2018 Get Organized & Declutter Your Stuff

[dee27]

Jan 15, 2018 20:20:03 GMT -5 busymom said:

So sorry, startsmart .  When Mom was still living in her house, she was getting calls from scammers much too often.     Hope your grandma gets the rest of her money back, or can at least help prosecute the scammers.  


My contractor never showed today, nor did he answer his phone.  He finally did leave me a message around supper time.  He blamed the driving conditions where he spent the weekend, but I suspect "3.2 flu" from all of the football games this weekend.  

DH researched how to block calls especially the auto dial ones which are usually scam calls since the Do Not Call list has become a useless feature. For blocked calls, the phone rings only once. Scam artists figured out a work around to skirt the DNC list, and our phone display lists the block calls as origin unknown. The calls are a nuisance, but the scammers still make money if only a few responses give them critical information or like startsmart's GM send them money.

[Jaguar]

I simply do not answer my phone at all. I've got the ringer set to off mode, and anyone calling has to leave a message on the answering machine. Every family member knows what I do, so this screens everyone.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 15, 2018 20:49:23 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

I simply do not answer my phone at all. I've got the ringer set to off mode, and anyone calling has to leave a message on the answering machine. Every family member knows what I do, so this screens everyone.

I don't answer my phone either unless it is one of my children or husband. Although when my husband fell off the ladder onto the concrete slab floor in August 2016, it took my phone being called three times before I answered. 

[nidena]

Classes started today so my list is a bit shorter for errands:

Attend classes (sometimes this is difficult but it'll be a daily goal until May)
Grocery store
Buy books for today's classes (last term I bought all my books--$450 total--and used only one, not cool)
Gym
Ensure planner has all appointments written on the correct dates.

[Iggy aka IG]

I do something similar to Knee Deep in Water Chloe.  On the bottom, spices are alphabetized roughly A-F, G-R, and S-Z.  The middle shelf left to right, generally:  Baking items, oils and DH's grilling/smoking spices.  (Guess I could switch the Tony's for the baking powder, ha ha...)  Other baking ingredients, etc. are in the pantry.

There's also a larger Lazy Susan in a cupboard over there <------------------ which holds my meds, vits, Tums, Tylenol, etc.

[Iggy aka IG]

Just did the Walsh pen challenge here at the office (yes, I'm avoiding work).  9 pens tossed, including my beloved 25 year old Chicago Cubs pen. 

[TheOtherMe]

I don't answer calls from numbers I do not recognize.  I then google them.  Usually find out they are scam calls, so I block them.

This doesn't help with my dad.  He doesn't look at the Caller ID.  However, he doesn't hear well enough to go along with any scammer.  The one he figured out who it was happened to be the IRS scam.  He told them to call his daughter because she used to work there.  They didn't call me.  I'm sure he didn't give them my number.  We have turned off his answering machine as he never gets the messages.  If people can leave a message, they think he will hear the message.  He won't so it's best for him not to have an answering machine.  

[MJ2.0]

I didn't do my weekend assignment of the coat closet.  And the tree is still up.

[finnime]

We dropped our landline when I realized it had literally been months since I'd received a legitimate call; all were "Rachel from Card Services" or worse, or salespeople. I'd kept it originally for 911 (DH has had health issues) but found out a cell works just fine for that, too.

[nidena]

Jan 16, 2018 12:10:57 GMT -5 nidena said:

Classes started today so my list is a bit shorter for errands:

Attend classes (sometimes this is difficult but it'll be a daily goal until May)
Grocery store
Buy books for today's classes (last term I bought all my books--$450 total--and used only one, not cool)
Gym
Ensure planner has all appointments written on the correct dates.

Only one of my three T/Th classes requires a book.  Winning!  Paid $9 for it on Amazon.
Didn't make it to the gym but did make it to the weekly chant session with my Buddhism District.

[tcu2003]

Day 16 of #31Days2GetOrganized – One Shelf in a Closet – Closets are magnets for everything from clothes to crafting materials to towels and linens. Choose just one closet in your house, choose just one shelf in that closet – and get started!

[dee27]

Jan 16, 2018 18:49:01 GMT -5 finnime said:

We dropped our landline when I realized it had literally been months since I'd received a legitimate call; all were "Rachel from Card Services" or worse, or salespeople. I'd kept it originally for 911 (DH has had health issues) but found out a cell works just fine for that, too.

I want to drop the landline, but DH's phone needs the landline to read the conversation.

[countrygirl2]

Not much, I dropped off at the free store a pair of really good Duluth leather shoes. I thought

they would feel good on my feet, but the right one is so broken down, it rubbed the inside of

the shoe and didn't feel good. Maybe some poor soul can use them, they are high tops and

expensive shoes.

Got 2 new padded mats for in front of the stove and fridge, have one in front of the sink,

will give the other ones away also. Trying to get rid of when I get new.

Threw away a plastic tablecloth today too.

[startsmart]

Not doing any decluttering while I'm traveling but I am staying consistent at the gym and with dietary changes - even if eating out here sucks for options. Tomorrow I'm teaching in the morning, working with a client and then hopefully working by the pool all afternoon  

[nidena]

I started the list, last night, for today but some of it may not happen because of the snowfall.  I stay off the roads when it's snowing.  lol.

Today's list:
Carpet remnant to HfH
books/toys to niece
Gym
Specialty food store for stevia
Order calendar for Mom

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I’m not done with my kitchen list for January, but I’m not sure I’m going to do much more of it this month. There are other areas of the house I need to work on this month.

