We live in a 5 bedroom two-story colonial with a finished basement. It is a home that has served us well over the years, where we happily raised our four children. As you can imagine, a lot of stuff can fit in a home this size. And, with our two older daughters married with children, our son about to commission in the Navy and our youngest daughter finishing her Physical Therapy program in another year, this home will suddenly be too much house for just two. It is our desire to find a smaller home (preferably one level) to move into before we get too old to want to move. (We are having this issue with our aging parents, and it’s not fun.)
But how does one downsize and get rid of all the stuff that fits into a larger home? One minimalism game at a time.
Have you ever played the minimalism game? Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (“The Minimalists”) created this game as a fun way to jumpstart a way to a more minimalistic lifestyle, or at least have less stuff.
To play the game, you simply declutter one item on the 1st of the month, two items on the 2nd of the month, three items on the 3rd of the month…etc. all the way up to the thirty-one items on the 31st. If you add it all up, 496 items will leave your home in a month’s time.
I’ve played this game twice before, and I easily got rid of 496 items each time. Not because I’m a hoarder, mind you, but because there really is more stuff hidden in nooks and crannies than you can imagine.
I’m smitten with the whole minimalistic lifestyle, so I’ve decided to play this game a third time (and probably a fourth and fifth time later on in the year). I’ve already done my clothes, accessories, purses, shoes and my husband did his closet as well. We have donated over 300 items, so finishing this game in January should be a breeze.
Besides donating items, I’ve also been able to sell a few things on Facebook Marketplace. Extra cash is always a bonus, right?
Here is the first video I found that inspired me to play this game. It just may inspire you too!
Have you decluttered your home? If so, how did you do it?
JOURNEY TO RETIREMENT 
I tend to throw things away donate items on a semi constant basis. But they are my items or household items. The sticking point for me is my husband, who will not part with much. Clothing is easiest to get rid of; its the kids old schoolwork, old DVDs (I swear I thought they would be worth something on EBAY), old CDs (which I can still play in my car), and electronic cords, cords, and more cords. I have no clue what they belong to and my husband does not want to be bothered with any of it! We have lived in our home for 30 years and raised three children here. I want to move into a patio home the question is where and what state! None of my children are married, and seem to love apartment living. The youngest is in medical school. So there is no way they have the desire or inclination to retrieve there things; yet they won’t let me get rid of anything!
I have a feeling we won’t be really minimizing until we actually have to move!
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Oh my gosh, Ellen me too! I know I want a smaller home but I have no idea where I want to live. It’s a real conundrum, but I suppose I have a little time as we probably will move further south but my husband is still working now. Put the kids’ stuff in boxes. Give them a timeframe. I still have two ‘technically’ living here, so I will make sure when they move out they will take ALL of their stuff. Fingers crossed on that one.
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great post. i am a huge believer in decluttering as it keeps my mind more clear.
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I keep a box in the basement for things I no longer need. When it’s full, I bring it to the thrift store and start another. I like the Minimalist Game because it will challenge me to be more focused on de-cluttering. I think I’ll be trying it..
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