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Post by Loupy on Jul 27, 2015 12:25:31 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Spark of joy By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Over the last couple of weeks I have been slowly reading Marie Kondo’s book ~ The life-changing magic of tidying up. So I thought I would base this weeks missions on decluttering things that don’t give you that “spark of joy” that Ms Kondo uses as the deciding factor as whether to keep or declutter objects. So lets get started.
Monday – Declutter a keepsake that you keep out of habit rather than because it brings you that spark of joy when you lay eyes on it. Don’t mistake the happy memory as the object, the memory will still be there even if the object is decluttered.
Tuesday – Take a look in the place that you store your jewellery and declutter at least one piece that doesn’t bring you joy.
Wednesday – Have a quick look at the contents of your bookcase. I am sure you could find at least three books that don’t spark enough joy to warrant the space they take up.
Thursday – Scrutinise the décor items in your home. Could you declutter at least one that you no longer feel enhances your quality of life or the aesthetics of your living environment.
Friday – Do you own a pair of shoes that are more uncomfortable than fashionable or a hand bag that is way less functional than beautiful. Time to let go.
Saturday – Is there a gadget in your kitchen that doesn’t give you the joy of working well or saving you much time. If there is, let it go.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering
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Post by Loupy on Jul 29, 2015 18:47:10 GMT -7
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Post by Loupy on Jul 29, 2015 19:19:43 GMT -7
Spark of joy equals… Posted: 28 Jul 2015 by Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/I received the following question from Nicole V in Monday’s comments…Hi, Colleen. I have not read Marie Kondo’s book but have seen the ‘sparking joy’ catchphrase all over the place. What does she say about mundane items that might not necessarily ‘spark joy’, but are needed in a home? Does she ‘re-Kondonize’ them under a separate category?Well Nicole and your fellow 365ers, I am going to give you my take on what I believe to be that “spark of joy”. I have written about a similar thing some time back here at 365 Less Things. There are so many blog posts in my archives that I couldn’t find the ones I was looking for but I did find the following one which came to mind when I read your comment. Day 258 Five items I won’t declutter. Read it now @ www.365lessthings.com/day-258-five-item-i-wont-declutter/If you just read the post I linked to, you will now recognize the items above. (Check out the link because I can't post the pictures.) And I imagine you would agree that they are all mundane everyday items. All of which still elicit a spark of joy when I see the photos. Everyone of these items served me well and that most certainly gives me a spark of joy. So indeed an item doesn’t have to be beautiful or hold fond memories etc. to emit that spark. However at this present time I still possess only one of those items. Can you guess which one?The peg bag wore out some time ago so was a victim of natural progression decluttering. I did use its remains as a pattern to make a similar one for my daughter.The flour sieve was something that I decided I no longer needed as I don’t bake much these days. When I do bake I just beat air into the flour using a whisk that also serves other purposes.My daughter now owns the skillet. It also served me well and is now doing the same for her.The laptop needed upgrading about three years ago. It became slow and unreliable as electronic equipment is prone to do. I am still grateful for the years of service it afforded me. It wasn’t classed as a declutter as it was replaced.So the can opener is the item I still own. It may be utilitarian but it never fails to perform the task it was designed for, and that of course gives me joy. I don’t need a fancier or electric model as this one will do for me just fine. *So the answer to your question ~ “Does she ‘re-Kondonize’ them under a separate category?”… is no . You just have to understand the meaning of “spark of joy”. Joy comes in all shapes and sizes, including gratefulness for a job well done. It can also be a joy to look at, a joyful memory, comfortable… That is my interpretation anyway.However, I guess this post brings to the fore the point that a spark of joy doesn’t necessarily mean you should keep the item. All these items brought me that spark of joy right up to the point where I decluttered them anyway because they were no long required.Perhaps that is why, quite close to the end of the book, there is this sentence~ “Selecting and discarding one’s possessions is a continuous process of making decisions based on one’s own values.” (Written out of context here.)Here is another example. I have a coffee machine. I am happy with the coffee it makes me and that brings joy every morning. The same coffee machine also has some really annoying design faults and I can’t say that gives me any joy. However I won’t be decluttering it any time soon unless it breaks down and has to be replaced, as I am not a wasteful person. I guess the good outweighs the bad in this case.I am not sure if this post has been helpful or just confused the issue even further but my intention was to point out the joy comes in all forms and you just have to work that out for yourself when it comes to your stuff. Perhaps you will just have to read the book to understand this more. Today’s Mini MissionHave a quick look at the contents of your bookcase. I am sure you could find at least three books that don’t spark enough joy to warrant the space they take up.“If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?” — Unknown
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Post by Loupy on Jul 30, 2015 14:52:53 GMT -7
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Post by Loupy on Aug 2, 2015 12:09:47 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Reasons to let go By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Being useful or beautiful, or brings you joy, some might argue, or the only reasons to keep things. And they sound like good reasons to me. There are infinitely more reason to let things go. So this weeks missions cover just six of those reasons. So let’s see if we can find six objects to match those reasons.
Monday – Declutter something you wouldn’t want to pack up and move to another house.
Tuesday – Declutter something that you wouldn’t be sad about being destroyed in a house fire. (Even as I write that it sounds a little morbid)
Wednesday – Declutter something that you wouldn’t keep if you didn’t feel obliged to.
Thursday – Declutter something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Be that physically or mentally.
Friday – Declutter something that you simply have no use or love for.
Saturday – Declutter something from a too full drawer or cupboard shelf. Keeping in mind that things in cupboards or shelves are spare and we only need so many of them.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering
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Post by Loupy on Aug 4, 2015 16:37:00 GMT -7
A post from the archives ~ Ten questions From: By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Last week I received a response from deanna ar USA to the following archived post. Deanna is relatively new to my blog and is busy reading through the archives. Quite a feat given I have been writing for over five years now.
I was glad she drew my attention to this old post because there would be quite a lot of my current readers who have never had the opportunity to answer the questions involved. There would also still be some readers around who answered it the first time who could give us some interesting updates on their continued progress. Either way it will be fun to read all your responses.
So without further adieu here is the post.
Today’s post is short and straight to the point. I have laid out ten questions, five about you and five about me. I would like you to read, think about then answer them either privately to ponder on or in the form of a comment so we can discuss them between us. Maybe we can learn a thing or two not only from the answers but from the discussion they generate. There are no correct answers to these questions and some may even be irrelevant to you so just answer them honestly. Here are the questions.
