- Only spend 10 minutes at one time and only in one specific area.
- Monday through Wednesday, seek out items that we no longer need and make a pile. Then Thursday through Saturday, make a plan for how to deal with them. (This has worked so well and avoided that dreaded box of “what should I do with these?” items.)
- Possible places to find new homes for items: Ebay/Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Trash Nothing website or the local Buy Nothing Facebook group and as a last resort, Goodwill
I feel a responsibility for the things I have and want to be intentional with how I dispose of them. Questions I asked myself: If it’s here, what purpose does it serve? Can I use it up? Can I enjoy it vs. keeping it tucked away in drawers and boxes? And if not, can I let it go to someone who may need it more?
One year of decluttering! I was really hoping to reach the 1,000 mark by this time, but honestly, over 700 items doesn’t seem too shabby! In 365 days, I have removed tons of unneeded items from my home, but I’ve also learned so many important lessons along the way. (Another post for another day.) I’m motivated to keep going to the end – less than 300 items to go!
WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH
- 13 books.
- One Bowflex. The previous owners left this for us before they moved out. Three years later, it gets zero use and I have tried everything to get it out of the house. No one would even take it for free! After a lot of debate, we ultimately decided to dismantle the monstrosity and bring it to the dump to recycle the parts.
- A set of five readers, a language arts book, two math manipulatives, a grammar teacher guide, and a geography teacher guide. I’m still having great luck selling unneeded homeschool curriculum. These all sold on ebay.
- One old workbook. Into the recycling bin.
- A car seat travel bag. I honestly was expecting this to sit awhile, but it sold in a matter of days on ebay! Somebody must be thinking about happier travel days ahead.
- One blouse and one t-shirt. Both sold on ebay.
- Two summer dresses and one pencil skirt. Both sold on Poshmark.
- One fleece jacket.
- One bag of shredded paper.
- 4 pairs of fall/winter pajamas. My girl is growing like a weed, so I listed four of last year’s PJs on Trash Nothing. I connected with a sweet grandmother who is helping with her granddaughter’s care and schooling this year.
- 5 reclaimed wood wall arrows. I had these arrows in my master bedroom at my old house to represent my (then) five kids. New house, one more baby and an out-of-business company and it’s time to let someone else enjoy them.
- One pair of winter gloves and a pair of leggings. More things that Sophie has outgrown. Sold on ebay.
- 4 burp cloths.
- 4 of P’s outgrown tops. Mailed to a cousin.
- One coffee mug.
- One eye shadow palette. I had a palette that only had colors left that I never use and is definitely over a year old, so into the trashcan it went.
Money made this month: $222.12
P.S. To “count,” the item had to physically leave my house. So while I have listed a handful of things online, those aren’t counted until they have sold.
