<p>Well, my dad wouldn’t buy totally into the “buy it later” idea but he did finally go with the “I don’t need 10 so I’ll keep 2 instead”. What a difference that made! </p>
<p>@thumper1: Actually, I do get the advantages of the clear plastic storage boxes, and they are what I have been buying in reality. For my forthcoming column for The Onion, though, all of the features that you cite as disadvantages of the opaque boxes look like advantages to me–particularly the “out of sight, out of mind” part. 
</p>
<p>bunsenburner’s comment about the Second Law of Thermodynamics has inspired me to see whether I can set up a refrigerator that operates at liquid helium temperatures–just another handy hint for inclusion in The Onion column.</p>
<p>I have been lurking here, but finally have something to post. </p>
<p>I have set a goal of decluttering so that I would be ready to downsize (sell house, perhaps move to a condo when H retires at some point in the next few years) a year from now. We have both basement and garage filled with stuff, most of which we do not use.
IF I accomplish this by next May, I want to throw a party then to celebrate! Even if we do not downsize at that point, knowing that we are prepared would be great!
I think of it as getting prepared for, and transitioning into, the next phase of our lives. Kids are raised and independent.</p>
<p>This week I got all my old teaching materials and supplies (many like new, lots of nice books for kids as well as teaching texts and lesson planning support materials, as well as one bin of supplies such as five dozen new pencils, crafty things, new binders and folders and markers and composition books, etc.) out of the basement. I went through them and now have them taking up all but the front seat of our SUV. This weekend, I will take them to a grad party for a family friend that a first year teacher I know will be attending. She will look at what I have and take whatever she wants, and is welcome to the nice lidded containers as well. All in excellent shape. I hope she takes lots, whether for herself or to pass on to others at her inner-city school. Whatever she does not take I will donate somewhere – just hope it will get used.</p>
<p>Re H’s good sweaters, some that he has sized out of were passed on to our adult son. The rest of H’s “no longer fits” clothing went to Goodwill this week.</p>
<p>This is just a start, but it feels like our house is losing significant weight each time I take stuff out that will not be back.</p>
<p>JEm, that’s a great use of your old teaching materials. I’m sure the young teacher will appreciate the stuff very much.</p>
<p>I read that if you plan to downsize when you retire you need to get rid of 75% of what is in your curent home. I have a long way to go. </p>
<p>I keep hoping my kids will take 75% of the furniture!</p>
<p>Ah thumper, they left 75% of theirs as they moved in and out. We had to get rid of their stuff too. </p>
<p>^^^
</p>
<p>WOW, that’s a good stat to know – will have to share with DH, who tends to hold on to things. (Many years ago I threw our D’s old baby shoes in the trash, and he retrieved them!)</p>
<p>Hi all. It’s been forever since I last visited this site. Gulps abasket! I did say it was my New Year’s Resolution, didn’t I? I’m again motivated especially since winter has finally departed and I can go through a zillions of winter clothes and toss whatever I never wore. Even with our forever winter season, there’s plenty of clothes I can send to Goodwill that I never put on.</p>
<p>Not only that, but I can finally go into my garage and spend time there unloading more “storage”. Should </p>
<p>And now that my kids have left home after college and haven’t asked for their “stuff” in all this time, I feel that whatever they left is now okay to toss. Right? Okay, I’ll ask first. I mean, my 23 year old son still has his middle school history projects and english papers filed away in his room. He won’t miss those will he?</p>
<p>EXPIRED MEDICINES< btw, should go to the police. Not sure where “they” put it, but…. Don’t put it in garbage unless you want it to go in some landfill. Don’t flush it in the toilet unless you want it in the water stream. </p>
<p>Did another round with D yesterday. Took only about 45 minutes, but we cleared out several bags of trash and a couple more bags of recyclables Felt good ! Hopefully, we can continue this for the next couple of days and actually get to her closet and dresser!</p>
<p>Ruthlessly tackled my closet. Switched out winter clothes for summer. I was in the perfect mood for this today. Each item only needed a split-second decision to keep or donate. Two giant bags of clothes and a smaller bag of shoes and boots. Another bag done from under a bathroom sink. Tomorrow will be yard work and yard bags to fill.</p>
<p>I have no goals, and haven’t been keeping track, but am throwing stuff out, donating. And am feeling really motivated now that it is spring/summer. The winter was long. Now it is easy to throw stuff out, take things places and donate! Donated two bags of choral music to the high school yesterday. I donated a large bag of children’s books to a book sale a week ago. I just read a book about a young woman who moved to Paris, and spent a year getting rid of stuff. And she is young! It’s making me think about what is important in life. I want to downsize within the next few years too. I don’t need so much stuff. </p>
<p>Mstee…is there a consignment store near you? Are any of your donations worthy of consignment? Maybe this is how you can fund that new bicycle!!</p>
<p>Got another bag with the cleanout of old summer things that I should not have put into storage last year - then was sidetracked. DH decided today was the day to wash all of the windows in the house, inside and out, and the screens. We have a big house. I ams done for the day!</p>
<p>Your thoughts please:
Someone told me that when they travel they take clothes they no longer want and leave them in the hotel with a note telling housekeeping that they can have them. On the one hand that seems condescending to think they want your old clothes and on the other hand, they are not well paid so maybe some free clothes would be ok. What do you think?</p>
<p>IMO, not a very good idea. If someone sees them carrying stuff out of hotel rooms, could they report it to the management? How can one distinguish between stolen and “donated” items? A handwritten note can be faked…</p>
<p>busyparent, I think that really seems like a strange idea. </p>
<p>Not sure if this has been mentioned as I have not read every post. I just saw a commercial from Waste Management. There is a system they have where you can buy a “bagster” from someplace like Lowe’s or Home Depot, fill it up with your junk and then schedule a pickup. Each bagster holds 3300 pounds of junk.</p>
<p>I agree that someone could be accused of stealing and I imagine that hotels probably have policies against it. Thanks for the replies.</p>