2018 Get Organized & Declutter Your Stuff

[debthaven]

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas! We had a wonderful day (and nobody complained about the quantity of presents lol). DS1/DDIL/Baby! left this morning for the UK. I can't believe how quickly this week has flown by.

The folding tabletop we bought used a few months ago worked a charm. It was so much easier than switching the kitchen and DR tables back and forth. It went back down to the basement last night.

DS2's bedding is back on his bed, DS1's is washed and put away. The portable crib in the closet too, since there's room now. The high chair and car seat are back in the basement. Towels are in the dryer.

DH has a bad cold. We're both exhausted, but happy. I think we're both going to take it easy for a few days.

This week
- bottle bank/Wed

- pharmacy/Wed

- tidy basement (toy shelves)/Wed

- Shitepile

- mail DDIL's keys (she left them here)

- call garage re: spare tire wheel

[bobosensei]

Christmas was good.  I'm ready to start taking down decorations, but will likely wait until this weekend.  I plan to buy some more organizing bins for the basement.  I'm tired of having two cluttered rooms that the doors have to be closed all the time to keep the robot vac from getting stuck.  With the new decorations I got this year I need more storage.  I do have a bunch of boxes left over from the move, but my basement is moist (I do run a dehumidifier a few hours a day) so I prefer plastic bins.

I cancelled my trash service today because the trash and recycling are on different days now.  All my neighbors use another company that keeps sending me coupons for 3 months free.  I saw today that they allow 2 more bags of yard waste than I can currently put out and they are cheaper.  It will be nice not seeing bins on the road 3 days a week.  I need to set up the new service, but I'm good for this week.

I have a lot of donations accumulating.  Since I finally bought a home and can itemize my deductions starting in 2019 I wanted to actually list my charitable contributions.  I've been saving up my goodwill donations for January 1st   Need to go through the house and take another hard look at everything.  With 3300 square feet I can see how it is easy to let the junk pile up, but I don't want to let it get that way.  I have a small kitchen and need to make it more functional.  I love to cook so have the cabinets packed to the gills which makes it hard to get things in and out.  I'm thinking of adding shelves or cabinets.

My list:
1) get new trash service started
2) order clear bins for basement
3) declutter (not worried about shifting or reorganizing - just need to cull out the things for donation)
4) get rid of all the leftover moving boxes and paper (might offer them up on nextdoor app)
5) take my pile of things to be donated by January 2nd
6) take down all christmas decorations by January 2nd (my 10 foot tree will likely have to be cut in half for anyone to dispose of it for me)

[Chocolate Lover]

Dec 25, 2018 20:48:20 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Dec 25, 2018 15:01:17 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

My inside shoes are thick flip flops. I like to have my feet free so I can pick stuff up with my toes. I can't do barefoot, it hurts my feet too much.

Hahaha, you do that too? I used to have very talented toes! 😅 As a kid, I would change the channels on the tv (there was a number pad on it). One time, to impress my DH, I took his jeans off him with my feet.

Yep. I always saw my mom do it when I was a kid and didn't know people couldn't. The jeans trick is rather impressive, I might have to try that one. 

[TheOtherMe]

Rest up debthaven  Hope you don't catch DH's cold

The trash was picked up early, but the recycling is still on the curb.

It was extremely foggy this morning.  I filled my car with gas because it's supposed to start raining and rain/snow through some time on Friday.  

I will start putting decorations away.  I need to wipe down the plastic totes they were in before I do that.

[debthaven]

We keep our tree up till Twelfth Night, or the night before. We don't put out many other decorations, just a few candles and a wreath.

DS2's room is all put back together. I took a two-hour nap.  I also worked on my lines. I need to do that for at least an hour every day.

Congrats on your new home bobosensei !

I hope today wasn't too difficult Sharon . I'm glad your kids helped you put the house back together. 

startsmart would you mind starting the 2019 thread if you have time? Otherwise I can do it if you prefer (I'll copy the first posts of course).

This week (updated)
- bottle bank/Wed
- pharmacy/Wed
- tidy basement (toy shelves)/Wed
- Shitepile/Wed
- mail DDIL's keys (she left them here)

- call garage re: spare tire wheel (DS2 destroyed the wheel not just the tire)

The third of the three cars I was tracking sold. I was rather sad about that one, so was DH. It was a great deal, but I was hesitant about buying from a private party, doing the paperwork ourselves, and having to sell our car too. It felt totally overwhelming before. Now that DS1/DDIL/Baby! have come and gone I regret it, I would have had the time now. Oh well.

