Sure, it may be 4 months later, but it’s still the 11th time I have posted a 10 Things Challenge! For those of you who don’t know, back in August of last year I started an almost-weekly post listing 10 things I was getting rid of in order to declutter my house. Well, I got rid of a ton of stuff and then moved to Colorado where I live now. And since I am settled in here (although thinking of moving yet again), I decided there was much more I could still get rid of and that I didn’t need. Over this past weekend I pulled 34 books from my bookcase – and it’s just the beginning. I am going to try to sell these books, and as soon as I get rid of them I am going to pick another batch. I am really seeing no point at all to keeping 95% of these books that I could get from the library and read any time I wanted to. So out the door they go! Here is what my bookcase looked like before I chose the 34 books:
Looks pretty empty already, right? Well, at one time it was full with books – every single block was stuffed. Now there are half empty ones, along with the bottom left one which holds my now-deceased cat’s homemade cat scratcher that I am keeping for the next one. And the USPS bin is for paper recycling only. It’s not so much of a bookcase now as it is a catch-all for a bunch of stuff. Also, those vases are going to be sold as well I think, as I don’t really have a use for them and have been moving them around for years.
And this is what the bookcase looks like as of today:
A little emptier, a little lighter. Now, to get rid of the books I took out so I can go back in and pick more. So there you go – another 10 34 things out of my house for good! Are you still doing the 10 Things Challenge? If so, how’s it going? If not, why not?
My own version of the 10 thing challenge is sorta on hold until I get back stateside. I’ve actually given away half a dozen bags, mostly clothes that no longer fit, since arriving. I’m also selling some shelves I brought with me before heading back, so I’m actually coming back with a lot less than I came with…
I LOVE your 10 things challenge and enjoyed reading it for the first 10 weeks. Thanks for these posts – I am constantly organizing and collecting things to donate in hopes that we can have a simpler life with less stuff! I teach middle school and I’m hoping to do a 10 things challenge with them this spring. Our little way of organizing AND donating!
Still doing the challenge…. it will be an ongoing process probably for the rest of my life 🙂
My personal goal is one large box of ‘stuff’ per month… regardless of how many things are in it. And when it is in the back of my car, it’s considered “out” of the house 🙂 Because I am taking the stuff 2 hrs away to my kid’s house for their garage sale 🙂
Yesterday I answered a “wanted” ad on freecycle – and got rid of 33 small mouth quart canning jars… that was a major step forward for me…. but I am hanging on to all the wide mouth jars for pickle canning !
I moved from a 3000 sq ft home a few years ago to 1000 sq ft – and am still working on fitting everything in… must have a place or it goes… slow process, but keep posting!
Books however, are dear friends, and I am not ready to part with them yet 🙂
Currently I’m snowed under my acquisitions & other stuff that’s made its way into my small city flat. Just the thought of sorting.. ! Thank you for showing me the light. My parents’ country home just keeps taking in stuff unlimited & doesn’t seem ungainly, wonder how. From as far back as 50 yrs. If they had to move it would show, I suppose.
One thing that is FORCING me to get rid of stuff is that everytime my son comes over I have him bring a box or two of “stuff” down from the attic and put it in the living room. Stuff went up there when I first bought the house as the entire downstairs had to be redone from the flooring and foundation on up… and it’s been a 3 yr project….
Once the box of “stuff” lands in the front room, I trip over it til I get thru it and MOST of it goes on out the door! 🙂 Hooray!
Christmas decorations had 3 boxes come down from the attic…. and only 2 boxes went back up -that was progress for me 🙂
I love your pictures! To actually SEE the differences are encouraging. You know, we haven’t seen your *simple* bathroom, yet…
I’m still pursuing the challenge, myself. I keep a box in the middle of my apartment and add one thing to it each day. I’m moving in April and my goal is to relocate from Point A to Point B in one trunk load.
Love your blog! And it’s great to know there’s a fellow minimalist in Denver :).
I’ll admit… I’ve slacked… I haven’t done the challenge since you’ve posted it. Like many, I was busy with the holidays plus college and life in general. I’m glad to see you’ve started posting it again; that should help me get back my motivation.
I am curious as to why you are considering moving again???
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I’m purging all tchotkes and superflous schtuff from the house. So far this week I freecycled ( I run the local chapter so no excuses there) 6 books, 3 boxes baby bottle liners, box toys, box dishes, bag mittens. Whoopee!
Less stuff = less cleaning = less disorder and stress.
Never thought I would be drawn to minimalism. Now if I could only figure out a way to sneak the 350 matchbox cars out of the house.
Have you thought of using paperbackswap.com to get rid of your books and trade for new ones instead of selling them? You may end up saving money. You won’t have to take the hit on a “New” purchase and get get “Used” instead.
The point is to get rid of stuff, not just replace it with more of the same 🙂
I am new to your blog, so I will join the challenge now. My biggest issue is I get rid of books often and replace it slowly. Books and DVDs…what to do? suggestions?
I guess I misunderstood.
When I read:
“I am going to try to sell these books, and as soon as I get rid of them I am going to pick another batch.”
I took it as there were some other books that you were interested in getting. Now that I re-read it, I see that you mean get rid of these and pick new ones to get rid of.
One thing to think on though, if you did enter into paperbackswap, it could help to keep the clutter down. You would only have books that are waiting to go, get rid of those and replace them with others you want to read. If it works out well, then you would maintain a set number of books that keep being rotated out for new ones.
That way, you never really acquire too many and get to keep reading new ones while keeping their overall footprint small.
Ben
Toss the whole book case!
Reducing your carrying capacity is key.
Identify 20% of the books you need and toss the other 80%. Designate a limit on books.
I agree with Ben that swapping out for more value makes sense if your goal is to make most use of a set capacity of books.
Books, DVD’s and video Games can be posted to Goozex , Amazon, or Craigslist and traded or sold for other items you may currently value.
I myself moved to a studio to reduce my physical capacity to collect things. IE clothes, Books.
I’ve have been following your blog sometime now. You really have a lot of stuff. LOL
The bookcase will go once the books go and before I move. However, not sure how I have a lot of stuff, since my office, bedroom, kitchen, and dining room are all basically empty. 🙂
Getting married and then getting divorced leaves you with extra stuff 🙂
Ben – Gotcha. However, I don’t really want any books at all, so will just borrow them from the library when I want to read one.
Still at it 🙂 200+ things later…Focusing on closet clutter this week!
Your site was a great primer for me as I moved into a minimalist mindset.
I hear you on the divorce thing.
I applied some of your strategies for some great results!
I was motivated to arranged my home and possessions in terms of frequency of access and eliminate the rest.
Never thought of under the sink!
Have been trying to manage the stuff that comes from having different interests (Martial arts/Diving)
Thanks for willing to post your personal life online and share your journey.
Hi! I found your blog through The everyday minimalist, and I love it! I’m doing the 5 Things challenge. And I did a 100 Things challenge to celebrate the new year: http://www.fabulissime.com/?p=2906
Wasn’t as easy as anticipated, but so worth it!
I found that I wanted to get rid of some furniture because I didn’t like how it made the room feel (landing pad for stuff). I also had a list of furniture that I wanted to purchase for reorganization, but the furniture I wanted chuck was perfect in a different location for a different purpose. I didn’t have to spend any money on new furniture.