2019 - Organize Your Life & Declutter Your Stuff

[debthaven]

I am sorry but I have to admit that I am thrilled that I still don't have anything to do for the PW challenges so far. I'm sure I will have several to do, but not so far.

Thank you again for posting them tcu2003!

[chiver78]

Jan 8, 2019 13:23:42 GMT -5 nidena said:

Jan 8, 2019 13:14:30 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I finished a complete set of shelves (I'd say half or so were in place when I moved in) built into the overhead/bottom of the 1st-to-2nd floor stairs that you walk under when going down the basement stairs. there's also shallow (lg can-wide) shelving along one side of the wall down the basement stairs as well. I love all of that! and TBH, if half the overhead shelving wasn't there, I'd have never thought to put any in. the overheads are as tall as a stair riser, and house canned beans, soups, and pumpkin/poop bags on the dogs' shelf. 

Don't you just love when shelving uses dead space and is done so in a very logical manner?  So often shelves are constructed in a such a way that you're storing air more than you're storing items.

legit, this is space geniusly used.

[finnime]

Very cool, chiver. I wish I had the stairwell head space for this - it's a great solution.

[countrygirl2]

Nice way to use the wasted space.  

[chiver78]

it's crazy! I seriously would never have thought to do that. but you can see from the brighter wood, we've filled in the spaces that weren't shelved. but if I ever leave this house (when I hit the lottery, or get an offer of stupid cash to relocate to the west coast) I will absolutely be putting something similar in if a) the space allows, and b) it isn't already there.

[TheOtherMe]

My bedroom floor when I was a kid was the space over the basement stairs.  That made my closet floor unusable and there was no space to do anything under the stairs either because you couldn't get to the space to use it.  

If something couldn't be hung on a hanger, it had to fit in my dresser.  

[startsmart]

I made some good progress today but have so far to go! 

I finally emptied the yard waste (i.e. dog waste) into the green trash can for pickup tomorrow and hosed out the old trash can. I need to find its lid so when it rains nothing turns to mud in there. I also did my neighborly duty of raking the leaves from the storm drains because when no one did it during a storm in November, half the street flooded. 

The living room is nearly cleaned up and I put a lot of stuff in the car (reusable bags, spare dog food, donations). Kitchen is nearly back to clean as well, though cooking at home has meant so many dishes that I want to scream. Started the laundry. 

I am also on a video training tomorrow with 3,000+ people so I've had to tidy my office and move a lot of papers I'm working on to the lounge where I can sit this weekend and go through them. The only other thing to move before the call is the dog bed and recycling trash can and I'll be ready to go. If I can carve out some time tonight to work on my book I think I can get the next chapter complete. My official goal date to complete the whole book is April 10th. 

[wvugurl26]

I have another round of cardboard ready to go out tomorrow night for recycling.

Christmas is all down, boxed up and mostly put away. I need a space for the ceramic tree I painted.

We use the disposable silverware up.

Containers all match. Although I did pitch one tonight. A container of chicken broth got lost in the back of the fridge and was growing some interesting pink stuff along with mold spores.

[countrygirl2]

I too took more downstairs to put in plastic containers of Christmas items.  It's all washed and put away.  I have more though a bedspread and curtains, may put that in one of those vacuum packs.  I need to get the red sheers down, have my blue to put back up.


I washed the guest bedroom, living room window and door window, the kitchen window this afternoon.  Little grandsons fingerprints were all over, kind of hated to wash them.  I have DD's to do anyway, I didn't do them and my office windows to wash.  Did some ironing and put it away, have 2 more items.


I started a jigsaw puzzle I found in a drawer, this one the bag was sealed so I know the pieces are there, I am missing 1 piece of the edge, was 2 and found 1, I have likely missed it.  The pieces on this one fit nicely so its doable.


Drying my hair about ready to go to bed.

When hubs gets my sewing room finished, going to paint it then sort through fabrics before I put them back.  Some bolts of fabric I'm taking to DIL next trip.  It's fancy stuff I was going to make DD Halloween costumes out of, but she isn't quite as interested as she used to be.  And nowhere to go really.  I use to make her nice ones. DIL can use it in her crafts.

[sheilaincali]

Dinner with my folks last night so they could say good bye to the Boy before he headed back to college this am. Between that and a road trip snack run for him we didn't get home until 8pm. Quick straighten and clean of the upstairs in anticipation of the handy man coming today to give me an estimate on some work. So we didn't get anything decluttered last night.

