Author Topic: Minimalist Challenge for October?  (Read 12095 times)

Off the Wheel

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Minimalist Challenge for October?
« on: September 30, 2017, 03:06:00 PM »
The true mustachians probably don't have enough stuff to do this challenge, but us newbies do!

The premise is simple. Donate/get rid of 1 item on day 1, 2 items on day 2, 3 items on day 3... so on, so forth, for all of October.

Who's in?

(For some reason the original post on the Minimalists won't work for me, so here's another blogger's take on it - http://andthenwesaved.com/the-minimalist-challenge/)

lexde

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2017, 03:10:33 PM »
Sounds good -- I'm in! I got rid of a ton of clothes in August and September but I'm up for a challenge!!

This is a total of 496 items. Wow!

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2017, 03:14:41 PM »
Sounds good -- I'm in! I got rid of a ton of clothes in August and September but I'm up for a challenge!!

This is a total of 496 items. Wow!

I might need to 'cheat' near the end and use socks with holes in them or the bobby pins littering the bottom of bathroom drawers. :)

lexde

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2017, 03:44:21 PM »
Sounds good -- I'm in! I got rid of a ton of clothes in August and September but I'm up for a challenge!!

This is a total of 496 items. Wow!

I might need to 'cheat' near the end and use socks with holes in them or the bobby pins littering the bottom of bathroom drawers. :)
Haha, I was just checking to see if I had an extra deck of cards lying around.

I may have to modify this challenge and instead of doing 1...2...3... I may just aim to have all 496 items by October 31. I just cleared out extra dog-stuff (leashes, collars, training aids that didn't work...) and found 31 things to throw away or donate to a shelter! Just 465 items to go...

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2017, 03:52:05 PM »
Sounds good -- I'm in! I got rid of a ton of clothes in August and September but I'm up for a challenge!!

This is a total of 496 items. Wow!

I might need to 'cheat' near the end and use socks with holes in them or the bobby pins littering the bottom of bathroom drawers. :)
Haha, I was just checking to see if I had an extra deck of cards lying around.

I may have to modify this challenge and instead of doing 1...2...3... I may just aim to have all 496 items by October 31. I just cleared out extra dog-stuff (leashes, collars, training aids that didn't work...) and found 31 things to throw away or donate to a shelter! Just 465 items to go...

Good idea - I might do the same. More inspired on the weekends anyway.

mynewchoice

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2017, 06:02:45 PM »
I just finished reading The More Of Less, and have been clearing out clutter--but I'm terribly lazy and don't bother to count the number of items. I cleaned out my closet and donated 3 bursting trash bags of clothes, and had 2 more that were trash (socks with holes, boxers that the elastic was dried out, undershirts that were closer to gray than white, etc).  Just this morning I cleaned out the drawer on my side of the sink and purged a bunch of junk.

I'd guess I'm well over the 496 items purged, and anticipate that I'll be able to reach that for October as well. However, I don't plan to count. I'll cheer you guys on and continue to minimize alongside you.

alleykat

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2017, 06:07:09 PM »
Considering I have been decluttering for years now, I don't know if I will be able to keep up with this challenge but I am going to try.  I am looking to start decluttering again and this challenge is perfect in timing.  I will follow along regardless and do what I can. It will keep me motivated.

lemonverbena

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2017, 07:49:57 PM »
I'm in! We are so close to finishing an attic-to-bedroom conversion and will have plenty of stuff to sift through as we go from one shared kids' bedroom to two. I'd have to venture out to the garage though to get anywhere near 496 items. I sold something on Craigslist today, so I'm getting a head start.

1) massage table, sold for $80

Radagast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2017, 08:49:18 PM »
I'll try. A while ago my parents dumped off a bunch of my old stuff which I hadn't seen for years, so there is a lot of fuel there. Plus some other stuff laying around, I may make it. Tax deductions are better than garage sales :).

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2017, 09:47:29 PM »
I'm going to start area by area. Tackled the entryway today (I know it's not quittteee October) and inspired by lexde I put a bunch of things from the dog basket into the giveaway - 2 toys she's not into, a leash she outgrew, a clicker that never worked. Threw away a toothbrush of her's since we have a new one.

