Join Me for the Clutter-Busting Challenge in May!
Beginning May 1, 2013, I’ll be hosting a Clutter-Busting Challenge right here on MoneySavingMom.com.
I’ll be going through my house from top to bottom during the month of May. And to keep me motivated and accountable, every week day at 2 p.m., I’ll be posting a picture of 7 things I got rid of that day.
I’ll invite you to join me in this project, by challenging yourself to find 7 things to get rid of every day, too. I’ll have a link-up on the daily post where you can share a picture of the 7 things you got rid of that day, too.
Who’s with me in this clutter-busting challenge? Leave a comment to let us know you’re in.
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434 Comments
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Keli says:
I am in! I was already thinking I needed to get rid of things in May so this is perfect!
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Sandra says:
I’m in! I’m not sure I’ll find 7 things each day, but I’ll give it a try. It might be fun if you do rid of 7 things each day to hold onto them for the month and post a picture of what you’ve gathered collectively at the end of May.
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Sarah in Alaska says:
I’m game.
I guess I’ve wondered about this. Do you make a thrift store run daily? Throw stuff in the trash? Put it in your garage sale pile? I’m betting a bit of all three.
I almost don’t like getting rid of stuff in small amounts just because I don’t want to make repeated thrift store runs for a few items.
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cheranne johnson says:
I think I would just want to get rid of them. Maybe make a weekly trip to donate and daily offerings on freecycle 🙂
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I guess I picked the wrong day to completely purge my house of excess! Oops! LOL!
Have a great challenge!
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Amy says:
I am in! We are finishing up a kitchen renovation this week, and I am determined to keep clutter at bay in my new space. Great timing – thanks!
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I am so in! Last summer in June I did a whole house organization and it really helped me to get rid of a lot of things. Now that just about a year has gone by I see it’s probably time again to weed some stuff out.
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Katie L says:
I’m in!! We’re moving this summer, we’re expecting a baby in June. I desperately need to basically touch every single thing I own and decide whether it’s worth keeping or if it needs to go. The April challenge really motivated me, so I’m looking forward to this!
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Monica says:
Looking forward to it! I think I may have to double up the amount to 14. I am hanging on to way too much stuff. Lol!
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I LOVE this and completely support it! We move 2 to 4 times/year, and housesit, so our stuff is super-minimal. Every year I say we can’t get rid of any more, but then we do!
I probably won’t be joining the challenge though, since everything we own (except a chair) fits in our car as-is. We can’t get rid of 217 things! We’ll be thingless!
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kate says:
I going to try to participate – I’ve never done one of your challenges before. I moved in October and got rid of a bunch of stuff then, but I’m starting to feel cramped in my new (smaller) space, so hopefully I can find more to get rid of.
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After the 30-Day House Cleaning challenge, it’s opened my eyes to how much easier it is to keep the main rooms of the house clean when they’re decluttered. I desperately need to do this challenge to get to the “other” areas and get them purged, cleaned, and organized!
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I am so excited about this one. Not only do I need to attack clutter but my hubby and I plan to go away just the 2 of us in June for a few days to celebrate our anniversary and decided that I would raise most of the funds by selling items in our home we no longer need, so this challenge will help me get rolling with that!
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Shelley says:
We are in the almost to the end of a Kitchen remodel and I know there are more things I will want to declutter.
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Sarah says:
I’m in! While I have recently done a pretty serious purge of the visible areas of the house (although I am sure there is more that could go!), there is still a lot of stuff that needs to go in the more unseen areas. I’ll be focusing my efforts on the master bedroom closet, kitchen cabinets/drawers and bathroom cabinets/drawers.
I am also loving these monthly challenges. Just curious, though, where did the magic number of seven come from?
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One of my goals for this year is to declutter my whole house. We have lived in our current home for 15 years now and we have stuff that was just put away or placed on a shelf and hasn’t been touched in years, well I have cleaned it but it has just stayed in the same spot. This will be a great motivation to get some of the clutter cleared out this month.
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Em says:
I so need to do this…I may need to continue into June as well.
We have a get together at our house this coming weekend with people we do not know. I am so looking forward to getting rid of 28 things before they arrive!
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Mel says:
Love this!!! Thanks for doing this series. This is something I struggle with so I’m totally on board!
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Tammy McGregor says:
I love this idea. I even asked my mom to do it with me. And I will make my 6 year old son do this in his room. 🙂
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May is a perfect time for this! Our busiest week of the year is the first week of May and we were already talking about the need to purge thereafter. I think even in the busiest week I can find 7 things a day to purge. While I like the idea of putting it all aside to purge at the end of the month, I’m thinking many small trips to Goodwill are in my future!
