Who is destashing in 2010?

[delmar411]

I've got another 2 bags of clothing and stuff to drop off at Goodwill. And I've boxed up a bunch of the boys Little Tikes trucks to save for when they have kids. Also DD cleared out her room and gave me a bag of clothes to sort through for keep, save for YDD or donate.

Hopefully I can get DH to pull out the bins from under the stairwell and deal with those things next week. I've got a ton of studying and homework this weekend but Thursday and Friday of next week are set aside to take care of some of this stuff.

 

[talulabelle]

The ridiculous amount of snow we have been getting has done WONDERS for my destashing! Snowed in for days at a time (twice now). Even hubby was so bored he cleared out some stuff. DD helped me organize kitchen cabinets. BTW - I can't believe how much food I had in there that I didn't realize was there. It was all so disorganized. Also, the basement freezer broke, which wasn't that devastating because my son just dug a little "ice-box" out of the 50+ inches of snow sitting on my back porch and we put it all out there in a garbage bag with a little snow on top to shield from the daytime sun and it is staying colder than it would in a freezer. Every morning I have been taking something out of it to thaw for dinner (so that I can get it used up) and with the newly organized cabinets, there was tons of beans and pastas and instant potatoes and jars of gravy, and I haven't had to brave the bad roads and parking conditions to go to a store in 2 weeks. SO my cabinets are clearing out of stuff that would have past their exp. date soon, the clunker of a freezer in the basement that I have been wanting to get rid of ,but didn't feel like clearing it out or defrosting it is now clear and defrosted (ok- against my will, but still done , the things that were in the freezer are almost used up, AND my grocery and restaurant spending is down HUNDREDS for the month. Yay me!

 

[RetroMom]

So glad to see this thread is still going! I posted on here once and my computer died the next day...I was not happy. I have been slowly working on my clutter. I have lots and lots of work still to go, but I have discovered my mindset is changing for the better. My son needed rain gear for a trip he is taking, so we went to the thrift store to see if anything was there. Now you have to understand, when I was buying things, this was my favorite place to go. I bought sooo much stuff there. But today, we walked in, looked up and down the rows for the stuff he needed, and walked out. I was not even tempted to look around for things I might like. This was a huge accomplishment for me and I was proud of myself, for not even thinking about buying some little thing.

Like many of you have pointed out, I think my kids are starting to get into it a little too. I've noticed that more things are being thrown out or recycled or being brought to me to put in the donation box. I'm just keeping one of those going, and whenever it gets full I drop it off.

How's everyone else doing?

 

[comicguy]

Sold another 30 comics last night and this morning I shredded a small box of paperwork that was no longer needed.

Every little bit helps to make room for something else that I may want to keep.

 

[ohlas]

One year I made the resolution to clean out ONE drawer, cupboard , closet or box once a week. It wasn't so overwhelming and I got my entire kitchen and bedroom down before I lost the motivation. I have started that again and have minimal left to do. I am going to realy work on my garage. I need to go through the tubs and get rid of stuff. My gift to my 81 year Mom this year is to go and clean out her extra bedroom and pantry. I am doing my pantry tomorrow morning. It feels so good. If you need some motivation watch Hoarders on A & E on Monday night. You will stay up all night and clean!!

OH my gosh my mom is a hoarder with the junk and broken stuff lol. I found A&E's Hoarders by accident i cryed thur the whole thing the first time, and stayed up all night scrubbing floors, it was horrible. But wow did my floors shine lol. Now it is like therapy. Love that show.

I declutter all the time I find it helpful to just box up the stuff you dont want and take it to the goodwill. The same day you clean it up. That way you arent moving the clutter from one room to the next. And stop buying stuff that you dont need no new clutter in. period.

 

[ohlas]

I have a milkshake maker that I got in '99 back when you could get things from Mypoints, not just giftcards and I have used it exactly ZERO times!

Let's just say it's now in the donation bags and was living in the tupperware cabinet.

I got rid of all the tupperware except my few favorite ones, use storage bags for left over. was of money kinda but so much easier to clean out frig., but i still have old mixer from the 50's i just cannt part with lol

 

[mrsklamc]

Dave Ramsey kept saying at the beginning of the year that most resolutions are burned out by Valentine's day so if you're still going, good for you!

I'm still trudging along, not much this week because I was sick, but hope to get some things accomplished this afternoon!

I had also planned to inventory the stuff going to goodwill for next year's taxes but I think I may just skip it, to get it OUT OF THE HOUSE!

 

[delmar411]

Dave Ramsey kept saying at the beginning of the year that most resolutions are burned out by Valentine's day so if you're still going, good for you!

I'm still trudging along, not much this week because I was sick, but hope to get some things accomplished this afternoon!

I had also planned to inventory the stuff going to goodwill for next year's taxes but I think I may just skip it, to get it OUT OF THE HOUSE!

I hope you are feeling better.

And I'm definitely still going which feels like a miracle with all we have going on. It seems like no matter how much I get rid of, other things zoom in to take the empty space. It's getting frustrating to be honest.

I will keep trudging along though. This is *the* year that I will complete this task even if I'm scrambling to finish it on Dec 31st!

 

[sherry7]

........I had also planned to inventory the stuff going to goodwill for next year's taxes but I think I may just skip it, to get it OUT OF THE HOUSE!

