own fewer, better things

1) Declutter
2) Evaluate what I need (if I really need something)
3) Do not buy new clutter!

I decided six months ago that if I generally owned fewer and better things in six months I could check this off. Well, that’s today, and that’s true! I am still working on it, because if you don’t, you’ll be back under a mountain of stuff again, but have moved to working on the goal of “practice discardia” where there is a larger community of people over there and the scope of the goal is a little wider: not only objects but commitments and relationships.

YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

and will be able to. What a cool feeling. I have been reflecting on how much less stuff I have – and still feel like I have too much – but how it doesn’t weigh on me to get rid of stuff like it used to. I’m a lot closer to where I want to be and am much better at passing up a deal for the sake of a deal.

and bought a bra that was my size, but didn’t fit. Couldn’t pass it up at $5.00. Well, after wearing it twice, it’s gone in the Goodwill bag. But that’s been one of my few transgressions over the last few months . . . a big load is going to Goodwill today and a bunch of stuff is sitting free at the curb. More will go home to my parents this week and I am going to repair some items today that will come out of boxes or piles in order to use them. I feel confident that when that reminder pops up in about a month or so, I will be able to check off this goal.

For example, I bought a pair of Chaco sandals. They were expensive, but everyone I saw wearing a pair I asked and they raved about them. I stalled because I wasn’t sure, so wore them around the house, etc., but them someone else told me he had the same problem in the beginning and to just take the leap. So I did. And they are great, except need a little adjusting. And you can send them in to the factory to have any part – even the footbed – replaced (for a cost, I’m sure), but at least you aren’t throwing and buying a new pair! Yippee!

My cousin was giving away some clothes and so I took a bunch of them. Thing is, I don’t know if I love them all. But I figure it’s a way to try some clothes I never would have bought – and if I don’t like them, they can go off to Goodwill and she’ll never know. I needed pants anyway . . . it’s just that most of them are winter clothes, and it’s June! So any progress I made feels eaten up by the new sweater occupants in my closet.

I think I’ve accomplished this in the last two years. It’s definitely worth doing.

This goal has been going pretty good. Last night, my fiance and I bought a good Kitchen Aid toaster and got rid of our crappy Oster toaster oven. I just bought two nice new t-shirts. They may have cost a little more than I could have found shirts for, but I really like them. I’ve become very reluctant to buy stuff, usually putting it off until I talk myself out of it.

I have been purging. A bunch went last week and I already have a second bag started again for Goodwill. Plus, I need to go through my crafting stuff and bring some back to my mom. So that’s going well. It’s amazing how much easier purging gets the more you do it. Crappy shirt that’s too short that I once loved? In the bag. Pair of thrift store pants I just bought but are too small? In the bag. Ha! Ha! Goodbye!

On the better front, I bought a really nice sleeping bag at REI (and paid for it by selling my trike – one of Dad’s dumpster dive finds). I’m hoping it will last for years. I also bought a pair of Chaco sandals, which I’ve heard are great, but which I’m still deciding on – wearing them around the house to see. Unfortunately, I purchased a Thule ski rack on eBay and it didn’t have the correct clamps. Oh well, even having to buy the clamps I came out ahead on that one and it is also of good quality.

But I lost my headlamp. That’s sad not only because it’s a $30 headlamp, but because it also had 3 of my 4 rechargable AAAs – at $10 a package, that’s almost a $40 loss. I bet it’s hiding somewhere in my house/room, but have looked everywhere I can think of! So I did buy a new one, thinking at least I can replace my boyfriend’s really funny one with a huge miner-size light and battery pack on the back of the head, as well as the strap going over top of the head. I love him! He wears that walking so we can see my dog’s poo. Off topic. Time for bed.

for Mexico. I need to remember that just because I’m in another country doesn’t mean I need every single thing that’s being sold. Plus, luckily, a lot of Mexican stuff is available here now, at least food stuffs. I want to get some shirts, nice jewelry, mesh bags, and maybe a tortilla press. Also, possibly some things for my classroom. I will be tempted by other stuff and need to remember that I do not need it. I have tons of stuff packed away from when I lived there and never use it and maybe never will. I have plenty of baskets, fabric, blankets, stuff like that. I just need to be very cognizant of what I’m buying while I’m spending – especially because I’ve been tight to save the money up and now it’s kind of burning a hole in my pocket. The store at the center where I’m going will be another temptation, but I have enough shirts, etc. from when I worked there. I don’t do enough Girl Scouting stuff anymore to merit having tons of patches, etc. to trade.

In the “own fewer” part of this, I’m hoping to balance out what I buy by getting rid of other things I bring down – namely old clothing and shoes I’ll use on our service project. Maybe toiletries. Old undies that can go in the trash toward the end of the trip :) I should bring other stuff I wouldn’t mind parting with. People will use it there, and I have enough here.

Scared that I’ll come home with lots of crapola!!!!!!!!! Yikes!!!!!!

is, I did my taxes, and I had kept track of all the things I donated, thinking I could deduct them, but realized a few months ago that I couldn’t unless I itemized. Well, the good news was that in Minnesota you can deduct half of what you make in charitable donations above $500 and with all the crap I gave away it was more than that, so I saved a few bucks in taxes. And I gave away a LOT of stuff in 2006, at least for me.

Now are going to come some of the tougher rounds of giveaways – the crafts I never get to, the stuff I would need to go buy if I didn’t have it and needed it, but I don’t, if that makes sense. This is mostly office-y stuff. Now will be the stuff that’s a little harder. The stuff I want to use but haven’t in years, and probably won’t for just as long or longer . . .