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pat kleinmaier says:
Count me in. Thinking of putting house on market so every little bit helps
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Marilyn Ueno says:
A perfect challenge! I don’t want to go overboard, however I have lost this past year due to recovering to surgery, so I have a lot to decluttering = 7 things declutter ex from each room each day! I know this will work!
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amy k says:
groan…. i HAVE to do this though… we recently added #6 to a house barely at 1000 sq ft and there is way too much STUFF! not looking forward to the process, but looking forward to the result! 🙂
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Heather says:
hey! sounds like me! After July when this baby is born, we will have 5 people living in a 950 square foot apartment. I feel like I “like” everything we have, but I don’t use it all, and we have too much! We need more room for the people!
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Amy Smith says:
I’m definitely in on this one! I’ve been thinking about doing this lately, anyway, and this is the perfect way to keep me motivated!
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Count me in!! I am getting ready to move in May so this is coming right on time.
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Rachel says:
Great timing! We’re planning to move within the next month or two. I’ll be joining in on this one!
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I’m in! I didn’t do so well with the cleaning challenge last month, but clutter is definitely something I’ve been feeling lately. One reason I hate our apartment is that it has so little space! But, to be honest, a lot of the stuff that takes up the space we don’t have is stuff we can do without.
I don’t know if I’ll find 7 things every day, but I’ll certainly try!
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Bon says:
Im in! We have too much stuff for a two bedroom house, and I’m also tired of tripping over toys!
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Heather says:
OK I am in! but will have to cut it short because I have to pack and move this month! Do you have tips on where to start when it is time to move! I have an 8 week old foster baby and homeschooling and i am stumped as to how to do this ….
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Aleah says:
We moved 3 times in one year and are not professionals by any means! But what worked for me was to figure out what we could get by without — extra clothes, dishes (use paper or just keep out exactly how many plates/cups/etc you need and pack the rest), movies, books, etc. Pack all nonessentials first (stuff you don’t use every day), and just keep telling yourself, “One box a day!” Even on crazy days, you can commit to that 🙂 and most days, you’ll find you can do even more!
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I got rid of a lot of clutter before we put our house on the market this spring, but since we sold it and are moving at the end of May this will be a good challenge to undertake!
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dawn says:
I am so with you:) I can’t wait. I am on the verge of being a small time hoarder. Not trying to go there so I can’t wait.
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Collette Robbins says:
Yep! I am with you! I will be making up for the first couple of days I missed. Have a lot of stuff to purge!
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Becky Iliff says:
Getting ready for a garage sale in June so going to get rid of the clutter and hopefully make a little cash at the same time.
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Julie says:
I am so glad to see this. Just the motivation I need to get all this stuff out of my house! Thank you for the challenge, I’m so glad to see so many people in the same boat as I am. I am definitely in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
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I’m totally in! We are expecting child #4 in August and need to work slowly to re-organize the house and get rid of things we do not need! Thank you for creating this!
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Jen says:
I am so in! It is some how easier when you know others are doing the same thing. Thanks for the challenge! 🙂
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Sharon says:
I’m in but I have the same questions as Sarah! What do you do with the things you get rid of daily?
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now THIS sounds like a challenge I can keep up with! I’ll probably be sharing on Instagram
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Charity says:
huh wow I just got rid of a massive bag of clothes. Does that count for a few days?
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Linda Bullard says:
Hi, Where do we post? On facebook or ?? I am in and I set my challenge at 10 items a day because I have quite a problem 🙂
Thanks for making such chores into fun! -
I’m in! I did the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge, but I never ventured into our garage. My husband moved his office from across town to our garage in December. Since then, I’ve had a baby so I haven’t been able to work on organizing it. Maybe I’ll have a yard sale when it’s all over!
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YES! This is perfect. I am so excited to purge all of the un-necessary things from our house! I’ve been wanting to do a garage sale and have slowly been gathering things to sell, but this challenge is the motivation I need to get it done by the end of May!
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We had a yard sale this month, and I found that setting the date was the PERFECT motivation! I had to have it all done, and since I had the yard sale with friends, I had to stick to my date. It’s a great motivator! 🙂
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Jill says:
I’m in! Even though I just finished spring cleaning, I can now look around with new eyes and realize that we truly have excess in our home. This is a great motivator!
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Candice says:
Okay, I’ll give it a shot..but you do realize that is 161 items total. This will be a challenge for sure.
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Amy says:
I’m in. Just had a big garage sale with a friend but we’re planning another one in July. And to get my family on board I think I’ll ask my husband and son to do 1 thing a day each and then I’ll do the other 5.
Good luck everyone! -
Nichole says:
I’m in. We need this sooooo badly. Baby #5 is coming this fall, and it seems like that blessed event always sets us back by months or even a year in our decluttering/housekeeping habits and goals. The more I can get done before then, the better!