For you
What do you think has been the main cause of clutter build up for you in the past? (This could be more than one thing) Have you changed your purchasing habits since you have begun your latest decluttering mission? Do you think you have learned enough about your clutter habits not to end up back at square one sometime in the future? What is something that you have realised recently that had never occurred to you before about your clutter? Is your clutter problem more about having too much or not being organised?
For me
Has my blog helped you with your clutter mission and if yes, in what way? My style of decluttering is “Slow & Steady” do you think that is a style that works for you and makes my blog unique? Do you need more advice about organising the stuff you are keeping or getting rid of the stuff you aren’t? Do you think you need practical advice about decluttering or do you feel you benefit more by being awakened to what the problem might be in the first place? Is there something you would like included here at 365 less things that you feel is missing and would make my blog a better help to you?
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And to save Deanna the hassle of having to retype all of her responses here the are…
What do you think has been the main cause of clutter build up for you in the past? I was not taught to get rid of things, so I don’t think it ever occurred to me that I could/should get rid of any excess. Also, impulse buying and buying in multiples. Have you changed your purchasing habits since you have begun your latest decluttering mission? Yes, almost all of my clothes have come from thrifting for the last few years. And the last 2 years I haven’t even done much of that. Do you think you have learned enough about your clutter habits not to end up back at square one sometime in the future? Yes, but I have found that when money is a little looser, I tend to want to buy more. I don’t like shopping though. What is something that you have realised recently that had never occurred to you before about your clutter? When I have fewer things, I enjoy using them more. The more I have, the more decisions I have to make. Is your clutter problem more about having too much or not being organised? Having too much.
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Has my blog helped you with your clutter mission and if yes, in what way? Yes, I love it. I like your practical approach, your consistency, your caring attitude. And I enjoy the interaction among those who follow your blog. I read all the comments as I’m reading through your archives. My style of decluttering is “Slow & Steady” do you think that is a style that works for you and makes my blog unique? Probably. However, I tend to go in spurts. I declutter as I find things or think of things. Also, I read the blogs I follow and get really motivated…I usually declutter more quantity then. However, most days I read for motivation more than I declutter and, since it’s slow and steady, I don’t feel pressed. Do you need more advice about organising the stuff you are keeping or getting rid of the stuff you aren’t? Getting rid of stuff…I’m a pretty good organizer. I’m one that people often remark at how organized I am. Yet I don’t feel organized. Do you think you need practical advice about decluttering or do you feel you benefit more by being awakened to what the problem might be in the first place? Both, but mostly practical advice. Is there something you would like included here at 365 less things that you feel is missing and would make my blog a better help to you? No, I like it as is.
You can comment here:www.365lessthings.com/a-post-from-the-archives-ten-question/?Today’s Mini MissionDeclutter something that you wouldn’t keep if you didn’t feel obliged to.
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Post by Loupy on Aug 5, 2015 12:42:42 GMT -7
On Using (and Using Up) Your Nicest StuffFrom: www.apartmenttherapy.com/things-dont-last-forever-211956I have a really nice candle that I've never lit. That is such a sad sentence, mostly because I got it as a gift last Christmas. For nearly a year, I've been saving this beautiful thing and finally I've started to wonder: what exactly am I waiting for?
The thing about things is this: they end. Even beautiful, expensive things have a lifespan. They run out, they break, they get used up and that's good! That means that they're being enjoyed, not hidden away until the day when...when what? I still don't know. The day when life is perfect enough to warrant the lighting of a wonderful-smelling candle? That's just silly.
If the day ever arrives when I DO achieve that level of effortless perfection, I sure hope that there's more to appreciate than a candle. Maybe today could be a little better if I just light the darn thing, appreciate it and realize that when it's used up, I'll be the richer for it.
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Post by Loupy on Aug 6, 2015 15:25:07 GMT -7
How To Copy 5 Habits Of Organized PeopleBy: Sharon @ howtogetorganizedathome.com/how-to-copy-5-habits-of-organized-people/Organized people are the envy of many and in truth many organized people don’t feel that they have everything sorted or organized either, they have their problem areas too. However, they are aware of what they need to do and when, they have their days sorted and are on top of what they need to do to qualify as being organized. They might have a secret messy closet or the only way they know what to do is because they write things down and plan to make their day look like perfection.
Habits Of Organized People
If you mimic those actions of organized people until they become your regular routines and you adopt the habits, you will become an organized person.
The most important habit of an organized person is planning; you have to plan to ensure that you are doing all the things that you need to, over the course of the day. Planning allows you to organize your time so not to miss something that you need to do. Your planner becomes your organizing tool, you must use this to work out what you need to do and when; it is your day, it should tell you about appointments and what tasks you need to do.
Time: you have the same amount of time as the next person, knowing how to use it effectively is an important part of being organized. Know how long it takes to get to an appointment, add in extra time in case of delays. Know how long a task takes to complete, plan your time but don’t forget to give yourself a break, plan breaks to motivate you to get something completed.
Routines are key to an organized person, they know what to do and when. By copying a routine of an organized person, it can help to build your own routines. Some things I do at certain times and others I will do after a certain event. For instance, I walk my dogs after they have eaten breakfast, when they have breakfast each day can vary depending on the time I get up and what I have planned for the day, they know this routine too and that helps to keep me on schedule.
Take notes, don’t expect to remember things and this way you are less likely to forget. I tend to write quick notes like an appointment on a sticky pad, for when I have time to go through them; I take a few minutes a day to go through these, I transfer them to their proper place and discard the sticky note.
Take time for you, it is important that you learn to take care of yourself, without a way to get rid of your stress or anxiety you will never become completely organized. You must have the right amount of sleep; being tired will have a negative impact on your day. It isn’t always possible to have the perfect amount of sleep every night, children will see to that aspect, but you try to get as much sleep as you need, if you’re tired you won’t do the things that you need to do, as effectively. If you follow the habits of organized people, it will help you pick up the habits and eventually they will become your habits too.
Therefore, if you mimic the habits of organized people it will have a positive impact on how organized you are and help you develop your organizing skills.Today's Mini Mission Make a plan. Use a planner that you can buy, use a calendar online or other or a yellow tablet just to make your plan. Look around and see what you have to do. Then write it down in detail so you won't miss something that really needs doing. Include appointments and tasks that need to be done immediately. We are not talking about deep cleaning or organizing the garage right now. Just the immediate tasks to help you get organized.
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Post by Loupy on Aug 7, 2015 13:43:22 GMT -7
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Post by Loupy on Aug 9, 2015 18:33:20 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Out of place (Revisited) By: By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
As the title of today’s post implies the missions this week focus on stuff that is out of place in our homes. It is an old MMM post that I have dragged up out of the archives for your decluttering pleasure. Have fun with it and happy decluttering.
