2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Brie

small declutter today....I bought a weird card from Cats Protection a zillion years back and it's been in my card hoard ever since.  As luck would have it I'm going to a surprise birthday tea for an ex colleague this afternoon and rediscovered the card and realised it's perfect for her as both she and the card have 2 cats.  Saves me a bit of time and bother when I'm already depleted of energy.  I know i'll enjoy the get together when I get there it's just the inertia in the meantime.

Soontobeoap

Oh my goodness. I know that I have got behind with sorting the clean washing pile but today I have been sorting wardrobes. Stick with me and I will explain! 🤣I have attempted all 4 wardrobes at once +2 sets of drawers. Well I knew DH had a lot of things that he never wore but I thought  I had more control over mine. However we have bagged up 3 bin bags for rubbish, painting clothes, clothes that moth has got into etc one bag for charity shop and one bag for dress agency. I have hung 6 things back in my wardrobe, some bits into my underwear drawer and one drawer full of tops. Apart from that all of the clothes that I wear are in the clean washing pile. I have kept a couple of bits back to try and see if they still fit, one skirt that if I dont shorten in the next couple of weeks will go, an oversized rain mac that will come in useful if it rains whilst we have no car and 2 cocktail dresses that may come in useful for events if I can make small invisible repairs. Again I am going to set myself a time limit. 
 Not going to dress agency for a couple of weeks so only counting 4 bags for now. Thanks for helping me sort my life out guys and for the person who asked when you start noticing the difference. For me it has been very quick. It is when you open a cupboard and dont feel overwhelmed, when you can find something straight away, when you walk into your home and it appears to be bigger/clearer than you thought. When you dont have to go out and buy some cellotape/wrapping paper etc because you know where you keep it and it is all nice and tidy. Slowly your brain becomes less cluttered  and lighter too, which in turn makes life easier.

When I guestimated clearing 150 black bags or large items this year, my husband thought I was mad but I am on track and although we live in a small 2 bed house I still have loads to go.

Happy decluttering everyone. 😊

Floss

Ooh @Soontobeoap you're very brave, I daren't get everything out at once 😂

I do sorting by category, and really need to tackle the coats situation in this (1 occupier) house. Without checking, I reckon I have at least 20 coats from waterproof to down coats, via long body warmers and not vounting 4 denim jackets or 3 real & 1 faux leather jackets... I will update the real figures tomorrow 🤭

stellata

I'm sort of sad today because the last bits of furniture from Mum's house have now gone to new homes. Only a box of photos to go through now, mostly of people I haven't a clue who they are so I probably won't keep many of them. Seeing her much prized bedroom suite go off lashed on someone's trailer was hard, although the lovely couple who bought it were over the moon and promised they'd look after it which was nice. It doesn't matter really I know, but it feels like a closing down of some sort. Anyway a lot of space now in the spare room and a few ££ in the bank. I'm remembering when exH and I many years ago were furnishing our flat and we were so pleased to find what we wanted in the classified ads (no ebay then!). Ooof, time flies doesnt it, I'm going to open a bottle of wine and have my dinner before I start a small afternoon declutter. There's a whole cupboard full of towels and bedlinen to go, I can't face the photos yet but I don't think I'll be having another lodger now so the spare room can be cleared. 

In other news, I have been told my job is safe for another year so that's a relief. I should look for something long term really but I'm comfortable with this one and the people I work with are great so I'll kick that can down the road as they say and keep on.

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

Well I did do the wudupa but didn’t quite manage the earlier night as I got engrossed in watching a couple of episodes of Person of Interest 😔

Saturday is a dull, dark day now but not sure what it was like before 12:10 😬 I have left the tv off & concentrated on catching up with the cheerleading up to my last post on page 142 😉 Now just have today’s posts to catch up with 😉

Siebrie , DH & I have travelled through & around Buxton several times over the years - it really is beautiful 🙂 I have bookmarked “A Cluttered Life: Middle Class Abundance” & will try to find some time to watch but NOT added to my To Do list 😉 Well done on getting rid of the large shoe rack 👏 & good luck persuading DH to reduce his footwear collection 🍀 Your daughters are very lucky - their room/s sound wonderful 😊 I was rather bemused at the idea that you go out shopping for one item of clothing for you & somehow your DH ends up with a dozen items 😬 Sounds like one of the mysteries of the universe 🤣

QueenJess, I am crossing everything including my eyes that the two items of furniture are picked up as agreed 🤞You have done a remarkable job in your DD’s room & her wardrobe is a joy to behold 😊Excellent decluttering in the library 👏 and reaching 1172/2023 means another Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 🙂 That is an absolutely insane number QueenJess 🤩 and you are reaping the benefits of such excellent decluttering 👏🥳 Sorry to hear that you are feeling exhausted but you are doing so much & having to supervise DH when he is decluttering it is no wonder 😔 More excellent decluttering & well done on the 1% of the garage being decluttered 👏 I think not only do you deserve to put your feet up & watch the Stacey Solomon programme but you should also spend some time in the TLC Carriage 😊

Lovely post Brie 😊 I do feel for your OH when he realised he would need to hand wash all the bone handled cutlery 😉 I believe your OH is practising what I would call “Pie in the sky maths”  🤣 I think that you should practise the same maths & see what his reaction is 😉 Fingers crossed that OH will tidy up at least  one thing 🤞

MuddyWalker, thanks for explaining the 8 month turnaround time 🙂 Hope you have a lovely stress free weekend 🙂 Pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Stacey Solomon programme 😊

