2021 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[chiver78]

tote has been emptied, a number of items just pitched. I listed a few things on the buy nothing site, but will recycle/pitch them in a week if no takers. well, all but the totes themselves. I can probably donate those to Savers or ReStore.

also in that tote? a stash of old SI issues, including collectibles. I need to weed through them to see what might be worth some $

[tcu2003]

Most of the Christmas stuff put away. We still need to put away the tree (everything is off it and put away, but DH didn’t want to put the tree away for whatever reason - it should get done tomorrow), and we leave the Christmas cards we received up until the end of January or so to enjoy them longer. They are displayed on our kitchen cabinets, and I enjoy seeing them, so up they stay.

I also cleaned out the kitchen cabinet that has kids cups/snack containers/etc and purged some stuff from there.

[debthaven]

DS3 just left to go back to the UK. 

I'm doing DS3's bedding and towels today. I do the kids' beds ASAP as soon as they leave, so their rooms are ready for them again.   

I ordered more coffee pods and masks on Amazon because we were getting low.  

[WholeLottaNothin]

My first couple days of this year have not been great. Was able to declutter a few things on the 1st, but had to work yesterday morning and while I was doing so my older son started vomiting every 10 minutes. This went on for awhile though it did slow down as the day went on. So some laundry did get done haha. By night he seemed fine so we let him sleep in his bed but at about 2:30 in the morning he woke up and started doing it again. So I got up with him. Now I'm exhausted and am going to try to nap for a bit. We'll see how I feel when I get up whether or not I am productive today.

[bean29]

My Christmas Decorations are down, everything is put away, except the Nativity Scene (waiting for January 6th - arrival of 3 Kings), three small boxes on floor by stairs, and the tree is in 3 pieces - DH really wants to it. He does not want to decorate a 9 foot tree anymore, so we need to buy a 7 ish foot tree. IDK if I should keep, or get rid of it now to force the issue.

I have to go to work and start W-2 process. DH needs to move stuff around at his office.

[ners]

WholeLottaNothin  Hope you can get in a nap and your son is feeling better and no one else comes down with the bug.

[finnime]

Jan 3, 2021 7:49:43 GMT -5 WholeLottaNothin said:

My first couple days of this year have not been great. Was able to declutter a few things on the 1st, but had to work yesterday morning and while I was doing so my older son started vomiting every 10 minutes. This went on for awhile though it did slow down as the day went on. So some laundry did get done haha. By night he seemed fine so we let him sleep in his bed but at about 2:30 in the morning he woke up and started doing it again. So I got up with him. Now I'm exhausted and am going to try to nap for a bit. We'll see how I feel when I get up whether or not I am productive today.

Hope this passes quickly and you're day and week go smoothly.

[wvugurl26]

I was going to take my Christmas down today. But my dad is coming to bring our gifts so I left it up. It will force me to clean up the gift room so they have a place to sleep. There are several boxes that need recycled.

[Malarky]

Jan 3, 2021 8:54:47 GMT -5 bean29 said:

 the tree is in 3 pieces - DH really wants to it. He does not want to decorate a 9 foot tree anymore, so we need to buy a 7 ish foot tree. IDK if I should keep, or get rid of it now to force the issue.

Our tree is also 3 pieces.  For the past couple of years we've only used the top two sections and set it up on a small, low table.  We bought it at least 15 years ago and have not seen anything of the same quality since so are reluctant to part with it for something smaller.  Maybe someday I'll have decluttered enough to actually use the whole thing again. No matter, it has it's own nook under the basement stairs and three pieces fit just as well as two.  

I'm off to a running start this year.  Christmas is packed and back in the basement.  So far I've only found two stray items. I have a few more crap piles to go through before I make the journey to the basement again.  

The living room is back to better than normal.  We mounted the tv on the wall and bought a nice storage unit with an electric fireplace before Thanksgiving.  I had my Christmas village on it.  Now it's very lightly decorated and the cabinets on either side of the fire are empty.  As I intend to leave them.  We don't need anything else in this room.

The dining room is as good as it gets until renovations are done.  We were able to have Christmas dinner in there, now I've pushed the table and chairs as far over as possible.  It is currently nicely organized chaos.  

Bathroom is cleaned, the dishwasher run and dishes put away (unusual for me, I tend to wait til DH takes care of it) kitchen counters decluttered and cleaned.  Just the stove and dumping counter left to do.  Will be done by the end of the day.  

Six items went into the donation box and at least a dozen were tossed.

And now break time is over.

