2019 - A Clutter Free Life

MushyPeas

Cazzatheclutterbug wrote: »

Hello and thank you for the warm welcome Mrs SD!
The reason behind my username is because until very recently I thought it was completely normal to be surrounded by clutter. I bought my first home just over 4 years ago and between my husband and I we have cluttered it with tonnes of stuff that we don't need or even really want!
We have had two beautiful little girls (nearly 4yo and nearly 1yo) and I do not want them to live as I did growing up. My parents house is packed to the rafters with the conservatory, garden and sheds unusable too.
I have been decluttering our house off and on for about 2 years when I have had a spare minute - not many of them!
Unfortunately my mum died suddenly in October and I am in the process (when my siblings and dad are available both physically and emotionally) of sorting through that house too. My ultimate motivation is that I do not want my girls to have to clear a house like I am having to of stuff that wasn't loved and was all about the acquisition rather than the wanting.
Sorry for the long post, needed to get that off my chest! :j

A lovely intro., sorry about your mum

I have a 6 and a 3 year old and I worry that they'll grow up like I did surrounded by junk! It's slow going for me too and I'm not on this thread enough.

Good luck :-) x

Cazzatheclutterbug

Thank you Mushy peas.

It is tricky when there are children but it will be worth it when our homes are how we want them to be.
Luck is for the underprepared! (I think I need a miracle:eek:)
Little and often is the method that works for me at the minute.

never_too_old

Afternoon all and welcome to the new members.

Glad your holiday is going well Mrs SD:D

My dgs was born on Saturday, ended up having to be an emergency c section but DD and DGS are fine apart from being very sore and tired.:T
Few small things gone this week.Sweets for DGD for Summer fayre and a few toiletries emptied and now in recycling .

Cazzatheclutterbug

Ok, today's decluttering:
46: 1" shredding from 2006-2008
47: glass canister with no lid -CS
48: receipts from Paris trip in 2003!
49: photo negatives from the above
50: plastic box
51: 20 old photos shredded
52: NWT sports trousers too small -CS
53-60: kids clothes outgrown - CS
61: baby sleeping bag outgrown -CS
62--68: clothes from kids beyond salvaging - rubbish
69-74: food items to food bank

All items in car boot to be taken on Thursday which is our errand day.

74/2019:)

savvy

vintageteainmywardrobe wrote: »

I try but it gets so overwhelming all the time, I'm certain everyone gets this but it's so bad I tend to only go home to sleep as I don't want to admit I have a problem!

Welcome vintage, I get overwhelmed too, but if I don't ever start.....it won't ever happen! So I chip away, this challenge has been good though as it gives you some accountability and I hate losing against myself :rotfl:

-taff wrote: »

It's the little stuff I don't know where to put or what to do with, like the imax glasses, plasters, pens, batteries etc. We have almost no storage solutions in place, so can't put things in drawers or cupboards so it all hangs round in boxes...
Reading this thread is helpful though, I do like to see what other people do and how they do it.

Taff I am limited on space too, so I started using the takeaway stackable tubs and labelling them for the things I didn't know where to put. I had a first aid one for plasters, paracetemol etc. Another for batteries to be recycled and one for new batteries. I had others for random screws/nails (now in a tool cupboard) and another for rubber bands and one for fixings (I have no idea where these things appear from lol). You could have one for pens, and misc for the glasses. I put our 3D glasses in a shoe organiser that has a top draw, then they are by the front door as we go out and suddenly remember them!! Same as parking permits!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

vintageteainmywardrobe wrote: »

I haven't actually managed to get into my minimalist game yet, I was going to start on the 1st but it's TT week over here and I've been out watching the races or walking around looking at motorbikes till the early morning :eek: so haven't even had time to look at the house :rotfl:.

Oh wow!!!! Sooooo lucky, have never made it there still! :(


Well a small win here, went to the sock drawer and thought am sick to death of trying to find ankle socks that don't slip down......and then thought huh, why am I even storing the sock that don't work for me derrrr!!! So 4 pairs hooked out and can go in charity, maybe they will stay up for somebody else!


185/2019

savvy

Mrs_Salad_Dodger wrote: »

Now the really ‘spooky’ bit of the tale :eek: I was outside having a ciggie (yes I know - disgusting habit) when 2 ladies from the winning team came out & told me a little story - they used to have a member of their team who shared my name & had always insisted that she wanted to live to age 69 & was always known as ‘name69’. She managed to reach age 69 but no further So when the winner was announced as ‘name69’ they were reminded of their friend in a very nice way. I like to think that she was reminding them that she was still watching & that she was pleased that they had won

Aww that's brilliant!

Cazzatheclutterbug wrote: »

My parents house is packed to the rafters with the conservatory, garden and sheds unusable too.
I have been decluttering our house off and on for about 2 years when I have had a spare minute - not many of them!

Ah can relate to that, parents are split, yet have the exact same issue!! Although to be fair to my Dad it's mostly his wife that fills the tiny house to the rafters and sheds/garage! My Dad has to fight to be able to keep his motorbike clear of stuff, they have to even empty the bath to have a shower, then put all the carp back in again!!! :eek::eek::eek: She just will not let him throw anything away!
As for my mother, there's no excuse whatsoever, she just keeps buying tat and short dated food......it's only her that eats there yet she has a food mountain! Me and my youngest helped move her in there and it used to be lovely and clear, now there's stuff all over the place and barely a clear walk way. She's even had a care team try and help so people can come in and sit somewhere without junk falling on them, but it just goes back to a mess! I'm dreading the day she has to go in a home of dies, as I'll be left to sort it, yet I have my own to sort out from people leaving theirs here!

villagelife

I also an decluttering after clearing MIL house and I don't want my son's to have to do it with all the rubbish she kept. She had given away all the nice stuff.

563-567 books to League of Friends shop.
568 sample of moisturiser that is used up.

Picklepot

Good and bad news from picklepot household

Bad news..No decluttering done over weekend
Good news..because of previous decluttering efforts we have been able to spend last couple of days prepping living room to decorate:j

Loving the holiday updates Mrs SD. Brings back memories of our motorbike holidays in scotland..its the only place ive ever seen the sky go NAVY prior to a storm :eek:

[Deleted User]

No news on my EB.. items yet. Am having to declutter samller freezer as am having a new (well 2nd hand new) one delivered this afternoon so am making menu plan for next few days to use up food as it is full. New one will be frozen ready to transfer the foods but the fewer the better really as am not certain if they are both same size. Any ideas for the plastic milk bottles please? I already use in garden, labels, water bottles, plant pots etc and in pantry to store pasta etc but now they are cluttering up.

Wednesday2000

I went though my bags and I'm getting rid of three of them to a chazzer.

I'm about to look through my husband's wardrobe too.:cool: