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Friday, June 12, 2009

Purging

I have a lot of clothes. Even when you don't consider the t-shirts from Second Home Nature Center that could fill up their own dresser and will never be let go. Lately I'll be wearing something (usually a shirt) when I realize that it is either uncomfortable or unflattering (or often both). When it comes out of the wash, it goes straight in the donation bag. I've now collected two small bags to give to the Salvation Army. I'm always afraid I'll change my mind so I've been giving these items a waiting period before I take them away. Plus, I'm sure I can find a bunch more stuff to get rid of in the meantime.

It never ceases to amaze me how much stuff I have. The house is full, and it's all mine. The two small bedrooms and basement need some serious attention, but yuck. Who wants to spend their summer sorting and sweating surrounded by dusty crap? Not me.

7 comments:

Smellyann said...

I hear you. How is it that we collect so much STUFF, even when we're trying to be conscientiously NOT doing that?!

Momma Val said...

I have implemented a shopping bag system in my garage. I save the large paper shopping bags when I get them. Then I open one up and set it in the garage. As I come across stuff if it's a kitchen gadget, uncomfortable shoes, even an unwanted gift in the bag it goes. Once the bag is full, I put it in the back of my van. The Goodwill by us has a drive thru. You can just pull up and then they run out and grab whatever you tell them you are getting rid of. Makes life so much easier with not having to remove and replace Little Buddy from his seat for 2 minutes. I do it on the way to groceries or whatever. Happy purging!!!

a/k/a Nadine said...

Good idea Val. I came across some costume jewelry from high school and a pair of shoes of my sister's that are going in the pile now. Yay!

Momma Val said...

Yeah Nadine! I used to never get rid of stuff cause I thought it would be a several hour process to go thru a whole closet. Now I walk by some stupid thing in the garage we don't need anymore and I purge. Or I stumble on a pack of mini blind screws and hardware that we no longer even have in our home and purge again. I still do whole clean and clear outs especially when I have nervous energy like I have had lately, then the bag is overflowing. So cleansing!

BerryBird said...

Do you fill out paperwork to get the charitable donation tax deduction? I have some things I'd like to purge, too, but I don't know how much value to claim for them. I need to do a little more research first I guess.

jo(e) said...

We declare charitable donations on our taxes. Most Salvation Army or Rescue Mission places will give you a receipt if you ask for one. That's pretty much the paperwork you need.

(Usually, you will have to list the items and their value once you get the receipt. I just guess the value based on what I know of garage sale prices ....)

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Yeah, garage sale prices for donations.

Salvation Army gives better receipts for the tax people if you donate a lot.

Keep up the good work--a little at a time goes a long ways.