5 items down, day 1!

ixtap

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2017, 10:13:51 PM »
Maybe if I put things away with this method...

I have no idea how much we got rid of when we decluttered, but right now none of it is where it belongs. Everything has been pulled out of the cupboards and is laying around. Even the cupboard doors are off, making it look like we have that many more things.

I need to get to it. If he does it, everything will go back in. He is a make it disappear cleaner. Which is why we once found 25 forgotten T shirts in a suitcase when we cleaned out a closet.

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2017, 04:38:09 PM »
Official day 1! I'm also going to do this a little more casually than prescribed, but today I found another six items to donate. Up to 16 (out of the 496).

To make it extra-mustachian, trying to sell at least five of those items. Here's to making a profit off old stuff!

lemonverbena

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2017, 08:22:35 PM »
Doing great so far.

2-5) books, donate
6) electrical junction box cover, trash
7) scraper covered in roofing tar, trash
8) kid shoes, consignment
9) chalkboard, consignment
10-12) bike lights, donate
13-15) lego instructions, recycle
16-17) toy vehicles, consignment
18-33) painting canvases, some trash, some donate
34-36) rubber bands, trash
37-46) kid clothing, give to friends
47-48) books, sell
49) broken wreath, trash
50-61) rusty canning jar rings, trash
62) cracked mortar and pestle, trash

Mrs3F

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2017, 08:48:38 PM »
I was already planning to work my way through a bunch of my kids' things. I'm in!

ixtap

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2017, 01:19:45 PM »
I won't be following along as written, since we already live pretty tiny. However, we had a minor disaster last month that means everything needs to be out back away now. I have convinced SO that we need to thing about things as we put them back, rather than just shoving them back where they were.

I put a few clothes in the Goodwill stack yesterday.

I am always amused by the "does it being you joy" version of these challenges. I hate sandpaper, but can't imagine how much more miserable yet my life would be if I had to go find some every time.

cantgrowone

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #15 on: October 02, 2017, 03:20:01 PM »
I'm in. Over the past 8 months we've been slowly clearing out stuff. My garage will be a great place to start and all the boxes I keep when buying things.

I will keep a stack and try to sell what is valuable. What doesn't sell will go to the thrift store. If you have electronics/books, the Amazon Trade-In program is easy to do. I hate promoting Amazon because they block me from selling (they think I'm somehow related to a person who is banned), but I made $77 easy last month.

I like the post OP, and am glad I found the spending fast blog post.

Anygivenlindsay

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #16 on: October 03, 2017, 06:23:04 AM »
I've been wanting to try the Minsgame for awhile but always end up stopping after a few days. I'm all in for this month! We've been trying to pare down for awhile now but I'm sure there are 496 things we can get rid of. I made a chart to keep track of the days and it will be prominently displayed so I don't forget!
Good luck everyone!

Anygivenlindsay

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #17 on: October 03, 2017, 06:47:35 PM »
Got rid of 3 old notebooks today. I used 2 pages out of each thinking I was going to keep a journal. Thank goodness I didn't! Those pages got shredded and the rest will be donated

