TSA #6 – Start off the new year with a clean room

Jan 1, 2012 by

As the new year begins its time to clear out the junk you don’t need and start the new year off right.

I just finished a 52 week project where I got rid of somethingI didn’t need, want, or use anymore.  I got rid of a lot of clothes, a lot of old electronic gadgets, some kitchen items and just a lot of miscellaneous stuff I didn’t need anymore.

My house is now less cluttered and I even made some money doing it.

Start off the new year with a clean space.  Clear out the stuff you don’t need, use, or want anymore and let yourself start off the new year a little more organized.

The 1AW project was so successful for me that I am going to continue it through 2012 and I hope you will join me.

Take sometime this weekend and spend the day cleaning out the house, or garage or just one room.  Haul all that stuff down to the Salvation Army and donate it to someone who could use those things.

Then join me in 2012, where each week we will look around our space and find something that you don’t need, use or want anymore and get rid of it.

Ben…

TSA = Truly Simple Actions
The goal of the TSA project is to improve your life and help make this world a better place, one simple action at a time.

Previous TSA’s:
TSA#1 - Buy a meal for someone who needs it
TSA#2 - Go do something fun
TSA#3 - Enough with the plastic bottles
TSA#4 - Learn something new
TSA#5 - Celebrate Christmas

 

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1-A-Week: Week 52 – One year complete!

Dec 29, 2011 by

I have now completed 52 weeks of my 1 A Week project where each week I got rid of something I did not need need, want, or use anymore.

This project has been a huge success for me.  My house has less clutter, my life has more space for important things, and my wallet is over $700 richer.

I made exactly $701 over the year of getting rid of stuff each week.  Most of that money was selling my old electronics and miscellaneous stuff on eBay or Craigslist.  34 of those weeks I gave the items away to Goodwill and such.  The remaining 18 weeks, I sold the items on eBay or Craigslist.

For this last week I tore apart my garage looking for the hardware that goes with the truck shell I got rid of last week.  Alas I did not find them, but I did find a lot of misc construction material I am going to donate to Habitat for Humanity’s Restore stores.  If you’ve never been to a Restore store, check them out.  They sell donated and leftover building materials and have some great deals if you are doing some DIY projects.

I am really happy I started this project and I think I will continue this on for next year.  I hope you will join me.  Start the new year off right and make a commitment to de-clutter your life this year.

Ben…

1AW is a project by which I’m getting rid of at least 1 thing each week that I do not need, want, or use anymore. Doing at least one thing per week helps me reduce the clutter in my life and make room for what is truly important.

What are you getting rid of this week?  Leave a comment and let me know.

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1-A-Week: Week 50-51: Out with the old

Dec 23, 2011 by

I didn’t post last week so I have two things to get rid of this week.

As I wrap up this 52 week experiment I’m finally getting rid of something I’ve been meaning to get rid of all year.  I haven’t gotten rid of it yet because I need some help moving it, as its a little big and bulky.  But finally the old truck shell from my old Ford Ranger will be gone.  My friend is going to help me drag it from the side yard and get it out front so I can give it away on Craigslist.  I haven’t had that truck for quite some time, but yet the shell has sat on the side of my yard waiting to go.  So finally it goes.

Also we got some new luggage for ourselves for Christmas this year so I’m going to get rid of some of our older falling apart luggage as well.

Only one week left for this years 1-A-Week experiment.

Ben…

1AW is a project by which I’m getting rid of at least 1 thing each week that I do not need, want, or use anymore. Doing at least one thing per week helps me reduce the clutter in my life and make room for what is truly important.

What are you getting rid of this week? Leave a comment and let me know.

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1-A-Week: Week 49: Old Christmas junk

Dec 9, 2011 by

As I get the Christmas decorations down from the attic I get to find all of these treasures and orphaned pieces.

Some lights work, some don’t.  Some pieces that were once a set are now all alone.  And so out they go to some lucky soul on Ebay.  They will add nicely to their collection I’m sure.  So I add to that persons joy and get it out of my house.  Happy bidding and Merry Christmas!

