On average, how many items come into your house every week? Think about mail, receipts, food containers, plastic bags, the pen you took from the bank, items you intentionally choose to bring home and things that are given to you.
I have never tracked it but am certain the number skews higher than I like to think.
That’s why I occasionally play the 100 item game and why I’ll be doing it again in January. For 31 days I’ll keep a sheet of paper on the kitchen counter and a donation box nearby. When I have a few minutes I’ll just randomly look for things to declutter. The paper is for keeping a running list of items and the goal is to hit 100 in 31 days.
It can be a movie to pass on to a friend or old receipts bound for the trash (if I find a cache of receipts they count as one unit being tossed). The purged items could be delivery boxes to breakdown and recycle or unloved clothes to donate.
If I’m waiting for dinner to heat, I might rifle through my own kitchen cupboards in search of things that can go. Sometimes I set an alarm for ten minutes to see if I can shed one item a minute.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed with stuff. Honestly, I like stuff and border on packrat when it comes to some things. However, I have no qualms about shedding things that just takes up space. It becomes even easier when you gamify it too!
My wife and I donate unused books that we’ve read and no longer want to Little Free Library. Also, the local post office has a table where local people often leave behind free items that are still useful. Larger items can be found along the roads in the warmer months with free signs attached to them. To be honest, I love where we live. ❤️
This is Little Free Library: https://littlefreelibrary.org
I am so glad you support Little Free Libraries! What a lovely way to pass along the gift of reading to someone else!
You said you live in Vermont? Are you in a town or in the country?
We live in the middle of nowhere here in Vermont, between two towns. When my wife and I moved here in 2020, it was still a working farm. There were cows, sheep, horses, chickens, and hay being harvested. It took me the better part of a year to level the farm fields, move boulders the size of our dining room table, and plant grass and trees. The agricultural equipment that came with the farm was donated to local farms in need. We now grow scenery here, and my wife and I for the first time in our lives have a place we can call home. 🙂
Also, her blog: https://thephoenixdesertsong.com
That sounds absolutely delightful. The middle of nowhere is the middle of everything to you! Love it! I also appreciate that you donated that equipment to others who can use it. That’s wonderful!!
Thanks for the link! I will check it out!
I find it’s time for me to refill my donation drawer. Unfortunately, the local thrift store rarely take clothing anymore. But there are plenty of other items to toss or donate around here.
There’s always something that needs to be moved out the door in my house. I especially like when I can pass things along to someone I know – that makes it easier to part with stuff!
Ooo. Yes. That rarely happens with me. I may need a wider circle of acquaintances. Or I can do as a friend does – have a party and invite people to peruse the donate pile and take something home!
Ooh! A party sounds fun!!!
If I lived near Durango, I would donate to the humane society’s thrift store. It’s a good cause and the money seems to stay right there to run their shelter.
They have a nice store and I usually donate there.
Good!! We shopped there both times we visited and loved it.
What an interesting idea. We’ve definitely been accumulating more stuff over the years and could benefit from doing something like this.
Give it a whirl! You will be surprised by how much you have that you don’t need.