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Shannon says:
We just had a yard sale and I purged a lot but I’m guessing I will find more! Thanks for the motivation!!
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Brigitta says:
As we’re getting another bookcase from a friend who’s moving, we’re having to move stuff to make room so we’ve already started decluttering our stuff.
Ironically there was an article I read not too long ago about decluttering and they were referring to material things but rather the tendency that if we have clutter in one area of our life (schedule, material things, emotional, etc) then we typically have clutter in other areas of our lives. Therefore, when we remove clutter from one aspect of our lives then we’re likely to see decluttering occur elsewhere too.
Kinda struck home for me.
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Do you NEED it? Do you LOVE it? Those are my criteria! Very few things fall into the need category: food, your actual house, toilet paper (I classify this as a need. I guess that is subjective…) – these should be things you actually use on a regular basis (preferably every day). Otherwise, do you love it? I mean, really love it? One of my friends uses the phrase, “Does it have a story?” If it’s not useful and doesn’t really mean anything to you, why own it? It’s just taking up space! You can also think of how you will bless others by giving your things away. This is a good one for kids who get attached to old toys that the never *really* play with, but have a sentimental attachment to. It’s really good for me to think about with great books that I read, but know I’ll never read again. Someone else can have the same experience I did and be blessed in the same way I was 🙂 that’s a beautiful thing!
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Nancy says:
This is a great challenge and I accept! Can’t wait to see what you post to inspire me – we share lots of clothes, toys and household items with charity but we still have clutter.
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This is perfect, thank you for the challenge!! I’m in decluttering mode around here, so I’m definitely in!
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Sheri says:
I’m in! I love getting rid of “stuff” and the feeling of freedom it brings. What a great challenge!
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Kristin says:
I like this idea… however I think that I may put my own spin on it and make the donations from what I purge very intentional instead of just all going to Goodwill. For instance: towels and sheets to animal shelters, children’s and women’s clothing to a local woman’s shelter, etc. 🙂
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Carissa says:
Well, this will be a challenge but I’ll give it a try! In the end, no matter how much I get rid of it will be refreshing to not have the extras laying around.
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Heather Herr says:
I’m game! I always find stuff to get rid of while I clean so I am sure I could do 7 a day in May!
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Rebekah Hand says:
doesn’t feel like i have enough stuff to be able to get rid of 217 items. but here goes!
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Tia Robertson says:
I’m in!!! We are bringing our baby girl into the world tonight or tomorrow (being induced in 4 hours!!!) and this will be JUST the thing for me to feel like we all get a fresh new start! Can’t wait!
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Michelle Soukup says:
I am in. I didn’t do very good on the spring cleaning challenge. Hopefully I can do this one.
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Karen says:
I am so in!!
Great idea.
And I just cleared off all of my kitchen counters as per your inspiring photo previously.
YippEEE! -
Buffy says:
I am in. After being somewhat still “newly married” but combing kids & two three bedroom households into a 4 bdrm house, I believe I will easily be able to find 7 things a day. Posting the picture daily will help keep me motivated.
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Jamie says:
I am in! I moved into a new house in Feb. and got rid of about half of our stuff. However, you cant tell anything was removed now. Time to get busy again!
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Joanna says:
I’m totally in…if I can get the house decluttered before the kiddos are out for the summer, I’ll be ecstatic!
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Cindy Brown says:
I can hardly wait to start the challenge! It’s going to be so liberating to get rid of unwanted & unused stuff!! Bring it on!
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Mary C. says:
I’m in 🙂 I have SO much I need to “get rid of.” I’m hoping this will encourage me to a little more ruthless 🙂 m.
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I love it! I’m in! My unfinished basement is a disaster zone and ridiculous catch all, so I’ll be removing a lot of items from there. I’m also going to actually list all the items in my ebay piles. For some reason, I put that off because it seems like a hassle to take pictures, weigh it, write up a description, find a box to package it in, etc. I do donate a lot of things, but there’s a few things that I know are worth a little money.
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Megan says:
I’m so in! I am always looking to de-clutter. And I can’t wait to see all the pics…what a great idea to add that.
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Sheri says:
I am totally in. It’s amazing when you are in a house for 18 years how much stuff you accumulate in that time. I am also going to have my daughter join in this challenge as she has alot of toys and things she has outgrown. Great idea and great time to declutter with spring here.
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Joy Francis says:
I am in with you clutter-busting Challenge. This will help me in many ways. Thanks for setting this challenge out there for me to find.
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Melissa Swett says:
Crystal – I’m in. Timing is perfect! Need to do some spring de-cluttering so I am raring to go.
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I’m in! I need to get serious about doing this. I keep starting and then get side-tracked!
