2018 Get Organized & Declutter Your Stuff

[debthaven]

This weekend (updated)
- Basement:
Thurs: build 4 sets of shelves + luggage, household pantry, food pantry, party goods
Fri: built 1 set of shelves + work papers, toys, beach toys, x-rays, baby clothes, art stuff
- donations/Sat

New basement shelves all done except for the school stuff!   

The trunk is full of things to donate tomorrow morning. The donation place is right near the office supply store. I may pick up boxes for the school stuff tomorrow so I can get started on that this week.

[TheOtherMe]

chiver78  I do what Sam_2.0 does with mail since I go across the street to get it.  The junk mail doesn't make it in to the house.

You might want to go through your stack, even if it may have bad news.  I have a friend who doesn't open mail on a regular basis and she once had checks bouncing.  Had she opened her mail, she would have known instead of having one of her payees call her to find out why the check bounced.  Of course, as everything is with her, it was the bank's fault.  It wasn't if you open the mail.

debthaven  Mom kept everything for us in boxes.  At some point, the boxes were given to us.  I know I was older than your kids.  It's fun to go back and look at my report cards and the handwritten notes from my teachers.

This weekend, I have to pick up my living room and I would like to go through the junk drawer.

By Monday, I want to get all the old electronics in the car so I can drop them off at Goodwill on Tuesday.  I have medical appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I will be going to town both days.

[debthaven]

TheOtherMe I plan to do that at some point, but my kids aren't old enough to appreciate having those things yet. Also, since we live in a very HCOLA and they're still young, they really don't have room yet. I'm happy to keep these items for now, since we have the space. I just need to get them whittled down.

 

[chiver78]

I decluttered one more item today lol... I took the bus in to Boston because I'm catching a ride home with a friend from out of state that is crashing at my place tonight before coming back up for another show tomorrow. roommate and I have been talking about recycling the "throwaway" freebie water bottles you get at events that are just overloading a lazy Susan in my kitchen. so I made a roadie in one of those and recycled it when I got to Boston. #repurposingforgood

[chiver78]

TheOtherMe, I know. I promise I do. anything relating to credit is done electronically, so I'm okay there. I just need to weed through stuff, and not save things I'll never use.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 12, 2018 17:01:07 GMT -5 debthaven said:

TheOtherMe I plan to do that at some point, but my kids aren't old enough to appreciate having those things yet. Also, since we live in a very HCOLA and they're still young, they really don't have room yet. I'm happy to keep these items for now, since we have the space. I just need to get them whittled down.

 

I am sure that is what mom did.  I know I got the box on a trip after I had my own home and had driven home in the summer as opposed to flying there in the winter.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 12, 2018 17:12:18 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

TheOtherMe , I know. I promise I do. anything relating to credit is done electronically, so I'm okay there. I just need to weed through stuff, and not save things I'll never use.

That friend won't do anything electronically, which is another reason she didn't know her checks were bouncing.  She writes out checks.  She only picks up her mail twice a month but then lets it sit for a while before she opens it.  

[chiver78]

Jan 12, 2018 17:14:32 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 12, 2018 17:12:18 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

TheOtherMe , I know. I promise I do. anything relating to credit is done electronically, so I'm okay there. I just need to weed through stuff, and not save things I'll never use.

That friend won't do anything electronically, which is another reason she didn't know her checks were bouncing.  She writes out checks.  She only picks up her mail twice a month but then lets it sit for a while before she opens it.  

that sounds like my mom...yikes.

[debthaven]

DH NEVER EVER EVER EVER opens his mail. Seriously, never.

It drives me CRAZY!!! All the important, official mail (like taxes) comes addressed to him. Because everyone knows you need a p.enis to open an official envelope, right?!

He's very happy for me to open his mail, sort it, and tell him what he needs to deal with. Me, not so much.

[startsmart]

Well I got the car somewhat cleaned out but couldn't get the oil change/tire rotation done this week as planned. I know it'll be fine for this trip but it's nice to have off my mind. 

Almost done packing and I'm ready to get going! Just a few more things to accomplish around the house before this trip.

I did hear back that I'm excused from Jury Duty but now have to pick another day in the next 6 months to report. Uh, never! If I don't give them a date they'll just put me on the random list and it'll show up in my mailbox again. 

