Day 304: Mail Is a Wonderful Thing

I boxed up some items that belonged to various extended family members and mailed them off yesterday. Now THAT pile is gone!

My decision was to go ahead and post the free door on Craig's List. I have three interested parties, so hopefully that will be gone today. I liked how private the whole e-mail thing was on Craig's List.

Day 303: A Glass Door

A few months ago, my father took off a glass door for us. It has been sitting nonchalantly on our porch ever since...I know, bad example. I could easily take it to the dump, but it seems like a good thing for someone. So, I've debated putting it on Craig's list for free. This scares me because you never know who is going to answer the advertisement. Today I must make a decision.

Day 302: Goodwill Shopping

I put one of my daughter's nice vests in the give away box today. She says it's too big. Just from my family, I've given away some nice clothing. People tell me that never-been-worn clothing is often given to Goodwill. I need to go shopping there and see what I can find when I need something. One never knows the good deals one could find! However, we can't go overboard and buy what we DON'T need.

Day 301: Scrapbooking

Over the summer, a couple friends and I got together to jump start our lagging scrapbooking. It helped all of us get motivated to finish up some pages and use some photos and memorabilia. I have found that after time passes (months, years), some of the memorabilia I save doesn't have the same appeal. If you keep all those ticket stubs, brochures, and other paper items in one spot, intending to someday organize and scrapbook them all, you will find that you can throw out quite a bit as it doesn't seem nearly so consequential later. It works the same with photos. I have found scrapbooking to be very helpful in simplifying. Not all 75 photos of the child's birthday party need to go in the scrapbook. Usually we choose a few of the best that highlight the event and that takes care of preserving that memory.

Day 300!!! The Home Stretch

Wow! It is day 300 in our quest to simplify our lives and homes. Getting rid of one thing per day = 300 less items of clutter!

I put two more shirts from my husband into the give away bin today. My family has caught on to simplifying during this year and that has helped us clear out more items. People nowadays tend to be so busy that simplification is appealing to all.

Day 299: Paint

We stopped by a hardware store yesterday to get some paint sample card for house projects. As we near the painting stage, I got to thinking that we will get rid of the leftover paint from the last time. It was kept for touch ups.

Do you have paint cans from projects you don't remember? One organizational technique is to write the room you painted on the can so you don't forget. But, if it's unknown or old, get rid of it!

Day 298: Sorting the Gloves

As my daughter got packed to return to college after her fall break, I dug into our mitten and glove bin to find some matching gloves for her to take back. It wasn't an easy task because there are singles in that bin. I will sort that bin today and get rid of single gloves (as long as there are matching ones people can still use!)

Day 297: Music

I love sheet music. A kind acquaintance lost his wife awhile ago and asked me to come look through her music. He encouraged me to take whatever I wanted. I was like a kid in a candy store! When my perusing through the music ended, I had four sacks of music. There was a little nagging feeling that said, "What are you doing, bringing all this into your home??!"

Some will be for my sister, who still gives piano lessons. Some will eventually end up at my parents' so that we can play the old songs for them when we visit. The rest I can use when playing for weddings or whatever. Yes, I have brought more "stuff" into the home, but will use it. I needn't be "scared" to bring in things I will use. Simplifying has made room for what I really want.

Day 296: Organizing the Pantry

Years ago when my nephews were little, we went to their home periodically to visit. I remember being so impressed at my sister-in-law's pantry. She had all the cereal boxes together, a big Tupperware container with pre-packaged snacks, all the soups together, and more. It was a delight looking in there because a person could find anything. Fast forward to my pantry. The bottom is covered with varied chip bags. Cracker boxes are next to jars of queso. My husband will stand, stare in there, and walk away thinking we have no snacks when all he had to do was move a few things and he would have found ample delicacies!

My task this week is to pull everything out and organize it to even survive a "man look." I want items to be easily found. Perhaps I will even come across some antique items that can be thrown away.

Day 295: Extra Time Well Spent

On a neighboring blog, the creator wrote about spending an extra five minutes just to do something right. On our rushed days, we flit from thing to thing and accomplish little.

Within five extra minutes, we can complete a task like finding something unneeded to simplify our lives. I timed myself today and found several items out of place, put them away, and threw away some old papers and magazines.

