Update on bust the clutter challenge!

[StoryDreamer]

Update: You guys were awesome!  I think I managed to get rid of like 42 things, heh. I had a stall when my job turned to be too much and I left..  anyhow, please MESSAGE me if you want to be considered for a giftcard. I might have to give one away this month and one the next because I don't have a new job yet.

Is your New Years Resolution to clear up clutter? Maybe sell some of the things you've been meaning to sell? Or just get rid of "stuff"?  I'm holding a Get Rid of Fifty Things Challenge!

I have a closet full of things I've been meaning to sell and I've been reading about this book and challenge called "Get Rid of Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Change Your Life." I've seen multiple blogs do it and I think I'm ready to take the challenge. I thought maybe some fellow Arena members would want to join me. You could post weekly about what you've given away, how it feels, etc.  I can post challenges! The goal is you get rid of things you don't need like maybe jeans with a busted zipper and then you tackle things that you have emotions about, like maybe you have somethings from a negative ex, etc.

I could offer a prize too - $15.00 giftcard to Ebay or Amazon for participating so you can get something you really want!

*PM if you're interested in being entered for a chance to win the card. I'll give away two!  (Sorry, I can't give anymore, I just got married )

Some recommended reading:

http://jesslively.com/throw-out-fifty-things-challenge/
http://orgjunkie.com/2009/05/throw-out-fifty-things.html
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/02/144491209/new-year-challenge-throw-out-50-things   - definitely read this one!
http://www.squidoo.com/throw-out-50-things

Anyone game? Just think if you got rid of things you didn't really need, you'd be helping somebody out if you donated them AND you would have space for things you need! Or ponies.    Join me so I can inspired to raise money for my future trips by selling my dvds, cds, books that are just waiting in the closet!

Challenge 1 kitchen and bath!!

[kaoskat]

Sounds interesting! Good luck!

[DaffyDilly]

I'm totally in! Not bothered about prizes, as I get a lot of satisfaction for being able to move around freely in my room lol

I had already started though, listed some things on Freecycle today and they've just been picked up so:

1. Mini Fridge (freecycled)
2. DVD/VCR Combi (freecycled)
3. Biiiig box of video cassettes (freecycled)
4. Out of date medicines/unnecessary packaging (binned)
5. My old trainers that I haven't worn since about September (binned)
6. Grey jumper & red top that's too short (charity)
7. Half a coat hanger?! (binned)
8. A hula hoop (charity)
9. 21st Mug (charity)
10. Pencil case and lots of ink cartridges (charity)
11. Leaking fountain pens/dried out pens (binned)
12. Horse paper cutter & note cards, phone sock & keyring (charity)
13. Old purse, wallet & floppy disk, plastic egg (binned)
14. leaky nail polish (binned)
15. Glow in the dark stars, ribena plush, ladybird candle, model horse, thor figure (charity)
16. Pig soap, broken horse head figure, plastic ball, broken elephant figure (bin)
17. 2 pairs gloves (charity)
18. Empty chocolate box (binned), chocolates (mouth)
19. Yoga mat (charity)
20. Photo frame (charity)
21. Wrapping paper (binned)
22. Empty bottles (binned)
23. Cardboard & two bin bags (tip)

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I'll play!  This house seriously needs some paring down!

Do you want to do weekly updates or what?

[NovelNerd]

This sounds like a cool idea. Haha, this might make me the weirdo here, but we don't have a lot clutter wise. I'm not much of a pack rat. When it's something that we never use or need I tend to get rid I it. 

[DaffyDilly]

I have a feeling that I could easily get rid of 50 things a week so for the first batch I'm going to update my original post, then I'll start a new batch each time.

I like this game, so I might be quite quick at least to start with

Post Merge: January 01, 2013, 11:37:04 AM

This sounds like a cool idea. Haha, this might make me the weirdo here, but we don't have a lot clutter wise. I'm not much of a pack rat. When it's something that we never use or need I tend to get rid I it. 

