stopped impulse buying things, especially clothes.  Frugality is great for preventing new clutter coming in.
3. Started saying no when people offer me things for free, especially my mom.

The actual decluttering process is almost an afterthought.

That's a good way to put it, and I've done something similar.

As for today, sold a dress that's too big. Will get that packaged up & into the mail drop box.

[SunnyDays]

I certainly have a problem with clothes. Not so much in the volume that I have in the house, but in how I buy it. I have anxiety issues  and low self-esteem, so I buy all of my clothes online and tell myself that I don't care that they're ill-fitting. Then, when I look like a slob, I don't take care of my clothes, and end up ruining the sloppy clothes and then discarding them when they're too bad for even me to wear out of the house. It ends up churning through a lot of clothes, but changing the pattern would require hard emotional work, so it's easier to go online and buy myself a new wardrobe for $100.

People tend not to post such things because 1) it's a downer, and 2) problematic behaviours usually hide uncomfortable feelings

Have you ever seen the "What Not to Wear" TV series with Stacy London and Clinton Kelly?  People are "turned in" by friends and relatives who are appalled at their clothing choices and then re-dressed by the hosts.  The people learn why they dress the way they do, what actually suits them, how to identify clothing that works for them etc.  It sounds shallow but actually gives the people some insight into their overall psychology and they tend to feel a lot differently about themselves by the end.  I found it really interesting.  In your situation, it sounds like your clothes buying methods are perpetuating your low self esteem.  Maybe it's time to try something different?

I used to love that show! Is it still on? I need that kind of intervention. I certainly need to try something different because dog-hair covered sweats aren't sparking joy.

On the non-clothes clutter front I'm doing great though, having parted with the last of my votive holders and throw cushions last week.

No, it’s not on anymore, but maybe it’s worth it for you to try to rematch online?

I know what you mean about dog hair covered sweats because that’s what I’m wearing right now!  Other than the yard though, I don’t wear them out in public.

Casual clothes can still look nice if they fit well and have some shape to them.  A strategy I’ve found useful is to go to a thrift store and try on lots of things to find brands that do fit nicely, then buy the same thing new.  It saves guess work and running from store to store.

[Captain FIRE]

Thinking about MayDay's question, I think it can be hard to answer because of the assumptions made in the question. The habits that got me here?

+1

I'm done with my "habit" of procreation, so I guess there's that...  Some things you collect for a stage of life and then you release when done.  They're not a habit that needs to be fixed.  For example, I'm looking forward to getting rid of breastfeeding supply items when I wean in a month (e.g. 1 pump from each, bottles, nursing pillows, breastmilk storage bags and freezer container), but I wouldn't say I should have changed the "habit" of feeding my kids!

Likewise, we'll pass on toys as my daughter outgrows them.  I'm happy to move, on but I don't regret bringing them into the house (98% gifts or hand-me-downs).  I also wouldn't have chosen to say no to more of the hand-me-downs (even those we haven't used so much), because once you start saying no, people stop offering and we've saved SO MUCH by using 2nd hand items, everything from cribs to strollers to clothes to smaller items like nursing pillows and toys. 

[oneday]

I absolutely have a problem with paper, @MayDay. I've been able to put some rules in place to help sort through the stack, but the basic problem is I don't wanna adult, when it comes to paperwork. So dang boring! And I haven't been able to dislodge that attitude. Ultimately, I continue to pick at the problem and maybe someday I'll accept the drudgery as part of my life. It's happened in other areas.


Gave a cast iron pan to a friend who loves cast iron.

[LinneaH]

Well, since last year I am done with my "habit" of my ex... that took care of a lot of shit :-D.

To be fair, not all of the clutter was his (by far) but we never got to the bottom of stuff. He didn't want to and he didn't want to do his share of housework and family responsibilities, so I was often too tired and did not have the energy to take care of it all.

However, I do think that a lot of my problem is not "habits" but "history", I had a lot of stuff from teenage/early twenties and from what I have inherited from grandparents. I have never had anything like a shopping addiction, more "cannot get rid of sentimental stuff". I am now almost 50, I don't buy a lot of stuff, so there has been more going out than coming in for several years. Also, in the last few years, I have managed to let go of a lot of sentimental things, that didn't really mean that much to me, which meant that my moving and down-sizing last year was pretty smooth.

