2013 Destash- this is the year!

[mrsklamc]

Took a load to OUAC yesterday of the kids outgrown things - made a quick $160 for the Disney fund!
Then took a big load to Goodwill this morning of odds and ends. I am going to try to get a few more things together this weekend, but unfortunately, my decluttering will be put on hold until spring break again (I teach).

Between teaching and being a mom I'm sure your days are full full full, but if you don't want to put it on hold until spring break, you might try setting a timer for 15, 10, or even 5 minutes a day and see what you can do in that time. Between now and spring break I bet it would make a big difference!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We have the same problem -- DH has army uniforms taking up half of our coat closet that are not useable anymore because 1) they've changed style; and 2) he's retired. He keeps thinking he can sell them.

But I'm not about to fight this with him this early on, when the rest of the house needs decluttering.

I made quite a bit of money off of my DH's old uniforms that they don't use anymore, people buy them for hunting, camping, paintball, etc. MRE's sell really well too. I would encourage him to list them on ebay or craigslist. I even sold some with minor tears in them.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I'm not sure who the original poster was, but thank-you so much for the suggestion to "like" Peter Walsh on facebook! I'm loving the short tasks each day.

 

[mrsklamc]

Can someone give a brief summary of what day one was? I hate watching videos online- so much prefer to read!

 

[starwood]

Can someone give a brief summary of what day one was? I hate watching videos online- so much prefer to read!

Take 10 minutes and pick one room (preferrably the living room) and put away all the items that have been left out that you've used because of the holiday. Not Christmas tree or lights. I took this to mean dishes/bowls and miscellaneous wrapping/bows...etc.

Today's task was to find a box to keep all of your remotes in one spot and clean them with an antibacterial wipe.

 

[QVCshopper]

Can someone give a brief summary of what day one was? I hate watching videos online- so much prefer to read!

It was to put away the holiday clutter than has been out for the past two weeks, especially in your living room. I still have to do today.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I made quite a bit of money off of my DH's old uniforms that they don't use anymore, people buy them for hunting, camping, paintball, etc. MRE's sell really well too. I would encourage him to list them on ebay or craigslist. I even sold some with minor tears in them.

Thanks, but noo -- these are Class A's, not BDUs (or now ACUs). Except for Halloween, there's really no use for them.

 

[carebee21]

What are y'all doing to motivate non-motivated dh's? I'm really getting frustrated with mine. We're moving and we can't take the clutter and junk with us. He hates to let stuff go and now he's saying he's holding onto stuff for a garage sale. Garage sales don't go over well here, and honestly, we only have about 20 weeks until we move and 1 day off a week together (sundays.) It may seem like 20 weeks is a lot of time, but with only that 1 day to dedicate to decluttering, packing and cleaning together, it isn't a lot of time. I don't know when he thinks he's throwing a garage sale into the mix (or why, they just aren't good here.) Ugh. So, getting back to the point, any tips or tricks for motivating him?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Thanks, but noo -- these are Class A's, not BDUs (or now ACUs). Except for Halloween, there's really no use for them.

Oh, yeah, I can't think of anything you could do with those

 

[megsoro]

I'm in!

Today (my first day off in three weeks!) I:
Cleaned out under the sink, added a tension rod to hold bottles off the floor- so much neater in there!
Cleaned the bathroom- three girls in college/working PT and FT, the bathroom got messy! Asked the other girls to throw out products they didn't want to use and then organized it all!
Went through my clothing- Found some things I bought for holiday parties that never materialized (ugh, work) - so I returned those, and have a garbage bag full of stuff for Goodwill!

Anyone have any ideas on what to do with old books? (Library won't take them) Can I put them in a Goodwill box?

 

[RunDanceSkate]

Well my desire to declutter level has gone way down, but I did push through yesterday and got rid of another huge bag of donate, another box of paper recycling and a bag of garbage. I had been putting all my donate items in my SUV and we dropped that off yesterday.

Today I was procrastinating big time, although I was filing, shredding paying bills. Finally I went down to the basement and was completely overwhelmed. Part of the problem is dealing with memories. My 18yr old son moved to another country last June for his sport, and I miss him alot. I am sad to realize that he will never live here again. My DD graduates high school next year and our house will be sold at that time.

I am trying to deal with stuff that belongs to my kids, my DH, my MIL and my deceased FIL. It is hard to make decisions for other people.

I found a new method which seems to work better and perhaps it will work for someone else. On the main floor I have a garbage bag, a plastic recycling one, a paper recycling box, a donate bag and a books to go box. I go downstairs and pick up items, either putting it where it belongs downstairs or in a large rubbermaid tub, once the tub has at least 10 items that will be going out the door plus various items that belong somewhere besides downstairs, I bring it up and sort through it. Each trip means at least 10 things gone, 10 trips will have 100 things gone plus many more put away. Each trip is taking less then 15 minutes and in between trips, I play with the dog or cat, have a snack or go on the computer.

