2018 Get Organized & Declutter Your Stuff

[startsmart]

Welcome back to our annual thread for WIR ready to simplify, get more organized, clear the clutter and work on big projects.

This is the thread for you and it's so much more than donating stuff or throwing away trash. Members track everything from gift buying, grading assignments and phone calls to laundry, bills to pay and keeping papers organized.

Jump in at any time to share what you need to get done, encourage each other and track your wins.

How does this work?

Post your goals - lists and pictures are welcome and "progress pics" are always fun! Share questions when you have them and support and encourage each other. There are no hard rules - jump in and do what works for you and your home. Please don't post simply to lecture, mock or stir things up.


Basics for the thread:
1. Be encouraging to one another
2. Share your updates as often as you wish
3. You don't need to respond to every post but it is a great way to participate and support each other
4. Feel free to track anything to stay motivated - phone calls to return, errands to run, some of our teachers track papers to grade - however there are dedicated threads for losing weight, saving money on groceries and eliminating debt so check those out if you want more in depth discussions.
5. Remember when giving advice that we rarely know the whole story and this is not a place of judgment. Try not to take offense when others make suggestions to you and use the private message feature if you'd like something to remain private. You may always edit or delete a post but doing so will not remove quotes from other posters.

Why are some people posting numbers?
Some posters will be attempting to downsize a specific number of items. If you see a "count" this is probably what it's referring to - if you're not sure feel free to ask the original poster. It's not required or even necessary, do what works for you.

Tip! If you are tracking your items going out this year, create a "signature" like mine below by going to:
Profile and Settings - Select "edit profile" button on the right side of the page - Choose the "Personal" tab - Write in the "Signature" block and Save. Update with your count or goals as the year goes on!

Moderators: Please keep the 2017 thread live through Monday as some will continue to post there. Thanks!

[nidena]

Hello!  I've done a lot of decluttering in the past two years and will continue to tackle the outliers this coming year.  I'm a household of one (and some furbabies), I don't need a whole bunch of stuff.  I did a KonMari purge back in 2015 and removed nearly 200 pieces from my wardrobe, not including jewelry.  The collection of clothes has crept up, again, and needs to be tackled.  That's actually today's project.  Go through the whole house today, make the donation list for itemization, and then take everything to the Goodwill tomorrow so that I can include the receipt on my 2017 taxes.

My biggest ongoing eyesore, though, is my desk.  I think the papers on it rub together and multiply...they grow if left unattended.  lol.

[nidena]

I also want to go through my various thumb drives and delete what is obsolete and transfer the rest to my tera drive.  Part of that will be going through the oodles of digital pictures and ordering a few photo books so that the pictures I love aren't lost forever once the digital format degrades.

[WholeLottaNothin]

I am going for the same goal as last time, 1000 items out the door. I updated my footer for the new year. I should have all the debt paid off by the end of January. Then I can focus on the decluttering and weight loss, which often goes hand in hand for me. Clutter causes me so much stress.

[Sam_2.0]

My DH is basically a hoarder. Seriously. I am starting to feel crowded out of my own space. I am drawn to minimalism and really want to pare down my stuff and the kids stuff. But I am so scared he will just fill the free space with all his shit

I did go through the bathroom drawers and cabinets today. I used an old gift bag to throw stuff in and nearly filled it! On to the next spot. Maybe if my spaces are uncluttered he will be motivated to do the same. One can hope

[empress of self-improvement]

My DH is basically a hoarder. Seriously. I am starting to feel crowded out of my own space. I am drawn to minimalism and really want to pare down my stuff and the kids stuff. But I am so scared he will just fill the free space with all his shit [img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/sad.png" class="smile" src="http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png" alt=""]

I did go through the bathroom drawers and cabinets today. I used an old gift bag to throw stuff in and nearly filled it! On to the next spot. Maybe if my spaces are uncluttered he will be motivated to do the same. One can hope [img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/wink.png" class="smile" src="http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png" alt=""]

One can also tell you it will never happen. Ask me how I know!

