And I learned recently that organizations like Goodwill or Salvation Army will often take clothes in ANY condition because they can sell the ripped/torn/stained stuff as rags. One less thing in the landfill!
Yes, love that! I try to bag the bad stuff together when I donate. I also send our worn out shoes for the same reason.
I worked in the basement for about an hour. Pretty much just moving things around but starting to see some progress and more floor space open! We just found out electronics recycling is anytime now in our county instead of twice a year. We have a big box in the laundry room of various electronics to recycle, and 2 old TVs. It's 25 cents per pound for the TVs, hoping they don't weigh too much!
While down there working I decided I'm sick of staring at all those bags and boxes of clothes and I want them out. Not worth the 50 cents - dollar/each. I wish there was somewhere else to donate besides Goodwill in this area. I'd rather spread donations out or at least used somewhere else different. I looked up Purple Heart that was mentioned here, but not in this area. DH took some pieces of an old desk to throw out on his way to work. The second bookshelf can be taken apart and trashed whenever he has time. I'm giving myself a month deadline to get the basement more organized so we can get an estimate on what our closet construction will cost.
When I was done having kids, I donated my pg clothes to a pg crisis center. Do you have anything like that around there?
Thanks! It's gone!! Yay!! Even if I do nothing else, I'm happy. This thread has made a difference in my life.
Of course, I plan to do more though...
Thank you all!!
I agree, thanks to everyone posting their progress!
Yesterday's purge isn't out of the house yet, but I'm working on it. I found a box in the basement marked "breakables from the china cabinet" (china cabinet was emptied and given to DD for her snowglobe collection at least 7 years ago... maybe more!) and it was full of vintage teacups, an antique Limogies pitcher, a Murano crystal bird (I think it belonged to my grandmother) and a few other dust collectors! I pulled out 2-3 tiny things and one tea cup that I want to keep and the rest can go. The teacups were originally my Mom's so I asked her if she would like them back. If she says no, then they will be posted on my FB yard sale group this weekend. I already took the photos in preparation for that.
Can't wait to see what surprises I find later today!...........P
Way to go!
Since the roads were so crappy yesterday, I decided to trade my trip to the gym after school for some time in the basement. I started with moving our Christmas bins back to where they belonged (not just at the foot of the stairs where DH left them). Then I tackled the gift bags. We have like 10,000 gift bags. Some probably 10 years old! My goal, is to use those puppies up! Someone suggested using them any time my kids need to bring stuff to school, LOL.
I created a new bin of xmas bags, boxes and the few left over decorations I couldn't fit anywhere else. Then I finally made a bin of our easter stuff (baskets and eggs). Then I began to tackle a box of my old things. I pulled some stuff to just throw away, and some to donate, and then I have a pile that I'm not sure what to do with. Checking ebay, the items are selling in the $10 range. With $30k in debt, every penny helps right? Do I ebay or donate?
As I was working through the stuff, I bent over and BAM something happened in my low back and now I'm walking like a 90 year old lady (I've had back issues since HS). So my basement is now a disaster zone with piles everywhere. DOH! Maybe my back will heal up fast and I can get back down there this weekend.
So small $10ish items?!?! Donate or sell?
Hope your back gets better! I would list them and then donate if nothing happens by x date.
There are quite a few blogs that I enjoy reading becoming minimalist, zen habits and be more with less. Anyone have anything else that they read to help motivate them.
I love Don Aslett's books. I have
Not for Packrats Only and I can really relate and get inspiration from it because it discusses the reasons why we tend to keep certain things. What blogs do you enjoy? I'd love to find some to read when I need motivation!
Well, I got 50% of my goals done.
DD didn't go to dance and I didn't have the Goodwill donation ready anyway. I did manage to go through the freezer and tossed a grocery bag of freezer burned veggies and rolls. It was based on this thread that I made myself get it done. The shame factor is working!
The computer parts are on the schedule to take to Goodwill this weekend instead. DD19 made another pile of things she doesn't want before she returned to school so I'll take that too. When she left, I sent her with 5 textbooks that aren't worth anything. Her sorority has a study room so she is putting them in there.
The other weekend goal is to put the Christmas stuff in the attic. Some is still sitting in the front room and the rest is taking up lots of garage space. It has warmed up some so we need to take advantage and get it done!
Our upper two levels are in pretty good shape, I just need to keep them picked up. I tend to have piles in the kitchen and I'm so tired of seeing them. The basement is still the project to tackle. Like pp, I have trouble getting rid of some of the kids' old toys and accepting they are teens now!
Also determined that I am NOT going to put zucchini in large amounts in my garden anymore. I froze 5 big bags of shredded zucchini because I was going to use them for muffins, breads, etc. that are still sitting in there and I likely won't ever use them because my family simply won't eat them. I can only eat so much of it myself. I may see if my neighbor wants them, otherwise I will just have to toss them too...ugh.
But now I"m going to make a cup of tea and get to work. DS and his girlfriend are in the hot tub (yup, I can keep an eye on them from here 
) and when they come in I will feed them so that I can get her home before it is too late. But I think I can bang out a good portion of office cleaning in the next 30 minutes.... if I can just get off here! TTYL.................P
