All the way back on Day 2 when we set up our Outboxes, I shared a cute little photo of mine. Well, that small box was full about 10 seconds into the first weekend. In reality, my whole formerly empty guest room turned into a towering pile of donations. But I finally got to clear it out! Here's what went to Goodwill:
About 8 trash bags and boxes full of clothes, household items, and randomness were squeezed into my brother's car and dropped off at my local Goodwill (which is also my favorite shopping destination). It felt amazing. Not only to be rid of the heavy bags that were taking up physical and mental space in my home, but also to give back to an organization that helps people gain job skills and experience.
Plus, the wall of clothes at the Goodwill Boston warehouse is a close approximation of my pre-emptied Outbox room:
Are you ready to empty the Outbox?
JANUARY CURE LINKS:
• Day 18 & Weekend Chores: Flowers, Living Room, Lighting Refresh, Empty Your Outbox
(Images: 1 & 2. Tara Bellucci, 3. Lei Ann Resurreccion via Shoesting Magazine)
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
I am so ready to empty my outbox (my front hall). Just discovered that I live close to Freebird Books, where I can donate the three boxes of books I've cleared (right, that was me days ago saying I didn't really have any books to get rid of) to Books Through Bars! Will be taking a cab over their Sunday afternoon to say goodbye to all those tomes ... and maybe making a stop at Ikea to pick up a few of the organizing bits I've been making a list of!
I had so much stuff to donate that I had to do it throughout the Cure month, and it wound up being way more emotional than I thought. At first, it just felt light, like a weight off my shoulders. But as I drove around dropping things off (combo of to friends and a variety of charitable organizations), I'd get a little weepy. Not sad to be leaving those things behind, but free and satisfied in a deeper way than I'd expected. There are a few more things to go through, which will produce a few more things for the outbox, and then I'll be able to say that every single thing is in my house because I want it to be, not because it just wound up there. It's good. So thank you, AT and January Cure.
I have a few bags but have also been purging/giving as I go. I wish that I've kept a running list of all the things I've let go of this month!
I'm facing this assignment with mixed feelings. One of the advantages of the the outbox is that one doesn't have to discard or donate immediately. I have found that I have organizational uses for some of the things I put there. For example, I corralled all the flea meds that had been scattered around the house in one plastic container, which now sits in a cubby in the cured utility room. I've also found numerous uses (Q-tips, hairpins, etc.) for the Mason jars I was going to throw away. Nevertheless, as the month has progressed its become much easier to let go of things.
I relate, @ebrown! I take emptied storage containers to the garage, and usually I find an unexpected but better alternative use for them holding something I plan to keep. Storage items can only be donated when I FINISH (re) organizing and am sure I no longer need them. (If that ever happens!) I currently have a couple of plastic baskets and two sets of those plastic stacking drawers to deal with. One other was pressed into service in the linen closet to hold extra rolls of toilet paper and tissue cubes...
Congrats on all that out the door, Tara! Fabulous!
We've been making weekly trips to the Goodwill. I had a few pieces of small furniture/shelves that I felt a little sad about getting rid of but they've been in the attic so long my hoarder self was just being silly. There's another shelf and two bag of books ready to go this weekend. I must admit, this Cure has really been a motivator in this house! Thank you guys at AT for all the motivation!!!
Congratulations!! Goodwill came out and picked up everything from my storage room. I had furniture, household goods and far too many bags of clothing. I am glad to have that monkey off my back. I have also decided not to buy any more clothes or furniture unless they are really and truly needed. I hadn't realized how much I depended on shopping to fill some unmet need but I have to do this. Whew!! Okay, I am off the analyst's couch.
My Goodwill trip is scheduled for tomorrow and I'm so excited to have this stuff out of my house!
Have a HUGE outbox that we are taking to Goodwill this weekend. Will be such a relief to get rid of all that clutter.
We'll be making a trip to Housing Works tomorrow to get rid of some stuff, and I'll be taking some clothes to try and sell to Beacon's Closet on Sunday. Will be so glad to get all that stuff out of our office!
So true about shopping to fill emotional needs. I was feeling blue yesterday and I went to Target. I limited myself to spending $5 on a treat and otherwise just bought groceries and looked around. Found a T-shirt for $3. Hopefully next time I won't even spend that much on something unnecessary. I wish I could treat Target like a museum where you look at the pretty things but you can't touch them!
Yup, I love shopping and giving to Goodwill!
Yay! you must feel so much better! This past December (right before a big move) I donated around 8 FULL AND TOWERING shopping carts to my local Salvation Army - it felt SOOO good! Now everything I own I love, has a purpose, I love to look at it, or both. Best. Feeling. Ever. My outbox is my hallway room... I can't wait to get rid of all of the things in there (come on Craigslist buyers...) too! At the end of the Cure they all get hauled off to the SPCA Thrift Store in town, I sure hope they're ready!
http://honeywithoutflowers.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-january-cure-post-2.html
We did this just before Christmas and brought a ton of stuff to goodwill on Christmas Eve. Board games, video games,etc. Should have all found a good home. :)
I just dropped off a box and armful of stuff this morning on my way to work and discovered that it's a quicker task during a slow weekday morning than a busy Saturday afternoon. I may still go through some more clothes this weekend, but a lot of tchotchkes got disposed of today and it feels great.
Don't forget Salvation Army, which is just as deserving of charitable donations!
Wow! I feel like I should go for a browse at the thrift shop this week if so many people are cleaning out! :-)
Aww, the photo at the end is of Marisa from New Dress a Day! ( http://www.newdressaday.com/ ) She's got some awesome ideas about remaking clothes and giving them new life. If you've got something in your outbox that you don't wear but don't want to get rid of either, try checking out her blog for ideas on how to change it into something you will wear :)
Baltimore area people- donate your used books and magazines to The Book Thing! http://www.bookthing.org/ I have a studio apartment and I always have to be conscious about what I bring in. If I want a new book, I must donate an old one.