2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

retiredinfrance

So sorry for your loss TC77, the sunny memories are always there to comfort you.
Thankyou , Mrs SD, for my medal on reaching 100+, and sorry for being so long in thanking you.
Your inspirational post will remain long with us all and I am glad I have you all , my friends, in this forum.

Decluttering is steady.
5 hanks of cotton to CS
7 books to CS
1 pyjama jacket to rag recycling
2 scarves to CS
1 pile paper to recycling
5 books of UK Christmas stamps and some others- horrified at the cash they represent. These are going to DS as the 3 grandchildren all send lots of cards to us relatives.I used to bring my Christmas cards over to the UK to post in early December and always made sure I was well stocked.
1 pile rubbish from the search for all the stamps. I'm definitely claiming this.

total=22+102= 124/365

I am blessed with good health, but was given tablets for a minor problem and I have stopped them due to the side effects - the worst  was a dreadful anxiety and panic attacks and at least three other physical ones. I'm on the mend now , but it made me realise how easy it is to send hugs and thoughts to posters suffering from illness and grief.
 I have the greatest respect for you, keeping going through your troubles. 

bit_by_bit

@daisy_1571 I think you have hit the nail on the head re attitiude of others. 

An emotionally heavy and physically tiring weekend.

Saturday was the burial of one of the friends who died of cancer a little while ago. I was more uset than I thought I would be, partially ,I think, because  of who she has left behind but also because of a sense of luck/guilt that I am still here. Like me this lady was busy busy busy with life but she and her DH spent a lot of time with shared interests which means he has some happy memories to fall back on. It was a lovely funeral if it can be called that.

In the afternoon I was at the charity shop absolutely shattered but glad I went because I picked up something a friend had been looking for for a long time.

Sunday we moved the furniture around so now I have space for the dat bed to go into the craft room. No energy to do it but I will allocate some time in the week to complete the next phase of tidying in there once the bed is up.

DS2 let us down yesterday so the drawers are waiting to be loaded into the van in the hallway after he takes his stuff hopefully today. The end is in sight for this moving of stuff plan. Just waiting on DD to leave home then even her stuff will be gone.

Siebrie

DD1 and husband were out most of the weekend (separately) to their friends, dd2 was minecrafting, and it was raining, so after reading to my heart's content, I did small bouts of clearing. I would look in a corner, pick up whatever was hiding there, and, mostly, throw it out. Some items made it to the donation bag in the attic, but not many. Lots of old paper/crafts that were all crumpled up and dusty. DDs are supposed to store their own arts, and look after whatever they made. I'm presuming that because they don't look after the things they made, they don't want to keep them (we do discuss them after they finish them or bring them home, and I let them be the judge of how proud they are). Some items they are really proud of, and those we put up on the wall or the tv cabinet.

DDs and I are visiting my parents for the spring break; I am planning to take 3 wooden children's seats/tables (they have different functions by positioning them differently) that were made by my ex-bil for his daughter. My sister passed them on to me when I had my eldest. It's time they go back to my ex-bil so he can fix them up and gift them to his dd again, who is now 24 and living together with her longterm boyfriend. Besides, we are about to renovate our home and need to get rid of some larger items!

2Scratters

@Primrose maybe if he is just not engaging in an effort you put your own stuff into the waste bin either just before collection and slip a small "mistaken identity" of his in there too. I would choose very small items. Again like others have suggested (and also a bit kinder too) how about moving items that are untidy into a like with like as a starter. Even if he gets upset there is a simple rationale for that to occur.  There are also other reasons of health benefits of too much stuff i.e holding dirt and dust along with the mental wellbeing issues this can bring.
I don't seem to have moved much at all this week, that's probably because most is out of site I have, however, noticed this week I have a corner wardrobe cupboard with 5 empty shelves,(clearly not been in there for a while, this happened as I really wanted a hall shoe cupboard and that was completed over 4 months ago!)  this is this weeks focus on what to put into there and it will be a good thing to do as will start a snowball move too. Tomorrow is our general waste bin day to need to find bits to put into there, its a shame for the lads to drag a half full bin

Stay safe and warm Peeps
2Scratters xx

Floss

2Scratters said:

@Primrose maybe if he is just not engaging in an effort you put your own stuff into the waste bin either just before collection and slip a small "mistaken identity" of his in there too. I would choose very small items. Again like others have suggested (and also a bit kinder too) how about moving items that are untidy into a like with like as a starter. Even if he gets upset there is a simple rationale for that to occur.  There are also other reasons of health benefits of too much stuff i.e holding dirt and dust along with the mental wellbeing issues this can bring.

