2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[TheOtherMe]

Mar 26, 2023 21:15:42 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

www.staples.com/deals/it-s-recycling-day-every-day/BI3000592

The first time I went with a couple of cell phones, broken Keurig and old router, I went to customer service and they sent me to the online pickup counter/tech services.

Today I went to that counter and they took me to a regular check out line. I think it had something to do with having ink cartridges and batteries? I supposedly got coupons for those.

I'll see if I use the coupons. They are generally more expensive than other stores. At this point, I'm happy to get rid of these electronics for free.

Thank you for the link.  Appears I can take my shredding there.  I have 3 bags of stuff sitting here currently.  

[moneysquirrel]

startsmart -- So happy that your plumbing issue seems to be over except for the $$$ part.  Ouch.

Sharon -- Hope you are feeling better soon.

wvugurl26 -- thanks for the info.  We don't have a Staples near me but for those who do it is a great service.

debthaven -- You are almost to the halfway point.  Then it is all downhill.  Keep thinking new windows.

countrygirl2 -- Love the idea that you are repurposing items you have on hand.  Gives them a second life and declutters the house.  Glad that you will be closer to GS at least part of the year.

TheOtherMe -- Hope the leg continues to improve. 

Iggy aka IG -- Hope that the home office continues to keep you out of dangerous driving conditions.  Plus the added bonus that you can get small things done like laundry.

[moneysquirrel]

Trying to get a lot of last minute stuff done today as I am going on a small road trip.  I will be in an area where internet service is not available for the most part.  So I will see you all in about a week or so.

Chores for today:
*Laundry -- Sheets and others -- Started
*Fill gas tank
*Pick up craft room -- managed to finished all of the items on my to-make list.  Just in time to get several new projects.
*Package up last of the completed items and add them to the inventory-- craft shows are starting soon
*Finish packing
*Run dishwasher -- tonight after dinner
*Water plants -- both outdoor and indoors
*Wipe out ice chest 
*Last minute errands

Tomorrow:
*Pack ice chest
*Throw last minute stuff in luggage
*Pack car -- Ice chest and luggage
*Unplug/turn off electronics, fans, etc
*Pick up a friend and off we go.

[debthaven]

Safe trip moneysquirrel !

[wvugurl26]

There appears to be a cost for shredding but they do offer it.

I somehow stumbled upon their electronic recycling services and it's been very helpful to me.

[Iggy aka IG]

I hope you are having success at resting comfortably, Sharon.

countrygirl2, glad you get to spend more time with your grandkiddo.

Thank you, moneysquirrel.  Working from home really gives me peace of mind, both keeping off the roads and servicing clients.

And darn it, I discovered we, too, do not have Staples in either of the larger nearby cities.  The one I knew about must've closed.

I forgot to post about last Friday's office declutter:  To fill the garbage bag before leaving for the week, from the bookcase I added several more inches of outdated folders and plastic packaging pillows (I popped them first) and tossed them.  I did save a sheet of the latter in case I need to pad the CDs I eventually mail to declutrr.com (not a typo).  Yet another unaddressed winter project....

[startsmart]

Mar 26, 2023 20:49:29 GMT -5 Opti said:

I hope this means you finally have working bathrooms.

Yes, finally got the bathroom back!

My half bath is still unusable and I need to tear out the floor and assess the damage but at least my master is back to work!

[TheOtherMe]

I will happily pay the cost of shredding for the 4 or 5 bags of shredding that I have rather than sit and shred for many days until the shredder gets too hot.

Staples is the only big box office store we have.

[Deleted]

My community association offers a wildly popular free shred day twice each year, first in May after tax filing and another in the fall. We pay a shred company to bring their huge shred truck onsite at our office and volunteers such as myself direct cars to drive in, pull up to the truck, let the shred team remove boxes and bags from their trunk, and then pull out or park to one side if they want to see their documents shredded.  We even provide this service to local small businesses like our corner auto mechanic who was drowning in old paperwork (the first year he literally regained a complete service bay that was filled with storage boxes).  A local church offers a similar service quarterly for a $15 donation or two cases of non-perishable canned goods for their food pantry.  They also offer electronics recycling.  

[Iggy aka IG]

soupandstew what great ideas!

As I've posted recently, my goal at the office is to go paperless this year.  When it's time, I'm going to call the shred truck to help with a majority of the 8 filing cabinets.  

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2023 16:45:15 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

soupandstew what great ideas!

As I've posted recently, my goal at the office is to go paperless this year.  When it's time, I'm going to call the shred truck to help with a majority of the 8 filing cabinets.  

We pay about $1,200 for a ginormous truck on site from about 8:30 to noon on a Saturday.  The cars start lining up, we open the gates at 9 and it's steady until noon.  For us, it's been a great way to meet folks from around the community, including business owners.  Depending on your office location, you might see if any of your business neighbors are interested in sharing a shred truck and its cost.

