April 23, 2007
Why Decluttering Pays
So, as you've been following the drama of my decluttering, I'm sure you were wondering, "Does all this stress to declutter pay off?"
I am pleased to inform you that it, indeed, does.
But first, let's recap.
I did start 'early' this year, trying hard to pack up stuff about a month ago, realizing the church rummage sale was coming up fast. But then suddenly it was yesterday and The Grand Lunar was informing me that today was the last day to take stuff in.
And so today I worked hard. Very hard. To finish packing up boxes, sorting through bags, and of course hauling, hauling, hauling things up from the basement.
(And yes, I did work too hard. I know you all warned me. But hey, a procrastinator driven by deadlines expects to have to work too hard one day, to make up for all her lollygagging previously. I'll take it easy tomorrow, I promise. Just try to stop me.)
Here's the final tally, in pictures:
One MobyFull:
Since that's the back of a 15 passenger van (with the rearmost seat removed), that's about 6'x3'x3' packed, so we'll call it 54 cubic feet of clutter.
And One MoogieVanFull, or, alternately, a Leaning Tower of Clutter:
which is approximately, oh, lets call it 5'x3'x2' or so. Give or take. So that's 30 more cubic feet of clutter.
Or over 80 feet of cubic clutter, removed from the house.
When I got to the church to drop it off, with the first load, I was awestruck at the sight:
Is that not ... flabbergasting?
Oh, that's not me in the pic, I'm sure you new that. That's one of the church rummage sale workers who was willing to be photographed.
Anyway, Moogie was going to take load #2 on her way home, but I decided I'd take my camera to try to capture the immensity of the gathering clutter.
And on my way in, I saw it.
The grand prize for all my efforts.
Yes, it's a beautiful (except for the orange) bank of lockers!!
Perhaps you did not know, but I have been searching online for lockers, but unwilling to pay the gihugic price for new ones. Because they are sold to fairly specific niche markets, there's no 'entry level, modest priced' lockers out there.
When I saw these I immediately started begging all the sale workers to let me buy them. Officially the sale does not open until Friday morning, and early sales only go to those working hard to RUN the sale. Which is not me.
BUT it turns out everyone groaned in dismay to see the lockers. Because who in their right mind would buy lockers? They were sure they would just have to haul them to the dump after the sale. So they were pleased to have some crazy customer begging to buy them. And they were gracious enough NOT to jack up the price based on my obvious desperation to buy them.
I'm going to paint them lovely color. And put them in the dining room. Which, in my defense, is the room the back door enters into, and therefore is always full of discarded coats and shoes.
Just imagine those lovely lockers, in perhaps a pale spring green to match the back door, right here:
The coat and shoe area usually looks MUCH more cluttered than in this old picture, by the way. Imagine 3x as many coats and shoes, many of them barfing out of the area and sprawling on the floor. The light green lockers will replace this coatrack and shoe cubbies.
And that'll only take up, oh, 36 to 40 cubic feet.
Posted by Kim at April 23, 2007 8:26 PMMy kids will think you are the coolest mom around having lockers in her dining room. They noticed them right away when we dropped off our stuff.
Posted by: karen at April 23, 2007 9:25 PMAnother comment from me. I'm always amazed at the amount of stuff that this giant rummage sale produces. That sale has been going on for what - 5 or 6 years? Shouldn't we all have run out of stuff to throw away/give away yet?!
Posted by: karen at April 23, 2007 9:26 PMkaren - what do you mean, "shouldn't we have all run out of stuff"? You guys just keep trading it each year! ;o)
cool lockers, Kim!
Posted by: kelly at April 23, 2007 9:36 PMp.s. nice daffodils!
Posted by: kelly at April 23, 2007 9:37 PMkim, you rawk!!!!! my eyes about bugged OUT of my head when i saw the pictures of the stuff you got rid of. i am inspired!!
i'm loving the peg hooks in your diningroom, btw. i so need those in my hallway because, even though i have four teenagers, NONE of them EVER hangs up his/her coat. ever. *sigh* LOL
a little pay off for all your hard work today. i think the lockers will be perfect there. i liked the orange color till i saw your kitchen and knew it just wouldn't work.
