One of my goals this year is to simplify and one of the ways I plan to do that is to sell or donate at least 1,000 ordinary items that are crowding our closets and drawers by the end of July. My goal date is set for the end of July because my neighborhood has a big community yard sale every summer and while I don’t mind dropping stuff at the thrift store, I’d like to see if I could make a few bucks at the yard sale first.
Can I ask you something? How many casserole dishes and pie plates do you own? I’m not sure if I own an average amount, or more than the norm.
I emptied the cupboard this morning to discover I owned 10 casserole dishes and 8 pie plates. I’m pretty sure, I’ll never make 10 casseroles or 8 pies at one time. So why do I feel the need to keep them all? What is wrong with me? I am totally not a hoarder… except maybe in this one teeny tiny area.
After much thought {and after finding 2 more pie plates} I decided I could part with 3 casserole dishes and 3 pie plates. 
I also decided to get rid of my bean crock and 4 random plates. I bought the bean pot a few years ago at a thrift store because it looked really cool and thought the pot would look spectacular in the saltbox house I’m going to live in someday. But even though we eat beans all the time, I have only used the pot once. So really, why keep it for someday if I’m not putting it to good use now? I’m pretty sure if I really want a bean pot again, I’ll be able to find one at another thrift store. It’s not like I’m holding on to an antique, or the last bean pot on the planet.
Is decluttering on your “to do” list this year? If so, what are you hanging on to that you don’t use and know you should get rid of?
~Mavis
Year to Date Totals
Donated: 12 items
Gave Back: 42
Kept: 43 items
Recycled: 24 items
Tossed in the Garbage: 59 items
Yard Sale Pile: 366 items
See what else I’m getting rid of this year:
- Dessert Plates, Crock Pots, Tablecloths and More
- Cookie Cutters, Pickle Forks, Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer and More
- Used Books
- DVD’s
- Rubber Stamps, a Soldering Iron, Seashells, Smencils and More
Tisha says
I think the casserole dishes are a great “zero waste” way of doing freezer meals. I wish I had more for that very reason as I dislike the disposable pans. Of course, some pie plates are great for freezing smaller casseroles as well.
Ann says
Wise decision. We have been “downsizing” for 3+ years with much more to go. We had 3 auctions, 1 yard sale, a trip each month to the Consignment shop, gave away all my classroom supplies to dd (who teaches), hub’s & my both professional libraries, except for a few favorites, many various things to the 8 grands & 4 adult kids. We took several car loads of professional clothing to the clothes closet to the seminary where hub got his M.Div & his D.Min. I used to entertain a lot & host bridal & baby showers. I had 8 bunch bowls & several sets of Waterford crystal millinial flutes. Did I mention e-bay? We’ve sold a lot on e-bay & still have a lot more to go. What a job.
Andrea says
I have two casserole dishes and two pie plates. As we do not have a microwave, they get used so much more than just casseroles and pies. Decluttering is part of my goal for the year. The hardest thing to get rid of is my son’s toys. He is a toy hoarder and doesn’t want to get rid of anything even if it is broken. I have to almost smuggle them out like contraband or something. For me personally, I have several things I have to work hard at to get rid of. I grew up with grandparents raised in the Great Depression that saved everything. I always heard there might be a use for it, but rarely do I ever have to use it. So instead of giving people gifts of cookies in ziplock baggies, I use empty pickle jars or other types of containers. Of course, I decorate them up a bit so they get a nice container along with some homemade gifts.
Dayle says
Re-using pickle jars for gift giving is genius!! I’m totally going to start doing that. Thank you for the awesome idea. 😀
My daughter is a bit (HA!) of a toy hoarder too. I find it helps if I give her an allotment of space, and she can chose what to put in that space. Her biggest “can’t part with” items are stuffed animals. So I’ve given her a large bin with a lid. As long as the lid can fit on, she’s good. To help her decide, we sort into piles “I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT”, “I LOVE LOVE IT”, and “I LOVE IT” (because when it comes to stuffies there’s no such thing as “Like”, lol). We prioritize based on the piles, and add to the bin until it is full. At this point, inevitably there are stuffies NOT in the bin she doesn’t want to let go. I allow her to “trade” any stuffie left out for one already in the bin. By the end of this process, she’s ready to let go of the items she can’t fit in her space.
Good luck!
Tess says
Pie plates I can do. I have some very utilitarian ones at the bottom of the pile, I’m sure. I’m going to have to chanel my inner Mavis to let go of any of my casserole dishes though. Hmmm.
I DID however get rid of 56 books a couple days ago and my goal that day was 10! I’m on a roll 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement!
Jacki w says
I love that turquoise one!! Maybe I need to roadtrip for your yard sale!! We moved about 8MO ago and I purged then. I feel the need to find the from time to time but, I don’t really have that much to let go of now.
Julia says
I just got rid of one casserole dish last week. I got a new (to me) one with a snap on lid that makes storing leftovers so much easier. So I gave away the old one that didn’t have a lid to a friend that needed a large dish. I’ve been thinking about getting rid of one that’s a bit fancy and I’ve only used it once. Hum… But I have been getting rid of other things.
Kathy says
I love to cook so I hoard casserole dishes and pie plates. I have no intention of purging them. LOL I take food to neighbors and I will send things in the dish and since I have an unknown number of them left here, I don’t miss my dish until it gets returned. I probably wouldn’t miss it if it never got returned. LOL Using different items to cook the same thing makes it more fun to me sometimes. And I just plain like having a variety. I do applaud those who are purging. It makes it easier for me to find more goodies at the yard sales and thrift stores!
Tess says
When taking a meal to someone I love to take it in a beautiful dish I have I found as a treasure at St. Vincents. I have them keep it or pass it on. Same thing with vases; I just got this beauty yesterday that I can’t wait to put some daffodils in to brighten a friends day!!
Sandra says
I’m guilty of the “might be useful someday” problem. I also tend to “stock up,” but I am an empty-nester nowadays. Plus, I haven’t done a real purge in a dozen years. I rented a mini dumpster for a month, with weekly pickup, and am on week two of filling it up. (Everything recyclable or donatable is not going in the dumpster.) However, I will not part with the vintage tin pie pans that were my grandmother’s. She was famous for her pies and always said, “don’t forget to give me back the pans!”
angie says
I have 1 pie plate, I have 2 little casserole dishes ( like your little red one) I have a set of 3 white Corelle baking dishes. I have no microwave so ours are in constant use. I use them for everything warming, baking and serving.
Erin Wilson says
Looks like you’re over the half-way mark now. Hard to imagine that you haven’t already totally purged your home!
I am a total dish hoarder. I do food photography, so I need a collection to work with…but I often use it as an excuse to pick up pretty dishes I just can’t seem to leave behind at the thrift shop.
Karin says
I think you have an average number of casserole dishes. That is a lot of pie pans though. I must have at least a dozen casserole dishes but I use them for freezer meals so I don’t think I have too many. I have 4 pie pans but I’ve never made more than 2 pies or quiches at a time. I probably should let a couple of those go 🙂
Cindi says
If my eyesight is correct, I think I spotted a Le Cruset as one of your casseroles (oblong shape). If that is true, I would think twice before getting rid of it. The price of these items have quadrupled and might not be possible to replace. I’ve seen these new pieces priced in the hundreds of dollars.
Good luck.