Monday, 4 July 2011

100 things declutter challenge

As we get closer to moving, even though we have not sold our house, I realise how much stuff we have accumulated over 20 or so years.

I feel sometimes I should join Hoarders anonymous.

Admittedly, the last 5 years it has 'tripled' with two of everything - like the fact we have 6 car safety seats at the moment - transitioning out of two car 0-4 seats to booster seats with harness. We don't have much chance of passing things down to siblings (except for some of the 18 yr olds toys we hadn't given away) 

My #30 day challenge - goal for July is to de-clutter as much as I can or start with a minimum of 100 things. It must be measurable and accountable.

To
throwaway
 giveaway
 freecycle
recycle
sell

I'm not that good at selling, though I do plan to use free sites and free ads on trading post online. The money should be an incentive you would think.

So far ...

In 3 days I have given away. 
  1. 40 of /44 packet of new unused disposable nappies.I've had them for about 18 months sitting in a drawer.Waiting to give them away.
  2. 2 new dummies ( when J spat the dummy literally because he didn't want new ones). I gave both dummies & nappies to my cousin for her 18 month old boy/nappies for 2yr girl).
  3. 1 Parenting magazine (duplicate of one I was recently given)
  4. 1 used baby bottle (to my cousin as well)
  5. New Minnie Mouse soft toy.
  6. New Mickey Mouse soft toy.
  7. 4 kids bags/basic backpacks
  8. 15 new preschool books
  9. 3 Disney kid's magazines
  10. Kid's used tracksuit pants (to a party guest who didn't have a change of clothes)
  11. New Lamaze 0-6 toy I won in a competition (gift)
  12. New baby's 'IKEA' rattle (gift)
Threw away
  1. Used baby bottle (before my cousin came)
  2. Half dozen pieces/ broken toys
  3. Dozen used birthday candles ( from a few birthdays worth).
I can easily reach 100 if I counted individual clothes but I am trying to be true to my goal and not count every piece by piece 'just because'.

We were just given 3 bags of clothes of hand me downs too - my new rule is one bag in - one bag out so I have to give away 3 bags of too smalls.

We have also so many baby and toddler toys in very good condition for resale. I am just lazy and too often distracted by twitter or the Internet.

I have to actually just do it !

The twins had a birthday party Saturday, so we have a dozen new toys including Duplo/Lego sets, Transformers and various other toys & clothes  - so again it's one in / one out.

How do you organise your de-cluttering ?
Do you have a major toss out or piece by piece so the kids don't notice ?
Do you struggle with hoarding things - just in case you need it again ?
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Posted by ♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys at 18:04
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keepcatebusy (Cate) · 723 weeks ago

Trish - you are definitely my new hero! Love the one bag in one bag rule, that is such a winner!! I would so love to declutter by just chucking everything out. But I'm not the hoarder in my house, so barely any of it is mine (and we're talking enormous pieces of furniture too) sigh...
good luck - can't wait to hear more :-)
xxxCate
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Claireyh · 723 weeks ago

We moved house twice last year and about five times over the last ten so I was pretty good at getting rid of things.

Before twitter I did eBay things, maternity clothes etc and I did do a baby market too, but really you don't make all that much and the joy if giving it to,someone feels so much nicer and saves lots of trips to the post office.

Car seats are worth selling though, especially if you have four!
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Trish 114p · 723 weeks ago

Well we are keeping 4 because safer than changing booster seats between cars and we do sometimes take an extra child.
My cousin did think it was Christmas, she keep asking why I didn't give them to a friend - it was only that she mentioned she loved Aldi's nappies that the light in my hoarding head went on. I d enjoy giving it away.
We had a garage/yard sale at our previous work premises - the most stupid junk of hub's made the most $$$ , my little toy treasures - not so much.
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Tara · 723 weeks ago

I just had a huge decluttering day in the master bedroom i went at it brutaly lol it had to be done and now it feels so much calmer and nice i cant wait to add some more "grown up" touches and try and get our room back now the boys are in theirs.
Im a HUGE hoarder but a couple of times a year i have a meltdown and de clutter MAJORLY lol
the hardest part is keeping it decluttered!
xxx
1 reply · active 723 weeks ago
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Trish 114p · 723 weeks ago

I have so much stuff I de-cluttered in storage for over 11 yrs since we left our big house, in a shed now at work.
I am having a huge garage sale or donation drive when we do move officially I think.
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Caz · 723 weeks ago

I think one of the best things about shifting is the de-cluttering. Nice work Trish. :)
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cathy · 723 weeks ago

in the past couple of years we've moved twice (once in with my parents whilst we built and then into new house)> Both times I tried to throw out/give away/sell as much as I could...but there's still so much "junk". I must admit I'm the hoarder...I find it so hard to throw out stuff...I get sentimentally attached! lol
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Trish 114p · 723 weeks ago

I know I still have little foil balloons (still puffed up) given to us when boys were born, and other junk but I am going to de clutter a bit each month to get myself used to giving sentimental stuff away.
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Lee · 723 weeks ago

I find moving very therapeutic! I love a good cleanse.
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Trish 114p · 723 weeks ago

Yes, in a way I love the less cluttered look we have right now.
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Melody · 723 weeks ago

I *piff* stuff out when I can and preferably when the two girls are not looking. Lucky for me I have two girlfriends here who both have daughters younger than Lily, so clothes are easily passed on. The lady next door recently had a baby son, so I've been giving her a few baby toys here and there. Now one of my besties has just found out she's up the duff - perfect timing to pass on Lily's cot! lol

Lyndon does not like clutter, which is good. I have changed a lot in the past 15 years. I throw out soooo much and because we move about quite a bit, we cannot afford to keep a lot of stuff.
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melbo · 723 weeks ago

I need to do this too. I have a big bag o'crap sitting in the corner there waiting to be sorted. And if I open my wardrobe door, I might possibly be killed by an avalanche which is why it is being held together with a hairband. A declutter is long overdue. Moving is a great time to do it. I did a HUGE chuck out when we moved here but guess what ...IT'S BACK (and I think some of it might even have followed us here).

Good luck! I should go out in solidarity and join you. I like your idea of one in one out - that is a good rule.

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