2020 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[startsmart]

Lol Chloe - thank you! - I am up and dressed which is a win considering how late I went to bed. About to go out there and open the garage door and begin sorting. Finished boxes to the left, stuff to sell on the right, stuff to pack indoors.

I am so annoyed though, last week when my dad was here we got my Cadillac running with starter fluid and some tinkering and now it’s dead again and won’t turn over. This is bad for me wanting to get it into storage before the house listing. I’ll work around it today but it would be SO MUCH EASIER if the car could move out of the garage.

[Deleted]

Friday we went through a bookcase and part of a closet.  I took a big box to Goodwill and two huge sacks of books to the used book store.  After requiring my photo ID and phone #, they only took 2 of the 25+ books and paid me $4  .  Tomorrow I'll be back to Goodwill with the other 23 books.

Last week we completed consignment of a room full of furniture.  It's a 50% commission on the sale but that beats having to market it myself and deal with strangers coming to the house, etc.  This company does a fair chunk of online business and they said pieces like my Stickley love seat usually ship to New York state.  

Next up, complete purge of my paper files which is waaaaaay overdue.  

[debthaven]

Hugs TheO. And to you too MollyAnna.

We booked tickets for DS1's graduation today. I find booking flights extremely stressful these day. The first price is always so low but you never actually know what the final price is until you pay. Maybe it's different for domestic flights?

Aww Start I came on here too late! Good think Chloe is here LOL.

Mine says I should do 30 min at the stronger setting closer up to 2h at the lower setting further away.

Like Busymom said, I should set it up on a table or desk. Although DH did up DS2's bedroom to use as an office, he tends to use the kitchen table. I'll probably use the kitchen table too.

Since it's just the two of us we both tend to hang out in the common areas (kitchen/LR/DR) rather than alone in a bedroom.

Thanks!

[mollyanna58]

I did the paperwork to transfer a different stock from joint tenants to my mother, but I have to go the the Surrogate's office to get a form with a current date.  I will get four copies; I think there are a total of 3 stocks left to change plus one just in case.

I am also simplifying some of my finances.  I have too many credit cards, because of all the "apply now and get __________".  I closed one account the other day, and two today.  I will probably also close a couple of bank accounts that were opened for good interest rates, but have cut their rates.

[startsmart]

Garage is underway and I’ve been moving a lot of stuff indoors to pack tonight when it’s too cold to work outside. I so miss the long summer days when it would be light out at 8pm!

I think next weekend I’ll have a huge free sale. There are lots of little things I don’t want to move and are not worth selling. I do want to sell the 2 shelving units and my workbench and chest freezer. Everything else I don’t take can be given away.

ETA:

The garage portion is done for now and only took me 3 hours!

The dining room is a mess of stuff to pack BUT I have room right outside the door for those boxes and the rest of the afternoon to pack up. Mostly I need to keep the dogs occupied because there’s been so much disruption they’ve taken to marking their territory on anything that smells odd.

The car has dead batteries and light bulbs for recycling, some new socks that I need to donate/ give to homeless people, some of my car tools and such and there’s a box for donation in the driveway.

The wood I needed to recycle is cut up and in the trash and I am now so very tired!

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 19, 2020 13:43:16 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Jan 19, 2020 12:02:06 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Printed dad's death certificate today so I can mail it to his former employer on Tuesday.

It made me sad.  

My father passed away in April 2016. There are still a few odds and ends that I have to clear up, including a stock transfer that I was going to do the paperwork on today. But I can't find the forms that were sent to me, and I can't remember who the stock transfer agent currently is.  It's a bank stock, and the bank was acquired by another one before my father passed away, and I am pretty sure the second bank has also been acquired by yet another, and there have been at least 3 stock transfer companies.

My goal is to have everything finished before the upcoming anniversary of his death.

Dad's finances are pretty simple.  IRA has been distributed and I've submitted death certificate on life insurance.

Everything else is in bank accounts.

