April Decluttering Totals

Although I didn't declutter as much as I'd hoped in April, I am still quite pleased with the totals. I really feel as though this is an ongoing process. I think that by keeping track of, and posting, the totals, it is helping me keep going with this. 

Craft items 26

Books 70

Magazines 6

Misc. 44

I really feel as though I'm doing well with the books. There are still a lot of them to go, but I'm finding it a bit easier to part with them. I am still struggling with the craft room. 

Are you still decluttering? How is it going? 

Still reading through the magazines

March Decluttering Totals

While not as good as February's decluttering totals I am pleased with how the month went. This really is an ongoing process. Sometimes I find it really tough to let things go and other times I find it a bit easier. Because of that I declutter the same spaces on a rotating basis. I am finding that when I revisit an area, I'm willing to let a few more things go. This might seem like a long-winded way to go about it, but it seems to be working for me. I am definitely finding this works especially well with the books. There are still a lot in the house, but they are slowly moving out and (for the most part) new-to-me ones aren't coming into the house. I'm still picking up some bird books (second-hand) but I might have to stop that soon! They are for a (supposed) craft project that doesn't seem to be happening lol. 

The craft room? That's not really happening that much. I tend to go up there, move things around and come back down. My daughter has said that she is having a garage sale and could do with some non-baby things so I'm thinking I might be willing to get rid of some things for their sale. That might work for me. I won't be expecting any money and anything left over will be donated. Seems strange but knowing I won't see it in my charity/thrift shops might actually work lol.

Here are the totals:-

CRAFT ITEMS - 37 

MAGAZINES - 11 

BOOKS - 91 

MISC. - 37

Question - how do you deal with items given to you by someone? Do you find it easy to let go of them? Do you feel obligated to keep them? I'm beginning to try to change my mindset and say that I have enjoyed the item, but it's time to pass it on to someone else so they can enjoy it. 

Thanks for the input!

I'm getting started on April's decluttering already!

Drum Roll Please...February Decluttering Totals

I am really pleased with what I got done this month. Some days I don't feel as though I've done a lot of anything but looking at the list, I'm quite pleased with all the things that have left the house. I am going to keep going. I can't say all months will be this way BUT every little thing that goes is one less thing in the house. 

I've been doing well with the lists, but I haven't made as much progress with the small piles of things that seem to have gathered around the house. I need to add at least one to the list each day, so things are put where they are supposed to be. It's all too easy to just put something somewhere 'for now' and then neglect to move it. Mind you, I'm not the only one in the house that does this. 

I must admit that I'm a little embarrassed to post some of the totals, especially the books, as it just goes to show how many books I actually have. The sad thing is that there are so many more to go through and sort out. It does seem to be easier letting them go. I wish the same could be said for the crafting items! 

CRAFT ITEMS 54

MISC.  21

MAGAZINES 57

BOOKS 142

I am really pleased with the magazine total AND the fact that I haven't brought any more into the house. I was really, really tempted to stop at my local Barnes and Noble Bookshop and pick up the latest Outdoor Photography magazine they had. I resisted. Instead, when I got home, I looked on Pocketmags on my Kindle and purchased the new edition for 1/3 of the price! So, it cost me less AND I didn't bring a physical magazine into the house. I'd call that a win, at least it was for me. 

Me, peeking out cautiously, embarrassed by my book hoard 

January Decluttering Accountability

*Firstly, let me say that I didn't begin the decluttering until Jan 10th 

I'm actually quite pleased with how the month of decluttering went. It's certainly an ongoing process. There is a box in the corner that I put things in. Sometimes, it's something I see when I'm looking for something else and other times it is more purposeful decluttering. I think it's going to be a matter of getting rid of things AND not bringing a lot of new things into the house. 

* Another disclaimer.  I am a book hoarder. Reformed. Sort of. Mostly. I am really trying not to buy books, but sometimes I slip. There are a LOT of books in my house, tucked away in nooks and crannies and all sorts of places. I have a lot more to get rid of!

TOTALS

54 books

25 craft items

6 miscellaneous items

15 magazines

I'm still really struggling with the craft items. I go up in my craft room, look around, can't think of anything I want to get rid of and leave. Sigh. It's too crowded up there to actually do much crafting so it needs to go. I need to just grow a bit of a spine and GET RID OF IT. Not sure what's holding me back - maybe the thought I might use it on a project, or the money I spent on it. Sigh. Any tips? 

I am finding it a bit easier to get rid of the books and I'm working my way through the magazines. 

All in all, I am pretty pleased :)

FINANCES THIS MONTH

It has been a bit of a spendy month, helping son out with his new place, furniture, cleaning supplies. Sigh. Food bill, too high - I need to do better! I'm doing okay with the hobby spending. I spent about $10 this month on things from the dollar tree, which really isn't bad. 

I am going to have to decide if I want to keep on with the reselling thing. I think that contributes to some of the clutter in the house (definitely not organised) and some of the spending as I buy things to resell. Maybe I should challenge myself to sell x amount before I bring anything else in. It's nice to make a bit extra money and I was hoping to do some of this as husband slides into retirement to help fund the little trips we make. 

I'm giving myself February to see how things go financially. In March I might MIGHT start writing down every spend I make, though I must admit to being a little afraid of what I find. 

PHOTO 

If I was a mini-figure, this would be me, out in the snow with my camera trying to capture a good shot