Who is destashing in 2010?

[Debbie]

Look out, I'm coming out of three years of "lurkerdom" on this one! I too want to join in--for me, it's all about destashing paper. I have so many things to shred and recycle--gotten rid of three bags so far!

So glad that you joined in the fun!

I got 27 things in the trash and 8 things returned to their rightful spots. I took down the Christmas cards, but won't worry about the rest of the Christmas things until after Epiphany. (makes it next weekend, unless I can convince the male persons in my house who do not work to help out during the week). Baby steps, 15 minutes a day, and I am happy.

 

[mafibisha]

Ok, kids' rooms are done except for vacuuming both DDs. Hung all the artwork and posters they wanted to display & added some shelves to DD's closet. All their things have places now & DD9 even gave up a whole pop-up bin of stuffed animals. They are in great shape & may call the nearby retirement home to see if they want them before I take them to Goodwill.

There is a huge pile of stuff in the upstairs hall that needs to be carried down & either thrown away or donated. Ahhh, this is feeling good~ I made french toast casserole for tomorrow & zucchini bread w/DD to use up some stuff that was going to go bad soon.

I can't finish the basement yet because DS & his buddy are very busy in their Olympic wii events at the moment. I guess I will go hit the garage & see what I can pitch.

I love this feeling while it lasts, I will be lazy again soon enough!

Y'all are so inspiring!

So whats a french toast casserole? Sounds yummy!

 

[gk90]

So I finally listed 8 items on eBay that have been just sitting in the closet or garage taking up space, and I'm filling a couple of bags for a charity pickup--the Lupus Foundation truck will come by for them on Wednesday. I might list a few more eBay items tomorrow if I can find them and take photos.

 

[LMCT88]

Hi all, will be hitting my dining room after breakfast, it shouldn't take me too long (at least I hope not). I may try to hit my first floor bathroom closet after that. I like the idea of little steps (lol). Will check back later. Good luck and hope everyone has a great day.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I had taken a long break from destashing because of the holidays. I've been catching up with maintenance stuff (laundry, cleaning, etc.) and now I am ready to start destashing again.

 

[happybratpack]

You guys have inspired me and I'm going to clean out clothes today! I have so many things hanging in my closet that I never wear, don't like anymore, doesn't fit, etc. Goal is to get through all the hanging clothes then make a trip to Goodwill to dump the bags off.

(and hoping I can get my Fiancee to do the same with his side!)

 

[micheleq]

Joining in!

On the 30th, I went thru DD2's dresser and brought a garbage bag of clothes and still good shoes to Goodwill.

Back in October, I went on a girls weekend with some college friends. While I was away, DH de-cluttered the fridge and pantry!! So we are good there.

The possibility of us moving (I had a thread a few weeks ago about a possible move from CT to TX) is still out there for DH's job. So, I'd like to really de-clutter if a move materializes in the spring or summer.

Toys are my biggest albatross. I need to get on freecycle to pass them along, or find a local charity that takes them (I think I know of one in Bridgeport, The Community Closet, if anyone is from CT) since Goodwill will not anymore. My mom's neighbor is having a multi-family tag sale this April that I'm in on, so I am already placing items in boxes for that too.

I used to be a pack rat and have a hard time thowing things away, but I've learned to let go of the "things" and hold onto the memories associated with them

Happy 2010 everyone!

 

[cheshireqt]

I am also joining in! I decluttered the family room already but have moved on to a much bigger project. We are going to remodel the Masterbath and closet imminently. First things first meant moving furniture around in the Masterbedroom and moving all the clothes out of the current closets. Yikes, we have accummulated quite a lot of junk over the years! Everything is piled up around the room right now, so today I am planning to throw away every magazine I come across, make a box of books for donation and several bags of clothes - some for donation and some for consignment. Thank goodness we have a guestroom to move into for sleeping during this dust storm we have created!
After that plan to work room by room and get the rest of the house decluttered. Loved reading everyone else's success and hope it will keep me inspired and on the right track to get rid of things where the usefulness has passed and is now just clutter.

 

[StephMK]

Seems like everyone is really rolling!