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Alli Swords says:
You must have read Jen Hatmakers book called 7. It has changed my life. I am going to TRY to do something similar called Eleven over the summer… 🙂
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Rebecca says:
I’m just finishing up “The 7 Experiment” workbook by Jen Hatmaker with my small group and already did this challenge for one week. She has such a compelling way to make us look at the excess in our lives and how it can be used for justice and for the good of furthering God’s kingdom. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed “The 7 Experiment” as it has made me more mindful of how much excess stuff can hinder our relationship with God and others.
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Wow, a workbook…that sounds awesome! I love the way you worded your response and may “borrow” it when I try to excite my friends with a similar idea in the summer. It’s not about decluttering or making yourself suffer, it’s exactly what you said, “a reminder of how excess “stuff” can hinder our relationship” with the One we should be closest too. Thanks for responding!
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Beverly says:
I’ll definitely do this challenge, but have no way to post photos yet! I need to get a smart phone!
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Sharon says:
I have been getting rid of stuff the entire month of April. every weekend taking a load to Goodwill and to our local transfer station. I can still get rid of more, so I’m in. It’s amazing how fast stuff piles up.
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Susannah says:
I have to clear our basement for a family visit in May, so this is perfect timing.
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Susan says:
I need to do this! We have way too much clutter that keeps accumulating around here!
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I am in the process of going through everything…giving away…throwing away…getting ready for a May sale…but I’m afraid 7 things a day is not a very motivating number for me. One year during Lent, I got rid of 40 things a day for 40 days (and made it almost to the end…and I didn’t run out of things, I just lost focus). And last year, I took away 30 things a day for 30 days…made it all the way to the end…and even posted pictures on Facebook of the whole 30 days! It seemed like a lot when I looked at the pictures, but when I looked at my house at the end, I realized it didn’t make a noticeable dent. :/ This time I’m staying with this project until it’s complete, but at the rate of 7 things a day, I would be at it for a LONG time! Lol. :/
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Naomi says:
I have tried to do this before but never finished this project. I am going to do the clutter removing challenge the month of May. This will be a great way to donate more to the Salvation Army and make my townhouse more livable
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Do you have an Instagram account? If so, you can just upload your photos there and copy the link into the link-up that I’ll post every day.
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Hannah says:
Perfect timing for you to launch this challenge! I am definitely in!!! Not sure if I’ll post a picture every day as I’m still kind of old fashioned with my camera and card so don’t upload pics to my computer very often. But I’ll tally what I get rid of and maybe list in a comment if I don’t post a picture. Can’t wait!!
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Carla Sorensen says:
I am definitely going to be doing this and my husband is willing to at least do a few things, too… Such as things in the garage! YAY!!!
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Jessica says:
I’m in 🙂 My house is so cluttered with “useful things”, that most days I just want to scream. And keeping the house clean is so much harder with all this stuff…. The accountability photo sounds like a GREAT idea. Thanks 🙂
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Claribel says:
Did you do this last year? I kinda remember wanting to do it then…I’m in this time around! And garage sale in early June! : )
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Leanne says:
I’m in! I have already started setting aside a box for the thrift store. This will keep me going.
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Julie says:
I’m definitely in. I need to do this desperately. Are you doing weekends too? I see in your post that you said you will take pics every weekday. Some people are saying 217 and some 161!
Do you do all big items or anything?? Some of my things seem so small to count!
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Julie says:
It hit me yesterday that I finally have to commit myself to de-cluttering our house. So I started in today in the living room. I told the kids one room at a time, and they are cringing at the thought of their rooms being next! 🙂 I got rid of about 7 dvds/cds today so I’ve got a head start! I have huge motivation since we’re expecting baby #7 at the beginning of August and we have to add a triple-bunk to the boy’s room because we need the sleeping space. But that means we have to get rid of some stuff to make room! Watch out boys…here I come! 🙂 (I’ll check with them before I chuck anything!)
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I’m so in…. I want to clear out my house so we can clear out our debt!!!
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I’m in! 🙂 And I’m looking forward to it. I have plenty of clutter to get rid of around our home.
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I’m in need to do some spring cleaning! Looks like my yard sale in June is going to be a big one!
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Kathryn Scott says:
I so need to do this but it will be a hard thing for me to do. I’m somewhat of a hoarder of certain things. I’ll try my damndest!
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Count me in for this challenge! As a family of 7 we have plenty to get rid of! I’ll be blogging all about my daily purges and sharing them on Instagram…can’t wait!
Looking forward to this challenge!
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Deb says:
I’m in. I could double it, but I will start with 7 . Besides… If I could truly double it on my own, I think I would have already done so!!
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Elissa Goodwin says:
I’m in… just afraid that if I look at all the pictures of stuff everyone is getting rid of, I may want some of it.
