Or how to get your butt in gear and reclaim your house in 8 easy steps.
1) Go online and schedule Amvets to come pick up donations at your house in one weeks time.
2) Gather up everything that you've stuck in a corner for the last year that you intended to sell on Craigslist/ebay/garage sale/cosignment shop and just do it already.
3) Pinky swear to yourself that you will donate everything that didn't sell or get taken to the shop, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT IS WORTH if it's still in your house on pick up day.
4) Get off your duff and start going through your stuff. You only have 7 days, you know.
5) Let go of the emotional attachments and realize how much more zen you will feel without all that crap sitting around.
6) Challenge yourself to gather at least 10 different things each day to donate. And no, 10 sheets of scrapbook paper doesn't mean you have met your quota. Like things count as 1 item here, buster.
7) Drag it all out the door to wait for the Donation Fairy to take it away.
8) Breathe a big sigh of relief and be proud that you accomplished something BIG this week.
I feel like you wrote this specifically for me! :) Thanks for the kick in the pants!!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Love it! "No matter how much it's worth"... I tell my husband all the time it's not worth ANYTHING sitting in the garage! Between my closet, the garage and the deep, dark kitchen cupboards, we could turn this into the 70/700 project! But I'll start with 7/70. Baby steps. Thanks Jen! Brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to say my house is a little cluttery?
ReplyDeleteOK, fine. You're probably right.
Love your list of steps. I've been accumulating a pile for Good Will for approximately 13 weeks now. Tomorrow shall be the day!
Ahem, are you looking at the 'to ebay' pile under my desk, pray tell?
ReplyDeleteJen...I so need to do this!
ReplyDeleteI needed this! Sounds pathetic, but it's true! Now I just need to get to work cleaning out. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project! I've been systematically getting rid of stuff in my attic these past few years in the plan to 'downsize' to a smaller home when my husband retires. I never thought to do it 7/70 style.
ReplyDeleteI love thrifting, but my number one rule is this--I can't go unless I'm dropping something off. And I can't buy anything unless I donate at least 10 items for each 'new' item.
PS--if you have any old text books or non-fiction books, check out Cash4books.net. I typed in the ISBNs for about 6 books my son used in college (and will never open again) and I can get almost $50 for them, and they pay for shipping! A little sad when you consider one text book might have easily cost $200, but (like Tracey said), anything just sitting around is worth nothing!
ReplyDeleteSo true! I love it - I actually posted about the same idea today, only with regard to clothing - I'm beginning a little series in fact....the semi-annual impending fall (hard to imagine in 101F heat, but they say it's coming) wardrobe switcharoo brought it on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the outline - sometimes all it takes to get motivated is someone else offering a plan. Love.
Great post! Whenever the Amvets or Purple Hearts or whoever lady calls, I always say yes...it keeps some of the junk at bay.
ReplyDeleteThe things I am saving to sell later on is what kills me. You're right--if I haven't sold it (or who am I kidding, listed it), it's gotta go.
I just finished going through my closets and the attic and the garage. We are loading up a trailer and taking all our extra stuff to a consignment auction next week. Your post is perfect timing for me.
ReplyDeletegood advice.
ReplyDeletemust take advice
xo
Have you been watching my house?? Glad to know I'm not alone. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI am proud of you! Letting go is hard to do....but as long as we are still out in the world still "gathering"....we must let go of some of the old stuff.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a house where nothing was ever thrown away...so I have always, always been able to get rid of stuff. The kids and husband have been known to hide when I get in one of these moods.
Don't you feel so much better?
xoxo, Julia
ok, I admit I have a problem. There, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, right? Now, on to that list!
ReplyDeleteGOOD FOR YOU, Jen!
ReplyDeleteI moved to Bloomington from New Castle nearly 2 years ago and got rid of a lot of junk, but unfortunately, moved a lot of junk and we are constantly working to get rid of more stuff.
I don't see anything that looks like "good stuff" in your picture...so you did good! Ha.
Cheryl in B-town
WHOSYERGURL
i love it!!!
ReplyDeletei just spent 2 hours going through the girls stuff in the play room hoping they don't discover what i threw out!
xo
Come Sept 2nd when the kids go back to school I am going to reread this post and get my butt in gear!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration........I still need it even after I had the Salvation Army at my door. And guess what? They tried to tell me that they didn't have room for all my stuff! But, progress was made and I definitely have a lot to go.......so off this computer and start sorting and organizing my stuff!
ReplyDelete