Monday – Declutter something in a pile somewhere that it ought not be.
Tuesday – Declutter somethings that have overflowed the area designated to the likes of it.
Wednesday – Declutter something that you’ve been keeping but really belongs in the trash.
Thursday – Declutter something that is wasting space, making it difficult to store more useful items.
Friday – Declutter something that hasn’t been used in a long time. After all, if you don’t have a use for it then your home is not the right place for it.
Saturday – Declutter receipts and other fiddly bits from your handbag. Clutter in your bag makes it hard to find the things you do need from in there.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering.Eco Tip for the Day Share and borrow between friends and family rather than everyone owning/buying everything.
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Post by Loupy on Aug 11, 2015 12:09:48 GMT -7
Mini Mission for Today...
Declutter a few excess kitchen items. Crockery, cutlery, pots, pans, plastic containers, gadgets…things you have duplicates of or things you haven't used in over a year. Donating them will help someone else.
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Post by Loupy on Aug 16, 2015 12:06:50 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Aug. 17, 2015By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
After being away interstate celebrating a family occasion and catching up when getting home, I haven’t had much thought for decluttering. Except the usual crafting in the seemingly never ending bid to reduce my craft supplies. It is a labor of love.
I must apologize also for not being present in the conversation going on in the comments section of the blog posts. Same reason as above. Hopefully life will settle back into a rhythm for a little while again.
So what shall we focus on decluttering in the mini missions this week. Lets go with what things are made of.
Monday – Declutter something made from paper.
Tuesday – Declutter something made from wood.
Wednesday – Declutter something made from fabric.
Thursday – Declutter something plastic.
Friday – Declutter something made from an animal product ie. leather, bone, wool…
Saturday – Declutter something metal. That could also be precious metal.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering!
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Post by Loupy on Aug 20, 2015 16:54:11 GMT -7
365 Less Things Disposing of this weeks mission yields Posted: 19 Aug 2015 09:00 AM PDT
In a post a couple of weeks ago that asked a range of question about your clutter issues and my blog. One of the readers asked for more information on how to get rid of the clutter that has been set aside for removal. I do have a list of ideas on a page here at 365 called Recycling/Donating Guide that you can find here. However it is an unfinished page and may not yield the information you are looking for and also may not be relevant to your location. It is worth taking a look at none the less during those times when you have hit a brick wall.
As I just mentioned, access to ways to sell, donate and recycle your decluttered items is individual to your location. Sometimes you just have to get imaginative. However the more knowledge of general options you have, the easier it is to expand on that knowledge in tricky situations.
The original purpose of this post is to suggest ways to send on the items mentioned in this weeks missions. However together, in the comments, we can expand on that and bring new options to light that many readers may not have thought of before. Not only for the items of the missions but for other items. Just throw in your query or suggestions and see what comes of it.
Monday – Declutter something made from paper.
Books ~ Donate to a library, mini local or pop up libraries or thrift shop, nursing home, hospital. Sell on-line or at a garage sale, market stall or secondhand bookshop. Give to friends. Magazines ~ Donate to all places mentioned for Books, also schools or doctor and dental surgeries for use in their waiting rooms. Put them in the recycling. Sell on-line or at a garage sale, market stall or secondhand bookshop. Give to friends. Old paperwork ~ Shred and recycle. Or if you are the crafty type you could make recycled paper from them yourself. Letters, diaries ~ Shred and recycle. If there are any pages you wish to reread but don’t want to keep digitise them prior to destroying them. Greeting cards ~ Donate to schools or craft groups for upcycling. Digitise if desired and recycle.
Tuesday – Declutter something made from wood.
Small wooden items (trinkets, boxes, toys) Donate to a thrift shop. Lopped trees etc ~ Use up as firewood. Advertise as fire wood to sell or give away. Take to a local waste and recycling site where it might be chipped for garden mulch. Building supplies ~ Advertise to sell or give away, the internet sites like Freecycle, ebay or local buy-swap-sell sites on Facebook are good for this. Donate to a local mens shed or woodworking group/club. Furniture ~ Sell via the internet sites like Freecycle, ebay or local buy-swap-sell sites on Facebook etc. Sell to a secondhand dealer. Or donate to charity. Most charities will pick up so you don’t have to worry about transporting the items. If you live in an apartment building you could place an ad on the building bulletin board. I have given away small furniture items by placing them on the footpath in front of my house until someone takes them away. I never leave them out in the rain and I bring them in at night. They usually disappear before this is necessary though. You might want to check it this is legal in your area.
Wednesday – Declutter something made from fabric.
Clothing ~ Sell through the internet (see above ideas) or local consignment clothing stores. Donate to thrift shops or local charities who send to those less fortunate overseas. Local churches often run or have insight to these charities. Hand clothing on to friends or family. If too far gone use them as rags. Anything beyond that probably just needs to go in the trash. Sheets, towels & blankets ~ Donate as above. Also sheets can be used as weed matting in the garden. Towels, blankets and pillows can sometimes be donated to pet shelters, veterinary surgeries, pet day care centres and the like. Fabric cuts and scraps for crafting. Use them up by making them into something useful. They can also be donated to thrift shops. Schools will appreciate them for arts and craft projects. Local quilting groups would, no doubt, also be happy to take them off your hands.
Thursday – Declutter something plastic.
Kitchen ware ~ Sell, donate or give away using various methods already mentioned above. If broken many plastic items can be recycled. Children’s toys ~ Donate to thrift shop or other charity, day care centre, any place with a waiting room where children attend. Hand down to family or friends. Or sell using methods already mentioned. Pens ~ Donate to a school or perhaps even to your work place if you have way too many. Storage containers ~ Hopefully you might have empties a few of these by now and have vowed never to need them again. Ofter them to family or friends or donate them to a charity or thrift shop.
Friday – Declutter something made from an animal product eg. leather, bone, wool…
Woollen clothing ~ (Sweater, socks, trousers, underwear, scarf…) Leather Accessories ~ (Handbags, wallet, purse, jewellery…) Leather Wearables ~ (Shoes, jacket, gloves, belt…) Most, if not all, of these items can be donated to thrift shops or other charities. Or sold if in good condition to individuals or via a clothing consignment store.
Saturday – Declutter something metal. That could also be precious metal.
