2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

ruby_eskimo

It's the 4th day of the year and you're already on page 29!  Happy New Year to all you lovely people.

Took a bit of a break over Christmas and didn't get much decluttering done but...DH decorated the kitchen 🤯  Gone are the aubergine walls from the previous occupants, replaced with white, random holes have been filled, the ceiling was patched properly, light fitting replaced and yesterday he started to replace the flooring (needs some of the vinyl sticking down a bit and siliconed round the edge).  On the look out for a new blind for the window but for less than £250 it looks completely different, I just hope he can help me actually keep it clean and tidy now it's done.  Back on the Team TOMM wagon today as again, took a break over Christmas - I basically just read a lot of books over the last week!  So bedrooms today, bed is stripped and sheets are in the wash and will dust and tidy when I've finished work for the day.

Was very glad to receive more useful gifts this year that won't take up a lot of space in the house - mainly vouchers or toiletries that mean I won't have to buy shower gel till next Christmas at this rate, but need to organise them this week and find homes for the things that are staying.

Also I mentioned in the last thread that I plan this year to help my parents with decluttering their house.  Well we went there on Boxing day and it's the first time I've walked through the front door in 2 years...Lets just say they've coped with lockdown by buying stuff.  We came up with a plan - I'm going to go there next weekend and over 2 days clear out my old bedroom which is currently used to store "stuff".  Once that's done, we can use the room to decant the box room the next month and turn that into a spare room for my dad to sleep in when my mum's snoring gets too bad (he's apparently had the bed from ikea waiting to be put together for 18 months).  DH and I will focus on redecorating the box room (even laying carpet because it's tiny, DH's been watching lots of videos on how to do it and it will save them some cash) while they sort out the stuff that was in there.  Next will be the main bedroom, where the problem is literally the amount of clothes my mum has.  That's definitely not going to be an easy thing to sort and she will need my help to remind her that she does not need 27 different coats (there are more, I just stopped counting).  They are hoping to go away to Italy for 2 weeks in May so I've suggested they maybe get their bathroom done then and I can work from their house to supervise the work being done.  Then it will be a new kitchen and finally the lounge.  Throw some new windows and it will be a totally different house by the time the year is out.  DH and I want to help do as much of it as we can to keep the costs down e.g. the decorating and take the stress out of completely renovating the house.  They admitted that they don't want to move but the house just doesn't work for them as it is.  It's a daunting project but I'm sure we'll get there.

Hope everyone had a good break and I'm excited to get cracking on some new projects this year.  

Baxtersmum

Really sorry to hear of your Mums passing @mothernerd sending you a hug 

• 6 items sold on eDay have left the house 
• 5 charity shop items dropped off 

Going to try to rest today, I can feel a flare up coming on, it’s better just to ride it out while snoozing.
Last evening of having the grandchildren here for a few months during the week, back to just Sunday lunches for a while and a sleep over and school drop once a week, I’ll miss them but also not miss them🤪 

EnergyShifter

Sorry for your loss @mothernerd.

dollypeeps

Hello everyone.
Would you mind if I jumped on the decluttering train. I’ve tried in the past and joined some threads but I fallen by the wayside many times… just reading, stalking 😳 and not contributing. This year 🤞I’d like to join in a little more ….if there’s a seat 🙂.

Theres 4 adults at home including me  ( well 2 kidults!) and the 3 seem to make a mess!! But isn’t that always the way, if they don’t see things the way you do?

I don’t think I need a major major declutter ( well dh does 🙄but that’s another story) but getting rid of stuff and not bringing more stuff in, is my goal and then hopefully maintaining it.
I’m currently working in my downstairs shower room, giving it a major clean ( not a lot done through December 😊). Gone though cupboards, cleaned and managed to get rid of a few things including a box of out of date aspirins 😱. So including the aspirins, 4 items have been removed to recycling and the bin.
This afternoon will be tackling the last of the Christmas decorations and I’ll be looking closely to see what can be culled.

I think my overall 2022 goals are to be a more mindful consumer.

Hope everyone is enjoying this little bit of sunshine we are having..it’s warming my back nicely as I’ve taken a (well deserved) coffee break and sat here typing.

Happy New Year to everyone whatever your goals 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, page 28 !!!!! I last posted on page 3 !!!! So much to catch up with, I have sort of read all the posts but I can't remember all of it
Belated happy New year to everyone, welcome to all the new people and lovely to see everyone who has changed onto the EDT from the old chara who helped me so much last year and special thanks to Mrs SD.

@mothernerd, so sorry to hear about your Mum, after all your work over the last nearly 2years keeping her safe and well how galling for her to get the dreaded virus while in hospital. Please look after yourself, big hug.
@charlies_tribe, good luck sorting the unit. I have something similar where I put a lot of stuff when I virtually emptied the house to get it rewired and started the Dakar rally to get my house sorted. I look forward to hearing you have achieved this aim as it will give me hope I can sort mine
@Vascodakarma I just want to join in the congratulations on your journey last year, it really is wonderful to see how your hard work has changed your life
@marrob with your stash of fabric and wool you might be interested in the fashion on the ration challenge where there are some very lovely people who sew and knit all sorts of lovely things, if you have time for 2 threads
@bit_by_bit congratulations on the grandbabies they bring such joy and your point about using things struck a chord with me. I started off well last year using things like perfume samples etc but I fell out of the habit so I am going to start doing that again. As far as things  like glasses go I do have quite a few but I do use them all the time for any cold drinks and often have my orange juice in a champagne glass We do break them sometimes but no longer do I keep things for best.
There is a lot of other things I was going to say but I have been distracted by my phone and it has gone from my mind
Over the last few days I have done a few things, finished 2 scarves and packaged them up to go in the post today, they are in the car boot and I will be taking them to the post office shortly along with a small parcel to Germany. OH has a nephew there and I sent a small purse to the great neice which was part of a set from Peru and was really nice but too small to really use, nephew's wife took a shine to it and I have found the middle size one so I am sending that for her, only use the big one. 
I have emptied all the bins in the house, put out the recycling, cleared the kitchen and prepped some veg for some soup which has decluttered the fridge and the veg rack. I have done a lot of decluttering from my laptop but need to do a lot more. I have my to do list for today and identified my frog to be done by friday.
I have been doing a bit of thinking about mental health type things and have decided to do 2 things. Firstly I heard on another thread about doing 1000 hours outdoors during the year. Always feel better when I have been outside. Secondly I was inspired by the 3 hour telephone conversation, sorry I can't remember who posted, and I have decided to make more effort to stay in touch with people I might even write a few letters and declutter some of my stationary
Well off to the post office,
Take care everyone

