What did you declutter today? Part II

[disneysteve]

Welcome luvinmylife. The original goal for this challenge was to declutter at least one thing a day. Sounds like you got off to a great start in your carport.

As for me, I thought about working in the basement this morning but the weather is absolutely beautiful here so I decided to take advantage of that and work in the garage instead. Who knows how many great days we'll still get this year to do that without freezing. Plus, the garage and basement are linked in our case because part of emptying out the basement will be moving stuff into the garage for storage. We can't do that until we clear out and organize the garage, so one feeds into the other.

Anyway, back in May we had a yard sale. The plan was that at the end of the day, we'd pack up the stuff that didn't sell and donate it to Goodwill. Just as we were about ready to start packing up, it started raining and we had to scramble to just toss stuff in boxes and get it back into the garage so it didn't get ruined. Then I never got back to it to pack it well and give it away. So that was my main focus today. I succeeded in packing up 5 carton boxes to give away. I also broke down and recycled two more carton boxes. So once I get that stuff to Goodwill, that will be a total of 7 boxes full of stuff that will be gone. I also got almost a full bag of trash and some other stuff into the recycling bin. I could have spent more time in there but I didn't want to exhaust myself and we have some other stuff to do today.

[snafu]

Experience taught me it was a good idea to set parameters for items stored/to be stored and how long to store if you discover you don't use those items. DS offered a wonderful example of his hide-a-bed sofa, no longer used, with stuff piled atop that had served his needs in the past.

As you review items in/going to deep storage [basement, garage, shed etc] ask yourself 'when did I last use this item?' We all have items that are only used in special circumstances or annual events. However, if not used for more than two years, ask 'what's the worst thing that could happen if it went?' 3rd question will the sell value exceed the time and effort required? Final question for items in good condition, SA, GW, Church, Shelter or?

Anything needing repair should be released if not repaired in two pay cycles. The longer it sits, the less the likelihood cost of repair will equal value of use. Why not offer it on Craiglist, perhaps someone else has the time/skill ratio to repair and enjoy.

Getting your home more organized with less clutter makes everyday activities more enjoyable and less stressful. You will use and enjoy the items you retain so much more.

DS: kudos to DW/DD on board relinquishing clothes for charity.

[disneysteve]

As you review items in/going to deep storage [basement, garage, shed etc] ask yourself 'when did I last use this item?'

Definitely. Nothing will get moved from basement to garage without us going through it and deciding if we need it at all.

As for stuff already in the garage, as I work my way through cleaning that, I'll be looking at everything to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

[disneysteve]

Hit the basement for a short time after dinner. I did some work on the shelves which house my tools and hardware. I found several items that belonged (and fit) in my toolbox so they aren't sitting around loose anymore. I used an empty shelf on an adjacent shelving unit to better organize things that I want to keep. I gathered a variety of loose screws, nails, nuts and bolts all into one container. I discovered that I have in my possession 5, yes 5, staple guns. I believe all but one are inherited. A couple probably came to me when my mom moved. I think one I actually purchased myself. I need to figure out which ones work because I suspect one or more may not. I'll probably end up keeping the newest one (the one I bought) and getting rid of the rest. I also had a few boxes of assorted junk that I don't need so I threw out the contents and recycled the boxes. There is still more to do in that area but I definitely made some progress.

[LittleGopher]

Worked in my closet, and did the warmer/cooler clothes transfer (we've been really having great weather here, so have been not needing warmer items until now.) Culled a few unused things to the donate pile, and will be dropping it all off tomorrow or Tuesday.

[marvholly]

Gopher
I 'usualy' do the clothes changeover 1st weekend of Nov. However, it has been quite warm in metro Chicago this Oct so I may wait a bit. Also MUCH of my warm stuff is really year round.

I have NOT been good about doing anything for nearly a week. I MUST get back to it. Feel bad.

[snafu]

Posters following this thread have been doing an ace job of decreasing clutter in their homes. Don't let clutter re-assert it's ugly head; piles are problems. It helps to have a firm view of what needs action, what needs to be retained/filed/secure and what goes to recycle. If you are a paper hoarder, rid yourself of non relevant papers like old insurance policies no longer valid, no longer needed. Flyers and Householder mail stuff mailboxes and unless you have a list of planned, specific purchases, these are dangerous to your financial health! Don't review them, recycle those missives that are meant to persuade you to BUY, Buy, buy.

Mail needs Action, respond to invitations, put all bills, sans envelopes & inserts, in a specific place to be dealt with on Desk Day.

