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

[gemini2727]

I cleaned out and organized the storage area in our window seat, it's needed it forever. My DH left some rusty metal barbell weights in there, so there's a nice rust stain, but, oh well, at least it's neat

 

[PollyannaMom]

I cleaned out the magazine rack today - a small, but very visible, start to my summer project. I recycled a three-inch stack of catalogs, papers, etc.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I cleaned out the magazine rack today - a small, but very visible, start to my summer project. I recycled a three-inch stack of catalogs, papers, etc.

Woo!! I mentioned it before, but I always say "Progress is a process"

I cleaned out and organized the storage area in our window seat, it's needed it forever. My DH left some rusty metal barbell weights in there, so there's a nice rust stain, but, oh well, at least it's neat

Great job getting to the hidden areas. Even though they may not be embarrassing because our guest don't see them, every time you go into a cluttered storage area it can be overwhelming.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Started gathering things for our move today and put them in a tub that we'll take with us.

Got rid of a bunch of plastic containers I had collected for my daughter's play kitchen. They weren't really getting use. I also got rid of some old shampoo we had from a previous house guest and put all my curling/straightening irons into the pile of stuff to get rid of as they have not been used in over 2 years. It doesn't sound like a lot, but we do decluttering in small chunks on a frequent basis instead of just once or twice a year.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Great job getting to the hidden areas. Even though they may not be embarrassing because our guest don't see them, every time you go into a cluttered storage area it can be overwhelming.

So true!! DH laughs when I clean out a closet or something because I make a huge mess that gets worse before it gets better, but you don't put stuff away if you don't have an organized place to put it!

 

[pjlla]

So much great progress being made by all! Good job!

I'm deep into "pre-party prep" time (DS's graduation party is this Saturday) and as such I am primarily cleaning rather than decluttering, but obviously some degree of clutter is getting tossed... and it feels so good to have such a compelling reason not to overthink every single purge! Went into my baking cupboard to find my red paste food coloring (woohoo.... I actually had some and do NOT need to make a special trip) and tossed out boxes of expired mixes, bottles filled with teeny-tiny bits of sprinkles, squashed muffin pan liners. I don't bake much and as such I don't use that cupboard much and I had no idea so much had built up.... and who knew that Jello expired?? Along with the red paste food coloring (which I was pretty sure I owned), I found TWO unopened packages of "premium white baker's chocolate"..... so the brand new bar I just bought for the cake I am making will go back to the market today.

DH finally cut up the old pool liner (he dismantled our pool earlier this spring) and it will go to the dump tomorrow (closed today). I also have three bags to donate that will go out the door today on my way to the grocery store.

And..... (drum roll please)...... my husband FINALLY put the hand railing on the deck stairs yesterday..... nearly 12 years (yes, I said TWELVE) to the day of when he actually BUILT the deck! Yup.... he is a chronic 90%-er. He will bust his a** on a project, but never QUITE complete it. Not sure why he is like this..... but I'm delighted to have a hand railing for our company AND get the parts out of the basement (yes, we've had the parts/pieces in the basement for the past 12 years!!)..... DOUBLE WIN!

Okay..... off to grab breakfast and get this day moving!.................P

 

[virge]

Life got busy and I fell off the destash wagon a few months ago. I'm a teacher and on summer break so I'm back on. My sons & I went through their toy room, bedroom, & closets last week. I hope to have a yard sale next weekend so I better get busy with the rest of the house!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

So much great progress being made by all! Good job!

I'm deep into "pre-party prep" time (DS's graduation party is this Saturday) and as such I am primarily cleaning rather than decluttering, but obviously some degree of clutter is getting tossed... and it feels so good to have such a compelling reason not to overthink every single purge! Went into my baking cupboard to find my red paste food coloring (woohoo.... I actually had some and do NOT need to make a special trip) and tossed out boxes of expired mixes, bottles filled with teeny-tiny bits of sprinkles, squashed muffin pan liners. I don't bake much and as such I don't use that cupboard much and I had no idea so much had built up.... and who knew that Jello expired?? Along with the red paste food coloring (which I was pretty sure I owned), I found TWO unopened packages of "premium white baker's chocolate"..... so the brand new bar I just bought for the cake I am making will go back to the market today.

