Along with my 30 day challenge of not buying anything new, I will attempt to donate one item a day for the next month. Over the past couple years I’ve read books such as “the Joy of Less”, “Clutterbust”, and “How I Bought Happiness and it’s Cheap”. All great books that I highly recommend. They’ve taught me how clutter can remove people from being in the present moment. From my own experience, I feel weighed down by my belongings, like they hold me back from sometimes doing what I want (i.e. travel, pursue hobbies, think clearly, etc.). At this point, I already feel I’ve given away a lot of my belongings that felt like clutter but this time around, I’m going to be extra hard on myself.
Each day I will include: A quote or tip about rethinking the clutter in your life and the item I’m donating that day. Start small, think big.
Day 1, February 6th, 2014
Tip: Take a look at that box of stuff you haven’t opened in a year under the house or in your closet. Do you really need what’s in there?
You haven’t used it in a year so it must not be that important to your daily life.
Although, I work a lot with plants, I don’t need three pairs of pruners. Today I’ll be donating a pair of pruners.
Day 2, February 7th, 2014
“the things which we choose to surround ourselves tell our story.”
Francine Jay-author of the Joy of Less
Ever since a kid, I loved different knives. It’s what every boy enjoys, I think? Dreaming of one day fighting through jungle and foraging your own meal. All, with your trusty pocket knife. Well, I think quality is better over quantity and half the time I can’t even find my knife. So, I’m donating one of my two pocket knives today.
Day 3 February 8th, 2014
Sell some of your things on Amazon, Craigslist, or Ebay. Sometimes it makes it easier getting rid of stuff when your getting money for it. But, don’t let money make your decisions for you. You may have spent a good amount of money on something but never use it, and you’ll never get that money back. So, instead of letting that item own you, let it go, it feels good. I know from experience.
This is a soil blocker. A very useful tool that can make blocks of soil eliminating the need for plastic pots. I love the concept and I may own one again but I just haven’t used it as much as I liked. So, I put it on Amazon and it sold today. I know it’s not donating but it goes with the theme!
Day 4 February 9th, 2014.
I love books and that’s not a good thing when trying to limit possessions and clear space. I went through all my books and made a decision whether to keep it or not by determining when the last time I opened it was. I kept some of the books that meant something to me even though I hadn’t opened them in over a year. One helpful tip I found was to download the book if available digitally, then I could sell or donate the book without hesitation. My collection of books is now 1/8th what it used to be.
Day 5-6, February 10th and 11th, 2014
I donated a cordless saw because I recently upgraded. I’m finding it’s important to have good quality tools. High quality, time-saving tools is what makes me money in the long run. I also donated a rubber hammer and a shaker (musical instrument).
Day 7-9, February 12th-14th, 2014.
I’m donating a coffee mug, a house plant with pot, and a pair of pants. I think it’s time to reexamine my dresser. I would like to think I don’t have a lot of clothes but I still find that I only wear maybe half my clothes. I’ve done this before, each time I find myself getting harder and harder on myself with deciding which clothes go and which clothes stay. This time around I will be even tougher. I found out about a project online called Project 333. “Project 333 is a minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.” So, here goes nothing!
Day 10-12, February 15th-17th.
Moving forward with this Project 333 challenge, I’ve donated over the past few days two more pairs of pants, four t shirts, a pair of gym shorts, and a sweater. This is fun and it’s nice not having to smash my clothes to get the drawers to close on my dresser.
Day 13-Day 17, February 18th-22nd.
Day 13- Glass containers that weren’t being utilized. -Donated
Day 14- Sweater that was nice but I never wore. -Donated
Day 15- Tea Kettle I didn’t use anymore (now use electric). -Sold on Ebay
Day 16-Gold dental crown I had sitting around (I know, weird.). -Sent it to gold refiner.
Day 17-Went through food, I do not use. -Gave to my friend.
Tip:Simply your food choices, find out what you really like and use often. Store in large airtight glass containers. Donate or find a friend to give unused food too.
Day 18-19, February 23rd-24th.
Day 18-Sold, hose end timer for watering plants on EBAY. It was not getting used.
Day 19, Sold, my second hose end timer on EBAY. Also, was not getting used.
Both of these were items I held onto because I thought I was going to use them sometime in the future. What I’ve found out is that it maybe easier to let go of these items and free up space. If you end up needing to buy it again in the distant future, that’s ok, it’s not the end of the world. I run into a lot of people who hold onto a lot of stuff because they see some use for it in the future. It may start as one item but then it has a snowball effect, which in turn causes the person to use it as an excuse to hold onto way too many things. I’m guilty of it myself. Let go! It’s self rewarding and will help you in the immediate future and in the long run. Tip: Don’t let your items own you.
Day 20-27, February 25th-March 3rd.
Day 20-old pair of birkenstocks (actually, i drove off and left these at the beach, that counts right?
Day 21-converse shoes, haven’t worn in a year
Day 22-overalls that are awesome but I can never find a time to wear them (selling on ebay)
Day 23-big glass storage jar that holding day number 24’s donation
Day 24-all my seeds, that I never have planted. I work at a nursery so my need for seeds isn’t huge. I get a lot of starts for free. I do think there is something special about growing from seed that is missed when buying starts. I just haven’t had a place to really put them to use as I’ve been moving around place to place. So, I will brought them into work for coworkers.
Day 25-a rusted cast iron, haven’t needed to use it int he past two years. one, because the place i’m at has them or two, because the place I live has an electric stove.
Day 26-extra canning jars and lids that i’m not using
Day 27-pairs of socks that are my oldest and ones that are torn.
Day 28-30, March 4th-March 6th
Day 28- Two metal dog bowls.
Day 29-Clipboard
Day 30-Two more shirts
Final sum up-
As the month went on, it got harder and harder to let go of stuff. But I still feel I can let go of more. For me, this is something I have to think about everyday. I have to reexamine certain items and ask myself multiple questions. When was the last time it was used? Will I use it again in the next six months? Can I borrow it when I need it? Can I buy it again in the future if I really need it? Sometimes my answers to these questions are different when I revisit an item a week or month later. So, it’s important to revisit items and not let them sit in the back of the closet collecting dust. Rotate your items, this helps me make more room in my space.
dirt and diy 