Since late fall of 2015, I've been at the shore as much as possible. I put a lot of work in down there, then spent a lot of time enjoying it. It has taken me a full year to find my groove in managing two houses. I think I've got it, so now I need to get things under control at home. My eyes have not been on our house in Philadelphia and it shows.
I started an everything must go campaign two weeks ago and it's been awesome. I am a person who feels weighed down by stuff so it has lightened my load a lot. More work to do here though, so I am going to join Steph for 30 bags in 30 days, getting rid of a bag of something every day in January. It won't be a kitchen trash bag of shit every day, some days it'll be a small shopping bag, but every day, a bag must go: trash, recycle, or donation. My grandmom taught me the one in one out rule, but until I really get everything under control I don't want to be distracted from my goal by bringing new stuff in. So I'm not buying unnecessary shit in January or February. This is not a spending freeze. Some exceptions I'd make:
-Black boots: if I find ones I love, I'm buying them.
-Something LulaRoe if Amanda hosts a party
I have been through pieces of my wardrobe, but haven't been through the entire thing in a while. My friend Lauren reminded me of the turn the hanger trick, where all the hangers face one way and once something is worn you turn it the other way, so this week I'll turn the hangers in both closets I use for clothes to see what I actually wear and what I don't. I'd like to get MFD to do his as well. I am waiting on a few tops from ModCloth and pants from Old Navy to replace some work stuff I had to get rid of, so when they arrive, it's on.
I'll check back with you on the last day in January as to how I did with 30 bags in 30 days as well as the no shopping thing. I'll check back in on that at the end of February as well. Do you have any plans to not spend or purge your home to kick the new year off?
Happy birthday to my aunt Sue today!
We do a really good of job of keeping the house decluttered and about every 3 months or so purge items. I really like your idea and might try it weekly!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteLord knows I need to do this. I need to get rid of the mindset- what if I need this someday, I don't want to have to buy another! I was a thrift store shopper and I know many could use the stuff we have here!
ReplyDeleteLove. Your. Momma.
Yay for 30 bags in 30 days! I've 2 of recycling and 1 of donations so far. Hoping to get more donations out of John's side of the closet ;) Which, let's be honest, is almost the entire thing. I'm trying not to buy anything but food, I don't think I have anything else on my list I actually need to buy at the moment so fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteI went through my closet and drawers two weeks ago. I have 3 bins in a spare closet that hold the clothes I'm not sure about (and extra stuff of Scott's). I go through them and get rid of things occasionally, but I keep feeling like I really will need some of these clothes someday.
ReplyDeleteI love getting rid of anything that's generally in my way.
This is a GREAT idea. I don't know if I can do thirty bags but I will certainly try!
ReplyDeleteI did a closet purge right before Christmas and dropped it off that day to a local charity. I think that's key...don't just bag it; get rid of it. Otherwise you'll have bags of donations in your house or car for weeks. Good luck! It's a great project!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the turn the hanger trick? I just donated 2 bags of clothes to the Vets. It's always very satisfying getting rid of stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe've recently acquired a ton of stuff for the baby/maternity and now that I'm nearing the end, I can finally get rid of things I didn't manage to wear (I got several maxi dresses from a friend and now I can definitively say I will never wear them - they're just not my thing, pregnant or not). I'm also looking forward to seeing what we actually need for the baby and getting rid of all the random stuff we've accumulated from other people who insist you need everything from wipe warmers to bath tub thermometers. Pretty sure not all of it is as essential as we were told!
ReplyDeleteIt feels SO good to get rid of crap. So so good.
ReplyDeleteI cleaned up a lot of my wardrobe before Christmas and now I need to tackle the stuff. First on my list is my DVDs...they take up far too much space and I can't tell you the last time I watched 90% of them.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! I'd say we do a pretty good job of keeping the clutter to a minimum thanks to quarterly cleanouts.
ReplyDeletewww.justmurrayed.com
30 bags seems like so many, but maybe if I had more than 3 rooms in my tiny apartment, I could nail this one. I've been sticking to my seasonal clothing purges and the weekly decluttering of the apartment and it's been pretty successful. I think there are definitely some things in my closet that I'm a bit delusional over.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea. I have SO MUCH JUNK I need to get rid of.