[Sharon]

Today I finally got my new stereo stand dusted, shelves installed and the stereo moved.  It took quite a bit of time to get the sticker off the glass door.  Why on earth would they put this sticker with super glue on a piece of furniture that people will have in their house.  All it told me was that there was an alternate set of knobs included if I wished to change the ones that were originally installed.  After that I dusted the rest of the living room.

I may have my little chicken coop sold.  Until the money is in my hand and coop is gone I won't consider it a done deal.  Finger crossed it is gone tomorrow.

[Iggy aka IG]

Mar 27, 2023 16:52:45 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Mar 27, 2023 16:45:15 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

soupandstew what great ideas!

As I've posted recently, my goal at the office is to go paperless this year.  When it's time, I'm going to call the shred truck to help with a majority of the 8 filing cabinets.  

We pay about $1,200 for a ginormous truck on site from about 8:30 to noon on a Saturday.  The cars start lining up, we open the gates at 9 and it's steady until noon.  For us, it's been a great way to meet folks from around the community, including business owners.  Depending on your office location, you might see if any of your business neighbors are interested in sharing a shred truck and its cost.

Brilliant idea!  I'll ask around.  

In April, a local real estate company has had a truck set up at the local middle school for years.  They accept donations, and every year they go to a different entity/charity/cause.  In the past the K9 police officers and other community folks have been on site.  It makes for a great day.  

[seriousthistime]

Jan 14, 2023 10:40:20 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Good to hear that your DH came through the surgery so well, debthaven . 

I am out of town (warmer climate) for three months, so there's no decluttering to do right now.  

But I am thinking of decluttering a few extra pounds.  I'm a Lifetime member of Weight Watchers, and I'm sharing a seasonal rental with a friend who is also Lifetime.  We went to our first meeting in a few years and are back on the program.  I'm within 2 pounds of my goal weight so the meeting was free and I have to weigh in once a month to keep it free. I hope to lose about 5 more pounds, which I hope I can do reasonably easily. 

I'm doing more walking here.  My little dog is used to running all around my fenced yard so she doesn't need walks.  Here, there's no fenced yard so she needs to be walked a few times per day. That gets me out and about, and moving. 

I'm now back home so I can resume decluttering here.

I managed to maintain my weight while gone, but after a lot of celebration during our last week and four days of road food, I expect to have gained a few pounds.  So I am focusing on that too. I need a grocery store run and my list is filled with healthy foods.  I'll also avoid the wine section.  I had too much fun while gone and the quickest way for me to lose weight is to restrict wine. 

If anyone here is a Weight Watcher member, you are aware what they are doing with closing studios.  Lifetime members like me don't have to weigh in for the next year. I have the same brand scale they use at the studios, so it is pretty accurate and in sync with the studio weigh-ins (within 0.2 pounds or so). 

While gone, I did manage to have my popcorn ceilings "decluttered." I came back to a dusty house, but it's great to have nice smooth ceilings.  Next up in May-June, redoing the fireplace wall in the living room.  

[Iggy aka IG]

seriousthistime excellent idea for the ceiling work to be performed during your absence.  

L came to clean the house today, and over the past few days, I did the following so she can move around a bit more in my home office:

-Moved an empty gift bag to downstairs storage
-Put my grandnephew's gift in my vehicle to bring to him
-Moved the box of donations also to my vehicle
-Stashed a few things in the closet
-Addressed the small pile of mending that had been on my to do list for several months
-This morning I asked L if she would bring a kiddo's hat left behind to a fellow neighbor as she'll see them before I.

Also, this morning, my friend picked up the black storage cube as planned.  She is going to use it to store her special needs son's weighted blankets.  

The sun is shining, and the days have been warming up a bit.  

[debthaven]

Welcome back seriousthistime ! Happy you got the ceilings taken care of while you were gone.

So happy the plumbing is fixed startsmart ! 

Is the chicken coop gone Sharon ? 

I love how diligent you are about donating items Iggy aka IG . I was always shy about bringing things into work but now I bring in my extra office supplies and they always disappear. 

Long days at work today and tomorrow. We went to the theatre with friends tonight. I think I'm officially done with going into town on a work night. 

I managed to get a long-overdue haircut yesterday between Zoom classes. Doing laundry now (it's after midnight). 

I usually WFH on Thursdays but these days I'm at Job 2 on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

When I (semi) retired I promised myself I would stop "wishing my life away". For the first time in months, I'm thinking about how I can't wait till my Wednesday classes finish next week.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Today's big goal: getting our 2022 tax documents to our CPA. I don't think I've sent them in this late in over a decade. Sigh. 

