Posts: 6,593
11/9/12 5:17 P

Rikki - Hang in there. It all happens with time. You are doing a great job with what you can do. I'm proud of what you are doing. Just keep up the great work.

current weight: 136.0

145 138.75 132.5 126.25

120

Posts: 112
11/8/12 11:25 P

Here's an update. I've gotten nothing done, because I've been in financial crisis mode. Working so hard and so tired after a long day working I have no energy to declutter. I have made up my mind to start next week (this sunday) and declutter every Sunday. Really too tired to do it during the week. When I started going through a few boxes, I did discover one thing that made me happy. I have been buying Revereware copper bottom pots for years as I find them at yard sales and thrift stores. I now have a complete set of every size up to a dutch oven with lids. I even have the tiny little half-quart pot and the teakettle. THAT I'll be keeping. But I will be getting rid of the extra muffin tins I used to use all the time for bake sales for the kids' schools. I'm just keeping two...one for mini muffins and one regular size. A lot of bakeware is going, because I just don't bake much anymore, since I'm all by myself. I'm down to 10 pieces of furniture, 6 of which are family heirlooms, so that's great. Sunday I'm going through clothes and giving away everything that doesn't fit. I'm tired of hanging onto things hoping I'll lose weight. If I finally do lose weight, I'll just buy more. These are all out of style anyway. I'll wait on the yard sale until middle of January, after Christmas. I just want to have it all gone by then so I can get out of this place by February 1st.

Posts: 6,593
10/16/12 9:24 P

Rikki - you are a great asset to this team and a great motivator. My Mother use to always say to me "is it a need or a want". So, now I stop and think before I buy anything. The other thing is that she use to say is to "if you wait long enough it will go on sale, when it does and it is still there then you are suppose to have it."

I went from a small condo to a large home to a small apt. to a large home. Long story. When my Mother passed I must have spent months going though things and cleaning things out. Then I got married and combined things and had more stuff. Then we moved to Washington and before we moved I cleaned out a lot and gave some items to our son for his place and some to a friend. Then when we got here I got rid of at least 12 bags to charity or more and sold some items on E-bay. All in all I must of had at least 6 garage sales 35 bags of trash, 75 bags to charity and 35 bags of sheered paper. my Mother loved to shop and save things. Since then I have down sized a lot and gotten rid of thing. Every 6 months I go though thing and see if I really need to keep it or not. We are renting and I have not put out a lot of my nice pieces as we are not sure if we are going to stay here or not. The House is very big for the two of us but, we really like the location and the house.

Rikki - I am very proud of you for the way you have set your goals.

current weight: 136.0

145 138.75 132.5 126.25

120

Posts: 112
10/16/12 8:06 P

Thanks for the compliments and encouragement. I am going to spend the next two months really getting rid of things, because I'm in such a bad living situation, and have to get out of here, as it's affecting my health.

I had a bad habit of trying to overprice things, but I found out that you lose money on some things and make money on others. I had quite a few things before I moved here that I either got free or paid next to nothing for that I actually made money on. Then I had some things I paid a lot for that I practically had to give away, but it all worked out to the better.

Planning on having at least one yard sale and putting a lot on Craigslist. Ebay is just too much trouble. I don't have time to pack and mail things.

I'm glad I could inspire someone! I get a lot of inspiration here.

SparkPoints: (121,780)
Fitness Minutes: (114,454)
Posts: 15,469
10/16/12 6:37 P

You can do it-we went from a 1800 sq ft home with full basment, 2 big sheds full of "stuff, and a 2 car garage with lots more "stuff". We moved into an rv and lived in it for 6 yrs. You find out you can really do with a lot less stuff!!! Also, if something new came in, something old had to go out.
I have cleaned out my house, cleaned out my dad's home (twice) and I refuse to fill up my home now! I have empty cabinets and drawers and am constantly getting rid of things. In fact, gave away 2 chairs today and have someone coming to get the recumbent bike DH doesn't ride. Dr wanted him to use it after he got stents but it is just collecting dust, so it must go! After doing this a few times, you learn not to hang onto things. I ask myself, is this something any of the kids would want, if not, it is out of here if it isn't being used. Now I go visit some of my favorite things we gave the kids when we moved into the rv!!

Posts: 565
10/16/12 11:41 A

I'm trying to downsize, too, and it's really difficult for me. I'm just getting rid of things box by box and bit by bit. I have way too many books and kitchen things, and many clothes I no longer wear. I am making progress, but it's slow. Thanks for the inspiration. I'll go work on it some today.

SparkPoints: (55,935)
Fitness Minutes: (30,341)
Posts: 1,789
10/16/12 11:33 A

It is great that you are able to do this! I will be moving across the country within the year, and likely to a much smaller space. I have just begun working to clear out all the unwanted clutter I have been holding onto for so long, hoping to make an easy move and a fresh start.

current weight: 129.0

129 126.75 124.5 122.25

120

SparkPoints: (38,911)
Fitness Minutes: (51,134)
Posts: 1,183
10/16/12 10:31 A

Last night, I looked at all the stuff I have, and been thinking about downsizing myself. Not sure how drastic I can go, but I think I'm going to seriously take a look at things this weekend and try to figure out what I can live without.

Thanks for the inspiration!

0 Days until:  Pittsburgh Half Marathon

50 37 25 12

0

Posts: 112
10/15/12 11:03 P

I've literally gotten rid of more than half of what I owned, and still have too much for my goal...to live in an adorable little 500 sf cottage that's coming open next year. I'm 60, single, and trying to get over a habit of hoarding. Not as bad as on Hoarders, but let's just say I have things I think I can't live without that aren't really necessary. I've gone from a queen to a full to a twin sized bed. I've parted with so many things I thought I couldn't live without, and I find I don't really miss them. I've stopped buying non-essential things...no more knick-knacks at all. I don't buy magazines because all that stuff is on line. I don't buy books, although I do still have quite a few books, but most of those are going to go. I left my house in a 23 ft. truck to a 2 br apt. I left there in a 16 ft truck to a rented room, and I want to leave here in a 10 foot truck.

This is some of what I have in mind to further do away with things:

1) Ask myself: Am I going to use this at least once a week? If not, why not (such as with tools, etc.)
2) Ask myself: If I didn't have this, would I eventually have to buy a new one, or is this something I haven't used in years?
3) Could someone else get more use out of this than I do?
4) Take pictures of all the kid's keepsakes and give them away...keep one from each child.
5) Get rid of duplicates, for example, I have 4 spatulas of different materials, sizes and shapes. How many do I actually need?
6) Keep it down to no more than 100 items in each room. Don't buy duplicates of something so I can have one in each room. It really doesn't take that long to walk to the other room and fetch it.
7) Touch everything once. It is either going or staying. No mind changing once it goes into a pile.

I know I'll think of other things too, but this is just what I'm doing right now.
Anyone else doing drastic downsizing, and if you already have, what tips do you have?