KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

greent

I refuse to work in our office - it's south facing and way too hot and sunny for me. I don't like the blinds down, bit the sun makes screen work hard I tend to work off the dining table (NNW facing room) - cooler and shadier.

I think M&S are quite awful nowadays. Myself and bestie were discussing where is actually suitable for clothes for a mid-40s woman both with b00bs and hips and were struggling. Thankfully she is able to wear jeans and a top to work most days and I live in a couple of pairs of trousers and a handful of tops for my (very part time) work.

maryb

I buy jumpers from Uniqlo (though their quality varies - it is ok just after they have hiked their prices but the following year if prices haven't gone up, then quality goes down). And usually Per Una jeans fit me nicely. Though they have increasing amounts of polyester and elastane in these days so you are lucky if you don't get a saggy nappy look after half an hour. Sooo not flattering darlings

I'm going back to trying to sew more of my own clothes as my eyesight seems to have settled down a bit and as long as I don't try to do too much I can actually see clearly enough to sew. If I do too much close work I get a blurry spot in the middle of my vision so I need to take it slow and steady

GreyQueen

maryb wrote: »

The talk about M&S resonated with me as I have kondo'd more time than I wanted to this week taking stuff back to M&S. I bought a pair of navy jeans Per Una which were amazingly comfortable. So bought another pair same size, same style should have been identical. They were at least a size smaller!

Serves me right for falling off the Not Buying Any Clothes in 2017 waggon!

I got caught like this years ago in one of the department stores. Bought two pairs of identical trousers for work and never tried the second pair on for fit, because they're the same style and size, yes?

Big mistake, the second pair didn't fit at all and had to go back, I then had to try three more pairs of the 'same' size to get a fit. And people wonder why I'll do almost anything but buy new clothes.:rotfl:

I was briefly in a chazzer this aft and did see a brand-new looking pair of M & S jeans-style trousers, plain navy, 18 Long, which I tried on.

They fitted well, apart from being ever-so-slightly too slack on the outer thigh which, as they contain elastane and that I'm slowly shrinking the flab, I decided meant that they were better left for another lady. Stretch in fabrics can be helpful sometimes, but it does go baggy and seems to shorten the overall lifespan of the garment.

Some people may already be aware, but elastane doesn't like fabric conditoners, if that's something you use.

I have two identical Uniqlo plain grey long-sleeved tees, came from the Everything 50p chazzer on consecutive weeks, seemingly unworn. They're good quality but I've had them a couple of years already and I don't know when they were manufactured. I'd certainly give the brand another whirl.

Have been re-doing my pal's shop window this morning and some freshly-presented goods just flew out with happy customers. I also went to the lottie for an hour and moved 5 wheelbarrows of grains and hops from the communal pile to my soil. People wonder at the success of my veggies, but the only secret is blood, sweat and tears.

Righty, onwards and upwards, I have a nice meal of (full price) sea bass, plus YS jersey spuds and home-grown chard to plate up. Nomnonnom.....

Sayschezza

BettiePage wrote: »

Anyone else practically on first name terms with the local Charity Shops after discarding so much 'stuff' or just us?

Mine know my Gift Aid number by heart.

MMF007

I get really annoyed when the first thing the staff say at CS when I take stuff in is, 'do you have a gift aid number' (Nope), and follow it up with, 'Would you like to gift aid?'.

Well no, actually, because I don't earn enough, so I can't. How embarassing to have to justify why i don't gift aid! Well, I am not easily embarassed but it is very thoughtless. In fact, I feel a letter of complaint would be in order!

And, I hardly dare say this, but I am not that sure I agree with gift aid as a way of handing over a big chunk of tax payer money to any organisation that has managed to get registered as a charity, (leaving aside the excessive salaries that eat up some charities' funds).

Oh no, another rant from me, I'm blaming my tooth-based anxiety. Sorry.

iamsalt

Morning.
Up and awake early today, not sure why, but i will probably fit in a nap later.

Looking like the house moves are all getting dates now so I need to crack on. I have been numbering the boxes and keeping a log of what's in them and where they are as so much will be stored at at number of locations while work is completed, if I want something I will have a chance of finding it again.

On a mission to eat down the 2 freezers into one, while maintaining a number of home made ready meals for busy days, so slow cooked pork today with coriander and fennel seeds collected from the garden last year.

Still trying to decide whether it's worth having a garage sale at Mum's for some of the furniture, garden stuff and bits. I want to get rid of things but some is too big to boot fair, and I am not inclined to do one on my own, and it's where I wobble on the kondo front as she could do with some extra pennies.
Anyone had any experience of this?
S x

GreyQueen

Morning all.

I haven't done a garage sale personally as neither I nor relatives have lived anywhere with an attached garage, but I have had some intel from those who seem to be regular and effective garage salers.

The trick seems to be promotion of said sale, which some people achieve by linking it into a garage sale trail, if your town or neighbourhood every have such a thing. Otherwise, heavy promotion inc handmade posters on streetlamps (not strictly legal, be sure to take them down afterwards) is the commonest method I've seen.

If the items are in Mum's garage, could they be offered for sale out of there without having a formal garage sale date? Such as advertised on something like the supermarket notice board/ cornershop window/ FaceAche selling pages?

I do know what you mean about wanting to help her by not wasting opportunity to get some cash for these items. HTH.

Among today's activities is a kondo of my work information folder, a lever arch full of Stuff I use for my work inc crib sheets which have needed updating since start of the financial year. By pigging that out, and manufacturing some new crib-sheets, my working day will go more smoothly, which will be pleasant. Nothing like out-of-date info for getting in the way of current info and potentially causing problems as well as slowing everything down when searching for the relevant Stuff.

Pooky

We do a garage sale each year as part of a garage safari in the village which draws in thousands of people to our little area but no so sure a single garage sale is so effective. Depends on location and advertising I'd suppose. I'd second GQS idea of selling via FB selling pages, I've sold all manner of things on there, have a look at what people are selling and gauge your prices and make sure you mention if you can deliver or not....the most asked question it seems.

Well I've now kondod all the bathroom bits into the right places so my bedroom is beginning to look normal again. Need to rejig the shelves in the airing cupboard as some need altering due to new pipe work, then all the towels can go away. It's taken just over 3 weeks to rip out the bathroom and refit a new one....not bad for a novice like me...I did gain a lot of know how from u-tube vids, amazing resources out there for nearly every job.

Today I shall be kondoing weeds and grass or cleaning the car...or the windows...or maybe just nothing.

grunnie

MMF007 wrote: »

I get really annoyed when the first thing the staff say at CS when I take stuff in is, 'do you have a gift aid number' (Nope), and follow it up with, 'Would you like to gift aid?'.

Well no, actually, because I don't earn enough, so I can't. How embarassing to have to justify why i don't gift aid! Well, I am not easily embarassed but it is very thoughtless. In fact, I feel a letter of complaint would be in order!

And, I hardly dare say this, but I am not that sure I agree with gift aid as a way of handing over a big chunk of tax payer money to any organisation that has managed to get registered as a charity, (leaving aside the excessive salaries that eat up some charities' funds).

Oh no, another rant from me, I'm blaming my tooth-based anxiety. Sorry.

I agree. I am asked all the time when I hand stuff in and I say I just have my state pension and don't pay tax. You get a look as tho I was depriving the shop of millions.

GreyQueen

I wasn't sure if I'd be a taxpayer after the start of this present financial year (I am, just about) but pay 7 x the amount of council tax that I do income tax, it's my second biggest bill after the rent.

I agree that a quiet word in volunteer's shell-likes might be in order; some of us are donating goods because we can't donate money as we can't spare it.