So yes, I have changed my habits, but my problem was always "keeping", not so much "acquiring".
I am making sure that I am aware how much I have changed and how much my life has changed, and that I try to remember how much stuff I had and how that impacted me.

[slackmax]

Chipping away here. Spent 2 hours rifling through bags of old paperwork from the computer room.  A bit more floor space opened up, which is good for morale, since a lot of my decluttering lately has been from inside storage containers. The clutter is gone but the containers remain (for now).

Was able to cull 5 pounds of it and it is currently on the curb awaiting the recycling truck's arrival.

LinneaH,  similar situation here with inheriting stuff. My girlfriend was a getter and keeper of stuff.  She is gone now, but her stuff remains and I am slowly decluttering it. I am a keeper, so it is kind of a struggle to get rid of it. It's always the last thing on my list of things to do, but I occasionally devote time to it, and as noted, am chipping away.

Too be fair, a big chunk (10%) of the clutter is my stuff, not hers.       

[NotJen]

Finally sold my kayak today.  After getting stood up on Saturday, the buyer eventually made it out today.  I was a little upset because I had come home specifically for the pickup on Sat night, but I let her get it today without being bitchy about it since I was home anyway.  One less thing to worry about now!

I'm about a week out from trying to sell most of my good furniture.  Waiting for inspection results to come in for the home sale before believing I really have to be out of here in 17 days.

I asked on the last page if anyone had changed the habits that got them into this mess..... I found it humorous that every response was along the lines of "well you see I personally do not actually have a problem"

That's how I was going to reply!  I truly don't think I have a problem with incoming items.  I stopped shopping for fun a long time ago (if I ever actually shopped for fun - more out of boredom).  I'm totally fine "shopping" with friends and not making any purchases.  Most incoming items are replacements for previous purchases, and new items are carefully considered.  It was a change made long ago, and I think a lot of it has to do with getting older and knowing myself better.

And I don't consider my personal situation to be a mess.  My problem is living in the same house for 15 years, and having 2000+ sq ft for one person.  There are so many places to put things and never think about them again!  Even with unused items in my cabinets, they still aren't full or cluttered!  I started getting rid of things a couple of years ago because I knew that I eventually wanted to sell my house, getting more serious now that it's imminent.  I like posting here about the emotional attachment I have to some things, which helps me release that attachment.

One big recent change is to let myself get rid of gifts I don't want as soon as I get them.  I used to hang on to stuff I didn't want because someone had given it to me, and I could possibly regift it at some point, or maybe eventually will use it.  But I definitely don't want to move with that crap, so out it goes, no guilt attached.

[Sibley]

My trash can is actually full this week. Wow. Of course, I missed taking the trash out last week, so that doesn't help.

Threw out an old litterbox. I don't need 3 boxes with just Arwen, and the 2 I kept have an extra wide lip that results in the mess not getting under the box when Arwen misses (usually on purpose, she's been upset lately). Much easier to clean up.

Finally got around to fixing the dryer vent, it got smashed off when all the snow & ice melted and an ice shelf came crashing down. Tossed the old one, removed the clutter of the new one.

Two boxes of old family pictures and related stuff in the car to drop at my aunts house tomorrow. Her problem.

Organized some stuff that came from my parents house that can't go on the truck, that is all out of the way. Will eventually leave the house whenever they get a new place. There is more coming, and then my parents and their cats too at some point.

Took down and put away the Christmas lights. Kinda sad now, they were pretty.

[Dutch Comfort]

Just sent my son to school carrying 6 extra books for the free library at school. Will do this every day this week until the full box that I have is empty (poor kiddo......). 

Sold an unused school backpack this weekend.

My daughter finally went through all her "crafts" which she made during age 2-4 (she is 13 now). She decided to keep only 3 things. The rest of the box could be trashed! So proud of her.

Husband bought new audio equipment (first time in >20 years). Now we have to get rid of the old ones. Let's see if I can Craigslist them this week and get them out of the house.