Posted by: melissa at April 24, 2007 12:44 AMWow! Great job on the decluttering and what a blessing to find lockers.
Now, make sure you DO take it easy today!
Posted by: Rosanne at April 24, 2007 7:14 AMThose lockers are way cool. We had lockers in our old house for the kids. We had them in the basement though...the dining room would have worked better!
Great idea!! :)
Posted by: Christina at April 24, 2007 7:55 AMWay to go, Kim! You did work hard! I can't wait to go to the church sale and see all the cool stuff. Not like I need any more stuff....
Posted by: Mama Mia at April 24, 2007 8:14 AMSigh. Now I want lockers. I've only got four children, and we STILL have coats and jackets and shoes all over the floor half of the time. Although...not really right now. 'Cause it's too hot here. But the shoes never, ever go away and they are taking over my house. I'm starting up my home daycare again, though...and lockers would be too cool for the little one's stuff!
Posted by: Leigh at April 24, 2007 8:23 AMGoooood morning Miss Kim! :) The past two days I've woken up earlier than normal, so I thought I would come by and say hello and 'see' your smiling face. :)
That is a lot of stuff! The only time we had that amount of stuff was when we decluttered the house after my FIL passed away almost four years ago. We had car load after car load after car load... I think I decluttered, literally, allll summer long.
Still praying for you and hubby! (((hugs))) Have a wonderful rest of your Tuesday!
Posted by: Robin at April 24, 2007 8:58 AMI am so jealous of your lockers! There weren't any others for sale, were there? I would drive to get those! I know exactly what you mean when you say "Imagine 3x as many coats and shoes, many of them barfing out of the area and sprawling on the floor.". That is what my front closet looks like and the 'barf' is right where the front door opens so that's the first thing you see when you walk in, *if* you can get the front door open. Our front closet wasn't designed for this large of a family.
You did great with your decluttering. You've earned yourself a little R&R. Put your feet up and heal.
Posted by: Julie in MI at April 24, 2007 11:00 AMWhile I can't really understand your desire to have lockers ... I am very glad you got rid of all that stuff and found the lockers you have long sought ... long sought after? Hmm. Whatever. Anyway, I think they will look great in green on that wall. :D I don't want lockers, but I want a wall of cubbies, over a little cupboard with shelves and peg hooks going vertically and horizontally over them. (So little ones can hang their coats on the sides, and older people on the top). Hmm. I just made that all up right now. But it really is a good idea. But I have no room for it here and now. Maybe someday.
Posted by: April at April 24, 2007 12:24 PMI think we must be related. My dad is the only other person I know of that says "lollygagging."
: ) Your dining area is gorgeous! I can't wait to see the painted lockers.
I think it's cool, and I'm spring green with envy. I too have been wishing for some lockers like that. :)
Posted by: Janne at April 24, 2007 7:46 PMLOCKERS!!! How totally, completely awesome!! You lucky duck! You deserve a nice reward for all your hard work. I am glad you found the lockers. Too cool!
Posted by: BusyHSmom at April 24, 2007 8:07 PMOkay, so I just did a little online searching to see how much they cost because I am having serious locker envy here. YIKES!! I am in sticker shock. Well, so now I am dying to know how much you paid for your used lockers...come, come! Tell us so we can all be wowed and amazed.
Posted by: BusyHSmom at April 24, 2007 8:12 PMJust wanted to come by and say hi again. :) And offer a friendly hug. I am getting ready to do the five mile WATP with the schtuff. Tee hee hee. Have a wonnnnderful rest of your Tuesday.
Posted by: Robin at April 24, 2007 9:45 PMWow! Lockers! What a neat idea. I would never have thought of lockers to organzie an area like that. Each person has their own personal coat space. I like it!
I'm also glad to see that you got rid of a bunch of clutter. It always feels so good to declutter.
Posted by: Shari at April 25, 2007 1:33 PM
