2016 Destash - The more things you own, the more they own you

[ariel1025]

So excited to have found this thread. I got serious about getting all the clutter out of our house about a week ago. I'm notorious for taking on huge projects and stopping when I get bored somewhere in the middle. So, this go round I made a list (in my phone) of each individual drawer, shelf, cabinet etc that needs cleaned, decluttered and organized. My goal is simple - at least one item on the list per day. So far I've cleaned out the entire coat closet (floor full of shoes, hanging items and shelf), my daughter's nightstand (2 drawers), my daughter's dresser (5 drawers), my daughter's closet floor and hanging items and 4 boxes of randomness in the garage. It doesn't seem like much, but I gave a box of stuff to my sister that she wanted for her daughter, took 5 boxes to the Big Brothers Big Sisters donation site already, and have 3 more by the front door ready to go the next time we are out running errands

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

So excited to have found this thread. I got serious about getting all the clutter out of our house about a week ago. I'm notorious for taking on huge projects and stopping when I get bored somewhere in the middle. So, this go round I made a list (in my phone) of each individual drawer, shelf, cabinet etc that needs cleaned, decluttered and organized. My goal is simple - at least one item on the list per day. So far I've cleaned out the entire coat closet (floor full of shoes, hanging items and shelf), my daughter's nightstand (2 drawers), my daughter's dresser (5 drawers), my daughter's closet floor and hanging items and 4 boxes of randomness in the garage. It doesn't seem like much, but I gave a box of stuff to my sister that she wanted for her daughter, took 5 boxes to the Big Brothers Big Sisters donation site already, and have 3 more by the front door ready to go the next time we are out running errands

Awesome!! Eat the elephant one bite at a time. I started a little over a year ago and we are now to the point that I have just a hand full of things to get rid of. It's freeing and easier to keep the house picked up!

 

[chimilady]

Our biggest dilemma is what to do with all the VHS tapes we have accumulated. Don't want to just trash them.

Why not? It was so liberating to get rid of mine. List on Craigslist in the free section and maybe a family who can't afford the films will take them and get use out of them. I know I got 30 disney movies on VHS a few years ago bc I couldn't afford them all on DVD. I was happy to pay it forward.

 

[chimilady]

What a great thread! One of my problems is my lovely Mum (88) keeps giving me little reminders of my childhood to bring home! She isn't a "hoarder" but has kept so much stuff as they are still in the large family home - then I can't bring myself to throw it away either but it will be if no use - so I'm thinking that as this is now a regular occurrence I should make myself a memory box and just keep what will fit in that? Any ideas?

I was going to say either a photo album, or if it's too big to fit in an album, take a photo of the momento and then compile a coffee table book in one of the online photo ablum places like snapfish or artscow.

Great advice, but am I following it for myself?

 

[PollyannaMom]

DS and I tackled the winter accessories cart yesterday - mittens, hats, scarves, etc. We filled a grocery bag to donate, and tossed about as much, clearing a "catch-all" bin and reducing 3 drawers to 2. There is now an actual spot in the mud room for the bicycle and basketball pumps!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

hopefully this won't horrify anyone - I started tearing up my old yearbooks. Just scavenging out the pages that I wanted to keep - eliminating most of the actual yearbook. Have done one from Jr High - got to do the other 5 (Jr High and high school).

Update - 5 out of the 6 yearbooks DONE! All of the pages I'm saving weigh significantly less than one HS yearbook....one Jr High yearbook is AWOL but I know it's around here somewhere...

 

[toystoryduo]

My DH has been making quite a bit of progress. He cleaned out his office over the weekend. Two garbage bags of junk are gone and with some organization, it looks much, much better!

He's also been working in the garage and has 2 or 3 boxes to take to recycling on Friday.

Today, I plan on going through our dresser drawers again, and I may list a couple of items on Craigslist as well.

Progress!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

hopefully this won't horrify anyone - I started tearing up my old yearbooks. Just scavenging out the pages that I wanted to keep - eliminating most of the actual yearbook. Have done one from Jr High - got to do the other 5 (Jr High and high school).

I am seriously considering dropping mine from middle school. I saw them earlier last year and wasn't ready to throw them out yet, but they didn't bring me "Joy" so according to the Kon Mari method I guess that means they should go.

 

[PrincessKymm]

I managed to clean out some of DS's clothes he's outgrown. I did buy him some new tshirts but since he isn't home until Tuesday he can't tell me if he likes them or not.

Will need to clean out his dresser and the rest of his closet. He needs all new jeans and socks. His room is such a mess! I think we will tackle deep cleaning his room next weekend when he is home.

 

[comicguy]

Got rid of:

Recycled 1 grocery bag of unneeded paperwork
Recycled 32 magazines
Recycled 5 cardboard boxes

Gave away 2 computer monitors
Gave away 1 computer tower

Sold 1 oak hutch via Facebook group

 

[PollyannaMom]

Since my last post we attacked....old cassette tapes. (Would you believe I still had a whole under-bed storage bin of these?) - DS's comment was "Mom, your music used to take up so much space!"

