2020 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[debthaven]

Does your bunny just hop out the door then come right back? Or do you have fenced yard to contain him? I've never known of a bunny who didn't hop away when they had the chance.

Yes to both CCL . He hops in and out on his own, and yes the yard is fenced in.

Made it to the appt with time to spare. Glad it's over.

[nidena]

Jan 7, 2020 9:11:40 GMT -5 finnime said:

Jan 7, 2020 0:59:29 GMT -5 nidena said:

I can't completely disengage either.  I'm compiling a list of bra stores across the United States and part of the information going on the list is their facebook page, if they have one.  Today, I vetted nearly 30 stores for existence and input their location, phone #, website, FB, IG, and Twitter info.  It's a long, tedious process.  Grand total, so far, is just under 280 stores and I've made it through Mississippi (alphabetically).  Still have Missouri through Wyoming to go.

Why bra stores? Why across the U.S.?

Bra fitting is my thing so, by extension, bra stores are part of my thing, too.  I started with a list from a different website and am working my way through it, adding ones that aren't on it and annotating those that are but are now closed.  I'd like to be a better resource to my friends that live in the states and can't find what they need at the stores that carry only the standard range of sizes.  Standard range being 32A-40DDD.

[chiver78]

Jan 7, 2020 11:16:01 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Our Tree is down. I took down all the Christmas decorations except the nativity scene (tonight) once everything is boxed up I can slide the boxes back underneath the stairs and close the door until next year. I also have some ornaments on the coffee table that need to be boxed up. I did not buy anything new this year, but DH bought a stuffed toy that sings the Macarena Song. It is cute, I am tempted to send it to a friend but may be better to wait till next year.

I need to remember that I put up a little Charlie Brown tree on my dining room table, to make the house seem a little bit festive for showings/open house. that needs to go back in the box, just not tonight. I have so much laundry to fold... 

[Deleted]

Dec 31, 2019 17:12:14 GMT -5 plugginaway22 said:

I'm thinking of bowing out of this thread and concentrating more on savings so that we will be OK if forced to retire early or take part-time jobs.  The only thing that would change is if we finally make the decision to down-size this 4 bedroom, 2 level home.  There is only one bedroom left to re-do and after that I would be fine with listing it.  But there would be lots to purge/donate/get rid of.

I am reading The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, which is a fun read and really talks about not leaving your crap for your children to deal with.  How can it be 2020??

I don't know about "fun read" since I haven't read it, but this has been on my mind ever since DH died.  Since a lot of what I have gotten rid of has been his, it has reminded me that no one else really cares about your stuff.  I took two reusable grocery bags filled with his movies to a second hand store and got a $30 store credit.  That has to be less than $1 a dvd.  And there were things in there like Game of Thrones, almost every Clint Eastwood movie, etc.

I've tried to return family stuff to his family like pictures.  I couldn't pick Great-Uncle Harry out in a lineup of one, yet I obtained custody of the pictures solely because he was the last survivor of his generation.  There were pictures of his best friend's kids growing up through the years.  I've never even met them.

I think I've made a lot of progress including getting rid of my own stuff.  Today I focused on recycling the cd player and cd changer from the basement along with the speakers.  I think that's the last of the electronics.  There was a ton of it.  Of course, there are about 200 cds.  I still have a stereo system, a 3-cd Bose changer in the entertainment center.  

[Sharon]

I got my bag of stuff  and Mom's dropped off at the donation center today.  We had Mom's joint replacement class today and told her if she had her stuff ready we could drop it off.  I also got Mom's garbage out of the house and the can to the curb for tomorrow.  Her newspapers also got put out into the recycling bin.

[tcu2003]

Catching up the list to add yesterday’s and today’s since I missed a day due to travel.

Emily Ley 2020 Simplicity Challenge


www.facebook.com/emilyleypaper/


Our Annual Simplicity Challenge is HERE!#ASimplifiedLife #SimplicityChallenge2020. 1 step every day for 30 days. Each one takes 15 minutes or less.


Day 1 - Walk your home with a trash bag or five. Be ruthless. Papers. Receipts. Tags. Empty bottles. Go.

Day 2 - Clean out your fridge. Check expiration dates and throw things away.

