When Deb posted the challenge for week 21 I thought “ahh, I don`t really need to do this” – see, we just moved house and I had declutter a ton of our stuff, we are now pretty much unpacked {barring the need for a bookshelf to unpack my books} and our house is new so doesn`t have anything broken that we need to fix or things we really need.
I thought about approaching it a different way because anything we want to do here requires money we just don`t have right now {well not without dipping into our savings more than we already have} so I was going to do an audit on our finances instead but it was pointed out that this would be coming up later in the year {Although today marks the day of a new budget for us anyway!}.
So I went back and looked at the home audit sheet that Deb had provided us with. I thought about it some more. I procrastinated. I got stuck into watching a new to me show called “Revenge” and lesson planning for my upcoming classes.
Yesterday though I sat down and wrote a list of things I still want to do in the house. Some won`t be able to happen now, or even in the next month or two, but eventually they will get done. Most of the things require money- so we will work on that and put aside money for the things that we would still like/need.
I wrote ten things on our list. I checked in with Shun to see if he had anything to add but he just added a couple ideas to things I had already written down.
These are not in any order although the first three I would like to get done soon as they don`t require much money and kind of fit in with week 22 challenge of decluttering our stuff {some more!}
1. Put together Noah & Shion`s big boy beds. They arrived 10 days ago and are still sitting in boxes partly because were were out most of last weekend and I need Shun to help me and the other reason is because once they are together I have to transition the boys to bed, well Noah first at least, and I know this is going to be a bit of a nightmare.
2. Label things in the pantry so it is easier to see {I have the container and the label maker} – First step here is to put things in the actual containers and figure out how to use the label maker…haha
3. Declutter and clean out my craft supplies- yarn, material, beads and scrap booking things.
4. Get rid of coat rack in the bedroom- this means finding somewhere for the coats/scarves/hats to live. I think it makes the room cluttered and to be honest we don`t really need it.
5. Buy a bookshelf and unpack the 5 boxes of books in the main bedroom.
6. Decorate the walls- hang pictures, paintings and wall hangings. Some we own already to hang but have not hung yet- but there are other things I need to buy but have not made any decisions yet or even really started looking. Any recommendations of places I can go look at in Japan? I looked around online but to hard to see/tell if it is really “us”.
7. Clean the deck and make spaces for the kids toys, yard shoes etc. This means getting rid of some junk sitting out there that we need to ask the city to take away for us {large things to throw away}. Some of it is my in-laws so I have to speak to them about this.
8. Our downstairs sink/toilet area bugs me a little because water goes everywhere and the kids can`t reach very well despite having a stool there. I need a higher stool for them but also a mat to lay under it so that the water that gets splashed everywhere falls mainly on that. A trip to Ikea is needed!
9. Garden -Our turf has been laid but will take another 3-4 weeks before the kids can play on it. Then I plan to buy a sandpit for under the large tree and we have to plant some flowers, edge some other parts of the garden and make it a nice but safe area for the kids to play. This will take time and money but is a high priority- at least for me!
10. Buy curtains for the spare room and also aircons- this will happen in the next couple of weeks {We have budgeted this money in our loan} – just have to go and do it!
There are a couple of “declutter” type tasks on my list below. In the next two weeks I hope to declutter/clean up the pantry properly and my craft and art supplies. I think this is doable and to be honest I like throwing stuff away/cleaning things up. I actually really dislike clutter and try to keep it out of sight {if not gone for good}. I am ruthless- my husband not so much. Before we moved I de-clutter a lot- I am not sure I have any tips for doing it except make sure you have lots of sturdy garbage bags and if your partner or family hates parting with stuff then do it when they are NOT around!!!
I do a quick de-clutter everyday. Usually before bed but sometimes at other times as well. I try to get rid of any mail we don`t need as soon as it comes in, I file things that need to be filed as soon as possible and I try to make sure everything has its own home. This helps me a lot.
We are holding onto a couple “what if” items that Deb talked about in the week 22 post……I am going to think about these some more but wouldn`t be surprised if we clear them out before the end of this year.
What has been on your to-do list for around your apartment/house for ages that hasn`t been done yet? Do you like de-cluttering?
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I am just a twenty something Aussie girl living in Chiba, Japan with my Japanese husband trying to find my way in a country that is not my own! We welcomed our first son in December 2009 (Noah) and a second son {Shion} in January 2011- yes they are just over 12 months apart so life is a little insane with two toddlers underfoot. I am working hard at raising them to be curious, confident, bilingual and happy kids.
I am in the middle of pre-move decluttering too, so can sympathise about the boxes lurking around.
When we were in Japan I got a few things framed at Ito-ya – once in Ginza and once at the one in Shibuya station. They were wonderful – we did white mounts with a thin peek of coloured mount inside next to the picture, and simple fine black frames but the quality was so good. I really appreciate it now I am back in Australia because the things we’ve had framed here have been more expensive and the workmanship is not as good. So, when you do find things to hang on the wall, I would recommend them
Oh thanks for the tip about Ito-ya. Will keep it in mind. Starting to think I should make my own wall art as Jen mentioned below. Still searching around online when the mood takes me though.
I didn`t know you were moving. Must of missed it? I am a bit behind on blogs lately.
It is so hard to get decent wall art in Japan. I have done some on my own, Mod Podging things (pictures, fabric, etc.) onto plywood. But otherwise, it’s hard! Ikea has some fantastic frames at least.
Would love to see pictures of your “mod podging” ! Might have to do some of that myself.
I will check out frames next time I am at Ikea- I want to put some enlarged photos up as well so it will be a good opportunity to see what is available. I am going to Ikea on Monday so good timing!
I am very big on de-cluttering these days. We just have so much stuff (junk!) since H was born. Hubby is hopeless – he keeps the weirdest stuff, like old plastic files and binders which haven’t been used for ages and which we have enough of anyway. If anyone is throwing stuff away at his work, he’ll bring it home. Recently we ended up with a fish tank full of fish and yabbies, as well as about 10 office desk trays which we don’t need. Hubby has such incredible attention to detail, he would notice if I threw anything away while he wasn’t here. I am going to try to convince him to let me have a huge garage sale in the next few months and work out ways to approach the topic of getting rid of stuff. At least he keeps his crap tidy, though – I will give him that.
I would kill my husband if he bought home random crap we didn`t want or need. But you are lucky- as you said at least your husband keeps his crap tidy.
I still have some more decluttering I can do I think. We will never be minamalists but we can be better!
Decluttering is such a big thing, isn’t it? I keep promising myself that I won’t let stuff build up again but those darned clutter fairies keep on making a mess of my cabinets and drawers.
My new approach is to look at storage in Basildon which is where I live (not as exotic as Japan I guess) and get the big stuff out of the way. I like to work this way; starting with the big jobs and then working my way down to the smaller stuff. If it doesn’t work this time I’ll need to just give up and resign myself to living in the midst of clutter forever