2019 - A Clutter Free Life

Onebrokelady

Mrs_Salad_Dodger wrote: »

1. SMALL TASKS WILL BE DONE ASAP
2. I WILL LEAVE A ROOM TIDIER THAN WHEN I ENTERED
3. KITCHEN WILL BE LEFT CLEAN & TIDY EVERY NIGHT
4. WHEN DEALING WITH CLUTTER I WILL USE ‘Daisy1571’s idea of ‘WHAT WOULD I DO WITH THIS ITEM IF IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE’S ?’
5. IF I WAS STARTING FROM SCRATCH, WOULD I BUY THIS?
6. BE LIKE A POSTAGE STAMP - STICK TO ONE THING UNTIL YOU GET THERE

Sunday - DH has continued working in the bathroom after a visit to B and Q to get bathroom sealant - he had to bin 7 ood by 4 years :eek: & dried up tubes of sealant - at least it bumps up my numbers :rotfl: All I have done today is had a long chat with next door neighbour, nice chat with DB & his German fil who had dropped in on way from Germany to Wales (for a job) & made a full English breakfast for dinner.Unfortunately although DSis thoroughly enjoyed her dinner she has ‘decluttered’ it completely _pale__pale_

73 - 80 Seven ood & dried up tubes of sealant, bag of non recyclable packaging - Binned
81 - 86 Paper packaging, 3 cardboard boxes dismantled, beer bottle rinsed, magazine - Recycled

Thank goodness for DH :rotfl:

My cheerleading starts here :rotfl:

short_bird, good numbers :T Plenty to see & do in London - good heavens I’ve just realised I have been living in London for almost 30 years :eek:

never too old, lots of stuff going out. Please don’t get despondent - it will happen all of a sudden - you will suddenly notice space

:T nannywindows - I would milk it for all it is worth :rotfl:

Ginmonster, lots of hard work & having bags of clothing ready to leave is excellent. Think how happy you will be when they are out the door I fully approve of decluttering beer :rotfl:

Ladykernow, excellent advice for cherie1122 :T

Flugelhorn, lots of space then

:hello: White_musk, welcome back to the forum :T You HAVE been busy & it is not ‘shameful’ to have so much stuff - you were a different person & have grown into a new persona who prefers space & no clutter. All of us have found a reason to declutter & join in the thread. Getting rid of clutter is a lightening of the load - so liberating Re the chipped dinner service, maybe we should run a ‘competition’ to see who comes up with the best explanation of why we keep ‘stuff like this’ :rotfl:

Chocolatelover93, hope you are feeling better. You definitely have ‘the declutter bug’ :rotfl: - you had to do something & emails are a good place to start PLUS bags for the CS :T

Marpau, ‘stuff’ decluttered but decluttering cuddles - I love it :T

Happy Kitties, definitely a ‘win-win’ - well done :T

Cherryfudge, a milestone :T big pat on the back for you

ScarletRibbons, good luck with the sales

bt_dt, with such large numbers out, you are absolutely justified in keeping the halogen dish :rotfl: Glad you are taking care of your back :T

sootypea, I hope your profits are going towards a nice treat for you

Wednesday2000, another one who has caught the ‘decluttering bug’ :T Why take one bag to cs if you can take two :rotfl:

sweetpea26, a gradual decluttering of the house, cluttering the car & then bingo clutter free house & clutter free car :rotfl: Well done :T

leelad, you are doing a grand job :T Re the cuddlies - if you put them in a pillow case (tie a knot) or a mesh laundry bag (if you have one), wash them then tumble dry on a low heat. Give them a quick brush & donate to your local cs. We are all here to motivate each other & give praise & encouragement

parsniphead, had never heard of Mrs Hinch so have just read a Guardian article which really hit home. I may or may not investigate further :rotfl: I am very pleased to learn that we provide the inspiration to declutter :rotfl: & well done on your progress :T I second that it is going to be a good decluttering year

