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:

Day 7

1 microscope that DS is no longer interested in
1 butterfly slide
Set of other slides
3 smelly squashy toys
Fidget toy that no longer works

Total: 28 items

And day 7 concluded.
5 ice cube trays and a couple of small cutlery trays. All have been gathering dust for several years on a shelf.

Where on earth does all this crap come from?

Yesterday's progress...
Sold 1 item on Facebook Marketplace
1 plastic jug
Assorted beauty samples

Excellent decluttering everyone!

Day 7 for me: 6 more too-small tops and my fave velour joggers from my early 20s (too small doesn't even begin to describe them)

Main total: 28

Bonuses: fake flowers, 2 lids, 3 old toothbrushes and a very small bee costume

Bonuses total 74

@Declutterclogs you're doing extra amazing with your bonus declutter.

@WitchityGrubby are you @MissCreeAnt? If you are it's only going to get easier day by day for you and only harder for us.

@torthecatlady I don't have the patience to sell things.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats I might have to get DP involved by the end of the month.

@SandwichDistraction yes you are right, it would probably be easier to do before your break.

@Trumpton it's easy to forget stuff in first aid and medicine cabinet

@RedCake I had a similar thought. I've never heard of first defence and wondering if I need it in my life.

👍🏼 to everyone else.

Good work everyone. I really enjoy seeing/reading the updates - they also give me ideas!

Today's outs:
2 pairs scratched sunglasses
1 pair holey invisible sock things
1 umbrella bag for which the umbrella has long since gone
1 glasses case with no glasses that fit it
2 old pairs of glasses (will take these to the opticians tomorrow as they do something with them....)

I'm doing a side hustle in my bullet journal, recording items that are coming in as well as going out - and deducting the ins from the outs... My running total so far is 38

@freezerdinners I like your bullet journal idea. I assume your outs are thrashing your ins. 😁

I'm struggling a bit with this today so coming to read your updates for motivation!

I managed to drop off all our old meds at a pharmacy today. I had the shame of having to empty them all out into a tray. Embarrassing there was so much. But still, gone is gone.. (They don't make everyone do this, it's only because I had some tramadol, which is a controlled drug.)

You can do it @MissCreeAnt.

I just realise one of the items is not a tweezer but the handle of a razor. 🤣🤣 how did that happen and where the hell is the tweezer???? Ah well, I'm sure I'll find it again.

@YupIFreakilyHave yes far more outs. Only 5 in so.far. It's making me more mindful about what's coming in too.

Keep at it @MissCreeAnt! My finds were pretty much all from one box today.

I’ve got some v old tramadol but having trouble letting it go now my Armageddon alcohol supply has been binned. I blame reading The Road.

Day 7 - old games, my under stairs cupboard will be very helpful towards the end of the month.

Old sandals
A glass jug
Old computer keyboard
Gummed up scissors
Umbrella cover (what's the point of these?!)
Perfume samples x3

Popcorn and a bottle of Chardonnay to take to work for a friend tomorrow

Also listed a small side table of Facebook marketplace

2 bottles of cough syrup too!

Thank you @freezerdinners and @YupIFreakilyHave. @Redcake yup, I'd hung onto those last Tramadol far too long!

24 items done (ish).
8 odd socks
10 knitting things (walls of wool etc)
3 storage boxes

There will be some sewing patterns too, enough to make 24+, but I will count them properly tomorrow

Day 8: Done early today!

6 extra toys and clothes in the charity bag (no outside the front door!)
Old vouchers off fridge
Old thank you cards off fridge

Might try and do day 23 later today to get ahead for our camping holiday.

@SandwichDistraction that is super early!! Great work.

It's evening here so not super early but for day 8 I have 7 dusty out of date sauce bottles from the pantry plus an out of date sticky bottle of half used squash, thankfully now down sink/in recycling.

Total 36

Bonuses: 9 items from the underwear drawer (I won't traumatise you all with a picture of those) for a total of 83.

I also decluttered some socks BUT that was only because I bought some new ones so can't count those sadly.

I did this last March well done everyone it was really good going to do a 2 item a day challenge in November before Christmas and I have a rule every new item in equals one out as I have enough stuff

Out of date spices and herbs and two containers from cocktail sticks

Day 8

8 children's hangers which are too small for teenage clothes.

Total: 36 items

Thanks for stopping by to cheer us on @TeacupDrama - it's nice to hear from someone on the other side! If you want to start your 2 things a day early feel free to stick around and join in

I might join you next week as it's half term in Scotland

Hi everyone! Thank goodness for this game as otherwise I really wouldn't have done anything to declutter today.

Rallyed myself and got:
1 old SIM card
2 cardboard jewellery boxes
1 pair of earrings
1 belly bar piercing thing
2 used up gift cards
1 vintage glass coke bottle that I bought in my 20s because I thought it was cool.

THEN I must have found my decluttering mojo as I've got my 9 for tomorrow ready as we'll be out all day... So those are:

4 used toothbrushes of unknown vintage, nestling in the bathroom drawer. I keep some for cleaning, but elsewhere so goodness knows what the thinking behind these was...
3 beauty samples of stuff I have to accept I will never use (very basic skincare routine here)
1 jiff lemon bottle 18months out of date
1 ice cream tub being kept in case it was useful. It hasn't been.

Running total on my bullet journal side hustle - 53 items fewer in the house.