<p>Yes, purging/de-cluttering is the way to go! </p>
<p>I am still very happy with my pantry door rack purchase (see my post #1). But I have looked at the new Container Store catalog and their 30% off Elfa sale and find nothing else of interest. All is still very expensive, and I recognize that mostly we just need to declutter. </p>
<p>And we need to stick to our resolve to buy a minimum of new junk. I do like purchases that allow me to give away less useful item(s). A new coat might be ok if it encourages me to replace (and give away) an old worn one… or better yet two!</p>
<p>Progress - I added 3 more tops to the giveaway bag in the closet;) Son is on the hook to make a pass at his bookcases (and stacked overflow on the dresser).</p>
<p>One category of stuff that has piled up over the years is D’s school projects. At some point, I picked a few gems from her written work and drawings, in other words, things that can be put into a big long box and shoved under the bed. But those darn projects have been gathering dust in the spare room and various closets for years. I guess I’ve always thought that tossing those would be like throwing away a little piece of her soul. Or maybe it’s because I remember those projects being spread all over the dining room table, or running out late at night to pick up more green glitter glue, or helping her practice the presentation that went along with the display. At any rate, they’re part of our collective memory. </p>
<p>But today (inspired by this thred) I asked her, and she said “Get rid of them! I’ve never been able to figure out why you’re saving them.” What a feeling of liberation!</p>
<p>It seems that everyone has some idea how to try and get rid of the “stuff” they no longer use. A way to cut down on replacing the old “stuff” with new “stuff” is only buy things that are labeled “made in the USA.” That includes clothing and tech stuff.</p>
<p>got my 16 year old to help me move everything out of her room and cleared it out. Tossed a few bags of stuff out when we were putting things away. She didn’t want to start, but she was very happy with the results and hasn’t left her room since, busy studying, which, with this one, was worth the two hours.</p>
<p>Thanks for the inspiration guys! Tomorrow, the linen closet. :(</p>
<p>Went through the boxes of Christmas stuff yesterday BEFORE putting away the tree decorations - got rid of two large plastic tubs either by throwing away or putting in the section of the attic reserved for garage sale stuff - yeah! </p>
<p>(I SWEAR this May we are going to have a humongous garage sale - we have had many in the past - the mantra being, once it goes out the door, it DOES NOT come back in!</p>
<p>We held a HUGE garage sale when I was in a maniacal purging mode when youngest son went off to college in September…made $600 and donated a pick-up full to Goodwill. Some people get a rush when they shop, I get a rush when I UNLOAD!!!</p>
<p>I just spent a day making another run at clearing out my mom’s condo. She moved into an apartment 2 weeks before Christmas, and while we’d done some clearing prior to the move there is still so much stuff. There is no way she will fit everything she had into the new place. </p>
<p>While I understand the sad feelings of watching much of what you’ve accumulated over the years go away, a lot of the things really shouldn’t have any sentimental value attached. The stuff just needs to go. My husband is thrilled - he’s been clamoring for me to purge for years now. Not that he has to purge, that’s a whole 'nother story. </p>
<p>One thing I’ve learned over the years is to wait to buy storage containers until after I’ve sorted and know exactly what will be kept and where/how it should be kept. While those rubbermaid bins worked brilliantly to take D’s things to college, they are not the best for storing things at home. Once in, everything is hidden and it never comes out until the next decluttering binge.</p>
<p>^ using the clear ones and labeling carefully might help. I agree don’t buy a lot of storage bins until you know what you have. But getting a few of the standard size can help in sorting and moving things to the proper area. Also sturdy box lids are great for corralling small things like jewelry, or office supplies. We use Avon box lids.</p>
<p>When the kids were little I liked the stacking milk crates. As the toys get given away, They are good since semi-open and stuff easily visible. </p>
<p>I’ll need to give the crates other uses or do giveaway on them too.</p>
<p>I’m trying to do this in small increments every day.</p>
<p>Today’s projects are: cleaning up Facebook by “hiding” some people who post constantly on topics which do not interest me. I like these people IRL, but don’t feel like scrolling through their posts. Today’s second project is to organize the CD’s in my car.</p>
<p>Over the weekend I decluttered my bathroom vanity and the top of my desk. </p>
<p>All small projects, but it’s making a difference.</p>
<p>Okay, this is pathetic, but my decluttering efforts since Xmas have been limited to paring down jewelry boxes. Much of this is old gold (not GF)/platinum/sterling stuff that’s either broken, ugly, or just never gets worn. Some have gemstones…nothing huge, but I would like to retain a few for sentimental reasons. I have no idea of the weight and no real desire to test it myself. There are also some old coins, not in cases/collector quality condition, and I would really like to help D buy her first car with the proceeds…a few of them are gold and idk if they’re worth more as scrap than as coins since they’re not rare. Does anyone know of a reputable firm that I can sell this stuff to? I’m afraid of firms that advertise on TV!</p>
<p>I do not like to shop, I give checks as presents and I love to throw stuff out. I also cannot touch any of my H’s stuff which is primarily miriad of computers and TV’s of various sizes in each room. I also like to stay disconnected, so I do not do Facebook and delete most of my personal emails without going thru them. </p>
<p>My problem is flooding my house with products of my hobby (pottery) because I do not have time to sell them. I give them away whenever I could, but I am producing them much faster than getting rid of them. This activity is very addictive (according to everybody else who is doing it). Selling takes time no matter what kind of selling you choose, and I rather spend my time after work doing what I like.</p>
<p>Sk8rmom, my husband has always enjoyed coins as a hobby. I think he recently sold some gold (so the price must be decent right now) at a local coin shop. Check the yellow pages and see if you have any local dealers that you could at least check re: value with. You could also check with Better Business Bureau to see that particular business is legit.</p>
<p>Thanks abasket…I forgot about coin shops! I can see that the melt value of morgan/peace dollars (90% purity) is about $23…I think they’re interesting just as coins so don’t know if I’d do that, though that’s higher than similar ones are selling for on ebay right now that sterling is around $30/oz. Gold is almost $1400 per troy oz and platinum is $1750…if only the same were true of copper! I have a bajillion copper pennies as my dad just threw them all in coffee cans and put them in the garage and my uncle and grandfather did the same :eek:</p>
<p>@MiamiDP - you should look into a artists’ consignment shop or gallery as an outlet for your work. Once you find a interested & willing retailer, you can go back to creating.</p>
<p>Pawn shops and many jewelers will pay you for your gold/silver/platinum. I was recently invited to a gold party, where you brought in your old jewelry, single earrings, etc and they paid you for it - lots of ways to disperse of gold/silver etc. Also a jeweler might give you some cash for the stones. You will probably be surprised at how much you will get. I picked up a small sterling serving bowl at a garage sale for $5.00 and sold it to a pawn shop for the silver for $50.00 Just take all of those pennies to a Coin Star machine, they keep, I think, 10% and banks don’t seem to want to mess with large amounts of pennies these days.</p>
<p>A lot of banks have Coin Star-type machines in their lobbies. If you’re a member of the bank, you don’t get charged anything for it… I recently took a container of coins to my bank and got $67 out of it. If I hadn’t been an account holder, it would have cost me $5.</p>
<p>Kind of a goofy site, but the best organization advice I have ever found. Wonderful starting point for those who are particularly challenged when it comes to keeping belongings and home in order.</p>