[tcu2003]

Day 12 of #31Days2GetOrganized – MEDICINE CABINET – Medicine cabinets should be about the health and welfare of your family – not about out-of-date medicines and clutter. If you haven’t explored your medicine cabinet in a while, today’s the day!

[CCL]

Jan 12, 2018 17:34:52 GMT -5 debthaven said:

DH NEVER EVER EVER EVER opens his mail. Seriously, never.

It drives me CRAZY!!! All the important, official mail (like taxes) comes addressed to him. Because everyone knows you need a p.enis to open an official envelope, right?!

He's very happy for me to open his mail, sort it, and tell him what he needs to deal with. Me, not so much.

Hmmm...it has never occurred to me that hubby should be opening and/or dealing with his own mail. I've always done it all lol.

[Deleted]

So last night when I left work I did the stupidest thing.
I was really tired, 2am, windy and cold so I had my head down when I got in my car.
Sat down and went OMG someone has trashed my car! There was crap all over the place. Then realized it was not my car .
It was the car next to my car.

[busymom]

Good news!  The extra effort paid off, as DD & I found a bathroom counter top that we like better than the cheap one we'd found earlier.  It'll be about $100 more than the cheap one, & it still won't be a "perfect" match, but it's the best one we've seen yet.  


I must be having a good influence on DH, as he went through his sock & underwear drawer tonight, without me even having to ask.  

[empress of self-improvement]

Jan 12, 2018 21:06:22 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jan 12, 2018 17:34:52 GMT -5 debthaven said:

DH NEVER EVER EVER EVER opens his mail. Seriously, never.

It drives me CRAZY!!! All the important, official mail (like taxes) comes addressed to him. Because everyone knows you need a p.enis to open an official envelope, right?!

He's very happy for me to open his mail, sort it, and tell him what he needs to deal with. Me, not so much.

Hmmm...it has never occurred to me that hubby should be opening and/or dealing with his own mail. I've always done it all lol.

Same here. Of course, the big difference is he really doesn't have the mental faculties to do it anymore.

[debthaven]

Hugs empress of self-improvement .

Great find busymom !

That story cracked me up @xmascookie !

I think I overdid it again yesterday. I'm still going to try to make it to the donation place today but then I'm going to take it easy/prep for school for the rest of the weekend.

[debthaven]

Guess what I've been doing since I went to the donation place and the office supply store for boxes? The good news is DS1 wants to go through his HS stuff himself, so I just dumped it all in a new box for him to sort through when he comes in Feb. And DS3 offered to go through his boxes with me, so we'll do those next time he's home.

 

[dogmom]

DH brings in the mail.  He leaves it on the kitchen counter.  When I get home from work, I pull anything out that's important (any bill that I don't pay on line, and statements, like banks and brokers.)  The rest go in recycling.  Unfortunately DH refuses to just have brokerage statements come on line instead of paper.  Also, I've tried, but have not succeeded yet in having our insurance company (for house and cars) NOT send a paper copy of notice (although we get one on e-mail, and I pay it on line).  Those go to shred. 

I did start under the kitchen sink.  Pup kind of likes helping because Mom is sitting on the floor, and that means playtime.   I have a few storage kitchen (divided dishes, jello molds, etc) that are on one side (we have odd cabinets) that will go in donate.  I'm hesitating on a few things, but, when in doubt, throw it out is going to happen.

I rather smiled when I was cleaning out a drawer with kitchen utensils, and items I KNOW I could get rid of went in the donate box, DH was trying to get me to keep the items.  I won.    Hey, sometimes I win.

[debthaven]

I've gotten through 12/22 boxes today: mine, DS1's and DS2's. In fact they were already fairly condensed. By the time I got to DD and DS3 I was fed up and just threw everything into boxes.

I'll try to do DD's boxes this week, but I'll wait for DS3 to do his.

Kids here for dinner so that's all for today.

[dogmom]

You guys really inspired me.  (and, yeah, I shamed myself into it )  I DID clean out from under the sink.    Thank you! 


Organized.   A plus, EMPTY SPACE.  Not visible to anyone else, but...  Ahhh.    Couldn't have done it without you.  18 items out, gone. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 12, 2018 6:04:25 GMT -5 oped said:

What are skill Day bags? I want one  

The high school in DH's district hosts a regional (13-high school) event for students to demonstrate skills in mathematics, fine and performing arts, writing, music, welding, and woodwork. Last year 250 students attended; we're hoping for more this year. As wifely-duty, I put together gift bags for the participants. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 12, 2018 17:34:52 GMT -5 debthaven said:

DH NEVER EVER EVER EVER opens his mail. Seriously, never.