[debthaven]

You have so much going on Knee Deep in Water Chloe .

My work week is over. Two professors cancelled next week. I'm glad because I was overbooked. 

I'm looking forward to a relatively quiet weekend. 

There are gas shortages again. Our new car takes ethanol, which is harder to find. A gas station on my way home from Job 2 sells it, so I fill up every Thursday, even if I have plenty left. It's always a relief to have a full tank. 

This weekend
- Shitepile/Thurs
- bottle bank/Fri
- lunch w D/Fri
- pharmacy/Fri
- gift A's DGD (no rush)

[Sharon]

Mar 29, 2023 17:26:01 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Is the chicken coop gone Sharon ? 

No.   The guy came and looked at it but then low balled to the point of being insulting, so I didn't counter and just told him no.  It was one of those cases where I would rather give it away than sell it to him for so little.

[debthaven]

Ugh Sharon how frustrating. 

[debthaven]

This weekend
- Shitepile/Thurs
- bottle bank/Fri
- pharmacy/Fri
- lunch w D/Fri
- mail letters/Fri
- gift A's DGD?

[TheOtherMe]

I know there is a time difference, but you've been busy.

[laterbloomer]

So somehow doing a bit of work has created a whole new list of stuff. Well actually part of it is Costco's fault. They put these bathroom venting fans on sale and they had one hooked up that was absolutely silent when on. I have 3 loud fans in my house that have bothered me for years so....I bought new ceiling tiles for GW's old room, I need to cut them down and put them in, I am getting the desk moved up to my bedroom Monday, and finally I need to buy flooring for GW's old room and lay it. Oh ya!!! Use my new miter saw to cut the baseboard for the downstairs bathroom! There is supposed to be a big snow storm here this weekend so I think I will be plugging away at this list.

[debthaven]

Good luck with your projects laterbloomer ! I'm impressed! 

TheOtherMe the errands were very local and the lunch was in Versailles (15 min away). 

[seriousthistime]

Damn.

I went to use my 3-year-old Dyson stick vacuum, took it off the charger, and it's dead.  Troubleshooting seems to indicate I need a new battery.   

Amazon to the rescue. But not until Monday. 

[finnime]

Mar 31, 2023 14:31:41 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Good luck with your projects laterbloomer ! I'm impressed! 

TheOtherMe the errands were very local and the lunch was in Versailles (15 min away). 

Wow! I know someone who lunches in Versailles!

[debthaven]

finnime my friend lives out in the countryside, about 50 min away ... it's more or less the halfway point for us (it's closer to me). That's the only reason we meet there LOL.

Oh crap seriousthistime ! I hope it arrives on time.

I now know my classes for Sept. I'll still be at each job one day/week. I'm reducing my student hours a bit (7.5 to 6) and still doing the admin/professor classes. So like now, 15h/week, over 3 days (2 at school, 1 at home). I'm happy with that! 

[Sharon]

I puttered around today but managed to get some things done.

Changed sheets on the bed

Cleaned litter box

Removed anchors from the walls in my bedroom and bathroom to start prepping for paint.  Where the previous owner had a small TV mounted on the wall had six 1 1/2" anchors in the wall. 

Applied first round of spackle to the holes in bedroom and bathroom

Took the cobweb broom and went after cobwebs on the popcorn ceilings in my bedroom, which made a huge mess.  The ceiling does look better

Dusted my bedroom

Vacuumed my bedroom and bathroom

Did 3 loads of laundry and folded put it away

[saveinla]

We dont have the time to do a full remodel of the bathroom right now, so yesterday DH found a plumber to replace the old toilet and the shower head.

We also bought a new dresser and a small table from Ikea. Hired someone from taskrabbit to come and install them. He was also able to fix a shelf in the bathroom and a few other things, so house is getting into better shape. It took him 3.5 hours to do a lot of small things and we paid 180 including service charge and tip. I was impressed with the guy who came. Will totally hire him if I need any handyman work done.

I had to empty a shelf, so went through and organized it fully. Also threw out some old receipts and other paper. Todays goal was to cook all the older veggies in the fridge. I think I will be able to finish it tomorrow, wipe down the shelves and work on the freezer items.

Hope everyone is doing well.

[startsmart]

Fairly relaxed weekend here, I am staying on top of chores and dishes. I also started stripping the paint off the stair treads which are both ugly and slippery. It’s slow going.

I’ve also being quilting the tops I finished in December 2021, the first 3 are done and here: imgur.com/gallery/q2U0iq2

I’ve got the blue one read to quilt but then I need to pick up more bathing to finish.

I have been pulling random fabrics out from an older bin and working on those, I haven’t bought any new fabric since my trip (lol just 5 weeks but still!) and I am trying to use a lot of what I have and then do some swaps.