|
|
Post by BetsyMarie on Dec 18, 2009 23:15:24 GMT -5
I've got a bad habit when a purse gets too cluttered, I just dump out the entire contents into a box or bag, then pick out the obviously important items, and put them back into the same or different purse.... then never go back and sift through what remains. Usually there is a lot of coins, store and bank receipts, and just about anything else.
I've just gone through about 3 such collections of gnarled stuff. Most was trash, and some interesing items too. I've got about 2 more to go, and one I haven't found yet that I'm hoping has my drivers licence in it, and a number of store cards. I just realized this past week I no longer have my lisense (How do you spell that anyway?).
I have no clue when I lost it since no one ever asks for it anymore. I'm hoping this weekend that I'll be able to find it because I dont want to take the time to get a new one before Christmas.
|
|
|
|
Post by helen on Dec 19, 2009 0:55:40 GMT -5
Betsy,
I just finished cleaning one of those bags myself. It's a habit I've had for a long time.
I'm new (5 days) to this web site. I've been going to the chat room. It's fabulous. Everybody is very encouraging and in the ssame boat as me. There are 15 minute Challenge Trains. At the top of the hour and the half hour everybody goes to clean something. I've been to bed every night with sheets that have no grit 'cause I make my bed in the morning. My laundry basket is empty and the kitchen is clean. I've done more in these past 5 days than I've done in months.
One of my challenges was cleaning my purse. I had a dinner to go to and wanted to be able to find my cash, debit card, make sure I had my driver's license, and cell phone charged. It was a nice feeling.
Tonight, I was so tired from all the work I had done this week during the challenges, that I needed a sit down and quite challenge. I chose to clean out that plastic bag. No more tripping over it when I get of bed, no more looking at it for days and thinking that I need to take care of that. I found the reminder card for my daughter's dentist appointment and the nose piece for my CPAP machine.
Be of good cheer Betsy.
Helen
|
|
ichabod
New Member
Joined: April 2009
Posts: 48
|
Post by ichabod on Dec 19, 2009 3:11:16 GMT -5
I'm pretty bad with purses. They become a catch all for everything. When it gets to the point that one is stuffed to the gills, I either buy a new one and transfer my wallet and makeup into it or I use an old one that my husband has cleaned out. Every once in a while he'll go through the closet and ask me if there's anything in my purses I need. If not, he shreds and trashes. Great guy.
|
|
panicked
New Member
Joined: September 2009
Posts: 64
|
Post by panicked on Dec 19, 2009 13:10:10 GMT -5
I am really bad at this too. I have probably six or more old handbags in my closet that I no longer use, but are any of them empty? Nope. They're full of ATM receipts and loose change and feminine supplies and appointment reminders from 2004 and expired credit cards, etc etc etc.
If you asked me if my bedroom is decluttered, I'd say yes, but the closets and drawers are full of stuff like that which can and should be thrown away. It's like, to me, if you can't see it, it doesn't exist. It's the same with the stuff that's under my bed. I have gotten rid of a lot of that, but there's still more that should be dealt with. But because it's neatly out of sight, I feel no internal pressure to do so.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peach on Dec 19, 2009 13:34:54 GMT -5
I solve the purse problem by using a small, sturdy, tan, goes-with-most-everything purse. It can only hold a very limited amount of stuff.
I almost always use this purse when going out. It is my designated primary purse -- around which all other purses revolve. The latter are few in number and are kept empty when not in use.
About every couple months, I empty the primary purse out. Discard tissues, put aside receipts, pick out coins and put in coin purse, remove excess pens, collect loose paper money, etc. I religiously return credit cards, driver's license, AAA card, etc. into a small card carrier immediately after each use. Keys and cell phone are kept in a side pocket.
Sometimes I have to do a quick stash of purse contents. I have such a small stash right now in the corner of my sock drawer. I see it everyday so it's kept in sight and I know I have to deal with it.
|
|
|
|
Post by eagle on Dec 19, 2009 23:28:05 GMT -5
Yes, I ran across such a purse when moving office a few months ago. I know of one other, which is in the last room to clear out and re-create. Old receipts. Old business cards. And I don't really know what else.
