Playing the Minimalism Game

[YupIFreakilyHave]

For the month of October I am challenging myself to playing the 30 Day Minimalism Game as described by various people on their YouTube channels including The Minimalists. I prefer Jolita Bartkus' video on this. I know October has 31 days but the last day is for reflecting on how the month went.

How to Play: On the 1st you declutter one thing, on the 2nd you declutter 2 things, on the 3rd three things and so on. By the end of 30th day, 465 items should have been decluttered. Well, that's the aim.

I've been on this decluttering lark for a few years now so it'll be an interesting project. I'll try to update everyday of what was decluttered and maybe a little story of some of the items. I'm doing this online as a way to hold myself to account but I would welcome anyone who would like to join me.

It starts tomorrow. Eek!

Jolita Bartkus' video:

Hello all! There has been an amazing flurry of decluttering since I last checked in - it's so fabulous that we're all still going! @Redcake I bow to your minimalism mastery and have just spent a happy five minutes speculating about what your house must look like. Well not yours specifically, just any real life minimalist household. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a properly decluttered house that is being lived in - I certainly grew up in the opposite, and have sort of attracted similar types as I've progressed through life. I know lots of very tidy people but it's not quite the same is it - they are very tidy but still have heaps of stuff. Obviously I don't expect you to post any photos but I've had a marvellous time imagining clear surfaces and empty spaces in closets and the like Something to aspire to!

Day 23 for me is a pile of clothes from one of my DC. That was so easy to do (so many were just way too small) that I could also do another 20 items from the utility cupboard (old very unsterile bandages and dressings mostly, with some random laundering items for good measure) and 26 from my 'study' (junk dropping zone) including spare thread and button cards from clothes i no longer own, and bits and pieces of unworking or undesirable stationery. So that all felt pretty good - it's good to be getting down below some of the surface layers and to the backs of some cupboards. Tragically it doesn't LOOK much different, but I know it is and that is very heartening.

Thanks so much again to all of you for your continuing company and encouragement and especially @YupIFreakilyHave for getting me started, something i honestly did not expect to happen this year!

@Declutterclogs I have big lifestyle advantages. I home educated and have a very part time job plus a DH who gets stuck in with chores. But the biggest thing is no primary aged children! The clutter was knee deep back in the day. I think you will keep it up as once the really tricky items are out the rest is more easily binned.

I’ve always got a couple of education projects sprawling on the surfaces but I don’t count them as clutter.

Finally getting around to properly organising the linen cupboard since my baskets recently arrived . I already decluttered some before we moved then got everyone more new sheets so going through them again now . Still doing catch up .

Day 15:

• 2 old king duvet covers
• 3 old single duvet covers ,we’ve now got just DD single bed with a trundle bed under left and one in the guest room although my plan was to get 2 new matching beds there atm DD old bed is there since it was quite new still ,DS got a double and another room also has a double
• 1 old king flat sheet
• 9 old pillowcases

To be continued...

Day 16:

• 7 more old pillowcases
• 1 old bath mat
• 5 old face towels
• 1 old hand towel
• 2 old bath towels

SLEEP 0. INSOMNIA 1.

24 items for 24th October. 12x25 = 300

Using formula …[Days/2 multiplied by Days+1] = 24/2 x 24+1= 300 items out

1.      Pinafore dress
   

2-3. 2 x hats
4-8. 4 x cups ( the youngest dgc is 5)
9-10. 2 x tins
11. Glass heart
12-14. 3 shampoos
15. Empty box
16-18. 3 x almost empty mouth washes
19. Jar
20. Blue hair dye
21. Very old dental floss
22. One trainer sock
23. Year of the Rabbit ornament
24. Gold baubles
25. Empty tube of conditioner

@declutterclogs I can relate to it not looking much different, but you're right, we know it is. I have spaces in cupboards and wardrobes, and I have literally hundreds fewer things in my house.

@Nordicmom well done! Linens I think are really rewarding to purge. They'll stay easier to manage now for years.

@Trumpton looking good again, but I hope you can get some more sleep tonight.

Day 24, 7 items

Oddments from my sewing box.

