The minimalism game Jan 2022

[ImFree2doasiwant]

The idea is to get rid of 1 item on the 1st of the month, 2 on the 2nd, 3 on the 3rd etc. I hopped on the way of a thread in December but am here to start afresh if anyone want to join in. I might do this in reverse though, starting with 31 today and working back to 1, only because DC are going to their dad's tomorrow 2 fir days so I will have the time to maje a good start at it.

I aim to post updates daily!

Has anyone’s families noticed the clearing out? Mine have not noticed at all. Not one bit. I am a bit because maybe 10-12 bin bags have now left the house and we have done 2 charity shop runs. Still no one has said anything.

Meanwhile whilst I cooked dinner a huge pile of ‘The Week Jnr’ went in the bin.

Nope, nobody has noticed yet, although it’s early in the month still…

@AgathaMystery nope but my family members are 4 and 6 yrs old. Although exH may have noticed himself taking away the stuff I'd packed.

@Ninkanink I do love a new year fresh start - I've got three young kids and December (and November tbh) is all about organising Christmas and everything for them - and all my self care goes out the window and I massively overindulge in rubbish food. New Year arrives with loads more free time and optimism about sorting stuff and being able to focus on things I care about.

@ImFree2doasiwant and yes, I've overcommitted myself! I had a lovely window where I got loads done before I went back to work. I hope I do keep on top of the decluttering, the mess gets me down - I'm glad it's making you feel light, it would be the same for me too. But for now I'm proud of sticking with the exercise and diet.

Trip to the charity shop and tip today. Got rid of everything that was sitting in piles to leave the house. Added bag of batteries and some small electrical items for recycling (7), cracked plates and bowls binned (6). Then listed all the bulbs for old light fittings on freecycle and have them all with offers (3). Less luck with the various unwanted fixings, tins of half used tile protectors and cleaners but early days (8)! 2 more returns and that makes 26.

@namechange5575 yes I do understand that - self care is a good way to look at it.

Different things work for different people, I think, or maybe it has to do with what phase you happen to be in. Whereas not putting myself under a huge amount of pressure is my self-care these days - I’m such a perfectionist and get very easily overwhelmed with expectations of myself so I have to be very careful about resolutions/plans/etc. Decluttering is enough for me just now.

Did a bit more clearing out today - broke down a load of boxes ready for recycling next week. I’m not counting them toward my total but I’ve easily got 50 boxes of various sizes that I’ll be throwing out.

@SuperDiaperBaby that's great progress and such a good feeling to get things out of the house.

I can't WAIT for the recycling bin to go, it's packed full having not been emptied since before Christmas, so the kitchen is getting cluttered with things that won't fit in it.

I managed a few more bits today.

I havent taken the Christmas Dec's down yet, its a bit job putting them away.Also, I have load of stuff ready to go through in my room but again needs a bit more time devoting to it

@ImFree2doasiwant Interesting that where you live does have an impact on how you declutter. We are lucky to have weekly recycling collections for the basics, a very good recycling site nearby for all sorts of other items and a mass of charity shops to donate to. Add in clothes/shoes/books recycling bins as well as freecycle and pretty much anything can be saved from landfill apart from real rubbish. It does make it easier to let it 'go' once you make the effort of identifying the item and the correct home for it.

I love a declutter, Best tip I had from my friend when kids were small & everything was getting on top of me. Every time you go in a drawer/cupboard/box try to take something out you don’t need, amazing how much I got rid of. I leave a bag in the garage to put them in & take to the charity shop every month.

@SuperDiaperBaby we have a weekly collection but it's general waste onecweek and recycling the next. Because of chrustmas it wil be almost 4 weeks since the green bin was collected last, and obviously much more recycling with cardboard packaging from kids presents etc. I also live rurally, and although there us a great "tip" it's nit open when I go past to and from work so it's a but of a pain! I'm getting g better at putting stuff in the car and then taking it when i have a spare bit of time .

It's really hard to sell stuff on fb here too as no one wants to trek out to my village.

