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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 27 2014 at 6:50pm | IP Logged
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Otherwise known as the Five Things of Which You Have Too Many 
I thought this was a great exercise for Lent, which is coming right up.
Think of five things in your house that are duplicates... you own several of these and may not even be sure how you got that many in the first place! But duplicates of many items tends to work against frugality, at least at my house.
Because you know how it is...
You don't realize or just plain forgot that you had a bottle of Worcestershire sauce hiding at the back of your pantry, so you go out and buy another, only to discover.... gahhh... you already had one, and it's about to expire, and now you've already opened the new one. 
No one wins here. And why didn't you see the old bottle? It was lost behind several cereal boxes and old box of raisins and a zip lock bag with half a package of whole wheat graham crackers in it that no one really likes. So. Having too much, ironically, can really cost you more.... and not just money- but time and regret.
So take a few minutes to think of five duplicate items in your house. Lent would be a great time to quietly thin the herd, freeing up both space and time: more space= ability to see what you already have. More time because you don't have to root through and organize as much. And, of course, passing these items along to bless someone else is a good activity for Lent.
OK, so at my house: here is a list of (thought certainly not limited to) five things of which I have too many:
1. Measuring cups. Yes- that sounds strange, but right now I have three full sets. I have two old and faithful sets that see regular use, but then I recently received a brand new set as a gift. Of course, my dc are intrigued with this set because it is a) new and b) the cups have a very different shape than our old ones. But one set has to go because no one needs three!
2. Books. I know that it's really impossible to have too many books, so I will just say that I have too many books for certain subjects.
Translated, no one needs five Rookie/easy to read biographies of George Washington when one will do nicely.
3. Fabric! A couple of years ago I passed into the realm of only buying fabric on an as needed basis, but I still have too much.
I have a hard time giving up any of it, though, because it's so dang expensive to buy, and I like to sew. Still, I am confident I can find something to donate
4. Other people's memorabilia-
A few years ago my mother gave me all her old pictures- everything from her first wedding, from her childhood, from all her relatives.
She brought over the boxes and plunked them down, and what could I say? Somehow: "I don't want all your stuff "sounded too harsh.
I also have plenty of photos of my siblings' children... do I have to keep all those? Would it be terrible not to keep my niece's soccer picture from 1989?
5. Jeans
A few years ago I hit a crazy jeans sale- marked down to $3 or $4 a pair for a brand I really like. I spent $20 and walked away with 6 pairs. I could really pass on a pair or two of those. I think they would rot before I could wear all six pairs out, even though I try to rotate through them. Lesson to self: no one needs six new pairs of jeans at one time. 
So, that is a starter list for me. What about you?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 27 2014 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
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ummm I'll have to think about that...
But as far as the pics.. since they came from your mom.. pass them onto your siblings.. but also be careful because as the pictures get older, the fewer copies there will be and the fewer people who will know who they are.. scanning onto the computer is a great way to save pictures and space. 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 27 2014 at 6:59pm | IP Logged
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and this is what I have too much of and not what other people think might be too much? hmmmm
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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pumpkinmom
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This actually makes me feel good because I can't come up with much of having too much of. I typically don't hang onto extra stuff.
1)I have three sets of measuring spoons, and two adjustable ones. I'm getting rid of a set or two in the near future!
2) Wine glasses! My parents gave me a really nice set of wine and champagne classes as a wedding gift and they take up so much room and they have only been used once or twice in 14 years. I would love to get rid of half of them, but that's not possible. The first child to get married is getting half my set! We do use wine glasses, but two is really all we need and we have a few miscellaneous ones too.
3) Books! But then again, can you really have too many books when you homeschool. I guess not too many, but too many for the size of our house.
4) & 5) too much stuff in the basement, but that is up to dh to deal with since it's his stuff. Anyone want to volunteer to tell him and help him?
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: Feb 27 2014 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
4. Other people's memorabilia-
A few years ago my mother gave me all her old pictures- everything from her first wedding, from her childhood, from all her relatives.
She brought over the boxes and plunked them down, and what could I say? Somehow: "I don't want all your stuff "sounded too harsh.
I also have plenty of photos of my siblings' children... do I have to keep all those? Would it be terrible not to keep my niece's soccer picture from 1989? |
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My grandmother saved everything. After she passed away my aunts spent two years going through all her memorabilia!!
My advice to to get rid of it! Just keep the important stuff from immediate family. Some of your mom's pictures may be something you want to keep. Go through it quickly and find something to keep what you keep in and you can only keep what fits. This will help you downsize to important pictures.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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JodieLyn
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My problem is that the things that feel like too much aren't. That it's a lack of space for 12 people's items. You know.. we all need a winter coat.. and 12 coats take a lot of space.. so it feels like too much but it's not.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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organiclilac
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| Posted: Feb 27 2014 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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I don't even know where to begin. So. Much. Stuff.
Re: the measuring spoons and cups, I use my "extra" set to have permanent scoops in some things. So, since I tend to scoop oatmeal in 1/2 cup increments, that one stays in the oatmeal box rather than get washed every time, etc.
And that's probably why I have too much stuff. I always think of something I COULD use that for...
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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guitarnan
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Old magazines.
Beer glasses. Somehow people keep giving them to us and my husband gets them at beer tasting events. Seriously, I could open a pub.
Steak knives. We don't even eat beef!
VHS tapes. We own many classics, and our VCR works...but the only ones we watch are kid shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Shoes. DS owns 3 pairs of shoes and the rest of us...arrrggghhh. (DH wears size 15, too, so his take up a lot of space!)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 28 2014 at 5:40am | IP Logged
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pumpkinmom wrote:
SeaStar wrote:
4. Other people's memorabilia-
A few years ago my mother gave me all her old pictures- everything from her first wedding, from her childhood, from all her relatives.