[Lizard Queen]

I have to remind myself that over half the declutter # so far this year is from my DH's hard work. Because a few days ago he bought seeds and a starter pack, and they've been sitting on the kitchen counter ever since, which is my pet peeve. We do not have a large kitchen.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 3, 2021 7:49:43 GMT -5 WholeLottaNothin said:

My first couple days of this year have not been great. Was able to declutter a few things on the 1st, but had to work yesterday morning and while I was doing so my older son started vomiting every 10 minutes. This went on for awhile though it did slow down as the day went on. So some laundry did get done haha. By night he seemed fine so we let him sleep in his bed but at about 2:30 in the morning he woke up and started doing it again. So I got up with him. Now I'm exhausted and am going to try to nap for a bit. We'll see how I feel when I get up whether or not I am productive today.

I hope you got to nap!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 3, 2021 11:06:40 GMT -5 Malarky said:

Jan 3, 2021 8:54:47 GMT -5 bean29 said:

 the tree is in 3 pieces - DH really wants to it. He does not want to decorate a 9 foot tree anymore, so we need to buy a 7 ish foot tree. IDK if I should keep, or get rid of it now to force the issue.

Our tree is also 3 pieces.  For the past couple of years we've only used the top two sections and set it up on a small, low table.  We bought it at least 15 years ago and have not seen anything of the same quality since so are reluctant to part with it for something smaller.  Maybe someday I'll have decluttered enough to actually use the whole thing again. No matter, it has it's own nook under the basement stairs and three pieces fit just as well as two.  

I'm off to a running start this year.  Christmas is packed and back in the basement.  So far I've only found two stray items. I have a few more crap piles to go through before I make the journey to the basement again.  

The living room is back to better than normal.  We mounted the tv on the wall and bought a nice storage unit with an electric fireplace before Thanksgiving.  I had my Christmas village on it.  Now it's very lightly decorated and the cabinets on either side of the fire are empty.  As I intend to leave them.  We don't need anything else in this room.

The dining room is as good as it gets until renovations are done.  We were able to have Christmas dinner in there, now I've pushed the table and chairs as far over as possible.  It is currently nicely organized chaos.  

Bathroom is cleaned, the dishwasher run and dishes put away (unusual for me, I tend to wait til DH takes care of it) kitchen counters decluttered and cleaned.  Just the stove and dumping counter left to do.  Will be done by the end of the day.  

Six items went into the donation box and at least a dozen were tossed.

And now break time is over.

Our tree is from Balsam Hill. Fantastic quality. Now is the time to buy one.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Discarded five things yesterday.

[moneysquirrel]

bean29 -- I got a new tree this year after having my old one 30+ years.  I waited to find one before disposing of the old one just in case I couldn't get one I liked.  This one is a little different in width but works ok.  I got a 7ft at Michael's a few days before Thanksgiving for less than $95.  You might one to keep that info in mind for the future.  I think it is one of the regular styles as my sister got one the previous year.

I have slowly begun taking down a few items each day but a lot of the items will remain until January 6th.   I need to try to find some replacement bulbs for an old ceramic Christmas tree I did about 40+ years ago.  I received it back after DMom died and didn't realized that some of the pieces were missing.  Except for those missing pieces it is still in good shape.  I will check locally first but may have to buy online.  I have a year to figure it out.

I have one load of laundry started this morning and cleared out the car of all items so that I can take it in for repair in the morning.  Managed to shred some items and to recycle some papers as well.  I need to get lunch started so I will sign out now and check in later.

[Blonde Granny]

I made my bed this morning, and my closet is orderly. I have worked almost all day to undo the pantry and the giant mess it was in. I was dumbfounded with the amount of food I had bought in the past few months....talk about spending money. I finally decided that all this food was going to be taken to the church tomorrow to help supply our food pantry that is open every Friday. Now, my pantry is almost cleaned out, but I can see everything in there, and with luck it will stay that way.

I'm grateful for all you ladies that encouraged me to get busy and start getting my life back together.

[TheOtherMe]

The two Christmas floral arrangement will be in the trash when I take it out tomorrow evening.  They are looking pretty bad.

Other than that, the Christmas decorations are staying up for the time being.  As long as they bring me pleasure, they are staying up.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Laundry room is cleaned. Discarded four things during that process. 
Nap taken. 
Now working on the work project. 

[chiver78]

yay! totes are gone, moving boxes should be gone by noon tomorrow. both by contactless porch pickup. I also listed the random kitchen stuff, and about half of that will go in the next couple of days.

I'm sitting here right now in the basement space, looking at a couple of clear smaller totes that I have no idea what I'm actually looking at. those are the next things on my to-do list.

[laterbloomer]

So I have continued purging my bedroom. I am stunned by how much I can have just in my underwear drawer. Ratty undies got tossed, current undies folded neatly and size too small undies got put in a bag for when I lose the weight. (I started my weight loss plan Jan 1) I have a week's vacation right now, my goal is to get at least my room and my new office cleaned, purged and organised.

