2025 Decluttering Thread

[disneysteve]

Yesterday was my mom's birthday (95!). We had her and my cousin over for lunch and we got a bunch of balloons to decorate. Last night after everyone was gone, I listed the balloons on our Buy Nothing group and someone picked them up today for her daughter's birthday (18). They were only very temporary clutter but I got them out quickly so they're not in our way and someone else can enjoy them before they end up in the trash.

Today I sold a bookcase on Marketplace. It had been in my daughter's dorm room. She graduated in 2018 and it's been in our garage ever since. It actually came in handy while the kitchen was being remodeled. We used it as our pantry in the living room, but we're back in the kitchen now and no longer need it so out it went.

While I was in the garage waiting for the bookcase to get picked up, I loaded 4 boxes of stuff into my trunk to take to Goodwill tomorrow.

[disneysteve]

I worked a bit in the basement today. I focused on one shelf where I keep tools and hardware. I emptied the entire shelf and then went through the items one by one, deciding what to keep and what to toss, before putting everything that was staying back on the shelf in a more orderly fashion. A few items also got relocated to a spot that made more sense, like putting drill accessories on the shelf with the drill. It's not perfect but it's much better and quite a few items went in the trash.

[disneysteve]

Decluttering is so hard. Our brains are wired to hoard things. Yesterday when I cleaned off that hardware shelf, there was a stereo headphone cable. I decided I'd move it upstairs where I keep other cables. It's also where my electric keyboard is which is the only place I'm likely to ever use that cable.

Today I realized that the cable has been on that basement shelf for many years. I've clearly lived just fine without it all of this time. I tossed it.

[disneysteve]

I was working at my desk today and went to put something in the file drawer and realized it was getting kind of stuffed so I decided to thin it out. First I tossed a bunch of bills that I no longer needed. Then I decided to move some investment account statements to a different filing cabinet because I still want those but don't need them at my fingertips. When I got into the other filing cabinet, I realized there was a bunch of stuff in there that I no longer need. There were policies and related paperwork for 3 insurance policies that we no longer have. There was another folder with all of the service records and paperwork for my last car which I sold in 2020. The end result was a nice pile of trash and a stack of stuff to shred. And more space in both file drawers.

[jenn_jenn]

We’re preparing for a big move and so I’ve been selling items around the house on FB marketplace that I don’t intend to move with us. All I keep thinking is why didn’t I do this sooner? Cash in my pocket and less clutter. It’s a win-win!

I’m honestly surprised at some of the things I’ve been able to sell. For example, I had a glass card box from our wedding 4 years ago, I didn’t notice until I went to sell it that it had a small crack in it. Still sold for $15. A set of 4 copper Moscow mule mugs that are at least ten years old I listed for $10 and the guy gave me $20 and wouldn’t accept any change.

Can’t wait to keep decluttering!

[Stump1000]

Honestly, I’ve been trying to tackle one small spot at a time - like a drawer or a shelf - so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Feels good to actually see a difference without burning out in one day.