KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

milasavesmoney

I've have started on paperwork. :T
I'm fairly organized but have not culled or updated my files in many years. I just keep stuffing the latest paper item in the front of the file. I had a little look-see and honestly, many of the file tabs are not even relevant any more. I'm honestly dreading this process. I'm sure by the time I get through it, I'll be singing a different tune but since I'm on this side right now, I'm Bleh!!

tibawo

I have watchers on my eBay items... Just need a bid now! Can't wait if it goes as can start next kd instalment. I don't want to get more out because the temporary mess always stresses me!

PollyWollyDoodle

Milasavesmoney paperwork was the hardest category for me - I nearly gave up halfway through and stuffed it all back in the filing cabinet. However it has also been the most rewarding one - no more need for the filing cabinet any more and I can find things in seconds. Press on, it'll be worth it!

GreyQueen

I think paperwork is hard for many of us. I have a relatively simple life but still the darned stuff keeps arriving. I also have anxiety issues about disposing of certain kinds of paperwork, in case I am called to account for things in the past, such as paying bills.

I have simplified ny finances by getting rid of all the scappy little bits of savings accounts I had here and there. With interest effectively below (real) inflation rates, all I was doing was letting the money devalue whilst complicating my life with statements etc from many accounts.

So I closed them, and put the last of the paperwork in a folder labelled Closed Accounts, because someone else will have to sort out our final affairs, so they have an easy time of it.

Of the mahoosive paperwork cull done at the parental home over Easter, I was dealing with several random bags, boxes and piles of Mum's paperwork, the oldest of which dated back to the late nineties. It was time consuming enough with her there to tell me things like X account is no longer open and other things.

We discarded all the cards (birthday, anniversary and valentine, Xmas cards are mostly discarded in January when the decs come down). Statements were shredded. Old envelopes were taken by me to be used as scrap paper in the office (I go through the equivalent of 5 A4 sheets per shift and don't want to use new paper). Lots of stuff was advisories of AGMs for building society etc and outdated stuff like mailing enclosures offering insurances, loans etc etc.

A great deal of this could have easily been discarded at point of opening and a bigger chunk could have been killed when the account it related to was closed, but was all over the place so that didn't happen.

I think the trick with paperwork is to try to avoid letting it pile up. Once you have back-paperwork to go through, perhaps limit it to a max of 30-60 mins per sesh or you'll lose the will to live.

Today I have volunteered to help a pal with his business paperwork, he's a terrible muddler in that respect but is charmingly grateful for me sorting stuff out. An un-resolved bit of paperwork I resolved last autumn has gained him just under £9k, which is the source of much happiness. Doubt I'll ever achieve that much in one day again, but I'm sure there's some papery stuff I need to get him to action.:rotfl:

mavvymoo

Hello all
Sorry VJsmum yes it was Homebase thanks for cleaning that up Mrs MP
What a shame Mrs MP you are a week early but hopefully we can catch up sometime if DS will allow it :rotfl:and I am sure I will be able to flog you a raffle ticket or 2
Before I got involved with our village hall I didnt know they were self funded I thought they would belong to the Council or someone like that to maintain and upkeep but no they could fall down and no one would worry We even have to cut the grass so the kids can play I am sure it wouldnt be like that years ago would it ?

I still get a thrill when I use up the last of cleaning stuff shampoos etc 2 went yesterday and it made my day :rotfl:
Back to the cleaning book today on day 4 as thats where I fell off the wagon but I am keeping up with the daily stuff and its really working for me Its a bit like fly lady so I like working to a list so it will work for me I am sure

DHs contract finishes today with nothing in the pipeline yet but it will do him good to have a few weeks off so we are not worried yet and have been very careful with money so will be ok for at least 6 months if it comes to it.Which I am hopeful it wont


Welcome to the newbies its good to have you on board and on a fantastic life changing journey :T


Mav x

Sandypan

Morning all, emptied the contents of the massive basket in our bedroom and found the other half of a bag of odd socks I had thrown away last week!!!! I kept saying can't understand where all the matching socks have gone, a friend at work said she didn't keep odd socks after a couple of weeks so I decided to recycle them. What do other people do about odd socks and is it just our house that has a Bermuda Triangle as far as they are concerned? Revisited tshirt and nightwear drawers and 'released' a few more items and now have two large bags for the charity shop.

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Be lovely to meet up again and let you flog me a raffle ticket for your cause, DS won't be with us for that trip the weekend is just me and Dh for my birthday/our wedding anni celebration. We are bringing them all up in august for the week.

Took a few packs of flower seeds round mils and scattered them at hers, so I think I'm about clear of flower seeds, have told Dh we need to go compost shopping at the weekend, I think I have mo than enough planters to fill the space I have.

Need to write a letter/card for my aunt and uncle I misplaced my birthday dates book and have inadvertently missed both their birthdays so a note in an apology card will have to suffice.

Got sleeping teens on the settees, ds2 went to a concert last night and they all crashed back he as we are nearest to the train station. Will need to nip out for milk in a bit so they can all have cereals before they leave.

Finished another book, so building a nice stack for the CS or my mum.

Better go and see what I can get kondo today.
Have a joyful one all and don't get caught out by the April fools.

mumps

New financial year so I need to sort out my paperwork for tax returns. I normally end up doing it in January and it niggles me from April to January hanging over me like a storm cloud. Well this year I am determined to get it all sorted and done in April. Wish me luck, it is my least favourite job of the year.

Just finished my last Ian Rankin novel, I have the complete set of Rebus books and I hope I might get something for them on ebay and clear a bit of space. If they don't sell then it will be the charity shop. I will try and get them listed today.

mumps

Sandypan wrote: »

Morning all, emptied the contents of the massive basket in our bedroom and found the other half of a bag of odd socks I had thrown away last week!!!! I kept saying can't understand where all the matching socks have gone, a friend at work said she didn't keep odd socks after a couple of weeks so I decided to recycle them. What do other people do about odd socks and is it just our house that has a Bermuda Triangle as far as they are concerned? Revisited tshirt and nightwear drawers and 'released' a few more items and now have two large bags for the charity shop.

I just wear odd socks now, I have thrown so many odd socks away it makes the mind boggle. I don't know where they go but I reckon if I am wearing boots or trainers with trousers no one really sees them so I just go with it now.

You must all have a strange view of me, I am the lady who goes on holiday with all her old undies and wears odd socks. I promise I do look fairly normal most of the time.

Siebrie

Sandypan wrote: »

Morning all, emptied the contents of the massive basket in our bedroom and found the other half of a bag of odd socks I had thrown away last week!!!! I kept saying can't understand where all the matching socks have gone, a friend at work said she didn't keep odd socks after a couple of weeks so I decided to recycle them. What do other people do about odd socks and is it just our house that has a Bermuda Triangle as far as they are concerned?

I collect ALL socks in a basket at the bottom of my wardrobe, and match them when I'm home during daylight. DH and I have almost similar shoesize, and lots of black socks, so I need proper lighting. The girls' socks are easy with their cheerful designs. Whenever my parents have stayed, I always need to go through the sock drawers, because mum helps out with the laundry, and has a habit of putting single socks into the sock drawer of the person she thinks the sock belongs to, to await its sock partner. I decided long ago that that is the way to create a mess, and just collect all socks in one central spot. I do the same for gloves, by the way.


We caught another mouse! Again, dead in the humane trap.....