Currently, I use only one purse. It is on the small side, although I can get quite a lot into it, because I am such a good packer. But it is very well organized. What I do is accumulate receipts. Periodically, I transfer them to a clear plastic baggy (on the road currently, so I cannot yet put them in their rightful place at home.)
At home, I have an envelope for receipts, which I periodically go through to file the important ones and discard the older ones. Thus if I need to return something, I can always find the receipt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Script on Dec 20, 2009 7:26:53 GMT -5
i have done the reverse, in order to cure my mega-purse-trash-collection habits.
over the last 3 years, i bought a LOT of purses of different shapes, styles, colours. some used on e-bay, some as gifts from mom, some from local stores.
i try to make myself CHANGE PURSES if not daily, at least a few times a week: in order to enjoy and USE this stash of lovely accessories.
in the past i relied on ONE (1) serviceable transit-friendly shoulder bag Lesportsac. the other FEW 'good' purses in my closet were rarely used. I EVEN FOUND MOULD AND SPIDER NESTS ON-IN THEM!
I tossed all the old purses, and started over with the new system.
i also designated two (2) receptacles: gifts from friend from israel: a decorative plate and matching large bowl. NOT suitable for food...........i use these to collect purse-type stuff, on my kitchen sitting-room counter hot-spot (eg: cell phone charger; extra lip balm; cards for hospital [used infrequently]; subway tokens [used infrequently]; extra kleenex mini-packs)
i also keep a heavy paper decorative box right nearby: for credit card receipts; phone number notes; doctor info; any paper things in my purse etc. These are things that eventually belong UPSTAIRS in the home office for filing. I try to empty this box weekly. It only holds so much: maybe a month, if stuff is SQUASHED? this system has been working well.
|
|
|
|
Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Dec 20, 2009 11:18:53 GMT -5
I've got a bad habit when a purse gets too cluttered, I just dump out the entire contents into a box or bag, then pick out the obviously important items, and put them back into the same or different purse.... then never go back and sift through what remains. Usually there is a lot of coins, store and bank receipts, and just about anything else. Oh, this is me! Thank you for this thread. And then these bags/boxes fall into other piles, and/or break/spill, etc. Sometimes they get consolidated with other miscellaneous items during a mad stash-and-dash of clearing away debris into boxes against the way. I have decades worth of such little bags of "purse debris". Who knows where these little bags are amidst my larger chaos of boxes? Sigh. Thank you to everyone on this thread who has already offered ... or who may later post to offer ... creative solutions.
|
|
|
|
Post by DJ on Dec 20, 2009 12:45:43 GMT -5
i keep a basket by the front door.. when i walk in the door i dump my purse into the basket and empty it completely..
when i go back out i grab the purse i want to take and pop things back into it...
once a week i <try to>go through the basket by the front door and toss debris. if i don't get to it every week i try to make sure i do it whenever the little basket is full to the top... i keep a jar full of change by it and dump the change into it when i go through the basket.
this area is my launchpad... i also keep a basket with cat/ferret harnesses and leashes, a basket on the wall for outgoing mail.. blahblahblah..
|
|
minky
New Member
Joined: December 2009
Posts: 97
|
Post by minky on Dec 21, 2009 3:08:34 GMT -5
Well, I solved this problem myself by not carrying a purse. Any make-up I need, I put on before I go out. Sometimes I might stick some lip balm in my coat pocket. Tissues, wallet, phone, and keys all go in my coat pocket as well. What else do I need to carry around? Nothing.
In the summer when I don't have a coat, then I put my wallet in my back pocket of my jeans and my keys and phone in the front pockets. I don't do credit cards, store cards, etc. so my wallet is really thin. All it has is my license, insurance card, and money.
The only down fall to this method is that you have to make sure that you don't leave your coat unattended in places, like hang it on a coat rack at a restaurant.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bizzy on Dec 21, 2009 7:00:31 GMT -5
I am so guilty of this. I have a stack of about 5 purses in a box waiting to be purged. You can tell me how to do it or how not to let it happen but it is probably going to go on for a while..... At least the purses are all going into one place now and I use the same wallet..  Bizzy |
|
|
|
Post by Bizzy on Dec 21, 2009 7:04:01 GMT -5
DJ- Ok-- you have a ferret? Missed that somehow.. I have to wrap my brain around that. Would love to be a fly on the wall at your house.
Bizzy
|
|
