We were going so strong on our minimalism challenge, but we dropped off the wagon about two weeks in. (We’re getting back at it though.) My mother recently moved into a smaller house and kept saying she needed to get around to downsizing her tools. So I, being the practical person that I am and hoping to help her out while collecting a few practical items for Mr. Handsome, asked if she wanted us to help her go through them. And she very much did. But we ended up with more than a few.
I left Mother and Mr. Handsome in the basement while I went upstairs, and when I returned ninety minutes later, they had collected a huge cardboard box that was bursting at the seams. I don’t even think we would have been able to lift it up the stairs and into the car, so I spend another ninety minutes organizing it.
“Mr. Handsome, what is this?” I asked, more than a few times. “I’m not sure, but it looks useful,” he would reply. I gently reminded him about his minimalism challenge, and we took some items out of the box.
One item made me laugh out loud. It was a kit that helps you cut a perfect hole into a door to mount a handle. It looked like one of those as-seen-on-TV things that wouldn’t work well in real life. “Honey, I don’t think we are going to use this,” I told Mr. H. “All our doors have handles,”
“I know, but there’s a little drill bit in it that I want,” he replied. “Then let’s open it up, take the drill bit out, and pitch the rest,” I suggested. “That just seems like too much work,” he answered.
Hopefully you aren’t too disappointed in us. That being said, I guess it is good that we are getting rid of other needless stuff to make room for the tools. After all, I am all about practical stuff that we see a clear need for. I guess if we keep the new tools organized in the garage, it won’t clutter our lives too much. Here are pictures of some of the things we have pitched. If you are joining us for the minimalist challenge, what things have you gotten rid of?
A fishing pole that came with out house. Mr. H doesn’t use it…
Lights from our front walkway that were never bright enough to begin with. Actually, they were complete pieces of junk. When we had cousins visit, they pulled them out, and I saw no reason to put them back…
A glass cup that doesn’t match our set…
A chopping maul that broke. Mr. H was saving it to fix, but when we determined that fixing it would cost him a few hours in time and almost as much money as a new one, we opted to buy a new one…
Books that Mr. Handsome has either read or doesn’t plan to…
A bag of toys and stuffed animals that Little Buddy doesn’t play with…
Anonymous
Lake Wobegon is wonderful! Garrison would do a whole show segment on your wanting to get rid of his book. In my neighborhood, you could put any of that stuff free at the curb and it would be gone in 10 minutes.
Anonymous
Won’t your youngest child (or any that come after) play with Little Buddy’s unwanted toys?
Ellie
Yep, but we have a lot of toys. There have been a few times when friends have given us a big bag of their old stuff and told us to go through and keep what we wanted. And after receiving new things for Christmas, I feel like it’s always good to get rid of a few of the older, less played with things.
Aislyn
Does your husband have some form of autism or adhd? That would explain his numerous hobbies, short span of attention, his rush to finish a painting instead of working on it a bit longer……
Andrea
We’ve started down the minimalism journey a few months ago. I’ve always been the “use it or loose it” person. This journey really helped me look at the stuff I did have and ask “do I use it or will I use it?” If the answer was no to either of those questions it was either thrown away or donated (depends on condition). The way I donate is I ask myself “would I buy this at a thrift store in this condition?” I was honestly floored how much we got rid of even though I didn’t think we had that much. There was a lot we had kept with the toss this at the top of the cabinet and deal with it later and later never happened. I’ve watched The Minimal Mom on youtube. Her videos are super practical at helping you think through things while going through them. My kitchen honestly got rid of the most. I can honestly say I love my kitchen now and what’s in there I use regularly. Some items more than others but everything is used. It’s a process but so worth it but easy to get sidetracked with the “but I might use this eventually” scenario. If you haven’t used it in 6 months with few exceptions (i.e a winter coat in the south) you probably aren’t going to. I have noticed when I go to the thrift store or shopping else where I think through things of would I use/wear this more instead of it’s a good deal so why not.
Anonymous
My problem is that I do use things eventually. It would drive me nuts to “know” I had something at some point and then not be able to find it. Example. I was reading a book the other day with a 1997 book store receipt in it. The receipt said I had bought that book and another book at the same time. I can’t find that other book, even though my classics are on shelves alphabetized by author, like at a library. So what happened to that other book I bought??? It’s now my mission to either find it, or buy it again. (So I can re-lose it?)
Regina
I have a whole bunch of Keepers at Home magazines I really need to donate but I keep thinking I may need them. I also keep thinking Keepers at Home, though many Christian women would benefit from it’s pages, it’s target audience is Mennonite , Amish etc.
My other problem is I have tons of yarn that I could donate but I keep thinking I should hang on to it “just in case”.
Heaving a huge sign. I think for me being a minimalist will be harder than I thought.
Eileen
Hi Ellie, you certainly are letting me down! I thought it was rather fantastic you guys were taking this on with a newborn and toddler. Ever little thing tossed is a win!! Tools from your mom will only benefit you in the future! We have been tossing all types of things from yogurt containers and egg cartons that were kept for grandchildren for arts and crafts, to gardening tags I kept to remember varieties of plants and vegies grown in summers, to books (donate), to clothes, toys, dishes and other items. Also have changed out things in linen sales- threadbare towel, stained washcloths etc. area rugs have been on the donate list as well. It has all felt good to do. I find though that this process always get bigger as I think about better ways to organise stuff, or thinking a wall needs painting now that it is exposed etc. So we are still at it! Good luck to you for the rest of the month!
Eileen
This was supposed to say you certainly are not letting me down. My apologies I missed a word there. Changed the meaning completely! Eileen
Anonymous
Gotten rid of 23 items since your first post! It ranges from sorting the toys and tossing the broken ones to donating puzzles, clothing, some books,etc.
to recycling a bunch of paper. But like you, we have had friends and family giving us stuff also.
Ellie
Wow that’s great! Good job!
Ann
I went through clothes that I never wear anymore and some old books. And gave them to goodwill..
I let my brothers-in laws take my dad’s old tool and they left me some that I might need.
Bay
I don’t have many books since I read ebooks online. And don’t have to buy any
You could have a garage sale and stuff you sell of Buddy and put the money in to his college fun
Ann
Did your parents both move to a smaller house. You said just your mom moved.
Ellie
Yep, a smaller house. Theirs was too big for empty nesters.