No wonder the parents-in-law were pleased bit_by_bit, you worked like a Trojan 👏 They must have thought that they were walking into a new home 😊 Now they just have to keep it up by keeping clutter out 😉 I really hope that after dropping off the in-laws & returning home, that you did put your feet up & rest 🙂 Now you can spend some time in the TLC Carriage & recharge your Life Batteries as rest and relaxation is what you need now 😊

EnergyShifter, what excellent news about your DS 😊 You must be so pleased that the key worker will continue to support DS through the next stages of his recovery 😊 Excellent decluttering 👏 & if anything is going to turn your head it might as well be beautiful as well as useful 😉

You are very welcome MadamMim2013 😊 Here’s to many more 😉

You are also very welcome Soontobeoap 😊 Well done on handing over the boxing gloves to someone else to sort out the insurance claim 👏 Good luck to both you & DH with the wardrobe decluttering 🍀

skint_chick, no need to feel left behind, you have done some excellent electronic  software & hardware decluttering 👏 Hopefully your other bits & pieces will sell for ‘bonkers’ prices 🤞 Good luck with organising & integrating your Mum’s sewing supplies 🍀 I am awarding you a medal 🏅 for the combination of your decision to wear new undies - You Are Worth It 😊 & your ongoing & successful Use Up of toiletries 👏 Excellent work on dealing with Life Admin tasks 👏 & pleased to hear that you are feeling in control 😊 As to Stacey’s programme - I would count it as your weekly treat - put your feet up, have a cup of or glass of something & enjoy 😊

Dfw38, I think kiwi crush is like Marmite - you either love it or hate it 😉 so I am not too concerned that there will be a revival 🤣 I am lost for words re the situation regarding your dear dad & your siblings. All I can do is offer up an all enveloping hug 🤗 and let you know that this is a safe place to share your feelings. Your gran sounds like the most wonderful person 😊 and if you can channel the feelings you had when she was giving you one of her wonderful hugs it might help you going forward.  (Hopefully you & your brother can keep your sister in check.)

As to the paint colour, I am astonished that your DD has gone from kiwi crush to lavender quartz - a beautiful & glorious colour 🥳 Your DD might even forego painting a piece of furniture in kiwi crush 🤞🤞

Thank you for your informative & empathetic post Floss.

Blue_Doggy, an apt word ‘tribulations’ 😞 Excellent decluttering 👏 Your description of your decluttering style - eclectic in place of prioritised - reminded me of someone …… oh yes, that would be me 🤣 

Great decluttering of the paperwork Keiths_Mum 👏 Box 6 almost completed & a plan in place for the 2nd stage 👏 Good luck with your decluttering projects for the weekend 🍀 Sorry to hear that your aunts & uncles acted like vultures when your grandmother died 😔 Not sure how I would cope, if at all, if I was ever witness to such appalling behaviour 😞 

Sorry to hear that both you & DD2 are struggling at the moment charlies_tribe 😔 Wishing you both a speedy recovery 🙂 An excellent & successful decluttering session structured in such a way as to make it easier for DD2 to cope 👏 Good luck with the decorating 🍀

See you later 🤞

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐

DH Awards: 🥇 

Decluttering Target 2023: 367/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Dfw38

I have only had a quick skim of all your posts and will have a proper read through later. I just wanted to thank you as a group for your thoughts and advice and for sharing your experiences. I am so sorry that it seems to be a common occurrence with families and money etc. I hope you don't mind but I am going to take myself off to the tlc carriage for a few days. That is after I remove myself from the naughty step as I have just been yelling at my dc because they are on fine form today with misbehaving, not listening and will not give me 1 minute to even fold washing without an interruption over something trivial or I am having to stop to break up another argument they are having. It isn't there fault I am already irritated but goodness they are out to try me today! Deep breaths, apologies, don't get grumpy again 😖

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Quick post - I have finally put away the tablecloth that I washed several weeks ago 😉 I only ever ‘saw’ it on my way up to bed 😂

MrsSD 

Rootle

Hi everyone!

I'm back to give it another go this year. Everything out is a win!

1/52 - 2 plastic bottles of hand-wash to the bin and replaced with glass bottles (not throw away) and plastic free soap tablets. Double smug. 😏 

joanie

Well @Liverpool_Anne and @Mrs_Salad_Dodger you were right! The door handle to get out of the TLC carriage appeared by magic this morning at exactly the same time that my decluttering mojo appeared 😜. As you said @moorviews a few days on there works magic 👍. Thank you for the knock knock @Brie the lock in definitely helped 😁

so today I tackled 2 shelves of the cupboard of doom (don’t want to overdo it). So out goes 16 baby teeth (mine 😬 given to me from my mum when I left home about 40 years ago !!!) 
then I chucked out 2 baby grows and 6 pairs of my sons baby shoes (He is 21 now) that had yellowed and aged and couldn’t really be passed on to charity. 

I also tidied the shelf that is our “filing cabinet” and found a load of papers just dumped. Why is the filing my job???  Still that’s a frog for another day. 

Keep going everyone. X

QueenJess

No planned decluttering this weekend and I continue to work on getting rid of furniture. I worked hard and now only have one piece left that is promised to be picked up first thing tomorrow morning! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Will do a round of DD’s toys that live downstairs as the next job and possibly another look in the attic at the ones currently not in rotation. No point in DS’s room until after his birthday weekend next week, although I will continue to consider the space in there and what we need. So just sticking with any DD’s stuff that I can find around the house and a well earned break!