Day 7:

• 1 scented candle to charity
• 2 biscuit tins to metal recycling
• 2 gingerbread houses to food bank if enough best before date left
• 1 plastic storage basket from the kitchen I thought I already got rid of all when moving to different storage containers there
• 1 hideous orange bucket from the garage replaced by a black one MIL gave with gardening stuff at Christmas

Christmas decorations have been packed away today. Except for the tree as it’ll be picked up for recycling next week so we’ve decided just to keep it up until the night before collection.

Broke down all the little boxes today and have filled the recycling bin right to the top.

7:

1 cheese plate and dome - eBay
1 cheese board - eBay
1 old wooden candlestick - bin as not likely to sell and not right for charity shop
Lot of 3 collectible Christmas ornaments - eBay
1 broken piece of Wedgwood pottery which I’ve been vaguely meaning to mend for the longest time and will never get around to - bin

Total: 28

Day 7

1. Going through kids bookcase today and going to donate any good ones we won't read - they have so many and my eldest is unto chapter books now, so doesn't need the ones for younger kids
2. Pants drawer clear out!
3. My bookcase

Altogether this will get rid of at least 7 items I'm sure!

Saw my old belongings outside the charity shop today!

I’ve half done under the bed. Carrier bag of stuff has gone in the bin already.

Day 7:

1. Old storage box added to DHs tip pile - I sliced my hand open on a broken bit before Christmas so it's definitely going.
2. Old cardigan of DCs in the bin - it was a handknit so I usually try to give them away to someone who will use them, but this one was stained beyond redemption from pasta sauce.

3 and 4. Baby sleeping bags X 2 in the charity shop bag. Had them listed in vinted but no interest.im counting these as 2 items because I had little sleep with the DC last night and I won't be decluttering the house in detail tonight

1. Random large Amazon box in the recycling. Was saving it to reuse but it's just cluttering.
2. Old celebrations/heroes boxes. I usually keep some handy for transporting home made cakes etc, but we have been given more choices for Christmas, so the old boxes are going.
3. Any mojo for my actual job. Duly gone and decluttered

I will actually find something later for no 7, but right now, I'm stuck for ideas

@Eileen101 have you looked at toiletries/make up? Random pantry items? Draw of doom in the kitchen? They all throw up easy wins for me!

Day 7:

6 x books to charity shop
A few (counting it as one thing) weeks plastic bits from dc toy drawer

I should just throw my broken glasses away shouldn't I? I'm very sentimental about them.

Day 7

1. Instruction leaflet for Sky box
2. Plastic envelope from ParcelForce delivery from before Christmas.

3, 4 tealight holders I don’t really like or use 5 Trade union membership card 6 Packaging from toiletries gift set 7 Packaging from M&S delivery from before Christmas

I see a theme emerging - I seem to hold on to packaging!

[quote ImFree2doasiwant]@Eileen101 have you looked at toiletries/make up? Random pantry items? Draw of doom in the kitchen? They all throw up easy wins for me![/quote]
Ah you can tell I'm putting off the bathroom

It's definitely on the list. Although there a pack of disposable breast pads for Freecycle that are staring at me each time I go in...

Item 7 for today ended up being a pair of tights for DD. I brought a preloved dress for her and it was sent with some tights that were just baggy and a bit tatty, so they've gone.

Day 8 - 24.

1 pair scrubby gloves
3 tea towels
2 washing liquid duspenser
Coffee pods
Chocolate
5 plates
Scales
Mug
Sweets.
Hot choc
Socks
Cat bowl
4 dvds
4 kids water bottles that just don't seem to work properly!

27

So 3 to carry over.

Tea towels, plates and water bottles in the charity bag. Several things listed on Olio and being dropped off tomorrow!

Not much time today - worried an hour ago that I would not manage. Luckily headed to the land of the easy wins for me which was a teenager's bedroom. I stood holding up items from the floor asking whether they were to stay or go. He was ruthless! 2 bags for charity (15) and 2 bags of rag recycling (2). Listed some brand new unwanted items on eBay that had been hidden for ages in the mess (4).
8 of the 11 items listed on Freecycle have been gifted so added a draft excluder, cool box and 2 carpet protectors that have been under a bench (4). That gets me to 25.