In keeping with my March goal, I spent a few hours today de-cluttering my main space. The only word for what I just did is “bender.” Once I got going, I just couldn’t stop.
Today I focused on my office area, which also happens to be my gym/TV room/dance floor/spare bedroom. (It’s pretty much like a Man Cave.) I put on good tunes and then got started by getting a utility knife and breaking down all the cardboard boxes that were stacked in there so they can be recycled. I get a lot of stuff in the mail and the boxes had really piled up, so I hacked into them for a good 15 minutes…
Hacking boxes is very therapeutic, I must say. Then I collected all the trash that had accumulated both in the trash can and around it; not only were the boxes piling up, but you know they come filled with extra materials and just God knows what else.
Excess packaging really is a pain in the ass.
I went digging around in the garage and ended up finding a set of wire shelves that I could use to store some of the stuff that was piling up on my desk! Now I only have my frequently-used technology bin on the desk; all other cords, cables, etc. have been moved to the new shelf, along with other office supplies.
Next I collected gift cards to mail in to be recycled…
And grabbed my old gym shoes to drop off for donation at the running store…
And then filled a box with approximately 10 pounds of magazines.
I have a magazine problem. I always have. I did the math once, and I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more on magazines in my life than I did on study abroad. I cut costs by subscribing to everything, but I have approximately 13 subscriptions right now. I save Glamour, Self, and Shape, but everything else gets recycled! I just cannot bear the thought of throwing away that much paper.
After collecting everything and vacuuming, I went out and dropped off the magazines and the shoes and put the gift cards in the mail! I feel about a million pounds lighter.
The real task is going to be doing my closet and my drawer where I keep important things like bills, product warranties, etc. I’m saving that one for another day.
For the time being, things look great down here! And I was rewarded for my efforts with two new mags in the mail — Glamour and Runner’s World — so that’s my plan of action for the next few hours. Then my friend Tracy is coming over and I am making us dinner and then we’re going to see “Shutter Island.”
This is really turning out to be a wonderful Saturday!
.jpg)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Such great ideas. I def need to start recycling my mags. Between me & the bf we get quite a pile going around the apartment.
I see “bender” and think “Hey, that’s me!”
I’m thinking of just tossing everything, well, recycling/tossing everything. In fact, I’m taking some recent magazines over to the local library.
.-= Anne Bender´s last blog ..Make It Homemade ~ Thrifty Tip Tuesday =-.
Good job and good ideas! Question for you: You mentioned before that you really recommend Sarah Lurie’s kettlebell workouts. Which volume do you have? I was going to buy one of her dvds yesterday, but didn’t know if volume 2 was better than volume 1…and then she has the volume 3 express… help!
I have Volume 1 but I have heard that Volume 2 is much better. Someone told me it was “less boring” — I didn’t think Volume 1 was particularly boring, but hey, the more exciting the better! I definitely plan to upgrade soon!!
Thanks, Rachel! I will be making my purchase today!
I just got volume 1 in the mail, can’t wait to try it! Altho the DVD that came with my ‘bell made me sore so we’ll see!
Good tunes are essential while cleaning! I used to pop in a Friends dvd but I get too wrapped up in the story and end up sitting down and watching it instead of cleaning!
i love that cleaning high! i really need to get on that, but the couch is just way comfier. oops.
Two places that are really great for recycling mags- 1. Take them to gyms!!! 2. Womens’ Shelters
I know, I have a mag problem, too!
If you still have those magazines laying around, you should see if a local Girl Scout troop wants them. We’re usually always looking for extra materials for projects. You can also check out freecycle.org.