Entries categorized as ‘Clutter’
Well, it took almost a whole year, but I finally reduced my personal possessions from four hundred and something down to 97. Now that I have nothing left, I’m bored out of my mind. Nah, that’s not true; I’m not deprieving myself, I feel freer. My closet is definitely less cluttered. The office in the dungeon is clutter-free. Here’s a few of what I have left:
- 3 pairs of footwear
- 1 pair of gloves
- 1 belt
- 1 necktie
- 1 sweatshirt
- 1 coat
- 2 iPods
- 4 hats (I could trim here, but I have only 1 baseball cap left and I never thought THAT would happen)
- 1 pair of jeans
I think I could knock off another 7 items to get down to 90. Then I think about my wife and how she’s clinging to eleven-year-old high school “love” notes from yours truly. I couldn’t stand to even unfold one to read what was on my mind back then. Eventually, I will probably burn them one Saturday morning before she rolls out of bed. Poor woman has hoarding tendencies, I think.
So, after a year of this blog, what have I learned?
Counting fruit is friggin’ boring, that’s what I’ve learned, and I’m not saying that because I’m falling short of my fruit-eating goals. It’s just tedious and silly to sustain it for a WHOLE year.
Needless to say, I won’t be counting my apples again, but the 100 Thing Challenge ended up being much more rewarding than I ever imagined. It taught me to be much more aware of my wants and my needs, to distinguish between the two. I don’t buy a pair of shoes on a whim just because I like how they look. I don’t have 6 hooded sweatshirts and 3 coats clogging my closet just to have a choice of colors.
Now I have to make this attitude stick.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Simple Living
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge, consumerism, Simple Living
February 7, 2009 · 1 Comment
I have recounted my personal possessions and, to my consternation, I still have 20 short sleeve shirts. Seriously, that can’t be right. I’m going to count them one more time. If that is accurate, then I should have no problem getting down to 100 things. I currently stand at 112. I have rewritten the 100 Thing Challenge page, erasing all of the marked-out stuff that I have purged since April.
I have changed a tiny rule. I have 18 books left after several rounds of cuts. For now I can’t part with any more. Four of those are cookbooks, which I am moving to shared because they also belong to Jennifer. Of the 14 remaining, 8 are personal development books (1 item) and the last 6 are writing/reference books (1 item). So instead of counting as 14 items, they will count as only 2.
I also removed the home theater equipment because I use it less than anyone. I also removed the satellite radio receiver because we all use it. If I were kicked out of the house tonight and had to take all my — with me I doubt I would take the audio/video devices.
I’m so close that I’m going to try to hit 100 by tomorrow.
[1 hour later] I recounted and I do have 20.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Organization · Simple Living
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge, Dave Bruno, Simple Living
February 3, 2009 · 1 Comment
I’m getting down to the nitty gritty. Nobody else gets this excited about taking a trip to Goodwill. I’m going to make another sweep through my closet; I still own too many t-shirts. Here’s the latest cuts:
- Small candle holder
- Nail clippers
- Sweater, dark blue
- Peta shopping guide
- Half marathon medal
- T-shirt, white, long sleeve
- Sweater, dark gray
- Thermal shirt, gray
- Thermal bottoms, gray
- Lanyard
- Ear bud case
- T-shirt, red, short sleeve
- T-shirt, gray, short sleeve
- Thermal shirt, black, long sleeve
- Coat, blue
- Thermal shirt, white
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Simple Living
This old man now wears glasses. Actually, I TRY to wear them, but in one week, I’m not in the habit yet. For instance, right now I’m upstairs straining on the laptop while my glasses are in the basement. Eyewear is an item I hate to add to my inventory, but hey, it’s nice for street signs to be so sharp. And know I can read subtitles!
I have also added a necktie. Not that I have purchased one. Originally, I thought I had only two, but I had three. Now I have one. I just need to learn how to tie it!
The third item to add this week is a book I purchased a couple of hours ago at my favorite store, BORDERS. It’s titled “Writing Down the Bones.” I’m keeping the receipt though.
Here is what I have subtracted:
- A blue and gray baseball cap
- My wire shelf (formally in my closet, it is now hanging on the wall in the basement with toys on it)
- A pair of black sweatpants
- An orange and blue sweater
- A VHS tape with a Chicago Cubs playoff game on it (The “Bartman” game)
- A combination lock (I forgot the combination, so my daughter took it off my hands for use as a “toy.”
- A book, “The Queen of Clean- Dirty Laundry”
- A pair of gray gloves
- A pocket knife
- A hobby knife
- 3 pairs of socks (not officially counted, but I’m keeping track anyway)
- A can of Endust electronics dusting spray (Moved to a “shared” item, where it should have originally been)
That leaves me at 161 items. Wow, this is getting hard.
