2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Wednesday2000

Dundee Doll - the before and after pics are quite amazing!:)

I dropped off the picture of Cornwall to a charity shop yesterday. We have had a problem with mould and condensation during the winter so I am having to dispose of a pitcure frame that has some mould on the back of it. I need to call up to book a bulky waste collection next week. The shed should almost be empty afterwards apart from some pots of paint and some plastic boxes we used when we were moving house.

I was thinking about getting rid of a footstool today or tomorrow as I don't really use it. That can go to the local chazzer.

The workman hasn't totally finished the painting, but my office/second bedroom is done so I am just about to put up some of the pictures and the clock. I think I will put my calendar is here too, rather than having it in the kitchen.

TC77

@2Scratters thank you for hugs, kind words and support, and others too. I am being kind to myself, and know that things will change. DD2 who has always played sport and often in the middle of nowhere has given up most with her last football match next week so she can focus on A levels, will give me many weekend mornings back, and then from the Autumn only me at home so will become obvious how much is mine 
Have tidied bedside shelves and trying to think what to keep on bottom one - not books as could spill my water/tea etc
Replied about headphones not working - may need to send off
Will keep track and add later,
Also love the idea of 'treasures' and inspired by everyone doing so much, whether lots of items out, or that one thing that has caused angst about parting with. 

charlies_tribe

gettingthrifty- sending hugs x I just went back to read your post. This is me too. I overthink everything and even now replay things that happened years ago to see if it was my fault, could I have said/done something different, did I say something wrong, did I act in a way that made them say it..... it got to the point I had to hand my notice in 3 years ago as I was constantly in tears at work (worked on a till, way to many incidents to over think) its one of the big things I'm working on in my CBT sessions at the moment but when i cant sleep im still replaying them over and over, its exhausting as i actually know theres nothing i can do to change it and it was their problem not mine.

Well after the lost passports and the leaky toilet yesterday things didn't get much better. I was trying to move carp off the table so DD3 and her friend could sit down for dinner and knocked a glass of pop over everything. Then this morning the kitchen sink was blocked so I tried to blast it with hot water and the pipe blew off and the jam packed undersink cupboard is now full of water. The screw from the plug to the pipe has deteriorated and sheared off 

DH has gone off to the DIY store while I'm crying into my tea in the TLC carriage. I'll give myself a kick into gear when he gets back.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Afternoon everyone
Not very good at keeping up to date with everyone, hugs to those in need.
I deleted 2k emails yesterday! Also went into the shed of doom and have washed some outdoor toys to take to the CS. Binned 2 water pistols that didn't work. Been adding to my book box for z!ff1t. Threw away a very old duvet cover, couldn't find anywhere to give it away to and it was bin day so in it went
Small steps but going in the right direction....
love Deni x

SecondStar

I took yesterday’s energy and applied it today.

Not to the things in my house, unfortunately, as my ex is there today. But I’ve made a decent dent in my friend’s garage. She has very kindly offered to let me store things there, if I need the additional space and time to decide if I want to keep certain items - the stipulation was that I make the space in there first.

3 dump runs with a full car later, and there’s a nice clear space by the door for me to put things.

I feel good for having done it. Not just the reassurance of knowing I have external space to store things, but also the physicality of lifting and moving, and being outside.

I’ve spent too long indoors, in screens, in my head, these past 6 weeks; it did me good to get out and do something where I can see tangible results.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@mfwin2019 your comment about hiding things in the bin made me laugh. I do it sometimes. Also when I was working, (special needs teacher), I was always reluctant to bin stuff while my TA was a bit of a minimalist. She used to try to hide things in the bin but I usually spotted them and dragged them out . She took to putting things in the bin in the next door classroom   I remember once we had collected a load of materials for the pupils to make collages based on autumn for an external qualification and when they were submitted it transpired we needed a photo of the materials. It was now spring and of course she had binned them, we spent 2 hours scouring the woods for autumn leaves and I laughed with her about it every time she tried to bin stuff. She said she didn't know how I always knew she had binned something but I did . My OH is generally not that bothered but sometimes surprises me, take away containers being one

@charlies_tribe oh you have been having a stressful time, I find plumbing things very difficult to deal with. Take a deep breath and have another cup of tea then head to the tlc carriage for a while hugs

Lazy morning so far but I have half an hour before I watch some footie so I am going to see if I can get some wood moved. 
Take care everyone

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

Sunday is an overcast & dark day. I was up, washed & dressed by 11:15 a.m. Having neglected to do the washing up before going to bed, I did the wudupa whilst making my first cuppa. 