I swear half the stuff I've chucked is bits and bobs from sewing. I don't even sew that much

@YupIFreakilyHave re November, I am compiling a list of things that bug me and I've not got round to doing for yonks, like small DIY jobs and cleaning the glass panels above the bedroom doors. I'm thinking set myself 5 a week, with weekends off (or more realistically for catch up ). Really it's just carrying on what we've started this month with a slightly different focus. If you lovely people are going to carry on decluttering into November I might just stay here with you, if that's ok

Btw the earlier mentioned bike box sold for over 600£ In an auction even though it was 10 y old and that’s not much less than a new one they’re 700£ something new . It was in good condition but wow! Due to be collected next week hopefully no problems there . Since my DH started selling his late dads and his own old bikes and small boats and engines etc on eBay he’s done so well with them . Always getting good money for everything and all sales have gone smoothly !

I have the big laundry pile to fold but I might brave the kids clothes boxes while I wait for my lunch . Then I’ll get my day 17 hopefully 18 maybe 19 done today too I’m still so far behind ! I’ve got a few more out from the linens left and once the current ones in the wash have been washed there may be a bit more . Currently looking at pretty labels for my baskets that I’m storing the linen in . Unfortunately I miscalculated the height of the top shelf so one less basket fits there but otherwise happy with my baskets rather than messy loose piles on the shelves . Am considering these slate labels …

Great work @Nordicmom Loving the baskets for the linens

I really like those baskets and the slate labels. Good going on the eBaying too. When eBay goes well it’s great isn’t it.

I have lots of these baskets initially for the clean dry laundry too . Not cheap but a long lasting product

So happy we tried Ebay with these more valuable items after year of not bothering we’ve just been donating or passing on everything . We’ve sold a few kids Isla bikes , maybe 5 DH and his dad’s bikes , 2 outboard motors , 2-3 boats one a little rare wooden sailing boat and now this bike box . I do have a bugaboo donkey that’s in great condition with brand new second set of seat carry cot etc I’m hoping will be worth listing . I also have a brand new designer bag and furry slippers still in their box with tags on I will sell so where but they kids clothes I will donate I have no time or energy …

Day 24 - I have started on the storage boxes. 24 items from the party box.

Day 23

4 bubbles containers, we played with them before decluttering, fun!
1 set of salad utensils, very lovely present but never been used
1 pair of chopsticks
1 highlighter
1 wooden tool for clay
1 finished bottle of sugar soap
1 tea cup, beautiful present but no longer used (I use the plate as a gorgeous soap dish)
5 pens
1 cleaning brush, useless
1 kids camera, no longer used
1 splatter thingy, too much hassle to clean
5 serving spoons, not used as I have others

Total: 276 items

I am amazed that I am still finding more items.

As an aside DS sneaked in a pen to help me with "your OCD game". 🤣

Day 17:

• 3 more old bath towels
• 1 old single flat sheet
• 1 long sleeved T-shirt of mine I sleep in with holes in the arm seam ( looked through them as I folded last night will do the rest as I wash so might find more )
• 1 worn out pasta bowl ( glazing is coming off I went though all of our dining stuff as we moved but always a few escape )
• 1 mini whisk no one uses
• 1 mini wooden spoon ditto
• 1 set of wooden toast tongs all 3 to charity shop
• 1 mystery metal thing from cutlery drawer I don’t know what it is for or have ever used ( have ask DH but doubt that he needs it either )
• 1 dented metal water bottle to recycling
• 1 fabric dog treat pouch ( for walks ) that’s stained ,we have two others
• 1 ancient reusable baking sheet / liner that’s never used been in a drawer at least 10 y😳
• 2 large white plastic IKEA containers I had in food cupboards
• 2 small white plastic IKEA containers ditto since now will be using the home edit Idesign ones

Am on a roll now with the remaining moving boxes in the living room / open plan kitchen dining room that have been getting to me so much now that I’m alone for the weekend kids will stay at MIL at least until Tue night maybe Wed . That would really help me to do this ! Onto day 18 with decluttering !!!

