2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Siebrie

I just looked up Buxton, and it looks absolutely lovely!

I also tumbled to the youtoobvideo 'A Cluttered Life: Middle-Class Abundance' (University of California - it's a proper academic study). Very easy to follow and very interesting.(BTW: watching this is not a chore to be added to anyone's to-do list!! Only if you feel like it and have the time.)

I got rid of 1 of our shoe racks; it was large, but not very solid, and fell apart at least once a month. We have a second shoe rack that's very sturdy. Husband will just have to go through his shoes and acknowledge that most of his shoes are only sorry excuses for them; they were cheap to buy and quick to deteriorate.

Both dds now have their mezzanine ladders assembled and installed. DD2 is actually sleeping on the mezzanine and enjoying it. We plan to put up her artwork (she's talented) this weekend. DD1 has decided she wants to sleep on the lower floor and use the mezzanine as a teenage hideaway/chill out spot.

QueenJess

Fingers crossed the two people picking up the furniture will turn up today and Sunday. Then I can get my rooms back! Just got one more unit to convince DH to get rid of….

DD’s room is just being tweaked (apart from the unit we don’t need in there). I want to get rid of a toy she doesn’t use and is a duplicate, but DH won’t let me. Maybe I’ll put it downstairs where DH tidies so it can annoy him instead 😂. Will be organising the reusable nappies onto the new unit so that the redundant furniture will be totally empty and may get rid of some more storage boxes as well. I may tackle sorting out some of her books later and decide which ones will go on the shelves. I rotate them, but sadly the others get dumped in my library and have nowhere to go. Need to sort that out at some point, but not today. The library is getting done in tiny segments, not least because I work in it and so it annoys me.

I’m ignoring the slightly too full next size up clothes in DD’s room where I shoved a dressing gown and socks/vests behind the boxes and enjoying the minimalist rest of her wardrobe. It looks so calming now!  

I have decided to get two shelf splitters from IKEA and that’ll be it for DD’s room. Will add it to my list of other little bits I need and then get everything in one go when I can brave it!

Went through the reusable paper pile in the library and got rid of loads that were tiny scraps or got a bit screwed up because the drawers were so rammed. It all fits in nicely now and blasted straight through the 1,000 decluttering barrier! Need to keep up the momentum (and remember to tidy up to feel the full benefit!).

884-1172 - paper (recycled)

May be back later if I get another decluttering vibe.

Edit: On 1 January 2022, I started doing the get rid of 1 thing on day 1, 2 things on day 2 etc, but just noted down where I was with it in numbers (i.e. 465 for a 30 day month).  I've kept up the tracking and I am already into June 2023.  That means that since 1 Jan 22 I've got rid of 7,781 things!!  I know I count every little thing, but that's totally mad.  To be fair my house is easier to control and definitely less stuffed with things, but I'm now going for the next level of decluttering.

Brie

@stellata
very nice looking cutlery - I like something with a bit of heft to it (better for knife throwing if there's weight behind it!!  ) and good shape to the actual metal bits.  OH was so disappointed when we moved into our house a few years back and I told him the majority of our cutlery couldn't go in the dishwasher.  Never occurred to him what damage might be done to "bone" handles etc.

@joanie
knock knock!  You up yet??  Did the lock in help???

@Dfw38
more hugs....if you weren't related you probably wouldn't like them or even know them.  Must admit there's been times I've wished I was an only child if just to keep things simple and more in my arena of control.  (not a money or greed thing just older siblings in particular can be a right pain)

@vulpix
more MiL vibes.  hopefully they'll soon have her on the mend.

Meanwhile have help OH declutter (aka return) a pair of very expensive shoes he purchased that don't fit as well as the price might suggest.  No doubt he'll some how make this mean he has twice as much money to spend on another paid - as in "I didn't buy those shoes as they were returned so that's saved £xxx and because they have refunded me £xxx I now have 2 x £xxx to spend."   I'm never sure if he actually believes his math or if he only does it to see if he can get a reaction from me.