However, the Hubs did verify that the local thrift store we donate too is open late on Thursdays for donation drop offs. Tonight should be a quiet, normal night- fingers crossed we get some more things gathered up for tomorrow's drop off.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 8, 2019 18:45:31 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jan 8, 2019 13:23:42 GMT -5 nidena said:

Don't you just love when shelving uses dead space and is done so in a very logical manner?  So often shelves are constructed in a such a way that you're storing air more than you're storing items.

legit, this is space geniusly used.

Other than the fact things aren't behind closed doors, my OCD absolutely loves this.  Question:  Any issues with things falling off onto the stairs and/or hitting anyone in the head?  Also, any difficulties reaching things on the higher shelves or taking inventory?

[bean29]

My Grandmother's basement stairs used to be like that. Our stairs going into the basement are open to the living room. We made the space underneath the stairs in the basement a closet with the door on the tall side, and we just put all the Christmas decorations in Rubbermaid containers and the artificial tree in there and close the door.

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge:


Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.

Day 2 - Shoes. Gather all of your shoes up from your closet. If they have dust on them, don’t fit, etc, put them in your donate bin. Only keep shoes you love, wear, and that fit you well.

Day 3 - Home Safety. Being organized is not just about closets and files, it's also about ensuring the best life for you and your family. The New Year is a great time to check smoke detectors in your home. Make this your 10 minute challenge for the day and make your family a little safer in the process!

Day 4 - This year’s challenge Mantra is “No more later” aka stop procrastinating. Today's challenge is to contact someone, preferably by phone, that you’ve been putting off. It could be a friend, family member, for more coworker, etc, but do it today!

Day 5 - The Junk Drawer.

Day 6 - Holiday Decorations. The holidays are over and it's time for the decorations to come down.

Day 7 - Bathroom cabinets! Pick one bathroom cabinet, and get rid of anything too old, expired or you don’t use, and put everything away in its proper space.

Day 8 - Plastic Food Storage Containers.

Day 9 of #31Days2GetOrganized - Hanging Clothes. In his video, he says that anything that has dust on it needs to go.


#31Days2GetOrganized

[bean29]

On another note, I keep a lot of my shoes stacked in the original boxes on shelves in my closet, this am, I had some miscellaneous stuff falling on top of my boxes - one was a small Pandora bag. I had two empty Pandora bags and about 8 empty boxes from charms that are already on my bracelet on my shelf. I tossed them all. We are decluttering DH's old Truck from the driveway this week. Yea! DH took a new door out of the Garage a week ago and put it in DD's bedroom b/c he was afraid the cold temperature might crack it. I told him this AM that there are two doors in our bedroom that need to be replaced, that I think it will fit on. (The door he was thinking it was for needs to be made smaller and re-drywalled).

I have a lot of commitments for work this month, so I don't think I will have any decluttering goals for awhile. My sewing machine is out, and I need to put it away by Friday, so my goal for this week, other than working OT, is to shorten 2 pair of pants before I put it away.  

[chiver78]

Jan 9, 2019 10:50:25 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Jan 8, 2019 18:45:31 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

legit, this is space geniusly used.

Other than the fact things aren't behind closed doors, my OCD absolutely loves this.  Question:  Any issues with things falling off onto the stairs and/or hitting anyone in the head?  Also, any difficulties reaching things on the higher shelves or taking inventory?

other than that top shelf on the right that's full of one-offs and left-behinds from when other people cook in my kitchen, no inventory issues. I always buy in multiples, so whatever's in the front can is the same thing behind it. no issues with overhead stuff falling/bonking. but, we do tend to sweep things off the side shelves, especially when lugging laundry up and down. right now, the bottom shelf has two bags of dry Korean glass noodles that extend well past the shelf width. I need to find a new home for them, b/c it's driving me nuts how often those go sliding down the stairs.     no problems with reaching, roommate and I are both about 5'7. the height follows you down the stairs b/c they are built into the stairs above. 

and no OCD issues - the basement door is always closed unless you're using it. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 9, 2019 11:16:59 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jan 9, 2019 10:50:25 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Other than the fact things aren't behind closed doors, my OCD absolutely loves this.  Question:  Any issues with things falling off onto the stairs and/or hitting anyone in the head?  Also, any difficulties reaching things on the higher shelves or taking inventory?

