2014 Decluttering Thread

[disneysteve]

Sorted through a stack of mail on my desk. Almost all of it went either into the recycling bag or the shredder bag. Paid the couple of bills that needed paying and filed a couple of statements that needed filing.

[SnoopyCool]

This will be a year of decluttering like no other, as we're making a big move and I refuse to take everything with us! I started by purging some Christmas décor, but I'm torn on whether or not I should box-up things for the yard sale happening in a few months or just donate it and be done with it. My plan is to box things and store away until the sale, but we have a small house and I'm not sure how many boxes I can have hanging around.

[wjcalderon]

Our Salvation Army warehouse and thrift shop burned to the ground a couple of days ago - everything was lost.
A local business immediately offered the use of a warehouse as a temporary location until they can rebuild.

I will be cleaning out my closets, dressers, etc. and taking a large load to the Salvation Army within the next couple of weeks.

[FrugalFish]

Everyone here is very inspiring! Love reading what you all are doing!

DD doesn't go back to school until next week, then I hope to get a little more going. On a high note, a few months ago I emptied out a plastic bin during a declutter which has now become the bin into which donations can be tossed. Maybe I will get smaller loads out more often this way.

Curious if you all sometimes have trouble deciding whether something is worthy of donation? One example here is I have some nice storage containers that originally came as the packaging for food. Some of these containers are nicer than ones I've bought empty to use for storage. Think plastic bins, decorative jars, tins, etc. I'm always on the fence with those things.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Vickie, I recently bought a container at a second hand shop that probably originally had pretzels in it. The shape and size of it is great for storing dry kitchen goods such as flour. I'd previously bought one new (and empty, sold just as the container) for $6. I was happy to pay a dollar for the used one in the thrift store. I'd say if the containers seem useful to you, go ahead and donate.

If you have a lot of containers, especially if they match, you could find out whether there is a store that gives/sells to teachers, schools, scouts, kids clubs etc. We have a couple stores like that here and sometimes it is good when a buyer can get 12 matching items for $2 for a special kid project. They sell a lot of recycled items.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Forgot to add that today I bagged up some toiletries for the women's shelter.

[disneysteve]

Curious if you all sometimes have trouble deciding whether something is worthy of donation? One example here is I have some nice storage containers that originally came as the packaging for food.

Our local thrift stores always have those things for sale, so they clearly accept them as donations and are happy to sell them: cookie tins, popcorn tins, etc.

[FrugalFish]

Thanks for the feedback! I've sort of figured if it was something you could buy empty at a full-price store, why not send it to the thrift store? Then again, I read all these stories about people dumping what is essentially trash at the thrift stores and burdening them with the disposal, so I try to be at least a little picky in what we give them. The containers we send are always clean, look new, and have no labels.

Joan of the Arch, that's a great idea about that type of store... but I've never seen such a thing. That sounds neat though.

I found it easier to donate back when I browsed through thrift stores more often- it was easy then to get a feel of what they were selling (so ultimately accepting). Now I shop so little anywhere, that I'm not sure what to take. About two years ago the local salvation army rejected all books of any kind- which seemed odd because that store was my favorite place to look for books- guess they decided they weren't getting good enough books or it wasn't worth the money they could make off the ones they got. Had to find another thrift store that would gladly accept them. I hate trying to match goods with places that will accept them, but that seems to be a little more of an issue around here the last few years. Sorry, a little bit of a mini vent there...

Looking forward to DD going back to school so I can clean some stuff out of here!

[disneysteve]

I read all these stories about people dumping what is essentially trash at the thrift stores and burdening them with the disposal

That's more about people donating worn out clothing, broken appliances, cracked glassware, etc. It is a good idea to browse through the shop that you are donating to so you get an idea of the things they sell.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Last week when I dropped off my Goodwill donation I went inside to confirm prices as I am keeping a list that I need to value properly for taxes. I saw one thing I had donated just before Christmas, a new in the package curtain. Was surprised to see it was valued at $6. I had put less on my list. Actually they had all curtains priced for $6. This store does not seem to have much gradation in prices.

Also all shirts except kids' were priced at $3. I doubt if T-shirts were that value, but could not find the price. I have t-shirts to be rid of, but they are not nice for donation, so they will be cut to cleaning rags, then cut up into my garden compost.

I don't know if it is true at all large charity shops, but I used to hear that some separated out identifiable fiber articles that were not good for resale, and sold them in huge bulk for recycling. I don't know who to ask about that.

But anyway, I think anyone who can clear the time should stop into the charity store to which they donate to see what items are offered or not. It helps to make decisions about what to do with the things you are uncertain about. My spouse and I are sort of hobbyists at visiting these shops, and we notice that some of them seem to have specialties. We like to donate where we think it is more like to be reused. My Spanish novels and kids' books, for example, go to the St. Vincent de Paul nearest me.

[creditcardfree]

I went through a pile of papers on my desk. I found many to shred and get into the recycling bin last night. Some of the papers were filed in the appropriate place. And now my desk looks much cleaner!

[snafu]

An article hit my e-mil this AM whose gist was that we are so busy, with so much more asked and expected of us by employer, family, friends and neighbours it's critical to see our homes as a 'complete sanctuary. We need a place where everything is orderly, calm and comfortable'. The emphasis was on keeping our room pared down, adequately furnished without 'crowding' using symmetry [followed with a great many photos].

It motivated me to do a quick sweep through my home office and find 10 items to either donate or trash/recycle. It felt like progress.

[FrugalFish]

That's more about people donating worn out clothing, broken appliances, cracked glassware, etc. It is a good idea to browse through the shop that you are donating to so you get an idea of the things they sell.

Yeah, I think I'll stop by the big goodwill near to where I often grocery shop and wander around to see what they are selling and the conditions of those things. It will make me more comfortable to know that what we donate can be of use to them. Hopefully I won't stumble onto any treasures during this mission

I managed to do a little decluttering yesterday. A few candle holders/votives, some baskets, a couple of toys, some newer linens. Wasn't planning to declutter at all until DD goes back to school, so having gotten that much done, I'm eager to see what I can cull out next week!

[moneybags]

I went on a trip last week. While packing, I cleaned out one dresser and a few other drawers. Threw a bunch of shirts into the donation pile.

Today I cleaned out the spice cabinet. I threw out any expired items and any items that didn't have expiration dates (I figure if I bought them before they started putting expiration dates on them then they are old!).

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

A little achievement today: Cleaned out broken, dried up, and useless items from the pencil jars on my desk. Twenty-four items removed including 12 craft/popsicle sticks, a Lego person, and a dry erase marker even though I have no dry erase board. Returned colored pencils to their own case.