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:

PENULTIMATE DAY !

I dived into the airing cupboard and got 2 large bed coverings and many fancy dress items that can go to the charity shop.

So 30th will be our last day and the 31st for gazing at our belly buttons and humming contentedly.

It’s been fun!

Day 29

More sentimental items. A simple stack of letters, about 29, possibly a few more. From my 3 friends when they/I lived in different countries.

One friend I lost touch with just because we both moved around so much (pre-Facebook days). Lovely, deep, hilarious friend. 💕

One friend is my best friend from school. I'm seeing her next week. Her handwriting is so hard to read, always so hard, that it's pointless keeping them because I get such a headache trying to decipher them. I asked her if she wanted the letters. She was like what an earth for? No thanks. I'm blessed that she's still in my life and we have lots to talk about and laugh about. 💕

Finally, letters from my wonderful friend Audrey who died a few years ago. I can't look at her letters without getting upset. I kept 2 cards that she sent to me: full of joy, humour and warmth. Love you Audrey ❤️💕❤️

Total: 435 items

Audrey sounds like a gift of a friend.

Day 29 - things from a mystery storage box that I didn’t even know I had.

@YupIFreakilyHave well done with your letters. That must have been hard and sorry about your friend.

Day 27 and 28.

Some more bathroom stuff and some spices. I have so many and lots out of date but I hated doing this. We have a refill shop locally and you can just buy a small amount of spice so I will start going there as I hate wastage.

Games cupboard. My children are adults so most of these have been in here for years. Some are going to my daughter and some to my niece and the rest to charity. I kept a few like scrabble monopoly and cluedo but no doubt I will out these in the future as no one wants to play except me.

Day 29. Can’t believe it’s the last day tomorrow!

I think I might do a digital declutter in November.

Anyway today:
23 photos (first bit of sentimental I have done)
More paperwork
DD Massive balloon light from Christmas light show last year. It finally ran out of batteries!
Broken fake candle
Glasses case
Photo frame
Notebook
Extra set of Tbsp/tsp measures
Sushi rolling mat
Wooden spoon
Cooking thermometer
Ice cream scoop

More than 29 but I am on a roll so not carrying it over to tomorrow.

Day 29, 2 items

A chair
A pack of craft paper
Another bag of wool oddments
3 pairs outgrown summer PJs

ITS THE FINAL COUNTDOWN! Or is it count up?

The large wine glasses are “full bottle of wine glasses”. Nice as a novelty but have gone back to charity shop.

25 or so nail varnishes that I can no longer use due to a recently developed allergy. I kept them thinking I would craft with them….
But NO! Away you go!

9 lots of sheets and pillow cases to local animal centre.

The rest is just junk.

I also got to the re-cycling bins yesterday and got rid of glass and card and textiles.

So long fellow minimalists it’s been a good thing to do.

I have to be up in 90 mins to catch the morning ferry so I will see if I can get another 40 winks.

Good morning and farewell @Trumpton!! I hope you got some extra sleep and have a lovely day, including a fantastic sense of achievement. It's been really fun playing the minimalism game with you

Final day. Gosh I'm feeling a bit emotional actually. This has been a huge month for me. Over 1000 things have left the house, many of which were junk but many others I honestly didn't realise I would ever be able to part with. There are actually one or 2 things that in hindsight I wish I'd kept for a little longer, but they are well and truly balanced out by the 998+ other items that I'm so pleased to have said goodbye to and which now are now replaced by 998+ areas of spare space in my house and, in many cases, areas of lightness in my head and heart.

Thanks so much everyone for coming along with me on this little (enormous!) journey and for having me along on yours.
There's still space on the thread so I'd be very happy to keep chatting with anyone else who is keen to keep the momentum going - I don't think I could go for another 1000 next month (it's been pretty draining, while also fabulous) but I think I will have tomorrow off then try start again at 1 on Monday!

Day 30

30 or a little more photos. Mostly duplicates, group pics of people whose names I no longer remember and any that did not give me joy. 👋🏼

Total: 465 items

Well done @Trumpton and @Declutterclogs You are over the finish line and done so well. 🥂🥳🎉

Trumpton, enjoy your trip. Declutterclogs, enjoy your rest. @MissCreeAnt easypeasy day for you. 

I am done decluttering physical stuff for now but happy to carry on posting to support people on their journeys.

Almost there @SandwichDistraction and @mrsjackrussell . Sandwich, I'm doing digital decluttering and organising in November.

@RedCake @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats waiting to see your last day haul.

@Nordicmom I can't believe how much you have caught up since you joined us so late into the game.

@Declutterclogs over a 1000 items gone. I bow to you. ⭐️🌟⭐️💫

I am still a few days behind here so I’ll have to see what I can do today and tomorrow . I might not finish in time this month but I will finish !

I will try to find the days 27 and 28 items today so that’s 55 then the two remaining days tomorrow. I have indeed done all the old kids clothes in this house bar some left in my room but there’s boxes and boxes in our storage locker I’ve asked DH to go to get things for this new house anyway so hopefully he will .

