2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

ruby_eskimo

@vulpix I am the same with food, I grew up in a household where food was the answer to all problems.  I was an active child but also very overweight.  I managed to get things a little more under control once I moved out but it's still been a struggle.  I've spent this year trying to get a better relationship with food and I think I'm finally starting to make progress, thanks to a couple of books and podcasts.  It's something to focus on for next year too, now that I think I've finally dealt with the toxic mess I was in for 5 years at my last job and put it behind me.  

-taff

I got a wool one last year too, a 4 tog one, it saw us through the winter with one or two blankets on top. I was used to the weight of a 10 tog feather one and this is a lot lighter although I have noticed it seems much weightier since i put the flanelette duvet cover on it, it's less inclined to wander round the bed, probably due to the friction between it and the bottom sheet, also flanelette, so OH has a much harder time trying to steal the covers now. I even have some left in the mornings...

Think I've done my final decluttering unless I book a tip trip next week. Soft plastics, two big bags, to recycle, three black bags of clothes sold at cash for clothes, things gone to the CS, all wrapping in recycle bin [ we had Christmas with friends on Sunday and I've only just realised now wonder they want to come here, I get the joy of tidying afterwards,so this time I made a point about the wrapping paper being recycleable and gave them back any bags that presents came in. I already have a bag of bags, so I also gave one a big handful of bottle present bags to use again.

My plan is to go through the house with a vengenace come the new year, but other than that I am done for now I think. Happy Old year decluttering and well done

short_bird

2484: small dish broken
2495-2486: 100 emails deleted
2487-2517: items to rubbish or recycling 
Not at work till 6pm tomorrow pending a negative lateral flow test and the entertainment industry staying open... Probably carrying on till the end of December as clearing at least one deck would be a good move 

EnergyShifter

Well after my sprint to the finishing line yesterday I kept on jogging and today started to get rid of more stuff - mostly clothes.  I'm "banking it" for next years challenge - bending the rules slightly   Took a bag to the CS, returned something to the shops and hand-delivered some more cards.  Also bought food for Christmas Dinner.  

Great question @oceanspirit !- I think this was the case for me to some extent up until the last few years.  I've been finding parting with things easier since then but I have strange sticking points which I think relate mostly to the life I imagined when I bought something.  For example I have a Reiss pinstripe skirt & a beautiful Knomo laptop case from when I first became self-employed and I imagined I'd be working in businesses in person and wanted to look the part.  Even before Covid I was working mostly from home and the businesses I did go into tended to be tech companies where I would look out of place wearing them . I don't even want to work in a corporate environment now.  But  struggle to part with them for some reason.  So for me, a key to my next level of discarding will be working on updating my vision of  the life I want to lead and letting go of things if they no longer fit.

Oh, and I also find it hard to part with blankets - because I love them (and hate the cold) - I'm now obsessed with the idea of a wool duvet after reading about them here. 

Thank you for my gold star Mrs SD.  

Chieveley

I have found my wool duvet for all seasons (fogarty from dunelm) not warm enough (bought Sep20) it had no tog rating. So have reverted to my polyester 10.5 tog. Trying to find a reasonably priced non polyester mattress cover, hoping for a sale bargain

Vascodakarma

Watching the numbers go up on my Smart Meter whenever I put the heating on and ‘forget’ it - it’s not on a timer - I think I’m going to treat myself to an electric blanket as well - a penny an hour to run apparently 🤷‍♀️

