Wow, that’s an aggressive post title. I like it. This post needs a title as big as the task it represents–getting rid of a whole bunch of stuff!
I’m single (for 168 more days 😉 ), I live alone, and I am the furthest from a hoarder that you could ever imagine. Still, there is stuff in every room in my home that I do. not. need. This morning, I went into my closet and saw my collection of scarves. I wear roughly five of them…the other 20, well, they just keep the scarf hanger warm.
Then I looked at my bookshelf. Dozens of books that I’ll never read again (volumes that are written for teenagers, for example), and even a year and a half worth of Real Simple magazines. Tell me, WHO rereads magazines?! Not I. Just keeping 18 magazines around…you know, just in case.
I have jewelry that’s out of style, perfume that gives me a headache to wear, notepads and notebooks and empty journals that I’ll never use (I’m extremely picky about the type of paper I like to write on). There are items in my pantry that are stale or expired or just not yummy (tell me I’m not the only one who occasionally makes an impulse buy at the grocery store and regrets it later! #nosaltfrenchcutcannedgreenedbeans #WHY). I have remnants of Charley’s puppyhood that I no longer need, but haven’t taken the time to get rid of, like puppy pads or tiny harnesses. The list…sadly, it goes on and on.
I always surprise myself when I think about the extra stuff that I need to donate or trash! I’m so organized and relatively minimalistic, and yet, there’s just stuff that I no longer need.
There are a few things that spurred this aggressive GET RID OF STUFF 2015 post. For one, it’s going to be Spring soon (It already feels like it here in Texas!), and who doesn’t love some good Spring cleaning? Secondly, Riley and I will be moving in together after we get married, obviously. The less random, useless stuff that I can pack up, move out, move in, and unpack, the better. (Also, who wants to start a home together with clutter?)
So here’s what I’m going to do. This is me publicly committing to getting rid of stuff that I don’t want, need, or like–and donating it or trashing it. This is also me publicly committing to blogging about the process. And because my mind thinks in blog posts, here’s how I am going to break up my purging chronicles (not necessarily in this order)…
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Get rid of clothes and shoes -
Get rid of jewelry and accessories -
Get rid of kitchen stuff & pantry items
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Get rid of books & paperwork
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Get rid of home décor & home goods
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Get rid of toiletries, makeup, & products
I’m so excited for this self-imposed challenge. It’s an organizer’s dream to get rid of a bunch of stuff that I don’t need…and this public declaration is the exact push forward to get me going! Anyone want to join me in cleaning out, minimizing, simplifying, and streamlining?
Blair! The timing of this couldn’t be more perfect! I was just looking around my room/house the other day thinking, “I definitely don’t need all of this/wear all of this/use all of this! And I don’t want to have to move it all home/to my new house next year!” I’m pretty minimalist as well, but I just started seeing stuff I though I used/wore, but really did not! This post was just the extra oomph I needed to start clearing stuff out!
Cheers to organizing and spring cleaning!
How perfect!!! Excited to start this journey with some virtual friends! 🙂
xo,
b
I had to get rid of approximately 50% of my belongings when I moved into my NYC shoebox. But giiiiirl, it felt GREAT. I have no extra stuff anymore, I use everything I own. Here’s my clothes purging tip for you:
Every time you hang up your clean laundry, hang it up with the hanger turned around backwards. After a few weeks-a month, you’ll see what you never wear. Get rid of it. This also prevents you from wearing the same outfits all the time.
Good luck!
LOVE IT. Can’t wait to purge!!!
xo,
b
I have been doing the same thing since about the middle of January! When Matthew moved out of his college apartment we went through and sold ALL of his furniture and stuff he has collected over the past 4 years (clothes, books, sports stuff, movies, etc.). We ended up making around $400 with just his stuff alone. Well, that motivated me to go through my apartment and start collecting things to sell that I won’t want to take with me to our apartment. So far from my apartment I have made about $100 and have plenty more to go through! I make a list each week of what I want to sell and the prices and then go from there! We are taking the money we make from selling our stuff and putting towards our honeymoon 🙂 Of course the stuff we can’t sell we donate. It feels so good getting rid of clutter!!
Great post and challenge, I’m right there with ya girl!!
That’s a great idea! I’d love to make money on some of this stuff. How are you selling it? Craigslist?
xo,
b
You know I would love to take some of your trendy things off your hands for you 😉
Hehehe have at them!
xo,
b
Great Idea! I’ll definitely be joining you on this one. Especially the whole “books & paperwork” part. I still have all my assignments from last sem!
I know how that is! Good luck, Anna!
xo,
b
Yes! So glad I saw this post. I thought I was the only one wanting to just get rid of everything! I am getting married this year as well and it feels necessary! I had found a minimalist challenge a week or so ago and was thinking about hopping on that to help de-clutter my home and my mind. I am definitely joining you in this! Love your little corner of the internet!
Yay! We’re in this together, girl! 🙂
xo,
b
Getting rid of stuff is really great idea! I have so many things I don’t need! There is barely any storage space left! Thanks for the post! I find it really useful! Greets, Leamouth Carpet Cleaners Ltd.
Love it!
xo,
b
Hey Blair!
I’m an avid follower of your blog- congratulations on your wedding! I’m getting married soon too and I’d love to know if you kept going with your getting rid of stuff project! Looking forward to more posts!
I definitely forgot to post the end of this series! Oops! 😉
xo,
b