With a goal of 365 items, downsizing one item a day over a one year period, has proven to be more difficult than I imagined.  With the exception of my garage, there’s just not much left to downsize in my house.  When I open a cabinet or a drawer, thinking I might be able to find some things I’m not using anymore, I’m rarely able to find anything.  This is good, as I don’t have a lot of clutter and a lot of stuff, but on the other hand, I still have 214 items to go.

Now I still have a lot in my garage.  Way less than I had a few months ago, but still way more than I need.  The problem with that right now is the heat.  It’s too hot to clean anything out, as my garage faces west. It’s a sauna x3.

At 150 items, here’s some financial info… that makes me want to cry.  Think we don’t spend a lot on stuff we don’t need?  Take a look at this.

If I bought these 150 items right now at the store, full price, it would cost me $12,320.36.

I paid $8,523.89 for these items, mostly shopping second hand and discount stores.

I didn’t sell much, as I gave most of it away.  I have made $180.00, with an estimated potential of $1,487.00.  Best case scenario, my stuff depreciated by 88%!!  If this isn’t a reality check, I don’t know what is.

Wow.  Even I’m astonished at these numbers.  Even though I’ve had much of this stuff for many years, it’s still a disturbing snapshot of how much money I can waste.  Have you ever added up how much money you’ve spent like this?  If so, please share.

The 3 most difficult things to part with so far 

My retro 1950’s oven and stovetop.  [item #28]  I bought these off eBay to use in the house I was going to have built.  They never built it and I had to buy a different house.  The house I have now will not accomodate these.  My grandmother paid for them as a housewarming present.  My friends picked them up in Minnesota.  Not only are they really cool, but they also are an icon of all the wonderful people in my life.  They went to a fundraiser so someone that needed help financially was benefited by me letting go of these.

Symphonic 20″ flat screen TV.  [item #60]  This was in my bedroom, but with my one for one model of getting rid of something every time I buy something, this had to go.  It was difficult to get rid of because I love watching tv before bed.  I can’t really watch any other ones in the house once the kids are in bed, as you can hear them throughout the entire house.  I gave this to a friend and he uses it daily in his salon.  The item I bought was an iPad, so I can still watch movies and stuff occasionally.

Brinkmann Pro-series propane gas grill.  [item #75]  This has to be one of my best deals yet when it comes to buying second-hand stuff.  this grill retails for $1,100 and I got it for $70.  I got 2 good years out of it, but it started being temperamental.  Sometimes it didn’t want to heat up.  I replaced several parts and also took it apart, cleaned it and reassembled it.  No luck.  I sold it for $60, full disclosure, on craigslist.  I now have a Weber Baby Q travel propane grill.  Tiny, but works great!

It will be interesting to see how the rest of this challenge plays out.  I have to say, I’m still loving the minimalist feel of my home without all of the clutter and extra stuff I don’t need or use.  Now for the garage.  This will be good.