[tcu2003]

31 Day Challenge

www.frugalcouponliving.com/declutter-your-home-checklist/

Day 1 - Holiday Decorations and Cards.
Day 2 - Kitchen Cupboards
Day 3 - Kitchen Drawers

I went through 5 of our kitchen drawers today, and two more cabinets. I purged a few items, so yay, and wiped down all of the drawers and cabinets that I went through (with DH’s help).

[debthaven]

Lots of progress on this thread!

WholeLottaNothin I hope your son is better now. 

Great job Blonde Granny ! But maybe you should keep a bit extra in the pantry in these strange times? 

laterbloomer that was quick (for the office)!

Christmas break is over but I only go back (online) on Wednesday. Job 2 starts this week, but Job 1 starts the week of 18 Jan. Looks like we'll still be online.

This week
- send 2 course descriptions to Job 2/Mon
- go through top teaching shelf/Mon
- 2 1 recommendation letter(s)/Tues

- mail V's book/Tues
- DH's Quickbooks/Fri?

I have to prep for school too, but I can do that gradually. 

[laterbloomer]

Jan 4, 2021 2:28:23 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Lots of progress on this thread!

WholeLottaNothin I hope your son is better now. 

Great job Blonde Granny ! But maybe you should keep a bit extra in the pantry in these strange times? 

laterbloomer that was quick (for the office)!

Christmas break is over but I only go back (online) on Wednesday. Job 2 starts this week, but Job 1 starts the week of 18 Jan. We still don't know if Job 1 will be face-to-face or online.   

This week
- 2 recommendation letters for EP
- DH's Quickbooks

I have to prep for school too, but I can do that gradually. 

I've applied for a work from home job that I really want so I want to get ready.

[Blonde Granny]

I think I took 7-8 bags of food to the church pantry supplies. Even with my packed freezer at least my pantry is open & available to see into it.

This is second day of making the bed and keeping my closet in order.

[laterbloomer]

Oh my God!! I have my bedroom done. Every inch of it has been decluttered, purged and put away. That includes every drawer or box I threw stuff into to "sort later" all the other times I cleaned my room. I was vigilant about purging. getting rid of things I like but never actually wear or use. This was the hard part about getting my room ready to paint so that should happen soon.

I'm almost embarrassed to list the things I found.
1. All the paperwork for my house, my marriage and divorce certificates, the user manuals for my generator and appliances and my cheque books. I knew which box or drawer these things were in but I would never have laid my hands on them quickly. Now they are neatly filed in my accordion folder.
2. My spare car key. It was in a purse I has switched out of. Not having this has stressed me out as my menopause brain finds it necessary to lose my keys at least once a week.
3. $240 in gift cards I forgot I had.
4. $50 in American money, left over from various travels.
5. About $30 in loonies and toonies. These were in old purses, under various furniture and under stuff on piled on my dresser.

Ladies, this is HUGE!! Happy dancing around the house.

[debthaven]

Fantastic job laterbloomer !!! And sending good juju for the job!

Now that you have an office, you can put the accordion folder in there. ;-)

 

[Blonde Granny]

Yea LB....

[bean29]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  My extra Christmas Boxes are moved downstairs, and DH put the tree sections in the bag yesterday.  I sent him a text with Malarky's suggestion that we just use the top 2 sections of the tree.  I don't know if we can do that or not - we will see next year.  Chloe your tree is gorgeous.  I plan to look in November next year for a new tree.

LB- great job.  I am really busy at work.  It was going to be a bad week, then the CPA called and wants to come in at the end of the week.

[TheOtherMe]

I decided to let the cleaners come on Friday.  I have a lot of work to do before they arrive.  They have not been here the last 3 months.  

That is why I am letting them clean.  The house needs attention and it's the things I hate doing.

[debthaven]

I don't consider myself a big shopper but I feel like I've gone crazy on Amazon this week!

I've spent 122 euros on:
- DH's tea (for 10 months)
- coffee pods (for 6 months)
- masks (for 4-6 months if I stay remote)
- my magnesium supplements (for 4-6 months)
- a Sodastream gas cylinder + second bottle (dunno how long the gas will last, we just got the machine for Christmas)

I got the cheapest option for everything. But I suddenly feel like I have a shopping addiction. 

Please tell me that I'm not crazy and these are all reasonable purchases. 

ETA: There was nothing I needed immediately, but I fear we will be going back into lockdown soon, like much of Europe. All those items were difficult to obtain last year during the first lockdown. 

[TheOtherMe]

debthaven  You are not crazy.  If you go on lockdown, the masks in particular will be hard to come by.  

I have stocked up on paper goods and can get through until spring with those.