Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

hattifattener

Ditch 100 in Jan 12 more things in bin taking me to 38. Got LOADS of stuff n charity bags, but going to count it all before it leaves. How sad am I?!

charlies_mum

Working today, so box of greetings cards, bag of books and a folding bookcase going out. Nine items sold on Ebay :T

Went to library yesterday and took back five books, but brought four more back

System

I should imagine everyone keeps a memento drawer (little things that mean a lot to you over the years). Well none of these things can replace the thoughts and the love you have in your head but its good to be reminded once in a while.

Over the years mine has been added to without much though to be honest and today i am going to go through the lot and only keep what i cant bear to part with.

First to go is the paperwork i had to sort out after my divorce. Mainly bills he left me to pay. He kept the cars i kept the kids and i also inherrited his debts due to repairs on the said car. That taught me one hell of a lesson in life. Never ever sign for someone elses debts. After nearly 30 years, i think its time to lay that one to rest and out goes the paperwork. Blasted liberating that is! I'm now thinking of the paperwork due to the divorce. I'll keep the divorce certificate obviously but do i really need to keep the letters too and from the solicitors? I'll shelve that idea for now and just settle for the non legal stuff down to our divorce. I dont really want to keep the negative stuff in my life.

So many love letters from the children when they were little. One particularly made me smile

'I lov you Mommy,
your the best tht i can get'

(probably cause she's only got one Mum). She was 6 at the time bless her.

Another letter from another child but this time to God:

'Dear god ome sorry for the things oy hav dun wrong. Like hiting peple and chucing dhirty scidy pants at **** Pliys fgiv me'

Ive got a pile to the left of me that make me smile and a pile on the floor that i can do without. I'll plod on.

cat04

celyn90 wrote: »

I should probably also point out, for added effect, that I'm a scientist. I work with anti-viral drugs. Every time somebody does stuff like this to me, my inner cynic has a little cry and somewhere in my world, a molecule dies.

Celyn I LOVE your posts, always give me a little chuckle whilst on decluttering breaks. I was going to say that you'd be fab at writing a blog....until I clicked on your name and saw you already have one

I have 6 carrier bags with various amounts of children's toys and books ready to leave the house over the next 2 days, of which 3 should be gone today.
OH very helpfully smashed to teeny tiny pieces a glass late last night, so slightly more room in the glass cupboard now!
On starting the ironing yesterday I realised I was short on hangers so spend 2 minutes pulling a few things out of my wardrobe and realising that I'm not going to wear them again any time soon (bit on the small size now ) consigned them to the pile to sell/CS
Need to have a proper sort through DDs drawer to see which age 3 tops she snook back in that are too small for her, will do that with her this afternoon after Nursery as she's quite keen to make space in there

Aarons_mummy

82. Another general bag of rubbish out to the bin.
83. Bin full of recycling out to the wheelie bin (I have NO idea where it keeps coming from!)

I am currently decluttering the TV planner whilst Aarons plays with him megabloks (it's almost at the critical stage I have to get of some. . . right).

Mumof2_2

I've got rid of 2 calendars (1 this year which was surplus and 1 which I found lurking on DH's drawer in the kitchen from 2009 :eek:). Also just gave someone 1 of the children's old potties for free - she was pleased with it and I am glad it's gone as it was always in the way.

Psyching myself up now to sort out DS's big box of toys. I know there's stuff to go but ...... oh, you know! Best crack on I guess

Mumof2_2

Not as bad as I thought - got rid of 2 carrier bags worth of broken toys, got a big bag full of stuff to clean up and sell on Netmums or Fleabay and another bag of stuff for CS. Whole area looks much better but only problem is I now have to dust the TV stand as it's all much more visible!

Celyn90, just read your post re the magic plate and it was so funny; brightened up my rather grey day here!

Cat04, DH smashed one of my glasses too just the other day; hadn't thought of it as decluttering but I have got a bit more space now. Good one!

Judi, I loved the little love letters you found ... so sweet! I came across some cards my children made when they were much younger (only 9 and 5 now) and they're so special aren't they. When they're big stroppy teenagers I think I'll have to look at my cards to remind myself what they were like!

Hattifattener, I don't think it's sad at all to count .... makes you feel so much better when you know exactly how much has gone!

Best go for lunch before walking the dog ... happy decluttering everyone

System

Judi wrote: »

First to go is the paperwork i had to sort out after my divorce. After nearly 30 years, i think its time to lay that one to rest and out goes the paperwork. Blasted liberating that is! I'm now thinking of the paperwork due to the divorce. I'll keep the divorce certificate obviously but do i really need to keep the letters too and from the solicitors? I'll shelve that idea for now and just settle for the non legal stuff down to our divorce. I dont really want to keep the negative stuff in my life.

Hi Judi

I was thinking about that too, my divorce was 6 years ago but like you I have all the paperwork still, and stuff about 3 previous houses as well that I'm not sure I need. I have one box for mementos (a big one) and every year I get out the Christmas decs that the kids have made and put them in pride of place in the front room and have a few soppy moments

Does anyone know how long we need to keep the legal stuff? Is it 7 years like financial docs? (I think that's right but please correct me if I'm wrong)

Cheers

Rosy

keys_2

Im not really off to a good start however :

x3 bin bags of rubbish in the wheelie this week
x1 carier bag of rubbish out of the car - However cant count this as it wasnt in the house
x1 birthday present out with wrapping
x2 newspapers binned
x5 parcels posted yesterday

I have lots of stuff for the charity shop so I am still getting everything together to take at once - probably next week

Also im going to de clutter all the unused casserole / trifle dishes etc that are filling the kitchen cupboards up - will probably charity shop these as car boot days are a way off yet !!!

So 14 items total

System

rosyq wrote: »

Hi Judi

I was thinking about that too, my divorce was 6 years ago but like you I have all the paperwork still, and stuff about 3 previous houses as well that I'm not sure I need. I have one box for mementos (a big one) and every year I get out the Christmas decs that the kids have made and put them in pride of place in the front room and have a few soppy moments

Does anyone know how long we need to keep the legal stuff? Is it 7 years like financial docs? (I think that's right but please correct me if I'm wrong)

Cheers

Rosy

Well i just look at it like this. If i am going to get done for bigamy (if my divorce is null and void) then so is my ex cause he is on his third marriage i beleive.

I remember having to present my decree absolute when i remarried but that was over 26 years ago. Our children are now adults i cant see any reason for keeping them.

I believe both the decree nisi and the decree absolute can be searched for and ordered online.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Marriagesandcivilpartnerships/DG_175718