This year I really want to crack down on getting the spare room emptied out, which means learning how to sell things on craigslist. I have absolutely no use whatsoever for a cut glass punch bowl or a bunch of Sturbridge Village pottery. Brown and ugly are not really part of my color scheme.
I also want to work on the basement and my office. We've been in this house almost 5 years and I still haven't done squat. I also want to work on my plans for the yard. I started digging out a tree stump and now I need to finish. Oh, the list is long and the energy, not so much.

[Lizard Queen]

I feel like I both want and need less stuff. Going for 2018 it items in 2018. Now that I don't have to focus so much of my mental energy on my mom's needs, I hope I can once again focus on my own place and really make some progress. I do need to work on her place, too, eventually. She's doing a bit better currently, but when she does go, it's going to all be on me to clean out her place. I mean, my brother had left her basement in hoarders mode over 4 years ago and has barely touched it since despite all kinds of threats from me. I don't see him getting off his ass and ever doing much.

[nidena]

I took 80 things to the Goodwill today--getting in that last 2017 donation--but didn't tackle the clothes until this evening.  Turns out, I have less to get rid of than I thought.  I touched every item and asked myself if I loved it.  Fewer than 20 items came out of the wardrobe.  I guess I've been doing better than I thought with not buying stuff that I don't absolutely love.  Though, I do need to take another look at the standing jewelry box.  I feel like there are some bracelets and earrings that I could part with without looking back.

I also tackled a good part of the digital purge.  I deleted some picture folders that I know won't miss the pictures and got rid of many, many, many files from ago--from a couple years to about a decade ago.  I mean, I had pictures from my stockpile from my Grocery Challenge days back in 2007 and 2008.  WHY??  lol.  We all know what a whole bunch of shampoo looks like.

To take it one step further, I admin a yard sale page on facebook.  I just deleted every For Sale post older than Jan 1st, 2018.  It was approximately 200 pictures/posts.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Peter Walsh #31Days2Organized Challenge

Day #1: 

Part #1: Make a sign that says: 

Don't put it down; put it away!

Place the sign in a prominent place in your home.

Part #2: Invite Friends to support you or join you in this challenge

[hopetoberich]

This year will be a turning point.....i hope.
2017 was a good year for decluttering but there is more to do.
We have paper clutter
Old things
Plastic kitchen things
Old electronics
Dh needs to have his 2 wardrobes looked at
Also a 2nd home that i just spent a week cleaning up and throwing out.

[seriousthistime]

Jan 1, 2018 10:55:18 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Peter Walsh #31Days2Organized Challenge

Day #1: 

Part #1: Make a sign that says: 

Don't put it down; put it away!

Place the sign in a prominent place in your home.

Part #2: Invite Friends to support you or join you in this challenge

This is SO me!  I don't put things away, and then I spend time searching for them in the clutter that accumulates. 

I am going to do my best to re-institute a "5-thing" rule. When I walk into a room, I look around for 5 little things to do.  I just walked into the kitchen: put the scissors back in the drawer, wiped down the counters, folded the dishtowel properly with the pretty design showing, put a plastic bottle in the recycling, and threw out a plant that has outlived its welcome. It took a couple of minutes and made the kitchen look neat and straightened.

[Lizard Queen]

I need to do a bunch of laundry today once I get home. We were gone for 2.5 days, and I need to do a load nearly every day in order to keep up. Maybe I'll work on my bedroom today, too. It's in terrible shape, and cleaning it up would probably make me feel much better. I sort all the laundry in there, so it goes hand in hand.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[moneysquirrel]

Lost my post.



I will be back as I plan on focusing additional time to getting things out of the house this year. Will aim for the sun (2018/2018) but if I fall a little short I may land on the moon.



I started putting several of the Christmas decor items away today. I will be doing a few at a time until the 6th then I will go into high gear to finish everything up. I did finish the crocheted afghan I was working on last nights while waiting for the fireworks to diminish.

Today I reorganized the pantry.  Was glad to discover that I only had a few items to dispose of due to expired dates.  Have to do some cooking soon as a few cans are close to the use by dates.  I also picked up a few of the Christmas items.  Will do a little at a time until the 6th then will go into warp mode to finish everything.