Another man’s trash is another man’s treasures… I think I will do the challenge WITHOUT looking at the pictures 🙂
Happy purging everyone!
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Dana Bailey says:
I’m the same way! If I see kitchen gadgets or a Candy Land game in any of the pictures, I’ll want them for my preschoolers. =)
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I want to de-clutter too, but I might have trouble finding 7 things a day, since we moved here just 9 months ago and only brought as much as could fit in and on our CRV, but maybe I’ll surprise myself and be able to find that many things! 🙂
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Hailey says:
Very excited to join this challenge, we are preparing to relocate this summer and I am planning on hosting a moving sale near the beginning of June! I’m in!
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I was just thinking the other day of how I need to declutter several areas in our home. Looking forward to freeing myself from all that clutter!
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Jana says:
We will be moving into a brand new house in the next 6-8 weeks, so this challenge couldn’t come at a better time! I’ve been wanting to cull through all of our stuff and only take to the new house the things we use regularly or love dearly. I would love to have a home that is clutter-free and peaceful from day one! Count me in!!!
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Lej says:
I’m in! Hopefully I’ll start a new job by the end of May so this will be the perfect way to start getting my life in an organized order!
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Laura says:
I’m game. I know I can find more than 7 a day. Living in Alaska, I’ve kept things I should have gotten rid of during the long cold winter. Can’t wait to start.
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Laurina says:
I am in! I have to figure out how to work around vacation the last 5 days of May, maybe do those days before or after. Looking forward to less clutter and more space!
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Carrie in NC says:
Count me in! I have a head start in that I have a pile of things to get rid of by selling or donating. But that pile has been sitting there for over a YEAR now and it has spawned mini-piles in other rooms. The time has come! I need to get things out of the house.
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You deserve a treat! You could drop your stuff off, then reward yourself with a treat. I’ve bribed myself before, and it worked. =)
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Stephanie says:
What a great idea ! You can count me in . I don’t know about 7 things a day for a whole month but I will try and will probably be surprised at all the stuff I find that I really don’t need.
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Jessica says:
I’m in! I filled up 21 huge black trash bags this month for donations plus 10 grocery bags donated to ODD’s school (art/craft and paper supplies) plus 12 bags of food for the food pantry plus 3 boxes of food/toiletries for a family member in need.
We’d like to move soon and don’t want to cart around our clutter! We’d also be moving to a smaller place, going from just over 2000 sq ft to more like 1500 sq ft.
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Debi says:
I’m in! I’ve been wanting to simplify because I have so much stuff I don’t use. Between just throwing stuff out and giving to a thrift store I will get a jump start with this.
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Sandy says:
Heck yes. I need to set up a donation box in garage to keep me on task. We recently moved and don’t have the extra space we used to have. Thanks for motivation.
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Heather says:
I’m in!! I really need to declutter my house so maybe this will be the kick in the butt that I need! Plus we’ve been considering a small yard sale in early June, so perfect timing!
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Tiffany J. says:
I am SO in! I have had it in my mind that 2013 would be the year of de-cluttering but life has happened in the intervening months that I am so glad this challenge came in May. I think that my “get rid” might not only be throwing away, but giving away as well.
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Traci says:
I’m in! If I were completely honest with myself, I could probably find way more than 7 items each day!
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Linda says:
I am so in! Just what I needed to help motivate me! I’m going to aim for 10, it’s been way too long since I de-cluttered.
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Mel says:
I’m having a hard time not starting NOW. Ready to clear stuff out of this house! But I’m going to wait one more day to start with the group.
I also really, really, really want a doughnut. But I’m not going to have one.
Self control comes in many forms, y’all.
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Patricia says:
I’m in for this one, never done anything like this before but since I’m stuck home with two “illnesses” I will be looking forward to doing anything distracting. Seven items a day is way doable for me – I am “the” pack rat gramma.
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My husband is probably going to faint when he sees that I am going to join this! lol We just went to our friends house and he commented that he wish our house looked like their’s – they have a minimalistic looking home. 😀
I am ready though! i have already got about 40 items from the kitchen to get rid of. 😀
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Jenn says:
Hi! I’m SO in! We bought a house 3 years ago when we got married. Turned out to be a major fixer-upper! So we lived in the guest house for 2 years while renovating & had a lot of stuff in storage (our combined junk from before marriage). Then we moved into the main house, a month before our daughter was born. I had no time &/or energy to unpack completely before she was born or of course for several months afterward. We’re still finishing the remodel (due to money), but I am SO over the junk & clutter I never have gone through. Our daughter just turned one & it has motivated me to get our life in order! Planning a garage sale & then Goodwill run for this summer, but sorting stuff out now will be awesome!
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Rebecca Lohman says:
I am so in! I’m doing a major purge this week getting ready for a community yard sale, but I want to challenge myself to take it even further with you guys! I am married to a clean-freak, and he HATES my “clutter piles” as he calls them. I’m doing this one for my darling hubby!
