KonMari 2017 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

PollyWollyDoodle

Because I always face this question - and I have a birthday between now and Christmas too - I keep a running list throughout the year of those little things that you consider buying and then frugally decide you can do without. In my case that's some sewing supplies, a couple of books that I saw earlier in the year but didn't get round to buying, some favourite body lotion and so on. I have said for a while that I'd rather have experiences than a 'proper' present - last year my nieces presented me with a beautiful glass jug and a homemade voucher promising to take me to the Gin Festival!

I always put on my list that second hand or homemade (where appropriate) will score extra points! I'd be happy just to have a day out with my nearest and dearest.

My best friend has a delightful baby boy who will be 18 months old at Christmas. I am knitting him something but I know he'll have an ocean of toys. My plan is to give him some 'vouchers' - ok, I know he won't really understand them but his mum will be delighted to have 'a trip to the swings', 'afternoon at the city farm' and so on.

iamsalt

Hello

My Christmas list is very garden focused :
Well rotted manure ( I think a friend and fellow gardener may get me some as a house warming gift!)
Bird boxes - swifts, house martins and Robins
Mum always gets me bulbs - my birthday planters were pretty tulips, and she often chooses ones with meaningful names
Some herb cuttings from my SiL garden...I gave her them when she moved and now she will be returning the favour.


Been playing in my new house and garden today. House isn't liveable in due to damp and holes in the roof and Windows, but I have kondo'd 2 wheely bins full of green waste ready for collection tomorrow. It's mainly brambles and bindweed so I wouldn't put that on my compost bins, even if OH had made them! There are many more to go, we suspect we will find sleeping beauty in one briar patch!
S x

daisy_1571

GreyQueen wrote: »

I also like empty ferrer0 roche boxes to store my sewing supplies. One needs to refresh one's collection of these (get me!) as they get brittle after a few years. Empty ones are good. Full ones are a wee bit better, but not for my waistline.:rotfl:

A pal gave me a carrier bag of random lengths of wool leftover from her knitting projects. None were longer than about a foot. All proper wool and gorgeous colours. I spent several happy hours unravelling them and chopping them up into short lengths to incorporate into one of my rugs. That was a great pressie.:j

I also love these for sewing projects. Always had one in my desk drawer at work keeping wee x stitch projects and you are so right, they do get brittle however, because the contents are minging, I wouldn't thank you for them. Well, actually I would cos I was dragged up right but then I would pass them on to someone else and wait for the return of the box :rotfl:

I've also just finished using up odd bits of wool that were in a carrier bag in attic and look like leftovers from a kit, I've crocheted them into a huge granny square these last 2 days. I had enough white that every second row was white. The other rows are random colours, sometimes just ten or so stitches of a colour sometimes half a row. It looks very pleasing.

Pondering my kondo xmas list .......

Daisy xx

tibawo

The present discussion. My two are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is quite happy with a colouring book and felts and the other wants the world!


The one who likes the colouring book has bday close to xmas so this makes it so hard as I try to instil the idea of not just getting things for the sake of it and she does put some money in her ISA type account. I did recently read about the lady who set up the just giving [?] for her sons birthday to get something of a higher value that he could treasure which I kind of get but i think sometimes the opening of surprise presents is also special when you see the look of joy. I think i must get it right as her list states 'anything you think I might like' on it.


They do lists as it means when aunts etc ask I can check this but also means I can start now looking out for offers so can have more Christmas beer money for me!!!


I have also started to do my reverse advent calendar, I don't stick to one thing a day in December as my friend helps at a homeless shelter that has an Xmas meal/ place to get clean which falls about the week before but 24 things get wrapped in a box. The recipients loved my mix of toiletries. socks. chocolate etc. and said it made them feel someone did care which touched me.

greent

OH and I have made the decision not to get each other Xmas presents this year. We will still have small presents from the kids - budget is max £5 per child so it tends to be things like edibles, smellies, socks etc. I bought 2 pairs of gloves for me which will be 2 of my kids presents (leather gloves for £5 & touchscreen type gloves for £2.50 in the clearance section of an outlet store :j) I am buying my best friend and her husband a voucher for an escape room experience (sounds great fun!)

Slinky

Forgot to mention I Kondo'd my old slippers into the bin yesterday. I'd used these for decorating, one the sole had come away from the top and was held in place by frog tape wrapped round. They were thanked as they went. OH will be chucking a pair of old trainers in when we leave on Sunday.


This morning when I came down stairs I did greet my new rooms as they look so lovely.


Now going round with the Dyson. To my shame I had to phone my OH and ask him how to get the dust container off..... he always does it! I usually use a GTECH.

VJsmum

My birthday is the week before Christmas, a nightmare for family.

I would like a selection of books from a charity shop, so that I can read them in the bath without worrying about water stains, and if I don't like the book I can re- donate without guilt.

DD has just started working at Lu$h , so I think I will get some face mask, shower 'gel' type of stuff from her.

DS is likely to get me a CD or two that [STRIKE]he[/STRIKE] i want

Then I'm stumped....

greenbee

Well there's no limit on the number of bath-time books you might need VJsmum, so that should be enough to keep everyone happy.

Then again, I read my library books in the bath I just have to make sure I don't get too sleepy.

Trampoline was dismantled prior to Ophelia and transported to my brother's house, as theirs was a victim of a previous storm and a new trampoline was cheaper than a new net. Now the kids are at school they don't spend as much time here, so I don't really need it (and wasn't using it much myself). It has been swapped for the greenhouse that they inherited and dismantled. I need to work out what spares to buy and how to put it together!

A few books are being weeded out as I pack them up, but now I don't buy many, there aren't many to get rid of.

catshark88

Had a scary MK session yesterday. Our safe broke down, with our passports in it. At first it seemed a battery failure and we got it to open whilst holding a battery to it, it then we found that internal bits had corroded (didn't even know it was damp where it was) and we were blinking lucky to get it open at all (flights are on saturday). That was more "excitement" than I need on a Thursday morning...

Anyway we went through the contents so we could move a few valuable bits and it it turns out that nearly everything paper based was no longer required and has been shredded or recycled. Feel a bit of a twit!

[Deleted User]

We have a £!0 limit on christmas presents and its fab, most people make something. I did have to ask for no ornaments or bathing things this year because I always end up keeping them awhile and then feeling guilty when I give them away

Oh dear oh dear, I had to buy a new coat, fit for cold and wet in the forest and also to wear for plane travel. My existing `almost suitable` snow jacket is too warm and slightly too short. I am sorting out overtrousers too and have raided my winter car kit for them. Its a nice new barbour but I always said one in and one or two out, now if I can be strong enough and honest enough, I have a very nice thick unworn bright red wool/mix duffel coat, from a sale and I mended the toggel fixing. Oh dear, this is the one that should go but I think I will wait until after this winter, justin, only had it for 6 years so far and completely unused. I have far too many coats and fleece jackets but they all potentially, have a different purpose

Ah, maybe the salvation army clothing posting box that I found last week, not for the duffel but for my very good ski jacket and one of my zip up fleeces, I have never been skiing and it is so warm and good as new, lands end best 9 years ago but would be ideal for perhaps someone on the streets. Thing is that I am now a good size smaller and that jacket is big enough to fit over layers, so would be good for a homeless person or someone in need

Somtimes I have to come on here to talk things through with myself and to come to a conclusion that makes me feel good