Quick update in regards to the Minimalism Challenge ( refer here for further details )
The following are my 7 things for the last week and a brief description about each item and why they don’t matter anymore,
- Day 8 – TV: What the! I here you say? no, we haven’t gone all out extreme with the challenge, this is actually our third tv! I wonder if we could get down to one tv? I was trying to donate it, however my local charities did not want it because it wasn’t a flat screen? ironic. I am going to put it on ebay for a buck. what a bargain
- Day 9 -Timber Stand: Although not used for the above tv, It kinda looks nice with it. Its now ten bucks for tv on ebay including the stand.
- Day 10 – Sunglasses: This old pair, although rather cool sunnies, they have been run to the ground. I have another good pair, plus a good backup. That’s enough.
- Day 11 – Fly screen: There was hope for this to be repaired and re attached, but its been sitting around for ages and the window it was on looks fine without it
- Day 12 – Camping fry pan: This was a hand me down, I have used it once.
- Day 13 – Golf shirt: I bought this second hand on ebay. Wore it once. Now I know why I don’t buy second hand sport shirts.
- Day 14 – Our pram: This beauty was our pride and joy for both our kids and served us well with is toughness and robustness, but now with our third child we have opted for something more sleeker and practical.
There you have it, Week 2 of the Minimalist Challenge, yet again another eclectic mix of clutter.
Why don’t you for the next 7 days get rid of one item per day that you don’t need?
So get on board its never to late to challenge yourself, and I am sure Ross from rcThink would like to hear from you.
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Great job getting rid of even more stuff! You’re on such a roll with this challenge!
Is eBay in Australia used for more local pick-up purchases than it is in North America? Here, I wouldn’t think to put a big ol’ TV on eBay (even for $1) because no one would pay the shipping costs for it, and more people here would use Craigslist and Kijiji (which I think might be known as Gumtree outside NA?) for items that require pick-up or drop-off.
Yeh, Ebay is pretty dominant here. Lots of times its easier just to put things on for a buck or two as “pick up only” as a way to offload an item if the charities wont take. Someone locally will always be on look out for your stuff. ( If anyone in Australia knows a better way, let me know)
Its funny Since I started seriously decluttering, it has become a bit of challenge to find ways to move the stuff. I can see why sometimes its just easier to hang on to it.
Greg
Hey Greg,
I’ve found your site via the RCThink / TMP Challange. Keep up the good work!!
Greetings,
Rik
(a.k.a. DutchMinimalist)
Thanks Rik,
I see your doing well with the challenge as well. I am finding it quite enjoyable and liberating.
Cheers
Greg
…I think this is what it is all about, looking at everything we own and questioning the reason why we keep it – and if doesn’t make the cut – out it goes. And strangely it is very liberating!
Also, it was a fun reminder of some “Aussie” terms I had forgotten about, such as “Pram and fly screen”.
Great stuff here…
Do you or any of your readers have ideas on the sensitive and discrete de-cluttering of your children’s toys collection?
We have hundreds of toys, and so many are small, impulse buys.
We have a playroom that looks like The Gremlins have taken over.
I’d ask the boys what to do but they are 5 and 3 years old.
I think it stresses children out actually.
Take care,
Sahail
Thats a very good question Sahail,
My kids are 6 and 3 and we are experiencing the exact same predicament, We have thought this over and have decided that we will try the following,
Discuss with the eldest about how toys should really just be for birthdays, xmas or maybe celebrating a major achievement, and that we can put aside sometime on the weekend with the child to sort through the current collection and discuss if they either would like to donate to a childrens charity if still in good condition and if its a cheap impulse buy, discuss with the child about how important the item is to him.
For the youngest, this is a bit more difficult, this is where some tough love comes into it. We have actually decided to sort through his stuff ourselves over short periods of time while he is at pre school. Nothing too dramatic, just a few toys here and there over time and select the toys that we know he does not play with anymore, that are broken, battered, or those ridiculous impulse buys that do nothing to enrich his life. These toys will be all placed in the one box, and if he shows no signs of distress that most of the useless stuff has gone from the room. Then feel free to donate or discard
If our eldest offers to much protest, we will consider same tactic with youngest, and again holding on to the box of sorted toys until completely satisfied the child is not in any distress about it
The above is what we are going to try, a bit tough, but if you can be sensitive and discrete about it, there is less stress for the future as toys just seem to keep snowballing. I also think that the lesson here is more for the parents like us that give in to these impulse buys, usually they are to keep the peace, however these short term fixes turn into these types of problems.
Cheers
Greg
And then I have pangs of guilt about the fact that there are children, somewhere, who just don’t have toys.
Sentimental? Foolish?
Great advice, thanks.
Maybe I have to work on this minimal thing.
Sahail
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