The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

Sophy

loopychriss wrote: »

You've already made the decision to buy less and use up what you have, so now be brave and take the plunge. Find just 3 things today/tomorrow that are bugging you and either re-home or recycle/throw out. Pop back on here to tell us all about it - you'll feel so much better once you've started! Good Luck!!!

Hi, everyone, thanks for the welcome

Ok, well, I got a cardboard box and put 3 things in it - a paperback and 2 films - to take to the charity shop. Have decided to try and fill the box gradually with a couple of items a day. Pathetic, I know, but baby steps are all I can manage with this, for some reason :rotfl:

MinniMe_2

morninga ll,

Well I managed the 30 things at the weekend - mostly cleared out magazines and recycling and a few other bits and pieces.

After just one week of trying to declutter and flying I can see a real difference. Still a long way to go but feel so much better for it.

Kaz2904

Sophy wrote: »

Hi, everyone, thanks for the welcome

Ok, well, I got a cardboard box and put 3 things in it - a paperback and 2 films - to take to the charity shop. Have decided to try and fill the box gradually with a couple of items a day. Pathetic, I know, but baby steps are all I can manage with this, for some reason :rotfl:

Sophy, that's a start! Don't worry about it only being a little bit at a time, just do whatever you are able to do.
May I suggest though, when you have filled the box, do put it straight in the car ready to take to the charity shop and replace it straight away with another one to fill up.
Any time you do the washing or ironing, have a look at the clothes as you are sorting them to put away.
Apparently we wear something like 10% of our clothes 90% of the time. I love having a minimal wardrobe, it makes it much easier to choose what to wear.
Another way to clear your wardrobe with minimal pain is to get rid of stuff as you go to put it back as you don't like it. If you do this, chances are, you're never going to wear it again. You could always stick it on ebay that evening. With clothes, I tend to just shove them on at 99p start because I'm not going to use them ever again so they might as well fetch some money for me. If they don't sell after a few listings, I just put them in the charity box.
DH cut the lawn yesterday, my drains are unblocked today (don't know how, it happened as if by magic!). I've cleaned the bathroom and emptied/ stacked the dishwasher. I'm just catching up with the washing mountain now. Not sure if I'll get much stuff gone today but I shall have a bash and see what I can get gone!

PudseyDB

Sophy wrote: »

Hi, everyone, thanks for the welcome

Ok, well, I got a cardboard box and put 3 things in it - a paperback and 2 films - to take to the charity shop. Have decided to try and fill the box gradually with a couple of items a day. Pathetic, I know, but baby steps are all I can manage with this, for some reason :rotfl:

But thats an excellent way of tackling it. :T You'd be surprised how a few things a day soon add up to a full box.

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Sophy, that's a start! Don't worry about it only being a little bit at a time, just do whatever you are able to do.
May I suggest though, when you have filled the box, do put it straight in the car ready to take to the charity shop and replace it straight away with another one to fill up.
Any time you do the washing or ironing, have a look at the clothes as you are sorting them to put away.
Apparently we wear something like 10% of our clothes 90% of the time. I love having a minimal wardrobe, it makes it much easier to choose what to wear.
Another way to clear your wardrobe with minimal pain is to get rid of stuff as you go to put it back as you don't like it. If you do this, chances are, you're never going to wear it again. You could always stick it on ebay that evening. With clothes, I tend to just shove them on at 99p start because I'm not going to use them ever again so they might as well fetch some money for me. If they don't sell after a few listings, I just put them in the charity box.
DH cut the lawn yesterday, my drains are unblocked today (don't know how, it happened as if by magic!). I've cleaned the bathroom and emptied/ stacked the dishwasher. I'm just catching up with the washing mountain now. Not sure if I'll get much stuff gone today but I shall have a bash and see what I can get gone!

woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!:j:j:j Hope they stay clear now!

Took two bags of clothes to the charity shop on Saturday. Got another bag half full ready to go soon. Also relisted 17 things that didnt sell on the last free listing day (which made £66 ) at 99p start and if they dont sell this time, I'll send them to the charity shop too.

MsHalffull

Just wanted to say that I actually got as far as dropping the bags of CS off this morning :j

mcculloch29

I've just rid myself of the source of one load of regular mail - I paid off my student loan! I must be one of their more mature clients - the money was an absolute Godsend at the time, got it when I was doing my teaching certificates and degree.

Great news on that drain Kaz. My Mum had trouble with her drains for years. Long after she died I wrote a piece about the neighbourhood for a BBC website and someone from our street put up the message that they had unearthed discarded WW II equipment blocking their drains; did I or anyone else from the street know anything about it?!

Rightyo. Let's see if we can do 10 things today!

1. Shorts left by son's ex GF to CS.
2. Candles to CS.
3. Bedding and belt to CS.
4. Faded bedding to textile recycle.
5. Magazines to GPs' surgery.

loopychriss

Sophy wrote: »

Hi, everyone, thanks for the welcome

Ok, well, I got a cardboard box and put 3 things in it - a paperback and 2 films - to take to the charity shop. Have decided to try and fill the box gradually with a couple of items a day. Pathetic, I know, but baby steps are all I can manage with this, for some reason :rotfl:

Yay, well done Sophy! You've made a start - if you did just 3 things every day, that will be 21 in a week. Baby steps are the way to go when you're resistant to the idea and have trouble letting things go. Keep with us, we'll have you decluttered by the end of the year! (That's my aim - to completely declutter by the 31st December, ready to make the decision whether to move next year or not).

I'm stacking 'stuff' up on the kitchen table as and when I find it and it's soon piling up. I've got a van coming from a local charity shop on Thursday, to pick up a couple of bits of furniture and 'bits and bobs', so it will all go then. It's helped knowing that this is going to happen as I've got a mini-deadline and know the stuff will definitely go out of the house.

Still got lots to do, won't list it today as I'm babysitting tonight and need to do some sewing before I go. Update tomorrow.

keggie

Well the loft finally got cleared and the insulation was layed this afternoon so have a decluttered loft until we start to put stuff back!

I've just taken a boot load of papers and magazines to the tip for recycling so the piles of carp are going down gradually. Really don't want to put rubbish back in loft but my bedroom is full and I hate it cluttered! However I suppose that once the xmas tree and suit cases have gone back up I'll be able to see the floor.

Willow92

I started decluttering November last year and I keep my signature updated with how many things have been decluttered.

mcculloch29

mcculloch29 wrote: »

I've just rid myself of the source of one load of regular mail - I paid off my student loan! I must be one of their more mature clients - the money was an absolute Godsend at the time, got it when I was doing my teaching certificates and degree.

Great news on that drain Kaz. My Mum had trouble with her drains for years. Long after she died I wrote a piece about the neighbourhood for a BBC website and someone from our street put up the message that they had unearthed discarded WW II equipment blocking their drains; did I or anyone else from the street know anything about it?!

Rightyo. Let's see if we can do 10 things today!

1. Shorts left by son's ex GF to CS.
2. Candles to CS.
3. Bedding and belt to CS.
4. Faded bedding to textile recycle.
5. Magazines to GPs' surgery.

6. Free samples of shampoo and conditioner used up.
7. Two books to CS.
8. 1 pr shoes and 1 pr sandals to CS
9. 2 books to friend for carbooting
10. Paperwork from top of office bookshelf chucked /filed.

Also I rang the local furniture recycling scheme and they have agreed to collect from my outdoor storage alcove (used to be the coal hole!) when I am at work. Hooray!