2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

grandmanerd

Thanks all, I'll revisit 'changing the locks' when she phones again - I'll phone her if I can make myself tackle a frog and ask the remaining cousin (of mum's) about the death and ask if it's ok for the girl to contact him (the mother was so demanding that he didn't pass on his telephone number when he changed it). One of her mother's 'hangers on' handed a key back at the funeral  with very bad grace - perhaps the £10,000 isn't enough, maybe she was one of the many people her mother promised to leave the house to.

I've told her she needs to practice saying 'no'. The thinking behind boxing up the ornaments was that she had last weekend off work and I'd told her to work on the easy stuff - clothes and kitchen stuff. If her mother has cutlery she prefers to her own, keep it, if not keep her own and donate her mum's (some has already been done because her mum went into the nursing home last year). She's busy with work over the next couple of weeks and then has another few days off. There's a miscellany of ornaments - some will need to be valued, some are utter tat (but not necessarily cheap) so boxing them up and putting them away makes it easier to see the 'bones' of the house and decisions on ornaments can wait until she has more time. she's already decided to swap her own couch for her mother's - her mother's was  a lot more expensive but it's cream and won't last 5 minutes with her elderly dog.

So yesterday afternoon and into the evening 12 bags went to rubbish and recycling (some already part filled, some left by elves, some hunted down or gathered one by one) plus some extra bits - cans and jars left in the sink to rinse. 5 appliances loaded or unloaded - reached a long held goal as I was finally able to load stuff from the DW onto my little trolley and wheel it across to the cupboard. 5 previously collected buckets of mortar and bits of brick added to next door's brick pile in their yard. IO was originally going to bag it up neatly but am out of patience so tipped the filled buckets on the heap and added a few more shovel fulls (sticks in places because ivy and nettle roots are entwined in it - I wasn't able to cut them back at the base of the wall in case the wall fell on me).

Broken and mismatched plastic boxes and lids binned. I made a start on sweeping the remaining floor debris but tea was ready and I decided not to start again afterwards. When I went to collect my breakfast (cheese, crackers, pickled onions and grapes - all use ups, only the grapes were bought within the last fortnight) it looks easy enough (a few items of clothing that were dropped going into or out of the TD and need rewashing, a couple of bits that go with mini kitchen shelves, the rest is rubbish. Cleaning stuff has been whittled down (all used up) and I can see what I have (no bits plonked on top of the fridge freezers, hidden in a corner under a chair or any other obscure place). The end of the worktop where I'd lined them up now has only a few items left (some may condense - 1/4 jar of white vinegar or be decanted into smaller containers - olive oil will fit in the salad dressing bottle when the last bit has been used.

So that's 1973/ 2023.  Before I went to the funeral I found one turquoise, one grey and one navy glove. I'm going to put them together in a drawer and dispose of them if I don't find their partners this month. I've also decided to part with my beloved panda hat (the ends go over my ears and tie under my chin - avoids the disadvantages of both a scarf and a hood and leaves my hands free). It's given faithful service for over 15 years and I decided to let it go whilst eating (looking over all the random stuff that's on my couch besides the boxes of records). So will start a new bag for the cs (2 more rubbish/ recycling bags ready to  go out too). Cardboard boxes - I think many of you are a similar vintage to me and a cardboard box was a treasure. My brothers and I would beg to be allowed the box from our annual school shoe purchase and half the things for Blue Peter makes were unknown to us. Sticky backed plastic - my school books were backed in end of roll wallpaper (oh the joy when someone once gave me a whole wallpaper sample book to play with). A washing up bottle - my mother used green soap for everything, at least the boy on the advert did get his eventually. Glue - when I was running a craft group several years ago I would tell them how lucky they were to have glue - we had to use flour and water paste and outside we painted with sloppy daw daw - puddle water with extra mud and a stick fro a paintbrush.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

HI everyone

Not caught up with all the news but hugs all round.
I've finally done some proper decluttering - tipped out 2 bags of random stuff that was in a corner of my bedroom - mostly till receipts, all binned, plus some stamps and some loyalty vouchers for a lovely restaurant nearby which I've filed away safely. Today i've taken 3 bags of stuff to the CS. My neighbour has fitted new fence panels so I've decluttered the old ones as he has taken them away Some of the stuff that went to the CS was from the shed of doom - it is now half empty, once it is fully empty my friend will help me dismante it.  
I've also been decluttering emails each day....

Love to all 
Deni x

daisy_1571

Mothernerd, fab post, memory lane, you were posh getting left over wall paper,  I mainly had brown paper but did get occasional wall paper,  yup remember that ad lol 

 

Daisy xx

EnergyShifter

What a lovely day today.  I had a boost of energy after Church so did some decluttering.  I brought some stuff down from loft some for me to go through and some for DS .  I've done mine, will have to choose the right moment to encourage DS to do his. 

Thank you Floss & MadBat for the hair encouragement - I feel there is hope for it now !  

Tasks:
0

IN (running total 37)
Picked up a lovely dress from CS - not sure whether I'm going to keep it though as it is a bit big - will decide overnight and count it tomorrow if I choose to keep it

OUT (running total 163)
164. Huge hessian bag
165. Heated rollers
166. Lawn mower - left outside for scrap 🤞
167-172 - 6 x placemats
173. Bundle of old cards
174. detritus from a bag - dried out pens and lipgloss
175. Huge bundle of  Tax Credits paperwork (over 7+ years old) 
176. Various folders
177. Huge lever arch file
178 & 9 - 2 x old diaries
180. dead sports bra 
181 & 2 - 2 x wrist supports
183. some brand-new cards that I'm unlikely to use.

stellata

Failed to get up early and declutter, it was sunny outside so I walked round the hill with little dog, he's happy now.