[startsmart]

Debthaven- yep l will start the new thread today or tomorrow

[debthaven]

Thank you startsmart.

[TheOtherMe]

Sister called to let me know she spent some of dad's money on a new lamp for him as his bit the dust.  He said he didn't need a new one.  Well, he can't sit in the dark.  His apartment doesn't have ceiling lights except in the kitchen and bathroom.

The doctor is going to have him do an x-ray in January.  The main thing he said was to have him take small bites of food and to eat slowly.  Sister asked him to write it down so we can show it to him when he refuses to slow down.  It could just be old age.

The Christmas card I sent was a photo of me with David Crosby from the meet and greet.  I received a card today where I was asked who that guy is.  Several others had commented on how cool it was to have the photo.  The person who asked is my ex!     I think it's hilarious that he even cares, but even funnier that he doesn't know who Croz is.  

[TheOtherMe]

I just read the note with the card.  He hopes the guy and I are very happy together!!!   

[busymom]

LOL TheOtherMe!  That is simply hilarious!  



We always keep the tree up until the New Year.  In a typical year, we are so rushed before Christmas that we have no chance just to sit, and enjoy the tree.



The contractor called who is putting up my blinds.  They should be here Friday to install them, and I can't wait!  I won't get my kitchen shutters until January, but at least we're seeing some progress.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

TheOtherMe, that's hilarious!

We have put away the entire front yard of 46 inflatables and their extension cords, three flags, door swag, 85 plastic candy canes, and en feet of snowman path border. The inflatables are either plugged in or hanging up in the garage so they can dry out. 

We also loaded the trailer today so we can leave first thing in the morning. We're spending three nights where we used to live to see the sons, DIL, and Miss Baby. We might see DS#2's fiancé. She didn't come to the family Christmas party, and her excuse seems wishy-washy. She did come for Thanksgiving, so maybe she's not avoiding us. 

I have my January house task list set up. I'll probably wait to post a picture of that on the 2019 page. 
I'll take down the inside Christmas decorations on Sunday when we get home. 

[startsmart]

Dec 26, 2018 10:55:04 GMT -5 bobosensei said:

I have a lot of donations accumulating.  Since I finally bought a home and can itemize my deductions starting in 2018 I wanted to actually list my charitable contributions.  I've been saving up my goodwill donations for January 1st   Need to go through the house and take another hard look at everything.  

I may be wrong on this, but if you're in the US and itemizing for 2018, won't you need to donate those things in December in order to claim them on your 2018 taxes? 


I am working on cleaning up my office and updating my old laptop. My parents are finally getting internet installed tomorrow in their new home (after 9 months!) and since they only have one computer and it's an iMac then they will always be without one at one house. They are hoping to make the final move to the new house by Spring and then fix up their old house and put it on the market. I'm loaning them my old laptop until they get back down to one house. Since I forgot the password I am updating the OS and then I'll do a reset. It doesn't have any important files on it. 

Current to do list: 
Touch up paint around the bookshelf
Work on glass ornaments - first find the book pages in the storage unit... 
Finish painting Kitchenaid mixer and reassemble
Sew the new dog bed for pups
Buy ingredients for cinnamon rolls
Take a box to goodwill - most of it is in the car
Sew more burp rags for charity
Pack for visit to my parents 
Mail in receipts for December 
go through Christmas decor boxes and donate what I never use



ETA: I picked up a few things today for Christmas next year so I'm working to pack it all up and make sure everything fits back in the tubs. I'll probably drop it off at the storage unit next week because my car is so full with stuff for my parents. Half their gifts + the boxes with linens take up the whole trunk so until I get that dropped off storage space is a premium! 

I have so much to do tonight and tomorrow...

[bobosensei]

Dec 26, 2018 20:57:13 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Dec 26, 2018 10:55:04 GMT -5 bobosensei said:

I have a lot of donations accumulating.  Since I finally bought a home and can itemize my deductions starting in 2018 I wanted to actually list my charitable contributions.  I've been saving up my goodwill donations for January 1st   Need to go through the house and take another hard look at everything.  

