Decluttering 2012, this year, definitely ...

PaddyPaws

Haven't done much in the last few days, need to get re-motivated. So just had a quick few minutes and

12-14 books in CS bag
15 cuddly toy in CS bag

Need to declutter my finances today (ie sort out and update my spreadsheets as I've been neglecting them a bit recently) then I'll get back to the decluttering

PP

spotdogkez

Had successful decluttering night on Friday. Sorted through a storage chest in living room. Took everything out, sorted it and then put back what should be in there. Disposed if what needed chucking - telephone directories from 2008!! - and then proceeded to put away in their proper place other things that had just been chucked in their. This then led to me having to declutter the stationery cupboard to be able to put some things in. This was one thing I have been dreading and putting off - but I did it and it wasn't that bad!!

No decluttering yesterday as out all day but dud buy the brackets and bits to be able to put new shelves up in living room.

Might get some bits done this afternoon.

black_cat

pigeonpie wrote: »

I have to get rid of paper. But as fast as I shred it more arrives. Some of it can't be chucked so I file it. Then the file gets fatter and fatter. How long should I keep bills, important documents for?
Paper for me in my small flat is the big enemy. I just lose the will - whatever I do, I can't seem to get rid of mountains of it.

Paper's my enemy too. I used to keep stuff because "it might come in useful for teaching some day" but I've managed to kick that habit (or make sure it stays in school)! I'm making steady progress through the clutter but I haven't started on the paper yet. I'm going to try this:

1. Set up a place to hold incoming paperwork (already done - pretty box in kitchen)
2. Go through the house and gather all the paper into one place
3. Separate out the recent stuff and the important stuff - put the rest into a box (for now)
4. File the recent and important stuff (ringbinders for me but you could use boxes or folders) - and keep this up from now on!
5. Allocate a regular amount of time to file the "back-log" box until it's empty (this make take some time, but at least I'll know where everything is). Could take 10 minutes a day or an hour on a Saturday...
6. From now on: shred / recycle rubbish as it comes in and file weekly
7. At some point, when the paperwork's under control and routines are in place, go through the ringbinders and shred old stuff - but that can wait

What do others do? All suggestions gratefully received!

mavisangelica

Ditch 100 things in January

Wasn't very motivated yesterday so only got a couple of bits done -


37 - Son’s swimming club clothing (freecycled)
38 – various union magazines – (recycle bin)
39 – put away son’s Christmas presents and binned/ recycled the packaging

I am hoping today will be more productive (if I an drag myself off this computer )

minuettoallegretto

Does anyone else have trouble with the principle of the 3 boxes - Keep, Give Away, Rubbish? I find it easier to have a separate box for each destination - DS1 room, DS2&3 room, my room, kitchen etc, plus rubbish, charity shop, recycle (home), recycle (tip). I'm surrounded by boxes but at least it all gets to where it belongs - if I had to go through each box again to allocate, then again to put away, I think I'd go mad(der!)
Not surprising I use DS1 as a declutter partner really - at 14 he's old enough to shift boxes around for me:rotfl:

calleyw

minuettoallegretto wrote: »

Does anyone else have trouble with the principle of the 3 boxes - Keep, Give Away, Rubbish?

No but think it is something that needs to be implmented in this house. The problem in my house is that my husband has the attention span of gnat. He goes to cupboards takes out what he needs and wanders off leaving doors open and stuff left on work surfaces. Makes a cup of tea and leaves out the milk as well as a mess behind him etc etc. I am not brillant. I suppose my husband has an excuse he did have a stroke nearly 5 and half years ago. He can't see when things are a mess. And I work 35 Hours a week as well as doing all the shopping and most of the cooking and cleaning. So you can imagine I am hardly in the mood to declutter when I get home. But I have reason as in the next week or so I have someone coming to sort my radiators out and they need to get in every room :eek:

Any how so far today

42-43 two duvets to the tip. I know but wanted rid of this morning
44 one coffee table got as far as boot of the car and would not fit in and too much junk on the back seat to move the seats:o so out side the front door for the time being.

I have stuff pending and need to pull my finger out but feel like death warmed up at the moment not a good nights sleep. And washing machinenow is now not working Arghhhhhhhhhhh and on a day like this. I had so many plans.

