We have purchased a couple of pieces of new exercise equipment, and are getting another. We need room for this stuff!
Where I work we have an on-line forum for selling/renting/giving things away. I posted my VERY old (like 25+ years) skier/ stair stepper /elliptical for “best offer.” Someone actually contacted me tonight, and it should be GONE from our basement this weekend. I decided it could go “free to a good home.” (I’m happy they are getting it out of my basement).
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@1214mom smart move being satisfied with the “pay” of free removal!
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I went looking in my “junk” drawer over the weekend for a spare house key and released I had two rings of keys - one from my parents and one from my in-laws. About 20 keys on each ring that were spares they gave us for emergencies to places that nobody has lived in in at least 5 years. Threw them all out. Not a big space saving, but felt good nonetheless.
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Over the weekend I got rid of a bag of clothing, a too-big beach towel, a couple of jigsaw puzzles, three cookbooks, a pair of tall boots, and a few other kitchen odds and ends. I also trashed some old nail polish and makeup. I try to regularly stay on top of the snail mail paper clutter.
I will say since we have upsized condos (from 935 sq ft to 1,600 sq ft), I have replaced some small kitchen appliances that I had gotten rid of with our large downsize (from 3,500 to 935 sq ft). I have acquired a food processor (not too large), a waffle iron, and I am expecting the arrival of my food sealer this week. The last one I have never owned before. I do think it is easy to let stuff creep back in and fill up available space. However, I am definitely using the food processor and waffle iron, so I don’t feel bad about getting those again. Both are better quality than what I previously owned.
One positive is that I feel I am much more thoughtful and thorough about my decision making regarding new items. As an example, I have been intrigued by air fryers. However, after much contemplation, I decided I really didn’t want one. I cannot stand to have appliances on my counter, and I really don’t have room to store one. Imposing that cabinet space constraint helps keep extraneous gadgets and appliances at bay.
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I agree about kitchen appliances. I’ve also applied that logic to new pots and pans. If I’m buying something that will have only one use, at my age will I use it enough to make it worth my while? I had a debate with myself about buying a spring-form pan and finally did. I’ve used it enough to not feel guility about buying it.
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When our toaster oven died last month, we did look at air fryers (thought maybe we’d get one and a traditional toaster - we have tons of counter space). We decided the deep/tall dimensions would look too awkward. Instead we got this affordable toaster oven (our main need, and toast is Fast) that also has Air Fry mode (handy for some things). https://www.walmart.com/ip/BLACK-DECKER-Crisp-N-Bake-Air-Fry-4-Slice-Toaster-Oven-TO1787SS/354341819?fbclid=IwAR1RB9zevEEWkTC_JXQVtrRryGHoXOpuryEhgOgvBOL8KGluqxXgLYPi7FM
I was pleased with the compromise, has identical footprint as old toaster oven
So glad to see this thread bumped up! I haven’t been here in awhile but have a pickup scheduled for a week from today and have 2 big bags all ready to go. I hope to have a few more in the next few days.
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While exercising yesterday, I watched about ten minutes of a Hoarders, Buried Alive episode. Oh, my word! I immediately had to go get rid of some stuff. Lol! Please don’t misunderstand - my home looks NOTHING like those AT ALL. But, I’ve had some old collectibles of my mother’s that had been hanging out in a large tub under my bed, and, for whatever reason, seeing part of one those shows prompted me to get rid of some of that stuff! While not particularly sentimental, I did have a few things that I wanted to keep, but I was able to get rid of enough that I went from a large tub to a small tub, and I now know that everything that is in there is precious to me in some way whether it stays in the tub under the bed or not. So, even though it wasn’t a huge change, I felt accomplished.
I will never be minimalistic about my clothing I don’t think, but that is okay. Our home is truly in great shape and filled with things we use on a regular basis. Ds has only a few things here, and none are readily conducive to getting to him, so we will keep those for him. They are all tucked away, out of sight.
Honestly, I think I’m finished. I will plan to do a sweep of our entire place once a year and probably the clothing twice a year. Yay!
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I don’t even own a toaster or toaster oven.
Hoarders is a regular part of my “clean it out” routine. I turn that show on (doesn’t matter if I’ve already seen the episode) and go to work! I spend a lot less time wondering whether to keep or toss–the answer will be toss (unless I love something).
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We have a variety of appliances in the cabinets that we don’t use much, but will keep as long as we have space. However we do use the toaster oven almost daily. Not as much for breakfast as we did when the kids (big waffle fans) were home, though sometimes hubby likes toast. Now that we are retired, it gets more use at lunch time - sandwiches on toast for him, avocado toast or grilled cheese for me. Also we use it for things that seem not worth firing up “the big oven”.
I really do need to find a home for the two Revereware pots from my mother. I am only keeping for sentimental reasons, trying to hunt down one of the grandchildren who might have interest. I have considered offering them up to the friends who bought a camper last fall.
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The downside of cleaning a closet out - which I did today is that once stuff is out you also realize the space should get painted !
Cleaned out my clothes closet today and our foyer coat closet- a place often used to shove things last minute if someone is coming over. I got rid of a couple of coats (will donate) - not as successful with H who seemed highly annoyed I was asking him if he could pair down at all.
Got rid of two big items - a double shoe rack and a collapsible fabric let crate that somehow got broken.
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UPDATE:
Cleaned out a spare room closet this morning and have 3 additional bags, 1 large box and 2 large miscellaneous items (a stepstool and a storage shelf) ready to go tomorrow. I also filled one big bag of trash. Feels great and the closet looks so good.
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Somebody else will feel great too, getting your old items. Win - Win 
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I decided to clean out my collection of paperback editions of Anthony Trollope novels. I am keeping just a few that I want and putting the rest in a local book collection bin. They are all public domain now, I have had them for probably 30 years, and I am no longer reading Trollope. (Not that I don’t still think he was a great author)
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We have a local “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook. You can not sell anything but you can gift it. My first post went up today and I “gifted” one item. It’s kind of nice because you never know what people will want that you have no use for anymore.
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Bumping this up. There seems to be some renewed interest in getting rid of stuff! 
I recently threw out all Mr.’s “yard clothes” and downgraded some of his business casual stuff to yard clothes.
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When my husband retired we did a quick sweep of his work clothes (business casual) and threw out anything that wasn’t in great condition. I think we could probably throw out the majority of them. His new lifestyle doesn’t need dozens of button down shirts and dress pants.
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The “Buy Nothing” FB group sounds like a great idea. Years ago I used to give away many things via local Freecycle groups … leave it out on the front stoop for pickup. There were also a few time when I was the Freecycle “taker”. Once when I posted that my daughter wanted a bulletin board for her room, there were soon 3 to choose from.
This week I’ve been going through some old high school notesbooks etc in my son’s old room (bout time!!). There is a stack on the kitchen table for hubby to peruse. Then I intend to pull out the used pages from spiral notebooks and offer the
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@Colorado_mom - you would be surprised at what people will take on Buy Nothing. Someone will likely want the notebooks with empty pages.
@kiddie - My H is retiring soon and I have suggested he go through his dress shirts (he has a lot) and get rid of all but a few. He will only need 3 or 4 to wear to weddings/funerals etc. He says he wants to keep most of them…why?
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