Off to work shortly and I'll be asking OH that since he's still in recovery mode if he could simply ensure that 1 thing is tidied every day.  Like the paperwork from returning shoes is put somewhere rather than being left on the dining room table.   

Siebrie

@Brie My husband has similar maths skills..... When we go out shopping for a pair of trousers for me (because I know what is in my closet and exactly what item I need) and we agree that we both look for trousers for me, I end up with nothing, and he has 4 pairs of trousers, 3 T-shirts and 5 work shirts. How does that happen every time? Does he need those items? No! He has more clothes than me and our dds put together, and we have limited closet space (which I refuse to add to).

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, Re search, 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 roused me from my slumbers so I was up, washed & dressed by 11:59 - at least it was still morning 😅 It was so dark I thought I had slept round the clock😱 Definitely need to try harder to do some decluttering of some kind 🤞

What a great system MuddyWalker - if it hasn’t been used in 8 months it gets evicted 👏 Can I ask what made you decide on 8 months as your cut off point? How very lovely MuddyWalker 🥰 & I am so very, very pleased that you will still be involved with the Cadets - an elder states-person who is a valuable asset 👏The Cadets will continue to benefit from your experience & you will  benefit from meeting up with old friends 😊

Isn’t it liberating to use our ‘for best’ items TC77 😊 Perhaps you could use your glassware once a week until you are comfortable using them daily 😉 Well done on the decluttering of frogs 👏 & good luck with your next round of frogs 🍀

Liverpool_Anne, well done on sorting out your medication, an important task which must be done properly 👏 Now that SS is back we can compare her programme to NK’s & I think I prefer hers as she does try to talk to the families &  tries to get them to look at the reasons behind their clutter issues 😊Keep up the good work on your mission to use up hand cream 🙂

weenancy, you have been busy 👏 & again most of your time has been spent helping others 😇 but I am pleased to hear that you did get some time to do the things you enjoy 😊 Sorry to hear about your roommate’s broken shoulder ☹️ You are definitely getting a lot of extreme weather - all that rain now being followed by high winds 😔 Please, please stay safe 🙏 

GrannyKate, a lovely post in support of bit_by_bit. It is just so sad when children   are impacted by a relationship breakdown 😞 Excellent decluttering 👏

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏 I hope you have a lovely time getting to ‘know’ your new car 😊Good luck tackling your frogs 🍀

Good luck with your packing/decluttering, SecondStar 🍀 It is so long since I last moved that the only ‘tip’ I can offer is to accept any offer of help from your friends & family 🙂

~FlowerPot~, glad to hear that your most recent ‘crazy busy’ period has calmed down enough for you to tackle some decluttering & dealing with tasks of your ‘To Do’ list 😉 Good luck 🍀 & what a wonderful end goal - a gelli printing business 👏

Wednesday2000, Stacey Solomon is a marvel but Rob is a genius 😊

Wow you have been busy 2Scratters 👏 so much decluttering & even finding time to join & support your work colleagues on the picket line 🙂 It is such a sad state of affairs that there is still the need for this type of action in this day & age 😞 What a lovely sentiment - “be safe & happy in your decluttering”

Good idea Floss 👏

donna73, I definitely saw SS - she seems to make decluttering fun 🤩 Congratulations on your first gumtree sale 🥳 & well done on your decision to give items a time limit on sales sites 👏 Excellent & eclectic decluttering 👏

vulpix, moving can be an exciting time but not sure I could ever say I loved it 😅 However, I think your attitude would definitely help to make it a less stressful time 👏 Excellent ideas for SecondStar too 👏Well done on such great decluttering of paperwork 👏

DH has just gone outside to rake up leaves & I am going to take a 23 minute break from cheerleading to do a bit of knitting 😉

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐

DH Awards: 🥇 

Decluttering Target 2023: 364/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Muddy_Walker

Hi!
I decided on 8 months as boiling hot weather and freezing cold weather don’t seem to stick to proper seasons anymore! Plus I procrastinate a lot 🤣🤣 so I have 6 months plus 2 months of dithering…..
Lots of work stress decluttered today - normally I go to bed exhausted after work on a Friday but I needed to get a prescription and then faffed around a bit. Trimmed dog 1 on the feet (spaniel feathers) and part of a foot on dog 2 who having given up on coaxing twiglets out of me is now outside shouting at the dog next door 🫣🫣 dog fur now shaken outside for another birds who want to make a nest. Well it beats plastic bottles!