I now have a small bag of commercial ones to donate (if my library even still takes them), a plastic bag of home-recorded one to toss, a few sentimental keepers (like my mom reading children's stories, a mixed tape from college, etc.) aaaaand...a scrapbook page made from some of the playlists.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I got rid Of 3 boxes and hubby packed up 4 boxes of shirts. He's tried dropping off at donation church but it was closed. I'm hoping to hit my stash again. I sold 5 tops for $20. I would love to make $$ but I don't want to deal with meeting up with people. Hoping to donate a few things to DD's school for teens program they have. We are redoing my DD's room and things aren't going as planned on schedule. I've had all her stuff in my living room and all her furniture in my dining room and its driving me CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its been like that since 4th of july weekend :/ I have no control since I had issues with new flooring and looking for a healthier flooring. With her stuff all over its maing me want to just donate and declutter. I have time this week so I hope I get more done

 

[comicguy]

WooHoo

Just gave away an air conditioner that has not been used in a couple of years!!

 

[Lolaura84]

oh my goodness, so glad to have found this thread! We have boxes that we moved into our house a full 5 years ago that have not yet been touched and that have unknown contents... considering just sneaking them out onto the curb on trash night. If we didn't need it yet, we probably will not ever, right?

 

[dreamin_disney]

I was back in my spare/craft room and shredded a bunch of mail, bills and receipts(2 grocery bags). Cleared off one section of my room table. Tonight or tomorrow I'm going to post 5 pairs of shoes, some shorts, some tops, 8 rolls of decorated duck tape to sell. What doesn't sell in two weeks will be donated to teen clothing program when DD goes back to school. If I make any $$ I will use that to decorate my spare/craft room new storage with table top desk and get rid of my big old oak looking desk.

I also have some adult clothes gonna post on sell app and whatever doesn't sell goes to donate pile. Any $$ will go to my new set up which will make my room more organized and less clutter

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Since my last post we attacked....old cassette tapes. (Would you believe I still had a whole under-bed storage bin of these?) - DS's comment was "Mom, your music used to take up so much space!"

I now have a small bag of commercial ones to donate (if my library even still takes them), a plastic bag of home-recorded one to toss, a few sentimental keepers (like my mom reading children's stories, a mixed tape from college, etc.) aaaaand...a scrapbook page made from some of the playlists.

https://www.amazon.com/Cassette-to-CD-and-MP3/dp/B003Z8KJD2 You might want to invest in one of these. Especially considering that some are your mom reading the stories.

 

[neatokimmo]

I got rid of two trash bags of vhs tapes (things dh recorded from TV 25 years ago) and three totes of trash. Also, a queen size mattress topper is going in the bulk trash pick up woot. I held on to that stupid thing to make patio cushions. Ya right.

I have created a huge pile of stuff next to my PC to itemize for taxes tonight.

My summer goal was to clear out my front sunroom and turn it in an actual entry. School starts Monday, I had better get at it.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Tonight (Tuesday) I cleaned out 4 kitchen cabinets. Got rid of several plastic large cups. Husband likes to keep large plastic fastfood specialty cups. I also got rid of some old plastic food containers, toaster box and misc. I cleared out one cabinet, 2nd cabinet I have space and everything is organized instead of falling out. I have 2 large bags of trash 13 gal bags.
Tomorrow I plan on hitting the hall closet. I'm having DD go through 3 bins of her stuff.

A co-worker who just retired has been going through her stuff using the Konmari decluttering system. I checked it out and its motivated me. Anyone else use it?

 

[KarenAylwood]

Tonight (Tuesday) I cleaned out 4 kitchen cabinets. Got rid of several plastic large cups. Husband likes to keep large plastic fastfood specialty cups. I also got rid of some old plastic food containers, toaster box and misc. I cleared out one cabinet, 2nd cabinet I have space and everything is organized instead of falling out. I have 2 large bags of trash 13 gal bags.
Tomorrow I plan on hitting the hall closet. I'm having DD go through 3 bins of her stuff.

A co-worker who just retired has been going through her stuff using the Konmari decluttering system. I checked it out and its motivated me. Anyone else use it?

I just randomly clicked on this thread, thinking about how obnoxious our office/toy room is getting and you just made me look up Konmari. I feel motivated too! I also remember reading about how things should be evaluated for their value, necessity and if they spark joy. I don't think I could go simply based off joy because some things (esp having kids) really are needed that don't spark joy (like spit up cloths, blankets, etc). But the Konmari system would significantly help with MY possessions and hopefully DH's.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I just randomly clicked on this thread, thinking about how obnoxious our office/toy room is getting and you just made me look up Konmari. I feel motivated too! I also remember reading about how things should be evaluated for their value, necessity and if they spark joy. I don't think I could go simply based off joy because some things (esp having kids) really are needed that don't spark joy (like spit up cloths, blankets, etc). But the Konmari system would significantly help with MY possessions and hopefully DH's.

We are redoing my teen daughter room and I hope to have her do Konmari on it. I looked up youtube videos for Konmari and Teen rooms. You could see Konmari and kids. On a video someone ask about kids and lot of toys. She said start with teaching kids how to fold clothes.

I'm super excited. I know theres certain things to start with but I'm starting one box at a time. I've also been hitting my den table several times. Hubby likes to store things on it and on the bottom. Its glass table top so you can see the mess. Right now I looked at it and its never looked so cleared