Kitchen Items (Pots, Pans, cutlery…) ~ All can be sold or donated like any of the other items above. Scrap metal in the yard ~ Sold to metal merchant or taken to recycling facility. Jewellery ~ Donated or sold same as kitchen items. Passed down to another member of the family or friends. Sold to precious metal merchants as scrap (I’m not a lover of this method as you are usually paid a pittance.). You can also accumulate your items and hold a garage sale or participate in a car boot sale. This is a quick and effective way of getting rid of a lot of stuff on one occasion. However it does mean having the stuff hang around until you have enough to make the event worth the effort and the season has to be right for some climates. Once the sale is over the leftovers can be disposed of by one of the other options mentioned. I actually do enjoy this method, although the last time I did this was in 2007. With eBay, Freecycle and other online and offline methods I managed to sell most of the items I wanted to without the problem of having somewhere to store them.
Usually a quick google search with yield information about local charities in your area, also where you might find a consignment store, scrap metal merchants or any of the outlets mentioned above. That includes searching for local events such as flea markets/car boot sales and identifying online buy swap & sell sites.
Word of mouth is also a very good way to get rid of items you either want to give away or sell. I have parted with many an item this way. Simply ask anyone you know who you think might be interested in an item. It they aren’t interested they might know someone who could be. Telling people in your workplace, family or friends are some of the most likely options for offloading stuff this way.
If you work within a large workforce instigate a “free box” in the staff room where small items can be put for giving away. Staff bulletin boards are also good for giving away or selling items.
Hopefully this has given you some good ideas on how to offload your unwanted stuff. Please make sure items are clean and in good condition when donating, selling or giving them away.
So now lets see what other wonderful idea my wonderful readers can add to this discussion.
Today’s Mini Mission Declutter something plastic.
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Post by Loupy on Aug 23, 2015 14:37:02 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Growth & Change By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
This weeks mini mission are all about growth and change. We may stop growing physically when we reach adulthood but we never stop growing mentally. So therefore we are ever changing. And in order to not end up with a house full of clutter we need to let go of the things that are no longer useful or meaningful to us as we grow and change. So this weeks lets get rid of some stuff that we have “grown” out of.
Monday – Declutter something from an old pastime, sport or hobby.
Tuesday – Declutter a piece of clothing that no longer fits with how you now see yourself.
Wednesday – Declutter something from an past relationship that isn’t meaningful to you any more.
Thursday – Declutter a book that you doubt you will ever return to read again now that you are more mature or your beliefs have changed.
Friday – Declutter a gift that pleased you in the past but now isn’t something of worth to you.
Saturday – Declutter something that was useful when you lived elsewhere but isn’t in your current location.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering!
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Post by Loupy on Aug 30, 2015 18:46:57 GMT -7
365 Less Things Mini Mission Monday ~ I might need it someday By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
How many times have you kept something because you thought you might need it someday. Have you ever stopped to think maybe you never needed it in the first place. If it is an item that you might only need someday then chances are, if it is an item that only makes a job easier but you could manage without it ,then it isn’t worth the space it is taking up. So lets see what we can find this week that you really won’t need someday.
Monday – Declutter a kitchen gadget that you use rarely but could easily manage without.
Tuesday – Declutter a tool from the garage or shed that is use too rarely to allow to clutter up the space.
Wednesday – Declutter an item of clothing that is used rarely if ever.
Thursday – Declutter excess sheet and towels that would only be needed should you house a much larger number of people than maybe even your house would allow comfortably.
Friday – Declutter crockery and cutlery that would only be required under the same circumstances as the Thursday mission.
Saturday – Declutter medication from your cabinet that you bought to have on hand when you needed them but now are out of date.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering...
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Post by Loupy on Sept 4, 2015 11:47:23 GMT -7
365 Less Things Someday By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/You know how the saying goes ~ “Tomorrow never comes.” Well someday is usually even further away than tomorrow. So keeping stuff simply because you might need it someday is a fools game if you are attempting to declutter. Especially if they are items that, in reality, you could easily manage without. For example, silly little single use kitchen gadgets that do the same thing as a knife. That mass of household stationery supplies that could supply a large office for a year. That thing-a-ma-jig to fix that thing that you don’t even own anymore. Just to name a few.
Then there are items you once used but think you might go back to sometime in the future. Such as clothing that you keep just incase you lose or gain weight. The chances are those items will be unfashionable by then. Also in both cases these categories of clothing don’t bring positive feelings. That heavy winter coat you used way back when you lived some place cold. Sports equipment from your younger days that your now ageing body probably couldn’t handle using.
And of course there are those items you spent a lot of hard earned money on but you either never used much or lost interest in over time. You keep them just incase the interest is rekindled, and simply out of guilt for the wasted cash. Keeping them doesn’t change the fact that the money is spent, while selling them will at least recoup some of the money and free up space.
Prior to my decluttering journey there were so many useful things that I had kept just in case I might use them one day. They are long gone now and although every now and again I find myself in a situation where I could use one of them, I manage to improvise and achieve the same result efficiently without them. And I might add that, I feel proud of myself for my ingenuity. Although in most case the solution is simple.
Then there is the case of buying things, when you see them at low prices, just because you might have a use for them one day. Well that is also a fools game. If by some miracle, someday does actually arrive, I am sure the item will still be available to purchase or a simple alternative would suffice. What most people have a need for all the time is money, so don’t waste it on “might needs” so it is available for the important things or better investments. So you are best to leave acquiring stuff that you only might have a “need” for it until then. Now is not the time.
Oh, how much someday clutter did I accumulate when in the honeymoon days of my scrapbooking hobby? Hundreds of pieces of printed paper that were too beautiful, cute or useful to resist that I would use someday. The same went for stickers, embellishments, ribbon and rub-on words. All items I convinced myself I would be sorry if I didn’t buy them because this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity or a bargain too good to miss. Where are many of those fabulous crafting items today? Sold, given away and some still in my craft room. Yes some of it got used but some of it has been undergoing a use-it-up challenge for five years now. Recently I have come to a point where I am using it up more quickly and it is a nice bonus that I am now making money out of it by selling my creations. However frequently I encounter situations where I can acquire more supplies cheaply and even free so there was no need to stock up back in the day.
In this day and age of rampant consumerism what are the chances that something bigger, better, cuter, more fashionable… will come along at the same bargain price or better soon enough when you actually have a use for it? Experience tells me that there is every chance. So there is no need for people to be purchasing items for the future, a future that could be very different than one imagines. This is especially so for items that aren’t even necessary in the first place.
So find the strength to get rid of the stuff you have kept for some day, and have the fortitude to resist acquiring any more of these items from this day forward. Live for the present because someday is never guaranteed.
