Did my Life get too Cluttered?
Blog Note: I have severely disappointed one of my readers, maybe more and I am sorry. I started this declutter challenge back in Jan., 2011. We had 3 months worth of prizes added to the pile and a nice group of readers jumped on board and participated enthusiastically. Then my life took over (one kid graduating high school out of state plus open house, one graduating college, sick mom, another kid moved out, high school senior went to college, 2 kids got licences, a wedding, a bridal shower, yada-yada-yada! ) Anywho, I let the ball drop on this and I am sorry! Especially to my dear reader who is upset with me. But the challenge isn’t ruined yet…we have this month to get caught up!
So Let’s Catch up!
Anyway the deal was, you were supposed to declutter one item everyday for 365 days. Then you were supposed to give your input every month into how you were doing as your entry and I would add a prize to the pile each month. You guys did an awesome job of commenting in the first three months.
Jan. 2011 172 comments
Feb. 2011 68 comments
March 2011 101 comments
Here’s a story from one of our reader’s pictures, Jen S., that she shared on her decluttering efforts this year:
Jen S. sent this shot of her Egress before her Decluttering Efforts
Here’s Jen S. Egress after Decluttering! Amazing Right?
THE PRIZES!
The prize pile has the following items in it so far:
- $25 Pier One Gift Card (February addition to the Pile of Prizes)
- The $70 Grey Serena William Purse featured in our giveaway (March Addition)
So here’s the deal, this was supposed to be the last month and you were supposed to have 9 months of commenting. Also, I was supposed to add 9 more prizes to the pile. Okay here’s the Newest prizes:
- April Addition: Write it Down! Camping Journal ($12.95)
- May Addition: Microfiber Hair Wrap ($5)
- June Addition: Frownies pH-Balancing Complexion Wash and Rose Water Hydrator Spray ($20)
- July Addition: Latika Natural Soap: Handmade Darling Soaps ($20)
- August Addition: Faux Diamond Ring ($10)
- September Addition: 2 tubes of Motives lipstick by Lauren Ridinger ($44 retail)
- October Addition: Elf Nailpolish–5 Colors ($20)
- November Addition: Elf Eye Shadow –Multi Palette ($15)
- December Addition: Organic Shea Butter Soap ($5)
- January Additon: Juice Beauty Green Apple Hydration Mask ($10)
TOTAL: $252 in Prizes to be Won!!
Answer these 9 Decluttering questions in the Rafflecopter and we’ll find our De-cluttering Champion!
NEWCOMERS WELCOME!
Interested in joining the challenge, just fill out the remaining comments in the Rafflecopter below to jump in. While you missed your first three entries–you still can claim nine entries! Will you join us?
THE GIVEAWAY: Ends 11:59 January 23.
UPDATE: The Declutter Challenge Giveaway has ended. The Rafflecopter had 873 entries and has been deleted. Thank you for being part of this event for the entire year. See Giveaway Winners.
Blog Note: Some of these giveaways items were previously provided for review purposes. This post was not compensated and the giveaway was strictly as a fun event for interaction with readers!
My storage tip is to label, label, label!
You need to know what’s in the box!
I could blame it on the kids-but the real culprite is me-biggiest clutter causer that is!
My favorite decluttering tip is to take care of the mail as soon as it enters the house…now if I could just take my own advice!
The kitchen table is the clutter hot spot-everything just gets dumped there. Mail, school items, ect. I can’t keep it clean.
Sorting out the clothes that no longer fit-They just keep pilling up everywhere!
pjames330 at aol dot com
Storage tip: When packing up after Christmas, remove any items not used and or broken and donate them. This way there will be fewer items to place out next year.
My husband causes the clutter in the home. Dear me! I love him the guy but he just doesn’t seem to notice his patterns of clutter build up.
my biggest decluttering challenge is my room at my parents house. i recently graduated and moved into my parents house to save money, but i really need to work on the room because i have stuff from places i lived in during college, stuff from when i moved into that house originally and all the way back to childhood in the very first house i lived in. the room looks extra crazy now that i’ve begun attacking it, but i have hopes i will finish it soon.
To motivate – I remind myself how much easier it is to find something when it’s organized than when I have to ransack the house and my brain trying to figure out where the item I’m looking for is. 😀
Storage tip– keep items that are used mainly in one room together in that room, saves on retrieving & cleaning time! Example – in our house the kitchen table is the main place for crafts and schoolwork, so I have a cabinet just for craft items & office/school supplies. I have trays & bins inside the cabinet to keep it organized and since it’s close by the table it’s convienent!
My favorite decluttering tip is two-fold. 1.) if it does not fit…get rid of it! and 2.) if it is broken…get rid of it! If you save it for parts you will just put it up, and when you do need it, you will have forgotten where you put it, and will have to buy the part anyway! I keep telling my hubbie that…and my point is proven at least once a month…as you can tell…We truly are trying to declutter our homes and lives!!
I went from a size 8 to a size ?, well you know the drill…I am not telling…point is…I had closets, drawers, and 8 HUGE tubes of clothing, some still brand new in the package, never worn, and have been “hording” them for…get this…7 years!! I do not buy fad or trend clothes, I buy quality classic (usually on sale at my favorite shop(s) or magazines(s) that are WELL out of my price range, until the sale of course! Anywho…I decided this year…enough was enough…either Lose the darn weight or get rid of the clothes!! You do not understand…until this year I REFUSED to buy nice clothes, in my “new” size, that would fit me! I was basically wearing my uniform, which I was working 6-7 days a week, and a few select stretch leggings and off the rack Walmart on sale for $3.00 T-Shirts!! I went from Fashion Queen…to OMG Slouch!! I am a selfish chicken, I started with the clothes that I KNEW, even if I lost weight I probably, at my age now of 40+…I would not wear them anymore. I do not believe there are clothes for any certain age range…BUT…I do believe there are clothes people of my age range just SHOULD NOT even attempt to wear…I do not care how well preserved we may be! 🙂 With that said, I have trimmed it down to 3 tubes of clothes and only 2 dresser drawers and one closet to go!! Ask my teenage daughters…they reaped the rewards when I opened all of this up and started sorting for 1. give to daughters 2. sell on Ebay 3. Auction on Listia. In this fight to find my bedroom…literally…I have lost 25 lbs…Yipee!! Now…for the first time in 7 years I see hope that I may find more space in my drawers and closets, because I am still selling, autioning and giving away clothes, and now I am only hording a select few…just in case! 🙂 A Leapard cannot change its Spots! So yes, in 2011 I rid myself of well over…probably double…of the 365 items!
WOw, Great Great Story Tamantha. Thanks for Sharing. The Chief Blonde!!
Mostly it is just time and energy. Between the job and the kids —- whew
Must be useful or sentimental
Not yet, but stay tuned
Usually it is someone else coming over!
Storage tip – don;t have one. I suck at this
All my dadgum kids
Favorite tip is: THROW IT OUT. you don’t need it!
I have clutter in EVERY single room. None are exempt