This week's list:
*maintain progress
*hair appointment
*filing
*pack afghan to mail to DGS
*Update out of house items weekly amount
*organize at least two areas
*cook -- not heat up previous items from freezer
*bead
*Add at least one item to Etsy

[chiver78]

happy new year, everyone! 

after a weekend of much partying, I am cracking down today. I have already removed every item from my refrigerator (pitching expireds/who knows how old it is?) and washed every shelf, drawer, and door basket. next up is to do the same to the bar/cookbook cabinet and the bookshelf in the dining room that isn't actually being used as a bookshelf right now. cookbooks are moving there, and I will be using the cubby in the bar cabinet to display glassware. I've got a set from my grandparents' 50th anniversary party that I haven't been able to display b/c there wasn't any room. 

oh, and I took a break to make a pot of soup for the week. 100 cal/cup b/c I need to declutter my temple lol...  anyway, the other goal I have for the first month is to work through the freezers and pantry before I restock stuff. there's a ton of frozen BSCB that I can use for chilis, black bean pulled chicken, etc. just need to plan to do that, and pull stuff to thaw a couple days before the weekend. 

[Deleted]

I need to organize. We moved into this house a year ago and there are still boxes unpacked, and drawers/cupboards/bins where things were just 'shoved' to get them there and then never organized. This is my main goal this semester. 

I also need to decorate some of the blank white walls around here. I know that this is not the goal of this thread, but its complimentary to organizing and the whole what to keep what to toss argument. So, i'm going to keep track of that as well. 

I also need to use food from the freezers, which seems odd to put here, but in some ways I think it coordinates too. 

I am going to focus on areas. So, this week my goal is to work on my bedroom closet, bins and dressers.  In clearing that out I'm going to pester husband to help me finish the tile on the bathroom sink. If that gets done early, I might paint the cabinet as well.  I will cook at least 4 meals from the freezer. 3 dinners and a soup. 

[tcu2003]

Jan 1, 2018 14:25:16 GMT -5 oped said:

I need to organize. We moved into this house a year ago and there are still boxes unpacked, and drawers/cupboards/bins where things were just 'shoved' to get them there and then never organized. This is my main goal this semester. 

I also need to decorate some of the blank white walls around here. I know that this is not the goal of this thread, but its complimentary to organizing and the whole what to keep what to toss argument. So, i'm going to keep track of that as well. 

I so get this (except we moved in 3.5 years ago). I had made one of my goals for 2017 to put some pictures on the wall, and DH finally put the floating shelves up today, but I’ll call that a win! I also want to do a gallery wall by our staircase, so maybe I can get that done in Q1 this year.

[plugginaway22]

It is amazing how doing one major chore makes you want to keep the momentum going!  We have lived in this house 22 years and I finally got the kitchen pantry painted and a shelf added.  This has resulted in me tearing into all other kitchen cabinets, getting rid of unused items and reorganizing things for how DH and I use them now, not when we were a crazy family of 5.  Just relining drawers with pretty contact paper is such a lift.  Happy De-cluttering in 2018.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 1, 2018 14:25:16 GMT -5 oped said:

I need to organize. We moved into this house a year ago and there are still boxes unpacked, and drawers/cupboards/bins where things were just 'shoved' to get them there and then never organized. This is my main goal this semester. 

I also need to decorate some of the blank white walls around here. I know that this is not the goal of this thread, but its complimentary to organizing and the whole what to keep what to toss argument. So, i'm going to keep track of that as well. 

I also need to use food from the freezers, which seems odd to put here, but in some ways I think it coordinates too. 

I am going to focus on areas. So, this week my goal is to work on my bedroom closet, bins and dressers.  In clearing that out I'm going to pester husband to help me finish the tile on the bathroom sink. If that gets done early, I might paint the cabinet as well.  I will cook at least 4 meals from the freezer. 3 dinners and a soup. 

Um, we totally have unpacking and (re)decorating and pantry/food lists as part of the goals in this thread.
So, welcome to the party!

[Deleted]

I just took husband through the bedroom closet and hall closet and pointed out where I need him to build more shelves... does that count as a task completed? lol .