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Cheri Thomas says:
Oh, all right! You win – I’ll do it!
(Do you have secret spy glasses that can see my mess??) -
Susie says:
I’m in! I need to do some serious decluttering and this will be great motivation to keep going.
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Kamie says:
My husband and I just moved and had no idea how m uch stuff we have! I’mdefinitely in
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Karen says:
Yes, I would love to join! Is there an option to list our items daily rather than taking a picture?
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Absolutely! You can do that in the comments on each post if that’s easier for you.
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Rachel N. says:
I am in! The piles and clutter in my house are driving me crazy, and this challenge will give me accountability and motivation to complete the task. Here we go! 🙂
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Phyllis says:
I’m in. I have so much I need to get rid of but it’s so overwhelming to me. 7 things a day is definitely doable!
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Diane says:
I’m in! This is a first time to join in on something like this, but looking forward to it. Am going to try and save it all for picture at the end of the month. I am going thrrough Chemo right now, and I’m hoping this will boost my mood, as well as a sense of accomplishment each day. I plan to donate this to our local animal shelter thrift store.
PS…… WISH I COULD GET HUSBAND TO DO IT TOO! LOL -
Sakura says:
I’m in, but I’m challenging each person in my family to find 7 things a day. We are hopefully going to start looking for a new home at the end of the year and this would give us a great head start. Maybe by the end of the month we won’t need a bigger house!!!
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Leesha says:
I am in. I will keep mine boxed up for my garage sale in June! I need to do this!
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Shawna says:
I am in! I have been wanting to declutter, especially since we are about to move and I can use the accountability. 😀
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Linda says:
I need this badly. I did not participate in the Cleaning Challenge due to the clutter I need to clear first, which has become overwhelming.
I love books, magazines, clothes, shoes, make up, etc., etc., etc…. and it’s time to start paring everything down. Just with the books I’d have enough to complete the challenge so I’ll probably bring most of them to the library at once and focus on the rest of the items the rest of the month; otherwise, I’ll lose steam.
I will try to do the cleaning challenge on my own, after I get rid of the clutter!
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Mary says:
I’m totally in! I’ve been trying for a year and half to pair down my home. I’ve tried before on my own but ultimately feel very over whelm. This is the kick start I need since I can combine it with my daily enjoyment of reading your posts.
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Pamela says:
Great timing with this challenge! Baby #4 is due in the Fall and our whole house needs a serious decluttering before we can even start reorganizing! Thanks for the motivation!! Love some of the readers suggestions to donate purposefully – animal shelters, women’s shelters, etc
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I’m in! This fits so well into the 7 book study I’m doing with friends. I’m ready to declutter my house!
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I was just thinking about doing the same thing. Thanks for keeping me accountable!
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I’m in! As a matter of fact, I’m beyond in. Moving from a big house to a tiny apartment will do that to you. 🙂
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I’m in. I have a lot that I need to de-cluttered. For one, I got rid of two bags of clothes that were too tight.
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Bernadette says:
I’m in…after being displaced by Hurrican Sandy for 5 months…I know how much stuff i can live without….I lost everything downstairs…but upstairs needs to be pared down….so I am in with both feet
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Roberta says:
I am in and I will be getting my husband and kids involved. We just moved about a month ago and are still unpacking so getting rid of stuff should be easy!
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Marie says:
I have been slowly decluttering, preparing for a yard sale in May!! Right now it’s all in my basement and I can’t wait to have it gone!!! Even the kids have gotten involved and went through their rooms, toys, stuffed animals, playroom, DVD’s and books. I like when they are involved because they get rid of things I wouldn’t expect them too.
I am looking forward to a much lighter house this May. -
Slides 'n Sandboxes says:
That’s more of a challenge, so I’m in :). Housecleaning challenge has been fun to follow but it’s mostly routine cleaning, so it wasn’t challenging (for me).
Now… purposefully getting rid of 217 things by May 31st (not counting broken toys etc.), that is going to be a ton of fun :). I started major decluttering in April as well, so I’ve already gotten rid of many things but I feel that the things multiply the moment I close the door… 🙂
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Janine Solley says:
I am in…!! I’m hoping to get some friends involved so I hared it on my FB page…!!!
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Melodee Brymer says:
Count me in! My house is so cluttered I could stand to get rid of more than 7 things a day. Look forward to the challenge.