Radagast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #18 on: October 03, 2017, 11:06:34 PM »
I'll keep this consolidated in one post.
1. Small table top lazy susan (1)
2. 2 of DW's dolls (3)
3. 3 unused packs of small photo paper (6)
4. Address book, pepper spray, travel board games, gimmicky alarm clock (10)
5. two tins, shower head part, bunny rabbit toy, bottle opener (15)
6. actual shower head, book, stapler, jar, carabiner, toy horse (21)
7. bottle of glitter, box of BB's, easter decor, multitool, Sim City collection, camping pot X2 (28)
8. camping pot, camping mug, 3x cables, 2x koosh toys, tote bag (36)
9. 3x shooting rubber animal toys, nintendo 64 controller, telephone cable, towel hook, coffee maker, AA battery charger, pepper spray again (45)
10. 10 CD's (55)
11. 2 CD's, 3 DVD's, 6 books (66)
12. 3 books, 9 glass coke bottles (78)
13. 13 books (91)
14. 13 books, origami set (105)
15. 14 rolls of coins, 1 shot glass (120)
16. 6 1.5L glass bottles, 2 glass coke bottles, 1 jacket, 2 old computer games, 1 backpacking pot, 1 castle thing, 1 wooden boat model, 1 match container, 1 doll dress  (136)
17. 3 plastic bottles, 3 computer games, 3 bags, pedometer, minimaglite, Trends Class T Amplifier, laser pointer,  toy soccer ball, carabiner, fuzzy dice, floaty waterproof phone case  (153)
18. 3 mineral specimens, 2 trivets, 2 puzzles, paper airplane kit, small swiss army knife, back scratcher, knife, large fork, small whisk, bottle opener, prism, flashlight, gourd, lip balm (171)
19. Syrup pourer mini pitcher thing, costume shield, witch hat, lid to earlier pot, electric razor, cord for razor, stone mushroom, bug charm? doll, polished rock bath sponge, cat tin, sticker book, origami kit, 20mm training blank, mini tripod, faux silver plate, lip balm, shot glass, toy frog, toy panda (190)
20. 7 books, 4 CD's, bow string wax, wilderness playing cards, multitool, LED light, cheap picture frame w/ hooks, shamrock handkerchief, dry sack, white gas stove, fuel container (210)
21. 6 blankets, strainer, duffel bag, travel bag, pepper spray, 2 glass decorations, curtain?, funnel, first aid kit, purse, syringe, cribbage board, LED light/tool, candle, Kindle cover (231)
22. 6 books, 2 UV filters, 2 tent stake bags, bag of charms?, wedding decoration, basket, winter cap, gloves, stuff sack, dry bag, ribbon, button pair of wooden shoes, sun glasses, funny duck nose, safety glasses(253)
23. Bag, dominoes, rock egg, ice cube tray, travel mug, tarp, valentine art kit, picture/frame, big roll of felt, calculator, dress shoes, sandals, indoor soccer shoes, strap, 3 compact florescent bulbs (replaced incandescant bulbs in odd corners), scissors, 2 bath sponges, funny necklace, SD card bag, small bag (276)
24. 5 books, 3 broadhead/knife sharpeners, 2 walky talkies, 2 game bags,  2 camo pants, camo shirt, camo head cover, travel bag, flashlight, aluminum tube, knife sharpener, wallet, toy Spanish bagpipe, soccer ball note pad, colored color pencil set (300)
25. 241 wheat pennies 1909-1958, 91 copper pennies 1959-1982, pair gloves. We'll count pennies as 24 items together. (325)
26. Clock, toy truck, hole punch, address book, 1.5L glass bottle, hammock, photo album, sound card, graphics card, curtain, ghost windsock, 3 small toys count as one, blank CD's, rain jacket, wireless headset, paper weight, waterproof bag, hand fan, quiver, 2 fat decorations, joke mosquito trap, 3 porcelain containers, jig saw (351)
27. Backpack, basket, 2 CDs, cordless drill w/ 2 batteries and charger counts as 3, 7 pairs desktop RAM, pair RAM mobile, 2 CPUs w/fans, P&S camera lens, bottle opener tool, new hiking boots, down camp boots, lizard decoration, CPU fan only, super glue pack, wireless flash controller, desktop card reader, table lamp (378)
28. 28 PVC pipe fittings (406)
29. Motherboard, pair RAM, CPU w/ fan, wifi card, kitchen sink, microwave, 4 sink accessories/ bags of, small gas grill, electric toothbrush, 9 arrows, 2 sights, 2 quivers, 1 release, 3 packs notches/arrowheads (435)
30. Compound bow, rangefinder, pouch, whisker silencers, rest, bow wax, 3 books, 3 plates, 1 cup, front door, small curtain, shoe inserts, camo mitts, 2 wooden combs, 4 cables, 1 CD, 1 elephant decoration, 3 drafting tools, stuffed toy animal, heat sink (465)
31. DLSR camera lens, dslr lens + accessories counts as 3, ICL camera and accessories counts as 5, spoon holder, coin bank, crayola crayons collector edition, carbon fiber tripod, bag, tripod head, box, 3 bags marbles, 1 box marbles, 1 gallon marbles, boomerang, souvenir Eiffel tower, garage sale tags, prism, pig snout, computer cable, "family" sign, bag google eyes, graduation cap, three ring binder (496)
« Last Edit: December 30, 2017, 03:22:52 PM by Radagast »

Fresh Bread

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #19 on: October 04, 2017, 01:17:39 AM »
Oh I love this! I'm in!

