Getting Rid of Stuff You Don't Use

6511 Views 46 Replies 21 Participants Last post by CPA-Kim, Dec 10, 2018

Rhonda Grice

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2017

Does anyone else (as they get older) want to start paring down? I know this has hit me in the last year. I want to get rid of things I haven't used in years. I have closets that I don't even know for sure whats in them. This tell me I certainly don't need what's in them. My New Years Resolution is to pare down!

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Content in PA

· #21 · Jan 9, 2018

We have a small house which was made smaller the past 25 years by all of the things we acquired. A "must" kitchen renovation the year before last revealed how much you really do not use. When we started to put things back into the kitchen I looked at everything and each piece was either a must have and went into the kitchen,I know I will use at something in the next year and went on the shelf in the summer kitchen and finally-why do I even have this?This went to the thrift shop.
This worked so well that I started clearing other parts of the house with the same mindset
I have been amazed at how much larger the house feels since the clutter is gone.
A walk around the outside before the severe cold set in showed that the same method could be applied to the yard and garage. Im not sure if hubby will be on board with this plan since that is his territory. I hope he can see how nice it is not to be owned by the things you own.

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Spirit Deer

· #22 · Jan 9, 2018

That's kinda how I got started with our place, too, only my sewing room got to be intolerable. I got sick of having to move piles of stuff just to clear a machine so I could do any little thing. It snowballed from there. It took a few years for Husby to get on board but he's fully engaged now. We both have areas that are touchy, so we try to keep our thoughts to ourselves about those and are respectful talking about them. We've done at least two massive purges in our garage and now we're working more on organizing with just a little bit of purging, mixed in like seasoning.

Last summer went great and we almost finished giving the garage a complete makeover. I'm looking forward to getting it all done this year. At least I hope it'll work out that way.

I moved the antique sewing machine cabinet into the living room window this afternoon and just love it there. I guess I failed to mention in my previous post that I want it for a plant stand. It looks so nice in that spot, it's too bad I didn't think of it sooner. I'm happy I thought of it now before I bought something else.

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AmyBoz

· #23 · Jan 9, 2018

I listed 25 dvd's on Amazon trade-in and am getting $17.23 in Amazon credit when they receive the items. They didn't want the books I had, but I'll list those on the FB garage sale boards.

dlrcpa

· #24 · Jan 10, 2018

I spent 90 minutes sorting papers to shred/recycle/refile. It's a bit better. I need to do the shredding now.

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Contrary Housewife

· #25 · Jan 10, 2018

We've really gotten behind on clearing out the junk. I've spent most of 2017 as an invalid and both the house and yard are out of control. I got a little caught up over the summer between surgeries, but it's back again. I'm feeling depressed and overwhelmed by the mess. DH does what he can, the dishes and the cat boxes and says he doesn't want to end up on an episode of Hoarders, but really he'd rather play computer games when he gets home from work. I'm seriously considering hiring someone to come in and vacuum, and clean the bathroom and kitchen. What I really want to do is sweep a lot of it into boxes and haul it to the curb. So frustrated tonight.

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Spirit Deer

· #26 · Jan 10, 2018

I remember when you cleaned out your garage, CH. I have no doubt that you will be able to mow through the house clutter when the time is right and get it whipped back into shape.

I've had times when I brought in a big silver trash can from outside and set it in the middle of the living room. It's amazing how much stuff I found to toss into it when it was just sitting there begging to be filled up.

I had a box sitting next to it for recyclable papers, and another box for stuff that needed to be shredded. Getting it sorted amounts to the most work. Once that's done, it's not much work to feed stuff through the shredder or haul it to the curb and put a new bag in the trash can decorating the living room.

It worked for me, anyway. Getting the trash out of the way helped a lot to be able to sort through and organize what we wanted to keep.

Hang in there. Your foot is healing every day and I'm confident it won't be long before you're back up to par.

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Contrary Housewife

· #27 · Jan 10, 2018

It took us years to clear the junk on top of DH's old car. Fortunately it's not that bad down there, but it's getting close.

Today I cleaned off part of my desk. Stuff has sat for months. I found ~$150- in checks to deposit. I found last year's christmas cards, and as soon as I have time to get the stamps off, that's all going in the recycle. I have a stack of papers to file. There is a stack of mailing envelopes I kept to re-use, and I have pared it down in the past, but that may get tossed as well.

So, a little progress.

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Spirit Deer

· #28 · Jan 10, 2018

I'm sure it did take you a long time in your garage, but I remember how determined you were to get your husband's vintage car dug out so you could get it fixed up for him. You inspired me! That's why I remember.

Good job on dealing with some of it today. Little by little gets the job done eventually.

Stillfrugal

· #29 · Jan 10, 2018

tossed 2 pairing knives the handle fell apart on and several old wooden spoon
In the middle of sending 1/2 a garbage bag to DD. She needs it and I'm still too big
sending DD 5 pairs of the colored footie socks -new that came w/ my new fleece pj's.

Still plowing ever so slowly thru my dresser drawers as i wash things and the closet too.

AmyBoz

· #30 · Jan 10, 2018

Had some tortillas in the bottom drawer of the pantry from the summer and decided to change the meal plan to make cheeseburger quesadillas tonight. Clears out the tortillas, uses some of the bajillion shredded cheeses I bought on sale over the past two weeks, and everyone is happy!