Day 24

8 various camera/camcorder and accessories
1 margarine tub, which contained
6 spare curtain rings
1 Velcro tie thingy
1 paw patrol toy, weird why we have this, possibly a joke gift
1 tin, free gift with sanpro product
2 books
3 old minifigs
1 dice

Total: 300 items

Day 18:

• 4 kids fabric masks now too small for DD
• 2 stained rattan placemats
• 1 useless egg timer that rings at a wrong time
• 1 cleaning sponge
• 1 another old dog towel
• 1 roll of old compost bags
• 1 old nail brush
• 1 metal dog bowl ,I hate how it stains with water spots and I have now found nice new ceramic ones I’ll see how he gets on drinking from one he’s already always eaten from a ceramic bowl although would replace these with same design as the water bowl so there might be them more outs later
• 1 packet of old dog biscuits he loves so I will need to get him more
• 1 more pair of mucky craft scissors
• 1 stack of plastic cups never used
• 1 more small white IKEA plastic container I found in the moving boxes
• 1 old Antihistamine cream
• 4 cardboard boxes from DH whiskies etc to recycling so I can fit the bottles into the larder door better

Plus 8 cardboard moving boxes of various sizes I’ve unpacked now very tired but it’s getting there although I feel like I’ll run out of space here in the kitchen and the dining room where I’m trying to put this stuff but I’ll just have to declutter more and organise cleverly ( just realised home edit large bins can stack two on top of each other in the top shelf of the new larger cupboard so ordered 8 more this’ll give me a lot more of storage space compared to the 4 baskets that were there . I had medicines masks etc in these. I am in absolute agony now ,haven’t eaten really all day my lunch is still on a tray but I know the only way I could ever get stuff done is to just do it and not stop until I get it done or I can’t move any more … now on the sofa with my sandwich with my feet up when I get up I’ll go upstairs to my bed msybe I will look at kids clothes there or fold laundry .

Hello. I’m new to decluttering - we moved into our house in June and despite we thinking we didn’t have that much stuff we’ve expanded to full it and the junk seems to breed.
With Christmas coming up I need to clear loads out.
Today I’ve spent most of the day sorting through wardrobes. I’ve got rid of an old coat, I sold a few things on Vinted, I’ve a bag of clothes for a friend, one for a neighbour, and a smaller bag for rags. I’ve got a pile of things listed on Vinted buy it they don’t sell by the end of November they will be going to charity.
Listing things for eBay is my next job.

Current mantra - All those things used to be money, all that money used to be time.

Day 19:

• 1 damaged candle I dropped today
• 2 baby sleeping bags
• 1 baby snowsuit
• 1 baby bathrobe
• 1 baby nightgown
• 1 baby sleep suit
• 3 baby 2 piece pyjamas
• 3 knitted baby grows
• 1 velour baby grow
• 4 baby dresses
• 1 pair of baby bloomers

All but two items to charity shop and those two to a clothes bank . Finding this hard and going it slowly while distracted by tv but I’ve kept these for 9 y and there’s no use storing them in the attic forever , it won’t help me or anyone else . I kept 4 pieces of clothing and one blanket . One more storage box is now empty !

Oh can I join - gathered up all socks a chucked all those which do not match ( I know I would have been doing this before but gathered them all together rather than thinking I might find this little fella's partner ) and been through kitchen and bathroom cupboards for out of date things , extra spare bedding which never is used & a bit old & "just in case ) & now going through paperwork.

Tomorrow I shall be mainly testing all pens - if they don't write - they are going to Pen heaven. Also checking all cleaning stuff and decanting if I have 2 half full bottles ( same thing not going to mix them. ) Also half tins of paint - I suspect too old to be useful.

I got rid of the thick end of 2000 books once ( when charity shops used to take them ) - & was rather proud of myself - because they were mine & It took something to do that , but but I think I need another go at this.

Brilliant thread.

Day 20:

• 1 baby snow suit
• 3 baby grows
• 2 baby rompers
• 1 baby sweatshirt
• 1 baby sweatsuit
• 2 baby cardigans
• 1 baby long sleeved top
• 1 baby shirt
• 3 baby vests
• 3 baby dresses
• 1 baby two piece outfit
• 1 baby skort

I am counting everything individually in this category since it’s a real mental struggle for me but I’m getting through them. Maybe one more days worth since I’m still sitting in a pile on my bed but then I’m done for now ! Should sleep too …

Member of Wide Awake Club since I don’t know when…

October 25th.
Stationery items (my iPad tried to make me look like a dick by auto correcting to “stationary” )

Post Surgery bras….I am glad these can go…now happy and healthy !

Day 21:

• 1 baby swimming costume
• 6 baby bibs
• 4 pairs of baby tights
• 1 pair of baby booties
• 1 pair of baby mittens
• 8 baby hats

Most to charity shop