I think I’m going to cheat a little bit, or better said, change my self-set rules. I may combine some books into categories, like count “self development” books as one item, “cook books” as one item, etc. I just love reading too much to part with the books I have left.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Organization · Simple Living
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge, consumerism
It was too painful to add those items without also posting some of what I’ve subtracted, so my net loss today is 2, 14 added and 16 subtracted. That puts me at 169 “things.” My goal is to reach 100 and STAY there for–well, forEVER. Here’s what I have gotten rid of lately.
- Four dress shirts (tan, gray, white and blue)
- One pair of dress pants
- A gray sweater that I bought late last winter. I’ve tried to wear it twice and took it off both times.
- Two neckties
- The long-sleeve t-shirt I received for running the 2007 Turkey Trot 5K
- A short-sleeve light blue t-shirt
- Two pairs of pants
- An orange hooded sweatshirt
- Three pairs of shoes (I now have NO leather shoes left, yeah!)
I am amazed when I look at the list of my stuff and see what I’ve parted with. Every time I log on to write, I want to mention this fact. I can’t help but to ask myself why I thought I needed all of that stuff. I’m convinced that many people try to fill the holes in their lives by buying stuff, shopping just to shop. Some people believe that the main goal in life is to acquire stuff, then to sit around admiring it. The more stuff around them, the happier they will be. It rarely works out that way.
Not that this is any healthier, but when I buy something now, I end up torn because there is really very little that I need. I spend too much time thinking about whether I need the item or not. When I buy something–like the clearance shirt from Old Navy on Tuesday–I damned well know that I better keep the receipt in a safe place, because there’s a 75% chance that I will return it.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Simple Living
January 22, 2009 · 1 Comment
Only 14 things added in two months is not bad, especially with Christmas in there. I’m back up to 185 things, but I have a long list of things to subtract very soon and I’m excited to see where I’m at.
Here is what has popped into my life:
- Two pairs of sunglasses that were overlooked when I took inventory back in Aprl.
- Two aluminum water bottles that were also overlooked.
- Two magazines
- Two books
- Two wind/water proof running jackets.
- One long-sleeved button-up shirt that will probably be returned to Old Navy.
- One pair of nylon running pants.
- Santa Cruz Crocs (Look like loafers)
- The Holosync Solution
- A Fisher Space Pen
My new awesome pen will go uncounted into my very modest pen collection, so it will not be counted.
My running pants and Puma jacket were purchased at Goodwill for a total of seven dollars. The pants are replacing an ill-fitting pair. I also bought a running jacket from Target and was going to take it back after I found the Goodwill jacket. However, I really like the Target one. Since I’m honing in on 100 things, I can’t see myself keeping TWO items that basically serve the same purpose–the top layer to block wind/rain when I’m jogging in cool weather.
After adding this stuff, I have 185 personal possessions.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Simple Living
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge
I donated all of my remaining CDs (mostly classical music) to a person in Maryville through Freecycle. This individual is trying to start an outreach program for children based on music. It was much more satisfying giving them away than when I sold all my DVDs on eBay. This brings my total personal possessions down to…
171
This effort to live with less has really been an eye-opener. I find myself automatically questioning each purchase, or more accurately, questioning what I thought I needed.
Should I waste one of my 100 things on THIS??
I mean, how much stuff do we need? How many shoes?
- 26,000 to 30,000 children die EACH DAY due to poverty
- Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
- Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
- Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.
- The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)
- At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
As we go about are lives, I think it’s imperative that we spend a few minutes each day reflecting on such sobering facts. Those times when I do, I’m embarrassed to have complained about, well, what do we Americans complain about? Our houses are too small, our cars are too old, there’s never enough money in the checking account. We’re slaves to our desires and it never ends.
Just because I’m reducing my stuff doesn’t make me any different. These habits are hard to break. In fact, it’s un-American to think less, less, less. The message we receive, non-stop, is more, more more. Now, because of this long-standing attitude, our economy is crumbling.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · My Life · Simple Living · happiness
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge, frugality, global poverty, recession, Simple Living
November 11, 2008 · 1 Comment
One of the possessions that I’m contemplating parting with is a small journal where I have kept track of all the books I have read since the Summer of 2002. It’s interesting to go back in time to be reminded of these experiences. A simple book title, say The Stranger by Albert Camus, can send me back to reading on an old brown leather couch in Troy late one night after the rest of the house was asleep. This was tedious as heck, but I just finished typing 2002 to 2004, three years of reading. If it isn’t clear, the title is followed by the author is followed by the month and year I finished the book.
