Update #1 - 100 Thing Challenge

Today is August 1.  I now have roughly thirty-one days to prune my personal things down to 100.  I'm not saying it will be easy.  Thus far it has not been hard.  I think Raymenie might have it right.  Most of our stuff we never even know we have and don't care if we get rid of.

So far I'm pretty sure I want to keep my camera gear. (4-5 things, depending on if the ball head is a separate thing from the tripod - neither works without the other and they stay together like one thing.  But I might count them as two.)  I'd like to keep my new skateboard so I can cruise around our neighborhood with my daughters.  My journal and pencil are keepers.  So far one picture from my sister as well as one cross from my in laws are likely staying.  I'm on the fence regarding my guitar, which I hardly use but enjoy when I do.  My iPod?  Maybe.  I suppose I have to keep my cell phone (yuck).  Lady S had the good idea of trading the two for one, i.e. cell phone and iPod for iPhone.  Maybe.  But just don't know.  While books are out of the 100 Thing Challenge for now (remember, baby steps), I'm kind of thinking of including two Bibles, one that a very kind friend from Crossway gave me and the other, a Bible with the Book of Common Prayer, given to me by a nice person from Oxford University Press.  Mostly I just feel guilty that I have so many Bibles.  Seems like a good way to force myself to do something with the extras.

That's only 15 things I'm keeping so far.  And maybe not all of those.  And I'm having a hard time thinking of the other stuff I really really want to hold onto... Oh wait, I'm keeping my Benchmade knife.  So that's 16 things.

Anyway, the 100 Thing Challenge is underway.  And for now I'm optimistic about only having 100 personal things by the end of August.  Unfortunately I feel hopelessly gloomy thinking of how I'm going to actually get all the stuff I'm not keeping out of my house!  That might be the real challenge here.

Comments

[Cory Verner]

This might be my favorite blog on the Internet right now.

C

[s'mee]

I left an earlier comment on the earlier post, but the Bible delema got to me.

We read our scriptures, study them, mark favorite passages, add notes in the margins, whatever to make our reading more effective. After we have accomplished the 'cover to cover' aspect of it we give them to a new believer, an investigator, a person who is in need. Then we purchase another for ourself and begin the study process again.

The reciever may enjoy their own copy, may like seeing another's perspective of certain scripture via the marks and comments in margins; and the giver gets to begin anew.

Is there anyone with whom you could share your scriptures? Perhaps you could donate them to a particular shelter or home, or even to your church so that new members have the opportunity to read a home copy.

You may even add something in the front that implies that the reciever, when able, inturn give them to someone else who can use them... a pertpetual gift, as it were.

[Stephen]

As a soon-to-be poor college student, I tallied in my head and am already way below 100. Maybe poverty is the secret to the three R's.

Good luck, I really like the idea. As soon as I can afford stuff, I'll make sure to rejigger it.

[Nina Ruth]

I have too much stuff, not enough $ & too high rent! Need to sell some really nice stuff (from clothing to jewelry to china) that I have no particular use for or sentimental attachment to...any suggestions? EBay seems too costly/time-consuming to me. I need a simple way to make cash off my excess stuff...any thoughtful suggestions out there?!

[Dave Bruno]

s'mee Good idea!

Stephen Poor college students do lack stuff compared to many other kinds of people. But careful, those dorm rooms get filled quick.

Nina I think Ebay is the best way to go. It's not that costly and mostly just time consuming. But getting rid of stuff is. Unless you just throw it away, which doesn't make you money and kind of thrashes the environment.

[abandoned]

I may want to go down this road with you... what are the ground rules? Please explain the 100 things concept.

I'm guessing that's strictly personal stuff, so it doesn't include, for example: kitchen items, furniture, etc. What about clothes? Yes? Books? CDs? Items in the bathroom medicine cabinet? Pennies in a jar?

[Nina Ruth]

want to get a commission & sell my eBay stuff for me, Dave? :-)

I'd better not throw it away & trash the environment...especially since I am "Miss Del Mar" in the local "Universal Waste, Put It in It's Place" recycling commercials...unelss of course I take my stuff to the dumpster wearing my "Del Mar" t-shirt. :-D

"Abandoned," my personal suggestion is start w/small steps...medicine cabinet is a good start. Mostly just reviewing, "Do I really need 3 different kinds of sunscreen? Some of these are expired, why aren't I getting rid of them?" that sort of stuff. Buying products that do more than one thing (regular old hair conditioner makes a great shave cream; tinted moisturizer takes care of foundation & SPF in one step) etc. Also trying to stay with "green" products & if you have stuff that's in your medicine cabinet (like shampoo, makeup, etc.) that's still good & there's quite a bit left, if you aren't going to use it, try swapping it with someone (www.makeupalley.com is a good site for that) or returning it to the store if you still have your receipt.

One way I've found to really go "green" & cut reckless cosmetic spending is to use stuff in my kitchen on my face (what could be safer?!)...olive oil removes all makeup, even waterproof masacara. a 1/4 tsp. of yogurt is a great face mask. You can make your own toner out of herbs or tea...just brew in the fridge.

This saves money and space!

I have a lot of stuff I'm sentimentally attached to & not ready to let go of (stuff given to me) so I'm not feeling I need to make that part of my 100 challenge & that's ok. But I also have a lot of nice stuff (jewelry, clothing, etc.) in great condition that I simply don't need...and that needs to go!!!

[LB]

Get rid of the bibles first. Keep "god is not great".

[Aimee]

This is a great idea! Books would be hard for me to part with, but there are a lot of things that I could live without. Obviously though, if you aren't counting things like pots and pans, forks, plates, ect... paring down will be much easier.

Good luck to you!