As we did the Clean Up Before Sunday Night Church Home Group Starts thing last week, I ran across that random item.
It’s a water Frisbee. Or flying disc. Or whatever name isn’t trademarked.
It came in a cheap pack of water balls. I think the Easter Bunny might have brought it to our house.
Water balls are awesome. Baseball games happen regularly during our summer spent at the pool.
This water disc was never used.
Yet, because it was in perfect condition, I started to stick it in our pool bag for next summer.
And then I remembered The One Year Test.
The One Year Test is how I decide whether season-specific items get to stay in our house. But I had to remind myself that I didn’t need to keep it for a year to see if we’d use it. I had my answer.
There’s no reason to keep it to see if next summer will be the magical one where we fling water discs across the pool while laughing and smiling and not getting sunburned.
When would we have used this? On our trips to the pool over the summer.
Did we? Nope. Not once.
Off to the Donate Box it goes.
That’s how the test works.
I like that test – and I SHOULD use it with the moving boxes I haven’t seen the inside of for almost seven years, but there is actually a good reason why I haven’t, so when I get to the rest of them, I will have a peek inside. But if whatever I find isn’t something I totally love and need, it’s going. I am so over clutter.
Like Kristy – I too have a few unopened boxes from my move in Oct 2012. I guess at least most of those things can go…
Un-unpacked boxes from our move are still in our basement…from when we moved in 1990.
I love when your tips include a time limit. That makes it easy for me in my black and white brain. Wanted to tell you that your decluttering rules helped me sort a utensil drawer in my kitchen this morning. I needed the peeler for apples to make applesauce. The utensil drawer was a nightmare. So, I used your one year rule, your…where would I look if I needed it rule, and do I really need two wine openers? Don’t answer that, please. The drawer is nearly empty now and the applesauce is cooking in the crockpot. Thank you!
You know, I have a harder time with seasonal stuff than anything else. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s because I think well, if I keep it, it’s one less thing I have to purchase next year. Not to mention, we go through phases of using things. Christmas decorations are a primo example. One year I’ll do mostly red and gold with greenery. Then the following year more silver instead of the gold. I don’t want to get rid of either! And honestly, for me, I do end up using the stuff in rotation. But this is going to inspire me to go through my holiday items and if I haven’t used it in the last couple of go’s, when then it’s time for IT to go! 😀
I wish our summer toy’s lasted more than one summer. Now, the sad part is I’m pretty sure that broken water gun is still in the outdoor bin because I didn’t want to deal with it last summer. I guess I know what needs added to the decluttered list. Lol
After going through my clothes and getting rid of a lot fewer than I had hoped, I turned all my hangers around backwards. As I wear clothes I put them back on the hanger frontwards. Anything still backwards next January is getting donated!