What was REALLY annoying about the process was...last time we cleaned the toys out in the basement, I finally threw out a ton of games and toys because they were missing a piece. I had been holding these things for the longest time thinking the missing piece would surface. Well, I went and pitched them last time I was in the basement. Well, of course, today I FOUND ALL OF THE MISSING PIECES that were in boxes in this closet. Looked like we had been in an URGENT CLEAN_SOMEONE IS COMING TO THE DOOR situation and we had just scooped things into boxes and stashed them (for years). I sat there all confused going "I know I held on to the rest of this game for years waiting for this to show up, but did I throw it out yet?, should I hold THIS PIECE now, and look for the rest? or should I pitch it?. Well, DH was there to add some sanity and said...if we pitch on both sides of this equation, we will be ok, and we don't really need these games, because no one is looking for them, and we can always just buy another if the need arises" I remembered Flylady and that perfection is what got me into this mess in the first place (trying to keep the games together perfectly, not being able to get rid of one loose piece, not being able to part with things I don't even need) and I pitched.

ITA!! I have gone through that too, very frustrating! I'd save things then not remember if I saved the other pieces or not. I do have a small box in the game cabinet that holds lost parts. We also had that issue with puzzle pieces. I finally learned to just pitch them after awhile because it was too much. The same happened with several household items when we moved, I couldn't remember if I moved it or tossed it but I remembered seeing it before we moved!

What's everyone's game plan today? I'm losing a little steam so these posts are helping get me motivated to finish! Today I need to take down the tree, get the family to help carry all the stuff in the upstairs hall & basement to the garage and tackle our bedroom. It's become the dumping ground & has 2 laundry baskets to sort & all the odds & ends we stash when we try to clean up. Hoping it'll go faster than I think!

 

[mafibisha]

So my husband is making me crazy! Too many things he'll say we need to keep because they will be *good for the grandchildren!* Mind you, that will be many many years from now! None of our kids are anywhere close to that!!

I tell him they'll want new stuff although I do think it'd be fun to save a few things.

I know some DISers are grandparents, but also if you're not but will be, whats your take? What do you save for that day with the grandkids will come over and want to play with mom's (or dad's) old toys or books?

 

[zaneymax]

I'm in! I just sat here and read the whole thread instead of doing anything today! I am feeling a little under the weather today, so not much will be done.

I destash throughout the year, but there always seems to be more to do. This year my main goals are my bedroom - especially all of my clothes that I have been holding onto hoping to lose the baby weight (my baby is 4 1/2!), and the paperwork I have boxes and boxes of. I am going to try to do something all winter long on each weekend day, and minor stuff when I come home from work in the evenings.

I recycle everything that I can - magazines to doctor's offices, old & unwanted books to a local bookstore (they always have free boxes out front & have a huge used/resale section. You get credit to use to purchase other used books. I have more credit than I will ever be able to use! ), blankets to the homeless shelter, etc.

I put things in boxes as I destash, and put the boxes in the garage for a yard sale. I am lucky that I have a 5 car garage (it used to be the old carriage house to my old circa 1855 house) that I can store stuff until I have my yard sale. I put anything and everything into that sale and all of the money is used as spending money for out Disney trips. I usually make around $1,000.00per sale. I spend around $100.00 on the ad alone and people start to show up for it hours before hand or the night before. Advertising big helps! I swear, anything anyone doesn't want at school (I'm a teacher) ends up in that yard sale! I also price things to move - clothes are usually $1.00 each piece, toys are around $5.00 each (and come with the paperwork they came with! ), and anything we replace in the house (i.e. - ceiling fans). People are always looking for stuff for cabins up north (we live in Michigan). (Some advice here - try to clean anything you put into your sale and match it up. For example - I pin outfits together so pieces don't get separated from each other. Also, mark anything that is missing or how many pieces are included.)