Onebrokelady, spacious as well no doubt :rotfl: & I bet you keep opening the door to have a look :rotfl:

Facknats, :rotfl: that will teach him :rotfl:

DD265, you are halfway there - items sorted & ready to leave the house permanently :T Well done on getting so much decluttering done & having a plan before packing up to move :T

bunty109, nothing to be embarrassed about Last year I disposed of 50 year old paperwork :eek: Two of you decluttering will make the task so much easier & well done on getting OH on board the ‘decluttering bandwagon’ :T

:hello: somerandom & welcome aboard the ‘Decluttering Bandwagon’ :T No such thing as being late to the party Looking forward to hearing your tales of decluttering Have you decided on a number or are you working on a room by room basis? You have definitely come to the right place for encouragement :T

bit by bit, thank you 🙏 for such an upbeat post - you have every right to feel good :T

selloptape, :rotfl: no - surely not a hoarding issue :rotfl: Well done on the numbers :T

Hermia, half used notebooks are handy for lists :rotfl: & rough drafts of what you would like to write in your new notebooks Well done on keeping stuff moving out & good luck with the sales

Declutterers ‘United in our Mission’ to have a restful living space

See you tomorrow

MrsSD
86/2019

Yes I do keep opening the door to have a look :rotfl::rotfl:

abbe89

My decluttering is not going well at all! I've barely even started.
My problem is I have a huge pile of stuff to car boot, but the season hasn't started yet. I just keep adding to it and it feels like I'm just moving things around rather than making any dent into what I have!!

Molillie

Hello everyone,

There seems to be a very motivated push going on.

I am keeping up with getting one thing out a day, sometimes chosen at the last moment when I'm about to go out, I imagine myself going round a spiral, with a nice clear house at the centre.

Sometimes, it's accepting reality; things like some beads from a broken bracelet will not be crafted by me, although it might have taken me a year to realise this, and so they can go to craft group where someone is likely to want them.

Still feel depressed at times when I realise how much I've accumulated. It has helped me not get tempted to buy more. Some friends are stocking up, because they are worried about prices rising after the end of March (not mentioning the B word) but I am going to build up a bit of a cash reserve instead.

Still haven't tackled paperwork, which was on last week's plan, so moved it forward. First I'm going to move everything off the coffee and dining table, and rehome or get rid of the items. I don't have a desk, so am much more likely to stop procrastinating once I can spread the papers out.

Supplementary: Check the ring-binders for condition, and scrap any where the rings don't meet properly. I am keeping fewer papers now, so should not need as many.

Thank you Mrs S D for your continuing motivation, and everyone else for all the tips and ideas. Keep on keeping on!

bit_by_bit

Thanks Mrs SD. The clearing of the clutter is making me happier by the day. DH loaded the shelves in the van last night to be taken to their new home on Thursday.

In place of one there is a low bookshelf, half the size. In place of the other is a small table for me to do my crafts and writing at. Neither items are new and were cluttering up the place. Now they are serving their purpose.:beer: I can also start working through my craft stash and decluttering that into gifts for Christmas 2019 where the family are making gifts for each other.

Yesterday I put all the Christmas decorations away in the bottom of DD wardrobe. She is ok about this and they will be out of the way. I won't have to ask anyone to get them out of the loft for me in December

Also yesterday I decluttered some old cash original decimal 50 and 10 pence pieces and a few old £1.00 coins to the post office to the value of £10.70. Go me. Just got to decide what to do with the rest of the coins I have. They are all re decimal and there are quite a lot of them. I want the best price for them really but I reckon the pennies are going to go to the Crich Tramway Museum. They give them out to be used on the trams.:T

hermia: I feel your pain R.E. notebooks. I have a lovely stash but keep using wads of scrap paper from old letters etc for lists. Got to decide what to do as I have two big boxes full of unused notebook. Every time I get them out I fall in love with them all over again.

bargainhunterss wrote: »

Not sure - but what about a rescue centre for the cuddly toys? Others might be able to advise whether this is suitable or indeed a ‘thing’! I know they take old blankets etc, so maybe they take cuddly toys?