other than that top shelf on the right that's full of one-offs and left-behinds from when other people cook in my kitchen, no inventory issues. I always buy in multiples, so whatever's in the front can is the same thing behind it. no issues with overhead stuff falling/bonking. but, we do tend to sweep things off the side shelves, especially when lugging laundry up and down. right now, the bottom shelf has two bags of dry Korean glass noodles that extend well past the shelf width. I need to find a new home for them, b/c it's driving me nuts how often those go sliding down the stairs.     no problems with reaching, roommate and I are both about 5'7. the height follows you down the stairs b/c they are built into the stairs above. 

and no OCD issues - the basement door is always closed unless you're using it. 

  "Why are my noodles broken into such small pieces?"

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 9, 2019 11:07:17 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge:


Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.

Day 2 - Shoes. Gather all of your shoes up from your closet. If they have dust on them, don’t fit, etc, put them in your donate bin. Only keep shoes you love, wear, and that fit you well.

Day 3 - Home Safety. Being organized is not just about closets and files, it's also about ensuring the best life for you and your family. The New Year is a great time to check smoke detectors in your home. Make this your 10 minute challenge for the day and make your family a little safer in the process!

Day 4 - This year’s challenge Mantra is “No more later” aka stop procrastinating. Today's challenge is to contact someone, preferably by phone, that you’ve been putting off. It could be a friend, family member, for more coworker, etc, but do it today!

Day 5 - The Junk Drawer.

Day 6 - Holiday Decorations. The holidays are over and it's time for the decorations to come down.

Day 7 - Bathroom cabinets! Pick one bathroom cabinet, and get rid of anything too old, expired or you don’t use, and put everything away in its proper space.

Day 8 - Plastic Food Storage Containers.

Day 9 of #31Days2GetOrganized - Hanging Clothes. In his video, he says that anything that has dust on it needs to go.


#31Days2GetOrganized

I second day 2 and 9.  The thought about dust really helped when I did my major closet clean out last fall. 

Side note:  My mom is downsizing to prepare for an upcoming move, and she told me yesterday she might need my advice on a few things.  Told her the first thing I would focus on is the kitchen.  I remember the kitchen taking the most time during our last two moves, both packing and unpacking, and that was *after* I'd purged many items over the years.  She still has sets of dishes and serveware, etc. from the 70s.... 

[TheOtherMe]

Remember the cleaning people I hired for a one time before Christmas and she told me she would be able to add me to her regular schedule in January?  She called this morning and I am now on the schedule.  It's a tad cheaper when you are on the regular schedule.

Now I have a date that is the goal for doing some things.

I'm still not feeling great, so not getting much accomplished.  

[debthaven]

Hope you feel better TheOtherMe. Great news about the cleaner.

[nikiz628]

TheOtherMe- Awesome news about the cleaners! I hope you are feeling better soon. I am currently fighting a cold/sinus thing that's just kicking my butt. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Hope you feel better sooner than later, nikiz628 and TheOtherMe!

[imanangel]

I have to go through my pantry today.  I have to stop putting it off. I will have to wait for my grandson to nap, or his momma to wake up before I start.  He had a rough night, so I am watching the baby so she can sleep. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 9, 2019 11:07:17 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

[snip]

Day 7 - Bathroom cabinets! Pick one bathroom cabinet, and get rid of anything too old, expired or you don’t use, and put everything away in its proper space.

Day 8 - Plastic Food Storage Containers.

Day 9 of #31Days2GetOrganized - Hanging Clothes. In his video, he says that anything that has dust on it needs to go.


#31Days2GetOrganized

I actually did Day 7 instinctively last Sunday, before reading the PW list.  And for those interested, I started a thread in SS about stocking up frugally for cold and flu season. 

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge:


Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.

Day 2 - Shoes. Gather all of your shoes up from your closet. If they have dust on them, don’t fit, etc, put them in your donate bin. Only keep shoes you love, wear, and that fit you well.

Day 3 - Home Safety. Being organized is not just about closets and files, it's also about ensuring the best life for you and your family. The New Year is a great time to check smoke detectors in your home. Make this your 10 minute challenge for the day and make your family a little safer in the process!

Day 4 - This year’s challenge Mantra is “No more later” aka stop procrastinating. Today's challenge is to contact someone, preferably by phone, that you’ve been putting off. It could be a friend, family member, for more coworker, etc, but do it today!