ReplyDeleteThe scary part is getting in drawers & cabinets... I could dig in & never come out it seems.
I need to do a good closet purge, and also a no unnecessary spend for the next two months as well. You've been rockin' it with managing two houses, and it must be such a treat to go unwind at the shore house <3
ReplyDeleteI'm unofficially on an unnecessary spending freeze as well. Mainly because I'm still on leave from work and not getting my full paycheck but also because there are some things I need to purge around our house too! I've always wanted to try the turn the hanger trick in my closet to actually see what I already know. Lol. Have fun getting rid of 30 bags! I bet it wil feel so good in the end.
ReplyDeleteI love a good purge! I think after we painted the nursery this weekend my nesting/purging went into overdrive and I went through my bedroom closet (both sides), all 6 dresser drawers, and our entryway closet and just got rid of stuff. Our donation pile is huge so some people are going to reap the rewards of this nesting haha. Good luck with your 30 days!!
ReplyDeleteLiterally, purging has been on my mind for months. I have seen people post about 40 bags, 40 days, etc...I don't think I'll get to that many days with everything coming up, but I have a few free days and I plan to finally purge. I feel the same way, cluttered and weighed down by things. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteI really like this idea! I've been doing so well with de-cluttering and even have managed to get my pack-rat of a husband to give up some things he realized he really didn't need. Good luck and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI missed the 30 bags in 30 days challenge! I'm going to have to implement that. Hopefully it will encourage Scott to stop holding on to crap he's never going to use again.
ReplyDeleteI like the one in, one out rule, but I don't always do it. (Hell, I don't OFTEN do it.) I also the 30 bags in 30 days routine, but to be honest I just get in crazy purge moods and go nuts. And that seems to work for me for now. I can't wait to hear how this goes for you, though! I might try it!
ReplyDelete30 bags in 30 days sounds awesome! I'm going to read the post and join in. I've got 3 boxes getting hauled out tomorrow and threw away an entire bag of stuff this morning! Woo!
ReplyDeleteThat is beyond awesome and such a great idea! I have decluttered in many areas of my home but a few places still are really hard to tackle (like my knick knacks). I'm constantly trying to find the will to part with them.
ReplyDeleteI am terrible at getting rid of things! I don't like clutter at all, but I am afraid that if I get rid of something I don't wear I will regret it. Ugh! I need to get over it already!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do the hanger trick, however I kind of informally do it based on memory. I weirdly know what I have and haven't worn, and if it's been a REALLY long time - that thing needs to GO. I also donate my clothes now so it's a feel-good situation PLUS it makes room in my already too-cramped closet.
ReplyDeleteI love the 30 bags idea! As much as I don't think I'm a big shopper, I know exactly what you mean about feeling weighed down by too much stuff. I can't wait to hear how this goes for you!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting rid of a ton of books that are old or that I won't read, because they were overtaking my house. Besides that, I don't have too much clutter. Best of luck with this challenge though!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I am also in the midst of a major purge, and I love it!! Good for you!! I can only imagine what it's like trying to keep track of two houses!!
ReplyDelete30 bags in 30 days is brilliant! i'll have to try that one day.
ReplyDeletei did the hanger trick, and it really opened my eyes - i have like 20-30 work tops and i wear the same 10 over and over. oops. so i got rid of a bunch but i still have a couple i don't wear as often.
I love this idea! I know that we have so much extra stuff in our house that we don't need and that we should get rid of some of it!
ReplyDeleteYup, with you on no excessive shopping for a bit, with the exception of black boots because mine are falling apart. I may have to try the hanger trick- I know I have a lot of clothes I just don't wear and recycle the same outfits regularly. A closet purge is definitely at the top of my new years goals. Good luck with your 30 bags in 30 days!
ReplyDeleteI'm in a purging mood too. I've tried 40 bags in 40 days and got nowhere but I have a free weekend coming up so I see a lot of bags going out the door. I hope. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm on a post-Christmas spending freeze, but had a few errors I blame on the Head Co. Also, when I pack all the Christmas stuff up, I'll purge the garage closets. I hope.
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