Possible inspiration: 50 things to throw away

[fred_mouse]

pinched from this image on tumblr - I can't tell where it was originally from. There are some, hmmm, I'll go with 'odd' choices in this list but eh, maybe some of you are less attached to 'things not used recently' than I am. :)

Challenge for the weekend, if you have the time an energy - pick one thing from the list and see what you can ditch!

And if you don't have the energy, join me in the comments for commentary on the oddness of some of the list.

• old magazines
• old couch pillows
• movies you don't watch
• movies that are scratched
• burnt out candles
• extra cords
• games with missing pieces
• old books
• broken makeup
• old makeup
• old nail polish
• old perfume
• old toothbrushes
• half empty bottles
• towels with holes
• anything you haven't used in the last three months
• socks without a match
• socks with holes
• underwear with holes
• clothes you haven't worn in at least 6 months
• clothes that don't fit
• earings without a match
• old ties
• old belts
• old purses
• old hats and gloves
• worn out shoes
• worn out blankets
• old pillows
• expired food
• take out menus
• restaurant sauce packets
• old coupons
• old cleaning supplies
• cups with missing pieces
• anything you have too much of
• excess tupperware
• rags with holes
• expired medication
• old mail
• old manuals
• old paperwork
• birthday cards
• broken toys
• happy meal toys
• anything with missing pieces
• things they never play with
• duplicates
• puzzles with missing pieces

Comments

[fred_mouse]

We did the 'towels with holes' earlier in the year, and have finally (this week!) passed most of them on. I guess the last couple need to be rehomed (mostly into the rag cupboard).

I'm not sure why 'rags with holes' is on this list - how is that an issue? I'm also bemused that there are four categories of '... with missing pieces', when one of those is 'things'.

There is one on there that I consider to be a Really Bad Option, but I left it there for completeness. 'Things they never play with' - just because you never see it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and throwing things out *for* someone is rarely the right choice. In this case, the assumption is it is kids, so aaaaargh.

On the the other hand, I did rather approve of some of the items, as reminders of things that have ended their functional lives.

[wychwood]

Yeah, I feel like "things you haven't used in the last three months" needs a lot more narrowing down! I'm keeping my Christmas decorations, thanks, not to mention both my heavy winter wear and my heatwave clothing.

Lots of sensible categories to consider, though.

[vysila]

The weird one that stood out to me was 'broken makeup'! Makeup can get old but how can it get broken?

[trudy]

Movies you don't watch is wild to me. Especially the way digital media is going and access is unceremoniously revoked (I'm looking at you, Funimation). I have a lot of OOP stuff that is unlikely to get re-licensed anytime, soon.

What are cups with missing pieces?

I might have hoarder tendencies with the "expired medication", but my doctor assured me as long as it's not something life-protecting (like heart medication), it will generally use some of its efficacy but is safe to continue taking. Given how docs are reluctant to prescribe clonazepam (the only anxiety med that doesn't immediately knock me on my ass), I still keep some expired on hand in case of a workday emergency where my other anxiety med has a big chance of putting me to sleep at my work laptop.

[illariy]

anything you have too much of

Not my fountain pens! *sobs and clutches pens*

But honestly aside from the odd 3 month rule that irks me about seldom used but necessary tools as well as seasonal stuff, I don't really find anything odd on this list. In fact, there are far too many that apply to me but I am not feeling ready to let anything go today. Hopefully during the summer when the next uni free time comes.

[megpie71]

"Clothes you haven't worn in at least 6 months".... yeah, how about "nah" on that one? I mean, okay, I don't wear my winter jumpers, hoodies, long-sleeved t-shirts and leggings for about 7 months of the year - but that doesn't mean I want to have to buy them all new every winter, either. Yes, during the rest of the year they're taking up space - but the space they're occupying is space I have set aside for them, and I can spare it.

(I tend to think of these sorts of things as being written for the sort of person who goes clothes shopping on at least a monthly basis to "keep up with fashion", rather than for someone like me who shops for clothes about once every six months at most).

[sisterofbloomerjunior]

Eh, all the other advice articles I’ve read about clothing usually suggests doing something about it if you haven’t worn it for at least one year.

Interesting they mention movies but not music.

NOOOOO, The books! The precious, precious books!

How long does the medicine have before it’s considered expired? Days, weeks, months?