It drives me CRAZY!!! All the important, official mail (like taxes) comes addressed to him. Because everyone knows you need a p.enis to open an official envelope, right?!

He's very happy for me to open his mail, sort it, and tell him what he needs to deal with. Me, not so much.

In our division of household tasks, I am the "paperwork manager", so I open and deal with all of the mail. I almost never take out the trash though. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Peter Walsh

Day 13 of #31Days2GetOrganized 

– REFRIGERATOR – 

It’s been 2 weeks since New Year’s Eve. If there’s still some eggnog and Christmas casserole in the fridge, it’s time to something about it!

Go through your fridge and freezer. Throw out anything you know you're never going to use and anything you cannot identify. 

As a bonus, make a quick list of what you have, and focus on using what you have this week. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

This weekend I am
~working through the grading piles 
~a task DH would like done for his job
~deep cleaning the kitchen [Current accomplishment: 4/26 tasks]
~throw out expired food in stockpile 
~match sock basket
~update YNAB
~regular planning for next week

[seriousthistime]

Jan 12, 2018 16:55:00 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

You might want to go through your stack, even if it may have bad news.  I have a friend who doesn't open mail on a regular basis and she once had checks bouncing.  Had she opened her mail, she would have known instead of having one of her payees call her to find out why the check bounced.  Of course, as everything is with her, it was the bank's fault.  It wasn't if you open the mail.

Do we have the same friend?  Mine doesn't open the mail, and when she finds out a bill wasn't paid, she wants to know why someone from that business didn't call her and remind her to pay it.  

I'm good about recycling stuff that isn't financial, but all the credit card and HELOC offers stack up.  I feel they need to be shredded. 

I have a long weekend and need to make a list of things to do, starting with taking down the Christmas tree.  

[debthaven]

The kids are coming later than planned, and DH wanted to make dinner.

So I've done 3/5 of DD's boxes. That's 15/17 boxes done. 

It looks like I'll finish all but DS3's 5 boxes this weekend. I'm sure I could get rid of more, but if can get rid of 1/3 of the boxes, I'm calling it good.

[dee27]

I went through all of the drawers in my desk, a box of receipts, and investment records (I only retain the Dec. documents). I threw out 1 small bag of trash and I have one large bag to shred. We still have some of the records' boxes to purge, but the weather is too cold to retrieve those boxes from the attic.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 13, 2018 13:40:56 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Jan 12, 2018 16:55:00 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

You might want to go through your stack, even if it may have bad news.  I have a friend who doesn't open mail on a regular basis and she once had checks bouncing.  Had she opened her mail, she would have known instead of having one of her payees call her to find out why the check bounced.  Of course, as everything is with her, it was the bank's fault.  It wasn't if you open the mail.

Do we have the same friend?  Mine doesn't open the mail, and when she finds out a bill wasn't paid, she wants to know why someone from that business didn't call her and remind her to pay it.  

In my friend's case, it was the bank's fault.  I don't quite know how she comes to that conclusion.  Guess it can't be her fault for not opening the mail.  

[TheOtherMe]

Just finished cleaning the living room mess.  More items gone, one major lost item found!  

Also finished inputting all numbers in to my tax return.  I won't file until the underlying paperwork is here, but it's ready to go.  I realize e-filing isn't open yet.

DN3 is planning on coming over Monday to help me with things he was going to do over Christmas.  He said life got in the way.  I get it and I didn't have another mouse in my bed.  He said he would have been here at least for that if that had happened.  

He is a good young man.  He teaches at a residential school for kids with behavioral issues.  He loves it but it doesn't pay as well as if he were at a regular school.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 13, 2018 17:16:28 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 13, 2018 13:40:56 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Do we have the same friend?  Mine doesn't open the mail, and when she finds out a bill wasn't paid, she wants to know why someone from that business didn't call her and remind her to pay it.  

In my friend's case, it was the bank's fault.  I don't quite know how she comes to that conclusion.  Guess it can't be her fault for not opening the mail.  

I've often observed for people (ahem, my XH) who struggle with this "adulting" thing often like to blame everyone but themselves when it comes to completely preventable mistakes.