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Post by Loupy on Sept 9, 2015 1:48:56 GMT -7
365 Less Things Mini Mission Monday Template By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Later this week we will be entertained by another of Nicole’s guest posts. She is going to play a little game with us that I hope you will enjoy. With that in mind, this week’s mini missions will reflect what is coming later in the week. So have fun with it.
Monday – Declutter something beginning with the letter S.
Tuesday – Declutter something from a drawer.
Wednesday – Declutter three of something.
Thursday – Declutter something beginning with the letter T.
Friday – Declutter something from a closet.
Saturday – Declutter something in the kitchen.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering!
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Post by Loupy on Sept 14, 2015 11:21:45 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Usage By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
The theme for this weeks mini missions is what the items are used for. That should make it nice broad categories for you to find clutter among. So lets get on with it.
Monday – Declutter something for wearing.
Tuesday – Declutter something for cooking.
Wednesday – Declutter something for adorning the home with.
Thursday – Declutter something for adorning yourself with. Jewelry and the like.
Friday – Declutter something used to maintain things. Tools, cleaners and other utilitarian objects.
Saturday – Declutter something meant to entertain you. Books, CDs DVDs, magazines etc
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
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Post by Loupy on Sept 19, 2015 19:23:29 GMT -7
Don’t agonise over getting rid of clutter By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/It has been a busy week for me and I didn’t get around to writing a second post. So rather than leave you uninspired for the week I am republishing the following post from the archives. Enjoy!
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Don’t Agonise Over Getting Rid Of Clutter
I had a reader back in the early days of my blog who seemed to have trouble letting go of her clutter. It wasn’t that she wanted to keep the stuff, or found it difficult to make the choices as to what to let go however she balked at getting on with the task. To me it was obvious that her problem was that she didn’t like seeing anything go to waste.
You see she was very eco friendly, to the point where it was a mission to throw nothing in the trash. And I think this noble goal interfered with her goal to rid her home of clutter. As you all know I am not a lover of waste myself and do what I can to refuse, reuse, reduce and recycle. In a way I am pleased to say that 99.9% of what I have decluttered has been rehoused, reused, recycled or repurposed. Pleased, because I didn’t just have a house full of trash but sorry that I had so much useful-to-someone-else stuff sitting around unused for long periods of time.
And just because some things don’t work as they should doesn’t mean they aren’t useful to someone. Below are my suggestions on how to deal with such items.
The best way I found to pass on items that have faults is to list them on freecycle or local buy-swap-&-sell or similar web sites, utilise the curb side giveaway method or word of mouth. Explain the fault/s clearly and allow people to decide for themselves if they care or even possibly have the ability to repair them. Through the avenues mentioned above I decluttered all of the following items.
1. All the parts to my malfunctioning Kenwood mixer, then gave the mixer to the last guy who came along who was keen to dabble with it to see if he could get it working or use the parts. 2. The hutch section of a buffet and hutch to a guy who did cabinet making as a hobby. He had a use for the parts and wood while I had a use for the buffet. Everyone was happy. He even asked to let me know if I ever wanted to part with the matching coffee table. I eventually did and he paid me $40 for it. 3. I advertised a lamp, which was unwired, on freecycle and a lady took it with the hope that her electrician son would rewire it for her. 4. I put a trampoline on the street with a FREE sign on it. It needed some restitching but everything else about it was great. It disappeared quickly. 5. I gave an old vacuum cleaner, whose insulation was degrading and blowing out through the air vent, to a lady who was sure she could either clean it up or use the parts. 6. I sold an iRobot vacuum cleaner for parts on ebay.
And these were just the items I could remember in a hurry.
There is usually someone out there who can find a use for things, working or not. Should it not work out for them you will be non the wiser and be happy that you did your best to find a new home for the item. And the stuff that no one wants may just have to end up in the bin. Just remember it is just stuff after all and possibly not wise purchases in the first place. Let it go and learn from the experience. You will hopefully just be a bit more discerning about what to purchase in the future. Some, on the other hand, are well used items that might just have come to the end of their usefulness and there is certainly no shame in throwing them away.
Today’s Mini Mission Declutter your handbag so it is easy to find what you need in there when you need it.
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Post by Loupy on Sept 20, 2015 12:41:51 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Room by Room By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
I’m keeping it simple this week with a little room by room decluttering. I;ll name a room each day and you find something in that room to declutter. Happy hunting.
Monday – Declutter something from your main bedroom.
Tuesday – Declutter something from from your garage.
Wednesday – Declutter something from your living room.
Thursday – Declutter something from your bathroom.
Friday – Declutter something from your attic, basement, back yard shed.
Saturday -Declutter something from your kitchen
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.Good luck and happy decluttering!
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Post by Loupy on Sept 27, 2015 22:35:21 GMT -7
A yard sale with a difference By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/In response to a comment on Monday I mentioned the idea that if there is a lack of ways to donate your stuff in the area where you live then why not have a free garage sale. Yes you read that correctly, a garage sale to give your unwanted stuff away. Or a yard sale if you like.
It would be easier than a normal garage sale, because you wouldn’t need to agonize over or make the effort to price everything. Just stick all your unwanted stuff out in the garage or lawn and allow those who come along to take what they please. The lawn sale seems like the safer approach because with a garage sale you would have to cover and or label everything that you aren’t giving away that is usually stored in your garage.
This idea was inspired by a memory of a reader some time ago who lived in France. She said that there were no thrift shops where she lived. So I told her to fill her car trunk up with the stuff she didn’t want and drive to a poorer neighborhood and let people take what they want. I guess you could call that a free car boot sale. Just to clarify we call a car trunk a car boot here in Australia. I don’t know if she ever tried it, but so long as one steered clean of dangerous neighborhoods then it would be safe enough to do.
I have to confess that at the time it made me think that it was just easier for some people to throw things away rather than make the effort to come up with a plan to donate it. I stick with what I state in the blog post last week, that people shouldn’t agonize over how to get rid of their stuff. However, in my opinion, they are obliged, for environmental and humanitarian reasons, to at least make an effort to send it on to someone who can make use of it. And the free garage sale seem to me to be a simple, fast and effective way to go about that.
Today’s Mini Mission Declutter something from your bathroom.
Good luck and happy decluttering
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Post by Loupy on Sept 28, 2015 14:16:06 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ With Deb J By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Colleen asked me to write a set of mini-missions based on what I would like to see decluttered from our home. As you know, my mother tends to hang onto things long after we need them or use them. Right now she is also holding onto some things just to keep the present house “looking descent.” Here are my mini-missions along with what I would like to see decluttered from those areas.
