I moved into my first apartment All By Myself on June 15, 2012. It’s been over six months, which means it is time to take a hard look at my belongings and evaluate what I have and have not used in the past half-year. The way I see it, if I haven’t used it in six months, I’m not very likely to use it in the next six months either… and then I would have been holding onto stuff for a year!
When I began my minimalist journey, I decimated my stores of stuff and things and belongings and clutter. I got rid of every long-sleeved blouse in my wardrobe because I don’t like long-sleeved blouses. I got rid of over a hundred books, movies, and CDs. I got rid of pants with the tags on because I knew I wouldn’t wear them. I got rid of a mountain of dress pants because I wound up getting a full-time job that requires jeans as daily wear. I have four plates, bowls, cups, mugs, spoons, forks, and butter knives. I did not own a metal baking pan. I only bought three pots and pans for my new place. I don’t have an iron, much to my mother’s dismay.
And still, I think there’s too much.
This six-month checkpoint will allow me to take a look at my closet and see what’s still on a backwards hanger. It will allow me to take a more intense look at my CD, DVD, and book collections still remaining and really decide if I need them or not. I have been feeling the need to purge, and I am excited to go through my stuff again. I am no longer sure if “fit everything into my car” is my ultimate goal, but I do know that I’d like less stuff taking up space. I might even rearrange my few pieces of furniture, or add a desk. You never know!
The reverse 100 things challenge
I wrote before about the reverse 100 things challenge, in which I planned to purge 100 items before the end of 2012. I only got rid of about 20 things, but I think I can reach 100 things by the end of January! I’ll consider that my January challenge.
Monthly challenges
I think 2013 will be full of challenges — some from life (you can never avoid those) and some from me. Each month I would like to challenge myself to do something “minimalist.” January will be the mid-year purging of my belongings since I moved in and the finishing up of the reverse 100 things challenge.
Other ideas include not using a microwave for a month, not buying prepared food at the grocery store for a month, Project 333, repurposing items into something new, not buying anything new for a month, not buying anything for a month, and others I’ll think up along the way. These monthly challenges will be in addition to my year-long commitment to eliminate disposable cups!
Born Again Minimalist 
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