January Clutter Update

Wow, you all have blown me away with your excitement for this challenge!  2010 is sure to bring fewer things in our homes, cluttering up our lives.

Remember, you’re setting your own rules and goals. I’m trying to rid my home of an average of 2 items per day this year.  Maybe you want to get rid of a few bags of clothes, or clear out one room a month.  Whatever your goal, let’s all strive to make our homes more peaceful and manageable with less stuff.

If the challenge seems daunting; if you find it hard to part with things, keep focused using Rachel’s Clutter Emergency Card idea. With each item, ask yourself

• How long has it been since I used this?
• Do I like it?
• Does it work properly? Is it broken?
• Do I have more of this kind of thing? How many do I need?
• If I keep this, what will I get rid of to make room for it?
• Can I locate this information somewhere else (probably on the internet) if I need it?

As for me and my clutter goal, I’m off to a decent start.  While taking down Christmas decorations, I focused more on each item.  Do I need this?  Do I even like this?  Next year’s Christmas decorating will be a joy with fewer items to sort through!

More recently my husband went digging in our basement for a particular book (we have boxes of them that were never unpacked when we moved 3 1/2 years ago) and found a large box full of nic-nacks from my classroom.  Because the emotion is mostly gone after nearly 5 years of not teaching, I was able to part with some of those things as well.  Here’s my tally so far.

1.  A set of window icicle lights.

2-22.  Christmas decorations, trinkets, and nic-nacks that I no longer care to dust around.

23.  Portable bath spa.  This is one of those maybe we’ll use it someday items that has been taking up space in our home for 7 or so years.  No more!

24-30.  Random assortment of things that never had a place in our home.

31-51.  Teaching gifts and what-nots that I no longer need.  (***Hint:  I never really needed most of them.  Cute, yes.  Functional, only a few.  Get your teachers some gift cards!) 

All of the above items have been labeled and packed away in sealed garage sale boxes for this spring.  I also have a stack of clothes that need counted and delivered to the consignment shop.  Adult clothing doesn’t sell well for me at garage sales, so I gather it and take it to the second-hand store when they are accepting items.

An official tally of 51 puts me at a slowish start, but I haven’t yet counted the clothes or the random items that made it to the basement just this morning.  Perhaps I’ll blow you away with next month’s numbers?

Is the clutter decreasing in your home? Are you finding the challenge easy, or are you struggling with letting go?  I have a feeling things may get a little dicey around here when I start purging the kids’ stuff.  I’ll have to nudge my hubby along, too.

Link up with your decluttering triumphs and challenges so we can cheer each other on! If you didn’t write a post, leave a comment so we can read what you’ve been up to.

1. The Happy Housewife ~ Slow and Steady 2. Mika 3. Lenetta @ Nettacow (40 Bags in 40 Days for Lent) 4. The Money Jar – Making Progress 5. A Slob Comes Clean (Decluttering is What I’m all About!) 6. Eoforhild 7. Rachel @ Frugal & Simple Living 8. Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet (Over 100 & Goals, too) 9. Zizzie Happenings 10. Young Wife 11. Bronwen 12. Family Balance Sheet (Garage/Mud Room/Pantry Area) 13. Stacy @ A Safe Haven 14. Jami @ An Oregon Cottage (A good start)

15. Shibrone 16. Buttercup @ This Woman’s Work (10 things a day) 17. Phoebe @ GettingFreedom 18. Jackie @ Blessings Overflowing 19. Candi (I’m a Hoarder in the Kitchen) 20. Nancy @ Southern Blessings 21. Andrea 22. Joyce 23. Judy @ livingsimplyforhim 24. Tammy’s GoodPlans ~ 61 & the Blessing Bag 25. DeAna @ Balancing Act Basics 26. Jennifer @ Mama’s Got Wings 27. april 28. Grainne (Thirty-one, Thrifty & Thriving)

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