365 Less Things

Reducing our stuff one day at a time.

Declutter With Friends: Let the games begin! Part 2

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The following post was published previously however it has reached it’s comment capacity. As there are still readers who are enjoying participating Nicole has come up with solution of republishing it so the game can continue. Maybe reposting will also entice a few more players. Enjoy!

A guest post by: Nicole V

Do you know the word game in which a player begins with a word in a particular category (countries or cities, for instance), with subsequent players taking turns to say a new word that begins with the final letter of the previous word? Once a word has been given, it cannot be repeated and any player who is unable to come up with a word is out of the game. It is usually referred to as the ‘Last and First’, ‘Last Letter Game’ or ‘Last Letter Word Chain’ although I’m sure there must be other names for it. Well, I was thinking that it might be fun for us 365ers to try out something similar while decluttering, but I wanted to make it a more challenging game, one involving quick thinking and action and one in which anyone can come in at any time and make a quick play in real-time. I decided to throw down the decluttering gauntlet and wait to see who is the fastest 365er to take up the challenge. Here’s what I came up with:

1. I begin by decluttering three forks from a drawer.

2. Whoever is fast enough then continues the game by quickly thinking of and finding an item to declutter from any one category – either number or item or place – to play in. This could be eitherthree items (but not forks) or an item beginning with the letter ‘k’ or ‘s’ (the second last or last letter of forks*) or any number of anything (that is not a fork) from any drawer. If you select the number category, you have to declutter identical items. So, if Colleen is the quickest player who is able to continue the game, she could then either declutter three bowls or one (or any number) kettle orspoon or a non-fork item from any drawer in her home. She will then update the rest of us in the online comment thread.

*In the case of plural nouns, you can use either the last or second last letter of the word to continue under the item category – in the case of the forks, this would mean that the next item can begin with the letter ‘s’ or ‘k’. Thank you, Colleen, for your input regarding this.

3. The game continues with any 365er who is quick to identify something to declutter and comment about. There is no need for the item to leave your home immediately, you just need to identify it and earmark it for decluttering (whether you donate, recycle, shred, etc) as soon as possible. But you have to be quick on the draw as the categories will keep changing depending on how fast another 365er declutters something and updates the rest of us about it. If another 365er has read the latest update and quickly decluttered something and updated the online comment thread before you were able to list your item, you’ll have to either:

(a) Recategorize your item under one of the other two categories, if possible, or

(b) Keep that item and jump in on another round or

(c) Quickly look for another suitable item that relates to the current round and play it before someone else does.

4. To keep it interesting, items cannot be repeated in consecutive turns – if someone declutters shoes, the next person cannot declutter shoes as well (and must find another item that begins with the letter ‘e’ or ‘s’) but the person after that can. The number of items decluttered and the place or room that the item was decluttered from can, of course, be repeated in consecutive turns.

5. Be as creative and imaginative as you can possibly be (or get away with!) regarding the categories and have fun!

So, with apologies to Effie Trinket, all that’s left is for me to say: “Happy Decluttering Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!”

Comments

  6. 2 peppermint (s)ticks from kitchen
    1 bag of fudge from (kitchen)
    2 packs of gum from (kitchen)

    Our stocking stuffers included 2 bars of dark chocolate that we finished off on the way home, a bar of goat milk soap, and we got 2 much appreciated Outback gift cards in our dirty Santa game. We were gifted 2 nights at a hotel because my sis-in-law’s house was full. Also got a case of wine and a nice meal out for our anniversary (Dec. 24). Very little left to donate. Our family is learning…we love consumables!

    • Wow we play the same game but we call it “Chinese Grab Bag”. It has spread among all the families.
      I will tell them about “Dirty Santa” – same rules!

  13. (1) (e)xercise wheel from basement
    (1) garbage pail from bathroom
    (1) pair of runner’s gloves from closet

  22. Happy New Year Pat and Nicole!! Cold and wet here. Today’s the anniversary date of meeting dear hubby, the light of my life…on a blind date on New Year’s Eve. We were married one year later on Christmas Eve (41 years).

  37. 1 (s)ki mask from ski boot bag
    (1) baseball hat from ski boot (bag)

    Decluttering while on vacation! Home later today.

  38. (1) small exercise machine from closet
    (1) down jacket from (closet)
    (1) necklace from (closet)
    100+ (e)mails from iPad

    The emails were receipts from 2013. I kept them this long because we’ve been audited 3 times in recent years…a real pain, but we always had all our records and could validate our deductions…a lot of hard work though!!

    Pat, good job on decluttering during vacation!!!

    • An exercise machine in the closet??? Funny – yes time for it to go!
      I have never been audited. Yuck!

      • Actually my son has a chin up bar in the closet – takes up the whole shelf!! I will ask him if it can go.

  39. 1 (l)anyard from drawer

    Decluttering on vacation – you’ve set the bar high, Pat!
    Good job, Deanna!

  40. (1) VHS movie from living room shelf
    (1) faux fur jacket from closet (hard decision after many years)