What did you declutter today? Part II

[marvholly]

snafu
I am NOT going to bother try to sell it on Graigs list. Blasted thing is from when I got married in 1969.

I just transitioned from employer health insurance (COBRA) to Medicare. Put >4 lb of old plan paper stuff into recycle. Moved new plan stuff OFF kitchen table to where old was filed.

[wincrasher]

Last weekend I finally re-organized my home theatre. Got rid of 2 72" dlps and cabinets and replaced with a 70" lcd mounted to the wall. Mounted all the speakers on the walls. Ran all the cabling inside the walls to a small cabinet that houses all the av gear and game consoles.

Freed up tons of floor space and reduced that cluttered look in my game room. Giving all the decommissioned hardware to relatives.

This weekend I'm installing shelving in my home office closet and reorganizing about 12 big boxes of stuff to put on those shelves - office supplies, av and computer hardware and cables, old files, etc.

[snafu]

wincrasher: sounds wonderful, is there a kit to help with running cables inside the walls? What did you use as schematic? Our cords were initially attached to baseboards but some have popped off and will trip the unwary.

[txex86]

I finally got rid of old paint cans and pesticide bottles at our city recycle center.

[snafu]

txe, good to remove old paint and pesticide tins at recycle. Staples takes computer, personal electronics, office technology products, toner cartridges, cell phones and batteries.

[creditcardfree]

Oh, thanks for the tip about Staples! I have an non working modem that should be dropped off somewhere.

[wincrasher]

wincrasher: sounds wonderful, is there a kit to help with running cables inside the walls? What did you use as schematic? Our cords were initially attached to baseboards but some have popped off and will trip the unwary.

Fortunately for me, the wall in question was against my attic space, so I could easily get behind it. You can get nice boxes to dress out any openings you make in the walls.

Many times what people do is first hang the bracket on the wall (heavy bolts into the studs). In the center of the bracket, there is an opening (about 2" round) so you can cut a hole in the drywall there (with a hole saw attachment for your drill). Then down below the TV, near the floor, you cut another hole in the drywall and mount the trim box. Now you can snake your wires behind the tv, thru the hole in the bracket, and then down to the box hear the floor. These wires can then go into your AV cabinet or wherever your gear is.

In my case, instead of coming out below the TV, I went over to the corner of the room and placed my AV cabinet there. Behind the wall, in the attic, my wires are all bundled and attached to the studs so you won't trip over them or get pulled out.

To do this project, I had to get 25' long HDMI, component, and optical audio cables so I could get all the way over.

If you don't have access behind the wall, then doing it this way would have been a big project - essentially cutting a big strip of drywall and cuttting a hole thru each stud.

[krantcents]

My wife went through the bathroom cabinets and threw out everything that expired, has not been used for a year and junk. She filled a garbage bag of stuff. She likes to go through cabinets and closets every so often to clean out things.

[marvholly]

FINALLY

Forced back into this early this am. Had a computer issue and IT consultant asked if I had the original program CD. Went digging thru my desk (didn't have but issue is straightened out). As a result I cleaned out all 5 drawers overfilling a kitchen size trash can. I had stuff & reciepts from trips in 2001, 2002, 2004 and DD1 wedding in 2003. History now.

[snafu]

Estate headaches site offers us all a major *heads up* to make some changes. Crystal balls are foggy; we don't know what challenges life will throw at us. Make a will that guides your Executor. Get paper work in order, keep legal, contracts, current paperwork orderly. Purge the 80% of useless paper work that clogs all the flat surfaces and storage. It's so freeing and makes your life so-oo much easier. Your most valuable asset is a written, comprehensive Financial Plan.

Dump clothes that are wrecked, ruined, stained, ripped,worn out, torn, missing buttons, broken zippers etc. Sell, consign or donate clothes that you don't like, don't wear, don't fit, too small/large, not flattering or down right ugly. Those are sunk costs, forgive yourself for the mistake and move on.

Walk through room-by-room, and ask yourself if you love and enjoy all the tchtockes/souvenirs. If not, sell or give them to others to enjoy. What would the Executor of your Estate do with all your stuff?

Tomorrow look through your pantry and note some menus that use/use-up seldom needed ingredients before they expire. It's hot, use your crock pot/slo cooker to for dinner, ready-to-eat when you walk in the door.

[krantcents]

My wife goes through her closet or drawers somewhat routinely and throw out junk, recycle and give away stuff to declutter.

[creditcardfree]

I had a garage sale yesterday and got rid of $150 worth of things. Also donated two bags of remaining items just now. Boxed up the rest in 2 bins for a fall sale with the neighbors.

I'm always in a state of declutter. There is always something you aren't using or no longer need. I say...keep your eyes peeled for it. When you find it, have a go to box set up for donations. Once that box is full, it is time to call a charity for pick up or make a drive there yourself.

These hot days are a good day to look through and sort a drawer or box while sipping on an ice tea or lemonade.

[marvholly]

Forgot to post this.

Monday I planned to do some had sewing repairs. Went to get the sewing box out of the cabinet and found a couple handfuls of junk I had no idea why we saved. Tossed.

[marvholly]

I have commited the minor sin of letting some magazines pile up again. It might be at least partly due to my getting a couple weekly now. However, I went over 4 on 7/22, pulled what I wanted and put them into recycle. I also tossed my Borders rewards card.

[disneysteve]

My wife went through the bathroom cabinets and threw out everything that expired

This is an excellent idea and something everyone should do at least once per year. Not just for decluttering but for health reasons. I can't tell you how many times patients come to see me with a bottle or tube of something they've been taking to self-treat and I look to see that it expired 2 or 3 or 5 or 10 years ago. Some things are pretty harmless when expired but at the very least, they won't work. At worst, they can actually start to break down and degrade and potentially become harmful.