Ben…

1AW is a project by which I’m getting rid of at least 1 thing each week that I do not need, want, or use anymore. Doing at least one thing per week helps me reduce the clutter in my life and make room for what is truly important.

What are you getting rid of this week? Leave a comment and let me know.

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1-A-Week: Week 46-48: Catching up

Dec 1, 2011 by

I am tracking what I am getting rid of each week for this 1AW project and trying to post each week as well.  I’ve done fairly well in this, but sometimes I just miss some weeks.  As the end of the year approaches I can tell I missed some weeks somewhere, so I’m trying to catch up now.

This week I got up in the garage attic area to get down the Christmas lights and decorations.  I couldn’t get in the mood to put  them up as it was 85 degrees here that day.  But while up in the garage attic I pulled down a ton of boxes of crap that I have no idea why I was saving.  I got rid of an old light module for a ceiling fan I don’t own.   My garage is pretty full of stuff I enjoy, like camping gear and my car projects so anytime I can clear out stuff I don’t need is a good thing.  So that is my goal is to continue finding and getting rid of that stuff that is just in the way.

Ben…

1AW is a project by which I’m getting rid of at least 1 thing each week that I do not need, want, or use anymore. Doing at least one thing per week helps me reduce the clutter in my life and make room for what is truly important.

What are you getting rid of this week? Leave a comment and let me know.

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1-A-Week: Week 44-45: Helping others get rid of their junk

Nov 18, 2011 by

I was up visiting my family last week and my family and my sister asked me to help her get rid of some stuff from her garage.  She has done a good job of cleaning it up and getting it all onto one side of the garage so she can park her car.  Now she wanted to get rid of some of the bigger items and wanted some help.  So for my 1AW I walked her through setting a post up on Craigslist.  This is very easy so I thought I’d create a quick guide here to help any of you who may not be familiar with Craigslist.

Truly Simple guide to posting on Craigslist

First, go to www.Cragislist.com

You can browse all the posts without an account, but you will need an account to post something.  It is free.

Simply click on the ‘my account link”

If you already have an account, simply log in with your email address and password.  If you don’t have an account you can create one by clicking the “sign up for an account” link.

When you are logged into your account click on the “new posting” tab

Choose what kind of posting it will be.  If you are selling or even offering the item for free, you will select ”for sale”

Select what area best suits what you are offering.  For this example I chose “free”

Select the region you live in.

For your post you need the following:

A short and accurate description of what you are offering

put the city where you live in the specific location area.

In the product description be as detailed as possible.  If I am selling something I will copy and paste the product description from the manufacturers website and include all relevant information.

Include this information:

  • Does it work?
  • Anything wrong with it?
  • Any visual blemishes?
  • Why you are selling it (optional)
You want to weed out those that are truly interested in the item.  If it has a big scratch on it you don’t want to waste your time having many interested parties come to see it only to walk away because of that scratch.
Finally include how you’d like to be contacted.  I only use email and never my phone.  I made that mistake once and was inundated with phone calls while my wife was trying to take a nap.  Emails are easier to go through and respond to.

Next you MUST add images.  Click the “add/edit images” button

Here you can add 4 images.  Add all that you can.  Click the “choose file” button next to each image area to select an image.

Its important to take pictures of all sides of the item if you can.  Click “continue” when you have added the images.

the final step is to enter the words/letters/numbers in the captcha to prove you are a human and not some robot trying to spam the system.

That’s it!  Your listing is now posted and you will start to receive offers via email for your items.

Some other helpful tips:

If you are uncomfortable having people come over to your house to pick up the items you can meet at a local parking lot.

If they are haggling over price, make sure to come to an agreement on price before meeting to avoid wasting time

That’s it.  Its really very easy.

Got any other good Craigslist tips to share?  Let me know in the comments.

Ben…

1AW is a project by which I’m getting rid of at least 1 thing each week that I do not need, want, or use anymore. Doing at least one thing per week helps me reduce the clutter in my life and make room for what is truly important.

What are you getting rid of this week? Leave a comment and let me know.

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