Day 3 - Clear the clutter from your nightstand.

Day 4 - Simplify your phone. Delete old contacts and unused apps. Refresh your lock screen.

Day 5 - Make a list of anything that needs restocked in your bathroom. Restock what you can from items you already have in your house (if possible), or add to your next grocery list.

Day 6 - Make a list of anything that needs restocked in your pantry. Restock what you can from items you already have in your house (if possible), or add to your next grocery list.

Day 7 - Walk your house with a donate bag. Schedule a pick-up or drop it off as soon as the bag is full.

[tcu2003]

Jan 6, 2020 11:56:31 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Jan 6, 2020 0:01:23 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

Shopping your house first is a great trick we should all try when possible this year. I often “shop” other rooms in my house when I’m redecorating a room. I need to try incorporating that concept when it comes to other things too.

Day 5 kind of floors me. Who DOESN'T do that on a regular basis? I'm sure they are out there, but dang....

Right?! Same thought I have on day 6. When I run out or am close to running out of a pantry staple, I add it to my shopping list.

[ohmomto2boys]

I took 2 mirrors, 1 lamp, 2 small shelves, and a box of miscellaneous stuff to Goodwill yesterday. I wish I would have counted the items in the box because I like how some of you keep track of the number of items that exit your home.

I looked at the items I donated and normally I would keep the items to have a garage sale in the summer. I'm over that. I just want the stuff gone.

The only Christmas decorations left to put away is a collection of The Christmas Story.  We have the house, school, department store and about 6 figurines.   We love that movie.

[Malarky]

Mamogram, physical therapy and dentist all accomplished.  PT is ongoing 2-3 times a week, but I'm glad to have the other two out of the way.

And I made it to the gym two days in a row!

Meals are planned through the weekend.  All healthy meals as I'm trying to declutter a few (maybe more than a few) pounds.  

I even got DH to clean his side of the room this week!!  Sort of.  The man doesn't see dust even when it's six inches deep.  But at least his piles of clothes are corralled.  I'll take care of the dusting tomorrow.

Also told DH that on the days I work, he makes dinner.  I'll do it the other four days. I'll even make sure he has something planned and easy to execute.  I find that if I sit down in the afternoon on the days I work I'm drifting off to sleep about the time I should be starting dinner.   

Tomorrow's list:

Gym.
Clean the bathroom.
Vacuum the downstairs.
Mop the tile floors.
Coffee with my SIL.  

Aiming for daily lists that I can actually accomplish rather than grandiose plans that never come to fruition.  

A few random items tossed as I was straightening up this morning.  One stray Christmas item added to the donation bag rather than venturing to the basement. 

It's been a good week so far.

[snapdragon]

I got my updated proposal on the kitchen and pricing is still well in my expectations. I am really started to get excited about next month. 

[startsmart]

I am highly hopeful that today will be insanely productive. My parents arrive in the next hour or so and we have a to do list for the house staging to go back on the market in February + will be moving out boxes and some of the things dad has loaned me over the years. Also, exchanging Christmas presents 

While I cleared the rest of my afternoon in the calendar, I am hoping we wrap this up by 4 or 5pm so I can spend the evening doing some client work and packing the garage. I still have a LOT of work to do in my business this week and Friday is unexpectedly busy with calls. Let's say I'm cautiously optimistic that we can get all the house work done in 5 hours...

[debthaven]

snapdragon we redid our kitchen 3.5 years ago ... it was 30 years old and falling apart. I STILL get a thrill every time I walk into our "new" kitchen!

The cleaner came today for the first time in 3 weeks.

There was a miscommunication at Job 2. I found out early yesterday that I had 30 fewer hours there than I thought. I was very upset but tried not to show it. My bosses were upset too.

Long story short, at lunchtime they offered me 15 of those 30 hours back! They also asked me to replace someone today (because of the ongoing transit strikes). So now I'm only down 12 hours! It's still a loss but it's not 30 hours. I'm hoping to make some of them up by subbing ... the semester has barely started.

After work I caught up on laundry and took a nap.

I go back to a full schedule next week.