TheCraftyForager

So sorry to hear about your Mum @mothernerd. 

Thrifty_Taylor

Just popping in to send massive hugs to @mothernerd. I'm so sorry to hear your news, thinking of you all x

Will update my numbers later

2Scratters

Hi Peeps,
Mrs SD been delayed in booking my seat (spent too much time reading up) but not too worried you will be picking up many strays along the way. Having worked 12hr shifts plus extras helping out the NHS has hindered me getting ready. Not a good excuse really but here I am. I'll hop on and then catch up with everyone whilst catching my breath
Intentions for this year will continue with the loft an item shall come down each time I go up there. DH has already had a head start with this as the mouse trap with peanut butter has been successful with decluttering x 2 in 2 days. Needs to check today
New kitchen is the mission for this year- as half the kitchen is in different rooms in the bungalow. Would also love the get the bathroom done too.
In the mean time I will be continuing with my tasks of the declutter and will be aiming to convert into recycled pennies. Things and space is showing up more and more at a steady pace so happy with that.

Here's to 2022

2Scratters x

daisy_1571

Mothernerd so sorry to hear about your mum. Even when expected it can still feel a bit unexpected.  Please take a wee bit time to take care of yourself and the admin that inevitably follows, some will need done now but don't dash into trying to do it all now this minute.

Wishing you peace knowing you absolutely did your best for her and that lots of memories of happy times surface now when talking with your family

Daisy xx


Dont read just now, but once youre ready to think about the future:


Keeping her safe and well took up a great deal of your time and energies (which was exactly the right thing you wanted to be doing i know) and a lot of time and energies and emotions will be involved in clearing her home.  Please accept any help offered and if its not offered...ask.  people genuinely mean it when they say if you need anything just let me know.  They might not think what to offer to do but give them a specific task and likely they will be happy to do it.  For example you can sort away inside the house in your own way and to your own time, bringing things that will all go to the same place to front door or garden then a helpful person could arrive at a predetermined time and take a carload to the one place for example tip for stuff to be chucked and cardboard glass etc recycled, or to a charity shop.  Remember places like cash for clothes might be available you don't run the risk of the person being turned away from a full charity shop with a car full of clothes.  They don't give much money but they will take clothes, linens, shoes, handbags etc etc so a lot can go at once and if you wanted to, maybe tell the person to keep the money gained for their petrol (or half it or whatever proportion based on how much).  The benefit is knowing its just one place for a variety of items all easily bagged, that way you are not imposing on their goodwill and you can ask again another time.  More efficient for your strength than you trundling things in your trolley for weeks since there is likely to be a lot.  If you have furniture you arent keeping, giving away or selling, a charity shop might collect it and any bags at the same time.

Or if you can clear a bit space allocate rooms or areas within rooms and then you have a space where you know you are putting stuff to go to x y or z.  Maybe allocate a room with door closed (or a lockable cupboard) stick a big label on the door and use it for stuff you are keeping.  You will know what's what, but a helpful person may just think it is all to go and take away the photos, the essential paperwork and whatever else that you have carefully been storing.  In my view labels are your friend, a4 bits of paper stuck on the wall with blutack with either where its going 'British heart foundation', 'for Paul'  or what it is 'electricals-working' 'empty suitcases' etc etc then people don't keep checking things that have already been checked.

Having gone through the breaking up of 2 large houses, I sometimes feel its better for just one person doing the sorting otherwise you just get too many ideas for whether to keep, donate, chuck etc and time gets lost to discussion.   If you have a helpful person who is on the same page as you (or at least not the opposite opinions) who could be used as your 'arms and legs' bringing things to your chair and taking them to the correct pile that would maybe get things moving even on days when you don't feel so good.

You have probably thought of this already but I hope its helpful to see a few ideas written down.  I hope you don't mind me offering these suggestions, all offered with love for you to take or disregard as you see fit
Dxx

princesskitty29

I haven’t caught up on all posts yet but I wanted to post now as I’ll probably never get to post if I wait until I’ve caught up! 

I’ve managed a few things here since the new year began, I sold a highchair on FB which has been collected and DH and I had a mini clear out of the playroom. I wanted to have a proper clear out in there before Christmas but time got away from me, there’s still more to get rid of so that’s high on my list. My two boys played with their playdoh yesterday as DS2 got some more for Christmas so I took the opportunity to go through all of the pots and cleared out quite a few that were old and dry and no good to use anymore. I have cleaned out the microwave and emptied and cleaned the tupperware cupboard, this is the start of my spring cleaning - I’d like to clean out and declutter all cupboards and drawers in the house so I imagine my spring cleaning with last all year!

Mrs SD thank you so much for my award, it’s exciting to get a medal even if it is virtual! You do such an amazing job cheering everyone on, I think you should get one yourself!