Florenceem

Went to the Holocaust Memorial Service this morning - it was very well attended and I found it emotional - some of the Ukranians who use our SA hall were there to speak.
I popped to get some shopping on the way home and then had a sit down & rest as I feel like an attack of Cystitis is on the way.
Just a little sort out/decluttered -

 Pen
Tub of Plastic Bits
Sauce Jar
Magazine x 2
Leaflet
Plastic Tub
Conditioner Bottle

Now at 729 items as against aim of 378 

bit_by_bit

Thankyou @Dfw38. They are now back home and are very pleased with what we have done. I did mowt of what I wanted to do but not all. Nothing is urgent so I will have a break for a few days then finish it off. 'Frog Freeing February has a nice ring to it. 
Hugs re relatives. Such a shame re the greed. Big Hugs.

Thankyou @vulpix. Sorry to hear about your MiL but pleased for your Mum. Big Hugs 

Thankyou @GrannyKate. I sympathise, I know things will settle eventurally, they just need to get into a new rythm and stop the backbiting oneupmanship that has been going on.

Thankyou for the ⭐️ @Mrs_S@Mrs_Salad_Dodger It is a little easier but I am applying her values to most of it. I have now told them to stop collecting soft plastics and cardboard loo roll inners for me and paper for someone who used to collect it for the scouts. It is just adding to the mess. It is making me do mine just because it has kicked me out of my overwhelmed state into a 'thats doable' state.  Thankyou for your kind words re family. 

Congrats on the completion at last @grandmanerd  
 
I hope it was a better day at work @Keiths_Mum

You have amazing energy @weenancyinAmerica

So a quick update after that long read. I stayed over in the New Forest last night and visited family and picked up my in laws fresh from their cruise this morning at 10am at Southampton. They are very pleased with their house makeover.

Just before I left for the New Forest I managed to drop 3 more bags of stuff to the cs and today added a baby bath and thing that went with it for soap and sponge. I am counting that as another bag.

I am taking a day or so to rest up a bit as I am abit tired after all the running around I have been doing. I am ahead on my jobslist for January to March though 

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, Re search, 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

Where does the time go - 7 lots of 23 minutes 😱 I am writing in Notes so my post will appear a lot later 😉 I have done some knitting, watched a couple of episodes of Heartbeat, descaled the kettle (DH is using the descaling water to clean the bathroom taps), finished the hm soup for lunch - DH had his over some haggis & I had mine over lo potato gratin 😋 & dealt with some paperwork   🙂 so not entirely lazy 😉 DSis has a headache so has retired to her room at 5:00 p.m. ☹️ 

Back to cheerleading 🙂

grandmanerd what a nightmare the sale of your mum’s bungalow has been 😖 Congratulations on receiving your Certificate of Completion - 1500 points confirmed which together with other decluttering means that THREE Gold Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ are winging their way to you 👏  Everything crossed that the money has arrived in your bank account🤞 Well done on such excellent research in find ing a suitable hotel to stay at, to enable you to attend the family funeral  👏  (Excellent decluttering before you left 👏 - must have been lovely to return home to a tidy house 😊) Thank you for your lovely post - nice to know that there are still plenty of kind people making sure you were alright 😊 even the poor gentleman who had so many of his own troubles 😊 I cannot express how grateful I am to know you (even if only virtually) - your kindness to a stranger is so uplifting 😊 