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Tami says:
This is so perfect! My daughter just had her birthday party so we need to get rid of some of her old toys. Plus I am planning a garage sale for mid May so this will be perfect to get rid of everything 🙂
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Vicki Harris says:
I’m in, don’t know if I can manage the 7 a day…but surely I can hit it a good bit of the time………I’ll be doing mine weekly though……since I have time on the weekends….thanks for hosting the challenge
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I blogged about this a few months ago but with 20 items a day. We were in need of some serious decluttering. Initially when I saw this post I scoffed and said there is no way I could get rid of 7 things a day after getting rid of so much in February, then I decided what the hay, I am up for a challenge. Lets do this!
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Katie says:
I am in. I just put some clothing and shoes up on a yard sale page on Facebook for my local area. If I don’t sell them, I will be donating them. I will try to work on my closet first and get rid of the stuff I have not worn in the past 6 months.
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Laura says:
A lot of my clutter is paperwork that needs attention. I’m going to vary taking care of paperwork with moving physical things out of the house.
I will be collecting things for Goodwill in the “trunk” space of my van. Moving it out there and out of the house will be a commitment to getting rid of it.
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Here is a money saving tip for your challenge: Each day, put your 7 items into a box. At the end of the month, donate that box to a charity that can provide you a tax receipt for donation (ie. goodwill, salvation army, etc).
Then hold onto that receipt because you can use that tax receipt to help you save money on your 2013 taxes! (ask your accountant for details)
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Peg says:
Saw this site posted on Freecycle.
Count me in too! Sounds like a fun way to clear the clutter. -
Nancy Bondhus says:
Count me in on your Clutter Busting Challenge! (Though I have to confess I started today! Maybe this can count as practice!)
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Perfect timing! We are moving at the end of June/beginning of June and I really need to pare down some junk to make the moving a little easier. I may not blog about it, but I am in!
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Rebecca says:
I told my husband about this and he said…she really wants to get rid of 210 things!! You can tell who the pack rat in my family is. 🙂 I’ve had on my “to do” list to go through our bedroom closet…this will be the motivation I need to get it done. I got a jump start today by cleaning out my pantry. I was looking for some ingredients to make a casserole for dinner and found a few things that had gotten pushed to the back and expired. 🙁 I figured I should just go ahead and do the whole pantry. I found a can of cream of broccoli soup that was going to expire next week that I used in my casserole; I usually use broccoli cheese in this particular casserole, but was happy to use up the other before it expired. I threw in a handful of shredded cheese and we probably won’t be able to tell a difference.
Thanks for your encouraging posts.
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Kathy says:
Wow! I’m in…but seven items a day! Wow! A little scary for a “collector!” You DID call it a challenge…and for me, it will be! Thanks for the motivation.
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Sheila Modine says:
We moved last August 3.5 hours from our old place. We ended up packing and moving a lot of things we didn’t need. Now our landlord is selling the place we’re renting so we’re going to need to move in the next couple of months. This will be a great help for our future move if I don’t have to pack as much. 🙂
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Erin says:
I am all about cleaning out the clutter! I will try and make sure that the Good Will Pile I already have in my bedroom doesn’t count in the 7 items I find…
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Melissa says:
Yay! I’m in. My husband and I have been pretty diligent in getting rid of stuff but there’s always one more thing…maybe even seven! 🙂 I’m terrible about taking pictures, but I’d be happy to post a list in the comments section instead.
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I’m with you! We’re actually planning on moving soon, so this motivation will get me in gear!!!
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Yes! I’m all in! I’m excited to see this challenge because I have made tremendous progress on my house during the 30 day house cleaning challenge and didn’t want to stop. Now I can keep organizing, with a different twist.
Have you read the book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker? The title of the challenge reminded me of the book, and the book is fitting to the challenge! -
I am very excited to do this challenge again! I participated last year and it was great! (Was it a whole month or just a week?) Anyway I highly recommend it fir anyone that has not tried it yet.
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Abigail Warden says:
I’m sooo in. Does clothes count? We seem to accumulate the most cloves between the 5 of us! Less laundry would be great!
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Mimi says:
I’m in! Was planning to de-clutter in May so hopefully this will provide extra motivation.
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Heather says:
I am so in! Though the Ebayer in me wants to hold onto all of it and try to sell it, I will hold back and just clean house. Or things will NEVER leave!
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I can’t believe I’m excited about getting rid of stuff. Like so many already said, I’m a pack rat and this will be a challenge. Ready to start… I think! I will def list my things for the accountability aspect to keep me going!
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Dee says:
I’m In!! Going to tackle each little nook, crevice, drawer…oohh, my mind is spinning.
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Kaitlyn says:
I will try to be in! 🙂 Very excited…this challenge is needed for sure! Thank you! 🙂 Can’t wait……..
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Janet B says:
Challenge accepted!! I have been wanting to do this for a long time but find my days fill up…and I don’t get to the actual purge part! I’m saying I am ‘in’ and hopefully this blog will keep me accountable!