I may be wrong on this, but if you're in the US and itemizing for 2018, won't you need to donate those things in December in order to claim them on your 2018 taxes? 

I meant 2019.  I'll edit

[azucena]

You might want to look into the new tax law. I think most people will have trouble itemizing enough to get beyond the standard deduction. I know that is true for our charitable monetary donations. I would hate for you to go thru the trouble of cataloging it all if it doesn't make a difference.

[raeoflyte]

I found the bottom of dd closet for the first time since we moved in.     She can't wait to use it to play hide and seek.  

I've been off a day all week and thought I had another day before housekeepers came, but alas they will be here tomorrow which doesn't give me nearly enough time to have the house where I wanted it for them.  I wanted to get through ds closet and most of his room too which will most definitely not be happening.  

I have time off coming up though and I really want to work on some purging and organizing.  I think its the kon mari method that talks about grouping all like things together.  Reading an article about that got me thinking about all the different places I have crafting stuff.  The drawer at the end of the hall.  The art bookshelf.  The record cabinet, shelf in the storage room, the sewing stuff, the picture stuff.  It's different crafting stuff, but it's all crafting stuff.  I want it all together so that is going to be my main goal.  We'll see how it goes.  

[debthaven]

The car is back online... and again we decided to wait. I'm ridiculously torn. With the recent reduction it's a great price but we are still paying on the kitchen loan and Christmas was spendy. It just seems more reasonable. My car is running fine, the days are getting longer, and I only have to do that forest drive once a week this semester. I made an extra payment to the kitchen loan instead.

This weekend

- deal with wheel for spare tire

I vacuumed the downstairs and tidied the broom closet (reorganized the plastic bags/shopping bags).

[busymom]

My installer was running late, but all of the bedrooms FINALLY have blinds!     This place finally feels a bit more like home.  Now, we need to do more decluttering and organizing, and hopefully in January my kitchen shutters will be in, too.  

[plugginaway22]

I have big hopes and dreams for January!  Lots of purging, organizing, donating.  DH and I agreed to paint the main bathroom and install new towel bars, linens, etc to freshen that room up.  Only guests/our grown kiddos who visit ever use it.  The only room left to re-do into a proper guest room is DS's.  It needs to be painted, de-teenage boy, the closets are filled with his car collections/legos/etc...and yes, I know it is pathetic, he is 24 and has lived away for 4 years!  After that room is done we really only need to do a major clean out of the basement.  
This weekend is really just cleanup from the holidays, laundry from the guest room, and settling in for the next quiet couple of months. 

[debthaven]

Just in time for the new year busymom ! Yay!

plugginaway22 my son who only recently finally cleared out his room is 30! So I don't think that sounds pathetic at all. He still has a box of his circus paraphernalia at the back of the closet, and his drum set is in the room. That's fine with me as long as guests can use the room and closets. He lives in town but he and his GF often stay over on weekends.

As much as I miss DS1/DDIL/Baby! I'm really appreciating the quiet time after the craziness of the semester and Christmas. DS3 is here for another week. He has been helping me learn my lines. (My director was DS3's HS theater club director.) 

The garage couldn't order the wheel, I don't really understand why. I have to order it online this weekend and they will mount the (spare) tire for free when it arrives. I'm driving around without a spare so that needs to be taken care of. It's cheaper than a new car, right?

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 28, 2018 17:50:06 GMT -5 debthaven said:

The garage couldn't order the wheel, I don't really understand why. I have to order it online this weekend and they will mount the (spare) tire for free when it arrives. I'm driving around without a spare so that needs to be taken care of. It's cheaper than a new car, right?

Definitely

[moneysquirrel]

Hello all.  Just dropped in to adjust my numbers.  I only need 15 more items to reach 1200 items out of the house this year.  No way I will reach the 2018 goal but I am glad that I have managed to declutter by that many items so far.  Have several boxes packed for donation but those items will not be picked up until 2019 so they will be the start of those numbers.  I will have to reassess the numbers for next year as I have no idea how much I will be able to get to new homes.

I am using up quite a bit of yarn in the process of crocheting the new afghan for DSS.  Only a few more days and that project will finished.  Figured that I will have used at least 10 skeins of yarn thus far and will get at least one or more finished before it is done.  Do I count them as decluttered items? I also will be picking up additional yarn from a cousin in the next week so that may balance out the numbers.