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RABBIT

· #31 · Jan 11, 2018

Dropped off a box of stuff and a small bag of clothes today at Salvation Army. I have a running box downstairs that I put things for SA as well as a bag I keep in my closet for clothes to give. When the box gets full I take it and drop it off.

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bookwormpeg

· #32 · Jan 13, 2018

I too, have a garbage bag I keep putting stuff in and will drop off tomorrow......I have two or three pairs of shoes I wear all the time...in my closet I have another ten pairs I don't wear.....going to drop those off at a homeless camp tomorrow along with some clothes I no longer wear.......it's getting there.....one piece at a time......

While in my closet, I found a tote full of Christmas presents I forgot I had.....my Christmas shopping is done for next year!!!!!

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AmyBoz

· #33 · Jan 13, 2018

Well, I sold those 42 books and someone picked them up already! And I have someone who offered to take the PC/Mac games, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.

I also sold an old Coach tote that was given to me years ago as a handmedown and I used for years. Sold it for $25 and they are picking up on Monday.

Dropped off the Decluttr dvd’s that I sold at UPS.

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bookwormpeg

· #34 · Jan 27, 2018

Tomorrow, I am giving a car load to a friends niece who just got her own place....throw pillows, dishes, glasses, cups, serving pieces, linens, sheets, blankets, you name it, it's in one of the six boxes....

My old towels I am donating to the humane society.....

I'm getting there slowly.....

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Spirit Deer

· #35 · Jan 27, 2018

I'm finally able to put my old Crock-Pot in the trash. It's way past time. It still works fine but it looks awful with paint flaking off the outside, the plastic lid decided to crack a little at a time for no reason and is now in two pieces, the handles on it are all cracked and ready to break, and the crock is chipped, too. I have a new one but don't like it as well, but it's here so I'll use it. I guess that's not decluttering, exactly, since I also need a bigger one which I ordered from Amazon last night so in effect I'm instantly refilling the space the old Crock was taking up. At least I'm getting rid of the old Crock to make some space for the new one.

I decluttered a chunk of plywood out of the garage to make the three pieces I need for the drop-down ironing board I'm adding to the new craft table, and also cut a full sheet of OSB and a piece of laminate for the bigger tabletop that table needs. I also will be using up a chunk of a vinyl flooring scrap to make another work surface on that table, because this will be a multiple use table for which I want different surfaces. It all helps a little at a time to clean up the garage. The extra storage space in the new table will help a lot to store things we need to have in the house but don't currently have a good space for. I can't wait.

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RABBIT

· #36 · Jan 29, 2018

DH went through his closet and got rid of some shirts so between him and I, two bags of clothes will be dropped off at SA tomorrow.

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marthamfi

· #37 · Nov 29, 2018

with kids always a thrift store bag or box on the go with at least one big declutter. have a full box downstairs of a mix of knick knacks, dh underwear..still good he just bought a lot of boxers so how much can you stuff in a drawer. some kitchenware. found my old rubbermaid container of rolled beeswax candles. 5 pairs others took for gifts and been burning the rest. decluttered yarn and donated to senior centre and a cause that makes hats and scarves for homeless. ribbons etc too. we gave the big trampoline to the new neighbours in the summer. still lots to go though.

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mndtrp

· #38 · Nov 29, 2018

Yeah, with young kids there's always things coming into and out of our house. Almost all of it is coming from, or going to, people we know personally. Otherwise, our house is in an uncluttered full state. If something comes in, something has to go back out. This results in us not getting too many new things, unless they are improved replacements.

NikoSan999

· #39 · Nov 30, 2018

I started off the beginning of 2018 not to bad then it just .... shall we say "ended". Throughout the year I disposed in one way or another of a bit of things but nothing to brag about. I admit I have a hard time getting rid of stuff. Like someone mentioned above I have better luck just doing a few things at a time rather than a massive purge.
Example... I'm a huge tee shirt person... the kind with writings or sayings on them. I have a ton that are now to small and I"m not stupid enough to think I'm going to ever fit back in them but I can't bring myself to donate/pitch.
A couple years ago I cleaned out my plastic ware storage containers and got it under control. Now it's "back". I don't have the storage for all of it. Unfortunately, kind of often, I have most of it used at the same time.
I'd like to keep going with it but it would definitely have to be a few things at a time.

Spirit Deer

· #40 · Dec 1, 2018

Niko, I have lots of food storage containers, too. I also sometimes have most of them in use at the same time. Mine is Corningware and Tupperware, mostly, and a bunch of vintage canning jars. I also use about 40 of those cheap plastic containers when I make dog food, so can't get rid of those. Storing them is kind of a pain but I have no idea how I would store dog food and single servings of freezer meals if I didn't keep them.

One of my worst things is other types of storage. I love bags. Not handbags, just bags with pockets, different shapes and sizes. I also love tins. It's been difficult for me to get rid of them because I feel like I can use them for storage. But I actually prefer square containers instead of round because they maximize space, and I also prefer storage systems in uniform shapes and sizes, again to max the space. So I have a conflict there I can't compromise. Point being, I think most of us struggle over getting rid of certain things. 😊

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