This could have the opposite effect as mentioned previously, to clear someone's things without their knowledge or permission can result in total resistance as well as upset. 

-taff

Another vote for doing your own stuff first and then hoping that the partner will see items being rehomed or recycled and then applying that mindset to their own stuff. Happened with me and the OH. After he saw how ruthlessly I was going through through my stuff hanging aorund and not being used he jumped on the bandwagon with no prompting. At one point he was telling me not to get rid of my stuff....

I still have CS bags and an ever growing pile of things waiting to to be taken to the recycling centre or tip as I used to call it but am still waiting for my car to do it. Hopefully I'll get it back this week. After 4 months of not using or having it I am nowhere near thinking it's for the best. I really miss it. Mostly for friend socialising and shopping.

Happy_Kitties

🎉another 9 neutral items sent to charity organiser =50 items sent so far

in general
🎉42.  Candle and t-lights sold on the bay of e 
🎉43.  Packaging for the candles and neutral items used up
🎉44.  Another shower gel used up

hopefuldebtfree

Hi everyone, hugs to those who need them. I've been loving catching up with everyone's posts although I'm currently on page 96 so a little at the back of the train. I've faltered and stalled and a few particular areas and items and I'm hoping all of my lovely fellow passengers could help? I'm shuffling around cards given to me/us for Birthdays etc. I know it's daft to keep them all but I'm struggling to part with them, what does everyone do with these kind of things? Also clothes, they're a massive part of my clutter and are a major sticking point for me.  So many things I've bought that I still cant wear (cant fit into yet) and I know I should try to sell them to recoup some money (some extra cash would certainly be handy but I can manage without it) do I try to sell and give myself a time limit to sell or should I just get rid of the clothes that are very much now in the way, cut my losses and enjoy the space that's left by them going. Also some things I know I'll never wear, my tastes or fashion has changed.  Any help and or advice very gratefully received. 
Back off now to my carriage on page 96 but I'll be hopefully have caught up with you all soon x

florianatwobob

@hopefuldebtfree welcome back 👋🏻 

Re cards I keep the ones that mean something to me. My sister often finds very arty ones so some of those get framed as pictures. The others just squirrelled away. 

Re selling ‘stuff’ if it’s a well known online auction site I generally give them 2 or 3 rounds of listing and if they don’t sell off to the charity shop they go. Books etc I pass on the friends or via one of the FB selling/swapping pages or off to charity. It depends on the book. 

Once in the habit of moving things along you stop feeling quite so attached to things as they’ve fulfilled their purpose. 

vulpix

TC 77 I very sorry to hear about your Dad xxxx

 Well my party weekend went well. DD1’s vegan hipster party and then Nephews young farmers hog roast. I enjoyed both very much. Mr V and I did our party piece at DD1’s do. We dance and sing to midnight train to Georgia as if we are “The Pips”. 

 Today I have cleaned the house and am now waiting for DD1 and BF to return the disco kit. Tomorrow they move to Shetland 😢I will miss them/her very much. 

 The roofers are here. Thankfully. I heard slates slipping during the night. 

 I have crossed off about 16 things off my to do list. The remaining things have become frogs. 🐸 🐸 🐸. 

 Primrose, I began decluttering and DH just joined in after a while. He would still like to keep everything but can see the benefit of owning less. I wouldn’t say we are minimalist now. We still have far more than we will ever need. Good luck with it. X PS he had a new dressing gown for Christmas. The old one and new one are hung side by side. I am playing the long game with this one. He will notice eventually. 🤦‍♀️

 I have not yet had to buy any toiletries or cleaning materials this year. I am looking forward to running out of things! 

 Keep safe everyone Vx