Day 29 and 30. Another junk drawer cleared.
8 rusty skewers
12 plastic forks
10 very old packs of plasters
1 bag of used birthday candles
6 packs of water sterilising tablets (leaking...)
7 more dead batteries
2 old tubes of glue (solid!)
3 rubber seals
6 bags of random fixtures
1 pack of fisherman's friends (8 years out of code)
1 pack of Rennies (similar vintage)
16 Random plastic fittings
73 items (at which point I got bored of counting the rest)
Complete set pictured.
Tomorrow's lot is 31 glass ramekins (from Gu puddings)

I'm starting again on the 1st - this has been a brilliant experience.
Many thanks @YupIFreakilyHave for bringing this to my attention!!

Today's drawer that would previously only open with difficulty now looks like this

Day 30 - pj drawer and more electric leads and bits.

Thanks @YupIFreakilyHave for the thread, I have enjoyed the game and good luck to all the lovely players that are continuing.

I will pop back to cheer you on and give an update on how much money my junk has made for me. Next stage for me is to get the donations and recycling to their new homes and to sell anything that’s left.

I will have a well deserved and think of Telford tomorrow.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats oh, your junk drawer is so soothing.

@RedCake you're welcome 😊 😇 and (Telford)

Hello all
I'm a little behind due to a combination of work and tiredness aiming to go through lots of things today! In November I think I will not go for as many items but I may set myself a target of eg going through specific cupboards or drawers

Day 27

• 1 old football annual of DS
• 1 magazine of mine ( I’m

now completely up to date on mine and I had a basket full earlier while moving , I don’t have any old newspapers and only 2 current copies of magazines plus three this y school , restaurant travel and beauty supplements for resources I keep until next one comes out . I Have a bit of an issue with stacks of magazines and newspapers having grown up with a mom hoarding years and years worth of them under arm chairs and sofa , in the attic etc because she couldn’t bare to throw any away without looking through / reading most of it and there’s a new newspaper daily . My aunt was similar and in general both had so much stuff just everywhere .I don’t want to be like that I’ve always yearned for order even as a toddler organised my toys in rows around my baby brother ) Found that DS had some PlayStation and football ones still from 2018 and 2019 despite me having repeatedly nagged both kids to actually read their magazines or recycle them not just leaving them to collect dust on their bookshelves so have tasked him to look through 14 out of his stack on maybe 40 and they’re going so

• 14 DS football and PlayStation magazines
• 5 more old bath towels( I’m

throwing all of the cheapest quality ones we have away )

• 5 hand towels
• 1 plastic flap? (part of the printer DH says we have never needed )

I hope everyone’s houses are feeling more spacious and calm.

Day 30:
19 books (thanks to DH who didn’t rescue any from the pile but added more!)
2 x T-shirt’s
Spare duvet and pillows
Spare duvet cover
Handkerchief
Pair of tights
More random papers
Old cheque book
2 x whiteboard pens
A pencil

DH went out and bought an axe and saw to get rid of all the tree trunks and branches from the trees we chopped down in summer. He has instructions to get rid of two tools from the garage as per the new 1 in 1 out policy. He laughed and said that will be very easy (garage is full of tools).

DD spent her saved up pocket money on a Paw Patrol Rubble toy so a baby pram toy has gone.

DH’s side of the family have bought the girls a Yoto player for Christmas as a joint present. That has arrived today so I need to find one extra thing to go. Really pleased with this one joint present from his mum and 3 siblings for both the DD’s. It means we have 1 thing instead of 8!

Looking forward to spending tomorrow reflecting on the months progress!

Day 28

• 1 pile of screws DH has discarded finishing setting up his study
• 2 unidentifiable metal fittings he’s throwing out too
• 4 more pairs of DS too small pants from his drawer I went through, might be more in the dirty laundry later
• 1 old pot of Sudocrem ,we have a new tube of it too and don’t normally use it
• 1 set of razor blades that don’t fit on anyone’s razor (DH uses a machine only and DS has a different manual one now )
• 1 towel drying rack kids use I just noticed is kind of yellowed and really scratched on one side maybe in the move ( I might replace this but it’s a big thing going out for sure )
• 2 DD comics
• 1 selection of cardboard shoeboxes from DD new shoes I’m decanting into plastic shoeboxes in her wardrobe
• 1 more bath towel
• 1 pair of DD shorts
• 1 pair of DD jeans
• 1 pair of DS jeans
• 1 DD summer shirt
• 1 DD wool sweater
• 1 DD sweatshirt
• 1 DS sweater
• 1 DD hoodie and shorts set
• 3 DD summer dresses
• 1 baby hat
• 1 baby grow
• 1 set of baby booties

Pheeew looking at these kids clothes cause me anguish still but I do want to get through them I think I’ve had enough for one day now though tomorrow I’ll try to do day 29 and 30 . DH is meant to go get me boxes from storage tonight , he did find me one more kids clothes box from this house so there’s a few more to look through here later . Will be adding them to my tomorrow’s 59 I have to gather