Monday, March 20, 2017

Our Version Of The 40 Bags In 40 Days Challenge


I've been seeing a lot of blog posts and Facebook updates about the 40 Bags In 40 Days Challenge. It happens every year during the first week of March and runs through the 2nd week of April. It's supposed to coincide with the 40 days of Lent. The purpose is to declutter one area in your living space a day. I am not familiar with the details. I'm not religious. I don't participate in Lent. So, decluttering our home during this period and filling up to 40 bags to complete the challenge isn't my thing. However, because I am a work at home Dog Mom, keeping our home clutter free and organized is something I do throughout the year.

I hate clutter. I hate catch-all areas.

It started a few years ago when I realized we had quite a few totes filled with warm and cold weather clothing that we never put in the closet during the appropriate times of the year.

We also had a lot of clothing in the closets and drawers that just sat there year after year.

That wasn't all.

This was right around the time when we made the decision to convert our guest room into the Bodacious Biscuit Love room. At the time, we had a gorgeous bed, complete with a bed frame, that we no longer needed.

Shortly after posting the bed as a free-but-you-must-pick-up item, a woman I've known for many years said she needed it. We were more than happy to give the bed to her. 

We had a ton of other stuff left that ranged from housewares and fitness equipment to skis and decor. Even after hosting our Bodacious Biscuit Yard & Bake Sale 2 years in a row, we still had a lot of stuff in the basement.

Little by little we went through it all.

We gave a lot of it away to people who really needed it.

The rest, we donated.

While going through these items, we kept a few things in mind...

If we hadn't worn it in 2 years, goodbye.

If we hadn't used it in 2 years, goodbye.

If it was going to sit in a tote indefinitely, goodbye.

The only exceptions were the heirlooms and other beautiful pieces that have been handed down from our grandparents and great-grandparents. Which, to date, we have all of it displayed in our home.

It's an ongoing process.

Keeping ourselves "in check" throughout the year, versus just 40 Bags In 40 Days, has helped us to not only eliminate the clutter in our home, but to take a close look at what we purchase and why.

Years ago, we purchased clothing and shoes and housewares because they were on sale or we had a coupon or retailers were going out of business.

Most of those items sat dormant in the closet, a tote, in the cupboards, or elsewhere.

We never wore them, used them, or took some of the items out of the box.

For example, a few years ago we purchased a Panini Press at Macy's. It was 50% off. Both of us like Panini. We used a few times, but it ended up being a pain in the ass to use. It's small. A bit flimsy. And, it doesn't fully press the sandwich.

It has sat on the baker's rack unused for about 2 years.

Essentially, we wasted our money.

In the here and now, we wouldn't have purchased the Panini Press.

We're savvy shoppers.

We shop wisely.

And we keep those few things in mind...

Will we wear it?

Will we use it?

Will it sit in a tote, cupboard, or on a shelf collecting dust?

We have that same mind frame when shopping for the kids. Sure, it's tempting to hit up the clearance apparel and adorable accessories, but if they're not going to wear it, or only wear it once or twice, it's a waste of money.

Last year, after making their DIY Doggy Toy Boxes, I went through their toys. They didn't play with about 75% of their toys. The amount of money we spent on the toys they didn't play with is obnoxious. Since then, we only buy toys and chew bones that we know they'll play with.

That's our version of the 40 Bags In 40 Days Challenge.

Like I said, it's ongoing.

If we don't make purchases on a whim, there's less stuff sitting dormant in the closet, in totes, or on the shelf.

The amount of clutter in our home is minimal.

If I went through our home now and got rid of stuff we don't use or wear, we could probably fill a small box.

The basement....?

Well, there's still some work to be done.

We're getting there.

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