2017 Declutter and Organization Thread

[lund]

Debthaven, That must be so annoying!
May I suggest that some money is transferred from your DH's account to yours, in order to make the bank cease the nastymail?

[debthaven]

DH already offered Lund.

Back from the garage: they fixed the wheel (that's why the tire was leaking) and replaced the brake discs and pads. They'll replace the shock absorbers on Wed. I never knew that any repairs over 200 euros can be paid over 3 months. That keeps the cost reasonable, so the car is finally getting some overdue attention. Once that's paid off in 3 months, I'll replace the timing belt.

I'm thrilled!

[lund]

Debthaven, If the timing belt is overdue already, would it be possible to take some money from your DH's account and have it done? A timing belt snapping can lead to very expensive repairs, and that is something that you so do not need!

[debthaven]

No Lund, it will just have to wait. In fact they told me it needs to be done at 120K, and it's currently at 112K, so it should be OK.

[naughtybear]

I would be like honey we could have bought our Maserati by now.

[lund]

Dh, Good, then the belt is not overdue (unless there is a date too), and should be able to wait!


Today's food is almost belonging to the left-over class. I have cooked a chicken. I am not that used to cooking chicken; I usually cook hens which, when I can get them, are sold at about half the price of chicken or less. (Chicken is grilled during the summer, outside or with an open window, and is not cheap here.) But this chicken came from the freezer, was bought for having guests who couldn't come, and needed to be eaten.
Today, we will eat chicken lasagna, and tomorrow chicken stew, or possibly the other way around. I will be serving it as "chicken lasagna à la freezer", since it contains frozen bell peppers found in the freezer, frozen leek found in the freezer, frozen cooked carrot cubes found in the freezer, a little frozen cream from the freezer, frozen shredded cheese from the freezer, frozen tomato mix from the freezer,.....
The pasta comes from the pantry and was sold at a cost that is lower than cheap macaroni.

A friend came by on short notice before dinner yesterday and gifted me some kid clothing items. Some fit and some are too big, which is great - there is clothing for now, but we will need the larger sizes later on. I put the big ones in my stash, and the other ones in the laundry bin.
She is divorced with kids, and a very nice person with very nice children, who all can be invited for a low-cost meal without any problems, so they were invited to share what I had cooked. They got the ground meat version of - you may have guessed it - lasagna à la freezer.

I am so not looking forward to the new dentist bills, but there is not much else to do than to not buy more than necessary and try to eat what we have in the pantry and freezer, which, luckily are still rather well stocked.

[debthaven]

I would be like honey we could have bought our Maserati by now.

Then you're imagining WAY more money than there is. Also, all I need a car to do is be safe and reliable. Neither of us cares much about cars.

[naughtybear]

I wasn't imagining any amount, I was trying to make a light hearted joke, I didn't even know there were future references to a car when I made that post as I hadn't read that far.

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)



Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE
Everyone has a secret clutter stash. Today’s challenge is all about tackling that clutter secret and dealing with it once and for all.

[TheHaitian]

Sold our queen size box spring yesterday and new bed was also delivered yesterday with

[naughtybear]

You sold your bed and took delivery of your new bed?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Good morning!
Happy weekend!

We had a ton of fun yesterday.  It was DD#2's 15th birthday. We spent the day in the big city nearest to us--two hour drive away. DD#2 had three hours of dance class. DS#1 and his wife came up and had lunch with us. Then, DD#1 met up with  all of us, and we went to a college basketball game. Afterwards, we went to dinner and then dessert. DD had chosen the dinner place. We surprised her with the dessert place. While she was at dance, we went there and had them set aside a tiramisu for us to have later. It's almost impossible to find a real tiramisu where we actually live. 

Today, I need to catch up on the housework and work work. Progress report grades are due tomorrow. 

[debthaven]

Today was fun ... not. DH and I fought with a clogged sewage pipe, but at least we won.

We may have to get the pipes water-blasted anyway, because our neighbors probably want theirs done anyway and it's much cheaper to split the cost and do both houses at the same time. I'm hoping they'll be willing to wait, but they haven't decided yet. (Our pipes feed into their pipes because we used to be one property.)

I did go through my "secret space" today (per PW) but that was quick (kitchen buffet drawer).

This week
- garage (Wed)
- see A (Fri)

[debthaven]

Sounds like a great day Chloe! Happy birthday to DD2! 

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)
Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE


Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS
Today’s challenge has us back in the kitchen. You know how I feel about clear counter tops ….. today we’ll be tackling those bad boys.

[wvugurl26]

I cleared my stuff off the kitchen counters and went through the pantry one more time. Another bag of stuff into the trash.

[startsmart]

Busy couple of days! I went to pick up the car at the shop on Friday only to find the tire had a screw halfway in it. They put on the spare and I went to get it fixed Saturday (thankfully without any cost). Monday the car goes in for a recall on the air bags. 

Still working on the trim in the master bedroom and have 2 more pieces to do. I'll need to move the bed frame first and hoping to do that tonight. I did get 4 pieces of trim caulked in the hallway so I can continue there when I'm done. I did go through my sweaters but the items for donation are currently taking up a corner of my office so I can separate into donation and consignment. 

Jan 1-7th:
go through papers in the office
scan 2016 files from office and add to shredding box

Jan 8-14th:
Sort through sweaters to donate
buy and attach new gutter downspout in the backyard

Jan 15-21st:
Caulk and paint quarter round in the master bedroom
Paint quarter round in the hall closet
Teach finance class
Pack all the boxes back in the closet
Finish reading 3 books (2/3 done)
Workout 3 more times this week
Bag up stuff for donation
Clean out fridge 

[moneysquirrel]

Had a post ready and lost it so here we go again. 

