Saving £350 by decluttering

I have just realised that I have actually saved myself £350 (about $535) by clearing out my 2 drawers, as I can now fit my jumpers into drawers rather than having to sort through a pile on a chair every morning.  This means I don't have to buy that oak chest of drawers (which would have had to be a strange shaped-one anyway, to fit in the space) I had my eye on.  So even without thinking about it, decluttering has saved me money!  Has anyone else had this happen to them?

What I'm grateful for:
A local market with fresh fish and bread, and the local butcher's with a friendly welcoming serving woman. 

The makeup and travel drawer

I've just cleaned and cleared out my odd things drawer in my bedroom and discovered I had:
10 mascaras (for someone who only wears makeup now on special occasions this is unnecessary!)
5 bottles of nail varnish
8 lipsticks
6 emergency sewing kits
3 eye shadow kits 2 of which were finished but had a nice mirror - OUT they go
and very usefully, 3 more pairs of scissors!

So have thrown out some mascaras & put some cleaner makeup to go out to charity.
I still have lots of handy things for travelling, but not ancient dirty things.  And I have more space on my dressing table as a bag of stuff will now fit in the drawer.  Result!

Now my 'charity chair' where I keep things I'm throwing out needs to be cleared too:

What I'm grateful for today:
That my house has not burnt down or been smoked out by a neighbour putting hot ash in their barn and it catching fire.  This happened to a friend who nearly lost her house!  Fortunately the builders built a new wall so well it contained the fire and they just had a lot of smoke instead, but it was a very near thing.  You never think this will happen, but it can.

Old Drawings Out

Today I threw out a lot of old duplicate drawings of garden designs I have done.  All the remaining ones are neatly upright, using a wine box insert (must get more) in a cardboard box, and the floor area in my study has greatly increased.  The basket you see alongside the box was also full of drawings. ...Having seen the photo, I've just straightened out the rolls and thrown out a broken one - I can easily buy some more rolls for my client drawings.  Also threw out massive file of Forever Living product information as I don't sell that anymore.  What else is lurking, hidden behind other guff?

I also threw out a blouse I never wear because of the buttons - not nice enough to replace them.  And yesterday, enjoyed virtuous feeling when I went to my church and left a sheet I'd found and washed (see Into the Ottoman) and pyjamas for the local homeless hostel.  So I guess others may benefit from this clear-out too!

New drawer I found

I can now open a drawer at the bottom of my wardrobe, so that's the next place that needs going through.  Meanwhile, I have thrown out a scarf from it, and old bag embroidered in Afghan style.  I noticed I was relieved that it had a rip in it, as that meant (to me) that I could throw it out.  Strange thinking really!  That I need things to be wrecked before I feel OK about letting go of them!

I have also cleared a space on top of my old desk, so my wooden letter rack (moved from my bookcase and emptied of old papers) can go there instead - a useful little in-tray.  It's nice to be able to use good quality things when you do actually need them.

What I am grateful for today:  365 Less Things for the 'Grateful' idea; and my ceramics class, where I decorated a plate today.  Good company, absorbing activity.

Into the ottoman

I have managed to sort out things hidden from view for the first time for years.  My ottoman in my bedroom turned out to contain a lot of crumpled tissue paper, bubble wrap, my mother's wedding dress, a bicycle horn, patchwork bits, curtain material, cushion insides and Christmas decorations.  For years, I've just accessed the decorations and left the rest! 

Threw out paper, boxes supposedly kept for gifts, and an old towel. A guitar capo (I have no guitar) and the horn go to charity.   Salvaged some cotton for those recipes which ask for muslin - will give them a go now, eg bramble jelly.  Got the cushion out, as I am just finishing a tapestry that fits its size.  And with the spare space, have put wrapping paper and ribbons and bows in there tidily so there is space and order elsewhere.  Dug out some of the jewellery so I actually wear it, rather than keep it for 'best'.

This may not be a scintillating read, but it was good to do!

Conclusions: it's good to look in those drawers and cupboards.  You may find things that are just what you need, and don't have to go to the shops.  And use things rather than keep for 'best'.