[innkeeper77]

In the past month:
Made $1600 from old tech items on Ebay- after fees and shipping!
Sold $27 of misc on craigslist over 3 listings, listed intentionally cheap.
Gave away 3 free listings on craigslist including an old scrap microwave

And last night I got rid of more clutter!
Recycled a large box for my desk monitor mounting arm, and moved the instructions, tools, and different bolt sizes into a much smaller box for future use. It doesn't need the full packaging for the next time we move! I can put the bolts in the small box, and just carry the arm itself.
Recycled 2 other boxes that were just sitting in the basement
Recycled old papers
Put some tech and old kid stuff in the donate box
listed a bunch of unused woodworking parts really cheap on craigslist, plus some tech. I currently have 9 active listings! I put a temporary shelf up as a staging area for sorting, selling, or recycling.
Threw away some old "maybe useful" items nobody would want.

I am really working on the "this could be useful someday" issue- even if my house isn't filled, the cost to replace doesn't outweigh the mental drag of piles in the basement. Plus, with this much UNSORTED "useful" crap, I would never find it when needed. I will keep useful items and tools, but need them all to be properly sorted and categorized to be worth keeping. Eventually I want a food pantry, and a "stuff" pantry, with nothing stored that doesn't have a dedicated "space", and with an organizational scheme to make it easy to find things. If I can't fit spare parts or assorted tools in there, to someone or somewhere else they need to go.

[LinneaH]

LinneaH,  similar situation here with inheriting stuff. My girlfriend was a getter and keeper of stuff.  She is gone now, but her stuff remains and I am slowly decluttering it. I am a keeper, so it is kind of a struggle to get rid of it. It's always the last thing on my list of things to do, but I occasionally devote time to it, and as noted, am chipping away.

Too be fair, a big chunk (10%) of the clutter is my stuff, not hers.     

@slackmax, yes I have seen the hard work you are doing, good job!
I have actually moved on a bit from being a keeper, towards minimalism (absolutely not there yet, but going there in some areas). I used to be very sentimental, and that has changed, even so that a very close friend said a couple of years ago "I can't believe how you can be so non-sentimental". I  believe this is due to a combination of several moves, personal development in general and a lot of Youtube-watching (decluttering and Minimalism)  + also reading and agreeeing w/KonMari - keep only what sparks joy. Also helps that I am pretty non-conventional.

I wish you a continued good decluttering!

[NotJen]

Lately I've been trying keep unwanted email clutter at bay.  I get lots of emails from places I have a relationship with, but I usually just delete the email after I read the subject.  I'm making sure to actually open these emails and unsubscribe.  It's really hard, because my automatic reaction is to just delete!  I'll be living away from home with limited internet access over the summer, so keeping junk email to a minimum will be important.

I also finally signed up for paperless statements for all my credit cards and bills last month.  I used to like the physical reminder so that I don't miss anything, but realistically, it's an overwhelming amount of mail that I truly don't need.  Since I switched over, I've definitely noticed the lack of mail, which is good.

[mspym]

A great video from one of my favourite YT minimalists  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDwZ64IglXQ

Her approach is like Midwest Marie Kondo (not that she knows it) and her wardrobe planning is not officially Capsule but is strongly aligned with Anushka Rees' Curated Closet.

[okisok]

I *knew* you were describing Dawn! I love her channel and have been watching it for months. She is extremely motivating to me.

[MayDay]

Perhaps I phrased it poorly by using the word habit. I was thinking about habit broadly- but maybe a better phrasing would be "life circumstances".

I got rid of quite a few things last weekend! Did a nice closet sweep, and I feel better afterwards. The main culprits were clothes from work. They all have to be ordered online and the sizing is unpredictable. My boss just gave me two new shirts. One is too small, one is too large. Both are supposedly size L. Neither can be returned. Ugh. I will put them out for free to coworkers but it is a bit touchy because they were a gift from my boss.

[SunnyDays]

Perhaps I phrased it poorly by using the word habit. I was thinking about habit broadly- but maybe a better phrasing would be "life circumstances".

I got rid of quite a few things last weekend! Did a nice closet sweep, and I feel better afterwards. The main culprits were clothes from work. They all have to be ordered online and the sizing is unpredictable. My boss just gave me two new shirts. One is too small, one is too large. Both are supposedly size L. Neither can be returned. Ugh. I will put them out for free to coworkers but it is a bit touchy because they were a gift from my boss.