Monday: Declutter any item from your living room. We have a small étagère with 5 pitchers on it. I bought one and was given two of them. Mom and I were given another and the last one Mom bought at a garage sale. I do not want any of mine. She says she will get rid of them when we move. I say why wait. We have another étagère with an artificial flower arrangement, a music box with two cardinals and two pots of artificial African violets. It could all go.
Tuesday: Declutter any item from your dining room. We have a set of pictures of fruit with two candle sconces hanging on the wall. We also have a hutch with two sections filled with “pretties” such as decorative plates, vases, bells, and other items. All of the items in both places can go. None of them really have that much sentimental value and most are never used. They just sit and gather dust.
Wednesday: Declutter any item from your office and/or craft room. These rooms are combined for us. We have books that need to be given away. I have a desk that I want to declutter as soon as we are sure when we will be moving. In the meantime, all of this clutter drives me nuts. It needs to go.
Thursday: Declutter any item from your bedroom. Mom’s bedroom has a jumble of pictures and pretties on the walls. Many of them are just on the wall because she thinks a wall has to have stuff on it. Some of the “pictures” are cross stitch items I made her and she doesn’t want to part with them. I say ditch them. They no longer go with her décor that well.
Friday: Declutter any item from a bathroom. There are too many things on the walls in one of our bathrooms. They are things like mermaids and bubbles, a weird clock made from fabric, an embroidery hoop and the clock works and a picture that looks out of place in a bathroom. On the wall above the toilet is a cabinet with a small shelf and a top both weighted down with stuff like little figurines, little vases of flowers and jars of creams or oils. There are also too many things on the counter top such as cosmetics, toothpaste, a denture cup, etc. Much of it could be gone. The rest could be hidden away in a cabinet or closet. In the cabinet under the sinks are numerous drawer units filled with all sorts of items like extra soap, numerous bobby pins, curlers, permanent rods, duplicates of things seldom used, et . Most of it could be decluttered.
Saturday: Declutter any item from a closet. The main bathroom has two closets in it. In one closet are all the linens. There are 6 pillow cases, a set of sheets, two bath sheets, several towels and washcloths and two beach towels. We don’t use any of them. We need to declutter them if I can convince Mom to do so. In the other closet we have a number of items that again aren’t used. There is a back brace to be used after surgery that never took place and will not in the future. There are travel size containers and products. We no longer travel so these can be decluttered. Finally there are several blankets and pillows we neither one use. The pillows need to be trashed and the blankets passed on. We don’t need extra blankets when we live in an area where we seldom use a blanket and when we do only a light weight one.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering.
Eco Tip for the Day
Don’t use throw away cleaning wipes. They have them for cleaning wood, kitchen spills, television screens, make-up removal etc etc. They are usually made from manmade fibres, soaked in chemicals and sold in plastic containers, all of which are bad for the environment. You can do all these jobs with a little water and a microfibre cloth that can be washed and used over and over again.
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Post by Loupy on Oct 1, 2015 15:27:11 GMT -7
365 Less Things Renting a self-storage unit: Yes, no … or maybe? By: By Nicole V. @ www.365lessthings.com/Have you ever watched the reality television programme “Auction Hunters”? I remember watching a couple of episodes before getting bored of it, but it did leave me amazed at the amount and type of stuff someone could store in a self-storage unit (SSU), and even more amazed that the stuff could sit there for years, to be eventually abandoned. I wondered whether the stuff inside was stuff that the owners could not bear to declutter or the stuff that they still had no space for even after decluttering. Was the SSU perceived as an extension of the home? Does someone rent an SSU to make space at home, and does that space then get filled up with other stuff? Do they really need the extra space or do they just need to reduce the amount of stuff that they have? Isn’t it somewhat universally acknowledged that unless one is vigilant, stuff has an unerring ability to fill up any available space that one has?
According to the Self-Storage Concepts website, self-storage started in Texas, USA in the 1960s, before moving on to Australia in the 1970s, the UK in the 1980s, the rest of Europe in the 1990s and Asia in the early 2000s. The Australian self-storage industry is expected to earn $753 million in revenue this year, according to an April 2015 market research report on the IBISWorld website and the UK Self-Storage Association website states that the UK self-storage industry generated £355 million in revenue in 2013, with over 250,000 customers. And when it comes to the self-storage industry in America, the following information from the Self-Storage Finders website (in Stacy Kress’ article of 2 September 2014, entitled “5 Little-known facts about storage”) reveals some astonishing statistics:
The industry earned more than $24 billion in 2013.
An astounding 10.85 million people rent an SSU, which is almost 9 per cent of all households.
An amazing 2.3 billion square feet of stuff is being stored, which translates into more than 78 square miles, which is three times the size of Manhattan.
Surprisingly (or maybe not?), 65 per cent of those who rent an SSU have a garage, 47 per cent have an attic and 33 per cent have a basement.
You know how people often remark that there is a McDonald’s around every corner? Well, that might have to be amended to there is an SSU near you instead, as according to Dan Rafter of REJournals.com, there are more self-storage facilities in the USA than there are McDonald’s restaurants, with 48,500 such facilities in 2014, compared to 14,350 McDonald’s restaurants. That’s mind-boggling, to say the least, and makes me wonder whether there is a “Self-Storage Nation” book and movie in the offing.
One of the more memorable snippets of information that I came across about the industry was about a British businessman and his SSU containing £60,000 worth of Star Wars memorabilia. He apparently pays more than £150 a week to rent the 600 square foot SSU because his wife objected, after their loft at home was filled up with his Star Wars toys (which he began collecting when he was five) and he got a life-size Yoda for their home lounge. He has stashed his other life-size figures of Jar Jar Binks, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Darth Maul (what, no Han Solo or Luke Skywalker?) in his SSU, which he visits weekly. Strong in this SSU, the Force is … yes, hmmm.
The reasons people give for renting an SSU include having insufficient space at home, because of home renovations or extensive remodelling, moving house, having to work overseas for several years, deciding to travel the world for a few years, needing to store tools and machines, changes in family, employment or financial situations, and having to downsize in a difficult economic climate. I wonder whether many of them begin renting with the intention of it being on a temporary basis, but then as the months stretch into years, they somehow end up paying several thousands of dollars. I have read about people who, after paying hefty storage fees over many years, finally declutter their unit and find lots of junk, several damaged items and only a few things that they ultimately end up keeping. It makes me wonder whether some people even forget what they have put into storage and simply stop caring after some time (especially when it becomes a financial drain), as they don’t bother to return to collect their stuff. What do you think about the usual reasons given for needing to rent an SSU? Have you ever decluttered an SSU or helped anyone to do so?
