It’s time for an update on our 17 rooms in 17 months challenge. The month’s “room” is the garage clean out and, we’re going to be honest, this one may bleed over into April.
Every year March gives us the same unpredictable weather, 70s one day and snowing the next, and every year we get super optimistic come March 1st. We’re going to make the most of the good weather Mother Nature gives us this month, but we’re fully okay with finishing the garage clean out in April.
But we did have one win in the garage clean out this week! This is Mount Cardboard:
We know what you are thinking. How can two people who are getting rid of their possessions have so much Amazon packaging? That is a good question, and we have a few answers for you.
It didn’t get this way overnight
First, this cardboard mountain has been building for about 6 months. As soon as the weather got cold, we stopped recycling our cardboard. We typically wait to recycle until the weather gets warmer.
We used to be able to take cardboard to the elementary school down the street where they had a special dumpster for cardboard. When that was removed, the only option was the recycling center, and they have limited hours and very specific rules for their cardboard. No shiny cardboard (like television boxes), no tape, no staples, etc. The recycling attendant takes his job VERY seriously. Taking cardboard to the recycling center means breaking it down and removing anything not allowed. It is not a quick process. And it is no fun in the cold.
Amazon is our friend, and they really like cardboard
Second, we have been buying more things from Amazon and less from brick-and-mortar stores. Except for a grocery store, I can’t remember the last time we walked into a Target or other similar stores. Amazon shopping allows us to buy the things we need without also buying seven other shiny things we see on the way to the checkout (despite Amazon’s attempts to suggest things, it is easier to resist online, somehow).
Third, Amazon’s packaging is overkill. Full stop. They ship one tiny thing in a box that is way too big and use bubble wrap to fill in the void. They put items that are already in a box into another box for shipping. It’s annoying.
4. Some of this isn’t even ours!
Fourth, Gene picked up a part time job last year as the Operations Manager at a barbecue grill cleaning company and we are the shipping destination for all parts, tools, and cleaning supplies, all of which come in cardboard packaging.
BUT – the cardboard is gone! At least for today. Tomorrow I’m sure we will start a new cardboard mountain, but that one will be more like a small hill. Now that the weather is warmer, we will take the cardboard to the recycling center once a month or so, which will help.
Stay tuned for more updates on the garage clean out. As we progress, we will be listing our yard tools for sale on Marketplace. We have determined that the amount we pay to have the lawn mowed and edged each week is well worth not having to find the time and energy to do it ourselves. We have been holding on to the lawn mower, etc. in case we needed them, but with one and a half lawn seasons left here, we’re going to go ahead and re-home those things.
April’s project is the basement storage area. This “room” will be quick to empty, but some of the things stored there are sentimental for Gene, so it may take longer to decide what to do with them.
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