Excellent work in your DD’s bedroom QueenJess - 90% done 👏 & your DD already ‘absolutely loves it’ 😊 Well done on your continuing progress persuading DH to part with furniture 👏 & listing it immediately before he has a chance to change his mind 😉 Please be kinder to yourself 🙏 you are doing so much that you must try to remember to take the time to acknowledge your successes 😊 You are doing such a marvellous job that I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ 

nu1isit?, might only have been one item decluttered but you also completed one extra task & saved a bit of money into the bargain 👏🥳 

Excellent decluttering Millie2008_2 👏 I can understand that it will be quite tough getting so many B12 injections over such a short period of time but the relief at knowing what the problem is & getting it dealt with must be immense 🙂 However, please take it easy for a while until the injections kick in 🙏

Great work on your bit by bit decluttering in the kitchen Radish72 👏 As to your frog list, please take time to celebrate & focus on those you have dealt with 😉 Good luck with dealing with those frogs that can still make the January cut 🍀

Soontobeoap, I will get my Decluttering Elves started on the ‘Padded Carriage’ but with several punch bags (as I suspect that there are probably a few more of our fellow declutterers who would like to join you 😉) One medal 🏅 coming your way for utilising telephone waiting time so effectively in decluttering 👏

Brie, my ood vinegar & flat lemonade is usually put in the toilet as a descaler 😉 What great ideas for using up tarragon - tarragon butter or tarragon pesto to stuff under chicken skin 👏 Definitely no waste in your house 🙂

Excellent work QueenJess 👏 Apologies for not keeping on top of the awards - I owe you one Gold Star ⭐️ for reaching 884/2023 (should have been awarded at 506/2023 😉) Good luck with your mission to pin down Buy Nothing people to collect their requested items 🍀

Nothing old hat about suggestions for sourcing packaging & packing materials daisy_1571 😊 Thank you for such useful ideas 👏

Wow MadamMim2013, talk about working like a Trojan 🤩 What an excellent job & in just 2 days 👏One medal 🏅 coming your way 🙂 and congratulations on raising DS1 as not only a declutterer but also a kind & generous soul - giving away furniture he no longer needs 😊

Excellent decluttering & cleaning Florenceem 👏

EnergyShifter, pleased to know that I am not the only one who prefers Stacey’s approach 😉 which somehow seems gentler than Nick’s 😊 Although both series can get you thinking about & dealing with clutter blindspots 👏 Excellent decluttering & great restraint in your purchases 👏

I see we have another fan of Stacey’s approach Ginmonster 😊 I am with you in the “probably be embarrassed at how much there is” camp 😅 but at least these types of programme can & do inspire us to declutter 👏 Btw, Great decluttering 👏

That cutlery is beautiful stellata 😊

joanie, one thing you need to know about the TLC Carriage - you can only find the door out when you are fully rested 😂

I have just noticed the time, so will post & then think about what’s for dinner 😉

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐

DH Awards: 🥇 

Decluttering Target 2023: 364/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

EnergyShifter

A good day.  Visit from DS' key-worker.  Medically he's well enough to be discharged but they are keeping him on to support him with his next steps back into study or work.  They are very pleased with him & us with them ! It's been the most amazing service supporting him physically, psychologically and socially.  We have been very fortunate.  

Popped up to the High St to buy food for dinner and had my head turned by some lovely Crystal Tea-light holders / candlesticks in the Charity Shop.  Four for the princely sum of £6!  

Tasks

• Lined drawers of dresser
• Pruned my photo collection - it all fits into 3 x 3L "really useful boxes"  all neatly stored in the under-bed storage. 

IN (running total 27)
 
28-31 - 4 x crystal tea-light holders / candle sticks
32. Gift pack of fancy socks- clearance section of TK Maxx -  I think I will put aside for a gift - unless I run out of socks  

OUT (running total 125)
 
126-8 - 3 x full sized shampoos to foodbank
129 - some sealed mini body washes - foodbank
130 - Bag to CS
131.  Big wad of photos (out of focus. duplicates etc) 
132.  Sympathy card to friend

Thank you for my medal MrsSD