Well, I finally did it. I asked for the hosting account for hachi-roku.net to be cancelled. A few years ago, I made the decision to stop using the domain, yet I had several sites hosted on it. Over time, I moved everything off, but… I couldn’t get myself to cancel the hosting and left it sitting there. It’s like moving out of a house and running around thinking, “did I leave anything behind? Did I forget anything??”
I got my bill for March, and there was a feeling of relief to see it cut in half. Now I only pay for one hosting account instead of two. Even though the account wasn’t something physical, it still felt nice to declutter a little in the digital world. Now I need to take another look at my websites and see if any should be shut down.
I’ve also been trying to declutter at home. Last year, I added a new rule in the house: stop buying new hangers when we run out. This doesn’t mean stop buying new clothes. It means that anything new requires something old to be donated or thrown away. If there are no hangers left, then something must go. That led to this pile of clothing!
It has grown since then too. I keep seeing things in my closet that I haven’t worn in a while and then I promptly toss it in the pile. Next on my to-do list is scheduling a pick-up with a donation place since I am also donating old kitchen supplies.
I’ve been more diligent about breaking down and recycling boxes too. We used to have this bad habit of keeping the packaging for items around forever. At first, it was just in case we wanted to return the item, but after that return period, we get lazy about it and also make the excuse that the manual is still in the box.
It felt weird to buy a 3 ring binder and page protectors (I have not done this in like 10 years), but now we have a binder filled with manuals, so that I can get rid of the boxes they were in.
Thanks to that, I now have a space for a mini photo studio! Well, photo studio in progress. I haven’t set up everything yet, and when I tried to raise the backdrop stand to a higher height, it tipped over and fell on me. (I need to get something to weigh down the feet.) More on this in another entry when I’ve completed it!
Over the years, I’ve become less of a pack rat and get more annoyed at clutter. I’m more open to getting rid of things than I used to be. There is still more to do though! How do you deal with clutter?
Using a binder for manuals is such a good idea! I have so many manuals that I need to sort out and currently they’re just in a overflowing folder.
We also have a bad habit of keeping packaging for years, but when we moved house we had a really good clear out and binned so much clutter.
Woah…You have lots of website. It’s such a wonder how you have the time to manage them all…
I also have that bad habit of keeping those boxes. It looks like such a waste for me, to just get rid of the boxes when I could do fun d-i-y stuffs with them instead. Only, I never really got around doing those d-i-y stuffs until I completely forget about it and voila… another box in my clutters. Putting the manuals in a binder seems like a great idea! Actually, putting everything in binders seems like a great idea: receipts/ invoices/old letters etc…
The problem with me is that I get sentimental and ‘attached’ to things easily. That makes it hard for me to get rid of stuffs.
Your mini photo studio looks promising~ Good luck with that ! 🙂
Good on you for cutting down on clutter! I was actually surprised to hear you were using two hosting accounts! Who are you with now and who have you cancelled?
That binder idea is really a good idea. I may have to borrow it from you! I need to de-clutter some more, but it’s really hard letting go of things!
Yay for the mini photo studio! That’s great something positive came out from all your de-cluttering 😀
Both on the same host actually (SurpassHosting), but they were on different servers. Back when I had more sites and hosted more people, I decided to evenly distribute them across two accounts. That way if one server went down for issues or maintenance, half of the sites would still be up on the other server! Now that I have less, I just consolidated into one account XD;;
Haha, funny the both of us going through and closing up sites. I’m going to let most of my domains die out too and just move the shrines over to panikku or ochitsuki. I’m also going through them and cleaning up the content and looks.
I’ve always been someone who doesn’t like to have clutter. So I’m always tossing out old clothes and things I know I haven’t used in ages. I’m not sure what made me that way since the rest of my family is the complete opposite. Unless… that is why – haha.
I’ve been donating my clothes to thrift stores and people that need it. I’m all for the giving mood, honestly and relieving the clutter in my place. I’m glad that you were able to cut your bill in half. I can’t imagine how much it must have cost you to host everything.
Oh well done on cutting down on the clutter, I really like the idea of donating one item of clothing for each one bought AND the manuals in a binder!
Oooh a binder for manuals sounds awesome, actually. I’m always afraid I’ll lose my manuals, and what if I need to move and I don’t have a box for [insert object here]??? Overall, I think I’m just really afraid of throwing things out, so I hoard. Good on you, though. I really need to de-clutter as well.
I really need to be more active in cleaning out my closet. On the bright side, I’ve gotten a lot better in that I don’t buy nearly as much clothes anymore! Love your idea of storing manuals in binders. Ours are just lying around in various drawers >_<
I’ve been trying to cut down on clutter since moving into a small place last year and focusing mostly on clothes, books and dvds. It’s getting better.
I love this idea “stop buying new hangers when we run out. This doesn’t mean stop buying new clothes. It means that anything new requires something old to be donated or thrown away. If there are no hangers left, then something must go”. Will definitely keep that in mind
I’ve also gotten better at returning items, like a pair of jeans yesterday that were too big. Usually they would have stayed in my wardrobe unworn for ever more. We’ve taken about 4 bin bags and 3 boxes of clothes, dvds and books to the charity shop this year already.
