i started my first day of unemployment yesterday hitting the facebook b/s/t pages hard. i just pocketed the last of my pending sales for a total of $390. $250 of that was a stroller, but still, lots of stuff out and money back! I have a few more things currently listed and several more to list. Hoping to get another $100-150.
h is completely shocking me with his willingness to get rid of things. he saw my pile-o-cash today and started gathering things he wants to sell. i'm really hoping it sells quickly to keep him motivated.
I pushed through my initial annoyance with the book (audiobook) and am almost done. I think it has helped me have perspective on what I want with our new house and is making getting rid of stuff easier. I have a really hard time getting rid of stuff that is still functional, but for whatever reason I don't really like it. A lot of times the items are cast offs from family. I don't want to move stuff or aquire new stuff I don't really like. The book has helped me get over feeling guilty or wasteful. I would like to dial in more with her method once we get more settled. Right now things are crazy with the move and remodel. My library audiobook is due back in a few days. I think I will go ahead and buy the book in a few months and try getting more serious.
Post by Willis Jackson on Aug 1, 2015 5:41:28 GMT -5
Still waiting for the book.
I set up a pack n play with toys in the (unfinished) basement so I can keep DS2 in a safe spot while I organize. We just moved into this house so I'm sort of starting from scratch.
Post by barefootcontessa on Aug 1, 2015 5:56:28 GMT -5
Willis -- thanks so much for posting about the book. I got it for kindle for $6 and then another $3 for the audiobook. So I listened and decluttered at the same time. I am still working on the clothes (for the whole family) but I have paired down a lot. Several large boxes to Goodwill. I am trying to move as fast as possible to keep my motivation up.
I didn't read the book, but I love to de-clutter. Last week, I brought a large tote of the boys' outgrown better brand clothes to the consignment store and a carload of toys to their daycare (which qualifies for a tax deduction).
There's still lots to do but we go on vacation tomorrow. Maybe I'll do a little today and then hit it hard when we get back.
I didn't read the book, but each weekend, we are deep cleaning a room in our house. I take everything out of the room and start fresh. Last weekend we made a big goodwill run and donated hundreds of dollars of stuff. Our linen closet went from barely being able to shut the door to lots of free space. The weekend before was the laundry room. This morning I am starting on our bathrooms. I am torn on what to do with my caboodle.
I need to get this book. I haven't done anything and the toys and books are closing in on me, yet I still buy more books. I need to start a goodwill pile, I haven't had good luck on the BST boards lately.
I did all of my clothes except for pants because I just can't do that until I start to settle into a size. I just can't justify getting rid of the stuff I don't love just to buy something I do love for 6 weeks or so before dropping out of that size.
I also did my accessories and all of my stuff in the bathroom. It's made a huge difference. I can't believe how much space I've gained in my closet, bathroom drawers, etc. I can't wait to start on stuff that's in the common areas of the house, but I can't do that as easily with DS at home because he still naps in the swing in the living room, and I don't want to make too much noise.
Post by indifferentstars on Aug 1, 2015 8:23:01 GMT -5
I did DVDs/CDs and my jewelry this week and that's about it. I keep thinking about doing something else but go to start and feel like I'm struggling to make decisions and I'm not in the right mindset to do it so I stop.
We have a ton of stuff bagged or boxed but stuck in our closets and stacked in the garage that will leave on Tuesday. We found a really cool charity that runs pretty much a free thrift store (clothes and everything else, more than just a clothing bank) for the families of local low income students, so that helped us feel better about just getting rid of some of our nicer stuff rather than focusing on the money "lost." I grew up without a lot of "nicer things" so the prospect of helping a kid in those shitty school years where appearance is the be all end all who maybe can only afford Walmart or thrift store clothes get a nearly new under armour hoodie or barely worn Nikes felt good and made it easy to release items. However, they weren't accepting donations throughout July, so we've been stuck. They open Tuesday and I am pumped to get this stuff gone. Hopefully having this surge go out the door will jump start my mitigation to continue through komono.
I finally tackled the DH's closet! Only a small garbage bag of stuff for now since we are waiting to find some work shirts on sale and can then get rid of the older ones he has.