I did recycle several containers that I filled with cookies.  Still have a few of those left and plan that I will use them next year for  the same.  Also put to use a container that I used in the classroom as a collection item for several things I keep in the car.  Currently has the band aids and mini first aid kit in it and will have a few additional items added.

Have not been too active the last several days.  Ran several errands today and some minor cleaning.  Plan to get back to the crocheting tonight as I want to finish this project.  It is at that stage that I just want it done. Less than 15 rows left and then to do the fringe.  

Have not done any major beading in the last few weeks.  Still need to finish my started project plus I have a few items to repair.  I had to stop work on my project as I picked up several last minute Christmas orders that I needed to finish.  Plus I have a few things I need to do prior to the spring craft show so need to get back to the beading table.  I did add a few items to Etsy and want to get at least one or two more added before the end of the month.  Have a bill coming in from them this month so might as well have everything on this month's bill and hope to have none the following month.

debthaven -- I also don't begin to pick up Christmas until the 6th.

Need to sign off now. Will be back soon.

[tcu2003]

I decluttered and cleaned my work desk before I left for the weekend - woo hoo! I never have a completely clear desk, but it was too messy even for me, so it’s mostly clean and ready to go for 2019. I managed to throw some old papers away, gathered a few mugs and what not to donate, and put things away.

[wvugurl26]

I got some shredding done when I was home for Christmas. It was obviously a bag that had been hiding since it had a boarding pass from October 2017. I hate the shredder DH got from his mom. It's so slow. And I refuse to bring mine here since there is already too much crap in this house! I usually go back at least once a month.

Trash day was delayed to today. We put a good amount of cardboard/paper out. I've started filling up another box. We had a lot more recycling than trash. And the old front porch light that was replaced finally went to the trash.

We are home this weekend and for New Year's so we are trying to put the downstairs back together. DH washed a lot of his new clothes today. He went through his underwear drawer and tossed a bunch. I found a local clothing recycling bin that we will make use of. Next he needs to go through the sock drawer. He got all new socks for Christmas at his request.

I'm just happy he is cleaning things up.

[startsmart]

I’m visiting with my parents and brought them all the linens and the 6 pillows I bought them. We’ve already started rearranging furniture and cleaning up. If the paint warms up enough we will continue painting the hallway.

Tomorrow we are also making cinnamon rolls which takes a couple hours.

[raeoflyte]

Cleaned out the hall closet today. Pretty impressed that dh and the kids were ok with getting rid of as much as they were.

Goals for this weekend:
My closet
Ds closet
Kids art work
Hang curtains

[TheOtherMe]

Christmas decorations except for ceramic tree and tiny live tree have been put away.

[countrygirl2]

I need to put all the Xmas stuff away.  There is quite a bit, I have up Xmas shower curtains, rugs, towels, bedroom curtains, red sheets, bedspread, etc.  All will need to be washed and put away again.  I may leave them through January.  I want to go through and clean and straighten the store room for decorations downstairs first anyway.


Working on books, have one more bank recon to get through and recorded, then just pull an interim statement that will be cut off for the 31st to finish.  Have a lot more to do but the basics will all be in.


I hope in the next few months to paint DD's room and bathroom.  My office needs it too, but not sure I will get it done.  I need to go start helping hubs we are going to start working on our last rent house in town, I have windows and cabinets to strip.  He has wiring to finish and insulating to do and a ton of other work there..


Of course like everyone else seems like I always have clutter to get rid of.

[finnime]

I'm away from home these last few days of the year, decided to stay until tomorrow here in Massachusetts. That will leave one day of 2018 for decluttering, and I daresay that is not going to happen. So onto 2019!

[debthaven]

I returned the laundry hamper I bought for DS2's bathroom last week, it was too big. There was nothing else we wanted so we stocked up on gift wrap and gift tags.

Then we went to Ikea and bought this trash bin instead. www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40295439/  It fits and looks much better. It's not big but it's only for guests.

The main reason we went to Ikea was to get a couple of their Christmas hams, but they were sold out.

[plugginaway22]

I did want to check back in to say that our 3 adult kiddos and 2 Son-in-laws seemed to be thrilled to receive cash for Christmas.  It was so much less stress for me but I'm not sure it will happen every year.