Part of my sadness is that today would have been his 96th birthday.  There is also resentment because this was the duty of the POA and I was not the POA. 

Depending on what half sister does, this could be wrapped up by early summer.  I know my sister wants it wrapped up ASAP and so do I. 

We just have to jump through the hoops until half sister gets her say. or we never hear from her again.  That would be nothing new since we only get a Christmas card about every other year. 

[TheOtherMe]

debthaven  I've also made flight reservations this week because I am going to Boulder for President's Day weekend.  It's about my basketball team, not skiing.

[debthaven]

I saw that TheO!!! SO happy for you! You deserve a break my friend. I don't understand what the issue with your half-sister is, but please don't feel obligated to explain if you'd rather not.

TheO I know our parents can never live long enough for us, but 95 is a fabulously old age. And you're the only reason he made it to 95. I hope you can take some comfort in that.

Also MollyAnna I hope this isn't too forward but I wanted to say kudos to you for closing those cards. So many people refuse to close cards because they say "it will affect my credit score", then they end up running them up again. So kudos to you!

Yay Smart for the garage!!!

[TheOtherMe]

I have too many cards, too.  Once the 0% balances are paid off, it's time to close some.  Yes, my credit score will take a hit.

Last time I went in to detail here on the issue with my half-sister, I got told how horrible my dad is so I will not be going there.  He had good reasons for doing what he did but she will not like it.

I think the last 18 months or so of dealing with dad have given me PTSD.  I have nightmares where I should have been able to convince my sister to move him.  I tried so hard.   I don't think it would have extended his life, but I do think he would have had a better quality of life.

[nikiz628]

Jan 18, 2020 20:40:01 GMT -5 nidena said:

I've been looking at houseporn on realtor.com for Indianapolis but I don't think that I'll be able to really trek over there for at least another month.  What I net from selling the house should pay off most of the CC and then I'd like to pay off the rest of it with what used to be my mortgage payment.  After that, the plan is to put it in savings.  Thankfully, if I use a VA loan, I won't have to put any money down on my next house.

So, no, not moving before "calendar" spring.

What area are you looking at in Indy? I lived downtown for a little while. I have a friend who lives in Greenwood right now and loves it. Another lives in the Fishers/Carmel area and loves it too (although that area is pricier). 

[startsmart]

Packing up the garage stuff went a LOT faster than I anticipated. I have 1 or 2 more boxes to fill and move into the garage and I'll be done. 

Also have some small cardboard boxes I used which will get broken down and recycled (mostly stuff from Amazon) and I have finally set up the 3 bins of tools in the garage (paint/patching, screws/hammers/wrenches, and dremmel, nail gun, drills), another bin just for moving in (trash bags, extension cords, power strips) and 2 small tubs with cleaning supplies and laundry stuff. 

PROGRESS! 

thank you all for lovingly yelling at me  

[mollyanna58]

Jan 19, 2020 16:30:16 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Also MollyAnna I hope this isn't too forward but I wanted to say kudos to you for closing those cards. So many people refuse to close cards because they say "it will affect my credit score", then they end up running them up again. So kudos to you!

I'm tempted to post in the "Your Money" section to see how many people scold me. 

My credit score got zinged due to one late payment on an Amazon credit card. I overlooked it because every other card is on autopay, and that new card was not.  I closed it last summer.  The $40.00 credit I got for opening the card cost me a lot more.

[finnime]

Party food delivered, and heard that guests loved it: stuffed mushrooms, fruit salad, Quiche Lorraine, mushroom quiches, spinach quiche, apple muffins, banana muffins, blueberry scones, cinnamon scones and lemon cookies. Started a huge load of dishes.

Went to hospital to take DD to her home; she was discharged today. She's doing very well, and I am grateful.

Tomorrow need to clean house. Handyman coming Tuesday to do a couple of odd jobs--reattach the stair railing that is pulling away from the wall and replace two overhead lights with some wonderful fixtures I found in our community reuse and recycle depot.

Got to get shite pile in order, too, so can do taxes.