I can't even get motivated enough to read the book. This doesn't look promising.
Right?!? It's been sitting on my nightstand for 6 months. Maybe I should get rid of the book in the honor of keeping only things that "spark joy."
It took me probably 4 months to even move the book from where I put it down after bringing it in the house, but one I started reading it I was so glad I did.
It took about 3 months, but we have gone through everything in our entire house, and it feels SO good to only have stuff that "sparks joy". We had a garage sale, I consigned some stuff at a big sale, and we donated about 20 bags. I think we ended up making close to $1000. I generally do not get joy from getting rid of stuff like my H does but it has truly been life changing.
Does she addre how to organize and purge things that are a need? I mean, my continuing education logs and related papers don't spark joy but I think the board of pharmacy would be annoyed if I chucked them because they didnt spark joy.
I had my yard sale last weekend so most everything is out of the garage!!! The girls only brought 2 things back in the house. Going to go through the clothes (didn't try & sell any) this weekend.
Post by chickadee77 on Aug 1, 2015 12:19:24 GMT -5
I'm almost done reading the book - love it. I used to be ruthless with clutter, but as I got older and have gone from a dorm to a one-bedroom apartment to a tiny house, bigger house, etc., I've gotten so, so lazy.
I love her "sparking joy" idea as it pertains to clothing - I don't feel like I have to try on everything I own (time-consuming and depressing as hell since I'm carrying more weight than I'd like), yet have "permission" to keep a few pieces that maybe don't fit (and maybe never will again) but that make me happy to see. Haven't started yet - likely will this week.
Does she addre how to organize and purge things that are a need? I mean, my continuing education logs and related papers don't spark joy but I think the board of pharmacy would be annoyed if I chucked them because they didnt spark joy.
I'm on the waiting list for this book at the library, but this thread has inspired me. I had a little paper crafting/stamp collection and I gave it all to my coworker who actually makes stuff regularly. She was thrilled. She has been so generous with her talents (made me a beautiful banner for DD and made gorgeous decorations for my work baby shower) so it made me really happy to pass the stuff along. I also got rid of a bag of sentimental stuff in my closet, like cards from my baby shower. I read them, smiled at all the well wishes, and put them in the recycling. I know who wished me well. I don't need the physical proof anymore.
I should have cleared out my house before I had a baby. No energy now.
I am slowly working on loading some CDs to my iPod to get rid of. Books are next on my list to go through. That should be fairly quick--they're all together on two bookcases.
Does she addre how to organize and purge things that are a need? I mean, my continuing education logs and related papers don't spark joy but I think the board of pharmacy would be annoyed if I chucked them because they didnt spark joy.
We are making modest progress on the kitchen. We have $1 martini, wine, and champagne glasses for like 12. So half that is going away. Regular glassware is also going to be scaled back. I bagged up a bunch of socks to take to Goodwill.
Tonight I'm going to break down my fake plastic drum kit so I can give it to the guys who run Rock Band bar night.
This post motivated me to clean my sock drawer, the linen closet, the kid hand-me-down pile, the bookshelf etc. Tossed/put about 50 things in the donation pile!
The trouser socks that fall down don't bring me joy -- and I never wear socks anyway! Ha.
Post by whiskeyandwine on Aug 1, 2015 16:33:29 GMT -5
I haven't read the book but I am purging in advance of an anticipated move. Today I did my bathroom and bedroom. I'm in a tough spot with clothing, because I'm still losing baby weight. I got rid of a bunch of stuff that I don't really like and put all my pre-pregnancy clothes into a storage container. Boxed up all my maternity clothes. I'm giving myself a year before I get rid of them.
My bathroom was a breeze - just threw away a ton of old makeup and lotions that I've been hoarding. It felt good!
I got started on the living room, and hope to finish it tomorrow. Then just kitchen and guest room!
Downsizing has been a huge motivator to declutter. I hope to make a run to goodwill tomorrow with items that have not sold online. The downside is I have over $1000 in cash sitting in the house as we can't deposit cash only checks with Schwab.
I managed to carve out an hour and did most of my clothes (still need to do shoes, bags, and outerwear). I'd say I have about one garbage bag of stuff. I might do DD's next before moving on to other categories.