“Today is your day to let go of things that no longer serve you.”
Katrina Mayer.
We’ve spent a significant amount of the last two weekends, clearing the clutter at Chez Wright.
Christmas is coming (there I said it) and we’re decluttering in preparation of the change of seasons.
But that’s not the only reason. My daughter has started holding an annual fundraiser, in November, for a local children’s hospital. This was last years.
Decluttering provides stock to raise funds…
…but more on that next week!
While we’ve been having fun decluttering kids’ bedrooms, I’ve also been taking the time to find general clothing and other items that are no longer needed.
Not everything can be used to raise funds.
I now have a few bags of decluttered items.
Time for a reminder.
It may seem a no-brainer that as soon as you fill the bags, they go.
This isn’t always the case. Well not for me anyway.
There can be piles of clutter waiting to be rehomed.
It’s important, at this point, for it to be gone.
Items can end up creeping back into the home. Particularly if the bags catch the Kids’ eyes.
That’s my ‘must-do’ today. The clutter bags are to be dropped at the charity shop. And the small pile of items that are being given (after much consideration – as I do not want to clutter others up) to another person, are ready to be collected.
It’s important to have closure on the clutter and clear it completely. Else the bags of clutter, become clutter themselves!
It’s so great that your daughter is conducting a fundraiser on her own! Mine does fundraisers too but it’s usually to fund her clubs’ activities.
I’m far from being a minimalist (I like to have plenty of things around and I’m great at repurposing or reusing them) but I keep a cardboard box near my front door at all times, marked “donations” and whenever I spot something that we’re definitely not using and won’t be reusing, I plop it in the box. I run all my errands on Wednesdays so if the box is full (and I remember!), I take it along with me on a Wednesday and drop it off at my favorite thriftstore, which raises money for our local animal rescue shelter. I like that, in addition to decluttering my house, it will be reused by someone AND will monetarily help an organization that I don’t object to.
Right now I only have 2 things in the box: a brand new copy of “Square Foot Gardening” (I had bought it, then forgotten where I had put it and looked for it for-ever a few years ago and ended up buying a new copy. Guess what just turned up this week? arrgh) and a “Precious Moments” plastic candy mold that a friend had given me and that I never used. I could probably make some money selling those on various sites but the hassle just isn’t worth it for me.
Nathalie – your box is a great idea. I have something similar. And in both my Kids’ wardrobes I have a bag that I fill with clothes to be handed-down.
I know what you mean about ‘selling items’ – it really has to be worth my time listing on eBay these days. Most things head on to the local charity shop!
It’s so great that your daughter is conducting a fundraiser on her own! Mine does fundraisers too but it’s usually to fund her clubs’ activities.
I’m far from being a minimalist (I like to have plenty of things around and I’m great at repurposing or reusing them) but I keep a cardboard box near my front door at all times, marked “donations” and whenever I spot something that we’re definitely not using and won’t be reusing, I plop it in the box. I run all my errands on Wednesdays so if the box is full (and I remember!), I take it along with me on a Wednesday and drop it off at my favorite thriftstore, which raises money for our local animal rescue shelter. I like that, in addition to decluttering my house, it will be reused by someone AND will monetarily help an organization that I don’t object to.
Right now I only have 2 things in the box: a brand new copy of “Square Foot Gardening” (I had bought it, then forgotten where I had put it and looked for it for-ever a few years ago and ended up buying a new copy. Guess what just turned up this week? arrgh) and a “Precious Moments” plastic candy mold that a friend had given me and that I never used. I could probably make some money selling those on various sites but the hassle just isn’t worth it for me.
Nathalie – your box is a great idea. I have something similar. And in both my Kids’ wardrobes I have a bag that I fill with clothes to be handed-down.
I know what you mean about ‘selling items’ – it really has to be worth my time listing on eBay these days. Most things head on to the local charity shop!
I’m astounded Jo what i cleared out last week, our home is very minmal but i still filled the car boot, rehomed a desk then at the weekend i helped my son (18) clear his wardrobe which resulted in another bootful!! I agree with you about getting rid straight away, that’s what i do. We are fortunate and live close by a shopping complex with 3 great charity shops i’m more than happy to donate to so it doesnt require too much effort to take them, i’m all about easy 🙂 Well done on those bags, a great idea, i very often find myself with a pile of giftbags as they are too useful for just one use.
Sharron x
P.s Email me your postal and i’ll ‘declutter the declutter book’ to you!!
It’s amazing what you can declutter, I’ve always got a bag full! Oh boy it never ends! The bag idea works well. It’s fun rather than juts buying things off a stall. And I got to declutter all the bags I’d been hoarding 😉 Will e-mail you – thanks again! I’ll then declutter as a giveaway here!
I’m astounded Jo what i cleared out last week, our home is very minmal but i still filled the car boot, rehomed a desk then at the weekend i helped my son (18) clear his wardrobe which resulted in another bootful!! I agree with you about getting rid straight away, that’s what i do. We are fortunate and live close by a shopping complex with 3 great charity shops i’m more than happy to donate to so it doesnt require too much effort to take them, i’m all about easy 🙂 Well done on those bags, a great idea, i very often find myself with a pile of giftbags as they are too useful for just one use.
Sharron x
P.s Email me your postal and i’ll ‘declutter the declutter book’ to you!!
It’s amazing what you can declutter, I’ve always got a bag full! Oh boy it never ends! The bag idea works well. It’s fun rather than juts buying things off a stall. And I got to declutter all the bags I’d been hoarding 😉 Will e-mail you – thanks again! I’ll then declutter as a giveaway here!