31 Days to Live With Less + $200 Giveaway!

If you’ve been following my blog for long you know that in January I kicked off a 52 Weeks to Live With Less series.  It has been a fun adventure to take with you all and I’m excited to make the month of October a challenge month.  I’ll be posting a challenge daily and there will be a B-I-G prize up for grabs for one reader.  Don’t worry if you don’t catch the first post right away, I’ll give everyone a few days leeway at the beginning.  This is going to be great, y’all!

Since there is always more strength in numbers, I would love for you guys to join me here and in my Live With Less Facebook group this month for some daily organization inspiration and support.  Each day will only require 5-15 minutes of decluttering for a simpler and less cluttery home.  I’m excited at the thought!  If you share any of your photos on social media or your blog please include the hashtag #LiveWithLessChallenge so I can find it….and that way everyone can search the hashtag for instant organization/decluttering inspiration!

Contest – Win $200!

To give you a little more motivation to toss your unwanted belongings, I’m going to award one reader a $200 Amazon gift card.  Winner will be drawn randomly from those who have completed the challenge.

Contest Rules:

• – You must submit your daily entry by posting photos of your items to be tossed (recycled, donated, etc.) on the wall of our Facebook group – located here.  You can start a new post each day or continue posting follow up days in the comments of your first post.  Whichever is fine by me. (Side note, if you’re new to Facebook groups and you don’t want to see notifications when everyone posts you can change the settings in the group.  Message me in the group if you need help with this.)
• – If you don’t have Facebook you can also email me the pictures at MrsAshleyWalkup@gmail.com with the subject Live With Less Challenge.
• – If you know you’re going to have a busy week you can work ahead in the challenge up to two days ahead of time and you can be two days late and still be eligible for the prize.
• – We’re going to start the challenge a on Saturday, Oct. 3rd so we can give others a few days to find this challenge and give you who are reading this a head start gathering unwanted items. 🙂  We’ll still do 31 days but the first few will be so easy you can do multiple ones in a day.
• – Share this with a friend!  It’s easier to stick with it if you have a friend or family member who are joining in too.
• – Last but not least, have fun!!!

I’m excited to have you join me. 🙂  Feel free to start snapping pics, tossing, and posting your pics in our group now but our official start date will be Oct. 3rd.

Here’s a handy dandy printable version!

Oh and please know that when I say toss, I really mean donate, recycle, and lastly throw away.

Day 1: Paper.
Do you have a pile of old mail, cards, coupons, paperwork collecting on your kitchen counter (or covering all of your counters like mine have been before currently are)?  Sort through old receipts, bills, and shred, recycle, and relocate your paper to it’s proper home…after you take a picture to share with us that is.

Day 2: Junk drawer.
Take a photo of it before.  Take everything out.  Put back in only the things that you’ll use.  Take another photo of the unwanted, well, junk and a photo of the nice, new organized drawer!

Day 3: Sock drawer.
Sort through your sock drawer and toss any unpaired socks or holey beyond repair socks that may be hanging around. Photograph your donation/trash sock heap.  If your sock drawer is already perfect, show me a picture of that drawer and find something else to toss. 🙂

Day 4: Cleaning supplies.
Go through your cleaning supplies and get rid of the products you never use.  If you have half filled bottles of the same product, combine them.  Toss any old rags that you never use or that may have passed the age of usability.

Day 5: Medicine/first aid supplies.
It is recommended that medicine be stored in a cool dry place out of the reach of children.  Sort through your medications and toss any items that are expired or you’re unlikely to ever need again.  Visit fda.gov for proper ways to dispose of them.

Day 6: Bathroom cabinets.
Sort through your beauty products and keep only the ones you’ve used.  Old hotel shampoo bottles?  If you haven’t used them yet chances are you won’t.  Put them in the shower and use them this week or toss them.  Old electric razor you’re not sure where it came from?  Check with your spouse, then toss it.

Day 7: Your choice.
Go to the most cluttered area in your home and toss what you don’t need, don’t use, or don’t find attractive.

Day 8: Shoes.
Evaluate the shoes in your house and let go of the ones that rub blisters, that you’re keeping in case a special occasion happens to arise, that have holes in them, etc.  If you don’t use them, they’re just closet clutter.

Day 9: Decor.
Do you have extra place mats you no longer use?  A picture you never really liked hanging in the hall?  Decorative pillow that matched your last couch?  Search out those unloved belongings and pass them on to someone who can enjoy them.

Day 10: Clutter magnet.
Take a picture of an area in your home that is a magnet for clutter.  Entry way?  Kitchen counter?  Dining room table?  Take a before picture.  Find a home for the keepers and toss the rest.  Take an after picture.

