2016 Decluttering Thread

[disneysteve]

I have a place to buy them cheaply, so if I have to go that route, they are sturdy, double corrugated 24x18x12 for $1. I may end up buying some.

As long as they survive the move in good shape, you can always resell them once you are settled and recapture some of that expense.

[msomnipotent]

I just watched the charity take 6 boxes of assorted stuff (2 were huge) and 2 bags of clothes. I originally thought I had 3. I'm glad I double checked, because one bag was laundry I just washed. It was almost all of the clothes we own, and I have no idea why I would put them in a garbage bag instead of the laundry baskets.

I also rid myself of 6 planters. I used to garden a lot, so I have plastic containers all over and no longer use them. Next week's recycling will be full of garden junk.

[msomnipotent]

I love magazines depending on the brand. Before tossing you might want to double check the types and whether your local library would like them for a book sale or your local thrift store. The more specific the magazine, the better. I know every library sales and thrift store visit, I always heck through whatever magazines have been donated as I generally pick up each and every quilting, embroidery, crafting magazine I can find. A while back I got a several years worth of Primitive Quilting at the thrift store. All in issue order. I am keeping them for now, but may list them for sale eventually. I also have picked up around a decades worth of Cook's Magazine from America's Test kitchen. I love reading them and checking out the recipes. I once found a Watch magazine and picked it up for a dime. I was fascinated reading it and discovered when it comes to high value watches, Rolex is the Timex of that group. Anyhow I ended up selling for $10 to someone in Israel!

Just saying don't toss what someone else will love, assuming you have a place close enough to donate to and can find it convenient to do so.

I tried giving them away but had no interest. They are mainly investment magazines and cooking magazines that I cut out the recipes I wanted, and weird ones like Hobby Farm and backpacker. Not a lot of hobby farmers or hikers here in suburbia.

[FLA]

final tally of bags stuffed with clothes for the town that was decimated by the hurricane: 11!

Some short chubby woman who doesn't have to dress up too fancy for work will hit pay dirt, work clothes, casual clothes and even PJs. I forgot when I went into menopause I blew through one size so fast I barely wore the stuff, tags on some of it.

I am never owning that many pieces of clothing again no matter how good a "deal" I get. It's no deal when you don't need it. I feel like I was gluttonous.

meanwhile, I found my John Prine, Leonard Cohen, signed Jake Johansen shirts and my prize possession, WWTWD (Tom Waits) shirt! And memories of most of the shows came back. Especially the Tom Waits shirt- bought at the Boston Bizarre Bazaar with my brother and DD when she was maybe 8 and her eyes were wide with the strange crafts she saw, she loved it there! I am so glad that is a memory that came back, I should start writing down the good memories that come back in case they get lost again.

[snafu]

FLA, I wondered if you are on 'the life changing magic of tidying up' project like so many of us. I think it's wonderful that you have chosen to share your abundance with women who have been devastated by the hurricane. [today is Women's Day]

[disneysteve]

My wife did a round of decluttering yesterday. She cleaned out and rearranged some drawers and a cabinet in the kitchen. She basically eliminated the "junk" drawer (we all have at least one). Much of the stuff in there was truly junk that we just don't need. The rest was stuff that really belongs somewhere else and not in the kitchen.

She then took the dish towels out of drawer where they never really fit and put them in a bigger drawer, swapping space with the aluminum foil/parchment paper/plastic wrap drawer.

She took the extra dish towels and got them in the former junk drawer. That freed up space in the cabinet they used to be in which allowed her to clean that out, get the cutting boards organized and make that cabinet much more useable and accessible (getting rid of a few items in the process, too).

Now we just have to remember where everything is since things aren't where they've been for the last 22 years.

[snafu]

Mrs.disneysteve, well done! small strips of masking/painters tape identifying what drawers or cupboards now hold is easier for all when changes are made. Once it feels familiar the tape peels of without damage.

[FLA]

FLA, I wondered if you are on 'the life changing magic of tidying up' project like so many of us. I think it's wonderful that you have chosen to share your abundance with women who have been devastated by the hurricane. [today is Women's Day]

I read that book when I was sicker, was determined I was going back to work, I had lost 30 lbs in a month so I had no idea where I would end up size wise. I was sure I would need all my things and I was not well enough to drag them all out to even do it properly. But my already super-organized BFF and her DH said it had changed their lives and that stuck with me when I read the book. And I think now I was finally ready. Going to keep going!

[dawnwes]

As long as they survive the move in good shape, you can always resell them once you are settled and recapture some of that expense.

Ok, so yesterday I went to visit a friend who is moving. She got about 50 boxes at Walmart. They were in the back just sitting there.

She told me to bring up my SUV and load up!

So, I did......I drove up there (an hour away) in my SUV, and went to the back of Walmart, there were only about 25-30 boxes but my friend and I got out to load up and a woman charged at us and told us to leave immediately and we could have NO boxes. We explained that we had been told we could have them and she got very angry and told us that those boxes were NOT for anyone to take, they had a place that came and did recycling and whoever told us that was wrong.

I am telling you, THIS is exactly what happens anytime I try to do things that others say, "oh, JUST do this!"

[disneysteve]

I drove up there (an hour away)

Sorry that happened but I'd have to say I'd never make a 2-hour drive to get "free" boxes.

Who had told you you could have them? If it was anyone but the store's manager, I wouldn't have trusted that.

[FLA]

I don't remember exactly but one chain, either Lowes or Home Depot, advertised the cheapest price on boxes in the area. They were half what moving companies or storage places were selling them for.

[dawnwes]

Sorry that happened but I'd have to say I'd never make a 2-hour drive to get "free" boxes.

Who had told you you could have them? If it was anyone but the store's manager, I wouldn't have trusted that.

No, I was going up there anyway......but I would have taken the smaller car and used less gas!

The Walmart is about 15 min from her, so really just a 30 min. trip, but even that, we needed to drive in for the restaurant we wanted, so not all loss.

I don't know who told her, someone inside 3 weeks ago. I think it was just a worker, and the manager didn't know. I don't know that, as we just left, but that is my guess. I didn't ask, I was too irritated to even deal.

[disneysteve]

Sold a couple of items on ebay yesterday and today.

Did a little more work in the basement just now and started another ebay auction.

[dawnwes]

Got a storage unit this weekend and put my first 12 boxes in. I would love to have done more, but this weekend I had a lot going on with my kids' activities.

This week I plan to get a lot done! I have enough boxes to get off to a good/solid start of getting things out of the house.

[msomnipotent]

No, I was going up there anyway......but I would have taken the smaller car and used less gas!

The Walmart is about 15 min from her, so really just a 30 min. trip, but even that, we needed to drive in for the restaurant we wanted, so not all loss.

I don't know who told her, someone inside 3 weeks ago. I think it was just a worker, and the manager didn't know. I don't know that, as we just left, but that is my guess. I didn't ask, I was too irritated to even deal.

My sister is some sort of manager (there are many) at a Walmart. I asked her about boxes and she said the night managers are in charge of boxes, so you would have to ask one of those. Walmart is weird about their garbage. I asked her for some pails from the bakery before because I needed to transport our large goldfish. She said they have to account for every single one because they are recycled, along with a lot of other things. I think they get paid to recycle and consider it stealing. But I guess they don't care about boxes. Maybe that worker was saving them, or just wanted to be bossy.