The Great Declutter Part 2

Fruball

Hi all

I am in serious need of motivation

My house is a mess again, I can't keep on top of the washing etc and am really fed up.

Today I plan to
fill 3 carrier bags with stuff I don't really need.
do at least 3 loads of washing
finish tidying the kitchen (done most of it)
tidy the lounge so I can relax tonight

If I post it here I know I will be more motivated so there it is.... so, back to my cuppa LOL!

Fruball

ahhhhh - I also have loads of VHS kids videos, most of which do not work - I have SKY so there is no need for me to keep these - they will be binned before I do anything else - that will make a load of space!!!

Megs_mum_2

Please can I join too? Its so nice to know I am not the only disorganised clutterbug out there. I started on the dining room yesterday to discover I had over 100 wine glasses (as well as enough plates to feed an army without resorting to the dishwasher!). BUT - have chucked 6 (its so hard when they are unchipped just ugly!) and boxed about 30 more for charity along with a whole bunch of other stuff that I didnt even know I had let alone used. Aim is to make cupboard room for the stuff I use so I am not ashamed of my house when people visit. I have also reached a point in my life/my head that allows me to challenge myself not to buy any clothes, kitchen stuff or anything else non-consumable THIS YEAR (2010) - am keeping a spreadsheet and earmarking the savings..... You can see I need your help!!

mrs-moneypenny

welcome megsmum, im a trying clutterbuster (ive had to move 4 rolls of tape -sellotape masking etc so i can type this to you) but by popping into this thread regularly and posting what goes in and out of my house along with reading other peoples tips and tales to spur me on im getting there.

i know what you mean about being embarrassed by your clutter you rub along nicely with it for ages them suddenly open yours eyes and think WOW do i live like this:eek: (well i do anyway;))

Janebo12

Hi megs mum, I've only joined recently and found everybody keeps you motivated - we all have good and bad days so just jump back in the next day of you need to.

Greent - thanks - I don't usually manage to get good bargains, so was rather impressed with myself too! It all helps as I am a SAHM and don't have much spare cash

sleepless_saver

My best day so far (which is not saying much as there have been more ins than outs)

IN

nothing so far...

OUT

3 boxes of books, CDs, etc to charity shop
1 big bag of stuff to charity shop

Started clearing out linen/toy/other stuff cupboard, now all in a heap on the landing. Stuff I'd forgotten about in there has given me ideas for some new projects - I can tell this will end badly!

sleepless_saver

Megs_mum wrote: »

I have also reached a point in my life/my head that allows me to challenge myself not to buy any clothes, kitchen stuff or anything else non-consumable THIS YEAR (2010) - am keeping a spreadsheet and earmarking the savings..... You can see I need your help!!

This is a brilliant idea for a challenge:T.
I might try it too (but will have to start next month as already lots of house stuff bought this month).

How do you decide what the savings are?

Megs_mum_2

Thanks so much Mrs M, Sleepless Saver and Janebo! Just back from the charity shop (4 boxes) lighter! As for the spreadsheet - what I did was to set out my budget (absolutely everything ... only cheating yourself if you decide to ignore things like hairdressers, seeds for the garden etc) and I only work with cash except for supermarket and petrol. I do my accounts on a Thursday (ie count whats left in my purse and account for the card use) and see how much I need to withdraw in cash to get me back up to my starting cash (at the mo its £140 a week). The cunning spreadsheet keeps a running total and at the end of the month tells me how much I have "saved" on the month (or gone over budget if that should vere happen!!). I decided not to put the actual physical money in a jar because I am trying to pretend I am a grown up and we have a linked mortgage in our bank a/c so it saves money having it this way. I do however have a £2 jar and an egg money jar (out of which I buy hen food - in profit on that if you dont count the capital outlay on their coop).
As for not buying stuff its like being on a diet - once you have decided that you are going to do it no further decisions need be made. Unless something actually breaks/falls apart (and I dont have replacements stashed away....) I dont need more stuff.

inaminute

Hi newbies welcome to the world of de-cluttering :hello:
Frugal you aren't the only one who needs motivating, i have the same problem especially when I see lots of other fellow de-clutters moving mountains of 'clutter' when I only seem to be moving, well mole hills! :rotfl:

I suppose clutter is clutter however small an amount you get rid of and the little bit I've done so far has been empowering. We all have good and bad days but I think this thread is great to keep us all going!

wendy+5

Frugal, I got sick of the washing too. Some days I would do one load, some days I would do up to 6!
Now I have a timetable. On Mondays I change beds and wash bedding, Tuesdays I wash colours, wednesday I wash whites, Thursdays darks, Saturday I wash uniforms and towels, Sunday I have a day off!