We have just completed a laundry reno and want to clear out the garage and yard next. The house is not perfect either even tho I did a big declutter recently. It's also our Council organised bulky rubbish chuck out this month I think so easy to dispose of stuff we can't find takers for.

It's Oct 4, so I'm supposed to have done 10 things... 
Plaster shovel thingy left behind by tradie, two holey DH vests (in American, undershirts??) became painting rags, various packaging that had been lying around went to recycling or bin. 

Fresh Bread

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #20 on: October 05, 2017, 05:24:29 AM »
Oct 5 - focus on the bathroom - through away 2 empty containers (why were they there?) and put away 3 other things that are used rarely. I also added a new habit to habitica to use up the odd soaps in the shower.

Duchess of Stratosphear

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #21 on: October 05, 2017, 06:50:44 AM »
I did this a year or two ago with a friend. We took pictures everyday to prove to each other that we were doing it. It does help you effectively get rid of a lot of stuff! I can't even remember all the crap I gave away, so apparently I didn't need it. I think doing this also makes you be a little more willing to get rid of something you might have otherwise held on to since you need to meet your quota everyday. Good luck!

Fresh Bread

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #22 on: October 05, 2017, 07:36:34 PM »
Oct 6 - 3 x cardboard boxes, 3 pieces of mail that had been sat for weeks waiting. I'm already cheating with the counting :)

ixtap

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #23 on: October 05, 2017, 09:04:51 PM »
Oct 6 - 3 x cardboard boxes, 3 pieces of mail that had been sat for weeks waiting. I'm already cheating with the counting :)

Whatever works for you. At least your home is cleaner.

I made it to Goodwill to drop off some clothes and threw out some candy we clearly aren't going to get around to eating,


westtoeast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #24 on: October 06, 2017, 04:36:01 AM »
Late to the game, but I'll join this! I put a shirt in the donate pile just before I saw this thread.

Radagast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #25 on: October 08, 2017, 12:37:27 AM »
Bump...

Fresh Bread

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #26 on: October 08, 2017, 01:10:25 AM »
Thanks for the bump reminder - I'm still on with this!

Yesterday 7/10 I was feeling sorry for myself with a cold so deleted 7 x digital files from my laptop.
Today 8/10 I got rid of way more than 8 things from the garden & garage - including old ruined paintbrushes & coffee cups saved out of guilt for seed raising but left to mould. Listed a book for giveaway but no takers.

westtoeast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #27 on: October 08, 2017, 09:16:57 AM »
Played catch up by filling up a big Goodwill box yesterday. Today I will try and remove 8 small items from my overfilled bathroom cabinets and tomorrow I will go through my books and see if I can identify 9 to remove (books that I've finished and didn't love enough to read again or pass to a friend).

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #28 on: October 08, 2017, 03:40:50 PM »
I've been sick as a dog for two weeks, and away for the long weekend - but man do I have a lot of catch up to do when I get back to the city tomorrow!

cantgrowone

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #29 on: October 09, 2017, 12:05:18 PM »
We have days 1-7 down and 5 items for day 8. We will have to spend some time each day to stay on track.

I have a giant box of things I decided to give away a month ago but it's still in the garage. We might have to tear into this box come Oct 31.

westtoeast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #30 on: October 09, 2017, 02:57:39 PM »
Oh boy, I'm already starting to struggle. I've gone over my bookshelf twice, and gone through my underwear drawer, and I'm still only at 7 items today! I'm going to have to get creative for the higher numbers this week.

Fresh Bread

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #31 on: October 09, 2017, 04:16:58 PM »
Day 9 was hard. I recycled 5 plastic bottle halves that we were using as mini seed greenhouses. They don't really fit on the pots and I can find/ make a better option I think. I was struggling for the other things but then hubby threw out a pair of shoes and I got rid of some promotional merchandise to a client. I have lots of it cluttering my garage.

ixtap

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #32 on: October 09, 2017, 07:00:40 PM »
I removed three books, identified three that need to be returned to a specific lending library, and threw out three cans that evidently got wetter than we realized in a mishap last month.

