The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

NicNocs

Good idea Callisto....it's ages since anyone's set any challenges. This will be the first one I take part in, so I'm going to try and commit to :

- listing 3 things on ebay this weekend
- clearing 30 things out of the house (bin, CS, freecycle)
- clearing the last of my ironing pile

There...done it!!! I am now accountable to you all, so let's hope that makes a difference to my motivation!!

Cat501

I love that idea too, so I will commit to sorting through the mountain of stuff which has come through my letterbox in the last year:eek: and ended up piled on top of the electric meter cupboard - by Sunday night:)

System

Ive got 37 things to list this weekend. I usually manage to sell 6 or 7 items each time i submit my listings so i am hopeful a little bit more of my [STRIKE]junk[/STRIKE] useful items will gain me a little more space in my cupboard. I would like to think i could afford to get my daughters christmas present out of the proceeds.

lola34

My challenge will be to go in the loft and sort out the Christmas decorations and see of there are any more that can be listed on Ebay- we get a real tree and some decorations are just too heavy and I know theres a Christmas rope light thing in the boot of the car from when I did a car boot in the summer mmmmm think the car could do with a declutter really!!!!:p

Has anybody had any luck cashing in scrap metal, we have a little bit in the back garden - couple of sets of heavy ramps and a metal mini bumper and was thinking of trying to get the cash for it myself instead of giving it to the scrap man but don't quite know where to start!!!

Need to get onto DS's and ask then to go through any Xbox Wii games they don't want anymore to get onto Ebay.

Challenge set:D

debbiedeejay

Sorry for not posting for a while - bit of a naff month really in all parts of my life - but hey ho I think a week end challedge is exactly what I need so here go's ......

1) list on ebay at least five items
2) pick up all junk mail and recycle
3) put dumped stuff in house back to their origianl owners in bedrooms
4) get DD's to bring down washing:rotfl:
5) oh and a general clean as house is a tip

And there is a spot prize to me of a glass of wine tonight if I find DD2 school shoes that have disapeared in the depth of her room as she won't then moan about having to wear the black plimsoles supplied by school (quiet strict about shoe colour) - which is quiet funny as she is 15! But not good for her feet.

good Luck and thanks OP for this weekends challenge.

Cat501

Cat501 wrote: »

I love that idea too, so I will commit to sorting through the mountain of stuff which has come through my letterbox in the last year:eek: and ended up piled on top of the electric meter cupboard - by Sunday night:)

DONE!!!!:j:j:j And probably never would have been without this forum so THANK YOU everyone!:T:T:T

System

electric_comperella wrote: »

Sounds like your OH could teach a squirrel a thing or 2 Lyndy ...maybe you could sell some of the things they give you? or would this be a major faux pas?

I must admit I too like to receive "something for nothing" but these days all things superfluous end up on ebay better that my bank balance swells than the house!!

just an idea xx

I need to be really careful with this - I've already been caught twice! OH came home with a load of stuff from MILs that we didn't need, I took it straight to the charity shop and did MIL not decide to go to that charity shop that very week! I denied all knowledge of course but I don't think it washed
And the other week was selling at a car boot and MIL decided to come for a look and had a go because I was selling things that she had bought me as presents years ago (felt a bit guilty about this but it was handbags and scarves that just aren't my style anymore). So, lessons to be learned:
1. always donate to charity shops far far away
2. never let in-laws know where and when you're carbooting

lola34 wrote: »

Haven't been on here for a month or two but the clearing bug is back, don't know whether its because there is a lot of changes at work and it a kind of coping mechanism as I know I'm not the only one at work who's caught the sorting bug, so within the last week:

I do this when things are getting too much at work but I actually do the tidying at work. When I'm starting to get a bit panicky about the stupid amount of work I've got to do and I've lost sight of what I need to be doing first I have a quick tidy of my desk and make a cup of tea then I'm ready to start again. Doesn't make the pile of work any less but I feel much more ready to handle it. Hope your sorting at home has the same effect lola

On the Post Office topic - There's a girl who works in my PO that always tells me she enjoys putting throught the piles of ebay stuff. She says it's quite therapeutic (sp?) with all the repetition. Or maybe she just tells me that to make me feel better because I'm so apologetic about it!

lola34

Lyndy - I end up tidying at work too - as soon as we were given a date for an outcome I began sorting my desk - think it looks like it'll be ok and I don't stress - most people usually comment on how calm and laid back I am but we all have our coping mechanisms don't we.

Well I ave sorted out a few of the Decorations so they will be listed tomorrow, have just listed loads of DS1/ 2's clothes I tend not to buy them as much as they only wear trackies but even still there were things in the wardrobes with tags on.

HAve mentioned the games to sort out but as usual its in one ear and out the other, am sat in DS1's bedroom on hs laptop and it's like a bombs gone off he's got a video/ tv combi but the video's just packed in so am just debating wether to ask him to bag up all the videaos- that should clear a bit of space.

trumpton

I'm glad it's not just me who has things foisted upon them by relatives. My in-laws feel the need to pass on books and videos to us quite often. I don't know when they think I will find the time to watch a 1970's BBC version of War and Peace that lasts about 15 hours. I have put all the videos in a huge bin bag for the tip. I don't think charity shops even take them anymore.

I also ask for vouchers instead of presents now as I used to find myself getting all sorts of dressing gowns and slippers that I really didn't like, didn't fit, but felt guilty about throwing away.

I highly recommend 'Hoarders' on the Bio channel for making you get up and start decluttering immediately.

NicNocs

NicNocs wrote: »

Good idea Callisto....it's ages since anyone's set any challenges. This will be the first one I take part in, so I'm going to try and commit to :

- listing 3 things on ebay this weekend
- clearing 30 things out of the house (bin, CS, freecycle)
- clearing the last of my ironing pile

There...done it!!! I am now accountable to you all, so let's hope that makes a difference to my motivation!!

Oh dear, really not done all that well. I did list 3 new things on ebay tonight (and relisted other unsold things), and I did do the ironing apart from one skirt and one shirt (because they're real pigs to iron). But I didn't do any clearing/decluttering :mad::mad::mad: I think I'll have to keep a running list on here to keep the pressure up on myself!! So....this week (Monday - Friday) I will endeavour to:

- iron pain-in-the-neck skirt and shirt
- keep on top of any new ironing
- clearing 30 things out of the house (bin, CS, freecycle)

Will keep you all up to date on any progress (if you don't mind!). How have others got on this weekend??