Are these pet toys bargainhunterss? If children's toys check that any button noses and eyes are fixed (can't trun round if you twist them), they are reasonably clean and they have a CE label in them. My CS won't sell McDonald's toys and I often bring toys home for washing and repair so they can sell them.

Just read all the post since I last came here. You are all very busy.

Off to town now to deposit 2 carrier bags of books to Oxfam. Soooo glad they take text books

White_musk

Beshki wrote: »

I am finding that I’m getting quite disheartened going to bed having not decluttered, so have found that finding just one thing a day to go is helping with that. Last night it was an old pyjama top, the day before a pair of socks that had seen better days etc. It’s helping keep up the momentum!

As the days go by and you begin to see the fruits of your decluttering, it will inspire you to want to see more and more clear drawers, shelves, cupboards etc. Your one a day will soon change to loads a day - betcha. :rotfl:

nannywindow

Today I have re-homed to DH's shed, a clock radio ( I can no longer see the readout unless I press my nose to it :eek: but I did replace it with a smaller new model ) and a very large oil filled radiator given to me by my grandmother about 30 years ago. The latter hasn't been used for a long while now and has stood on the landing gathering dust. Anyway it and the clock have gone to the shed on the understanding that if neither of these items are used, they will go straight to the tip. So there, I've put my foot down with a firm hand . With all the things going to the shed I can see a future shed declutter as he will need space to work in there .......... but at least they are out of the house and they are not coming back in
I did put 2 wonky chopping boards and the holder, in the bin too.
This afternoon I have been working my way through my craft stuff. I have some bits of cardboard that I've kept for something, but I can't remember what, so that's going in the recycling bag. I was sorting for 4 hours and it's not finished yet so that's tomorrows project. I have to be very strict with myself or I will relent and put it all back :mad:. I am donating half of everything I have to the DGD and anything that she doesn't want, DD can take to her school for the crafting box. I will have to use stealth though as DSiL eyes any carrier bags I take in their house........ it's become a standing joke between us that I'm surreptitiously moving in :rotfl: . Mind you unbeknown to him I've already taken the dimensions of their garage as my "go to " other home
Everyone seems to be doing a fine job, long may that continue :T

Gem-gem

Watch a programme last night about two people who had sold all their worldly goods - only had what they had on their back.
Then last night I had a dream that we were moving to New Zealand ( which my hubby would love to do) and I was having to clear the clutter ready to pack only essentials into storage containers.
I think my subconscious is talking to me.
I am off sick at the moment, had a medical procedure last week. Have been recouperating at my Mums. Came home today. Whilst unpacking did more decluttering.
13. More Medicines / containers / sanitary ware.
14. Paper / boxes
15. Finished book

somerandom

somerandom wrote: »

6 -9 - items from good quality (bargain) crackers - CS

10-28 - 19 items of clothing to CS
28&29 - 2 items of bric-a-brac to CS
30 - dead leggings - recycling

Most pleased that thanks to this group I resisted buying a Fossil bag in the charity shop today in spite of it being very lovely ! No point de-cluttering if I immediately re-clutter & I have many lovely bags already. :A

choille

Many thanks Mrs SD for all your advice and everyone on here who I am finding inspirational. Even the one thing a day makes me feel that I can do this.
I've had a good sort out of my bedroom window sill - I know, but it was so bad. I've listed three things on ebay that were - (whispered), on the floor, I've started a little pile of stuff for the CS - which will get bigger. I've recycled some stuff that was paperwork & a plastic peg basket that was broken - why am I hoarding this stuff?
I feel better but still overwhelmed with all the stuff I see everywhere but I am starting.
Hooray:T

bit_by_bit

Bags went so 5/60 bags. Took DVDs and computer games as well as books.

Still working on the dining room but getting there.