2012 in 2012 Final Results and Thoughts

I am glad to have done 2012 in 2012 decluttering challenge even though I didn't get to the goal. To me, the process mattered and it was not so much about the end result as it is about changing my mind set about all the stuff in our house. I've parted with many thats-too-nice-to-give-away items and it's made my heart lighter. I am no longer going to track progress, but I am definitely going to continue getting rid of things in the new year. 

I have actually tried the Swap.com valet service and sent in a whole box of great condition clothing that was too small for Baby E. Now I can swap it for stuff we need on their website! There are still Swap free shipping codes available if you want to send in gently used or like-new clothing. I made 3 piles of clothing and made it a goal for the 'keep' pile to be the smallest and the 'donate' pile to be the largest. It worked! The middle pile pictured above is for Swap.com.

I'm also glad to have sold many things and made over a thousand dollars selling stuff we don't need, much better than all of it lying around taking up space.

How have you done with decluttering your house in 2012?

Last Round and RESULTS:

1  baby bouncer (sold)
35 broken toy pieces (trash)
18 random household items (donated)
55 pieces of clothing (donated)

Total = 1,219 of 2012
as of December 30th, 2012

Selling Stuff YTD: made $1,372

2012 in 2012: Week 48

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

Yes, I'm still doing this. It seemed a little pointless to post an update twice a month. I was too busy getting rid of stuff to actually post about it. Spent some time listing items on Craigslist and thankfully made some sales!

Oh, and started my own business meanwhile as well. Huge time requirement. Thankfully it's not something to get us into more debt and it's actually helping pay off debt right now.

With remodeling the kids room (above) and realizing how much stuff I need to move from one room to another, it gave me even bigger inspiration to get rid of as much as possible.

Okay, so lets ignore the fact that we just moved over 1,000 vintage vinyl records to our house in hopes of helping out brother-in-law sell them! Yeah, I cringed. They could be worth a lot though. Yes, that is so 'like us' - we like to take risks, otherwise life can get boring. :)

So here it is, an epic purge from the past four months! Will a huge push be even possible to get to 2012 items? I'm going to try. Will I be doing 2013 in 2013? I don't think so - but that doesn't mean I am not going to sell and donate even more stuff.

Moving on:

1  stroller (sold)
2 baby carriers (sold)
1 wool rug (sold)
6 cloth diapers (sold)
3 Frying pans/skillets (sold)
55 broken toy pieces (trash)
28 random household items (donated)
260 pieces of clothing (donated)
12 books (donated)
22 glass jars (donated/recycled)
12 broken jewelry things (trash)

Total = 1,110 of 2012
as of November 24th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $1,337

2012 in 2012: Week 32

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

It's summer. I'm not about to spend all summer purging my house of stuff. I'm still doing it, but in a very laid back fashion. Overall, I'm parting with things so much easier. Stuff I thought I would never want to donate is out of my house.

A really big contributing factor to that was reading "Financial Peace" by Dave Ramsey. Yeah, we have 'stuffitis' big time - the all-American syndrome of 'must have the latest gadget/toy/accessory'. It's humbling to turn that around and to be constantly reminded of how little we need when we see those in actual need. To realize how much time or money we spend on stuff is eye opening. Have you read that book? It's a must read (even if you don't like the guy), he has some great points and I must say the book has been life changing for us. We were never the spend-spend-spend type, quite frugal in the way we live, but even for us it's been a push in a good direction. Living with debt is no fun, even if it is just a mortgage and some student loans.

Living debt free? Now we're talking! Baby steps, baby steps... Craigslist is a good help in that regard :)

I'm also so much pickier in giveaways I enter now, only for things I actually need, not just clutter that I want.

Moving on:

15  broken toy pieces (trash)
105 clothing items (donated)
9 cloth diapers (sold)
4 cloth diapers (donated)

Total = 708 of 2012
as of August 10th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $882

2012 in 2012: Week 28

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

We intentionally skipped a post two weeks ago and we decided that once a month is enough for updates. It's getting harder to keep track of things I get rid of. I am loving this challenge because each week I find it easier and easier to let go of things I thought I needed but actually don't!

The diaper disposal thing that I finally sold on craigslist, do you have any idea how long I've been posting it there? Probably two years, maybe even more! A pain? Yes. But imagine the sigh of relief when I actually sell it and there is cash in my hand. It's that moment of serendipity when someone actually finds the item you are selling and wants it. Took me years to sell my wedding gown (last year), I'll always remember the day when a young woman came to try it on and looked gorgeous in it - I was happy to part with it because it took up so much space and it felt great to give her such a good deal! Doesn't happen often, but I say it is worth the effort considering we've made $807 just selling stuff we don't need so far!

This Wednesday I scheduled another donation pick up with DonateNewEngland.com! Can't wait to purge some more :)

Moving on:

15 toys (donated)
45 clothing items (donated)
15 broken toy pieces (trash)
1 baby carrier (sold)
1 diaper pail (sold)
2 pillows (donated)

Total = 575 of 2012
as of July 14th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $807

2012 in 2012: Week 24

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

Photo of the donation bundle. Feels good to get rid of it and nice to give it to someone who needs it instead of wasting my time posting it on craigslist for a few bucks :)

I am gearing up for another big donation on the 25th. This works great for me because if I schedule it, I feel like I must.purge.now. It's so much easier to let go of things when you know that truck is coming and you want as much out of your house as possible! I highly recommend finding an organization in your area that takes donations for clothing and household items, many of them do at home pick ups. You probably received a flier in the mail many times and didn't even notice. Another great way to force yourself to get rid of clutter - invite some guests! My half sister is coming soon from the other side of the globe and it is a great opportunity to make our home more presentable :)

I sold another craigslist item, a shoe rack that was too huge for our home, new in the box (that I received by mistake when I won a giveaway). It was a nuisance that was standing right in our entryway, glad to have gotten rid of it.

We're almost half way through the year. Yes, it looks like there is no way I'll get to 2012, I don't think it is possible! But you know what, that's fine by me. I'll keep on going even if I never get there.

Moving on:

42 toys (donated)
40 clothing items (donated)
10 books (donated)
8 broken toy pieces (trash)
1 shoe rack (sold)

Total = 496 of 2012
as of June 16th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $720

2012 in 2012: Week 22 {super cute photo}

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

Baby T likes bling, what can I say. Here he is with my cousin, gorgeous bride, playing with her sparkle. :)

You probably didn't notice, but we skipped week 20. We didn't forget, we were busy packing! Then we were busy enjoying Washington D.C., attending my cousin's wedding in Maryland, unpacking, etc. This weekend I will be seeing a good friend for the last time before they move across the country, we have been trading kids clothing back and forth for a while. So this was the perfect opportunity to sort things out in our kids' closet and to return some items we borrowed (these don't count toward the items below since they are not ours). I also gathered a big bag of stuff to donate and scheduled a pick up at donatenewengland.org.

Too much clothes. Too much. We don't even wear half of it. How is your purge going?

Moving on:

10 broken toys/pieces (trash/recycled)
110 clothing items, mostly baby (donated)

Total = 395 of 2012
as of June 2nd

Selling Stuff YTD: made $680

2012 in 2012: Week 18 {Cute photo}

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

How's your spring cleaning going? Uhm, mine is on hold. It sure doesn't feel like spring outside, not very inspiring. The photo above was two weeks ago, that was spring. Now it feels more like rainy fall. May is an absolutely crazy month for me, I signed up for the Summer Splash Giveaway Hop before I accepted a new [ridiculously spectacular] online job - set myself up for some sleepless nights! So my decluttering has been reduced to some purging of toy bins, lots and lots of stuff that shouldn't even be there. A mom needs some sleep, you know.

You may have also noticed that we aren't just getting rid of stuff, we're getting more! Oy! I love receiving things for review, and no it isn't 'free stuff', I work my butt off with this blog and spend oodles of time on it. You don't want to know what goes into getting 'free' products. Every month I tell myself, "Less reviews girl, less reviews." Yeah, very hard to pass up an opportunity when it is something you really needed, wanted, or would have spent your own money on anyway. Well, at least it looks like Craigslist sales are paying off, we have made $680 since the beginning of the year selling things we do not need. 

Moving on:

81 broken toys/pieces (trash/recycled)
1 baby gear item (sold)

Total = 275 of 2012
as of May 5th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $680

2012 in 2012: Week 16 & Earth Day

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

It is becoming clear that at the rate I am going, I will not get to 2012 things by the year's end. I need major cleaning and get.this.stuff.outa.my.house sessions, but you know what? We are so busy with life, I don't think spring cleaning is happening. Do you feel that way at all?

I'm starting a new job May 1st, I like to spend time outdoors as much as possible with Baby E and Baby T, preparing healthy meals is a priority. A clean house? Not so much. I know that getting rid of stuff will make it easier to keep clean, that's the idea. I have many excuses and even if I don't get to 2012 things, what will matter to me is that I didn't slave over it and I made more important things a priority - like my kids!

Too many toys, too much clothes, and I'm slowly learning to let go of anything that is to any degree unneeded. S.l.o.w.l.y....

It may come as a surprise to you if you're new here that we do not actually celebrate Earth Day or make anything of it. The mission of Eco-Babyz is not to help you save the planet or anything, it is to help you make healthy choices for your family. True, our planet would be a lot healthier if everyone made healthy choices for the sake of their kids and loved ones. If you're celebrating though, have a blast!

Moving on:

50 broken toys/pieces (trash/recycled)
1 baby sling (sold)
1 designer hospital gown (sold)

Total = 193 of 2012
as of April 21st

Selling Stuff YTD: made $330

Image: Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

2012 in 2012: Week 14

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

That's my little pile of unwanted clothing. Finally. It's small, it's just 22 items, but I'm just getting started! Clothing is something I want to get rid of most because it takes up the most space and causes the most headache at the moment. How much do you really need? I find that I wear about 20% of my clothing - at most, probably even less. A lot of it has to do with working from home, of course. But I do not anticipate working outside the home for the next 18 years at least (while we homeschool). So do I really need three business jackets? I think I'll manage with one. Do I need five pairs of dress pants? Most certainly not, especially not the ones that no longer fit my mama hips!

After I'm done with the clothing, toys are next on my list! What a nightmare. This eco-friendly, wooden toy loving family is inundated with plastics galore from well meaning friends and family. Some of the stuff is never played with and has to go before we drown in 'Made.In.China'. I think when it comes to 'stuff', plastic toys are my pet peeve, I nearly loose sleep over it. How do you deal with too many toys? Even if you never buy any but friends and family do?

To anyone celebrating Easter or Passover, have a wonderful holiday and a great time with family and friends!

Moving on:

22 pieces of clothing (donated)
1 evening gown (donated)
3 broken toys (trash)
3 mason jars (donated)

Total = 141 of 2012
as of April 7th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $265

2012 in 2012: Week 12

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

Oy, that's a lot of 12s.

I did it. I started sorting the insane amount of clothing we have. Started would be the key word here. It lasted for all of fifteen minutes before Baby T started crying for something. There is only so much you can do in fifteen minutes with a toddler running back and forth across the room and asking you to play with her. That's how everything gets done around here. Now I have a pile of unfinished sorting laying around.

I have a problem, I realized. All my clothing is really nice. Most of it fits very well. The only pieces worthy of donating were those from my teenage days, the ones too short to comfortably cover my mamafied mid-section. I don't wear a lot of the clothes because it isn't the most comfortable for nursing, but I don't want to get rid of it and then have to buy a whole new wardrobe when my nursing career is over. You know what I mean? That's a lot of money right there. The pieces I have  are rather classic, not anything that goes out of style.

Slow these two weeks. I've been enjoying the weather outdoors with my kids instead of doing any spring cleaning!

Moving on:

6 broken toys (trash)
1 broken hanger (trash)
5 mason jars (donated)

Total = 112 of 2012
as of March 24th

Selling Stuff YTD: made $265

Image: Amy Burton

2012 in 2012: Week 10

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

It hasn't been a huge two weeks, but pretty big in terms of selling some expensive items we didn't need to save up for a much needed vacuum cleaner. We have a central one that is ancient and doesn't have any suction, not to mention that when it is emptied - everything we vacuumed comes flying back out. It also can't reach our new finished attic. I have to admit, selling anything on craigslist can be a real pain! It takes some persistence. I sold my wedding gown this past summer to an awesome young lady after posting it on craigslist for four years! That was probably the longest, ever, to sell something. The GPS I was selling only took three month to get a decent offer. If you're selling something, don't be discouraged, eventually someone will come along who wants it.

On a related note, I think I have been too hard on myself for wanting perfect cleanliness. It's not attainable, I've come to realize. See, unlike many families, we are home all the time - we are playing, cooking, building, learning. We probably spend as much time out of the home as some families spend inside theirs (mostly away at work and school). It will never be perfectly clean. I'm okay with that. I like order, that's what I'm trying to accomplish with 2012 in 2012. Less stuff = easier to make order. But that doesn't mean it will ever be spotless here. Only when the kids are all grown up and married it may be possible! Even then, I'll still be making a mess when I finally can devote time to all my hobbies - cooking, photography, crafting, and painting!

Moving on:

7 broken toys (trash)
3 glass jars (recycled)
1 GPS (sold)
1 baby food maker (sold)

Total = 100 of 2012
as of March 10th

Selling YTD: made $265

Image: Amy Burton

2012 in 2012: Week 8

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

It's not spring yet. Please don't hassle me with spring cleaning. When it gets warm enough that I can open my windows for longer than fifteen minutes - then please, please nag me about the spring cleaning. It has been a very slow two weeks in terms of getting rid of things. I've had other priorities, like staying on top of work instead of falling behind (it worked well too). Since I don't want an obsession with getting rid of things to control me, I've let it slide. I want to relax when I'm taking a shower, okay? Not think about the next thing to toss. 

Moving on:

3 broken toys (trash)
10 random expired 'long shelf life' foods (trash, I should never buy more than I need)

Total = 88 of 2012
as of February 25th

Selling YTD: made $50

Image: Amy Burton

2012 in 2012: Week 6

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

I am guessing that this will be slow for most of the year, and then in December I will be scrambling to get to those 2012 items! Still, that's better than not getting rid of anything because I have new items coming into the house way too often for the blog. Speaking of that, I really need to slow down on reviews. We will still offer fabulous, exclusive giveaways - but I need to review things that I truly need or am super excited about (although it's always been like that!) I need to get more picky about what we review here on Eco-Babyz. I see more organic foods in the future maybe? That way it gets eaten and there is no clutter! Otherwise we do not buy anything but food, really. Our material possessions are acquired solely through this blog at the moment. 

Moving on:

1 old smoke detector (trash)
5 glass jars (recycled)

25 baby toys/parts (trash)
1 chain belt (peeling, trash)
10 old cans of frozen juice concentrate (trash, in the freezer for 3 years!)

Total = 75 of 2012

YTD: made $50

Image: Amy Burton

2012 in 2012: Week 4 [First before/after pics]

Let's talk trash.

I mean about all the junk in our homes... 

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

I honestly haven't thrown out much because of a family week of the flu. But what counts is that I am throwing things out and I always find myself thinking about the next thing to get rid of. Selling items isn't so easy, especially when you want to get good money for them. I suspect that during spring cleaning I will need several days where my mother would take the kids outside and I could focus on cleaning our closets, that's where the majority of our decluttering will take place and where hundreds of unneeded items hide.  

Moving on:

10 random old personal care items (trash)
5 husband's old [mostly empty] deodorants (trash)

1 handful small broken toy parts (trash)

1 closet full (more like overflowing, see below) of recycling (recycled, of course)

Total = 33 of 2012

YTD: made $50

before

after

Image: The before and after of our recycling closet under the stairs. See that white bucket? The recycling should be emptied whenever it is full - but what ends up happening is us waiting until the closet is full. I have a different system in mind, hopefully I'll get to it this year. The blue barrel houses our flour that we buy in bulk (in case you're wondering). 

2012 in 2012: Week 2

So how is it going? 

What have we gotten rid of so far in 2012?

One of the things that I haven't gotten around to is getting rid of old open bottles of shampoo/conditioner that we no longer use. They are either toxic ones we no longer use, something natural that 'spoiled' because it has no preservatives/chemicals in it, or simply something that didn't work for my hair (in which case I should give it to someone else to try). I have even more personal care items like this that need to be tossed, they are just old and taking up space. So you'll see a lot of these on my list in the coming weeks. Do you have anything like that laying around that you should get rid of? Old  makeup, deodorant, fragrances, etc... Oh, and the plant... I have yet to keep one that doesn't die in my home, I forget to water them. I prefer cacti. :)

I better start throwing out more stuff each week if I want to get to my goal!

Moving on:

1 potted plant (died, trash)
1 old office chair (donated)

5 glass bottles (donated to canning obsessed person)

4 old shampoo/conditioner bottles (trash)

Total = 16 of 2012
YTD: made $50

Image: Amy Burton

Decluttering with Eco-Babyz: 2012 in 2012

Do you need some encouragement for decluttering your home? I know I do. I know I need some accountability as well. That's where we can help each other. This isn't a 'resolution' and I am not going to get upset if this project falls by the wayside further into the year. I'm not going to punish you either. But here it is...

I
...
Have
...
Too much....
...
STUFF

Who's with me? Stuff sitting unused in closets for more than a year, clothing I haven't worn since having my first baby three years ago (despite the fact it still fits, it's just not mom material). Husband's tools in places they shouldn't be. Books I know I will not read again. Things behind the couch. The 'incoming mail' box stuffed full. That corner. You get the point.

Will you join me in getting rid of 2012 unneeded things in 2012?

I'll be posting my count every couple of weeks, and occasionally before and after photos of my messes. You can post what you got rid of in the comments as well. Keep in mind you don't have to throw it all out, consider selling (craigslist), donating, and freecycling. Just make sure to keep count, it is encouraging the closer you get to 2012 items! I'll be keeping count of the money I make selling the stuff too.

I'll start today with this:

1 huge, old carpet pad (trash)
1 wilted bouquet of roses from baby T's birth (I'm serious, trash)

1 broken toy (trash)

1 prenatal support belt (sold, $25)

1 old desk (sold, $25)

Total = 5 of 2012
made $50

Image: Amy Burton