2015 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[Martivir]

Thanks Sam. I'm following her on Pinterest now. I find myself doing exactly what she says all the time. I actually was looking through the coat closet this morning and found the spring coat I bought years ago but never wore because I didn't get around to returning it for the larger size. It fits now but I'm not a spring coat person. Especially if it's not a dressy one because I have a jacket that will work if I need to dress up that I actually wear all the time. Otherwise I'm a hoodie kind of gal.

Yesterday was supposed to be my listing day. List things for sale on Monday and if they don't after 2-3 days I put them on the free site. Still have to come up with a day to take things in for donation but it's a system in progress. I got so sidetracked yesterday. Morning nap because kid and DH kept waking me up, went over to a friend's house, kid came home and I set up my new sewing machine. Singer Classic Heavy Duty, no computerized parts, more stitches per minute than my quilting one I had been using. Anyways, I'm going to work on that today. I want to get at least five things listed.

Oh and the craft fair is off my list. Too complicated for my situation and we need my disability at the moment. Since the point was to see if anything sold I'm going to let my MIL sell some things when she does her booth. It's more to see if I really can sell stuff because I keep having people tell me I should. But I do have a few fundraisers coming up... I just had an idea. Declutter and list first, then delve into the fabric stash to see what I've got. Oh and I need to put buy two yards of flannel on my list of things to do.

[Wisconsin Beth]

No buying flannel until you declutter X number of things? 

[Martivir]

Unfortunately the flannel is something I use all the time. It's a double napped flannel that I use for a lot of the baby stuff I make. I am, however, not allowed to buy anymore stuff to make American Girl clothes. I find it so much fun to take old newborn clothes and turn them into the doll clothes. 

[aprilleigh]

I've sold 2 items this week on my local Facebook Buy / Sell group. They were sort of bulky, so I'm super excited to get them out of my closet. And I made $25! I love the Facebook group. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Constanz (I think??) for mentioning those!! 

[Sam_2.0]

DH has to work late tonight, so my goal is to get DD into bed and do a rough inventory on all the junk that will be donated on Thurs. I have a salvation army guide printed off and my plan was to just tally it all up and staple to the receipt from the pickup. 

I know I have kids stuff that would sell and probably make me about $100. Now the question is - do I want to take the time to sell it? Or save it back for garage sale season and donate after that? I need to hurry up & decide since I need the use of that part of the basement back for DD. I wish I had time to take it to one of the Just Between Friends consignment sales. I wonder if I could put it in with SILs stuff for her MOMs consignment sale?

[Wisconsin Beth]

For me Sam, getting it out of the house is the biggest/hardest thing.  So whatever is easiest for you to get the stuff out of the house is what I'd say "go for it"

[Angel!]

Jan 12, 2015 19:39:53 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Found this today and thought it was good to share here

www.earlybirdmom.com/blog/2015/01/3-dangerous-words-can-sabotage-decluttering/

Great article! I think I have 50 baby blankets/burp rags that might come in handy some day, so I keep them.    They probably need to go, at least 95% of them should go.

[Sam_2.0]

You are right, Beth. Thinking I could sell it is what lead to it going in the basement to begin with. I just need to be done with it.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 13, 2015 15:52:47 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

You are right, Beth. Thinking I could sell it is what lead to it going in the basement to begin with. I just need to be done with it.

Yep, which I suspect is why my Mom will cheerfully say "sure, bring it over" or "Yes, we're going a Goodwill run next week" every time I ask.  She knows that once it's out of the house, I'm fine.  It's just getting it out of the house. 

Her neighbors have young grandchildren - like 3 and under.  I know them slightly but Mom will walk over and leave stuff on their porch for them to take a look at.  And my Dad hates clutter so if it it comes back from the neighbors, he'll haul it to Goodwill promptly.  In all honesty, I don't think anything comes back.  J&C will pitch it or recycle it if they can't use it. 

In the meantime, I got another 10 items out of the house last night.  Which brings me up to 35.  Still didn't get the Christmas cards down but there's always tonight.  I think my record is like April (late Easter) for getting them down. 

