My decluttering goal for December was one item a day for a total of 31 items. I am happy to say that, even with a couple of days left in the month, I met and exceeded that goal! Even with things coming into the house in terms of clothes, etc., given to me by family, I was still able to have more items leave than came in!
I began the month keeping a list of the decluttered items, but, I decided to do a narrative post instead of just posting the list of items!
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| Old Wicker Chest |
Some of the items I decluttered included a broken wicker chest that used to be in the family room (bought as a coffee table with storage, used to store gift wrap and my stash of gifts for several years and, more recently, to hold the bags of dry cat food), a non-working can opener, a broken whisk, and broken ornaments, which were simply tossed. Today, four old plastic spatulas (assorted sizes) that were starting to crack and break off were tossed as they were replaced by two new silicone spatulas (a gift from friend R who had asked me what I wanted; I like practical gifts that I can use).
Other items such as the 4-tier plastic shelving unit which also used to be in the family room (which I decided I didn't need to keep as a plant stand, after all), magazines, and catalogs were recycled.
Some items were set aside to be donated, along with the previous months' items that had been set aside for donating. Altogether, about 8 bags of my stuff and 2 bags of cousin P's stuff were picked up by the charity I was donating to, on December 22.
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| Gift Using Items from the Stash |
Also "decluttered" were things I had on hand in my gift stash and crafts supplies, such as the new picture frame and ceramic flowers in the gift shown above, fabric, yarn (used for the blanket and a shawl I crocheted), a set of new kitchen towels, etc., which I incorporated into holiday gifts and old Christmas cards and scrapbooking supplies I used for making this year's cards and gift tags, etc.
I will continue my decluttering in the new year, too. I am going to try the one item in/one item out rule where I can, but, I think more items will have to go out than come in if I am to declutter!
Did anyone else declutter in December? Is anyone planning to join me again in January for decluttering?
I declutter year-round ~
ReplyDeleteHi Bobbie, I do, too! :)
DeleteSign me up for the Jan. declutter group. I will commit to monthly decluttering!
ReplyDeleteThe more the merrier! :)
DeleteWell done on your December decluttering efforts, Bless. I'll be carrying on with decluttering in January. I still have a lot of items to sell and think I can probably find more things to donate.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; maybe you can declutter in January what you hoped to do in December. :)
DeleteYou've done well with your decluttering. Me...I can't claim to have decluttered as what I bagged up to go to the charity shop is still sat in our garage :(
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; as long as you have those items bagged up and set aside for donating, I'd consider that as decluttered (provided they don't make it back inside the house - sometimes, my decluttered items migrate back, inside!) :)
DeleteI'm doing my best - but currently decluttering for my elderly aunt , so boxes have come back to my house to be sorted. We are getting there!
ReplyDeleteYou get to count the decluttering you are doing for your aunt, Angela. :)
DeleteI haven't done much in the way of decluttering this month, although very little has found it's way into the house. I'm hoping for another good clear out in January. X
ReplyDeleteWell done on keeping the incoming items to a minimum. :) That's half the battle, isn't it?
DeleteCongratulations on another successful month - and year - of decluttering. I have had a successful December as well and will be right there with you in 2022!
ReplyDeleteI will be more mindful of the one in one out thing too. I've sort of been doing that - lining items off of the declutter list if I bring something new in thereby opening up that "slot" again. That keeps things balanced in my counting, at least to my way of thinking. But I will be more on top of it and pay close attention.
With virus precautions I have't been going to the yard sales or thrift stores I enjoy so the inflow has been minimal and that helps.
I don't have real problem areas specifically but this year I did get several large things out of the house and I worked hard on the garage area.
My basement is empty and so is my attic - although thinking of this I think our luggage is in the attic and I'm going to move it down to a closet and see if there's a piece or two we might donate.
There you go - A job to start the new year off with :)
Thank you, Debra. I'll be glad to have you join me with the decluttering in 2022! Well done on getting those larger items out and emptying the basement, etc.
DeleteKeeping the things that are coming in to a minimum is the key, I'm finding; or, at the very least, making sure an equal number is also going out! I've a garage full of stuff to get rid of, too, but, for now, I want to focus on the house, itself. :)
No- I didn't empty the basement this year, it has always been empty. lol.
DeleteI was just saying that I didn't have an area like a full basement to be concerned about. I know that's a problem area for some people.
Our basement sometimes gets a bit of water in a bad storm. It's hard to predict when - we might go years and get nothing but then we will get some water if it rains a lot. I can never tell so I've just never kept anything down there. Except for the wet dry vac I got at a yard sale for $8
lol
Oh, I see! Sorry, I misunderstood! Well, it's a good thing that you keep your basement empty, especially if it gets water coming in from time to time. Water got into my garage, with our recent rains because the side door I had put in, in 2019 got warped for the rain and now, it won't close all the way! Fortunately, the water stayed in that one area and not the whole garage, but, cleaning out the garage is on my To Do list for next year!
DeleteI was happy to donate some years old Meccano to a young friend. When I asked DS if I could pass it on, he didn't know it was still around and certainly didn't need it!
ReplyDeleteDecluttering slowed up in December although I do have some items in a couple of boxes. I hope to get down to some serious decluttering in the New Year.
That was kind of both you and your DS to pass on the Meccano set. My daughter is going through her clothes as I write this; it looks like we might add another bag or two of items to be donated before December is over! :D
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