The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

boultdj

Well, took a load down to hospice shop
IN
Post
OUT -recycling
Junk mail from post
OUT -hospice shop
The bag that I'v been filling all week
2 demi-john's
A push lawn mower
A music stand

elaine12022

candygirl wrote: »

Elaine you do indeed have a fab attitude, my OH's job is also at risk with probable redundancy, but we will survive wont we hun xxx :A

all the best to you & your OH,candygirl. We don't have a mortgage to pay or children to feed, and are renting from family so we are very lucky in our situation.

OH has just told me maybe losing his job was decluttering (clutter comes from the old English 'clotter' apparently, which means to stagnate)..:)

I have done some work today while trying to make room in the dining room to fit the contents of the living room- today when I walked in, despite there still being loads of stuff, it did feel a bit lighter.

We had our new chest of drawers delivered today, and it's fab, loads of room left in it still. :j

Am so tired though, hoping we get some help tomorrow.

Yorkielass

Finally the decluttering can start in earnest today out:

1) Over door valet bar on freecycle (one of the things lakeland refunded & didn't want returning - I didn't like it but hopefully useful for new owner).
2) Glass I smashed (not intentional another glass stuck inside it and when I lifted that up this fell off the bottom)
3-12) Things to the charity shop, 6 videos, 1 mug you write on with chalk in box and the 3 things from Lakeland
13-38) Books to the Oxfam bookshop, things that were on Amazon/GM a while ago and didn't sell. Checked on there now and no point trying to list now so gave them to the Oxfam bookshop
39) Bag for life (to Oxfam with books in - have quite a stash of these)
40-41) 2 pairs of tights returned to M&S - got credit note given (used below!)


So 41 things out so far this weekend - quite impressed!

In:
1 pair of tights and 2 pairs of PJs, using the credit note above for some of it.
Some food and wine (none of which will last long I'm sure!)
A few badges came in the post too for my Brownies
Some more split rings for my charm bracelet but they're tiny!

House still looks a tip though and haven't done anything useful tonight :-(

sunshineyday

mineallmine wrote: »

I'm feeling gentle on myself today mainly because I have a sniffly cold.

Who's up for getting rid of 20 things today or tomorrow?
Shall we seek out those things cluttering up hallways, stairs, anywhere!
Have you had some "ins" recently of clothes or stuff - perhaps try and seek out the older things that go in return.

Let's go:j I'll be back to report on progress later :j

Count me in for this challenge! Will report progress tomorrow, xx

dizzybuff

Still waiting for OH to go through the videos. Not had a good week , received notice of impending redundancy , they have a month to find me a new job then im on 3 months notice and still no sign of this baby . Can feel myself slipping into depression once more . Really at a loss as what to do . Failed to get to two close friends funerals this week as well. So all in all not felt like de cluttering much.

RachelS

I'm really glad to have found this thread. I had always been disorganised but with no kids in a 2 bed new build you couldn't really tell.
I moved into an old, falling apart 3 bed house when my twins were 5 months old...the downstairs is now nothing to shout about but tolerable, but the upstairs looks like How Clean Is Your House. It's not dirty (very, anyway), but I haven't unpacked properly as I don't have a place for things.
Our wardrobe is still in pieces (thanks, OH), so there are adult and baby clothes everywhere. My sons' room is fine (although still decorated in the old owners' purple seahorses), but it contains one wardrobe and 3 chests of drawers, only one of which is used...the rest we need to sell but haven't got around to it.
One of my major reasons for not decluttering is stress...like a lot of people I am sure. I don't know where is the right place to put things so it's almost easier not to face it. I really rarely allow myself to look at it. Then when people come round I have to shut all the upstairs doors.
I have made a start with eBaying things...I have made £40 in the last 2 weeks and got 8 items out of the house and am still going strong.
I'm hoping this thread will help me tackle the rest by letting me see that I'm not the only one. I need to tackle the idea that my house is a mess because I am a bad and useless person...that only makes me less likely to get my life where I want it.
I need to realise my house is actually a mess BECAUSE my self-esteem is so low and I feel I can't face it because I'm bound to fail..and because facing up to it might mean I have to face up to all the other things that are wrong in my life...aka wrong with me.

sunshineyday

dizzybuff wrote: »

Still waiting for OH to go through the videos. Not had a good week , received notice of impending redundancy , they have a month to find me a new job then im on 3 months notice and still no sign of this baby . Can feel myself slipping into depression once more . Really at a loss as what to do . Failed to get to two close friends funerals this week as well. So all in all not felt like de cluttering much.

Oh dizzybuff I am so sorry to hear your news, if you feel as if you are getting depressed can you go and see your GP? They should be able to offer you some help, please don't suffer in silence as this will only make things worse, sending you big hugs, xx

sunshineyday

RachelS wrote: »

I'm really glad to have found this thread. I had always been disorganised but with no kids in a 2 bed new build you couldn't really tell.
I moved into an old, falling apart 3 bed house when my twins were 5 months old...the downstairs is now nothing to shout about but tolerable, but the upstairs looks like How Clean Is Your House. It's not dirty (very, anyway), but I haven't unpacked properly as I don't have a place for things.
Our wardrobe is still in pieces (thanks, OH), so there are adult and baby clothes everywhere. My sons' room is fine (although still decorated in the old owners' purple seahorses), but it contains one wardrobe and 3 chests of drawers, only one of which is used...the rest we need to sell but haven't got around to it.
One of my major reasons for not decluttering is stress...like a lot of people I am sure. I don't know where is the right place to put things so it's almost easier not to face it. I really rarely allow myself to look at it. Then when people come round I have to shut all the upstairs doors.
I have made a start with eBaying things...I have made £40 in the last 2 weeks and got 8 items out of the house and am still going strong.
I'm hoping this thread will help me tackle the rest by letting me see that I'm not the only one. I need to tackle the idea that my house is a mess because I am a bad and useless person...that only makes me less likely to get my life where I want it.
I need to realise my house is actually a mess BECAUSE my self-esteem is so low and I feel I can't face it because I'm bound to fail..and because facing up to it might mean I have to face up to all the other things that are wrong in my life...aka wrong with me.

Rachel, welcome to the thread. I can relate to some of the things you are feeling, it can be daunting trying to look after a family, job, and keep on top of things in the house as well. I only joined this thread a couple of weeks ago but I find it really is a good motivator - everyone is trying to to do the same thing - declutter! It's a really supportive and friendly thread and I find the mini challenges helpful for getting started, eg mineallmine has set a challenge to get rid of 20 things this weekend - perhaps you could set yourself a mini target?

You do sound as if you need to build up your self-esteem my lovely, and realise you are not a bad person, you are not a failure, you are a busy mum of lovely twins who needs to be a bit more forgiving towards herself, sending you hugs, xx

ItchyFeet

Hi Rachel, I'm usually more of a lurker than a poster but your post really struck a chord with me. Please go and see your doctor about how you're feeling if you haven't already.
Also, I've found that doing just one small thing a day towards tidying or decluttering really helps. Even if it's just taking a used glass or mug downstairs at least i feel like i've done something. Then some days i find that i feel more motivated and manage to get more done. Try not to be hard on yourself - the little bits eventually add up.

MetalMand

Hi Rachel, I know how you feel I struggle too but I believe we can get there a little bit at a time and, as has been said above the mini challenges seem like a good place to start I am determined to get rid of 20 things today Good Luck to you.