2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

bit_by_bit

greent said:

bit_by_bit said:
 I wanted to metntion to all declutterers intending to send Christmas decs to the charity shop. If you want to give decs and trees to the CS it is best that you hang on to them until October. I put them in a separate labelled bag/box and put them in the loft with a reminder in my diary. Sounds organised but I saw that they threw perfectly good decs a few years ago as they had nowhere to store them. Not everyone can do this obviously but it is something to think about.

May be worth checking with local CS as to their policy. I volunteer at one and we take and keep Xmas things from now (if we were open) and put them aside in a special holding area labelled Xmas - it's then not looked at again until Nov - but things aren't thrown out.

Thanks for that greent. I am only going on the one I work at. Each one has its own rules. I just hate the waste. 

bit_by_bit

@skint_chick  you could fill the carrier bag with stuff for the food bank or CS and they would at least have a second life then.   
I have not done anything today but cleared out half my shed at the allotment yesterday (its as cluttered as my room of doom). It was very pleasant as I had my wood burner going while I was there.
I cleaned the car when I got back put stuff from there into the bin. Slept well. Yay.

Betharooni

dND said:

Hi everyone and Happy New Year.

This thread is moving so fast I really can’t keep up – so well done everyone as that must be a lot of decluttering done.

I’m sticking to not setting any targets as that works best for me by not inducing any stress.

Christmas tree is down and all decorations packed away and in the loft.  Over the last couple of years I’ve forced myself to look at all the decorations and bin any that are broken and re-home any that I won’t use.  I still have a lot as I like to have different themes each year.  This year I put up some of the window stickers that I’ve had for years but not used and realised that they annoy me as I can’t see the birds out in the garden as easily.  So, the 2 packets of those I have will be wending their way to the charity shop once I feel it’s safe enough to frequent the shops again. I’m also expecting France to go into lockdown again before this pandemic is over.

I’m still working my way through piles and boxes of ‘stuff’ that I have, many of which are undergoing their second or third sort as I steel myself to let go of more.  My main push for January, assuming no lockdown, will be to get rid of some of the farm equipment I have as I no longer have my alpacas.  I then must concentrate on adding value to all the fleeces I have.  They need cleaning, grading and processing which removes a reasonable volume, so I guess it’s a sort of decluttering!

In the house I’m generally keeping on top of the junk mail coming in, I don’t know about you but I’m always amazed by how much comes in over a week and by how much recycling I generate even though I cook from scratch.

Overall, the pile of stuff that I have no idea what to do about but don’t feel that I should bin, is getting smaller – I try and glance over it a few times a day and if I see something that I feel I can deal with, then it gets done there and then.  I’ve also learnt to stop once I feel I’m going into overload on decision making. I leave it until I feel fresh and able to make decisions that I will be happy with in the long term.  That way I’m happy to get on with letting things go; a long process but much shorter than not getting anything out of the house or moping about things I’ve disposed of and now really regret getting rid of.

dND xx

Hi @dND

I bought a no junk mail sticker for my letterbox and it’s probably reduced our weekly paper recycling by almost half. Is that something you could do?

B x

Viking_mfw

Day 5 of the Minimalists Challenge
I am not counting decluttering DS1's selection box by eating the contents. Even I agree that would be a step too far!
1) dvd writer sold on gumtree
2) cable ditto
3) excess seeds parcelled up and ready to be delivered around neighbours on afternoon exercise walk
4) jars of marmalade to a couple of neighbours (expect more of these in days to come... possibly counting individually by then!) 
5) book to my sister 

Tomorrow will be accounted for by a we buy books parcel being collected... although I have not struggled to date I am beginning to think I may have more issues going forward. But let's see!

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. KITCHEN WILL CONTINUE TO BE LEFT CLEAN & TIDY EVERY NIGHT

2. JUST DO ONE THING EVERY DAY (courtesy of bit_by_bit) OTHER THAN DAY TO DAY CLEANING & DECLUTTERING 
3. CLEAN ONE ROOM (TOP TO BOTTOM) EVERY MONTH (hopefully 3 weekly by the end of the year)

Well Tuesday morning went the wrong way - I not only forgot to set the alarm, I also forgot to get up 😉 It is another dark, damp, dreary day which is not conducive to raising energy levels 🤷‍♀️ I have had my daily cup of tea & now have my first coffee whilst watching the last episode of the 2nd series of V. SYFY is also going to start showing the 2009 remake 🥳 
I have gathered together the ingredients to make a Bolognese sauce so that will be my first task, then an hm soup. Just taken delivery of parcel for DH which he has opened - dust sheets, sugar soap & masking tape - so no excuse not to start prepping our bedroom for decorating 😱. I have dismantled the cardboard box - recycled

