When I came across the concept of getting rid of 100 things recently at Lasso the Moon it really resonated with me. We are a family with too much stuff. In fact, we have boxes that have not been unpacked since our last move, two and a half years ago! I am thinking that anything sitting in a box for two and a half years is clearly not that important. Plus this week, when I went into the garage to find one of Immy’s pieces of ex-baby paraphernalia for AJ, I came across things that I had forgotten we even had…and I am not talking about small, insignificant items. In my effort to slow down and simplify, to live our best family life, I want to spend less time dusting, cleaning, clearing and sorting STUFF and more time living.
With the holidays not too far away, I imagine many of us desire more time, space and energy to enjoy with family and friends. Plus there is the fact that Christmas often sees more stuff coming in. So now must be the perfect time to get some stuff out! This is what I propose…
This weekend grab some boxes, baskets or crates. Label each one;
Re-home: this one is for pre-loved items that you might be able to sell, either at a garage sale, on eBay or Gumtree (or similar), at a market, swap meet or car boot sale, or at a consignment store.
Recycle: this one is for items that you no longer need but someone else probably will. Items in good condition but not necessarily items that you can sell. These could be donated to friends or family, an op shop/thrift store, a charity or other community service, a child care centre/school/toy library, or your local recycling centre.
Refuse: this one is for items headed straight for the bin.
Either leave them somewhere prominent so that you can add to them over the weekend or during the week, or take them with you from room to room. Start looking for items that you really, truly no longer need and pop them in the corresponding box. Start somewhere easy like a kitchen drawer or your wardrobe and get culling. I am positive that it wont take long for many of us to get to 100 items.
I’ll be starting with my massive pile of magazines (years and years worth), my wardrobe, linen cupboard and those boxes in the garage! I’ll let you know how I go.
What do you say, do you have 100 things you could get rid of this week?
Read more about Living Your Best Family Life.
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
Christie you seem to be experiencing the same problem I’ve had for years….too much damned STUFF. For many years I have been sending bits and pieces to the various op shops or straight into the recycle bin but still there is TOO MUCH. I’ve even given some away to you and other members of the family. I wish you luck and hope you find a way of sorting all the wanted, unwanted, unnecessary items out. I’m still trying. : )
I had a massive clean out last week and it felt great! Plus I finally moved the Munchkin’s closet into his own bedroom (nearly 2 years later). Still reckon I could easily get rid of another 100 items – especially if I tackle those pesky “third drawers down”. Hoping this Christmas brings lots of laughs, some nice experiences (I’m all up for receiving a massage voucher) and virtually no new “stuff”.
A year or two back I got rid of fifty things a day for a month… I literally walked about the house while the kids did their teeth in the morning – fifteen minutes tops… fifty comics, fifty books we didn’t love, fifty plastic toys, fifty items of baby clothes that we were done with, heaps of stuff for projects that we never ever got round too – so we never started anything new – always “we must do those projects we have”… I should blog this!!! All the best to you – it feels wonderful to have less stuff… all that work decluttering got us a lot more discerning about what comes in to our home…