Day 294: Things That Match

While sorting through my few purses, I came across an accessory I couldn't part with earlier because IT MATCHED! I don't use lipstick in a tube and this was a little matching lipstick holder with mirror, same color material as the purse.

What is it with things that match? Do we feel like we are splitting up a couple if we get rid of one part we don't need? Often, manufacturers create products with extras so we will think we are getting more for our money. If you don't use one part of the matching items, donate it.

In a happy turn of events, someone will have liked her lipstick case and given away the matching purse. My lone lipstick case will turn up; the person shopping at Goodwill will have a match!

Day 293: Vehicles

How is your vehicle looking lately? Are there any bags or piles of things you have been meaning to leave somewhere and they've been hitch hiking in your van for weeks? Any trash in the cup holders? Vacuumed lately?

Stop by 7-11 and use the vacuum for 4 quarters. They also have a handy, large trash can for you to clean out clutter.

I've posted two photos of a van I saw (I was very sneaky photographing it). I'm not sure the owner can fit himself in anymore.

Consider simplifying your vehicles and getting rid of clutter today! That's my plan.

Day 292: Pens, Pencils, Markers

How many times do you go searching for a pen or pencil only to find it doesn't work? Throw it away right then and there. If you have a stash of pens and pencils somewhere, sometime go through them and see if there are any duds and get rid of them.

If you don't have a central place where family members can find a writing utensil, create one in a drawer, a mug, a can, etc. Near the phone is a good spot for a notepad only used for phone messages and a stash of working pens.

Day 291: The Cherokee

I just (literally) returned from a teachers' trip to study the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina. We got stranded when our bus stalled while going down a mountain in the Smokies and didn't get home until 12:30 AM this morning. Long story...but it ended happily.

Anyway, I was struck by the simplicity our Native Americans lived with. The Cherokee adapted to change fairly well (other than being removed) when Europeans brought new goods such as metal. Our guide said that metal goods to the Cherokee was like computer technology today...they recognized its worth and wanted more and more.

Obviously, living and surviving with only their natural resources helped them live simplified lives. Much of the living was done outside. Possessions, other than beads and ceremonial gear, were always utilitarian. They seemed to live quite easily without clutter.

Is there anything non-utilitarian you can declutter today? We really collect so much stuff in our lifestyles. Mind you, I'm not looking to live in an underground home like they did in the winters early on...I appreciate modern conveniences. I just encourage us all to pare down so we can enjoy what we have instead of tripping over it.

Day 288: Art Supplies

We have kept a bin of art supplies through the years. Often, the bin has overflowed because we hated to throw away the gold lame' or whatever item, just in case we needed it for a craft project. I think one small bin-full is plenty now. If I need something, I'll go buy it at the time. So, I'm getting rid of excess art and craft supplies.

Day 287: The Pantry

I am blessed to have a closet-like pantry in my kitchen. It is deep, so the items in the back are WAY back. Today I am going to venture into those recesses and see what is lurking back there that doesn't need to stay. I did already find a packaged Hickory Farms cheese spread from last Christmas and threw that away today.

Day 286: Purses, Handbags

As with mugs, how many purses or handbags does a person need? It used to be a major faux paux back in the 50's and 60's if your bag didn't match your shoes. Now, not so much. Purses are definitely marketed to have a different one to go with various outfits, but usually as a contrast. It's a cute idea, but they take up a lot of space and the transferring of "stuff" between purses is bothersome.

I'm getting rid of one purse today. The zipper keeps stripping, so it doesn't stay shut and I really want to keep my money safe (all $2.35) :)

Think about your collection. Can you get rid of any? Any old wallets while we're at it?

Day 285: Camping Gear

At a time in our lives, we were camping enthusiasts. The open air and Appalachian trails called to us. After a few experiences in campgrounds where drunk neighbors hooked up their VCR to an electrical outlet and watched loud movies 15 feet from our tent, college students played bongo drums well into the night, etc., camping didn't hold the same allure for me.

My husband took my son and his friend to a hike-in camping place last weekend. To get the gear, they dove into the closet-under-the-stairs I had organized so carefully last winter. They were able to find all they needed and some dispensible items . We threw away some things that were well past their prime, and thus simplified the camping gear.

They had a great time. Maybe beer cases or drums are too heavy to carry while hiking and this will be a spot I can happily camp now.

