Decluttering 2013, the saga continues ...

hannerrbabes

It rained all last night/this morning and now its sunny, so all the ice has gone!!! :j
In the past few days, I have:

Given another jar of Branston to Dad (he was so happy!)

Sold another 10 items on ebay/amazon

One VERY late library for OH

Chucked out all exam-related things I no longer need & filed the rest. (one big folder of revision I hopefully won't need again fingers crossed!)

I think thats all the decluttering done that I can remember, but I have made very good progress on my window blanket! Almost halfway through. I sew whilst watching Desperate Housewives
I have had some things come in however. A soap & body wash from my nanny, a £2 tshirt for lil bro's birthday and gorgeous black sequin cardi from House of Fraser:)

I hope you're alll having a good weekend!

mumlady1

Hi everyone, do you mind if I join your merry band? Please? My problem started approx 10 years ago when we moved to the slightly bigger house that we live in now. Somehow all the stuff that fitted in our old smaller house was overflowing in our new house! It still is overflowing but not unbearably untidy and somehow I just can't get a handle on it:mad:
I've tried the fly lady thing but sometimes I struggle for time. I run 3 businesses & work a couple of nights a week as well as daytime.
My biggest problem is that I HATE throwing or giving good stuff away! I give as much as I can to charity shops but still have loads to get rid of! I have great intentions for eBay but find it time consuming and annoying when something BNWT sells for pennies, literally!
Another problem I have is the that-might-come-in-handy-someday syndrome! I often find that even though I haven't used something for ages, years sometimes, as soon as I throw it out I'm looking for it! Aargh! Lol
Is anyone else the same or is it just me?
How do you deal with this?

mummy2threeboys

hi mumlady1..xx I found if i dont have time to go to the charity shop i wait until a dry day then put it out the frount with a note saying free..it allways goes!

98..dolly (charity)
99..another dolly (charity)
100..book also charity.
101 small lamp..charity

also have a black sack of clothes that are going to various places..need t get my drawer runenrs sorted so can fit there summer clothes out of the wardrobe (piled up in sacks!) into a proper area for them.
Have a good week all.

Becky_2

mumlady1 wrote: »

Hi everyone, do you mind if I join your merry band? Please? My problem started approx 10 years ago when we moved to the slightly bigger house that we live in now. Somehow all the stuff that fitted in our old smaller house was overflowing in our new house! It still is overflowing but not unbearably untidy and somehow I just can't get a handle on it:mad:
I've tried the fly lady thing but sometimes I struggle for time. I run 3 businesses & work a couple of nights a week as well as daytime.
My biggest problem is that I HATE throwing or giving good stuff away! I give as much as I can to charity shops but still have loads to get rid of! I have great intentions for eBay but find it time consuming and annoying when something BNWT sells for pennies, literally!
Another problem I have is the that-might-come-in-handy-someday syndrome! I often find that even though I haven't used something for ages, years sometimes, as soon as I throw it out I'm looking for it! Aargh! Lol
Is anyone else the same or is it just me?
How do you deal with this?

:hello: Hello mumlady1, welcome to this inspiring and friendly thread.

Decluttering isn't just about throwing out things. In November I sorted out our corner cupboard in the kitchen that was overflowing with items. I thought I was going to have throw away a bit in order to make it look tidy. In the end I didn't throw anything away, I just re-organised it, finding things is really easy now and I even got free space availalble.

Good luck with the challenge. Looking forward to reading your posts.

Lilyplonk

Hello everybody :wave: - I have to confess that I've still not around to do anything much at all in the way of decluttering for the past few days - apart from my diminishing supply of paracetamol and a few 'hot toddies' .

I'm so pleased to see that the rest of you aren't letting the side down - :T:j:T:j!

I have, however, kept on top of the rubbish / food waste / recycling so made certain it all went outside on a daily basis - kitchen is so small, that it soon looks a total mess.