If you have rented an SSU before, was it helpful? Do you have any tips to share for someone who might really need one? Was your rental a short-term measure or is your stuff still sitting in it, out of sight and out of mind? Do you think it’s worthwhile to rent an SSU, taking into consideration that the stuff inside may be damaged and depreciate in value and possibly become outdated? Do you think that an SSU can be used “wisely”? Would you rent one again?
And for those who haven’t, would you ever consider renting one? If you had an exciting opportunity to live, study or work abroad for a few years, how would you go about decluttering your possessions and reducing your stuff so that you are left with only your precious keepsakes and essential items for the home? And if your family and friends were unable or unwilling to help you store your stuff, what (if anything) would you put into storage, what would you get rid of and what would you bring with you? I’d like to hear what you have to say.
Today’s Mini Mission Declutter any item from your office and/or craft room. These rooms are combined for us. We have books that need to be given away. I have a desk that I want to declutter as soon as we are sure when we will be moving. In the meantime, all of this clutter drives me nuts. It needs to go.
*Loupy's Note: We moved from a 4 bedroom home into a 40 ft 5th wheel RV into a 1 bedroom Park model trailer. We have had a storage shed for about 15 years. I am determined that I will get rid of or greatly reduce what it in that shed. There are things in there for my daughter, that is remodeling her home, so in about a year or so, those should come out. But...I still have way to much stuff. I'd say that if you have circumstances that push you to move and you need a storage shed, yes get one...but please...do not keep it for as long as I have. I have a terrible time letting go of things. (Yes, you could say I am a mild hoarder. You can walk through my rooms, sit on my furniture and we cook in the kitchen. But I still hang on to stuff I don't use because they came from my Mom, Dad or grandparents. I have got to learn to let go.)
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Post by Loupy on Oct 4, 2015 13:29:18 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Good riddance...By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Among all the clutter in our homes there are always thing that we would definitely be glad to see the back of, whether we realise it immediately on not. So lets get rid of a few of those things this week. The question you should be asking yourself when you encounter these things is ~ Why haven’t I gotten rid of these things sooner. So lets see what we can find.
Monday – Declutter something that you haven’t used in a long time and probably never will.
Tuesday – Declutter something that you never did care for but kept for one bad reason or another.
Wednesday – Declutter something that instead of making your life easer just wastes valuable space.
Thursday – Declutter an unwanted gift, and don’t tell me you have to keep it, because you don’t.
Friday – Find a single use gadget and really rationalise whether it is useful to you or not. And when you come to the conclusion that it isn’t declutter it.
Saturday – Declutter something that makes you cringe when you see it in your home.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.Good luck and happy decluttering.
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Post by Loupy on Oct 8, 2015 12:04:39 GMT -7
365 Less Things Change of season From: By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Well it’s that time again, another change of season. Although Spring has sprung in the south and Autumn changing the colors in the North it is only this week the I have really started to delve into my more summery clothes. So I am going to assume these changes are happening for most of us to one degree or another.
So now is the time to reassess clothing from both seasons. Declutter clothes that were ignore during the season just gone or you persevered with as the season was ending but are too shabby to keep for next year. And as you bring forward those clothes for the upcoming or current season turn their hangers around on the rod so you can easily identify the items that are being passed over as the season progresses.
And as the seasons come and go certain items of clothing we own may start to become less flattering for our maturing tastes and figures. So let those items go as well. I know I will be doing that as I gradually retrieve my summer wardrobe from the box they are packed away in on the top shelf of my closet.
Footwear from both seasons will also be assessed. Those too shabby will likely end up in the trash, while anything still in good shape but disliked will be donated to charity. I don’t think that I will have any charity items but sadly my favourite pair of boots have worn through the bottom and are not of that kind that can be resoled.
Other seasonal items that can also be assessed at this time of year are gardening items, sporting equipment, recreational equipment and bedding. Perhaps even some cooking items may be seasonal to you, and require using up so they don’t linger on the shelf for months unused.
This year I have the unusual situation of moving from Winter into Spring and then back again into Winter before Summer has barely had a chance to assert itself. So the clothing situation is a little more complicated for me this time around.
There are so many variations on climate throughout the world, so timing and choices are different. I remember my time living in the top end of Australia, where the climate is tropical. There was no clothing change there as were wore summer clothes all year round. The only difference was a few degrees in temperature and how wet or dry it was. That was the simple life.
So what else is there that you need to assess as the seasons are changing for you in your part of the world?
Today’s Mini Mission Find a single use gadget and really rationalize whether it is useful to you or not. And when you come to the conclusion that it isn’t; declutter it.
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Post by Loupy on Oct 11, 2015 18:18:06 GMT -7
365 Less Things Mini Mission Monday ~ Clutter comes in all shapes, sizes and materials By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/ Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
I could be wrong but I am sure that there are more than a few items that are common to most households. Kitchen clutter, paper clutter of all sorts, clothing, toiletries, shoes, toys when children are in the household… . This week though I will base by mini missions on some of the, perhaps less common, clutter items that I got rid of quite early in my decluttering journey. I’ll also give the reasons why I didn’t feel inclined to keep them.
Monday – Declutter something you don’t care to maintain. I decluttered a silver tea set very early on. I hated to have to clean it, so although it was a gift I let it go.
Tuesday – Declutter some sort of sporting equipment that you no longer enjoy to use. I decluttered my bicycle a long time ago. I did test ride it a couple of times to prove to myself whether I would ever use it or not and no won out.
Wednesday – Declutter keepsakes that you never bother to look at. I got rid of all sorts of these things early on and probably could still let a few of them go. I must get that box down and take another look. The fact that it is a box in the top of the closet goes to prove how much it matters.
Thursday – Declutter something you keep just because most people have one. I decluttered out BBQ soon after I began by declutter journey. It is almost sacrilegious to not own a BBQ in Australia but we just never used ours so out it went. Five years latter and we have never replaced it or missed it for that matter.
Friday – Declutter everyday stuff that you have way too much off. I culled stationery items in the early days, we had way more than we would ever need around the house. And once again, five years later we still haven’t had to buy more. How many paperclips, thumbtacks and staples does one need in an almost paperless society.