I have a strong want for chicken with gravy. Now that my sense of taste is back I want some very specific things.

My portico columns have dry rot on the bottoms. I've discovered that I can replace them for $100 a pop with pre-primed pine columns. Just have to get someone to install them. Much better than trying to patch what's there. The prior owner of this house apparently patched with pressed wood and only painted one surface, hence the dry rot. The joys of home ownership.

Thinking of you, TheOtherMe . I still, after 27 years, miss my father especially near holidays and his birthday.

[debthaven]

So glad that your DD is home and that the cooking went well Finnime!

[moneysquirrel]

This week's goals:
Handyman -- Monday Morning (Tuesday is backup day)
Meeting -- Monday afternoon
Tutoring -- Wednesday afternoon
and probably at least one other day
Class -- Wednesday and Thursday
Hair Appt -- Wednesday
Organize several areas -- Still have a few closets to go through.  Got quite a bit done this past week.
Keep up with dishes and laundry
Several loads of laundry
Maintain the progress made-- House is in much better shape, I just have to keep it up. 
Crochet -- Have 32 of 37 colors done to work on this.  Nearing completion.
Beading -- Finish at least one or two items
Gym -- at least twice
Upload at least one new item to Etsy, renew expired item(s)
Add several items to donation box
Plus about a thousand other things 

Update: 
I have systematically been going through the closets and drawers.  Quite a few things have made it to the donation box while others made it to the trash/recycle bins.  This has been a continuing process and will be for a while yet.  Shredded quite a bit and know I will have more in a little bit. 

I am continuing to work on a few craft projects. Crochet project is nearing completion and progress on things I have to redo for the craft shows is ongoing.

I have made it to the gym a few times this week. One less than I wanted but better than in the past. Hoping to get to the gym at least twice this week but with the schedule this week that is a stretch.  At least one of my Thursday classes is an exercise one. 

I have maintained the decluttering that have been done. Biggest improvement has been on those flat area in the BR.  Still have too much on one surface but the others are better.  Rearranged the indoor plants in the kitchen and cleared off the spaces they were previously occupied. 

[paynointerest]

Greetings everyone!

I'm looking forward to jumping back into the "decluttering" of my house for 2020. 

DH built an amazing custom bookshelf/drawer/lateral filing drawers for my home office, I painted it, and I have moved most of the stuff that was on my floor to the new space.  It is so nice to only have 2 little piles left on my floor. 

Our next big project is we gutted out our gear room, I put a fresh coat of paint on it, and now DH is building custom cabinetry, custom cubbies, a custom peg board to hold our bags, and drawers to meet our needs  I'm really excited to see his design and how it will all come together.  Once it is ready, we will move all of the gear from our guest bedroom back to the new gear room and I can finish decorating the gear room.

I am continuing to "declutter" my work life by getting tasks that have been on my "to do" list for the past 10 months completed.  I have to finish developing a class and so that remains my top priority in the upcoming weeks.  Another tasks is getting the recommendation letters written for my students.  I think I have 14 more to write  and have submitted 9 so far.

[nidena]

Jan 19, 2020 17:03:24 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Jan 18, 2020 20:40:01 GMT -5 nidena said:

I've been looking at houseporn on realtor.com for Indianapolis but I don't think that I'll be able to really trek over there for at least another month.  What I net from selling the house should pay off most of the CC and then I'd like to pay off the rest of it with what used to be my mortgage payment.  After that, the plan is to put it in savings.  Thankfully, if I use a VA loan, I won't have to put any money down on my next house.

So, no, not moving before "calendar" spring.

What area are you looking at in Indy? I lived downtown for a little while. I have a friend who lives in Greenwood right now and loves it. Another lives in the Fishers/Carmel area and loves it too (although that area is pricier). 

Aiming for 2 bd/2ba, under 1200 sq ft, under $175,000 and within walking distance (no more than a mile) of a library and a grocery store and a short pedal from a good place to bicycle (doesn't have to be the Monon but that would be awesome if it was).