This weekend

- haircut/Thurs

- find/send Masters info/Thurs

- send scans to P/Thurs

- bank/Fri

- Quickbooks/Fri

- book trip

- return stroller?

Still waiting for my friend to tell me when I can return the stroller she lent us ...

[TheOtherMe]

My cleaning people come tomorrow.  It's been two months because I was too upset last month to have them come.  In hindsight, that was a mistake but I did it.

I only have one more task to do today and then the day of stuff in the morning.

I actually emptied the dishwasher and folded laundry today.  

I also hired a cat sitter for when I go to Colorado next month.

[nikiz628]

Put on my big girl panties Monday and scheduled my check up for my thyroid, my dental cleaning, and my annual exam. I was overdue on all these things. I was able to get in Tuesday for the thyroid check up and I am glad I did. My TSH was up. My vitamin D bottomed out (12.8, needs to  be at least 30), my triglcyerides were super high, and my MCH was low. She adjusted my thyroid meds and added an RX for 50,000 iu of D for 6 weeks until I go back for a recheck on all my labs. I am working on the triglyceride issue myself because that's mostly a dietary fix at this point. I went back on WW Monday so I anticipate that will help immensely. 

I have a follow up with her in a week to discuss the lab results but to also revisit my depression/anxiety med. The SSRI I am on now has caused me to gain 24 lbs since my last visit in the fall. She said they are notorious for causing fatigue and weight gain. And with my low red blood cells, my low D, and my underactive thyroid, I don't need any help making me tired. She also asked me if I had ever had a sleep test done to rule out sleep apnea since I NEVER wake up feeling rested. So I anticipate she is going to send me for that as well. 

The dental appt isn't til March, my annual is scheduled for next month. I feel very adulty this week. 

[debthaven]

I'm so glad you are taking care of your health nikiz628 !

[TheOtherMe]

My cleaners will not recognize this place with all the furniture that came here from my parents' place.  I don't recognize it.

So far, neither Lucy or I have claimed mom's chair.  Lucy has tried it out a few times, but apparently my lap is more comfortable.

I guess I'm finally understanding why dad found it comforting to have the chair sitting by his chair.  I can feel her. 

[moneysquirrel]

Updating again.  Removed all done items.  

I have been doing a little beading each day.  Mainly working on little projects to get a head start on items I think I will need for this year's craft shows.  Same with the crocheting.  Getting at least one color done but have occasionally managed to do two or three.

Today I worked on fixing a floor lamp.  Earlier this year the bottom weight section disintegrated when I moved it so today was spent mixing up plaster of paris to replace the weighted section.  Tested it out and the lamp still works, currently is on a glued on  felt/form piece to avoid damage to the floors.  I think that the part that fell apart was similar to the plaster of paris that I used.  Hope that this repair will take.  It was just too flimsy and top heavy after the weight fell apart so I needed to do something.  

Laundry and dishes are up to date but will need to do a load or two later this week.  

A few more items hit the trash/recycle bins this week.  Will update numbers once I post this.

Keep up the good work all!

Jan 4, 2020 15:47:31 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Scheduled for later --mostly next week:

*Handyman -- Rescheduled for Tuesday

*Crochet -- aiming for at least 2 rows each day (2 rows = 1 color)  Need 37 colors plus fringe have 11 colors done 18 colors done
*Beading -- aiming for several hours of work per day Ongoing
*Gym -- Hoping at least three trips this week  Been twice

[ners]

One more thing out the door.

[busymom]

DH's stereo system is officially out of the house.  We had to do some checking online to find a charity that wants electronics.  (It DOES work, as he tested it yesterday to be sure.)  We dropped it off at an organization that helps the disabled, so I consider it a win-win.  

[startsmart]

The good:
My parents finally got to meet the realtor today and we had a good discussion. Then we loaded up my dads trailer with 4 old closet doors, a table saw, a ladder, propane tank, a cubby shelf and some mailboxes.

We swapped out my old mailbox for a new one, fixed a missing piece on the hot water heater, fixed the garbage disposal, fixed the kitchen door knobs and got my Cadillac running. Plus tried to keep 4 dogs calm and from running away all day.

