Conquering the Garage - Phase I

Well, I finally jumped into the task of cleaning the garage.  I had high hopes to get it all done in a weekend, so much for that.  However, I made a considerable dent in this overwhelming project.  I managed to sort, throw out, donate and organize ¾ of the area – yea me!!!

I went into this project with the idea that I was going to get rid of everything that I haven’t used in the past couple years.  Here is what I found:

• Stored items that belong to other people - my daughter moved out and left all her old clothing, furniture and other misc. items she no longer needs.  My daughter in law moved and stored boxes of clothes, shoes, purses (this is a fashionista, let me tell you), childhood memorabilia etc. .... why do we agree to keep things that belong to other people.  When we do this we are allowing them to infringe on our lives.  How fair is that?
• Items that “someone may need in the future” – old faucets, dishes, pots-n-pans, tools I don’t even know how to use, the kids old bikes, balls, ride on toys, party supplies and decorations.... why not give these things to someone that can actually use them today ... donate, give away, free yourself!! 
• Tubs of plastic bags .... why? This is sick.
• Old rugs and carpets ...... Yuk
• Bags upon bags of items that needed to be hauled off to the goodwill
• Lawn and garden items such as planters, soils, seeds, fertilizers, etc.... OK, these things can stay in the garage, but how about some order.

Heck, who needs fancy collections?  I’m a collector of STUFF!! 

I managed to donate two carloads of items to the Salvation Army, dropped those old plastic bags off to a plastic recycling bin, gave away some furniture (and it actually left that day - I didn't store it for them until they could pick it up).  I’m going to sell a few items on Craigslist. I organized the remaining items, threw away a ton of JUNK, and I feel great!!  I still have to go back and finish the job, but I can actually walk in there again.  It is an amazing feeling to take back some space.