The February numbers are dismal at my house. I’ll blame Blissdom and the 10 day nasty cold that followed. Oh, then I’ll blame preparations for Once a Month Cooking. Anything else? Excuses, excuses…
At any rate, I did manage to tag a whopping 10 items for the garage sale boxes. Add that to my 51 items from January, and I’m up to 61. Basically, I’m a whole month behind my goal. My numbers will shoot up, though, just as soon as I can get to the consignment store. I saw a sign out front last week that they are now accepting spring items. Time to clear out the closets!
I’m still not sure of our garage sale date, but the urgency is starting to set in. One area of our home that needs cleared out in a major way is the kids’ rooms. We don’t have an extra room for toys, but JessieLeigh’s advice for a Pared Down Playroom will be taken to heart in the next few weeks.
Do you wonder how the toys multiply in your home, but yet you struggle to limit them? My problem is that nearly everything my children have has been given to them as a gift. I’ve gotta get over the “so and so gave this to you so we have to keep it” mentality and do what’s right for my kids and what’s most peaceful for my home! JessieLeigh is right, and I know it: children thrive on less. Too much stuff disorients and confuses them. I know at my house we often end up with toys thrown all over the place and very little playing with them at all.
A month (or two!) from now, I want to be echoing JessieLeigh’s words:
“Paring down our playroom is one of the best things we’ve ever done for our family. It looks better. It feels better. My children can find what they need. Clean-up is easier. We know what we have. Don’t be afraid to take the leap! I think you’ll be delighted with the peace and joy you will find at the bottom of the toy pile…”
What about you? What’s the status on your kids’ toys? How’s the rest of the decluttering going at your house? Get me motivated, because I have some serious catching up to do in March!
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I’m right with you. February was a total FAIL for me. I got rid of 4 things! Hoping that March will be much, much better!
Toni
366 things gone in February. Add that to my 368 in January and I’ve done 734 in 59 days! A lot of my total was children’s books and clothes. My pace should slow down but I’m still hoping to do at least 50 items per month for the rest of the year.
As for kids’s toys, my baby turns 12 this month. The others are 26, 23, 18 & 13; so the toy thing has definitely slowed down here, lol! But I do remember how hard it was to keep that under control. Good luck w/that, Amy!
Wowza, Kelly! You’re putting us all to shame.
Not sure if we’re supposed to link back – I did just in case.
February was a short month and many of us were dealing with snowed in conditions as well. Cut yourself some slack..sure you will catch up! I am loving watching people go through this challenge and cut through the clutter in their lives =)
February wasn’t the best month for me either. My husband did more decluttering than I did!
I can sooooo relate to the “gift syndrome” – but you’ve inspired to give it a go. Thanks!!!
With gifts, I just try to remember what joy my children have experienced with the item and then let it go. Surely no one expects my kids to play with things forever… If I have a picture of a child enjoying the gift? Even better.
I’m not actually keeping track or blogging my progress, but yesterday I purged 15 craft items and today I have 3 trash bags of clothes (mostly kid) and 3 other items for Goodwill.
Moving overseas and knowing that our house will be small and won’t have a garage has been a very good motivator!!
Yes, I think you have plenty of motivation without needing to keep track.
I totally agree with fewer toys. We’ve gotten rid of a lot of the kids toys but still have more that could go. My kids are like your in that most of the toys they have are given to them which makes it hard to let go. It’s a process.
Soooo…I didn’t do too hot in February, either. Next month!
I’ve just found you and this decluttering project. What a fabulous idea!! I am always looking for ways to declutter and ways to inspire me to declutter. I will aim for 50 pieces each month for the remaining months. I will be renovating my basement soon so there will be a big purge then as well. Thanks for the motivation!
Glad to have you join us!
I am a bit ahead of myself! Woohoo!
At least you are working on it. I am at a lose as to where to even begin. I look at everything and think how can I get rid of that? I have to start somewhere, but where?
I have been considering downsizing the toy collection here for some time. I did it last year and it was wonderful! We haven’t really added that many things new since then (except books) but I feel like we could do with less. So after I get back from my parents I am going to purge again. I also am doing a kids consignment sale at the end of March so I have a deadline. Some things we are finished with here as my littlest is turning 4 so I am starting a “Grandma’s house” a bin of our favorites, so when my children are grown up and bring thier children to play I have some special things stashed.
I started telling everyone we would love to get books and craft projects as gifts, it took a couple of tries but now it seems to have gotten across to family and that has helped so much!
My mom is an expert purger, but I’m so very thankful that she kept some “grandma’s toys” too! My kids love to play with what I played with as a child.
Thanks again for this challenge, really enjoying it, I’m over half-way there. Keep going with it Amy, you’re helping to release us all from the burden of STUFF!
Grainne
Half way is amazing! I’m excited because I’ve already done as much in March as I did in January and February combined.
I need to hit up the toys this month. They are a bit overwhelming. We do not have a playroom, but the boys each have their own room. And they both are a MESS!
I am up to 98 items in the 730 in 365!!!
Way to go on 98 items! After two slow months, I’ve got a good start on March…
You mentioned using a consignment shop for getting rid of children’s clothing. I’ve never looked into that. How does that work? Do you get paid up front or only when your item sells? I would be interested in reading a post about that!
I’m pretty sure each consignment shop has their own rules, but at the one I use… I simply call first to see if and what items they are currently accepting. Then I take my boxes in, marked with my ID number. They sell and record, and I get 50% of the profit. It’s not a lot, but it’s not much work either!