[Deleted]

Sam, I'm like Beth. If I decide it needs to go, it needs to go yesterday. DH's half of the basement is full of all these valuable objects, except they just sit there, he never actually tries to sell them. Not saying you wouldn't, but it takes effort. Plus, you get the tax deduction. With 2 small kids and a FT job, I'd just choose the easiest way, personally. 

I hosted my book club tonight (for the first time in 2 years, hah) and cleaned up and put everything away. Ran the dishwasher (twice) and started a load of laundry.

Wed list
- painter coming to look at LR ceiling (8.30 am)
- laundry
- dentist (12 pm) (31st appt since April)
- bottle bank
- bank (deposit checks and pick up checkbook)

[megaptera]

I'm in! We're hoping to move about Spring-ish 2016, so this is the year of decluttering and getting rid of stuff. I made some minor progress this weekend with the laundry room and bedroom, but it's going to be a long haul.

I too have issues with getting stuff out of the house. I joined a couple of Facebook groups (Trading group for selling and a local Buy Nothing group), but to be honest, I just don't want to take the time to list things, meet up with people, etc. It's just easier to everything in a big box and drop it off at Goodwill. I feel somewhat guilty not using the groups, but at this point, stuff just needs to exit the house.

[Sam_2.0]

243 items sorted and written down for donation. Just under $600 using Salvation Army low end estimates. I also took pics of it to print off to attach. And then there are two bags full of toys. Lets just say 20 more items in there to make it easy. So thats 263 things out of my house!!!

And I only kept back about 10 things while going through it all 2 shirts for J, jacket for Aly, sleep sack, 3 sleepers, baby shoes, and crib mattress cover. The last 5 go to a friend thats having a baby soon.

[mizbear]

I am planning my decluttering based on work weeks this year, as it makes more sense, so my week will run Tuesday thru Monday.

TBear is here studying for finals (she is back in school and carried a 4.0 her first semester back). She is spending part of tomorrow with her Aunt A. However, I have Thursday and Saturday off, so we have mad decluttering plans...

By Monday:

Dr. Appt for TBear

Trash out IP

Recycling Out IP

P/U Rxs

Go get shot

Laundry IP

Reorganize bedroom

Reorganize kitchen IP

Finish last 2 winter term assignments IP

Buy new dress (business appropriate)

Make bread

Buy microwave for TBear's family (late Christmas present)

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2015 15:39:07 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Jan 12, 2015 19:39:53 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Found this today and thought it was good to share here

www.earlybirdmom.com/blog/2015/01/3-dangerous-words-can-sabotage-decluttering/

Great article! I think I have 50 baby blankets/burp rags that might come in handy some day, so I keep them.    They probably need to go, at least 95% of them should go.

Hey, I have the cloth diapers from when I was a baby 45 years ago!  They make the best drying cloths for dishes.  They definitely don't make them like that anymore.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I returned the painfully late library books in the bookdrop this morning.  God alone knows what the fines are going to be. 

3 pair of tights came to work for a coworker's daughter.  Need to go though K's closet next. 

And I did get the Christmas cards down last night!  Woohoo!  I still need to collect the kid art from Christmas and deal with that.  But since kid papers and art is definitely one of my problem areas, I'm not worrying about that yet. 


Yeah, we used the cloth diapers from us being kids for all sorts of things.  They took a beating. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Beth, I have to let DH and the kids go through the kid art, I want to keep it all. They're way less attached to it than I am. 

Everyone in my house has been sick lately, so it's just getting the basics done for the time being.

[Wisconsin Beth]

The problem with teh kid art is that there is so much of it.  All stuffed onto a couple of shelves in the hutch.  It started small and I was going to go though it.  But then didn't.  And the piles overflowed their bins and now it's taken over the hutch AND the shelf under the coffee table (that's this year so far.)  So it needs to be sorted into each kid, then looked at with that kid. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 14, 2015 10:34:33 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

The problem with teh kid art is that there is so much of it.  All stuffed onto a couple of shelves in the hutch.  It started small and I was going to go though it.  But then didn't.  And the piles overflowed their bins and now it's taken over the hutch AND the shelf under the coffee table (that's this year so far.)  So it needs to be sorted into each kid, then looked at with that kid. 

