The "Bag A Week" Club

<p>I see a business opportunity for a college or HS kid - organize summer garage sales for people who are too busy to do garage sales. ;)</p>

<p>Today I filled a bag with pairs of shoes Iā€™m not wearingā€¦like ten pairs. I will probably be able to fill at least two more bagsā€¦with shoes I donā€™t wear. Many were bought for a specific occasion and outfit. I donā€™t do that anymore. Plus, Iā€™m totally into comfort. </p>

<p>Our town has one week a year when you can put anything on the curb (except construction material and hazmats) and the town collects it without charge. Ours is coming up, and Iā€™m as excited as Iā€™ve Ben for some holidays!! Iā€™m looking at you, attic junkā€¦</p>

<p>Bunsen, someone just posted a Help Wanted on our subdivisionā€™s listserve for just that sort of gig. Wish S2 would consider itā€¦</p>

<p>CD, my D would be all over that gig! I vividly recall how she and her gf organized a neighborhood G-sale, complete with custom signs featuring Michael Phelps pointing drivers to a ā€œ5 houses in a row saleā€. Lol.</p>

<p>I have piled a bunch of stuff for her on the bed to ebay off. She will have a month before she goes to Baltimore, so she needs something to keep her busy. That will do. ;)</p>

<p>I just tossed 3 bags worth of papers for my nonprofit that I no longer need. They were the 13 gallon bags and our computer room is now SO much larger! :)</p>

<p>Have inspired H to start tossing stuff too! Itā€™s amazing how quickly the clutter accummulates! </p>

<p>This is a great 28th anniversary present to us! We will definitely deserve our nice celebratory dinner. We are taking my folks out to celebrate their 61st and our 28th anniversary! :)</p>

<p>Next, Iā€™m hoping to scan a lot of stuff and then toss the papers. Itā€™s just way too much!</p>

<p>H and I cleaned out the garage today. We have the curb loaded and the garage looks great! 2 bags were donated, too. Love feeling like something was accomplished on the weekend!</p>

<p>I persuaded a reluctant H to address a large Rubbermaid tub of two-decades-old books in our basement. I had last gotten him to go through this collection about a decade ago, but he had removed very little then and said he would not promise that he would part with much this time, and he was time pressed.
Well, I asked him to give it 15 minutes of attention, and I got a tub of my own to go through at the same time.
Books included old textbooks in his field, guides to B & Bs from two decades ago (I told him those B & B owners are probably dead now, and my son said all that info is now online anyway.) He agreed to dispose of about 90% of these books, and took those remaining to the bedroom bookshelf, so I got an empty tub and some space in the basement!
The tub I did of my own stuff took a couple of hours (lots of papers and materials from my grad school days), but is also done!</p>

<p>I feel like we lost at least 50 lbs. from the house.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I have an image of having to ā€œtightenā€ things like draperies, carpets and slipcovers. </p>

<p>I transitioned my closet from winter to spring this weekend and got rid of even more of the things hiding in the back. Sometimes I see dollar sign when I get rid of it and other times it feels good. Iā€™m finally being honest with myself about some of those old suits and things that Iā€™ve saved. They are out of style and donā€™t fit properly and when I need something for a special occasion I go to the store, not the back of my closet. It feels good to have the extra space for the clothes that I do wear.</p>

<p>I need to come here more often for inspiration. I seem to have come to a stop after a good start - been feeling a bt off color. Maybe this week I can get myself kickstarted into doing a little after work instead of collapsing onto the sofa with a glass of wine! Our basketball season ended on Saturday so that will free up some time!</p>

<p>Yesterday we helped my 25 year old daughter move to a new apt. I have decided that I need to share this thread with that girl - she has WAY too much stuff!!! </p>

<p>I handed her extra garbage bags when we were leaving and encouraged her to ā€œtossā€ as she unpacked!!! </p>

<p>@abasket, too bad she couldnā€™t toss before she packed!</p>

<p>I did it. After kicking off ever since I got back, I finally tackled my room. Five garbage bags later with a bag full of clothes to give away, my room is functional. Iā€™m able to walk straight from my bed to my closet without having to curve around to my desk. I donā€™t need to do my makeup on the floor because Iā€™ve cleared off my counter. No more stepping on things in the dark!</p>

<p>This is one happy and proud girl! :D/ </p>

<p>I had a quilt from my grandmother that was too tattered to use and too big to keep just for sentimental reasons. I used the best pieces to make the most beautiful simple Christmas stockings for our family. I trimmed them with handmade lace from my other grandmother that was just sitting in a box. Weā€™ve enjoyed them for many years. Just a suggestion.</p>

<p>What a lovely way to remember loved ones in a tangible and practical way. :)</p>

<p>Congratulations to everyone who is making progress, and thanks for the useful and sweet suggestions.</p>

<p>14 more boxes out to the trash today + 2 boxes to Goodwill. I can keep up this level of discard/giving for quite a long time, and hope that the thread will continue till I am done! (Months for sure, probably years.)</p>

<p>Way to go QM! Itā€™s amazing how great it is to be energized by ridding yourself of stuff.
Hereā€™s a question I always ask myselfā€“how many times do you have to handle this object?<br>
Does it have a place to go? Put it there.
Do you love it? Find a safe spot.
or are you just moving it from pile to pile? Donate it. or trash it</p>

<p>2 bags yesterday. H is doing a great job joining me (finally).</p>

<p>14 plus 2 is a WOW!</p>

<p>Took a deep breath and started to tackle my office. Where paper goes to die. Took out 2 large bags of trash, another of shredded and filed those things that had been waiting ( a long time) to be filed. Only one small corner but it is a start. This thread has been an inspiration. I now feel guilty if I donā€™t tackle something every week :)</p>