<p>I set aside a couple of boxes of daughter’s grade school stuff to go through. Haven’t yet…and recognize that much will be sentimental keeps but I DO think I can throw away the old lunch menus with impunity!</p>
<p>I finally took twelve bags into Goodwill. I have to admit; I retrieved a couple of items. That is the danger in not dropping things off immediately. :(</p>
<p>1moremom, you’re still way ahead. So, you took in 12 bags instead of 12.5. That’s okay. Maybe you can tell yourself that you’ll keep the retrieved items for 30 days and then reevaluate if you still want/need them. Meanwhile, remind yourself of what a good job you did to move 12 bags of clutter from your home. </p>
<p>Probably more like 11.5 since I bought a couple things home when I went in last week to check their pricing. 
I did price (and photograph) everything and was able to write myself a receipt for $380! </p>
<p>1moremom - you’re already ahead of the game - by what, 8 weeks? You aren’t due for another bag until April! If you retrieved a few things, you must have been on the fence about them when you put them in to start with. No harm done. I am feeling unproductive - time to rummage through another kitchen cabinet!</p>
<p>Well…I took two bags IN, but I bought some nice things. I got a nice summer Gap jacket, two scarves, a pair of jeans for my daughter, a summer shirt. Tomorrow I’m going to take an extra bag to donate!</p>
<p>Does cleaning out my office today and throwing out 3 bags/shredding count? I hope so.</p>
<p>rockymthigh, of course it does. It all counts. Even the ashes from the fireplace!!</p>
<p>We decided last night to bite the bullet and get rid of a bunch of VHS movies, including many we haven’t watched. What I have the biggest problem with is collections–I’m trying to persuade myself to trim collections so only the best stuff is retained.</p>
<p>The ashes only count if they weren’t from the three bags of office paper. That would be double-counting. ;)</p>
<p>Rocky, hilariously I TOO cleaned out and decluttered my office yesterday and my office mates were concered, perhaps, I was looking for another job. I just said “No but I think it bag a week thing is contagious.” (smile)</p>
<p>I did finally take four bags to Salvation Army this morning, but don’t know if it counts. These bags have been in my car since late November :)</p>
<p>arisamp, I’m the official rule-maker (self-delegated), and I say they count. </p>
<p>@hunt, that’s called “curating!” I have been lax for the past couple of weeks, but two messy disasters in the basement are causing me to get back in the game. We are having plumbing problems, so DH disconnected the washer and I didn’t know, so an entire wash load’s worth of water went all over the floor. Because we moved into my parents’ house, they left all “my stuff” in the basement, so I saved (but will now go through) several boxes and bags of pictures, programs, clippings, etc. from HS and college. There were also several boxes of items I can’t even identify. Then when the plumbers came, the greasy mess from the pipes got on another area. Time to decide what is really worth keeping!</p>
<p>Cleaning out the other half of the garage today. But we are cleaning it out because I need to move my storage unit (work stuff) back into my garage to save money and because the storage garage that I was renting is being sold next month. So, clearing out the garage is dump runs in the pickup truck - much more than bags 
Not sure if it counts because the garage is going to end up crammed with construction materials.</p>
<p>Tackled picture frames today. I got rid of two boxes - one already picked up by neighborhood scavengers! </p>
<p>Also pulled out a bag of gift bags and boxes that are practically new. Hoping someone can use them. </p>
<p>Whatever doesn’t get picked up, goes to Goodwill. </p>
<p>I haven’t actually thrown out any bags yet, but I am working on getting a new car which will be big enough to move my dresser out of my parents house thus actually making most of my stuff accessible to be bagged… does that count? I think it counts.</p>
<p>The good news is, since I dilly dallied so long, my sister changed her mind and now probably does want my mattress-- she said no two years ago. So the part that was actually really difficult to get rid of will no longer be that difficult. With my new car, I can actually pack up the disassembled frame and now I won’t even have to worry about renting a truck. And the frame was only worth like $180 new, so I really don’t care (that much) if I end up having to throw it out. It’d be a shame since it’s brand new, I’m tempted to keep it, but it’s identical to the one that I have at my house and we will never have room for a spare queen bed. I’m tempted to throw it in the attic just in case we ever move into a bigger house but don’t want to get into the habit of keeping stuff we won’t use. I would still like to donate it but a cursory search made it look like the only way to donate furniture is to drive someplace I have no desire to visit.</p>
<p>Ema…how about freecycle for that frame, if you can’t sell it?</p>
<p>If you have Vietnam Vets in your area you can go on line and ask for a pick up. They will be there within 48 hours and they take many things that others do not want. </p>
<p>Hooray for me, and thanks to you all for keeping me focused: I put S2’s two bunk bed bedspreads on Freecycle and a nice lady is coming over later to pick them up. S2 hasn’t used them in – oh, 10 years. Time for someone else to enjoy them.</p>