This Retain list is from our accountant, sorry I couldn't find an on-line link that was as comprehensive... Keep forever & secure: Adoption papers, *Automobile Titles, *Bank certificates, contact details, Birth certificates, Citizenship papers, Custody Agreements, Death certificates & records, Divorce decree & Support records, *Estate Planning documents, *Household inventory, *Insurance policies, Leases, Legal documents (contracts, bill of sales, court papers)
Licenses, Marriage Licenses, Medical & Immunization records, Military Records, Mortgage and closing papers, titles, Passports, photos, Pre-nuptial Agreements, Stock certificates, *Wills

Note: * indicates current/valid

Important: (Retain where others can locate this information) Automobile registration, maintenance records, Cancelled cheques for items on warranty, Bank statements (3 years personal)

Information kept secure: *Credit card information/contact details, Education information (diplomas, financial aid, correspondence), Employment history, *Home improvement details, Income statements, EOY pay slip, *Insurance policies/statements/contact details, Investment statements
& contact details, *Loan information, Mortgage statements, Receipts for major purchases Retirement information, Social security information, Tax receipts for itemized deductions, Tax returns, forms, audit receipts [3 yrs. personal] *Warranties/service contracts

[disneysteve]

Monday is my long day - 8a-7p in the office so I don't generally accomplish a whole lot when I get home. I did pull out one item from my trunk - a lab coat. I have no idea why it was even in there. I have been at my current job for over 10 years and have never worn a lab coat there so it is entirely possible that the coat has been in my trunk for longer than that. It went into the trash as it was not in any condition to be of use to anyone.

I'm sure I'll do a little more here and there before bedtime but at least that is my one item for the day.

[marvholly]

Declutter
I made that new lemon garlic chicken recipe. I am tossing it since I MUCH prefer my old lemon, garlic, and parsley recipe. Not much but 1 paper out of the pile recycled. I have another recipe that I will be trying out this week.

Happened to go into an upper shelf in a kitchen cabinet Mon am. Found a metal mug. Don’t use. Don’t want. Into donate bin it goes.


No New
Breaking my rule. Got my new Cooking Light magazine Mon and had BUNCH of recipes I am interested in. Holding entire magazine for a bit.
Got my online bill payment bank statement. Reconciled & filed.
I have to certify for unemployment every 2 weeks. Nice that I can do online vs. spending the time/gas to drop off hardcopy paperwork.. Rather than doing a printout I have been doing a copy, paste into word & save in a specific file on my computer.

Steve: Heads up. Weather here is NASTY – dark, rain, humid, HIGH winds. Per BIL (lives on Long Island) you often get our weather 2 days later. I may change my plans for today.

[disneysteve]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've done a pretty decent job decluttering my main desk at my office. I've noticed, however, that I hadn't touched the desk drawer in my second exam room. I took a couple of minutes this morning and went through that. I got a stack of assorted papers, expired coupons and past issues of directories into the recycling pile. A few things went into the trash and a bunch of loose paperclips got put back into the little drawer organizer where they belong. I need to do some more work in that drawer but it is far better now with just a couple of minutes of effort.

[disneysteve]

When I logged onto my computer this morning, I had 63 e-mails. I set a goal to be under 50 by the end of the day. As of now, when I'm about to shut down for the night, I'm at 41. Keep in mind, that does not just mean that I handled 21 e-mails. It means I handled 21 plus all of the e-mails that came in today and there were nearly 50 of those so this reduced existing clutter and avoided new clutter.

[marvholly]

Just realized: I am seeing DD1 this coming Sun and I have a BUNCH of her stuff still here in the house. Been here since summer 1997 when she left for grad school. Guess what I will be loading in my car Sun morning - prob 3 cartons worth. I am still holding off on DD2 stuff as their house is on the market. Another 6 months/year/2 years is not a biggie after all this time.

[Aleta]

Speaking of items left in our house by our sons, that's another cluttering problem that we have. The one son that has the most stuff here moved up North and definitely has the room for it. I would love to send it all to him but postage is so expensive now. Does anyone have any ideas of shipping it more reasonably. This is a lesson to all. Get the stuff our of your house as soon as they have bought a house. I waited too long and now they moved up North. That would be a big plus for us. He has a lot of trophies, wall photos, awards, from his baseball days through out college. I've thought about taking a few things with me in a suitcase when we visit them in the future. Any ideas out there?

[snafu]

Mholly: I suggest you e-mail/call DD1 [before she leaves to visit you] to explain you want the stuff you have been storing since 1997 - gone. Encourage her to take what she likes But set a deadline so that the remainder is gone by end of year, for example.

Aleta: perhaps you could take pictures to e-mail DS, reminding him of the memorabilia [pics, trophies, awards] you have been storing since _______. He may be happy to release those items or be satisfied with photos of his 'baseball days.' It's not expensive to mail pictures if you take them out of their frames. If he wants specific trophies, take these when you visit if practical. Would it be cost effective to send via Greyhound shipping? Moving/ freight transfer companies may be willing to take a couple of boxes with another load. Your son would need to pick up his boxes at their distribution centre. You didn't mention how long you've been storing his stuff but isn't 2 yrs. long enough?

Should you ever consider downsizing or using the rooms for a home office, craft room or some other purpose, that stuff would cause considerable stress for all.

[thefamilyfinanceguide]

Computer De-clutter

Hey isn't technology great! Just one more thing to "unclutter!". I started a new website. I've been clearing out my computer files and prepping my domain file manager. I know its not physical stuff, but to provide the blog service I definitely need an organized un-cluttered computer system.

On a physical note, I have been dwindeling away at my soon to be basement office. A few weekends ago I put about 2 years of bills and documents in my fire pit and "SWOOSH" lit that sucker up! Shredding was taking too long and I figured a fire would do the trick for sure.

Great Thread. Fun to see everyone's responses.