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.