I am about to 'declutter' my old chest freezer - a fellow member of another forum that I use has asked me for it. I've told him that it's not working properly, has been outside since it was delivered and I wouldn't give it house-room - but he's adamant that it's exactly what he's looking for. I've a feeling that he wants to grow potatoes in it - so, in that case, it would be ideal for him. He's due around 5.00pm, so we'll see .............

Hopefully, the worst of my cold / shivers / runny nose should be over and done with by tomorrow - can't wait to get back to some semblance of 'normality' - at least it gave me an excuse to 'hunker down' and avoid the worst of what the weather has thrown at us this winter :j.

Keep up the good work all - sounds as though you've all been more than making up for my lack of motivation/activity :A:A...........

speak later, Lilyplonk x

Goldiegirl

Hope you are better soon, Lilyplonk

Here's my list for the week. Still slow and steady, but definately more things going out than coming in


64 Netgear modemmanual – recycle
65 Paperwork 2004 –2008 relating to when my parents died
66 Book –Greenmetropolis
67 Electrical /computer cables – bin
68 Old computerattachment – recycle
69 Old notebooksand papers – recycle
70 Old moneybox –eBay
71 Placemats –eBay
72 Book – eBay
73 Shirt – eBay
74 Travel sewingKit – eBay
75 Batch ofpostcards – eBay
76 Batch of 7 inchsingles – eBay
77 Hawaiian floralnecklaces –eBay

savingpennies

savingpennies wrote: »

I'm going to join you all if I may. The whole house seems to be cluttered and just looking at it is energy zapping! So here's January's tasks:
1. Christmas decs - there is still stuff up in the loft we didn't use. DH has bought some plastic boxes with lids so we are going to get all the stuff down and sort through it - throw out or give to CS what we don't need and pack and label what we want to keep. Done
2. We have to have a new boiler which means there will be space for an airing cupboard (current boiler so big it takes up the whole cupboard). So new shelves to be fitted in boiler cupboard for towels/bedding. So will sort through all bedding/towels. Limiting bedding to three sets for each bed, anything else will go to CS. Waiting for shelves to be fitted.
3. Wardrobe - love the idea of putting coat hangers wrong way round. I need to sort clothes out into winter/summer and store what's not in season to free up some space. Partially done.
4. DH and I need to sort out the magazines - his walking mags, my fashion/knitting/craft mags. We've bought some box files and plastic wallets so that we can sort out what we want to keep and file away. Done
5. Need to sort out bills/statements/receipts/guarantees/etc. We have filing cabinets and folders but I've let things slip so need to get back on track.
I think that is enough to start with. Funny how writing it out makes it feel as if it is achievable.

So far so good. Freezer contents now listed on spreadsheet and meal planner organsied. We' ve managed to sort through some paperwork as well this week. The thing is clutter seems to grow the more I try to get rid of it. Everytime I delve into a cupboard or drawer I find more stuff. I tidied up some DVD's that DD2 had left around and went to put them on the shelves. Big mistake! Two hours later I am surrounded by odd discs and empty cases but none of them seem to match!

Lilyplonk

Hi savingpennies - think that's a great idea about making a spread sheet for freezer - or, AT THE VERY LEAST, listing what's in them and attaching to freezer doors.

Mum told me off last year about my freezers - and things haven't improved at all since then . If anything it could get even more out of hand as I've just bought a slightly bigger one .

savingpennies

It was freezing here last week so a great time to get everything out and list it. I have to say I didn't do it my OH did bless him:A It has certainly made meal planning and shopping easier.

cte1111

Welcome mumlady. I think to get past not wanting to throw / give things away, you need to think about why this bothers you so much?

I sometimes feel upset that money has been spent on items that I'm now getting rid of. However I just try and remind myself of how much better the house looks and feels without them. Plus, if they've gone to a charity shop, someone else can use them and get pleasure out of them, rather than them cluttering up my life unnecessarily.