The post retirement purge...

[rayinpenn]

I’m on the verge of the ‘post retirement purge’. It will start with my work clothes. I’ve been purging but feel like I haven’t made enough progress. Why is it we fill whatever space we have? That walk in closet will finally look like the spacious room it is- at least my half. The rule if you haven’t worn it in a couple years it goes. Donation galore. Wednesday it begins. Simplify.

Funny but the Mrs bought me 3 flannel shirts for Christmas.- the new wardrobe semi bum. Wow that sounds good.

 

[Red Badger]

+1.

I donated 1/2 of my work clothes right after retirement. Kept the balance in case I decided to consult or go PT. 18 months later, the rest need to go. Never used them, never will.

 

[steelyman]

The trick is making sure you take out more than you bring in. Get ruthless!

 

[Luck_Club]

WORK FROM HOME FILES!

Can't wait for the dump. Still hanging on until the fat lady sings but I have about 7-8 foot high stack of paper, I'd like to dump.

 

[steelyman]

My shredder has been a trusty friend. In return, I keep it well-oiled.

 

[Floridatennisplayer]

WORK FROM HOME FILES!

Can't wait for the dump. Still hanging on until the fat lady sings but I have about 7-8 foot high stack of paper, I'd like to dump.

Ha!!! Me too. I’m done January 25th. I’ve been pitching work files since I got the news Friday afternoon.

 

[davebarnes]

I will be keeping all my work clothes as cargo shorts and golf shirts are always stylish.

 

[Midpack]

My purge began 2 years before I retired and it’s continued for 7 years since - 95 eBay/NextDoor sales and counting. However we got rid of most of it pre-retirement. A recent flurry of sales, donations and trashing possessions was re-triggered by our expected 2019 relocation.

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

I still wear my work shirts underneath my 80's sweaters all winter.

 

[RAE]

After almost 9 years of retirement, new flannel shirts would be considered "formal wear" for me, ha. I'm still trying to wear out some old work-isssued clothes, mostly one or two fleece sweaters, some old cotton uniform shirts, and a couple of bomber-style work jackets. I know, I should probably part with this stuff after all this time, but I can't bring myself to part with them, especially since they are not completely worn out yet. Old frugal habits live on in retirement........

I will put on a nice flannel shirt if we are going to a friend's for a social outing, or something, so I guess I'm not a total bum..........

 

[footenote]

90% of w*rk togs are long, long gone

Excited for your impending purge

(Wait until you realize you're spending more hours in pajamas than wearing anything else)

 

[rayinpenn]

I will put on a nice flannel shirt if we are going to a friend's for a social outing, or something, so I guess I'm not a total bum..........

My cheap flannel shirts dont wear well after a year or two they get pretty misshapen. The Pendleton are my dream shirts but too pricey and warm.

 

[Bamaman]

First thing I did after ER was to go out and buy two pairs of jeans shorts at Walmart. Then I went to the Dollar General and bought one Alabama shirt and one Auburn shirt--because they were on sale for $6.00. That was my uniform for months and months. If you don't get such clothes muddy, they can be worn for 4-5 days without washing.

My golf shirts with the company logo and the ball hats were used to paint in, and I got plenty of paint on them.

I still have almost 20 pairs of high quality khaki pants that still fit me. And most are laying on my bed needing a touch up pressing. I can forget help from the wife with an ironing board.

Although my closet is large, it's packed, and I do need to do some purging.

 

[skipro33]

I could probably fit my entire post-retirement wardrobe in one checked bag at the air port. Well, maybe plus a carry-on. 2 pair of Levi 501's, a few short and long sleeve t-shirts, a couple button-up shirts, maybe 3 pair of shorts. Under drawers and socks. Boots, sandals. That's about it. I never ask for the senior discount, but evidently the retired uniform is so obvious, I get it without asking. Last week KFC gave me a nice discount; 8 piece bucket of chicken for $16, regularly $20. The lady slipped me 2 extra drumsticks in lieu of 2 wings even. Ha!
I hung on to a few work mementos for a few years, then even tossed those; awards, photos, even my retirement plaque. It took me a while to shed the illusion that work was anything more than a means to an end. I'm past that end on to a new beginning and it was time to let it all go.

 

[Floridatennisplayer]

I am in my office at home right now. Pandora playing in the background, trash comes tomorrow and I am pitching all my performance reviews from the past 12 years. Pitching sales results, letters from colleagues, pretty much anything that reminds me of work.

As far as clothes, I have about 50 ties I’ll donate and some dress shoes. I’ll keep the suits for weddings and funerals.

