I have been noticing that clothing is probably the number one thing that overwhelms me and robs me of sooooo much time… (Paperwork is right up there too…) After reading this post, and making this commitment, I have been sorting through TONS of clothing determined to pass some of our abundance on to others who may need it…
Last night I grabbed all the various piles that have been sitting around the house (or had to be moved out of the laundry room) and sorted them into piles. I then began with my own clothes, determined to give away another 25% of it all. (Back in April I gave away 50% of my clothing, and I still had/have way too much!) It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be!
This morning I began sorting through the girls clothing. I took everything out of their drawers and closets and laid it out on my bed. I couldn’t believe how much they have! (Although most of it is too small for Twinkle Toes and fits or will fit Chiquita…) No wonder they can never find “something to wear,” I even had a hard time figuring out what was whose and who fit what!
Even though they have so much I am having a much harder time deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Everything is “just soooo cute!!” At first I was going to try and get rid of 50% of it all, but instead settled on 33.33%. For every two items I return to their closet or drawers I have been adding one item to the donation pile. It has been hard, but it is so freeing at the same time!!
I am really looking forward to living (a hopefully more organized life) with less!
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil or spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?
Therefore do not be anxious saying, ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”
I took up 6 bags of clothes to Goodwill today cleaning out our closet! Looks like great minds think alike – and on the same day too 😉
I wish St. Vincent’s thrift shop was closer.
I did this with our younger 5 children back in January. I only allowed them 4 everyday outfits and 2 good ones. It has saved me a heap of time with my washing and helped the bedrooms be much more organised.
Good for you Shelly!!
That is amazing Therese!!!! I can imagine how that would simplify the laundry… Even with what I got rid of today, my girls still have quite a variety. I am going to have to go through it all again (and again!).
You’re just in time for the feast of St. Vincent de Paul! We are having a clothing drive (in our own home) and will be visiting our local SVDP thrift shop next weekend!
So glad to see that you are staying on top of it as this is the best way to avoid clutter!
and you are right, clothing is one of the worst contributers to clutter. One way to keep it under control is to make sure that every time something new comes in to the wardrobe something else goes out!
I love getting rid of stuff! It is one of my favorite things to do…right up there with accumulating more stuff!
Although not clothes, per say, I am doing quite the same! We actually hired a dumpster next week! I refuse to move anything we don’t need!
Wish me luck! It is much easier to dump it all in a box that to go through it all!
I have to admit, I wish we had the same problem with clothes! It is mostly just junk!
Doing the same here. What a job!
Man can I relate. I have a LOT of clothes to go through right now and I don’t have as many kids as you! Thanks for the inspiration…again!☺
Christie! What a GREAT idea!!! I had not made the connection before you mentioned it. We will have to make a point of taking all the donations this coming weekend.
Beverly ~ Thanks for the tip. I have heard that before but have always been so bad about following it. I will try and do that from now on.
Meg ~ You almost have as many kids as I do… You just need to have one more! 🙂
Amy ~ Good luck!! I wish there was some way I could come and help you out!