2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Dfw38

@Muddy_Walker good luck with the colonoscopy tomorrow. 

Keiths_Mum

Gers said:

All the talk about inherited possessions really resonants with me, I'm still ploughing through some of my late DM's things from 2021, however I'm slowly managing it by gifting most of it.

My late DF didn't leave much when he died in 1997 so his estate was very simple.  There's one small item which I really can't let go of even though it's of no monetary value.  It's a wee round wooden box which used to hold Yardley's shaving soap which he used every day. On the bottom he wrote 'Bought 2 Dec 58' - I wonder why? Perhaps he wanted to see how long it would last him as he was still in the Army then.

For some odd reason I feel very emotionally attached to the box.

That's a lovely little box, and also a very personal item from your Dad, I still have my Dad's shaving brush, I'd keep that forever. I'd use it to corral something or other and keep it on display. I have a small collection of small wooden boxes that I use for various things like small coins or stamps that I collect for charity, etc

I see lots of discussion about the ends of candles, could you not use them as wax melts in a burner? There is also an tutorial on one of the social media's of how to make a giant candle from candle ends in a milk carton. 

I have lots of candles, I don't really like them, but people think if you're a woman if a certain age you must love them and buy them for you as presents. I'm keeping them in case of power cuts.

I have finished sorting through box 4 of 6, 68 pieces shredded, 7 pieces recycled, onto box 5, looks like a heavy one!

2Scratters

Phew! finally up to date with all.
Today I have - along with  help from DH  - completed a lazy frog which was to clear and list the items in the store cupboard. It really didn't take long and no falling out There were some items that were finally thrown to the bin. An item with a date of 2009 
Nipped up into the loft and found the bag for local Homeless charity which was placed up there in the Christmas tidy up and fetched it down to put a few more items of clothing in it. It's now ready to go in the car. Also removed a bag of DH's inhalers the last lot I took to the chemist and they simply threw them away. Now they are in our recycle bin. a t-shirt cut up for rags for DH and his shed jobs.
All post and paperwork burned (only do this in winter if it is fit for burning) or recycled.
Loading up items to sell is the next frog to tackle - ridiculous really when it generates an income 

2 Scratters xx

DundeeDoll

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

What an uplifting post DundeeDoll 👏 All your hard work decluttering is paying dividends 👏 It must be quite exciting to discover an item that you had forgotten about 🥳 also saves so much money 😉 Isn’t it lovely that we are all encouraging & supporting each on our decluttering journeys 😊

absolutely, with no little amount of thanks to you. went to watch the man utd game at the pub after work and walking back planned my 23 minutes (is this normal behaviour?!) - have spent the 23 minutes sorting clothes, have emptied 3 cardboard boxes into 2 old laundry baskets which fit perfectly on the shelves (one now holding jumpers one sweatshirts), refilled 2 of the boxes with things for the CS, cat decided to take up residence in the 3rd 

EnergyShifter

A busy day with work and post op check up for eyes - which thankfully went well - I've got the go ahead to have my other eye  done now.  

Tasks

• post op check 

IN (running total 20)
0

OUT (running total 87)
88. Broken earbuds

Gers:  That's a lovely little box - a real treasure.  I've kept my Dad's cap

TC77

Gosh, we're rattling along at high speed and I'm clinging on
@Gers I'd be keeping the box. I have my mum's darning toadstool, and still looking for the pencil extender
Admittedly I've also got the whole sewing box (will pass mine on at some point) and we still have most of parents house to sort. 
I've been using a glasses case is from the 1970s I think - I wore glasses from quite young but think adult case, but the shape and style is nice than the current one. DD2 asked about it and I think quite impressed that it is in excellent condition!
finally sent my phone off for repair - been months in trying  but finally worked out how to put the sim in work phone and get it working so I know which to use - but took 2 phone calls and 45 mins (guarantee runs out soon) today and long time prevaricating.
Other frogs tickled, and another appt for dish washer booked as still not right. - 
2 pens out
spare jars etc put in storage box to free up more accessible space, and others ready for donation hub
few bits filed
going to watch Nick Knowles to get motivated... i do remember when I had less clutter and unsure how it has grown around me. Hoping to get large item to the tip at the weekend but need help moving it and hate asking for help. 
Booked appts for DD2 and chased DD1 medication
This month's focus is frogs
Feb - doing more at my dad's
March - some spring cleaning
April - more at dad's
Think I'm now around 105 as few other small things out, and packaging tidied

weenancyinAmerica

Everyone sounds so busy decluttering. I have managed to keep up with four classes on-line using what was borrowed Internet and is now official. Phone still out, have transferred number to new company but they can't come out and set it up till the 28th. Been really quiet here without the phone ringing. 