I hear ya. I had a couple of boxes worth, and there were school papers out my ears. Any chance the kids have enough attention span to participate in the sorting into kids piles? They can say I don't want that right then while you're on step 1 and save you some time. 

Yeah, mine wouldn't sit still for that either but it's a thought

[Angel!]

Jan 14, 2015 10:34:33 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

The problem with teh kid art is that there is so much of it.  All stuffed onto a couple of shelves in the hutch.  It started small and I was going to go though it.  But then didn't.  And the piles overflowed their bins and now it's taken over the hutch AND the shelf under the coffee table (that's this year so far.)  So it needs to be sorted into each kid, then looked at with that kid. 

I think I have 3-4 large boxes. It is on my list to tackle, but I don't even know what the heck to do with what I do decide to keep.

[Deleted]

I don't know if I'm missing that mommy gene, but I have no problem tossing school papers and art projects.    I'll hang them on the fridge for awhile and then toss them.  I keep progress reports and there is the occasional piece that I've held onto or had screened onto an overly priced flower pot when they do "Art to Remember" in the Fall.  It helps that my kids don't seem to have much attachment to any of that stuff anyhow.

I'm planning on attacking my house and barn this year.  I got rid of an RV full last year and that helped a lot, but this year I'm going to approach it as if I'm selling the house which is something I've been thinking about for a couple years.  I will definitely need to get a dumpster.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 14, 2015 10:50:48 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Jan 14, 2015 10:34:33 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

The problem with teh kid art is that there is so much of it.  All stuffed onto a couple of shelves in the hutch.  It started small and I was going to go though it.  But then didn't.  And the piles overflowed their bins and now it's taken over the hutch AND the shelf under the coffee table (that's this year so far.)  So it needs to be sorted into each kid, then looked at with that kid. 

I think I have 3-4 large boxes. It is on my list to tackle, but I don't even know what the heck to do with what I do decide to keep.

have only 1 large box instead of 3-4? 

My Mom tossed our art when she found bugs in the box she's been keeping it in.  When we were definitely launched, she'd hand over one of those expandable folders with ties to us - that was all she'd kept and she figured now it was our turn to deal with it. 

[startsmart]

If your kiddos are still churning out the artwork one of the best tips I've seen is to immediately take their picture with the piece when they come home from school. Then you can print those photos into a book or keep in a digital slide show and toss the original. I like the idea because you get to see the kid on the day they did the art and have a record of it but it takes up much less room. 

Well, it's supposed to be my day off but I missed a few calls on Monday when I was recovering from being super sick. So I'll do an hour now, have a few hours to not work, visit the farm, one more call, and then all afternoon free. 

[Chocolate Lover]

All the pictures I've taken are still IN my phone or camera.  It's a good idea though for people who want a memento of the art but not fill up the space with it.

[Angel!]

Jan 14, 2015 10:54:53 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I don't know if I'm missing that mommy gene, but I have no problem tossing school papers and art projects.    I'll hang them on the fridge for awhile and then toss them.  I keep progress reports and there is the occasional piece that I've held onto or had screened onto an overly priced flower pot when they do "Art to Remember" in the Fall.  It helps that my kids don't seem to have much attachment to any of that stuff anyhow.

I'm planning on attacking my house and barn this year.  I got rid of an RV full last year and that helped a lot, but this year I'm going to approach it as if I'm selling the house which is something I've been thinking about for a couple years.  I will definitely need to get a dumpster.

Everything always seems so adorable at the time. Then it gets stuck in a pile. Then the pile gets big so it gets stuck in a box. Then the box is full so I start a new one. 

I think 90% of it probably isn't labeled or dated, so it will probably be pretty easy to toss if I don't know who did it or when. I just have to step up and do it. Also need to go through baby clothes ASAP...I promised some to my cousin. So much to do, bleh.