Day 284: One Per Day

My aunt just made great use of 1-800-GOTJUNK in her quest to ready their home for selling/moving. She simplified in a big way in one day. Sometimes, that is definitely the way to go!

Other times, it's the habit we are establishing to get rid of one thing per day (at least!) that also helps us simplify. Today two shirts of my husband's went into the give away bin.

Day 283: Spices

I realize that I am returning to spots in the house, but 365 days is a long time and things get overlooked the first pass-through. In digging through my spices, I found coriander...quite a large jar. I don't think I have used it in years; in fact, I can't even remember a recipe that calls for it. So, to be fair, I'll look up "Recipes using coriander" on the Internet. If nothing looks appealing, out it goes. I also threw out some very old colored sugar used for decorating cookies.

Day 282: Closets

Once again, I took quite a few clothes to Goodwill from my daughter's closet (with her permission.) It's amazing how many items a person doesn't want when he/she has time to go through closets. If you have kids at home still, encourage a closet purge sometime soon. If there is a husband, carefully encourage the same thing!

Day 281: Files

It's a day for purging more files. I couldn't bring myself to throw away my dog's file for awhile after he died, but it's OK now. My fond memories of him are not tied up in his veterinary records. My daughter's high school information, code of conduct, etc. can be tossed now that she's in college. It's sometimes a little bittersweet to purge, but I know that releasing unneeded stuff helps me live in the 'now' and look forward to new opportunities in the future.

Day 280: Wasteful

My husband told me about a nearby Goodwill store that was the recipient of much of the clutter taken from a home filmed for the TV reality show "Hoarders." Apparently, much of the clothing was designer labeled with the store tags still attached, brand new. I was thinking of the financial waste of money to pile up clutter and not know what you have. I suppose it is definitely a good practice to go with "in the with new, out with the old" so that doesn't happen.

Day 279: Old Phones

I threw out some old cordless phones. The "5" key wasn't working on one of them, the battery would run out in the middle of a call, etc. We got new ones so the old ones are history.

Day 278: White Elephant Gift Stash

Back when I was younger, there was often a "White Elephant" gift exchange at Christmas parties, also called a "Yankee Swap." You wrap up something you have owned but don't want to put in the gift pile, then people get turns choosing an unopened gift or they can steal someone else's gift. On it goes.

As I have been simplifying, I have come across items that would be fun to take to such a party. They would bring laughs. I'll keep them in a designated spot in the attic for awhile. If someone doesn't have one of those parties for awhile, maybe I will...and at the door as my guests leave, I'll have give away bin they can toss their items in! I can't be contributing to others' clutter, can I?

Day 277: One Item Per Day

I like the new regulations for credit card statements that tell you if you just pay the minimum balance, how long it will take to eliminate the debt. For us, simplifying one item per day in our homes could take some time, but it gradually wears down the clutter.

Like a credit card, paying more each month or getting rid of more items per day will whittle down our clutter faster. It's up to each of us! Try to get rid of at least one item daily to keep the momentum going.

I put a shirt into the give away bin today.

Day 276: New Shoes In, Old Shoes Out

I finally got a new pair of walking shoes yesterday. My old ones let water in if it has rained. The old shoes are going in the trash and I have kept clutter at a minimum.

Consider replacing new with old anything when you buy a new item, clothing or otherwise.

Day 275: Decorations

Now that it is finally not 90+ degrees in my part of the country, I am pulling out fall decorations. I've been able to get rid of some that are old and that I'm tired of...an old straw wreath is an example. Use seasons to sort decor and simplify.

Day 274: Do the Math

OK, I know several people who have a lot of clutter in their homes because a mother went into a nursing home, elder family members died and left behind items, they have a pile waiting to go onto E-bay, children have left home and left belongings behind...

If you don't have use of a room or two in your home because of the clutter you need to deal with, assign a "frustration of messiness quotient" between 1 and 10 to those rooms. Add in the days that stuff has imposed on your lifestyle, then multiply your current family members' snide comments by that total. Now, estimate how much money you will bring in through a yard sale or selling the stuff on E-bay. Compare the financial total to the other equation you just did. Is it worth keeping all that stuff for the money you'll make? Would you feel better getting rid of it at a donation center in one big swoop for a tax write off and be done with it? I don't know the value of your items, but maybe mathematics can overcome your emotional attachment to some of the stuff.