2014 decluttering thread (part 3)

mothernerd

jetplane wrote: »

I'm impressed by the speed in which he was decluttered, I'm still trying to get my daughters stuff from our house to hers and she's been in her own home over a year :cool:

YEARS OF PRACTICE they go to university, they keep coming back - with other people's stuff as if they didn't have enough of their own. One of the boys DS2 shared a house with lived in Spain so for 2 summers we looked after most of his things as well. It gets in the house, they take some up to their rooms, leave the rest in the hallway (I sprained my wrist one year, carrying weights upstairs - I found turning off the light and shutting the door of the front room, trying to stop the cat sneaking back in as the door was closing and then not falling over the pile of weights too complicated).

DS1 and his then gf were flooded out of their rented cottage about a month after we moved here. She moved out after a few months, then he followed but it was nearly 2 years before all their things left and then he got stroppy with me for asking when he would be coming for it - his suggested date coincided with the end of term and I was trying to organise the delivery of 3 tons of topsoil (I had nightmares about DS1s furniture going out of the house as DS2 and his belongings were incoming, with a gigantic mound of topsoil in the driveway. WE did avoid the clash but I still shovelled topsoil in the rain as DS1 phoned to say he was working at a function in our town and could he sleep on the sofa and I had visions of him walking into the pile in the dark so carried on clearing a pathway through.

So gradually you get to know all their ruses - I let DS2 have the biggest bedroom (fitted wardrobes one side and 3 normal wardobes on the other) as he had most stuff to store. When I went to bed I found that he had moved the wardrobes back into the smaller room he had just vacated (I could barely open the door, squeeze round and climb onto a corner of the bed - too late to insist he do anything about it ) Took me 2 weeks of shuffling wardrobes and bed a few inches at a time until the space was properly useful (I couldn't get the wardrobes out under the doorframe). he had also left a few shelves of possessions in the room I was using.

I hope DS1 is gone for good this time - it is about 4 years since he was last here. As I said, I love them dearly, but when I bought me first house 32 years ago, I intended to live alone. DS3 wants to live with his gf next year but I am not sure. He only has small earnings from self-employment (currently a full-time student) and although she now finally has a job (2 years after leaving college) she is very fond of pets (dog, rats, chicks, now she wants a pair of chinchillas). I don't think anyone will want to rent to them.

I seem to have been continually clearing their things for the last 2 years. You do get the odd pleasant surprise - I found a nearly full bottle of my favourite perfume behind the books and videos on one of the bedroom shelves and have re-discovered several of my T-shirts which must have been lent to weekend visitors over the years. I have taken bag loads of unclaimed clothing to the charity shop and am amassing a third cache of mobile phone chargers (although DS2 did have a period of losing them about every 3 months - he took to wearing a chain as a belt and physically attaching his wallet and phone to it every time he left the house.

So this time I have frantically dried the washing so that not even a sock gets left behind. Boxes were lined up as near to the door as possible. He has only made one trip today and one yesterday - it could take a week or two yet.:A

aimeemum

Mothernerd - You're my idol. In a few years when mine are moving out to pastures new I will remember your words of wisdom! :A

Husband got my stuff up in the loft yesterday after a week of asking so I can now do the following today:

Clean the bathroom from top to bottom
Take to the bedrooms with a bin liner as they've gotten a bit messy with us all having colds
All the washing up so I can clear the kitchen tops (husband is on a bread making binge at the moment so there is flour EVERYWHERE!)
Pack up my charity shop stuff ready to take tomorrow

I then plan to sleep (had about 10 hours sleep in the past 4 days! thank you babies!) and try to recover from the cold which has struck us all down. Stew from the freezer for tea and there you have it! :j nce I have done all that I will report what I have decluttered. I am expecting A LOT! lol

newthrift

I really need to de-clutter our spare room/wardrobes/drawers well all through the house! Hope to get some good tips and have people keep pushing me along. Will have to drag my OH in to helping me - which I am sure he will be delighted about :rotfl:

mrs-moneypenny

morning all
everyone is doing brilliantly and putting me to shame as ive loads of clutter but it just doesnt seem to be going anywhere at the mo.

out today
pair of DS2 old school shoes the sole was falling off so binned
pair of DS2 school shoes still wearable but a bit tight so in clothing bank
old toothbrush and a couple of cleaning cloths - just had a blitz in the bathroom and used them for cleaning - binned
foot file old and well used - binned (ive got a battery operated 'sander' now)

have a pile of newspapers and magazines to sort though the plan is for most to go in the recycling bag. just need to check if any of the junk mail with them needs shredding first.

MummyEm

Mostly enjoying a slower pace with the kids over the half-term hols as we were all in need of a break. Won't be doing any major decluttering this week, but will potter around.

Decluttered
-4 ebay parcels posted (including one huge one!)
-apple pie
-lunch used up lots of veggies in roasted veg mixed dish thing
-made curried parsnip soup using up more veggies
-car tax renewal letter-renewed online and shredded letter
-Sorted billing issue with energy company and filed away paperwork
-wash load done and clean bits put away
-recycling put out
-veg peelings to guinea pig
-rsvp'd to party invite, put details in calendar and binned paper

In
-Grocery shopping delivery

Kids swimming classes in a bit then an evening of ironing and budget updating is in order.

highlandlady72

Over the past week:
3 amazon sales posted (2 cds & a 12" vinyl single).
1 old hifi & speakers that was taking up space - taken to small electricals section at the tip/dump.
Some more books taken to charity shop
More paper shredded.
Next pile of clothes for charity shop has started. (1 pair of trousers & a top - both to large for me now)

MummyEm

Did a bit of tidying in the study this evening while the telly was on in the background. Throwing out a couple of discs that had photos on that I have copied and saved. This has reminded me that I need to get another external hardrive to back up all our photos as they are all saved on one currently :eek:

Also deleted some old emails and found one from a survey site that I've not visited in months. Prompted me to log in and do a few quick surveys, earning myself approx £3 whilst watching telly.

Also found some Tesco vouchers that expire at end of Feb so must put these to good use. Will have a look at deals to see how best to spend them.

That's it for me, good night all

aimeemum

Morning all.
b
I managed the bathroom which is now sparkly and clean and tidy. I did the shelving and the cabinet and threw out so much it was unreal!

Did half the kitchen then ran out of steam. I'm down with a cold so it really took it out of me. Determined to finish it once babies go to bed. Also got 2 massive bags of stuff to take to the CS today :j

Best be off to carry on with my jobs and put littlies down for naps. Off to the job centre this afternoon - my de-cluttering days are numbered if I end up going back to work for more than 8 hours a week. Would ideally like 8-16 and no more.

LeaLea89

The large bean bag has finally gone! My friend that gave me it told me to sell it if i could as she wasnt bothered, got £8 for it and had it collected last night

2 vases and a pair of curtains to go out tonight some more money made on those so helping to declutter the credit card at the same time

off to see a friend tonight but will add some more bits to the charity shop bags when i get back in and then hopefully remember to take them with me tomorrow on my way to work.

TheDoolallyDilly

Everyone's doing brilliantly - I am still scouting round my house for more things to declutter!

I did get rid of a couple of pieces of paper from an old file, but can't really count that.

During half term I have my disabled son with me, and things are much harder to achieve, so hopefully next week I will get a wiggle on and get on with sorting through my files and reorganising, which should result in quite a bit of shredding

Keep up the good work, everyone!