Sending hugs to everyone who needs or wants one 🤗 

Now going straight into cheerleading 😉

What a beautiful post ~FlowerPot~ 😊 Thank you for taking the time to write down such a thought provoking & positive post 👏 Hopefully we can all give each other the support that is often/sometimes lacking in RL. 

Excellent decluttering villagelife 👏

A brilliant post -taff  🥳 Thank you for sharing your decluttering journey which I think will resonate with many of us 👏 I have taken the liberty of copying your post 😉 as you have written so succinctly about decluttering & I am also awarding you a medal 🏅  Excellent decluttering by the way 👏 Not sure a ‘big boot’ is what you have, more like cavernous 😅

Well put Ginmonster, but sadly when someone bullies us like gettingthrifty was bullied, it is often at a point when we are already feeling low 😔 I think all any of us can do is plod on & try to spend time chatting to the ‘positive people’ in our lives whether they be RL or virtual friends.

Liverpool_Anne, we now have the full set of ‘colours’ - spring, summer, autumn (aka Fall for our friends across the pond) & winter. It is & has been an interesting conversation 🙂  Your Dad sounds like a lovely man & a very positive influence 😊 With all you lovely & supportive people on the thread, I am hoping gettingthrifty will be able to rebuild their confidence & have a new sense of their self worth 🙂 I now have visions of you appearing at that particular bully’s door 😉 Good luck with your freezer & cupboard inventories 🍀

TC77, I would definitely get rid of the heavy table & chairs 😉 Keep up the good work & good luck with the sales 🍀 Fingers crossed that the email is not as bad as you fear & is really a tadpole not a frog 🤞

Popping off now to make another drink & write a shopping list for DH 😉 Back in a while 

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐

DH Awards: 🥇 

Decluttering Target 2023: 383/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Neroli2

Hi everyone  . Have been  lurking on this thread for quite a while and would love to join you!  This is such a lovely, supportive and inspiring thread.

I had great plans for my decluttering in 2023, however, life has thrown a curved ball in that at the beginning of the year my mum ended up in hospital, so with visiting and work there’s not a lot of time left.  It looks very likely that a lot more of my time will be spent caring for her, however, I am not going to use that as an excuse not to do anything.  I know so many of you on here are facing challenges, whether it be caring for relatives, children, dealing with your own health issues or working in demanding jobs.  One of my mantras borrowed from here is going to be Anything is better than Nothing!  I also love the idea of 23 minutes a day (thank you to whoever suggested that) - it’s amazing what you can get done in that time.

To be honest the main living areas of my home are relatively tidy but every cupboard and drawer is filled with stuff, ditto the garage.  However, I have a plastic drawer unit in one of my cupboards - this houses useful household bits, for example light bulbs, screw drivers etc.  All drawers labelled with what’s in them.  I needed something prior to Christmas and went straight to it!  So there must be an organisational brain in there somewhere   I want to use this as a template for how I want the rest of my house to be.

I won’t be giving totals as i think I would get overwhelmed but below is what I’ve done so far this year and will post on here to keep me accountable.

Christmas cards - recycling

Candle holder - CS

Wicker basket - CS

Dinner service - CS

2 x nail polish - thrown away as had gone thick 

2 x winter coats that I never wear - CS

Wooden spoon and small grater - these were uncovered during my 23 minutes of decluttering my kitchen drawer

Large amount of cardboard boxes from garage - recycling

Broken bird feeder

Ribbon - CS

Jewelry - donated to Alzheimer’s Society (I’m sure I heard about this from a thread on MSE - could even have been this one.  You can donate any type of jewelry ie costume, gold, silver, even if broken to them)

I’ve also gone through my files and have a large amount of old statements, credit card bills etc that now need shredding.  That will be my next task but will count as completed when shredded

joanie

Had another root through the cupboard of doom and sorted 2 boxes of scarves, hats, gloves, shawls. Managed to put 28 items ready for charity shop plus a bag of assorted bows,ribbons, roses etc that go on shoes, bags and hats to colour coordinate for weddings! 

Might have another pootle around later 😁👍 but for now off to read all the posts on here.  

QueenJess

@Neroli2 I’ve definitely mention Alzheimer’s society for jewellery on here before. It’s fab.

No decluttering for me today, but am on to declare all the furniture is picked up and gone 🎉. Just doing a bit of light tidying by today.

I just caught DH in his office going through everything and decluttering. Apparently I’ve inspired him to get rid of things! He is a self proclaimed minimalist (I am not), but has loads more stuff than me of which there is a lot of tat that is never used. He has a box of shoes in the cupboard that don’t fit on the shoe shelves that haven’t been opened since we moved in (7 years ago)!