[Martivir]

So DH sat me down yesterday and told me that something had been bugging him. He never does that so I was thinking something was really wrong. He wanted to know why I was working in the basement all the time instead of working in the living room or somewhere else where the decluttering would "have more results". So I told him that I was working there because that's where the stuff would have to go if we kept anything from up here. Sure I could have tossed it into the attic but it's a no man's land up there for most of the year with the heat in summer and cold in winter. Guess the thought didn't cross his mind and he told me to keep up the good work. 

So I spent some time in the kid corner yesterday and condensed 4 totes into a half. Doesn't count the tote of toys I started into because I need to find the bits and bobs that are scattered everywhere. Finally done with the clothes up to 3t. Listed a few different sized lots on the kid's sell board and I listed that jacket I found yesterday as well. I'm going to see if I can get my mom to take me to the Salvation Army on Tues. to off stuff that needs to get out of the house. They are the closest thrift place to me. Like a mile down the road. And the freed up totes are going to be stuffed with toys that DS is currently not playing with. He goes through phases so I can't just pack and donate. 

I feel weird right now because I actually threw out toys yesterday. I mean I've done it before but that was when my basement got water and they were water damaged. These were just not worth it to clean up. I don't mind throwing clothes in the laundry or wiping stuff down then donating it but these would have taken some serious scrubbing. And I was surprised at how much stained clothes I kept. Those went into the trash as well. Tomorrow is garbage day and kid has a half day today. He should be home in about 20 minutes or so. I sense some child labor in my future.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 14, 2015 12:30:28 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

All the pictures I've taken are still IN my phone or camera.  It's a good idea though for people who want a memento of the art but not fill up the space with it.

Or saved on a now dead hard-drive or computer. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I'm glad your DH is recognizing the hard work you're doing Martivir. 

A few weeks ago, I had tv on and found some Lost History show that had something on the Titanic coming up.  So I dvr'd it and ran it a couple of days ago.  The narrator/host guy does a couple of promos for "lost history item that are found in attics, etc." to roughly paraphrase.  I'm 100% damn sure that there is NOTHING in my house that is a loss to the world if it gets destroyed.  But I told DH that we are not EVER going to tell his dad about this show.  DH agreed.  His dad likes to keep everything because "it's old, it's valuable"  Um, it's an old camera.  One of thousands that were made, bought and used in the 50s.  Toss it please so we don't have to. 

[tcu2003]

Updates to include the latest Peter Walsh #31Days2GetOrganized Challenge items:




DAY 1 - FOLD YOUR LAUNDRY!
DAY 2 - GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T BELONG IN YOUR MASTER BEDROOM!
DAY 3 - SET UP A DONATION BIN!
DAY 4 - TACKLE YOUR PLACEMATS AND TABLE LINEN!
DAY 5 - INSPECT THE LOWER THIRD!*
DAY 6 - DEMOLISH JUST ONE STACK ANYWHERE IN YOUR HOME!
DAY 7 - CONQUER PLASTIC FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS!

DAY 8 - CLEAR OUT THE SPACE UNDER A SINK!

DAY 9 - TACKLE KIDS' ARTWORK OR YOUR PETS' CLUTTER!
DAY 10 - TODAY'S THE DAY TO TAME YOUR MAGAZINES!


*Explanation since this one is a little non-descriptive: Everyone has piles of clothes on their shelves or in their drawers – many that you just don’t wear. Today’s the day to tame them! First, look at your piles of folded items - T-shirts, sweaters, undies, jeans - chances are that the bottom third of the piles are items that you just don’t like that much and seldom wear. Inspect the lower thirds of clothing stacks – if you don’t love and wear the items then let them go!

[Wisconsin Beth]

I'm pretty sure it's going to take the whole month to declutter the master bedroom. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 14, 2015 14:09:12 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

I'm pretty sure it's going to take the whole month to declutter the master bedroom. 

That and my closet are the only places I haven't bothered with unpacking. DD has a few boxes in her room but they're her problem.