- Geek Love, Katherine Dunn, July 2002
- Prozac Nation, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Aug. 2002
- Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson, Aug. 2002
- The Rum Diaries, Hunter S. Thompson, Aug. 2002
- On Writing, Stephen King, Sept. 2002
- Bedlam Burning, Geoff Nicholson
- 1984, George Orwell, 2002
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, 2002
- The Stranger, Albert Camus, 2002
- Rosemary’s Baby, Ira Levin, 2002
- Choke, Chuck Palahniuk, 2002
- Cannery Row, John Steinbeck, 2002
- Glamorama, Bret Easton Ellis, Oct. 2002
- Deliverance, James Dickey, Oct. 2002
- Potato Chips for Breakfast, Oct. 2002
- Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton, Oct. 2002
- Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk, Nov. 2002
- Envy, Sandra Brown, Nov. 2002
- Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Dec. 2002
- Bonfire of the Vanities, Thomas Wolfe, Dec. 2002
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Dec. 2002
- Summer, Edith Wharton, Jan. 2003
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jan. 2003
- The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway, Feb. 2003
- A Lost Lady, Willa Cather, Feb. 2003
- The Sound & the Fury, William Faulkner, March 2003
- The Children’s Hour, Hellman, April 2003
- The Wasteland, T.S. Elliot, April 2003
- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, Oct. 2003
- Litchfield, Wm. Stage, Oct. 2003
- Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Oct. 2003
- Of Mice & Men, John Steinbeck, Nov. 2003
- Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, Mary Roach, Nov. 2003
- Deviant Ways, Chris Mooney, Nov. 2003
- Trump: The Art of the Deal, Donald Trump, Nov. 2003
- Life’s Little Instruction Book, H. Jackson Brown, Dec. 2003
- Running With Scissors, Augusten Burroughs, Dec. 2003
- The Mad World of William M. Gaines, Frank Jacobs, Jan. 2004
- The End of the Affair, Graham Greene, Jan. 2004
- Party of One: A Loner’s Manifesto, Jan. 2004
- The Da vinci Code, Dan Brown, Jan. 2004
- Mystic River, Dennis Lehane, Feb. 2004
- Sick Puppy, Carl Hiaasen, March 2004
- Stupid White Men, Michael Moore, March 2004
- Downsize This, Michael Moore, March 2004
- Dude, Where’s my Country, Michael Moore, April 2004
- Who’s Looking Out for You, Bill O’Reilly, April 2004
- A Clockwork Orange, Burgess, July/Aug. 2004
- Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom, Aug. 2004
- Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, Aug. 2004
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon Aug./Sept. 2004
- The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson, Sept. 2004
- Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss, Oct. 2004
- Our Man in Havana, Graham Greene, Nov. 2004
- In Cold Blood, Truman Capote, Dec. 2004
- The Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey Euginides, Dec. 2004
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · My Life · Simple Living
Tagged: Capote, Erik Larson, Euginides, Faulkner, Fiction, Fitzgerald, Graham Greene, Hemingway, Michael Moore, non-fiction, reading, T.S. Elliot
Okay, now I’m on a roll. Be gone, clutter!! I’m down from 438 to 209 personal possessions. The only thing I have to add this week is the Nov/Dec issue of Vegetarian Times.
I have subtracted the following…
- I have grouped my pens together into one item (Pen Collection) because 1) they take up little space, 2) I usually lose them anyway 3) they’re actually shared with the family, and 4) I use them for the small biz. That shaved 5 from my total.
- iPod Nano. I bought this, loved it, but ultimately I couldn’t justify keeping it, so it was returned to Best Buy.
- Three more t-shirts were banished.
- When I sold the DVD collection, I shipped them in one of the CD/DVD cases.
- Scissors. I don’t know why I counted this in the first place. I use them everyday for the biz, so it doesn’t count.
- 9 magazines. They’re beginning to pile up again, so I’m just tossing a pile into the recycling bin. It’s a relief.
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Simple Living
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge, Clutter, Simple Living
It feels good to get back into the swing of getting rid of stuff that I don’t need. I have subtracted 25 items from my life, including 8 t-shirts. One item, my winter slippers, were destroyed this summer by the kittens. I guess they had been sleeping on them and I found them all hairy and gross. I was going to wash them to see if I could salvage them, but then they were swept away by our basement flood, so I can’t really just blame the poor cats. I’ll just list the stuff because I love using bullet points.
- Chicago Cubs Pennant
- Slippers
- Abercrombie coat
- Meditation journal
- Stack of notecards
- Note card holder
- iPod Mini
- iPod Mini charger
- iPod Mini rubber case (clear)
- iPod Mini rubber case (blue)
- Blue belt
- Running shorts, gray/red
- T-shirt, blue
- T-shirt, green/tan
- T-shirt, green
- T-shirt, light blue
- T-shirt, black
- T-shirt, purple
- T-shirt, orange
- T-shirt, gray
- Pair of dress shoes
- Baseball cap, brown/white
- Old cell phone
- 2007 daily agenda
- Pen, Zebra F-301 compact (Lost at YMCA)
Categories: 100 Thing Challenge · Clutter · Simple Living
Tagged: 100 Thing Challenge, Clutter, Ipod, kitten, Simple Living