Day 11: Something broken.
Fix or toss anything you have that is broken.  Keeping it around will just make you groan inside every time you look at it.  Free yourself.

Day 12: Magazines/catalogs.
If you have old magazines sitting around because you haven’t clipped that recipe or idea out yet go do that now.  Donate or recycle the rest and free yourself from clutter.  If you have several ideas clipped out for, say a new bedroom remodel (like I do) store them away in a folder in your filing cabinet.  They’re accessible without causing clutter.

Day 13: Email clutter.
Use unroll.me to unsubscribe yourself from all those mailing lists you never remember signing up for.  It’s such an enjoyable experience, you might even hear angels singing!  Take a screenshot of how many you unsubscribed from if you want to brag.  You can also take a photo of your computer for this entry…after you’ve unsubscribed from emails.  It’s not necessary to use unroll.me for this challenge but it’s a great tool to make unsubscribing a breeze (and it’s free!).

Day 14: Games.
If you have old board games you never play consider donating them to someone that would get use out of them.  Old electronic games count as well!

Day 15: Garage/basement.
Both garages and basements are known for collecting clutter.  Set a timer and spend 10 minutes in your garage or basement finding things you no longer use.  Sell, donate, recycle, or trash.

Day 16: Kid’s Toys.
If you don’t have kids, find a random cluttery item to toss.  If you have kid’s evaluate which toys are loved and bring happiness to your child.  Let go of the unwanted toys so that they can focus on their favorites.

Day 17: 4 Things
Find 4 items, any items in your home to get rid of.

Day 18: Pantry
Go through your cabinets and toss all expired products.  Put the ones nearing their expiration date nearest the front.

Day 19: Bookshelves.
Sell, donate, or recycle books that you will no longer read.  This is a hard one for me but if all it does is collect dust, it’s not worth having.

Day 20: Kitchen Cabinets.
Search for kitchen items you no longer use.  The high shelves are probably a great place to start.  Make sure all your storage containers have matching lids.  Toss duplicate kitchen gadgets and utensils.  Have an enormous appliance you only pull out once a year?  Consider storing it in a different location (attic, garage, basement, under a bed, etc.) to keep your kitchen less cluttered.  Toss any cookbooks you have never used.

Day 21: Car.
Grab two plastic bags and head out to your car(s).  Use one bag for trash and the other one for items that belong in doors.  If your cars are perfectly kept, show us a picture and find another item to toss.

Day 22: Linens.
Evaluate all the sheets, blankets, and towels in your home.  If you never use them all, let go of some.  Don’t forget dish towels too!

Day 23: Entertainment area.
Find all your CDs and DVDs and make sure they’re in the right cases.  Toss any you don’t listen to or watch anymore.  Possibly download your CD’s electronically and then toss it.  Make sure you’re not just collecting them because you spent money on them.  If it isn’t bringing you joy now, let it go.

Day 24: Your choice!
Go to the most cluttered area in your home and toss what you don’t need, don’t use, or don’t find attractive.

Day 25: Something embarrassing.  
If you can, find something to throw away that you would be embarrassed if anyone knew you had it.  Mine is a near-dead plant.  My husband calls it dead but I see a little bit of green so I’m clinging to the hope that one day it will come back.  It’s been this way for two years.  I need to admit it’s gone and let it rest in peace.

Day 26: Fridge/freezer.
Find and remove all items from that have expired, are frost bitten, or you know you will never use.  See Making & Maintaining a Freezer Inventory so this doesn’t happen again.

Day 27: Something sentimental.
I’m not talking about your most prized possession that your great great Mimi left you but something you don’t like but you’re holding to because you would feel guilty letting go of it.  If you can’t make yourself part with it store it away in a closet or attic for a few months and reevaluate it again later.  Chances are you won’t have missed it any and will have an easier time letting go then.

Day 28: Closet.
Take a picture of at least one thing you’re tossing from your closet.  Wrong size, wrong style, or just wrong for any human to ever wear, toss it.  No guilt.  Wear what makes you feel good about yourself.

Day 29: Your choice!
Go to the most cluttered area in your home and toss what you don’t need, don’t use, or don’t find attractive.

Day 30: Something seasonal.
Do you have Christmas wrapping paper that never gets used but you found it on sale for $0.10 so you feel like you have to keep it?  Maybe that’s just me.  What about old decor that you no longer set out?  Toss it.

Day 31: What’s left.
What did I miss?  Look around your room now and see what looks out of place?  If it doesn’t have a home or a purpose, let it go.

I can’t wait to share my 31 day decluttering journey with you and am excited to see how you much you all will get rid of!

Are you ready to begin?  I promise that come November 1st you’ll be happy you joined in!