My husband used to complain about it, but now doesn't mind the extra work, as it gives us spending money. He's starting to bring stuff home too. Sometimes he finds stuff at work (before he lost his job) or while driving and will bring it home. He once found an old dollhouse someone set out on garbage day, brought it home, washed it and sold it at the yardsale for $10.00! Plus, I have people show up even months after yard sales still looking for stuff. For example, I had someone show up in Feb. '09 looking for luau stuff I had for sale from a past yard sale in Aug. '08 She gave me the $30.00 I was asking for, and was on her way. My husband couldn't believe it!

I do donate things that don't sell after a couple of sales. Goodwill and Purple Heart (who picks up unwanted items) are two I use alot. I do store stuff from year to year if I think it will sell - again lucky for the large garage! I also take alot to school - so ask you kid's teachers. We are always looking for puzzles, books, games, etc. for those indoors recess days. We can also use game pieces from old games and puzzles where pieces are missing for crafts. Heck - my art teacher at school loves those old tupperware containers to store crayons, colored pencils, etc. in. If I do take something into school, I leave it in the teacher's lounge with a sign that it is up for grabs. If no one takes it after a day or two, I just toss it there.

I very seldom throw anything away. It either gets sold, donated, or given away. I am well known to toss in lots of extras at my yard sale. I once had a woman show up who had just gotten custody of her grandchildren and she needed clothes for them badly. She made out like a bandit at my place I tell ya! I would much rather have someone use all of those clothes than have them sitting in boxes in the garage.

I look forward to reading what others are doing and hoping your hard work keeps inspiring me to finish my destashing! All of this paperwork needs to go!

Good luck everyone!
Gina

 

[talulabelle]

So my husband is making me crazy! Too many things he'll say we need to keep because they will be *good for the grandchildren!* Mind you, that will be many many years from now! None of our kids are anywhere close to that!!

I tell him they'll want new stuff although I do think it'd be fun to save a few things.

I know some DISers are grandparents, but also if you're not but will be, whats your take? What do you save for that day with the grandkids will come over and want to play with mom's (or dad's) old toys or books?

I have been allowing a few special and fun things from each kid, some of which I clearly labeled and put in the attic. My daughters favorite dolls (just a couple) and her table and chair set that I just couldn't part with because she spent so many hours there entertaining friends with little tea parties and coloring. When I look at it, I just see my little 3-4 year old baby and start to tear up. So that went to the attic for the loonnnggg wait for grandchildren (mine are 5-14) My oldest had some nice power ranger toys that he kept together with all pieces that he used to play for hours with...that went to the attic...I think I will probably stash the Thomas trains, but probably not the table. I also kept my one sons favorite rocker. That's about it. Grandkids will bring their own stuff anyway.

 

[zaneymax]

I just wanted to add a couple of things to my post.

It seems alot of people are going crazy with puzzles. This is what I do at home and at school to keep them organized. When we get a new puzzle, I mark the back of each piece - for example - a red star on each and every piece and then I mark the inside of the lid of the puzzle box. If I find a misc. puzzle piece later, I just look on the back and then look on the inside of the lids and voila - I know where it goes. I sure does help when picking up! I do this with every puzzle and since my daughter is puzzle crazy, it does take time, but so does going through trying to find where that misc. piece goes.

I also am keeping some things for grandkids some day too! I have a long time to go as my children are 4 1/2 and 9. I have a rubbermaid tub for each kid and put things into there. When I pull them out of the attic to put something in, I go through it all again and usually find something that can go. We are planning on keeping somethings - my son's Thomas the train stuff, all of his Star Wars toys, my daughter's dollhouse when she's done. Most toys get sold or passed on to someone who will love them. We are only gonna keeps the truly special ones.

 

[floridascgirl]

I'm joining in on the great de-stash! I just cleaned out a hall closet that holds my DH's winter shirts. We said bye-bye to 11 long-sleeved shirts.

 

[smiller]

Hi there! I'm definitely in!

I found 27 items to give away today - then found a few more and decided to fill that bag to 27 - still working on the 2nd bag. (FlyLady, anyone? )

I have a small 2BR condo that I share with Roomie - I try to keep all my extra stuff out of the general living areas and in my room, which makes it rather messy most of the time. (School books, paperwork, gift wrap, you name it.)

That is my biggest goal - destash and organize my bedroom!