Saturday – Start a use-it-up mission on excess gift wrap and cards that have been lingering for a while. In future it is easy enough to purchase a gift bag on the same outing as buying the gift. So you don’t have to stock these items in the house.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering
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Post by Loupy on Oct 14, 2015 10:11:51 GMT -7
Clutter you don’t care aboutposted by COLLEEN MADSEN @ www.365lessthings.com/Hi folks, well after reading the heading of this post you are probably wondering what on earth I have written about. So lets get started.
My home isn’t clutter free. People probably think it is but it isn’t. After all I have never professed to be a minimalist and doubt I ever will aspire to that. The bulk of the clutter that I planned to get rid of is gone. And, as you all know, we achieved our goal of moving into a small apartment almost two years ago now. My wardrobe doesn’t hold a lot of clothes, my shoe selection is minimal compared to most, we have books but not a lot. We don’t have excess toiletries, linens, stationary supplies, paperwork or food supplies and the kitchen holds very few items that don’t get used often.
However, there is still some clutter in our home. I have an abundance of craft supplies, despite my feverish crafting habits of late. We still haven’t finished culling photographs, which is one of the tasks I raved on about a lot back at the start of my decluttering. There is a variety of coffee making implements high up in one of the kitchen cupboards that don’t get used. And my wedding dress still wastes space in my wardrobe. Those last two things are ones I haven’t been given permission to dispose of yet or they would be gone. And the keepsake box probably holds some items that we probably don’t care much about but I haven’t taken it down to look through it for a while. Keepsakes are probably all clutter really but if we enjoy that little trip down memory lane every now and again then they aren’t clutter to us. And then there is the stuff that just isn’t mine to part with so I don’t touch it.
There are three reasons why there is still some clutter in our house. Clutter that has been lingering for a long time too. Reason one is that I believe that all parties who have any ownership of the clutter also has a say in whether it stays or goes. Reason two is that, there are some decluttering tasks that I am still happy to put off until I feel inclined to deal with them, such as photographs. And reason three is that, like the less loved keepsakes, I really don’t care if they remain because they don’t take up much space.
All in all I am very happy with the clutter level in our home. And yes I do still declutter items every now and again. And yes the craft clutter in general is lessening despite the fact that I add to it for certain projects. And yes there are still items I would be happy to part with. And the one thing that keeps the level of clutter down is the fact that we don’t buy much in the way of material things these day.
So what clutter do you still have in your home that you don’t mind being there or just don’t care to deal with yet? Or perhaps you need some advice on why and how to get rid of some things that really do irritate you. Share your thoughts with us and we will give you our advice or opinions.
Today’s Mini Mission Declutter something you keep just because most people have one. I decluttered out BBQ soon after I began my declutter journey. It is almost sacrilegious to not own a BBQ in Australia but we just never used ours so out it went. Five years latter and we have never replaced it or missed it for that matter.“If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?” — Unknown
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Post by Loupy on Oct 22, 2015 11:27:59 GMT -7
365 Less Things Avoiding internet shopping posted by COLLEEN MADSEN @ www.365lessthings.com/Avoiding internet shopping
So, it is 10:09am and I have just sat down to have my midmorning coffee. And as per usual I’m comfy on the sofa with my laptop in front of me about to open Facebook and have a game of Cookie Jam. Yes I know, “What a waste of time!”. However downtime is downtime and we are all entitled to that. A little mindless activity to while away your relaxation time is totally acceptable in my book.
The other thing I do during my downtime is browse Pinterest for craft ideas. Oh, how I can waste hours on that. But it more often than not inspires me to jump up and get creating soon enough.
All that being said, and the reason for today’s post is, that one of my readers, Sally, sent a email last week asking me to write a post about alternative downtime activities to avoid resorting to online shopping.
A harmless game that doesn’t cost a cent and in no way clutters up your home is one thing. Cruising the internet for creative inspiration another, but online shopping, that is a whole other kettle of fish. Sometimes very costly and cluttery fish at that. Especially costly if indulged in by people who can ill afford to be wasting their hard earned cash or who already has a cluttered home.
Now don’t worry, I am not going to suggest that you could spend your downtime decluttering, because to most people that would come under the category of work. And even I am not that keen to declutter. Although I have been known to enjoy it enough to consider it downtime in itself, but would still not list it as a downtime activity.
Anyhow, I have stated my two downtime pointless indulgences but I am sure there are many more. For example…
Reading Knitting or other easily portable craft Catching up with friends on Facebook. Meditating Watch some inspiring YouTube videos ~ Ted Talks or similar. Browse recipes online for later inspiration when organising a weekly menu plan or to get out of that ‘same old same old” cooking rut. (I should take my old advice here.) …just to name a few. Also I googled ‘Alternative activities to avoid online shopping’ and found this little gem…
www.365lessthings.com – Day-157-alternatives-to-shopping www.365lessthings.com/day-157-alternatives-to-shopping/
And also this one
How to Program Your Mind to Stop Buying Crap You Don’t Need lifehacker.com/how-to-program-your-mind-to-stop-buying-crap-you-don-t-1690268064
I confess I have been known to browse and buy from both old school craft stores and online ones as well, but for the most part, when it comes to shopping of any sort, just thinking about where I would fit an item and how much stuff I already own is enough to put me off buying things.
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Post by Loupy on Oct 26, 2015 13:39:09 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ Alphabet Decluttering By: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
I see there are still some readers participating and enjoying Nicole V’s blog post …Let The Games Begin. So I thought just for the fun on it we would do another set of alphabet mini missions. I’ll nominate a letter for each day and you find something to declutter in your home starting with that letter. So, let the decluttering begin.
Monday – Declutter something beginning with letter P.
Tuesday – Declutter something beginning with the letter B.
Wednesday – Declutter something beginning with the letter S.
Thursday – Declutter something beginning with the letter R.
Friday – Declutter something beginning with the letter C.
Saturday – Declutter something beginning with the letter L.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another. Good luck and happy decluttering!
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Post by Loupy on Nov 1, 2015 11:19:19 GMT -7
Mini Mission Monday ~ This and thatBy: Colleen Madsen @ www.365lessthings.com/Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Monday – Declutter an unfinished project, either by finishing it or letting it go. These are a mental burden. Once done they can either be passed on or enjoyed, but either way they are no longer weighing you down with aspiration.
Tuesday – Declutter an unwise purchase.
Wednesday – Declutter your junk drawer if you have one. If not some other drawer that holds a little clutter.
Thursday – Declutter some paperwork.
Friday – Declutter something that was really useful in the past but hasn’t been used in a long time. Maybe its time it's done for you.
Saturday – Start a use it up challenge on something.
Sunday – Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering.
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