I'm not convinced that you really need to do an inventory for that. When I drop off stuff at Goodwill, they just give me a blank receipt that they sign and date. I fill in my name, address, and a general description of the items. For example: 1 large box of adult clothing, 1 large box of household items, 1 small box of shoes, etc. This is the way I've done it for several years, and the CPA who does my taxes has never complained.

As for me...I'm still trudging along. This pregnancy is kicking my butt, and if I'm up working for more than an hour or so, I really suffer. So, I'm trying to work an hour, rest an hour, etc. (Thank goodness I have a sit-down office job.)

Anyway, DH is still doing the painting project. So far the 4th bedroom and master bathroom are finished. Tomorrow after the paint is completely dried, I need to start putting things back in the bathroom...sorting through stuff as I go. (I have a tendency to collect 1/2 used bottles of toiletries, and I really need to throw out the stuff that no one likes.) He just started painting the nursery today. He's a awfully slow painter, so hopefully that will be finished by Friday or Saturday.

I went through a bunch of crap today from the bedrooms. I got together a large box for Goodwill, and a huge bag of trash. Tell me why I still had brochures and restaurant receipts from vacations that were 4 or 5 years ago? I also got together a large box of decorative stuff for my mom to look through. If she doesn't want it, it goes to Goodwill as well. Oh, and a couple of days ago, DH hauled the old mangled Christmas tree out to the trash. That thing was huge, and took up 4 large boxes.

I'm going to wrap up my break in a few minutes, and go work up there for another hour.

 

[kristinw3girls]

I would definately itemize your donations to Goodwill. If you donate over $500 a year-ITEMIZE!! It WILL save you $$$$. I have DH taking 3 large bags today to Goodwill. I'm procrastinating the start of my walk in closet. I'm going to have to do it the flylady way- 15 minute intervals. I just can't seem to make myself spend 2 hours in there!!

 

[sherry7]

I'm off work today for President's Day, so I need to get back to destashing! I'll report back later as to what I accomplished...wish me luck!

 

[RetroMom]

I can't remember if I read it on this site or another one, but I have incorporated one tip regarding my kitchen and it is helping. I'm trying to use it for other times in the house. If you are doing something in the kitchen, such as heating something in the microwave for 4 or 5 minutes, then use that time to do something. Before, I would probably lean against the counter for those moments, but now I spend the time sorting stuff in my cabinets, checking my spices, etc. Those minutes do add up, but I don't really think about them.

I'm home for President's Day too, so I am sorting out one corner of my living room that has an underused closet and lots of video tapes that we don't use. Since I live in a small house, I should utilize every inch, whether for storage, or for calming space!

 

[mrsklamc]

Delmar411- Yes, I am feeling better, thanks! Just an ear infection. Need to get back at it though!

 

[mrsklamc]

I can't remember if I read it on this site or another one, but I have incorporated one tip regarding my kitchen and it is helping. I'm trying to use it for other times in the house. If you are doing something in the kitchen, such as heating something in the microwave for 4 or 5 minutes, then use that time to do something. Before, I would probably lean against the counter for those moments, but now I spend the time sorting stuff in my cabinets, checking my spices, etc. Those minutes do add up, but I don't really think about them.

I use this idea when we put gas in the car. I use that time to throw away any trash.

 

[mrsklamc]

Does anyone else seriously need to clean out their email inboxes? I keep putting it off and I thought if anyone else did, too, it might make a good challenge.

 

[RetroMom]

Great minds think alike! I was slowly moving around this morning when I first got up, decided to at least do something, and worked all the way through my inbox! Go for it!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I donated two very large bags today. Felt so good. There were some toys and clothes the kids no longer use. A little here and there. Still a long way to go! I'm clearing out stuff to make room for new summer clothes. I think this year the kids will need more summer wear than they have in awhile. Big growth spurts. I need to make room and get rid of the stuff that no longer fits!

 

[CinRell]

I *really* need to do this. I watch "hoarders" and everytime I do... I start cleaning LOL. I need a weekend to really GET RID of things.

DBF started back to work today and will be working through most weekends so.... this is my time to start! I got rid of a lot a few weeks back that I had boxed in my basement from storing things from a previous engagement.... things I hadn't even looked at since then... all donated.

Now I have to get into my bedroom.... which is probably the most cluttered with way too many clothes, childhood/high school/college momentos that I've not looked at in ages.. time to just say goodbye to it all.

 

[TxRabbit]

I'm only on page 17 and the pages just keep going and going...so I'm jumping in now to say I'm on board!

I started the new year in the kitchen. Went through all the drawers and cabinets. Moved on to the kitchen pantry and the under the stairs pantry. I'm slowing making my way around the house.

Looking to hit the market this spring, so this is a must do for me.

This weekend, DH and I went through his clothes! Got rid of two huge bags from one closet rod! So awesome to easily be able to get his clothes in and out. Set DS to work on his bookcase. We took the young chapter books and readers to Half Price Books today and got $15!

It's been an ongoing process. Feels like I've been doing this FOREVER. So glad to join the group. I'm going to have to read how everyone posts and sells on ebay. Never done that, but thinking it's time. If it would be worth while to do.

 

[crazelion]

Last weekend I take several pages of books to donation center. They all older books I could not sell or did not want to sell.

I am making progress.

I do some shredding this weekend. By have snow every weekend for the past two months has help a lot. Everything has been close down. Don't laugh I live in the south. Even if mention snow we shut down city. LOL