[Sam_2.0]

Christmas all put away, except for the wreath that needs to go in the trash. I also hot a lot of the big baby items put in the basement since T is crawling and not safe to leave in most anymore. Still kept the jumper out but that was really it. Swings and seats all packed away. SIL is having a boy due on Ts first birthday, so I will let her have 1st crack at this stuff and then it's on to a garage sale.

ETA- wreath out too. On a roll!

[busymom]

Happy New Year, Everyone!  

I actually bought 2 more tote boxes, so all of my Christmas stuff will be in matching totes (I hope...).  


My contractor texted that he plans to come back tomorrow.  If he can finish those windows, hopefully we can move onto other things.

[Lizard Queen]

I came up with 5 to 6 things purged every day in order to get to 2018. I easily got rid of 6 old toiletries, and the 3 boys in my house each found 5 things. This way, we can forget a few days, or maybe we'll get rid of multiples of 2018--Lord knows, this house needs it.

[hopetoberich]

I wonder how many things are in the average home.
I emptied the utensils draw, wiped it clean added foil to the bottom and sides and replaced it all clean.
I need to clean inside the hutch and organize that too.

[TheOtherMe]

I am going to attempt the 2018 in 2018.  I have no idea of how successful I will be.  I printed out the sheets and have started counting.  

I did get through all of my dad's financial paperwork today and it's all filed away.  I ended up doing this for 2014-2017.  Also found out I can submit the request for reimbursement of health insurance premiums from his former employer online so I finished that.

I have too much stuff.  One thing I learned last year is that some days of decluttering are better than others and some things bring back memories and I have to stop for that day.  I give myself permission to stop when that happens.  I've done quite a bit of digital cleaning today and yesterday and changing passwords.

[dee27]

The tree is down and the ornaments/decorations are boxed, but DH needs a warmer day to go into the attic. It is -7 with the wind chill, and it will not be warmer until Saturday.

[hopetoberich]

I googled it.
300,000 things in the average home.

[countrygirl2]

Some stuff was brought in from when we moved years ago, still haven't purged all those

boxes, sigh. Lot of old meds and toiletries, most went in the trash.

We are packing up all the junk DIL bought, hubs yelling at me to get it packed so he can

load it, I got mad screaming back, not my job but did it downstairs. I'm tired. Getting her

to do stuff is like pushing paper with a stick. They went out New Years Eve so neither

wanted to do anything. He is driving me crazy to get this stuff ready. I did finish in the

basement today and its in the garage. He is not happy that she bought all this junk here

that we have to haul 800 miles, but she just wouldn't listen.  She couldn't figure out why

we were screaming at each other.  I tried telling her that he has been on me all week to

get it packed and I tried to get her to do it but didn't want to nag.  I did over and over but

she just doesn't get it.  It's mostly language, she really needs to dig in and listen and learn,

she listens to too much Russian programming.

Anyway after that tirade, I did get a lot cleaned out of the basement, also some of our

furniture is going from down there so really helps.  When we get back going to go through

all my boxes down there, I have really thinned down, going to do some more of it.

I want a couch down there, we loaned the one down there to a tenant, so its gone, and a

recliner is going with the kids plus DD's very nice bed from the group home we bought

her.

[startsmart]

Pretty good day all around on my habits but no decluttering yet I do need to call the charity where I did the consignment sale to see what didn't sell (it'll go to Goodwill) and ask if they want more burp rags for 2018.

I did 250 last year but could not get the director to tell me if they needed more or less and stopped after 5 attempts to contact her. I do have a TON of fabric though so if I don't donate them I'm considering selling the rest of them on Etsy later this year. 

I did a 30 min workout followed by 15 min walk to the park, finally got my garmin back on to track steps, made up my bed and I'm about to move the guest room mattresses back in the room... 

I only need about 4 more hours in my day to get everything done on a daily basis 

I did set up a list of 30 home projects to do on my blog so I'm going to follow that. First up is new privacy film on the new window in my garage. I feel better knowing if someone looks in the window they won't see my convertible and be tempted to steal it. The new film arrives Thursday and then I need to move out all the crap around the window so I can get in there. 

[zibazinski]

I’d let your son and his wife deal with her crap. Why do you get involved?