What did you declutter today? Part II

[creditcardfree]

@marvholly, thanks for the reminder. I think I actually have a few things that could be donated!

[My English Castle]

At the last minute this morning, I remembered it was Purple Heart pick-up today. I'd saved a large box of odds and ends and put them out before I left for school! Triumph--box and all that crud gone!

[Jennsnoopy]

Hi. I am new here. I just went through part of the kids clothes and donated 2 big bags. I also cleaned up a bookshelf in the library so I have something tangible to see. I am just starting decluttering and feel this is almost insurmountable. I just keep telling myself Rome wasn't built in a day. Sigh.

[marvholly]

I just keep telling myself Rome wasn't built in a day. Sigh.

Not only was Rome NOT built in a day but the clutter did NOT accumulate in a day. I have been working on this, admittedly erratically, for ages. Late DH was a hoarder & I gave up.

[disneysteve]

I just went through the rest of the paystub file and pulled out everything from 2010 to be shredded. I just save the final stub of the year with all the YTD figures.

[My English Castle]

A grocery bag of DD's outgrown clothes was just picked up by a freecycler.
More tomorrow I hope!

[KTP]

Ok I am going to jump on the decluttering bandwagon with both feet. I need some advice though with one of the first things.

First, I must ask if you are sitting down, so you don't faint in horror. Ok.

2 years ago we bought 4 lazy boy black full leather reclining chairs to create a theater room, but plans changed. The four chairs are still sitting in one of our rooms under plastic wrap with the tags still on them. We paid around $4500 for all four chairs. I want them gone but not sure where/how? I have not used craigslist for anything like this and am unsure I want random people coming into our house, but maybe that is the best way?

This is why I am doomed to fail at decluttering...I can't even figure out how to get rid of the first thing and I need to unload about 50,000 pounds worth of stuff (you think I am kidding but I am not)

[snafu]

1st, since these are still tagged, will the merchant refund? $4,500. is a significant sum and worth taking time to explore options. I'd visit firms that specialize in the electronic components/equipment and installations with a one page, picture handout, offering a commission to sell the set. Along the same line, I'd ask Home Decorators if they can offer any leads for commission.

2nd I'd put a picture ad on the bulletin board where I work, and ask good friends that work in a big organization to put up an ad. If those options don't result in a buyer, I'd buy an ad in our local, community newsletter to see if there was any interest in my community. I don't feel any fear about using Kijji.com [local e-bay] or Craig's List which are very popular here. If you hesitate to have strangers in your home make arrangement with a neighbor to come in for coffee when you expect a buyer. You will take a major hit selling in a bargain hunter's venue...

Finally, you can risk selling at auction. Some items go for more than retail price as bidders get excited or don't really know the retail price of merchandise. If you get a poor crowd it might go dirt cheap. Talk to an auctioneer about a 'reserved' price.

Good luck and I hope you will take action, one small step at a time, to release the 50,000 pounds of stuff you no longer use or need or love.

[Jennsnoopy]

Yesterday daughter and i cleaned out 4 of her toy bins. We threw a bunch of junk out and made a pile to give away that she doesn't play with. It was hard for her but once it was done she was happy a bunch of her toys were organized.

I am tackling the dining room today. It was used as a make shift school area for daughter this year when she couldn't go back to school due to her illness.

I tell you, it's good therapy to declutter because i see that i do not want to add to what we have! Anyone into stocks might want to short Target as they will be taking a hit from my lack of patronage! We have too much!

[dagaul101]

Today I decluttered a stack of 25 DVD data discs I no longer need, something about being the wrong format

[snafu]

jennsnoopy: I hope 6y/o DD understands the recipients of the the toys she no longer plays with, enjoys, loves will be thrilled to have *new to them* toys. So many youngsters get so little. She is a very generous youngster.

Yea dagaul: no point in keeping DVDs in the wrong format. They take up little space but there is no point in retaining useless clutter. Sometimes they merely give negative memories. This is a great time to review all the old, obsolete, or no longer used software, discs, DVDs, cell phones, hardware that needs to go to recycling. Staples and similar outlets have free programs if your community has not yet created a program.

[disneysteve]

Okay, I had fallen off the wagon for quite a while. I was doing a pretty decent job of keeping things where they were and not letting a whole lot of new clutter develop for the most part but I had really stalled in my efforts to make further progress. Following this thread, particularly seeing some new posters join the conversation, has gotten me re-motivated to get back on track, so thanks to everyone who is doing this as it helps motivate the rest of us.

Tonight, I worked on my desk. Even though I've worked on it several times before, there were some persistent items that just never found a proper home. I threw out a bunch of little things that I just didn't need, got rid of some old batteries, put a few small collectible items with the rest of the collection downstairs, went online and verified that a few lottery tickets were losers (I actually found those - didn't buy them), put away an old cell phone and filed some papers.

I also took the overflowing recycling bag downstairs and replaced it with a new bag.

I also listed one item on ebay, something I haven't done for ages. It is a computer memory module that I bought on Amazon a while ago and opened before realizing it was the wrong one, so I couldn't return it. Hopefully I'll be able to sell that and at least get part of my money back.

[SnoopyCool]

I spent 2 hours decluttering my pantry. I'd post pics, but quite frankly I'm embarrassed by the shape it was in to begin with.

[Mozaik]

Snoopy: good on you! preparing meals can be so much easier when the pantry is organized and holds the foods you use to make meals you like in less than 30 minutes of preparation.
DS: All desks need nearly daily monitoring to keep clutter at bay. Good luck, hope are able to quickly re-sell moodules or equipment you can't use. Do you have a program in your Synagogue for older, no longer used cell phones?

[My English Castle]

Some good progress today as I freecycled a plant stand and six plastic shoe boxes. More tomorrow!