2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

QueenJess

Decluttering from DS’s room
2798-2807 - sticker/activity books
2808-2811 - packaging
2812-2888 - random tat
2889-2912 - magazines
2913-2964 - broken Lego bricks
2964 - tin counted previously but now found a use for
2965-2967 - boxes
2968-2980 - cardboard (used as roads)
2981-2989 - plastic bags
2990-3039 - stones/sticks/bits of bark
3040-3045 - random paper

I need to do a bit of sorting in the room of doom tonight as it is properly horrific. It will make me feel better to do something.

2Scratters

DH worked hard today as he had a telephone interview which lasted an hour, I was in his presence to assist him where needed and then he decided after that and a cup of tea to tackle another pile of question paper that will need posting out. Missed it being turned into a frog An old useless pillow being placed in the bin for tomorrows collection along with kitchen detritus too.
Well done to all getting through some tough times and challenges. 
Enjoy this weeks second wind of summer and for those who have not had the rain do your best with making any water do 2 jobs.

2Scratters xx

mhagster

Huge big shifts decluttered for the week. Oooft it was a crazy busy one.

Went round to mums with DD2 and her ‘friend’ who’s not her boyfriend….hmmm! Anyway he very kindly helped lug beds downstairs and outside, so I can now arrange a collection form local council to take away. Was waiting till it was all out. This was a massive help to me. 

Found two more books under the bed…magazines from 2009. Tissues. A pop sock! A plate! Like a platter type thing you might put on a dressing table. It’s quite pretty but also how random! 

So I really am almost done in the house. 10 weeks of almost daily clearing. 

Nipped into see NDN for 5 minutes…90 minutes later 😆

EnergyShifter

Thank you GrannyKate, DeniDebtFree, Floriana, RetiredinFrance, TC77, SickytheStickInsect & Mrs SD for your kind messages 💕💕💕 (apologies if I missed anyone)

Sending hugs to anyone in the group who needs it

Wildrose

Still way off schedule for decorating my bedroom. I was engulfed by a horrible stress-hangover, I felt dreadful both physically & mentally. DS in hospital tested positive for covid & has to stay in his room & has been told they won't start any real treatment for a week now but if he tries to leave he'll be sectioned. We're trying to show support & love from a distance.

Despite all the joys I got rid of some clutter yesterday. 3 bags to the cs, 1 of rags to the clothes bank. Loads of recycling into the bin, it had piled up over the weekend. Went with DD1 to nearby town where I bought replacement pillows for manky ones and a new bathmat. So 2 old pillows and a bath mat will be binned today. Didn't bin them last night as feeling downright odd with this stress response.  Instead of doing anything useful or even properly relaxing I had a sugar binge.

Today I'm planning to work on the wardrobe and a couple of bedside cabinets that are now in my living room. If I can empty the cabinets today I'll offer them on the local give away page. I have a vintage (70s. Vintage!!) crockery set stored in the wardrobe. "Woods" England stamped on the bottom. I love it but I don't need it and don't have space for it. None of my children are into vintage - don't know where I went wrong there - so I'd like to sell it but don't know how to work out the value. 

Keep on keeping on to all who are struggling with clutter and life. x

EnergyShifter

Wildrose - what a difficult time you are having.  This time last year my DS was being sectioned and I too was on my knees .  I am so so  sorry to hear that your son has tested positive for Covid to make the situation even more complicated.  Gently decluttering sounds like a great way to resource yourself.  Sending love & wishes for strength your way  

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hugs @Wildrose, that sort of stress is horrendous.  My sis has been hospitalised in the past for MH struggles.  
Sending love and hugs to you all .

Also sorry your offspring are not into vintage!  Hopefully you can sell your crockery set

xx

QueenJess

DS’s room has been done now apart from his clothes that I can’t face at the moment. I have a couple of drawers downstairs with kids stuff in that I also need to think about, but my brain is a bit overloaded at the moment.

