I’m so happy to report that things are going really with with my Declutter 500 in 2014 challenge! I wrote about it at the beginning of the year in my goals for 2014 and I’m going strong. My updated numbers are below, but I just wanted to give an update as to how I’m feeling about getting rid of so much in one year.
Our decluttering really started probably about two years ago. Blaine and I have both seen our parents get buried in stuff (not literally) after a lifetime of accumulating. We both agreed that we didn’t want to spend out lives trying to shuffle around the boxes that take up 95% of the garage or having to move something over here to access something over there. I always say, we are nowhere near where I want to be yet, but we are definitely getting there.

We, all of us, bring stuff into our homes all the time. I don’t physically go out looking to buy stuff, I probably shop much, much less than the average woman my age, but somehow I still end up with more in my house than I intended. Seven thousand pens (exaggeration), two dozen jars I might need, that one white blouse I haven’t worn since probably high school that I insist on keeping in case I ever have to go to a job interview. You know what I’m talking about.

Every time I have to move something to clean under it, every time I have to figure out how to get a drawer to close or need to clear off the dining table again I get frustrated. Wouldn’t it be nice to just have a home that you can live in without shuffling stuff around all day? A simple home means spending less time cleaning and managing items and more time doing things you love to do. That’s my dream!

As of October 24th I have decluttered 324 items! Bonus: I earned $852.50 selling some of it!

These numbers are actually low because I know there are things I didn’t record and I estimated low for a couple of garage sales we had since I didn’t remember (or really want to) count everything that got sold or donated. Now I have two months to get rid of 176 more items in order to meet my goal and I’m feeling so good about this challenge I want you to join me.

Next week I plan on posting a mini challenge: 200 Item Holiday Declutter Challenege. With the holiday’s coming up you know even more will be coming into your house and adding to the chaos. Join me in not only removing items from your home to simplify your life, but also giving away or selling these items to people who will be happy and thankful to have them.

Would you like to join me in a mini Holiday Decluttering Challenge?