At the end of 2009 I slimmed down my toiletries (could probably do a bit more) and little by little am destashing the bookcase, TV cabinet, hutch, and kitchen cabinets. I love seeing bags fill up with items to donate!

I have a list of projects I want to get done around the house so destashing is a good motivation for me - it will make accomplishing those projects much easier.

I love reading what everyone is doing to destash - it's motivating!

 

[Schmoodle]

I've been workiing on this for a while now. Sometimes it seems like one step forwards, two steps back! I made progress in my office last year, but not done yet. I also spent a couple of weekends in the attic, but also not done yet. I have a full, walk-up attic, and we tend to just shove everything up there to get it out of the way - there was a ton of stuff to deal with. I've made several trips to Goodwill, passed lots of clothes along to friends and family, and some nice baby furniture, etc. Last week, we got in the kids' rooms and did some serious decluttering. Unfortunately, a lot of what we took out went into the attic until I can deal with it!

Anyway, my goal for 2010 is to completely declutter and organize one room each month (including basement, garage, and attic). If I can do it, I will be done by the end of the year. At least I am a little ahead with the kids' rooms! And each work day, I spend 15 minutes decluttering in the office. I don't make much progress, but it keeps me from getting buried in there. Good luck everyone! It sure feels great to get rid of all that unnecessary clutter. Also a great shopping deterrent when you really have to take a look at all you've accumulated that you don't really need.

 

[iluvdiscruises]

you all are VERY motivating!!!! I am committing to a solid 20 minutes a day...hopefully MORE, but I think 20 is realistic. I am going to try to do fast cleanups/sorts. I put in a lot of time this past weekend sorting toys, because we are doing a big children's sale at the local firehouse in March. I put all pieces in ziplocs, and attached those to the big parts. So far so good! I am hoping to work on my closet next...even though I should really keep plugging away on kid stuff since I have a hard deadline for the sale.

Wish me luck!

 

[snowman1035]

We just did this over the weekend and got rid of two huge bags of clothing, two bags of toys and a huge box of odd stuff we didn't want anymore. Now gotta work on the hall closet and son's room and then we will be done. DH said I have a shopping problem!

 

[Schmoodle]

So my husband is making me crazy! Too many things he'll say we need to keep because they will be *good for the grandchildren!* Mind you, that will be many many years from now! None of our kids are anywhere close to that!!

I tell him they'll want new stuff although I do think it'd be fun to save a few things.

I know some DISers are grandparents, but also if you're not but will be, whats your take? What do you save for that day with the grandkids will come over and want to play with mom's (or dad's) old toys or books?

I am not a grandparent yet (although probably not too much longer!), but I remember playing with the old toys at Grandma's house when I was a kid. I've kept some stuff. I think the trick is to keep the classics, sturdy stuff - dollhouses, baby furniture, wooden train sets. My brother is a grandparent and his GDs love to come over and play with the Fisher Price Little People sets they kept. That's another thing though - those sets were redesigned for choking hazard. You have to be careful that stuff you keep isn't recalled for safety reasons. But I think the grandkids will enjoy the stuff because it'll be unique - not the common stuff they have at home or see at friends' houses. I've got my favorite kid books, Thomas train set, wooden dollhouse, and sturdy wooden baby doll furniture stashed away.

 

[StephMK]

How's everyone doing so far today? I've gotten all of the holiday stuff boxed up & the tree is bare. I just need DH to take down the tree & carry the boxes to the garage for me. One night this week we will put everything back into the attic.

I also sold a little entry table that I liked but we really didn't need. Then I could move a piece from my grandma that was in the dining room to the hall & traded a hall pic w/one from the office so it has a new look. Plus moved around some of the stuff stored inside and found some pieces I want to use more.

DH carried down some of the stuff from the upstairs hall but I have not yet gathered the energy to tackle our room. I absolutely hate sorting & putting away clothes. I'm down to 1 kid right now or I'd get the family to pitch in & do it together.

Love the idea to keep it up 20 min a day. That should be a reasonable goal because I really want to keep the house organized when I'm done. It's much easier when everything has a specific place it belongs & we are getting there.