 

[mrsklamc]

What are y'all doing to motivate non-motivated dh's? I'm really getting frustrated with mine. We're moving and we can't take the clutter and junk with us. He hates to let stuff go and now he's saying he's holding onto stuff for a garage sale. Garage sales don't go over well here, and honestly, we only have about 20 weeks until we move and 1 day off a week together (sundays.) It may seem like 20 weeks is a lot of time, but with only that 1 day to dedicate to decluttering, packing and cleaning together, it isn't a lot of time. I don't know when he thinks he's throwing a garage sale into the mix (or why, they just aren't good here.) Ugh. So, getting back to the point, any tips or tricks for motivating him?

Make him schedule it maybe? Perhaps having a date on the calendar for the garage sale he thinks he's having would make it more real? (of course, you'll have to explain that he can't wait until 19 weeks from now..)

 

[mrsklamc]

Anyone have any ideas on what to do with old books? (Library won't take them) Can I put them in a Goodwill box?

You bet! They take books.

 

[DarthMama]

Made a good start -- in redoing the linen closet/bathroom supplies closet after house painting, I got rid of 1 huge bag of trash (how many lotion samples did I have tucked away???) and so far have 4 bags of stuff to drop at the thrift shop. More to go!

 

[mrsklamc]

I seem to have forgotten how to multi quote, but thanks Starwood and QVCshopper for telling me what the videos were!

 

[Scrap4me]

Yes--Goodwill does take books--but no longer will accept encyclopedias.
Last summer I went through my books and got rid of almost 1,000! For some odd reason, I thought it would be cool to have a personal library. Many many moves taught me that my back disagrees! I still have about 200 more to go through and I am setting a goal of only keeping 75--the rest go on my Kindle!

Today has been slow. Took my daughter to the college bookstore to pick up her textbooks (starts Monday). Headed to my garage now to sort through some summer junk and trash and de-stash!

My big goal this weekend is to pull out my Wilton Cake pans and get rid of at least half. Something I learned this past summer was to set a goal of getting rid of half of an item (such as christmas decorations)--immediately take the de-stashed half to Goodwill and then come back to that item in 4- 6 weeks---turns out that I have been getting rid of more that item at that time.

If anyone figures out a great way to convince hubby to de-stash his stuff let me know! Uggh!

Good luck!

 

[mrsklamc]

My big goal this weekend is to pull out my Wilton Cake pans and get rid of at least half. Something I learned this past summer was to set a goal of getting rid of half of an item (such as christmas decorations)--immediately take the de-stashed half to Goodwill and then come back to that item in 4- 6 weeks---turns out that I have been getting rid of more that item at that time.

Uh-oh. My first Wilton class is Tuesday, hope it doesn't cause another clutter issue!

 

[mommy2twingles]

Sorted through all 7 ornament containers last night and pulled out broken ones plus ones to get rid off. Also started cleaning out the gift closet. Many little things that I bought years ago that never got given. Off to the consignment sale they go

 

[Scrap4me]

Uh-oh. My first Wilton class is Tuesday, hope it doesn't cause another clutter issue!

Well....it really depends upon if you are going to make the shaped cakes or not..Every year found me doing birthday cakes, graduation, travel, Garfield etc for so many people. And the pans simply do not nest! If only...
Last year (much to the dismay of many) I began turning down the requests for the cakes. The pans are $8 and up. I have turned some of them into different items -Gingerbread Man into Elmo for example. With my youngest now 17, they no longer have the desire for cakes -- Good for me.

I have 3 or 4 pans that I will certainly keep that are used every year (snowman, open book and a 3d car). Plus the standard square and circle.

With Wilton they teach you many techniques that are great for standard shaped cakes and cup cakes....the wave of my future!

One word of advice, don't go overboard and buy every frosting tip and color and container to hold them etc etc...Only buy what you need when you will need. It will save you money and clutter. I have tons of tips that I have never used and probably never will..

Good Luck with your class! One great thing about it, you get to eat your mistakes!

 

[carebee21]

Make him schedule it maybe? Perhaps having a date on the calendar for the garage sale he thinks he's having would make it more real? (of course, you'll have to explain that he can't wait until 19 weeks from now..)

Yeah, I'm thinking this may be what I do. Make him schedule it for late Feb/early March. The agreement being that he puts all his "garage sale" stuff in totes or boxes in the garage, not leaving it sit in the closets and drawers. If he doesn't have a garage sale on that date, all the boxes get donated. And if he follows through and actually has the garage sale, anything left at the end of the day gets donated on his way into work the next day. We'll see if he agrees to it.