I have the largest mess of all time to clear up now. I spent the morning sorting out DS’s books into piles and need to do the same thing with DD. Just need to work out what to do with the ones that are for now. I’m convinced with DD less is better and swapping in and out is good. For DS I’m not convinced about taking away books at all and his half empty shelves make me sad; but then I am a massive book fan. Can’t quite decide whether to stick with it or put the sorted ones back. Too many decisions at the moment. It all feels very overwhelming and I realise I probably do have less than the average amount of stuff for a family. I really feel for those of you working through loved ones possessions as that must be such a huge mental drain.

I thought I was doing really well, but we’ve got rid of so much (and really I think there’s more to do), that I can’t have been doing anywhere near as well as I thought. It’s really disappointing. I keep wondering where all this stuff comes from, but as I am in charge of getting whatever our family needs, it must be my fault. I really must be over buying and need to try a bit harder 🤔. I have to say though my parents buy loads of clothes so that isn’t my fault and we have barely bought any toys at all for the kids, so that isn’t my fault either (I’ve given up on family listening to me on that one). I am noted with myself though as I could be spending quality time with the kids rather than continuously looking after all this junk (tidying, decluttering, sorting etc) and not sure why I only just realised we have far too much.

I’ve been reading a few minimalist things online as inspiration. Loads of them are badly written and love to suggest that you get rid of loads of things and then are done - that is absolutely not true at all and more so with kids. People change and what you use change, so there will always need to be a level of decluttering which steps right up with kids. I found one comment that talked about toddlers being the most overwhelming time as they just need the most paraphernalia, which made me feel slightly better. I also found very few that talked about layers of decluttering and once you do the first lot, you go back again and find more things to get rid of and that it is a journey rather than a specific destination. I think this is where I am. I’ve been decluttering for years and years, but I always find a bit more to get rid of. It’s getting pretty tough on my stuff, but the problem is actually all the new stuff coming in (mostly for kids and >50% isn’t from me). I need to find a better maintenance method I think for going through the kids things. Maybe looking as much as once a month for DD since she is changing so quickly at the moment and slightly less for DS? Will have to give it some thought.

Will try and do some clearing up with the rest of today as I currently feel like I’ve made everything worse rather than better with the state of the room of doom. I also have time carved out for quality play time with DS as that is important to me.

Anyway, DS did more excellent decluttering with a huge pile of colouring/activity pages this morning. He’s a star!

3046-3053 - random stuff
3054-57 - books
3058-3059 - plastic drawers
3060-3061 - mega bloks sets
3062 - batteries
3063-3067 - digital notes deleted
3068-70 - packaging
3071-72 - 2 packs of stamps
3073-79 - stones
3080-81 - plastic bags
3082-3363 - paper (colouring/activity pages etc)

florianatwobob

I’m just going to take some time in the TLC carriage as I’m currently overwhelmed too. 

On top of the snagging list and general house stuff being in the wrong place still the fridge freezer, specifically the fridge half, is on the blink. It’s currently a glorified cupboard as it’s refusing to ‘do’ cold. 

I called the local appliance fixer and he thinks it’s probably overworked itself and iced up inside round the fans due to the heat recently. The solution is to turn it off for two days and let it defrost. Unfortunately I have a freezer full of food so Plan B will need to be formulated asap. 

On the plus side the young carpenter is coming tonight to look over what needs doing and Brit Gas arrive tomorrow to sort my leaky radiator. The sparky is lined up for later this week to sort the light switches. 

I’m now off to lie in a darkened room. 

QueenJess

florianatwobob said:

I’m just going to take some time in the TLC carriage as I’m currently overwhelmed too. 

On top of the snagging list and general house stuff being in the wrong place still the fridge freezer, specifically the fridge half, is on the blink. It’s currently a glorified cupboard as it’s refusing to ‘do’ cold. 

I called the local appliance fixer and he thinks it’s probably overworked itself and iced up inside round the fans due to the heat recently. The solution is to turn it off for two days and let it defrost. Unfortunately I have a freezer full of food so Plan B will need to be formulated asap. 

On the plus side the young carpenter is coming tonight to look over what needs doing and Brit Gas arrive tomorrow to sort my leaky radiator. The sparky is lined up for later this week to sort the light switches. 

I’m now off to lie in a darkened room. 

Have you considered asking on your local buy nothing for a spare temporary freezer or maybe on free cycle? Then you could shift things over to that one (even if it’s in the way) whilst yours is defrosted?