54 - getting all the homework done
55 - straightened out the phone and Internet with new company
56 - finally got my male roommate, who broke his phone, through the process of getting a new phone. Cost him $40 to replace it, but he will hopefully take better care of this one. Took over 30 minutes to get through phone call - kept getting cut off. Finally got through to a human. 
57 - got 4 of the carts ready for the book sale on Friday - only 8 more to go. Will be spending Thursday taking roommate (with the broken phone) to get x-rays as he hurt his arm falling again, then finishing the shopping for the week, followed by final sorting to get ready for the book sale.
58 - Remembering to send out the email reminding Board members of the Book Sale. 
59 - Female roommate cleaned up half of the stack of papers next to the computer! 6 inches done, 6 more to go. I had to talk her through it and help make decisions with her otherwise I wouldn't count it. Took over two hours.

@vulpix - I am also doing a lot of cat snuggling. It helps me, not sure about how the cats feel.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@Gers, i would never be able to get rid of that box

@Muddy_Walker, good luck for tomorrow. I have had 2 of them and you are right that drink is disgusting, hugs

@EnergyShifter good news on the eye, here's hoping you don't have to wait too long to get the other one sorted.

Not much more done this evening. I rescued a bag of new potatoes for tea, lo in the fridge for tomorrow. OH got a phone call from pupil to say his test was cancelled as the examiner was sick, typical . Finished knitting a pair of fingerless gloves, present so will need to be posted but I have used up some lo yarn. Started another pair for a present for someone else to use up some more lo yarn.
159 Christmas flowers finally gave up the ghost so into the green waste bin and vase washed up and put away.
160 meds ordered

Off to bed now as I have my covid booster jab early tomorrow
Take care everyone
160/2023

florianatwobob

A brief flying visit, crikey the EDT was travelling fast last year but it’s gone supersonic this year. 

Doorstep collection of some charity bits took place this week. About a bin bag of random stuff. Oh and I found a tin of paint that will be going to the ‘chat and skip’ event next week! 

Self assessment has been processed and rebate is now in my account. After a particularly challenging working week I’m trying to convince myself I don’t need to spend any of the rebate to reward myself for rising to the challenge. 

The account it’s sitting in has now tipped over and met one of my mental goals/thresholds…… which is lovely but my brain is negotiating with itself about how much is available to fritter.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with daily mail immediately 

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

7. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

DH kindly helped me make dinner 😉 A large cottage pie accompanied by the last of the cabbage. DSis finally came down & decided to have a tin of chicken soup & a couple of slices of bread. I nodded off after dinner, so DH did 3 quarter of the washing up & I have just wiped dry & put away. I also bagged up the other half of the cottage pie mix, transferred the lo cottage pie to a smaller dish & put away the contents of the vegetable box which arrived tonight. For some reason Oddb*x seem to think it is salad weather - spring onions, cucumber, red peppers & rocket with fennel, potatoes, curly kale & carrots to make up the rest. Will do the rest of the washing up before I go to bed 🤞 

270 - 272 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, cardboard box - recycling 

273 Kitchen detritus binned

Liverpool_Anne, I am still enjoying the conversation about moving home & I think I am with you on it has to ‘feel right’ when you walk in for the very first time 🙂 Great decluttering 👏 We are lucky here - our council takes everything except soft plastics in the recycling bin 🙂 Please drive carefully if you do go out on snow covered roads 🙏

~FlowerPot~ Well done on converting your DH to the decluttering cause 👏 Excellent decluttering in the office - by both of you 👏 Decluttering emails definitely counts especially such a huge number 👏

