As I write this The Boy is upstairs wrapping my Christmas presents with a roll of packing tape. I’ve refused to bring him another roll of packing tape (actually I hid the rest of them), and I took up a peace offering of beer, but I think I might be in trouble come Christmas morning.
So, I’ve decided to do something constructive to take my mind off it. Carla over at My Half Dozen Daily is hosting another No/Low Spend and Decluttering Challenge for the month of January. I took part in this challenge last January, and holy crow did it start me off on the right foot for the year! I burned out a little on the decluttering towards the end, but I’m starting from a much better point this year as a result 
Challenge #1: Organize My Basement
You know how they say if you haven’t used something in the last year you probably don’t need it? Well, I have boxes from when I moved into my home 3 years ago down in my basement that still haven’t been unpacked. All they’re doing is taking up space! Add to that my assortment of reno/house care odds and ends that have no definitive storage space, and you have a large space that is being inefficiently used (at best).
I started working on this project during the summer, but it’s largely come to a standstill. There’s four small metal shelving units in the basement currently, and I picked up two more today to get my stuff up off the floor. By the end of the month I want to finish going through the unpacked boxes, and get all of my tools and material up off the floor. Before and after pictures will be shown in subsequent posts.
Challenge #2: Attack The Line of Credit
I want my Line of Credit balance below $2000 by the end of the month, and this will take some effort on my part. Come the beginning of January CPP and EI start coming off my pay cheques again, so that’s about $400 less net income. Add to that the fact that my roommate just finished moving out, and you have a much tighter working budget.
It won’t be a completely no spend month either, seeing as The Boy’s birthday and our anniversary both happen in January. I’m partially finished getting everything together for our anniversary, and I’m going to see if I can find his Birthday present during the Boxing Day sales, so hopefully these won’t sideline me too much. In all reality I do have a decent amount of food at home, so I should only be buying perishables come January.
How about you guys? Are you tightening your belts or thinning out the piles of “stuff” post-Christmas? Has anyone else joined Carla’s challenge? Let me know 
Recommended Reading: The Essentials I Pack When I’m Travelling
What a great idea! I think I’m going to take part in this challenge! Ive been wanting to condense my wardrobe! I did 3 cleanses this year, yet my closet still seems to be overflowing. In terms of financial challenges, I need to make a dent in my LOC, too!
Good luck!
You should! I took part in the challenge last year, and holy crow did it make a huge difference for me not only in clutter, but in finances as well. I’m hoping this year’s challenge will give me another boost to keep it going! You should totally do a post on condensing your closet
It appears that you’ve also chosen a doozy of a decluttering challenge… lol! I think we’re both either VERY determined, or delusional.
lol! Just kidding… great challenges my friend! Good luck and thanks for joining in!!
Just wait until you see my pictures! Lol, I have no idea what I was thinking. It needs to get done though, and I’m going to feel so much better when it is. Thanks for hosting this again!
Good luck on your goals! I was thinking about joining due to my impending move but my stuff is already in boxes and stacked, however, there is stuff I’m sure I could get rid of. And I would feel pretty dumb lugging junk I didn’t need to Phoenix so it’s maybe food for thought.
Thanks Serendipity! I know it’s going to be crazy moving and getting settled in, but why not try decluttering as you unpack? If you take something out of the box that you neither need nor want, just send it out to the curb with the rest of the boxes?
I’m excited to follow along in 2013.
Thanks
I’m brainstorming how I’m going to make the financial part a reality right now. It’ll be tough, but I’m hopeful!