Junk in the Trunk...and the House

Hi, my name (err.. nickname) is Lulu, and I am a border-line hoarder.  Don't call TLC just yet! I'm not quite ready to be signed up for Hoarding: Buried Alive, but I am going to need to de-clutter my life stat. And, considering all of the moving of things I've done lately-- watching my parents spend months helping my grandparents move into a retirement community, cleaning out my room at my parent's house, and now, moving classrooms (for the 3rd year in a row, might I add!) I am on purge overdrive! It is amazing, and not the good kind of amazing, how much stuff one person can accumulate! Some of the things that I've dug up over the past week or so go as far back as middle school (I was the note-passing queen!), AND I even found the birthday card that Kyle made me when we were 16 before we started dating! The biggest score was the leftover coupons from a coupon book Kyle made me for one of our Valentines Day presents, one of which offers a 25 minute back-rub...no expiration date on that sucker! I also somehow thought that maybe one day I'd like to brush back up on Latin American Politics, Asian Art and the likes because I literally saved ALL of my notes from every subject in college...whatonearth! And let's not even get into all of the clothes I've been hanging onto in case I miraculously regain my high school size 2 figure...that will be the day! So, the new and improved Lulu has set some ground rules for herself so that I can avoid THIS hot mess...

Luckily this was just stolen from Google and not my actual reality!

What to Purge-- If you haven't worn it or used it in the last year (a few exceptions) or you have more than one... GET RID OF IT!
I have made quite a bit of money selling my gently-used, name-brand clothes to a consignment shop in Wilmington called Fairy Circle, and I'm sure that there are TONS of consignment shops just like it all over!  The best part about it is they'll donate the clothes that they don't want or don't sell to a place like Good Will, so it saves you the extra trip! I also have had great experiences donating non-name brand clothing and other items to places like Vintage Values (also in Wilmington) or the PTA Thrift Shops in the triangle! My newest go-to charity is the Vietnam Veterans of America who will literally come pick the stuff up off of your front porch if you call and schedule it! Do you really need two toasters? Are you reallyyy going to use that ab roller? Will you die without that dress you haven't worn in years but are holding onto just because you joined the gym? In the words of the ever wise and classy Bon Qui Qui... "Needs tah go!" 

What to Keep-- If it has sentimental value, monetary value, or is useful, IT CAN STAY!

I have a memory box full of letters from Kyle, my parents, my grandparents, and close friends. I refuse to part with those! But, random birthday cards or notes written over the years from other people in my life can totally go. It's not that they weren't totally appreciated and valued at the time, but could I imagine reading them to my future children one day? That would be a no! I'll keep certain books, like The Book Thief and  A History of Love that were truly powerful and that I know I'll read them again and again.  But those one-time trash reads can seriously go...or better yet, be swapped with a friend! I'm totally hanging onto the little bear that my dad brought me back from Harrod's when I was a kid, but that stuffed bear from my ex-boyfriend is a goner. Think about the things that are really special to you that you'd be excited to share with your children one day and absolutely keep those! But anything else, if you can at all live without it, let it go! I'd say it's just not worth it. And, there are so many needy people out there who can benefit. It was so exciting to hear the Vintage Value's ladies say how excited they were to get my cute college bed-spread and matching pillows and how some girl was going to love it! It made my day!

Take it from someone who's seen her parents literally give up their lives for the past 3 months to help my grandparents move out of their house of 40-something years. YOU DON'T WANT  TO DO THAT...to yourselves or your future kids! Purge now...relax later!