The annoying:
My dad insists he doesn’t have enough room for the boxes I’ve packed (about 30) because DESPITE having 2 houses with 9 bedrooms, 2 garages that hold 5 cars and 3 ginormous shops, he “doesn’t have room.”

I am not amused.

Especially because nearly all of my belongings fit into 200 boxes which are labeled and sealed and my parents have junk across 2 properties and act like I’ve thrown their valuables into the street. Nope. Literally using the garage space in one of their 3 houses.

So frustrating.

[tcu2003]

Emily Ley 2020 Simplicity Challenge


www.facebook.com/emilyleypaper/


Our Annual Simplicity Challenge is HERE!#ASimplifiedLife #SimplicityChallenge2020. 1 step every day for 30 days. Each one takes 15 minutes or less.


Day 1 - Walk your home with a trash bag or five. Be ruthless. Papers. Receipts. Tags. Empty bottles. Go.

Day 2 - Clean out your fridge. Check expiration dates and throw things away.

Day 3 - Clear the clutter from your nightstand.

Day 4 - Simplify your phone. Delete old contacts and unused apps. Refresh your lock screen.

Day 5 - Make a list of anything that needs restocked in your bathroom. Restock what you can from items you already have in your house (if possible), or add to your next grocery list.

Day 6 - Make a list of anything that needs restocked in your pantry. Restock what you can from items you already have in your house (if possible), or add to your next grocery list.

Day 7 - Walk your house with a donate bag. Schedule a pick-up or drop it off as soon as the bag is full.

Day 8 - Don’t let all of your laundry pile up throughout the week. Find a laundry system that works for you stick with it.

Day 9 - The tone of your morning impacts the rest of your day. Set a recurring alarm for every weekday. If you’re letting your kids wake you, set it one hour earlier.

[debthaven]

I'm sorry startsmart . Are they taking the boxes anyway, or will you have to pay for storage?

This weekend (updated)
- Quickbooks/Fri

- phone appt with B/Fri

- bank (DH)/Fri

- book trip
- return stroller?

[ners]

One more thing out the door.

[TheOtherMe]

House is ready for cleaning!

[wvugurl26]

I got several things out of the house that were long overdue.

1. Bag of clothes and shoes dropped at recycle bin
2. Item sold on Mercari shipped
3. 60 empty prescription bottles shipped to a charity that recycles or reuses them
4. CFL bulb dropped in recycle bin at Lowe's
5. 4 cell phone batteries in recycle bin at Lowe's

I found out I can take an old laptop battery to Lowe's as well. I just need to find it. Best Buy takes them as well but Lowe's is local and Best Buy is not.

[startsmart]

debthaven - he won't take any boxes and says there's room in my garage to stack them up. Sigh. The next big thing I need to resolve is where to store my Cadillac for a couple months. 

I'm just over asking my parents for any support since they overreact to everything.

[TheOtherMe]

I'm sorry startsmart  

Do they not want the house to sell?

[debthaven]

Sorry Start. I'd be angry too.

[hitenney]

I have been a infrequent poster, but frequent lurker over the years here (can it truly be years!?).  This year I want to become more active and accountable for my goals, and hope that will help me reach them.  This year I am aiming for 2020 items gone.  I have been reading "A Slob Comes Clean" blog, but of course, I need to stop reading about decluttering and actually start doing it.  Hope you will let me join in your lovely group.  The Other Me - my condolences on your loss.  I too worry a lot about my living situation in the future.  I came late to home-owning (57) although it was always a tantalizing goal.  Now at 65, I feel like I can't keep up with anything, and I'm worried about the roof, termites, painting, everything!  I have one friend that literally counted up close relatives and friends, and moved to Florida, as that was closest to the highest number.  I have Vancouver, WA, in my head.  WA has no income tax, and it's right across the river from OR, which has no sales tax.  Prices look much more reasonable than here in Hawaii, so if/when I do sell the house, the money will go much further.  But first, I have to get rid of all this junk!  Thanks for listening.  

[Blonde Granny]

You are more than welcome back.  I'm 75 & a widow of 4 years.  I live on NW arkansas and have no relatives within 400 miles.  Have great friends and neighbors, but I can't rely on them for everything.

As for decluttering, we are all in this together.  Get a big strong Glad bag and get busy.