Day 5 - The Junk Drawer.

Day 6 - Holiday Decorations. The holidays are over and it's time for the decorations to come down.

Day 7 - Bathroom cabinets! Pick one bathroom cabinet, and get rid of anything too old, expired or you don’t use, and put everything away in its proper space.

Day 8 - Plastic Food Storage Containers.

Day 9 - Hanging Clothes. In his video, he says that anything that has dust on it needs to go.

Day 10 of #31Days2GetOrganized is about the mail. If you have mail pretty much all over your house then today's the day we're going to get that sorted out.

#31Days2GetOrganized

[countrygirl2]

Still pulling out a bit of this and a bit of that for the fire victims, I don't know if they want any of it, but its going.  Again some really nice things.

[debthaven]

This weekend
- Quickbooks (ongoing)
- lines (ongoing)
- get spare tire put back

The QB person we've been dealing with since the beginning is looking at what I hope is the last problem. I hope she can resolve it tomorrow so I can finish this weekend but if not we'll live.

As good a deal as that car is, we decided against buying a used car private party. We just don't have the mental or physical energy to: see it, go back with a bank check to buy it, register it at the DMV, take our car to pass the road test on order to sell it, then sell it. It's too much. So I'll look at ads, keep paying off the kitchen loan and hope that one comes up at a relatively local garage so we can do a trade-in. DH agrees.

Six months left on the kitchen loan. No more double payments because I am NOT teaching 25h/week this semester (thank Gd!!!). I got the kitchen loan down from 30 mo to 6 mo in 6 mo due to all the hours I was working.  When the play is over (mid-Feb) I will look at finding extra hours, but NOT before.

I spoke with my banker/insurance agent today. We're switching from full to partial coverage on our car, and cancelling one insurance policy. That will save us 450 euros this year.

Also, since I can't take Wed morning off next semester, I decided to take Thurs morning off instead. THEN I remembered that my cleaner arrives at 8 on Thursdays. Frankly I was upset about that. She is a total STAR, she has arranged to switch from Thurs to Tues until late April.

My sister is back in the ER (second time this week) and I'm extremely anxious.

Last quiet weekend before going back to a full (but lighter) schedule on Mon.

ETA: My sister is being discharged!!! Thank Gd!!! She does not have DVT but cellulitis. What a HUGE relief!!!

[startsmart]

I need the motivation to go work on the stack of papers in my lounge (moved there after cleaning the office) and going through a couple years worth of magazines. 

I've already cancelled the renewals on 2 magazines once I realized I didn't sit down and read a single one last year. I still get the magazine that I write for free but since most of my articles are exclusively online I can donate most of those. There's no real value to having 4 years of business magazines I don't read. 

Okay, I'm going into the lounge to work on papers and will check-in tonight. Hold me accountable! 

[TheOtherMe]

I took dad for his groceries this morning.  That always takes an emotional toll on me.

This afternoon, I dealt with getting my prescriptions transferred from my local pharmacy to the mail order pharmacy.  Apparently changes were made and while I will still spend more on prescriptions than I spent last year, I will spend less using the mail order pharmacy than the retail pharmacy.  I liked using a local pharmacy but not so much that I am willing to spend extra money.

While getting my insurance card for the call to the Mail Order Pharmacy, I found an old billfold in my purse.  All it has in it is photos of people from at least 10 years ago.  I'm going to clean that out and toss it.

[nikiz628]

Jan 10, 2019 18:15:23 GMT -5 startsmart said:

I need the motivation to go work on the stack of papers in my lounge (moved there after cleaning the office) and going through a couple years worth of magazines. 

I've already cancelled the renewals on 2 magazines once I realized I didn't sit down and read a single one last year. I still get the magazine that I write for free but since most of my articles are exclusively online I can donate most of those. There's no real value to having 4 years of business magazines I don't read. 

Okay, I'm going into the lounge to work on papers and will check-in tonight. Hold me accountable! 

I had a huge stack of papers to go through this week too. So I brought them to the living room, cozied up on the couch, turned on a good movie, and knocked it out! It was much more enjoyable that way!

[wvugurl26]

I got both bank account binders up to date. Somehow I am still missing 2 statements from 2017. I made a weak attempt to find them again. I did find several piles of old bills. The most recent ones have been filed and the old ones are ready for shedding this weekend.

One day I will finally get rid of all the old stuff. At least I keep making progress.