2012 - Decluttering challenge 2012 items in 2012.

[cody82414]

OK, ladies...here it is! This is the official 2012 in 2012 decluttering challenge thread. We're going to purge our houses and lives of 2012 bits of clutter ("STUFF"...something that undermines family fun) in 2012. If that sounds overwhelming to you, don't worry. It's right about 40 items per week. You can do this! Just make this challenge work for you, let it be what you need it to be! You can count individual items or piles of items, pounds of clutter, bags of clutter, boxes of clutter. Or you can count minutes or hours or heck, even seconds if you're naturally organized (but then you probably wouldn't be here, right?) You can count what you throw away, give away, sell, recycle, return to its rightful owner, etc.

List your goals in this thread (along with pictures...we like pictures!!!), we'll post some mini challenges along the way (we need to do this this year, we kind of slacked last year), and we'll cheer one another on as we post our progress or lack of it. Don't forget to post your progress (with pictures) along the way. You can do this!!!

[rheavon]

Me! I want in! My garage is SO FULL. We moved in over a year ago now and the garage should've been able to accomodate my car as of like half a year ago. We aren't really utilizing the storage spaces inside the house as a result. There are papers everywhere and ahhh!!! I think getting rid of 2012, no matter how big or small would be a great thing.

Of course, I'll be counting things inside and outside the house. From obsolete papers to the chapstick I used once 6 years ago. I won't be counting normal everyday trash/recycling- but if it is something that has been taking up space since we moved in- I'll definitely count it.

I might even post a picture or two of my garage- but I won't be held responsible if your computer monitor breaks! LOL

[jenrose]

OK I'm in.......I went thru and decluttered the boys room & other areas and bagged/boxed the stuff up to be donated etc but then it never left my house. My big goal is to actually have the items LEAVE the house! So that is where I'm starting. Getting the stuff OUT not just boxed/bagged up!

[SouthernBelle5]

I'm in again. We painted our office and I'm slowly going through the papers and throwing stuff out before it can make it back into the room!

[piercedanubis]

I'm in! Our house is only 750 sq ft with 2 small closets. Our garage is practically unusable, even though most of that is from DH ;).

[to1drland]

I'm in again...it was a great motivator last year.

[cody82414]

Yesterday I found three items to drop off today at a donation box.

[rheavon]

I stuck two things in the trash yesterday. A pair of undies on its last leg and a nice knit beret-style hat I bought at the work Christmas fair this year. It accidentally went in the laundry and didn't survive (basically unravelled and fell apart). Typically for things like that I'd be all like, "Nooo, I can save it!" But often times I never end up doing it and it just takes up space. So in the trash it went.

[cody82414]

3 items out!

[bugweena]

Count me in!

I find that if I bag or box the donate items and either put them in the garage or my car I am not tempted to look back through just to make sure there's nothing in there I can use...trash bag goes immediately to the big trash can!