I did manage to get all of the items done from the last list and a few items I had placed on this week's list so I have removed them.

Chloe: Glad you had a great weekend with your family.
Start: Ouch for the car issues
Debt: Sorry for your issues this week.

My newest list:

Home/Personal

Maintain progress
Clear off the flat surfaces – BR (this is my clutter area) It is better but still has too much stuff on it.
Exercise – Monday
Hair Cut – Wednesday
Tutoring – 2 days 1 hour each
Begin scheduling medical appointments for spring/summer – Need to make 4 medical doctor appointments. Tests appointments will have to be made later. (Dentist already scheduled)
Begin working on taxes – have to wait for several papers to come in before I can do a lot in this area.

School

Sub assignment for field trip on Thursday – create and send to office
Field Trip – Thursday (all permission slips are in)
Schedule Quiz
Upload Quiz to Web – trying out another testing site since the one we currently use is the pits

Crafts – Some will take longer than one week

Continue crocheting baby gift (pattern has 74 rows and 2 ruffles) – hope to get to row 65 this week. I did get to 55+ this past week so this is reachable I think.
Necklaces (6) with summer/spring designs, charms for upcoming spring craft shows










 

[busymom]

Hi Kids! Trying to play "catch-up", & accomplish a bunch of things before Tuesday. (Our next scheduled sNOwstorm is supposed to arrive then.)

Tomorrow I need to take some clothes down to my relative. His weight is fluctuating, so he needs some more things.

Not sure when I'll get a good walk in again, after 4 days in a row last week of 10,000 steps. I DID find an old dance exercise video that I may use if I'm stranded at home due to sNOw.

I did catch up on some paperwork, but still have more to do.

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)
Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE
Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS


Day 23 – THE PANTRY
How much old or unused food is hiding in your pantry? Today’s the day we’re all going to find out!!

[wvugurl26]

Hey day 23 is already done for me!! Finally I'm ahead on something.

[whoisjohngalt]

I am waiting for TCU to post all 31 challenges and then I'll copy and paste it on my desktop and will try doing a little bit each month.

Yes, I am very ambitious!

[startsmart]

Seriously car? this is getting ridiculous. After dropping off my car for the recall this morning and getting a shuttle home they tell me it won't be done until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. So back to the dealership for a rental for the day and I'll keep it until they can finish the recall issue.

Just finished caulking and taping the last pieces of trim in the master bedroom. I should be able to get 2 coats of paint on there tonight and then finally put my room back together!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feeling behind on grading and on housework. 
I'd really like to work part time and still be paid for full time. How do I make that happen? 

[Sharon]

Jan 23, 2017 22:00:03 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Feeling behind on grading and on housework. 
I'd really like to work part time and still be paid for full time. How do I make that happen? 

Please Please let me know when you figure out how to do this.

I started gathering stuff up for taxes tonight and worked on the questionnaire the accountant always sends.

[wvugurl26]

Yes please let us know how we can make that work Chloe.

[jenpen]

I finished going through my closet on Sunday and packed everything into my car.  Made a list and took pictures for tax records.  Yesterday I went to Goodwill on my lunch break and dropped off one large box of clothing (probably ~50 items), along with 8 pair of shoes and 2 coats.  And some kitchen items.

Saturday night and Sunday, I pulled all the paper from my dining room table, the coffee table, the various places I'd stuffed paper into my desk, and a large box I'd dumped a bunch of papers into to do a quick "housecleaning" before someone came over last month. I've gone through all of it except one small stack.  Filled and disposed of one grocery sack w/recycling. Filled a 2nd sack with paper to be shredded.  Unfortunately this will have to stick around until after tax season when my county holds a free Shred-it event.  Half of that paper would have been gone in October, but hurricane Matthew hit the Saturday of the Shred-it event and I was too busy frantically flood-proofing my home as well as I could. That was an exhausting day! 

Sadly, all the paper that needs either attention or filed is now stacked in half a dozen piles on my dining table, so it only stayed clear for a few hours 
But...progress!!

[jenpen]

Jan 22, 2017 19:23:03 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

...

Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS
Today’s challenge has us back in the kitchen. You know how I feel about clear counter tops ….. today we’ll be tackling those bad boys.

Thank you for posting this!  I saw it just as I was getting ready to go to bed, leaving the kitchen a mess.  It prompted me to go back and clean off the counters, load and run the dish washer, and even did the fly lady "shine your sink".  It was so nice to come down to a clean kitchen the next morning! 

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)
Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE
Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS
Day 23 – THE PANTRY


Day 24 – LINEN CUPBOARD
Towels, sheets, blankets and more! Decluttering and organizing your linen cupboard is our challenge today. Let’s hear how you do!

[Lizard Queen]

Yesterday, I drought up 8 totes filled mostly with tops, and dug out most of my tops out of the closets.  There are 4-5 sizes involved, but this is nucking futs.    Not sure how to proceed from here, whether I should just dig in or further subdivide (i.e., T-shirts, sweaters, tanks, etc.).  This is going to take forever.  At least I have a mostly unused family room to do this in, but I still need to have some clothes to wear during this time. Left about 1/2 of my T-shirts hanging to be dealt with in the sentimental items category. Figure I can exercise in those. So glad my mom doesn't go out and buy clothes for me any more.  She always tried to force her style on me.