Rosy

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #33 on: October 09, 2017, 07:17:03 PM »
This will be fun!
I'll give it a go:) Since I'm already working on a new challenge in my own de-clutter gauntlet thread, this will be a great gauntlet to participate in. I'll never be a minimalist, I just don't have it in me:), but it will be fun to see if I can get up to 496 items discarded by the end of this month!

My donation box currently has 56 items in it. I thrashed at least 35 items, probably more, so far this month.
So, I'm going in with a total of 91 items as of tonight.

Now I need to read up on the links...

Oct 1 to Oct 9, 2017 - 91

Fresh Bread

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #34 on: October 09, 2017, 07:24:25 PM »
Well I've deleted 10 pics from my phone today. If I keep deleting digital files as a way of making up my daily numbers that's great because my digital decluttering has been put off for a long long time.

Radagast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #35 on: October 09, 2017, 11:51:13 PM »
Got through the 17th so far. Gotta get it while the getting's good. This has been the low-hanging fruit. From now on there will be a lot more stuff for each day, and I will actually have to sort, search, organize, count, and contemplate. I may also try bugging the wife (bad luck).

So far my method has been to put things on the coffee table to count and report here (if it didn't happen on MMM it didn't happen right?) Then I put it on the couch and take a phone picture, which I will later use to assign values and keep as a record for tax purposes. I realized that I can report it as a charitable donation for a tax break of the same value as I get for a garage sale or ebay, so why bother when I can just box it and give it to the thrift store?

So I am now at 153 items, I should tally that above...
« Last Edit: October 09, 2017, 11:54:16 PM by Radagast »

Anygivenlindsay

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #36 on: October 10, 2017, 06:28:19 AM »
I got behind because we were out of town this weekend so I need to do the 8-10 today. I've found most of the stuff I've gotten rid of so far has been the "just in case" stuff that I had saved from previous rounds of decluttering. I would say most hasn't been used in a year so out it's going.
When I go through everything tonight, I'll have to see if I can get ahead. Way to go everyone who has stuck with it so far!

lemonverbena

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #37 on: October 10, 2017, 05:51:09 PM »
63-77)  clothes, some trash, some donate
78-79) ink cartridges to broken printer, donate
80-83) tote bags too small to be useful, donate
84) birth ball, consignment
85-97) hanging file folders, donate
98-105) extra tabs for file folders, trash
106) stack of papers, recycle
107) cd-rom, trash
108) plastic sheet protector, trash
109-110) extra bottle caps, trash
111) no longer sticky masking tape, trash
112) box of old business cards, recycle
113) folder, recycle
114) fire proof box, donate
115) extra headlamp strap, trash
116) kid's sock missing it's mate, trash

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #38 on: October 10, 2017, 08:18:19 PM »
This is harder than expected!

I caught up on the last few days by getting 12 pieces of clothing I never wear ready for the donation bin, another dozen books, and 20 random things from the bathroom - I didn't count elastics and bobby pins EACH separately, but I can see how this is going to get challenging near the end.

The kitchen isn't my domain, but I'll have to head there next, and then into the dreaded spare room! I also have some gardening stuff out back, and might include my office/desk at work in the mix too.

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #39 on: October 11, 2017, 03:28:50 PM »
^^^ ... it will be fun:) - I just want to find out how many items I can really get to leave the premises within one month!

Perhaps the challenge and the driving point towards minimalism doesn't kick in until one is faced with tough choices toward the end?:)

I just want some space - free - gloriously uncluttered S P A C E:)

ixtap

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #40 on: October 11, 2017, 03:38:29 PM »
A couple more books, five decks of cards, plus a Apples to Apples dice game that we NEVER played. Not that we don't usually play, but that we have never played since getting about 4 years ago. Oh, and that peg game they have at Cracker Barrel. I feel a little bad about that one because it was made for us and even had our names written on it.

And a thingy that my husband must never know about. It looked like a fiberglass backing plate, but with two or three sets of holes drilled in it.