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Denise Terry says:
Count me in…can’t wait to clear out 7 things a day, which will mean a total of 217 things for the month! I am getting ready to read the book 7 by Jen Hatmaker for my book club . One of the challenges is to get rid of 7 things a day for a month, so this is perfect timing!
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Altovise says:
I will be doing this at home and at work. My office looks like a paper bomb exploded in it. I’m also really excited to clear out some of the cabinets in my bathroom and kitchen. Great challenge, Ms. Crystal! I hope I remember all these fun challenges when I become a wife and mom. 🙂
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Def doing this one! And we’ll probably have another thrift sale in early June because of it lol.
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Jacki says:
I’m not much of a hoarder but I’m sure there are things that still need to go around here. Count me in!
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Karen Steele says:
I’m in! Sounds fun! (Don’t know if I can do it everyday, but it sounds fun and challenging! Karen.
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I have done some serious decluttering the last 2 years but I still have a few areas that I need to work on. My areas of concentration will be the basement, my kids’ past year’s homeschool work and school supplies, my closet, and my little craft office.
Paper clutter can add up real fast so I will try to get rid of at least 1 grocery bag per week along with my 7 things each day. I have a laundry hamper in my basement that is our donation station so I will fill it up until it’s full and then make a trip to Goodwill. I usually gather several errands I can do when I am going into town the night before and load my van so I can get a lot done on the same trip and don’t forget anything.
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Karen says:
I’m in. but i’m going out of town today, so i’ll have to start sunday. but i bet i can find 35 things on sunday to get rid of!
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Fatin Burley says:
I am in with you. Looking forward to freedom of clutter. May the Lord bless us all .
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I regularly purge my house twice a year but over the last two years I have been finding even after that my house still feels full to the brim. I implemented a new shopping rule last year: I only buy things that are going to replace another item I’m getting rid of. That helped a lot but this challenge sounds fun. I usually go through the whole house in one day; now I wonder if I will find more stuff to get rid of when I ask myself everyday for a month “Do I really need this?”
So I’m in! Thanks for this Challenge!
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Marie says:
Oh man, even the thought of this is bringing a sense of relief to my overwhelmed brain right now. Count me in!
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crystal williams says:
I’m in, I loved the 30 day challenge and it was fun, but hard to catch up when you took a day off. LOL
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stephanie says:
i’m in! been de-cluttering for a month now, so hope i can find enough stuff. i’m sure i can! what a great challenge. good luck everyone!
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Letha RN says:
I am really excited about this , when and where do we post the pics. If anyone lives in Central Iowa I’m willing to trade things also. Happy purging.
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I’m in. I think I’ll post my updates once a week or so. Thanks for a great challenge! I’ve gotten rid of a lot of junk lately, but there is always plenty more waiting to be tossed or donated!
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Definitely in!
We so need this – we have a goal of refnishing our hardwood floors this year which means removing EVERYTHING from the first floor of our home. Ouch. And we just have waaaay too much stuff.
Thanks for hosting this,
Lea -
CJ says:
Just seeing this late on the 2nd. I’ll play catch up tomorrow and then try to stay on task. BONUS – My husband works on the same street as Goodwill and they have a drive-thru for the drop offs!
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Cindy says:
I’m late to the party, but I’m in! I’ll get to work looking for 21 things to get rid of tonight. Won’t be difficult at all.
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Ok I’m late but it is only 4 days in so I think I can catch up. This challenge might just help me get back on track! Thanks for the challenge and somewhere to be accountable to.
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FMR says:
DH went through files and found a PILE of papers for me to shred. I emptied the shredder at least 7 times. I recycle the shredded paper as mulch underneath outdoor stairs. Then cover it with wood chip mulch.
Luba 
sri 
Phyllis R. 
Anna 
Erika 
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Sarah 
Jess 
Tiffany Toomey 
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Debbie 
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GJ Livingston 
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Kimberly 
Leila 
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laurie olivieri 
Michele 
Cheri Cresswell 
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Susan 
Kathye Shuman 
Kristen Lyons 
Kathy 
Noelle 
Marlo 
Missy 
Erin M 
stacy chapin 
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Lisa 
Alina 
Cammie 
Stella 
Clatie Fischer 
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Michelle 
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Elly 
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Tina 
Shannon 
Lindsey 
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Leslie 
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Summer 
Elise 
Marie 
Freida 
Krystle Hummer 
Emelie V 
Michelle King 
Brenda 
Nicole 
Janice Croskey 
Paige 
iris francis 
Judy 
Jamie 
amber 
Barb Powers 
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Penny 
Leslie D. 
Melissa Boland 
Angela S. 
Neli 
Amber 
Michelle 
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Crystal (Lukasmummy) 
Faye 
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Andre 
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Jennifer Caswell 
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Diana LaFave 
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