Decluttering 1,000 Things

One of my goals in raising Caroline is to demonstrate a healthy attitude toward material possessions – to be thankful and wise stewards of what we have without keeping things we truly don’t need or want any longer. This year I’m removing 1,000 items from our home after being inspired others who did similar things.

This could have been a goal I posted about at the start of the year, but it’s only January 15 so I figure this is good enough. We are fairly good about not keeping a bunch of stuff around we don’t need, but I think I can come up with 1,000 things this year.

I’m going to track where the items go – sell, donate, recycle/trash, give away, etc. I’m keeping a running tally, broken down each month. If you decide to do something similar, leave a link in the comments!

January

• 58 manila folders (recycle/trash)
• 17 miscellaneous medical items from linen closet (recycle/trash)
• 12 magazines (given away)
• 9 padded envelopes (recycle/trash)
• 3 phone books (recycle/trash)
• 1 spiral notebook (recycle/trash)
• 2 pair of fuzzy socks (recycle/trash)
• 82 items (donated to Goodwill)
• 1 musical soap dispenser (recycle/trash)
• 2 outdated computer books (recycle/trash)
• 4 turtlenecks (recycle/trash)
• 6 obsolete versions of computer programs (recycle/trash)
• 2 DVDs and book (gave away)
• 1 Barbie Jeep (sold)

February

• 1 older computer program (sold)
• 3 toys (donated)
• 2 girls fleece (sold)
• 23 old paint tubes and misc craft items (trash)
• 3 misc. girls clothing (donated)
• 23 new magazines (given away)
• 12 pillowcases (trash)
• 5 boxes (recycled)
• 2 work shirts (trash)
• 1 workout shorts (trash)
• 5 pair women’s shoes (donated)
• 1 glue bottle (trash)
• 14 misc. items from sewing basket (trash)
• 1 older computer, minus hard drive, for parts (sold)

March

• 25 books (sold)
• 18 books (given to neighbor)
• 45 misc. girls clothing, shoes, toys (sold)
• 6 books (trash)
• 23 girls clothing items (donated)
• 3 books (donated)
• 1 men’s sweater (donated)
• 5 kitchen items (donated)
• 36 dishes, cups, saucers, and bowls (donated)
• 7 shirts (donated)
• 2 toys (donated)
• 2 bags/backpacks (donated)
• 1 window blind (trash)

April

• 122 jars, lids, and rings (recycled)
• 2 boxes (recycled)
• 2 banker’s boxes of misc. materials (professionally shredded)

May

• 26 books (sold)
• 1 CD set (sold)
• 5 girls shirts (sold)
• 3 dresses (donated)
• 1 blanket (donated)
• 3 sweaters (donated)
• 1 skirt (donated)
• 5 shirts (donated)
• 6 books (donated)
• 3 toys (donated)
• 1 bag of golf tees (donated)
• 27 misc toys and things (trash)

June

• 100 of Caroline’s miscellaneous toys, crafts, drawings, etc. (approximate, trash and donated)

July

• 1 ear thermometer (trash)
• 27 miscellaneous medical items from linen closet (trash)
• 2 seat cushions (trash)
• 2 desk chair arms (trash)
• 1 plants stand (donated)
• 1 pot (donated)
• 1 hat (donated)
• 1 jacket (donated)
• 4 books (donated)
• 2 pairs socks (donated)
• 31 misc little toys (donated)
• 1 cookie jar (donated)
• 1 neck roll (donated)
• 1 framed art (donated)
• 1 pouch (donated)
• 2 puzzles (donated)
• 3 games (donated)
• 1 wind chimes (donated)
• 1 pair shoes (donated)
• 1 set Tinker Toys (donated)
• 1 bag shells (donated)
• 1 printer (recycled)
• 12 VHS tapes (trash)

August

• 7 VHS tapes (donated)
• 1 mirror (donated)
• 1 twin duvet and pillow sham (donated)
• 2 framed artwork (donated)
• 1 child sling (donated)
• 3 cups (donated)
• 1 bathtowel (donated)
• 1 shadow box (donated)
• 11 glasses (donated)

Sometime in August I stopped writing down notes of what I had gotten rid of so I could add them to this list. I’m pretty confident I was way past 1,000 items at this point, but will continue to record them until I get to 1,000.

September

• 1 printer stand (sold)
• 3 snow jacket, snowpants, gloves (sold)
• 15 file folders (recycled)
• 1 large pile of printables from file (recycled)
• 3 bath rugs (trash)
• 1 printer (trash)
• 21 expired food items (trash)
• 1 bag (donated)

October

• 1 toy (sold)
• 1 quilt rack (sold)
• 1 girl’s fleece (sold)
• 1 Brita pitcher (trash)
• 1 vase (recycle)
• 1 girl’s dress (sold)
• 3 crafts (trash)
• 1 box of valentines (trash)
• 1 printer (trash)
• 3 masks (trash)
• 1 jug ammonia (drain/recycle)
• 1 blender (trash)
• 1 set bookends (donated)
• 8 Christmas glasses (donated)
• 8 glass dishes (donated)
• 7 glass cups (donated)
• 3 sweaters (donated)
• 1 blanket (donated)
• 9 misc. office supplies (donated)
• 18 misc. Christmas craft items (donated)

YEARLY RUNNING TOTAL: 1,005+

I’ve donated beyond this, but I’m going to stop there with adding to the list and tally! It feels so good to get stuff out of the house!