DH finally cut up the old pool liner (he dismantled our pool earlier this spring) and it will go to the dump tomorrow (closed today). I also have three bags to donate that will go out the door today on my way to the grocery store.

And..... (drum roll please)...... my husband FINALLY put the hand railing on the deck stairs yesterday..... nearly 12 years (yes, I said TWELVE) to the day of when he actually BUILT the deck! Yup.... he is a chronic 90%-er. He will bust his a** on a project, but never QUITE complete it. Not sure why he is like this..... but I'm delighted to have a hand railing for our company AND get the parts out of the basement (yes, we've had the parts/pieces in the basement for the past 12 years!!)..... DOUBLE WIN!

Okay..... off to grab breakfast and get this day moving!.................P

LOL your hubby and my hubby must be related! He's a 90%er too!

And I can't believe DS is graduating!!! How, in the world, did that happen!??!?!?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Today is another rummage sale day. I'm taking the boxes of books that are stashed in our trailer (fingers crossed they don't smell like fuel).
DH is getting more and more on board with a major purge (keep watching those tiny house shows, dear!!) I just need my kids all in one place long enough to go through some stuff like Christmas decorations and more toys.

 

[virge]

Today I did a deep cleaning of my sons' bathroom & put a small box of things aside for our yard sale. Their bathroom didn't have a lot in it to begin with but it every little bit is a step in the right direction

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

one large painting; one bag of stuff and one box of stuff have all gone to live at goodwill - bye bye ......

 

[Realfoodfans]

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?

 

[PollyannaMom]

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?

Keep the few items most important to you (or that fit in best to display in your house), and take photos of the rest. Put the photos in an album with little memory write-ups to go with them, and then you can get rid of the items themselves without losing the emotional connection.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Another small area - but big stressor - today. DS and I did.....the Tupperware cupboard. He was amazed how much we pulled out of there! Several items recycled, a few relocated, and what's left reorganized and useful.

 

[virge]

I ended up deep cleaning & purging in all the bathrooms today. Not a huge amount of stuff to get rid of since there wasn't a lot in the rooms but it felt good to mark those rooms completely off my destash list

 

[Realfoodfans]

Keep the few items most important to you (or that fit in best to display in your house), and take photos of the rest. Put the photos in an album with little memory write-ups to go with them, and then you can get rid of the items themselves without losing the emotional connection.

Good idea as quite a few are letters/documents!

 

[toystoryduo]

We're getting some stuff out of the house!

This past week, I listed 8 items on eBay, and 6 of them have sold already! I plan on listing some more items in the next day or two, and I plan on listing a few items on Craigslist as well.

My DH is back working in the garage. He's making progress. It's slow going, but it's progress!

 

[pjlla]

Good morning all! Party time has come and gone and it was a huge success.... in several ways! We ended up taking THREE trips to the dump this past Friday.... so much CRAP out the door! There was ONE item I intended to get rid of that I couldn't part with at the last minute. But the pool liner is gone, piles of flower pots are gone, old hoses from behind the shed, broken tomato cages, the stupid "make-your-own-beer" kit that DH got for Christmas about 5 years ago (and never opened), an old window, old sneakers.... just so much! I spent three VERY PRECIOUS hours cleaning the garage during party-prep time... but it paid off because the garage looks presentable (not beautiful, but presentable), and it wasn't embarrassing if someone went in there to get a chair.

Anyhow..... I SO want to keep up with the progress.... but I'll definitely be doing it on my own. Getting DH on board for that kind of work only happens when the pressure of impending company is hanging over his head. Maybe I need to plan another party! .................P

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

2 bags and a box of books came out of the trailer yesterday and into my car to take the rummage sale. That is tomorrows trip, todays trip was to Target for the household goods, paper towel, laundry soap etc.
I really need a game plan for purging now. We have completely lost focus on what to get rid of vs what to keep. A huge amount of this stuff is DH's and it needs to go. He says it needs to go too but when the act of getting rid of it comes to play, he freezes.
Honestly, I just want it all gone.

 

[PrincessKymm]

I started on the my paperwork problem today. I keep everything out of fear of needing it and then I sort through papers and I'm like why did I keep this?

I have a nice pile going on my bedroom floor of stuff I need to trash and shred. I need to buy a shredder! Still have a ways to go but at least I started!