I’m having a pity party, feeling overwhelmed, feeling inadequate, etc. no particularly good reasons for feeling that way.

[nidena]

AARP has a downsizing workbook.  See it here.

[chapeau]

Jan 17, 2018 10:32:06 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I’m not done with my kitchen list for January, but I’m not sure I’m going to do much more of it this month. There are other areas of the house I need to work on this month.

I’m having a pity party, feeling overwhelmed, feeling inadequate, etc. no particularly good reasons for feeling that way.

Ugh. I hate that feeling. I felt like that most of the long weekend, including calling DH the laziest person I’d ever met on Sunday. Ok, I yelled it. I apologized later, but he did empty out the 4 laundry baskets full of his clean clothes that were crowding our bedroom floor. (I don’t put away his laundry, he doesn’t touch mine.)
But I got a burst of energy Monday afternoon and got a kitchen cabinet and drawer cleaned out. Then last night I dumped a whole bunch of papers. So I feel like I accomplished something. Something small.

[wvugurl26]

I feel like bit by bit is the only way anything gets done. I very rarely have large free chunks of time. Or if I do my asthma and body refuse to cooperate with an all day cleaning, organizing spree. I try to do a few things every night after work. It helps me stay reasonably on top of things.

I'm trying to teach this to my husband. If you wait around to have a free weekend, you might be waiting a long damn time!

[debthaven]

We were led to expect that we'd receive an offer on the studio. Found out today the buyers changed their minds. I'm very low so I haven't done anything. I watched Netflix all afternoon because it's the only thing that takes my mind off things.

I'd better make a list for the rest of the week.

Recycling emptied the bin this morning (they come once a week). With the basement clear-out I was worried there'd be something they'd refuse to take. When that happens they don't take any of it, so that was a relief. The monthly "bulky" garbage pick-up is Fri, so we have to take the old basement shelves out tomorrow.

This week
- go to pharmacy/Thurs or Fri
- take out old shelves (with DH)/Thurs
- create online class spaces X 5/Fri

[Sharon]

Apparently there is a good case of the blues going around.  I too am feeling low, worthless, stupid and mostly completely stressed out.  I'm not getting stuff done that needs to get done.  The bills are paid, the kitchen is clean every day, and I have clean clothes to wear to work.  Right now that is good enough.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 17, 2018 13:14:17 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I feel like bit by bit is the only way anything gets done. I very rarely have large free chunks of time. Or if I do my asthma and body refuse to cooperate with an all day cleaning, organizing spree. I try to do a few things every night after work. It helps me stay reasonably on top of things.

I'm trying to teach this to my husband. If you wait around to have a free weekend, you might be waiting a long damn time!

That’s how I function also. “Okay, I have seven minutes before I have to leave; what on the cleaning list can I get done in that amount of time.”

[debthaven]

Sharon

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 17, 2018 14:24:18 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Apparently there is a good case of the blues going around.  I too am feeling low, worthless, stupid and mostly completely stressed out.  I'm not getting stuff done that needs to get done.  The bills are paid, the kitchen is clean every day, and I have clean clothes to wear to work.  Right now that is good enough.

I’m so sorry. I’m on hour four of my pity party if you want to join me.

[Lizard Queen]

I did next to nothing yesterday. It was even sunny, so can't blame it on SAD too much.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 17, 2018 14:18:17 GMT -5 debthaven said:

We were led to expect that we'd receive an offer on the studio. Found out today the buyers changed their minds. I'm very low so I haven't done anything. I watched Netflix all afternoon because it's the only thing that takes my mind off things.

I'd better make a list for the rest of the week.

Recycling emptied the bin this morning (they come once a week). With the basement clear-out I was worried there'd be something they'd refuse to take. When that happens they don't take any of it, so that was a relief. The monthly "bulky" garbage pick-up is Fri, so we have to take the old basement shelves out tomorrow.

This week
- go to pharmacy/Thurs or Fri
- take out old shelves (with DH)/Thurs
- create online class spaces X 5/Fri

Dang it!

[Jaguar]

Geez, so sorry debthaven that's bloody awful!

[debthaven]

This week
- create online class spaces X 3 (second-years)/Wed
- take out old shelves (DH)/Wed
- go to pharmacy/Thurs or Fri
- create online class spaces X 2 (first-years)/Fri

I was so irritated with myself for wasting the entire afternoon that I created 3 of those 5 online class spaces.

This is the first school year I'm using this new system. It takes time to create, but it saves time on emails. It will save even more time in future years since I'll have all the templates. I created the second-year template, my friend is doing the first-year template. 

DH took the shelves out tonight, in case anyone wants them before the bulk garbage truck comes on Fri.

[grits]

A random number from Spain called.  I started to answer it just to see if I could mess up someone's mind. 

[nidena]

Jan 17, 2018 8:15:51 GMT -5 nidena said:

I started the list, last night, for today but some of it may not happen because of the snowfall.  I stay off the roads when it's snowing.  lol.

Today's list:
Carpet remnant to HfH (scheduled)
books/toys to niece (packaged, just need to mail)
Gym
Specialty food store for stevia
Order calendar for Mom

I also got my book club reservation done (I'm "hosting" for January)
Picked up my new glasses
Ordered new sports bras--workouts are a lot easier when you don't cram 38FFs into 38Fs.

And I've got a head start on writing down tomorrow's list.  Yay!