Plus, I took a stack of DVDs back to the library. Doesn't really count, but it makes the room look cleaner.

haypug16

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #41 on: October 11, 2017, 04:39:35 PM »
I love de-cluttering so I'm going to jump in even though I'll have a lot of catching up to do... stay tuned for updates. :)

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #42 on: October 11, 2017, 05:09:03 PM »
Well today was easy - 14 cassette tapes. Manky and mouldy and I don't have a machine to play them. Plus the box they were in is 15. I have 10 more belonging to hubby that I'll just have to agree with him and then that's tomorrow done too.

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #43 on: October 12, 2017, 12:17:02 AM »
Stay strong fellow wanna be minimalists! There is far to go! By items, we are only 13% through today. The halfway mark will be the 22nd.

I'm working to get to the halfway point by the 15th. I want 16 days to get through the second half of the challenge, because that will be the hard part.

I'm throwing stuff away too, but not recording it as part of the challenge.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2017, 12:22:27 AM by Radagast »

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #44 on: October 14, 2017, 08:15:01 PM »
How is everyone going? I'm struggling today, have only found 4 things.

Off the Wheel

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #45 on: October 15, 2017, 03:04:13 PM »
I will admit I've fallen off the regimented counting (and it was my challenge!) but I'm still going through different parts of the house daily and throwing away, or adding to the giveaway pile which has now taken up half the spare room.

Today's wins? The 'misc' kitchen drawers - SO MANY elastic bands, twist ties, already used canning lids, etc. At least two dozen things there.

Also the wardrobe in the spare bedroom. Got rid of three pairs of my husband's shoes (with his blessing)

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #46 on: October 15, 2017, 04:44:03 PM »
Because of this thread.. when hubby got home yesterday lunchtime and said 'shall we start the garage' even though I was not feeling it I got up and we did it. We got rid of about 15 things, plus made a pile of things to photograph for FB giveaways. There's also a to-do pile which will also declutter. I'd already found five things yesterday so everyday I'm managing to do a little more. I won't feel so bad if Oct 30 and 31 are a bust!

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #47 on: October 15, 2017, 06:05:05 PM »
I have several more books identified for giving to the local library (my academic specialty is pertinent to my current location, so they get very excited about donations), and gave away the electric tea kettle now that we have a stove top version.

I think this is my final book purge. The remaining ones all fit comfortably, no double stacking or other tricks.

Radagast

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #48 on: October 16, 2017, 11:37:55 PM »
Up to 276 items!!!! I thought the going would be getting hard by here, but I bet I can fill the 24th quota with of-the-shelf items remaining in the closet that has been the recent focus. After that there look to be several days of items in the basement. And then there are some more expensive items which I have to decide if a tax deduction is actually the appropriate way to get rid of them. I might be able to make this!

But, I have had to spend more time organizing recently to fill the freshly emptied exploded holes I have created.

Thanks for starting this, Off the Wheel. For some reason this challenge has really worked for me. Probably because there are clearly defined, achievable goals, unlike the nearby thread which is just a vague goal.

The remaining ones all fit comfortably, no double stacking or other tricks.
I thought I had reached this point, but I discovered an unopened box of books I wanted to keep which refilled the shelves (so that's where the Harry Potter books went... I wanted to read those again two months ago but couldn't find them.)

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Re: Minimalist Challenge for October?
« Reply #49 on: October 17, 2017, 02:31:54 PM »
This will be fun!
I'll give it a go:) Since I'm already working on a new challenge in my own de-clutter gauntlet thread, this will be a great gauntlet to participate in. I'll never be a minimalist, I just don't have it in me:), but it will be fun to see if I can get up to 496 items discarded by the end of this month!

My donation box currently has 56 items in it. I thrashed at least 35 items, probably more, so far this month.
So, I'm going in with a total of 91 items as of tonight.

Now I need to read up on the links...

Oct 1 to Oct 9, 2017 - 91


Oct 10 to Oct 17, 2017
62 items - donations
83 items - trash
25  items - giveaways
New total: 261


Wow - there really is a possibility of meeting or even exceeding this goal. Still working on the utility room - who needs fifteen hinges? Keep three - just in case which is probably not minimalistic at all, since presently we have no need for them - but, ya never know:) ... and that is why I'll never be a minimalist:)
Nevertheless ... this is a great challenge in the right direction:)