Go to your boss first and say something like, "I love the shirts you gave me, but unfortunately the manufacturer's sizing is inconsistent and they don't fit.  I'd like someone else to enjoy them though, so do you mind if I offer them to others?"  As long as you put a positive spin on it, I can't see him/her being offended.  Unless they are very thin skinned.

[MountainGal]

@SunnyDays, great suggestion!

Lately:
~Over the past week I've used up the tiny bit of makeup in two different bottles using a makeup brush, the remaining bit of a hand soap bottle, and a bottle each of detergent and bleach.
~I've continued to post over on the eat all of the food in your house MMM thread.
~We were given a gift card for a new dishwasher, which meant we had to clear out the sink cabinet.  I tossed several things, will give away a few other things, and I'll corral the rag pile into a box.
~DH broke down a dilapidated shed from our land and used the metal siding as a privacy fence around half of the enclosed garden.  This way he can garden this summer without people driving by staring at him.

[former player]

Perhaps I phrased it poorly by using the word habit. I was thinking about habit broadly- but maybe a better phrasing would be "life circumstances".

I got rid of quite a few things last weekend! Did a nice closet sweep, and I feel better afterwards. The main culprits were clothes from work. They all have to be ordered online and the sizing is unpredictable. My boss just gave me two new shirts. One is too small, one is too large. Both are supposedly size L. Neither can be returned. Ugh. I will put them out for free to coworkers but it is a bit touchy because they were a gift from my boss.

Go to your boss first and say something like, "I love the shirts you gave me, but unfortunately the manufacturer's sizing is inconsistent and they don't fit.  I'd like someone else to enjoy them though, so do you mind if I offer them to others?"  As long as you put a positive spin on it, I can't see him/her being offended.  Unless they are very thin skinned.

You could also frame it as a request for a swap - I love these shirts but the sizes are a bit odd, can anyone do a swap with me?"

[meadow lark]

Watching her videos is helping me.  I just donated most of the stuff I had bought for our vow renewal , which didn’t happen bc of Covid.  I kept thinking I should wait until people were having weddings again and sell it.  But I hate selling things, I would much rather just put them back into the world, and let the charity that runs the thrift store have that money.  I donated approx $400 (when bought new) table cloths, runners, centerpieces, things to make invitations.
I tried to donate my wedding dress, but at the last minute I decided to keep it - I may try to dye it and use it as a dress for a Mardi Gras ball.

[NotJen]

I tried to donate my wedding dress, but at the last minute I decided to keep it - I may try to dye it and use it as a dress for a Mardi Gras ball.

I finally donated my wedding dress with a bunch of clothes a few months ago (after having been divorced for over 10 years).  I don't know why I kept it so long - it was from a department store and pretty hideous.  I'm hoping someone makes a costume out of it!

[RetiredAt63]

I tried to donate my wedding dress, but at the last minute I decided to keep it - I may try to dye it and use it as a dress for a Mardi Gras ball.

I finally donated my wedding dress with a bunch of clothes a few months ago (after having been divorced for over 10 years).  I don't know why I kept it so long - it was from a department store and pretty hideous.  I'm hoping someone makes a costume out of it!

It took me downsizing from my house to an apartment to donate my wedding dress.  I'd been separated/divorced 10 years by then!  I still have my wedding and engagement rings, they just sit in the box.  At least they take up less space.  ;-)

[Sugaree]

I tried to donate my wedding dress, but at the last minute I decided to keep it - I may try to dye it and use it as a dress for a Mardi Gras ball.

I finally donated my wedding dress with a bunch of clothes a few months ago (after having been divorced for over 10 years).  I don't know why I kept it so long - it was from a department store and pretty hideous.  I'm hoping someone makes a costume out of it!

It took me downsizing from my house to an apartment to donate my wedding dress.  I'd been separated/divorced 10 years by then!  I still have my wedding and engagement rings, they just sit in the box.  At least they take up less space.  ;-)

Mine was red and is currently hanging out in the cargo area of my car.  I've been thinking of having it turned into a xmas tree skirt.

[crowinghen]

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Mine was red and is currently hanging out in the cargo area of my car.  I've been thinking of having it turned into a xmas tree skirt.
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Great idea!