Excellent work donna73 - decluttering & crafting 👏 Good luck with the toads 🍀 Ashamed to say that DH & I are both over 60 but still haven’t sorted out our wills 😔 We have been talking about it for several years but have never quite round to it - maybe this year 🤞

Excellent ‘loft action’ 2Scratters 👏 Good luck with the store cupboard of food - currently only a froglet 😉 If there is more than one shelf perhaps you can deal with it one shelf at a time 🙂 Also keeping my fingers crossed that baye will run a cheap weekend of feas when you are not working 🤞

Excellent decluttering mfwin2019 👏

You can’t be that lazy Siebrie - after all you have done the organisation & set up the routines 👏 

Liverpool_Anne, I didn’t realise that “warthog” was a solar powered garden light 😉 Now I can just see “warthog” peeking through a patch of long grass & frightening unwelcome cat visitors 😅 £10 to 4p - bargain of the century 🥳 Hope you enjoyed your Snow Day 😊

joanie, moving items to a more suitable location is still decluttering 👏 Well done on decluttering the hot water bottle - safety first 🙂 I always fancied the idea of a ‘stone pig bed warmer’ but will settle for a cuddly DH bed warmer 🤣

Well done Radish72 👏 - I can see quite a few hot water bottles being consigned to the bin 😉

Millie2008_2, hope your Mum’s oncology appointment goes well 🤞 & that you have recovered from your paralysing worry 🙂 

Excellent & informative post re house moving, grandmanerd 👏 Full of useful information & tips - a handy guide to moving for which I am awarding you a medal 🏅- thank you 👏

Millie2008_2, sounds like you should be an honorary Liverpudlian 😊

Now your talking grandmanerd 😊 I remember those days of collecting foil milk bottle tops, thank you for the lovely reminiscence 👏 I am pretty certain we used to use ours for craft projects along with cereal boxes, toilet roll cardboard tubes & the coloured sweet wrappers from Quality Street. Never did get a Blue Peter badge 🤣

QueenJess, excellent observations especially the ‘thinking of decluttering in a different way is definitely the way forward’ A belated Happy Birthday to your DH 

Lovely memories Liverpool_Anne 😊

No isolation room grandmanerd but there is a carriage of Japanese style pod hotel rooms 😉.     Oh dear grandmanerd, you are having a very miserable time of it 😢 The House purchasers from hell are hampering your recovery no end 😡 I must admit to thinking you had exchanged contracts already but it would appear I was mistaken 😔 You have gone out of your way to assist them at your own expense & they are taking the proverbial ‘p’ 😤 and the barefaced cheek of asking you for the key on exchange of contracts - what planet are they living on? I am very, very sorry to hear that your pleasure at finally managing to eat some solid food has led to a fresh new hell. I am sending as many get well wishes as I can. Hopefully your 2nd attempt at getting back to eating normally will be more successful 🤞 Finally, I would normally allot 500 points for decluttering a bungalow but in this instance once contracts are exchanged & completion date has been met with keys handed over, I think 1500 points is a fair reflection 😊

SecondStar, you came to the right place - so much advice & plenty to think about 😊

Florenceem, Lucky DD living in Greenwich 🍀

Nice to see you plumduff55 👋 Please remember that sorting is an important part of the decluttering process 🙂 Excellent decluttering 👏- 150 knitting patterns 🤩 - that deserves a medal 🏅 As to the purchase of the Caithness glass ornaments & the cat ornament - not mistakes But learning experiences 😊 Very impressed with your decluttering of food stores & invention of new meals 👏

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏 The February target will be 406 in an ordinary year but 435 in a Leap Year 😅 

Great work Ginmonster 👏 Little & often is definitely working for you 🙂

What an excellent 10 minute decluttering session, QueenJess 👏

Now, now Fayolle - remember ANY decluttering is a win & you are obviously forming good habits as you are decluttering at work 👏

Spot on TC77 😊 “sorting is decluttering as is tidying in my books!”

Only 50 posts left to reply to 🥳 - I am getting there 🙂

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖 💐 🤩 🏅🦸 🏅💐

Decluttering Target 2023: 273/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00