My room is so sad looking right now because of the clutter. I had to buy myself a portable wardrobe instead of cleaning up my closet, haha. I may be moving out of my apartment before I find the time to do so, but I think your pre-spring cleaning is great! Isn’t it nice to have extra space for something cool once the clutter is gone?! 🙂
I’m impressed you are able to keep that many websites! I used to have a bunch too until I kind of just stopped having the excitement to own those websites. Then I let the domains go. It wasn’t easy when you really like some names, hehe. Hope you don’t miss the hosting account too much! 😛
I totally feel you when it comes to making the decision about keeping domains because of its sentimental value. I think the neatest thing about your sites is that there are projected hosted on subdomains, so it’s easier to shut it down compared to actual domains. When it comes to the renewal period, you’ll have doubts casted in your head @___@
I like the concept of not buying hangers and tossing out clothes you don’t wear! I need to do this for some clothes when I move back home this summer XD. Your idea of keeping manuals in a 3-ring binder is genius! It saves a lot of space and you can find what you need in a few page flips. A lot of manuals are online as well so that helps ;).
Your mini photo studio is cute! I made a mediocre one that suffices a beginner where I have cute giftwrap in the background XD.
“keeping the packaging for items…” THIS. this is definitely me and my mother, especially if the packaging is a nice one. I need to start throwing them away, I suppose. it’s not like i keep every single packaging of my every item but you do get the point. I can’t seem to throw away packaging for tech-stuff though, like mobile phones, headphones, etc. for some reason, I always think I’m gonna need them once I start tossing them away.
ugh i’m so jealous of your mini photo studio. once, my parents and i saw this portable studio kit that can be folded into a bag of some sort… i really wanted that, i still do but they’re so expensive so yeah 🙁
I keep my manuals in a binder too! It’s so much easier than keeping all the boxes. I used to save them in case I needed to take the product back, but I’ve never needed to yet, so it’s just easier to get rid.
It’s great that your hosting bill is a lot cheaper now. I’ve never been one for buying multiple websites, so that’s always been fine for me. It’s my comic book subscriptions that cost me the most money. I subscribe to way too many, even though it’d probably be cheaper to wait until a collected edition comes out. Oh well, when they finish I’m sure I’ll do that.
I recently downsized my wardrobe. I’d left loads of my clothes at my parents’ when I first moved out last year, so I knew I didn’t need them. If I haven’t missed wearing them in a year then I clearly don’t need them.
Your photo studio is so cool! Looking forward to all your great pictures!
xxx
I dislike clutter but at the same time I procrastinate so much. Hahaha. You have just given me the motivation to clean out my closet. I plan on taking before and after photos of my closet. I don’t have much hanging up in there but I have TONS (too much) on the floor.
So, I’m going through everything and throwing away as much as I can and donating what I can as well. I have no more clothes to donate as I got rid of that in the move last Fall but I have other stuff that I need to sell on eBay or just toss.
I wish I was home right now so I could do it. LOL I’m at work but I will try to have the motivation to do it when I get home.
Good luck with the photo studio & that is a good idea for the manuals. I think I am going to copy you on that. 🙂
Clutter if not managed just gets away from you so very quickly… that is such an ingenious idea to put all your manuals in a binder! I might have to just start that for mine as well! Your mini photo studio is also so well put together and looks like it’d be easy to take down as well 😀
I could definitely do with a declutter in my room. The amount of junk I’ve accumulated over the years is ridiculous. I’m the same with clothes; I have tons of clothes that I know I don’t wear and yet I can’t bring myself to throw them away :'(
The amount of shoe boxes I have is also insane. I blame the fact that I used to work in a shoe shop, but I also have a little hoarding problem, haha. Good luck on creating your mini photo studio! So exciting 🙂
Honestly, I don’t deal with clutter and just wallow in it. I should really look into fixing that problem, lol.
I have written a few posts about dealing with clutter because I tend to tackle it one item or type of item at a time, like CDs, clothes (this one is truly hell!), furniture (bit more difficult since I still live with my parents), papers. My mum has always kept a binder of manuals, but I can’t express how much I hate keeping giant manuals for things. It also makes you realise how many appliances you have sometimes. 😛
I am guilty of keeping packaging and boxes for things, but it’s usually my cameras, laptops, and other gear that could be ‘sellable’. I tend to keep my camera lenses in their bags in their boxes, but I guess I don’t store my laptop in its laptop box. Haha. Nick has a giant clear storage container full of his old Apple device boxes!
I have been trying to declutter my space as well. I hope I’ll succeed because it is definitely easier said than done. I am trying to live a zero-waste or perhaps a better sustainable life.
Hope we could go through our stuffs and life soon.
Oh gosh I love decluttering. I wish I could go into everyone’s house and help them!! So fun lol.