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, well apart from about 3 feet of worktop and the fridge the kitchen was done yesterday. The floor was mopped to within an inch of it's life, it was a disgrace, especially the bit behind the bin and veg rack which doubles as shopping bag holder for OH. The absolute worst bit was the under sink cupboard. I don't know how I got so much stuff in there. I currently have 5 bags for life full waiting to be put back when the plumber has finished tomorrow. I was exhausted by the time I got to it as I had already done the bathroom and toilet and most of the kitchen. I didn't sort it as I went just put most of it into bags but I did bin the most disgusting stuff. It is damp in there and I am sure when I put stuff back a lot more will be binned as well as from the last bit of worktop. I managed to bin 2 bin bags full from the whole kitchen and I have told OH it has to be kept that way, we shall see.
I had very little sleep last night despite being exhausted I just couldn't catch it and was just dropping off when OH decided to have a bath as had back ache, at 5am. The boiler woke me up. I eventually got about 3 hours but had to be up for a funeral. When I got home tired and cold I had a butty and a cup of tea and went back to bed for a few hours sleep. I had claimed a too good to go box from Mr M, first time I have tried this, went to collect it when I got up. It contained  a bag of baby carrott, a bag of carrots sticks, a stew pack a tray of mushrooms, a large pineapple, 4 avocadoes, a small hovis sliced loaf,  small mr.M wholemeal sliced loaf, 4 crispy cobs, 4 hot dog rolls, 4 choc chip cookies and 2 chocolate twist pastries. I thought that was quite good for £3.05 , oh yes nearly forgot, a growing pack of chives and a pack of curly leaf parsley and a piece of white stilton. The bread went straight into the freezer and I am planning on using most of the veg along with a few bits I have lurking in the fridge to make some soup tomorrow. The pineapple is fine but the avocados might not make it as they really were ready to use but I didn't have any cream / creme frais to make guacomole. I might try slicing them and having them on a butty but even if they go to the compost still worth the money and I will try for another box after Christmas. It all came in a banana box which I have kept to try for storage as they are so highly recommended by Vulpix but I've never been able to get hold of 1 before.
@mothernerd, once again you amaze me and I would like to echo Vulpix in offering my services to help you, not sure exactly where you are but I have a car so unless I need a passport to get to you I can get there. Please take care and make sure you have a lovely Christmas. I hope being back in your own home will bring you joy.
Well done everyone on all the hard work, you are an inspiration to me.
@Mrs SD, thank you for my star.
Falling asleep now so take care everyone
Edited to add also forgot to say there was an individual quiche when OH had as it had bacon in and an individual portion of fruit cake in the box, think that's it

vulpix

 ruby-eskimo without over sharing my Mum was dealing with a lot of grief when I was a child and I was well looked after and constantly fed ,but it was jam butties and milky ways! left to my own devices I would prefer to only eat bread and chocolate even now! Under stress that is exactly what I eat! I have a constant battle to make myself eat properly.  I became a good cook and always sat at the table for meals for the sake of my children and it worked, they are not like me and cook for themselves and sit at a table to eat. I go through phases of how strong I am for eating properly and my weight fluctuates. I am self aware but I doubt I will ever be able to do better than will power to deal with it. Thank goodness the kids are not like me.

 Well done for getting away from a horrible job.x

 Vx

ruby_eskimo

Sending you hugs @vulpix; my mum was dealing with depression and anxiety most of her life and food was her coping mechanism rather than dealing with her emotions and feelings.  I learnt to cope with "big" feelings the same way, and when I had a bad day at school she would encourage me to eat chocolate, biscuits and crisps to make me "feel better",  but now know differently.  Thankfully my mum is getting the help she needs now after finally finding an understanding GP that knows her behaviour is due to anxiety and not that she's just being difficult!  

DH has just realised he has time off over Christmas (🙄) and we have no plans so he's going to decorate the kitchen!  Was on my list of projects for next year but if he want's to do it sooner then I'm not going to stop him.  Will mean we can have a bit more of a declutter of some of the cupboards maybe, so may have a last ditch effort before 2022 starts.

StickyTheStickInsect

I’ve been missing in action again, no decluttering to report, I’ve been poorly and DS1 has had COVID. He’s been fine, no symptoms at all and thank you to who posted about London Underground Labyrinths, it’s given DS1 something to look forward to doing when he’s released from his isolation. He’s obsessed with the Tube and has already told me that next year he plans to visit every station, I think he’d get on well with your DH Mrs SD!