That might be the case, but how many almost empty bottles of shampoo do you have? How many of the items in your medicine cupboard are expired?

I think that once we start looking for these things, we notice a lot more which before just blended in because we're so used to seeing them!

[StoryDreamer]

We can do weekly updates starting this weekend. You can start small, like maybe getting rid of a bunch of old magazines. You won't believe how easy it is, like I got rid of 7 things yesterday! Old magazines, a pair of ill-fitting jeans, a mug, etc. You get rid of things in categories. So 10 magazines is still ONE thing.

[Eviecorn]

Good luck!  Sounds like a great challenge that anyone could get inspired by. 

[tootie_tails]

I need to do this.

I'm going to keep a list here and update it as things go.

1. Winter sport pants, worn out and too small (binned)
2. Hoodie, a bit too small and I never use it anymore (binned)
3. Unfinished embroidery piece, been lying around too long, motif out of fashion (binned)
4. Two old crane machine prizes =small plushies (binned)
5. Blouse passed down from my mother, I never use it  (binned)
6. G3 pony magazine missing centerfold poster  (binned)
7. Expired food thrown out: cooking oil best before 2011
8. Expired food thrown out: small amount vinegar, sedimented
9. Italian dictionary, hardly used (charity)
10. X-men comic book (charity)

I almost forgot this thread! Onto it again...

bathroom items thrown out:

11. contact lens stuff, expired (binned)
12. glittery face powder, I know I will never use it (binned)
13. makeup remover, expired (binned)
14. tube of sun protection face cream, expired (binned)

15. old package of raisins, dried (mixed into my homemade bird food)

next thing to go: old and worn plastic christmas tree (if my fiance agrees to throw it out lol)

16. stack of plastic containers I never used
17. stack of disposable pie forms  (why did I even keep them in the first place!? )

18. random empty plastic bottle I don't have any use for, binned
19. random cardboard box I don't have any use for, binned
20. stack of embroidery catalogs, binned
21-25. mlp:s and other toys, sold and shipped
26. bag of underwear, nice but too small, binned

27. another four pieces of underwear
28. fleece jacket with broken zipper
29. some excess packaging material, dusty bubblewrap, too many cardboard boxes
30. cat bed, old and worn
31. half a roll of crackers, mixed into my homemade bird food

32-36. more toys sold and shipped
37. stack of invitation cards, binned
38. old t-shirt, binned
39. bag of excess packing peanuts, binned

(February):
40. pair of sneakers, old and worn
41. calculator, not working

[StoryDreamer]

Yay, I'm glad you guys want to join me!

I will post the first challenge this weekend. You can document your clutter busting with photography if you want like in the blogs I linked to above.

[TwistedWindSox]

I might join in, my room is supper cluttered!

[Prince Primbrose]

Sounds like a great idea! I have little knicknacks and junk I've been holding onto since I was a kid "just in case."
I've actually started doing something like this already, getting rid of stuff in my drawers that I don't need... But I've not touched my closet, so this is perfect.

[Ginger]

Oooooo, I'm in!! I have an entire dresser full of stuff to sell/donate/get rid of. It's just a matter of actually getting around to it. I have several other things I need to go through and organize/purge as well.

I used to be a really heavy poster/participator on unclutterer.com, but have let things slip during the past year. It's still not NEARLY as bad as what it used to be though! I have slowly been becoming a neat freak.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Week of Jan 1-5:

1.  Took two shopping bags of donations to the car
2.  Sorted out all of husband's work pants that no longer fit (for donation)
3.  Recycled half a dozen glass jars from under the cabinets
4.  Packed up another garbage bag of clothing for donation
5.  Recycled some outdated magazines
6.  Filled another 2 shopping bags of donations
7.  Cleaned through the linen closet - more donations
8.  Took two loads of recycling out to the bins

[melodys_angel]

Goodluck, guys