46 - 50 Two newspapers, kitchen recycling, cardboard box, paper packaging - Recycled

Good work Lover_of_Lycra 👏

One of the advantages of decluttering lynnsey30, is that your mindset changes leading to decluttering BEFORE stuff becomes clutter 😉 Well done 👏

Well done ruby_eskimo 👏 Good luck with the work bag contents 🤞

Glad to hear that you are feeling a bit more energetic KatyLovesCats 🙂 & good luck with tackling the cupboards 🤞

Excellent work vulpix 👏

Great work VickyV 👏 By the way, if you have rinsed & recycled the empty beer & wine bottles then it absolutely does count 😉

Wow dND you have been busy 👏 Really well done on binning the broken decorations - I do realise it can be difficult as often you convince yourself that they might be rescued 😉
I do agree that anything that gets in the way of watching the birds in your garden should be donated 😉 🙂 I am very impressed that you are revisiting boxes 👏 and your decision making pile. I have not been brave enough to leave out a pile of stuff to make a decision on - my ‘awaiting decision stuff’ just gets shoved into a box 😞 You have found a system that works for you & because you are so dedicated one Gold Star ⭐️  is on its way to you - by airmail 🙂 You give us all hope 👏

Great work bit_by_bit 👏 Sounds like you slept the sleep of the righteous 🙂

Thanks for the suggestion Betharooni 👏 I know it is odd, but I quite like getting junk mail - reminds me of all the things I do not want to buy 😂

I am very impressed Viking_mfw 👏🙂 I never got past Day 3 😞 However, I am very encouraged by your determination & I might (might being the operative word 😉) just try again. 

See you all later 🙂

MrsSD

Decluttering Target: 2021    50/2021

Savings Pot:

lynnsey30

Plenty of recycling done today ready for the binmen tomorrow. Made a lentil and bacon soup for lunch with lots left over so will freeze when it's cooled. Paid down some debts not bad for a Tuesday

ClaireT13

Wow this thread moves so fast it's hard to keep up. You do a great job of it though @Mrs_Salad_Dodger!

I haven't done much on the tidy or declutter front in the last 2 days as I have invested the time in getting my 2 DS's into a home schooling pattern which should serve me will in the long run - I hope.  DS1 who is 14 next week, really needs me to sit with him, so I'm trying to give him the tools to make him more independent.

Last night, just as Boris locked us down, the oven went bang! DH threatening to look at it but has spent more time "researching" the answer than doing anything. Who knew social media would give him the answer!!  I've politely reminded him, he can fix it but the longer it takes the more takeaways I will have to buy!!

OWD_nana

Just lost my post. Will try a$gain. Wow page 42 on the 5th January, everyone is really going for it.
I am aiming for 500 items decluttered this year.
So far 1.New baby card posted from stock. 2-3 .Two large tree decorations gifted to my DD. 4.- Notebook ordered for myself (i do love stationery) given to DD also she started a new job today and i hadnt realised it wasnt lined. 5 - 6 Two batteries recycled 7. Tealights- foil recycled minus wax & wick. 8. Pair of boot socks to charity bag 9. Pair of xmas socks given to friend -too tight on me. 10. Box of miniture xmas decorations given to friends granddaughter. 11. Xmas cards- backs cut off & recycled. Fronts kept for local elderly day centre (where i volunteer, when allowed) to remake into new cards. And small ones kept for tags. 12. uu bottle of oven cleaner. Bottle & card holder recycled. Ashamed to say I dont do this often enough. 13. uu tub of Va..lene . Been in bathroom cabinet a long time. Caz

Willowtree222

Decluttered half my nerves after last night's announcement. Might not get them back. X

gilly1964

Hi All

I am back in the home office, still waiting to hear when the redundancy date is and we will then get our spare room back which will be in a mission in itself as it has become a dumping ground in the last 10 months.

Last year I tried to count everything as an item and it was too confusing keeping the count whilst working from home with my decluttering crew doing the honours in the background.


Everyone is doing well so far

For this year I am aiming for 365 items, but won't be counting the minutiae

1. Santa and his reindeer   (Broken outdoor decoration)
2. Broken Christmas baubles
3. Broken candle decoration
4. Elephant                         (Sad about this as a souvenir from our honeymoon, I dropped it)
5. Lots of cardboard
6. Lots of glass bottles       (Prosecco, Vodka, Malibu, Gin, Beer - can you see the pattern)
7. Advent calendar             (finished the chocs in it)
8. Toilet seat                      (our son broke it when he sat on it, he is now on a diet   )
9. Christmas Cards           (made into labels for 2021 and remainder recycled)
10. Jigsaw                           (passed to friend to do in lockdown)

Please all stay safe and well

Best wishes for 3021  xx