She brought over the boxes and plunked them down, and what could I say? Somehow: "I don't want all your stuff "sounded too harsh.
I also have plenty of photos of my siblings' children... do I have to keep all those? Would it be terrible not to keep my niece's soccer picture from 1989? |
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My grandmother saved everything. After she passed away my aunts spent two years going through all her memorabilia!!
My advice to to get rid of it! Just keep the important stuff from immediate family. Some of your mom's pictures may be something you want to keep. Go through it quickly and find something to keep what you keep in and you can only keep what fits. This will help you downsize to important pictures. |
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I have been thinking of going through it all, keeping only my favorites, and then offering the rest to my sisters and brother. We don't live close to each other, though, so that would entail mailing photos or waiting for a family reunion.
But, yes, I do want to pare down what I have to get to the pictures I really enjoy. It is pretty classic of my mom to operate this way- she doesn't like to keep things but doesn't like to give them away, so she "stores" them at her childrens' houses .
I recently ditched my college year books. They weighed about 15 pounds each and were filled with thousands of pictures of people I never knew. I think I was in each one once or twice.
It's funny, also, how people can get into the habit of giving you certain things, like wine glasses or beer mugs, all the time. With me, it's kitchen gadgets (and it's not like I'm some fabulous cook - or maybe it is because I'm *not* some fabulous cook ).
When my grandmother died some time ago, we had to go through her entire house- a huge job- and sort through all kinds of things. It took a team of seven of us a solid week to make one pass through. We had to rent a dumpster. And she was not a hoarder- she just liked to keep things. It was neat and tidy, but there was so much!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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CrunchyMom
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Hmmm.
1) Baby blankets... I rarely use them, have a couple I use most of the time, but it seems like I should use them more.
2) Baby Clothes... Same thing.
3) Lids... I did just go through and get rid of a bunch of jars, but I jave a hard time sorting and throwing away lids.
4) Odd socks... It is getting ridiculous.
5) Rags. Dh is always referencing old clothing with the idea that we should turn it into rags, but I am already overwhelmed by cleaning cloths. We don't use paper towels, but I like for the cloths we use regularly in the living spaces to look halfway decent (they aren't pretty--believe me--just the least agregious). Maybe I am not cleaning enough
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Erin
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SeaStar wrote:
I thought this was a great exercise for Lent, which is coming right up.
Think of five things in your house that are duplicates... |
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Noooo!! Go away!! I don't want to do it!! My precious, I can't!!!! No, no, no.
Okay got myself under control a little. maybe, I might join in, maybe...
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Erin
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stefoodie
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1. P.
2. A.
3. P.
4. E.
5. R.
There. My 5 things. I am such a pack rat, especially when it comes to souvenirs from trips, documentation for anything and everything (still haven't digitized our health and financial records >.< ), homeschooling material, and, my biggest weakness, RECIPES, RECIPES, RECIPES.   
But right now I'm preparing for a trip in 8 weeks, and my plate is full, I have to put off paper decluttering until after Lent.
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stef
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Erin
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stefoodie wrote:
| But right now I'm preparing for a trip in 8 weeks, and my plate is full, I have to put off paper decluttering until after Lent. |
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Stef
A sacrifice already 
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Erin
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JodieLyn
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I have come up with TWO so far.
1) odd socks
2) old gardening & work gloves
oh oh... thanks Stef..
3) "important" papers
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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SeaStar
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Erin wrote:
SeaStar wrote:
I thought this was a great exercise for Lent, which is coming right up.
Think of five things in your house that are duplicates... |
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Noooo!! Go away!! I don't want to do it!! My precious, I can't!!!! No, no, no.
Okay got myself under control a little. maybe, I might join in, maybe... |
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Sorry, Erin... you are NOT EXEMPT
This is Lent, and it isn't pretty
I agree that the paper trail can be maddening... ever feel like you are drowning in a sea of art work, math sheets, magazines, catalogs, etc?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Erin
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SeaStar wrote:
Sorry, Erin... you are NOT EXEMPT
This is Lent, and it isn't pretty |
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Why not?? I want a dispensation!!
Well today I'm giving a book away, aren't you proud? 
SeaStar wrote:
| I agree that the paper trail can be maddening... ever feel like you are drowning in a sea of art work, math sheets, magazines, catalogs, etc? |
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I used to, though it's undercontrol now. but I do sympathise.
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Erin
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JodieLyn
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I'm matching up socks today and I'm determined to throw away leftovers when I'm done 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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hmbress
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Thankfully over the years, I have made a lot of progress in this area. Getting rid of kitchen stuff that I don't need and don't use made a huge difference! Cupboards that used to be stuffed with things are so much more pleasant now - so much easier to get out and put away the things I do actually use.
Other things that I have noticed that people (like my dear mom!) can tend to have too much of:
- coffee mugs
- sheet sets
- bath towels
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SeaStar
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Bath towels... I did a major purge last year and then recently gave even more away (the ones I gave away were ones my mom didn't want anymore and have given me ).
I am convinced that two towels per person are enough, with a couple extra in case of company or illness.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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I found another one! canning jar lids.. well not the actual rings but all the extra misc lids that were getting put in there. I saved the peanut butter jar lids that also fit my canning jars (great when I just want to put something like herbs in them rather than can something) but I got rid of all the others and sorted my rings and lids into 2 bags so that all the regular mouth rings are in one and the wide mouth in the other.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Frugal Friday: Five Things You Don't Need
