Wordless Wednesday: The Great Purge

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

(Photo of the first batch of bags)

**UPDATE: I was able to get rid of 20 bags of stuff, which is pretty good! I think I may have to make this an annual tradition.**

A few of my co-workers and I decided that August would be a month of purging for us. The idea came out of a conversation we had at some point where we all realized how much stuff we have that we don't use. We decided to try and come up with one plastic bag (grocery store size) full of stuff to get rid of for every day in August. It can be anything; clothes, books, kitchen utensils, old paper files, etc.

I'm going to try and come up with 31 bags (one for each day of the month) total, but I can come up with 3 or 4 bags in one day. So far I've come up with 12 bags. Anyway, here's to simplifying life and getting rid of things we don't need. I'll let you know if I succeed or not. 

More Wordless Wednesday here.

13 comments:

Sandy Nawrot said...

I LOVE THAT IDEA! I would have absolutely no problem coming up with 31 bags. I try so hard to stay on top of the clutter and the stuff that breeds in my attic at night. My big answer is a garage sale every year or two.

Ana S. said...

You're braver than I am! I have a lot of stuff I could get rid of, but I have a bit of a tendency to get sentimentally attached to things that remind me of certain periods of my life.

Simply Delicious said...

Great idea. You did a good job.

Banoffee Pie

annieb said...

I have always claimed to be a "stuff magnet." Sounds so much better than pack rat or hoarder. But the fact remains that no matter how much stuff I get rid of, more stuff appears, particulary, books. Although I am constantly (it seems) donating books to the library and charity stores for them to sell, I also purchase other books from the same stores! I am good at getting rid of clothes I no longer wear, however, and if I haven't worn something in a year, out it goes. But it is always a struggle.

Vicky said...

This is a great idea! I tend to hang onto a lot of stuff myself and this is a great way to get rid of it.

Allie said...

I love this idea! Matt and me are both huge pack-rats, so purging a bunch of stuff this month would be awesome...

LindyLouMac said...

That is a lot of decluttering to do Melissa but what a great idea. :)

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Sandy - I love yardsales. Last weekend I found a stack of Beatles albums for $1 each at a sale and they work great!

Ana - I get way too sentimentally attached to stuff, that's why I have to challenge myself to get rid of stuff. Otherwise it just gets out of hand.

annieb - I'm definitely a pack rat. I'm trying to keep it in check though.

Vicky - I do better when I have a specific goal I'm trying to reach. Hopefully I can do it!

Allie - You should do it! Just try for 5 bags or something. It actually feels good to get rid of it.

LindyLouMac - Thanks! The trick is to not go and buy 20 books to reward myself.

She said...

What an awesome idea! I sort of purged things when I moved house, but I feel as though there is already more I can get rid of. It's amazing how fast it all accumulates.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Great idea Melissa, and a fun idea. I am a tosser, but I bet I could fill a bag each day despite that LOL

Such waste here in the US.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

She - Everytime I think I've purged all our junk I turn around and every closet is full. I don't know how it happens.

Diane - It's really true. We have so much stuff and the waste must seem insane to other countries. I always donate my stuff to Goodwill, but imagine all the things that are just thrown away!

Kristi said...

I love this! Getting rid of stuff and donating it to others makes me so happy, but I don't do it enough.

My kids started school this week so I'm going to start the big purge. I'm hoping to do at least one or two rooms a week and organizing along the way.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Kristi - That's perfect timing! I love going through stuff and re-organizing it.