[TheOtherMe]

I was hoping not to have to do any more sister rants.  I was very wrong.  

I was feeling bad today because it's my dad's birthday.  We always went for pizza and the place sang happy birthday to him.

I just looked at FB.  She is feeling emotional because it's dad's birthday so they are at the place where we always went to honor him.

Do you think I was invited?     

[mollyanna58]

I am so sorry, TheOtherMe

[nidena]

Jan 19, 2020 21:21:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I was hoping not to have to do any more sister rants.  I was very wrong.  

I was feeling bad today because it's my dad's birthday.  We always went for pizza and the place sang happy birthday to him.

I just looked at FB.  She is feeling emotional because it's dad's birthday so they are at the place where we always went to honor him.

Do you think I was invited?     

Your sister is a passive aggressive beyotch!

[NastyWoman]

Jan 19, 2020 21:21:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I was hoping not to have to do any more sister rants.  I was very wrong.  

I was feeling bad today because it's my dad's birthday.  We always went for pizza and the place sang happy birthday to him.

I just looked at FB.  She is feeling emotional because it's dad's birthday so they are at the place where we always went to honor him.

Do you think I was invited?     

I know you probably hurt too much to do so (and beside you are much nicer than I am) but I would write a comment on her FB wondering why she could not be bothered to invite her own sister, to join in remembering your dad on his birthday.  

This is plain cruelty and she needs to be shown up for who she is.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 20, 2020 5:19:25 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Jan 19, 2020 21:21:17 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I was hoping not to have to do any more sister rants.  I was very wrong.  

I was feeling bad today because it's my dad's birthday.  We always went for pizza and the place sang happy birthday to him.

I just looked at FB.  She is feeling emotional because it's dad's birthday so they are at the place where we always went to honor him.

Do you think I was invited?     

I know you probably hurt too much to do so (and beside you are much nicer than I am) but I would write a comment on her FB wondering why she could not be bothered to invite her own sister, to join in remembering your dad on his birthday.  

This is plain cruelty and she needs to be shown up for who she is.

I have spent the night trying to figure out what to say as all of her friends and some of our family are telling her she is a saint.  

I found this to be extremely cruel and unforgiveable.

[debthaven]

That's unbelievably cruel TheO. I'm sorry.

PayNoInterest how fabulous that your DH can build those things!

[TheOtherMe]

Her response this morning when I asked why I wasn't invited was I didn't think you like it there.  No, I don't like to go where they went, but it was dad's birthday.   

Thanks NastyWoman for confirming what I wanted to do.  

She's all in on the cruelty, apparently, and hurting feelings.  She accomplished hurt feelings.

[ners]

TheOtherMe.  I am sorry your sister is acting this way.

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe, that sucks.  For lack of a better word, it just sucks.

And, you know what, everyone?  I think we should all have pizza sometime soon in honor of TheOtherMe's dad.    What say ye??

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 20, 2020 9:32:25 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Her response this morning when I asked why I wasn't invited was I didn't think you like it there.  No, I don't like to go where they went, but it was dad's birthday.   

Thanks NastyWoman for confirming what I wanted to do.  

She's all in on the cruelty, apparently, and hurting feelings.  She accomplished hurt feelings.

I'm so sorry. 

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 20, 2020 11:49:55 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

TheOtherMe , that sucks.  For lack of a better word, it just sucks.

And, you know what, everyone?  I think we should all have pizza sometime soon in honor of TheOtherMe 's dad.    What say ye??

And a hot fudge sundae

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 20, 2020 11:52:43 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 20, 2020 11:49:55 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

TheOtherMe , that sucks.  For lack of a better word, it just sucks.

And, you know what, everyone?  I think we should all have pizza sometime soon in honor of TheOtherMe 's dad.    What say ye??

And a hot fudge sundae

I shall do so! 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 20, 2020 11:58:45 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 20, 2020 11:52:43 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

And a hot fudge sundae

I shall do so! 

I'm in!