<p>Anyone know where I can get rid of old computer CPU’s? Thanks.</p>
<p>Hi Countingdown! 
I’ve got two sets of old furniture in our basement for our boys to take too. S1 is almost ready…he’ll be a college senior in the Fall and will be sharing an off campus house. I have tons of stuff for them…lamps, silverware, a coat rack, sofas, a futon in great shape…even a laundry cart to separate darks from whites! ;)</p>
<p>We have an EWaste facility nearby that collects items every weekend. </p>
<p>Google ewaste + your zip code and you might find a place to safely dispose of it.</p>
<p>You can donate electronics (like computers) to BestBuy. They will send it out for recycling, even if it still works. If you want it to go somewhere it will be used, ask your United Way or similar if they want to send an email notice that cxxx still works and is available to a charity. You can get a tax receipt for your donation. Many other larger items such as office equipment are disposed of on this manner as well.</p>
<p>Just got a friend to accept donation of 32" TV that is big and heavy. We will replace with thin, light TV that will reside in closet when not in use. S has convinced us to turn his former bedroom into an office since he’s been 5000 miles away since June 2011. It will also be the guest bedroom and his room when he visits ( several times a year).</p>
<p>Have sorted through two boxes, discarding 66% and mailing S things he forgot or couldn’t fit into his luggage. Sis agreed to accept donation of several balls for her young S; our kids have outgrown and aren’t interested any more. House is getting neater! Have a box to donate in the car, for the next time we go to the mall, where they gave a drop off for donations.</p>
<p>I have a hard time parting with books. I did have the kids go through all of their childhood/teen books and make keep boxes. We donated the rest. Who knows, their kids may think their books are a novelty- the world may be paperless by then.</p>
<p>I got my weekly bag ready to go in the trash. One down, 51 to go.</p>
<p>Bag #2 out the door. Files this time.</p>
<p>I try to purge on a regular basis, but this is the year I get serious about cleaning out the basement.</p>
<p>Books- our local library collects them for the annual book sale. If you have children’s books, do you know a newly graduated teacher or a college student majoring in elementary education? We have given lots of books to D’s best friend who will start her teaching career this year.</p>
<p>S sold a whole bunch of old computer/gameboy games on ebay. He also has some very nice clothing that no longer fits (he started working out), I am going to see if the resale store here will take it. </p>
<p>Our church has a big rummage sale in the spring and a clothing sale in the fall.</p>
<p>Found some old sheet sets in the linen closet, with most of them looking OK, until I discovered that the elastic on the corners of the fitted sheets disintegrated! Out! :)</p>
<p>I’ve been saving some half burned down Christmas candles for a couple of years. Out.</p>
<p>We’ve been on this roll for several months now of getting rid of at least one bag per week, sometimes two or three! It is such a high! I cannot belive the mess we’ve had in our basement and closets and it is so exhilerating cleaning stuff out! Unfortunately lots more to go. But hey, it’s going in the right direction!!</p>
<p>My phrase, for several years, has been that I want to be “a net exporter of goods from my home.”</p>
<p>We have a big kitchen. Last spring we took out an enormous kitchen island which had multiple cupboardsand drawers storage underneath. I also lost some additional upper cabinet storage. </p>
<p>For the longest time, I went through the kitchen making space, but once I had all these fewer cabinets, I had to pare down even more. </p>
<p>It is amazing how much stuff you accumulate, and how many things just never get used. </p>
<p>I got rid of two bags this weekend. :)</p>
<p>Books are hard because I read a lot and I’ve bought a lot. My daughters always knew that whining for most things would fall on deaf ears, but whine for a book and mom would probably say yes.
I keep most first editions and those that have been inscribed (to me). Favorite authors and books I think family members would like to read are kept as well. I do reread some. I love it when one of my daughters or my husband pick up something from my library and ask for more by that author. </p>
<p>So - out go the miscellaneous beach read pb’s and the mehs, kid books that are ordinary, the things that are truly dated. </p>
<p>I know that there will be a grandchild who one day will love to sit on Nan’s lap and read “Pish Posh Said Heironymous Bosch”. </p>
<p>3 more books to the library for the Friends sale.</p>
<p>What constitutes a “bag” to you: a paper grocery bag or a large plastic bag or a small-ish plastic bag that you might get in a grocery store? I mostly use paper grocery bags. Already I have 4 bags, plus a collection of tote bags that I’ve picked up from conferences.</p>
<p>What I’m realizing, more than anything, is that I’m doing a lot of organizing. Sometimes missing pieces of games, for instance, renders the games useless. Today, I’ve been finding those missing pieces.</p>
<p>So far my closet sorting has resulted in giant black garbage bags, but the paperwork sorting was in several paper bags. I just cleaned a junk shelf in my closet and found odds and ends that belonged in 4 different rooms. I am thrilled to have another day off tomorrow. Which room to tackle next…</p>
<p>My definition of a bag a week is nothing less than the largest size outdoor black bags! ;)</p>
<p>They get donated or thrown away! Yay</p>
<p>Hey, no one who has joined this “bag a week club” is obligated to fill one black garbage bag a week!! The point is progress, not specific measurable amounts. This isn’t a contest!</p>
<p>Is it?</p>
<p>When our kids were smaller and getting them to clean, sort and declutter their things was difficult, we started a pay for each bag effort. For every medium box and/or bag they filled with things to leave the house (either trash or donated items) they got $10 credit towards something. They earned enough for pool membership several summers that way. </p>
<p>They still call to tell me that they are decluttering and report how many bags/boxes are going out… they dont get credit anymore But they do now like I’ve always done, and keep a box in the closet floor for “to go” items. Its easier to have it there to throw stuff in as I run across it and it inspires me to purge.</p>
<p>Paring down your life can be difficult. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.</p>
<p>I’m in! My goal is to get the rest of the family to declutter. I think I married a hoarder! Whenever I declutter, H thinks there is more space for his junk. We also have 2 parents who are moving from big houses to small apartments in the next couple months. I DO NOT want to take stuff from their homes! H will take anything offered. HELP!</p>