Enough is enough - the great declutter

cat64

Pigpen, don't think I can bring myself to e-bay them. I have a really hard time letting go of the kids stuff for sentimental reasons, so will let myself keep a few of the more 'timeless' items. I always thought it was nice to see my kids playing with a fort that belonged to OH when he was little.

I have got better though, I used to keep baby socks that had no partner coz I couldn't bear to throw them out:o

melvis

Ebay update #3 :j

19 items for sale, 12 with bids, total thus far £38.70 but 73 watchers :eek: so hopefully lots of bids coming before the auctions end on Friday (fingers crossed!!).

Spendless

Hello everyone. I asked to join in last week and then had an unsuccesful trip to the recycling centre cos the lock on my car boot is jammed. Still not sorted out. :rolleyes:

I have the kids off for half term, but I've just asked eldest if I sort out some
paperwork if he'll shred it for me, cos he enjoys doing it. :T

At our Asda there is a large metal collection container to put cd's videos and dvd's in (not the blank ones you've recorded on yourself though) & books in. It's for charity, though can't remember which one (maybe British Heart Foundation??). Anyway just thought I'd tell people to have a look if they have something similar, if they are looking for somewhere to git rid of their videos etc.

missyg_3

As promised, here is how I do my filing, obviously everyone's requirements are different but this is what I've found works well for me over the years. Hope it helps!

In and out trays
In tray for anything that needs action i.e. bills to pay, receipts to record etc. Out tray once it's dealt with ready to file.

Current year stuff
Concertina file with a section for each credit card company, utility company, bank account, etc. I have a clear plastic wallet for each company, and that helps if I need to take one out to work on (keeps it all together).

Store receipts are kept with the relevant credit/debit card's paperwork. When the statements come in, they are reconciled and I shred all low value receipts, keeping any that are needed for guarantees etc.

I have a sort out of this file periodically during the year so that it never gets too big.

Previous stuff
At the end of the year (I do it by tax year because if there are any queries from the tax office later, this will make it easier), the plastic wallets just get transferred into a box file, I usually prune it down at the same time because not everything needs to be kept. Then I start again!

You don't need to end up with half a dozen box files because in reality the amount you need to keep for a long time is very small so more than one year can go in one box file (I separate stuff in the box files with plastic wallets again!)

Self employed stuff
A separate concertina file. Receipts and invoices are filed by month this time. All the tax return stuff goes in here too, plus contracts, insurances and various other bits. Transfer to box file at end of year.

Another paperwork tip
I have a third concertina file which is hidden away in a cupboard, and this is an A-Z file in which I keep things like instruction manual booklets and assembly leaflets, and any similar bits relating to stuff around the house. So if I suddenly need the booklet that came with my kettle, I'll find that in "K" for kettle. Even if I never need them, it's useful to have these when you come to sell or give stuff away.

missyg_3

Lemon tree - I think you can add a page counter to your ebay listings to show you how many times it's been looked at? (Maybe that's what you found?) I avoid using this though because if an item doesn't seem well viewed, the bidders probably won't be inclined to go as high

I am breaking into a bit of a cold sweat thinking about doing more of the Photo Sort Out today, but I would like to try to go through at least one of the boxes today now that I've got the momentum going.

Djbd1973, your post made me smile, and bless you for being so relaxed about it! All this talk of household filing is making me think it's time for a good old prune of the box files, but I shouldn't get sidetracked from the major task in hand!

Cat64, brill work with the condensing of boxes! The Hoover collector seems to be a no show :mad: I only had two responses, this one and another person who asked me so many technical questions about modes and attachments, it felt like I was working on the sales desk at Comet

Melvis :j at the ebaying! Mine has been slow overnight and nothing much to report - but my rare CD that I would have been very happy with £30, has now gone over £40 :eek:

Tibbie's_mum

missyg wrote: »

Lemon tree - I think you can add a page counter to your ebay listings to show you how many times it's been looked at? (Maybe that's what you found?) I avoid using this though because if an item doesn't seem well viewed, the bidders probably won't be inclined to go as high.........

There is a facility to have a hidden counter which only the seller can see, the buyers viewing the item description can't see it. If you revise your listing you can add one and it is just called 'hidden counter'. I find the counters useful to gauge whether I should change the catagory or revise the title to attract more viewers.

HTH

missyg_3

Thanks Tibbie's Mum that's really useful to know I'm just about to go in and have a look at my ones that have no bids/watchers, see if I can amend them a bit, perhaps lower the start prices to even less than 99p! I'd rather make just pennies than have them not sell at all! Need this stuff gone!

Annoyed about the Freecycle no-show. Why can't these people SAY they've changed their minds?

pigpen

I have 3 half binbags of rubbish.. so I am now going to make everyone scream by filling them up.. if you hear hysteria coming from up here.. it is my children.. don't worry I'm only throwing out their rubbish from their floors..

pigpen

1 done.. can you hear them??

pigpen

2 done... I wish I couldn't hear them!!