Gave our son all my business books.

Time to burn the ships and move on.

 

[Luck_Club]

Ha!!! Me too. I’m done January 25th. I’ve been pitching work files since I got the news Friday afternoon.

I recall the young gun, riding you like a coin operated bucking bronco from the 70's. Did he move your date forward?

The day will come, when someone drops an e-mail and a fedex letter saying my services aren't needed any longer.

Though it always stings the next one will be the last.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I too got rid of most of my dress clothes. I just kept a few nice outfits for dinner on cruises. I need to change shirts daily as I get sweaty.

 

[Floridatennisplayer]

I recall the young gun, riding you like a coin operated bucking bronco from the 70's. Did he move your date forward?

The day will come, when someone drops an e-mail and a fedex letter saying my services aren't needed any longer.

Though it always stings the next one will be the last.

Good catch. I gave my notice in September for March 31. All a part of my plan. They tried to push me out and I let them continue with 3 conference calls and watched them make self destructing statements. So last week I let them know the mistakes they made and I was taking legal action. I could hear the panic in their voices as many of the things they were bullying me with were so illegal an I let them know it.

We met Friday, they handed me a document to sign with everything I wanted and more with a confidentiality agreement to not share the contents. I signed. My last day is January 25th. My plan worked.

 

[friar1610]

Funny but the Mrs bought me 3 flannel shirts for Christmas.- the new wardrobe semi bum. Wow that sounds good.

She has obviously researched retirement uniforms (at least in areas of the country with changes of season):

Winter: flannel shirt, jeans. Fleece optional.
Summer: t-shirt, shorts. Shoes optional.

 

[Ronstar]

We’ve done quite a bit of purging over the last 4 years, but barely have scratched the surface. It will be catastrophic when we downsize. It would make sense to move to our snowbird condo, but it isn’t big enough. So we’ll have to find a house, and move some stuff from both places and purge the rest, and from my workshop. We’ve probably only purged 5% of what we need to.

 

[unclemick]

The trick is making sure you take out more than you bring in. Get ruthless!

I sort of did starting with suits, etc and extra vehicles 1993 - 2005.

Then Katrina showed how it 'really' is done. Everything that couldn't be put in the back of a half ton Chevy Silverado was 'er donated' to Lake Pontchartrain including the house.



2017 Farm Auction - emptied 5 pole buildings of tractors and stuff.

heh heh heh - 2019 gonna try and buck up and do more de-cluttering. Somehow I see no light at the end of the tunnel and victory is not in sight. More like going to the gym - just keep it up if you want to stay in shape.

 

[Jerry1]

I though we purged when we bought a different house and went through a “forced” downsizing. In fact, we did get rid of a lot of stuff accumulated in our 26 years of living in our previous home. We’ve been in this house for a bit over two years a seems like we’ve had 5 or so donation piles picked up. Just yesterday, I got rid of some more of my clothes. The closet and now the dresser are looking pretty good. Point is, unless you’re ruthless, it’s an ongoing process. Though it is a rewarding process and one that gets you thinking about what you really need and actually use. There’s just no point at this time in my life to store something just for my daughters to have to deal with (throw away) when I pass.

 

[Luck_Club]

Good catch. I gave my notice in September for March 31. All a part of my plan. They tried to push me out and I let them continue with 3 conference calls and watched them make self destructing statements. So last week I let them know the mistakes they made and I was taking legal action. I could hear the panic in their voices as many of the things they were bullying me with were so illegal an I let them know it.

We met Friday, they handed me a document to sign with everything I wanted and more with a confidentiality agreement to not share the contents. I signed. My last day is January 25th. My plan worked.

Brilliant!

I have no footing as a gun for hire. 30 day notice, is all I get. I always get very nervous around end of contract renewal dates like December..., but it doesn't matter when they are done with me I'm out.

 

[Scuba]

I purged quite a bit of my work clothes when I retired, but kept more than I needed for possible Board meetings, professional presentations, etc. now after two years of ER, I can get rid of a lot more. All of my presentations and Board work is associated with our local university and doesn’t require more than “business casual” clothing.

I brought home two boxes of personal items when I retired. They are sitting unopened under my home office desk. I guess I don’t need anything in them!

 

[Midpack]

I am in my office at home right now. Pandora playing in the background, trash comes tomorrow and I am pitching all my performance reviews from the past 12 years. Pitching sales results, letters from colleagues, pretty much anything that reminds me of work.

Thanks I feel better. It only took me 7 years to finally dispose of all my work related materials, and I distinctly remember the light bulb in my head saying “why on earth are you keeping all this junk?”