Yours

Calley

Trying_really_hard

calleyw wrote: »

And I work 35 Hours a week as well as doing all the shopping and most of the cooking and cleaning. So you can imagine I am hardly in the mood to declutter when I get home.

Same here! Obviously wouldn't change my OH for the world but he sees his days off as exactly that, "days off" to spend on the computer. As long as he's done the ironing and the pots that day he considers himself having done his bit. I work, I go to the gym and then on my days off fix things, cook/bake for the week ahead, plan how we are going to get this house in a saleable condition etc. Its taken him 2 weeks of being asked to get the Xmas tree box down (yes, the tree is STILL up :mad: as this was his job on his day off the other week) Anyway - wouldn't change him for the world so rant over. :rotfl:

So far today:
15 - 4 pairs of tights that were made for someone with 7ft legs
16 - 3 bras (2 of which had seen better days and 1 of which had seams in a rather unfortunate position making you look "cold" no matter how warm you were if you get my drift )
17 - 7 odd socks (all a varying shade of grey so at one point may have been partners that have been washed weirdly)
18 - 4 of those plastic air filled bra enhancers that never ever look real so just get removed from any new underwear that I buy (and shoved in a drawer? Why?)

Can ya tell I've just done my underwear drawers

Right now downstairs for another coffee and to put the bloomin tree away in its box.

EDIT - Tree down and in box. Phew! Finally.

Catslovelycats

minuettoallegretto wrote: »

Does anyone else have trouble with the principle of the 3 boxes - Keep, Give Away, Rubbish? I find it easier to have a separate box for each destination - DS1 room, DS2&3 room, my room, kitchen etc, plus rubbish, charity shop, recycle (home), recycle (tip). I'm surrounded by boxes but at least it all gets to where it belongs - if I had to go through each box again to allocate, then again to put away, I think I'd go mad(der!)
Not surprising I use DS1 as a declutter partner really - at 14 he's old enough to shift boxes around for me:rotfl:

yes I also do different boxes for different destinations.
The trouble with e box method I find, is that I am shuffling things from one place to another and don't feel I'm getting closure quickly enough! :cool:

Catslovelycats

OK. I've somehow freaked myself out by reading the thread about car boot sales. I was planning to do one on my own in the spring, but now wondering if it's worth the hassle... I am reluctant to ask a friend to help me because I feel embarrassed about my 'junk'. Tempted instead to see if a local charity shop would like to collect my stuff and just take it off my hands.

What do you lovely people think? Here's my pros and cons list!

PROS:
- get rid of clutter and get some money for doing so
- something 'different' to do


CONS
- it several hours of sorting and then selling
- if I'm alone it might be a horrible experience
- my free time is very scarce - do I want to spend it doing this?
- what I don't sell will have to go to CS anyway
- it means the stuff hanging around the house longer

Aarons_mummy

catslovelycats wrote: »

OK. I've somehow freaked myself out by reading the thread about car boot sales. I was planning to do one on my own in the spring, but now wondering if it's worth the hassle... I am reluctant to ask a friend to help me because I feel embarrassed about my 'junk'. Tempted instead to see if a local charity shop would like to collect my stuff and just take it off my hands.

What do you lovely people think? Here's my pros and cons list!

PROS:
- get rid of clutter and get some money for doing so
- something 'different' to do


CONS
- it several hours of sorting and then selling
- if I'm alone it might be a horrible experience
- my free time is very scarce - do I want to spend it doing this?
- what I don't sell will have to go to CS anyway
- it means the stuff hanging around the house longer

Could you get a friend to help and you could have a fun day, never know. Make it a competition (not real obviously) to see who can sell the most and who makes the most money.

Yes it's all sorting etc but if you were to ebay it it would be much more hassle. A bottle of wine and a friend and you could have it sorted in a couple of hours. If there are clothes you could try and find the worst outfit combination and just have a laugh.

Your stuff might be just what someone else is looking for who don't have the cash to buy brand new. Whatever you don't sell you would be donating to a good cause.

Honestly I would say go for it. You never know how it'll go till you try it

I got rid of the box my new phone came in today.
Also managed to add things together to make less packaging so got rid of a lot of empty boxes and packets as well.
Bag of general odds and ends gotten rid of again today.

Not much but every little helps as they say.