Ate leftovers out of the fridge for a slightly odd lunch, now having coffee and then it's 30min decluttering before I sit down again.
I did sell an old watch on eBay so that's £15 in. I hate selling online, such a faff, but it's paying for the few groceries I need to top up while eating down my stores.

Rootle

2/52 - a large old spent rug to the tip.
3/52 - shirt sold and posted. Ended up costing me some pennies but trying to find solace in everything out is a win!
4/52 - 2 chairs on long term loan returned to in-laws. 
5/52 - items from a car we no longer own offered free on a specialist forum and dropped off locally. I feel this is a good deed done

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

Good afternoon everyone 👋 Has anyone been reading the recently started “La Dolce Vita” thread? I only ask because there are lovely names for each day of the week & it makes me smile 😊 Sadly, Sunday has become Slothful Sunday as DH & I only woke up & got up at 1:30 p.m. 😔 I seem to be mistaking my target waking & going to bed times 😂 I really need to do better - so am requesting that some of my fellow declutterers add a little reminder to their posts, along the lines of “Go to bed MrsSD” Doesn’t matter what time you are posting as it will hopefully work on a subliminal level 😉 

Anyway, no plans for today other than cooking a roast beef dinner & catching up on the cheerleading 😉 That way if I do anything extra, I can give my myself a bit of a boost 🤞3:00 p.m. & DH has set off on his first walk under blue skies & in sunshine but wrapped up warm as it is chilly 🙂 I have put his motorcycle jacket & jeans in wm for a quick wash 🙂 as he has booked the jacket in for a replacement zip on Tuesday & it is currently a bit smelly 😉 3:35p.m. & DH is back 🙂 Now 4:00 p.m. & DSis has just treated me to a heated Cornish pasty 🤤

You are welcome Moorviews 🙂 Sneaky MrMV 😂 I trust he was suitably chastened 😉 However at least you know now & can start sorting it out 😉 Good luck 🍀

Excellent work DundeeDoll 👏 You are now our ‘go to girl’ for advice on using the daily 23 minutes method to declutter & tidy 😊 Love the “toothbrush principle” 🙂 Such a great idea & thank you for sharing 👏 a second medal 🏅 is on its way 🙂 - I am also of the muttley generation 😅

EnergyShifter - “transitioning to grey” brought to mind a song ‘Fade to Grey’ by Visage - I was listening to music of the 80’s after all 🤣 Also very apropos as you are waiting for the blonde colour to fade to grey 😉 I crack myself up sometimes 🤣 Good decluttering 👏

Lovely reassuring post Floss 😊

Great to see you try_harder 👋 Well done on decluttering so many books, you are definitely in the decluttering groove’ 👏

daisy_1571, Loving the chat about ‘good boxes’ & thanks for the Madame Anthro quote 👏

DundeeDoll, hope your dog is better now 🤞 I foresee lots of dog cuddles in your future 😊 Don’t forget to polish your 2nd medal 😉

Ouch Dfw38, your poor DD 🤕 Very pleased to hear that she is feeling so much better & that arguing with her sister points the way to her being well on the road to recovery 😉 I imagine you could have been ‘knocked down with a feather’ when your DH started decluttering the Room of Doom surprised 😲 Whilst I appreciate he has an ulterior motive (new Ik** storage units) 😉 I am still going to award him a medal 🏅 After all decluttering is taking place & the upside is that you might need fewer units 🥳Your blanket is beautiful 😍 (well deserved praise from retiredinfrance & ~FlowerPot~)  plus if you are missing the William Morris wallpaper you could always hang it on the wall for a few days 😅

GrannyKate, very pleased to hear that you are gradually feeling better And are taking it a bit easier than usual 😊 Thank you for sharing lovely memories & good advice 👏 Excellent decluttering 👏 but please don’t do too much whilst you are still recovering 🙏 

Madbat60, I am just imagining how beautiful your hair looks 😍 & I can just imagine you strutting your stuff wearing your bright red lipstick 👏 

Liverpool_Anne, sounds like you are the Queen of Boxes 😅 Excellent reinforcing recommendation for grandmanerd’s young relative - she needs as little stress as possible at such a sad time for her 😔What a well written & articulated commentary on the “It’s a Control Thing’ article 👏 - I agree with you & aspire to ‘Tidy & Homely’ 😉 Good luck to you & OH with your mission to declutter carp 🍀

Now 4:30 p.m. & I am leaving you all for a 23 minute burst of activity 😉 I am determined to get something/anything done 😉

See you later when I will report back & resume cheerleading 🙂

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 449/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

~FlowerPot~

Spent 2 hours cleaning the car instead and out, it's now sparkling 🐸✅

Also went right through all my clothes drawers, cleaned through and removed a large bag for cs and another large bag for textile recycling. Vert pleased with that 🐸✅

2 frogs freed in February 8 to go! 

MadRatters

Hey people!

Hope you've had a good weekend & gentle hugs to those who needs them.

Sorry I haven't been on much, I've just been getting back into the flow of things after the new year.

We've also welcomed 4 little pet African Soft Furred 'rats'/'mice' and it's taken a while for me to get used to them. 

We've slowly been sorting out the boxes of our stuff from moving in. We have 5 boxes of stuff to try and sell, even just for a bit to get some extra cash to put towards some renovation/decorating work that needs to be done. 

Today & the other day we've sorted out some more boxes and made really good progress.

#11 Empty fabreeze can

#12 Empty carpet cleaner can

#13 Old elbow grease cream

#14 Empty packaging in recycling box

#15 Old candy

#16 crumpled sticky notes

#17 Cardboard box that the new mouse cage came in

#18 Emptied 2 bags of cardboard boxes

#19 1 bag of trash 

#20 Chewed teddy bear (we let Remi play with it to keep him busy whilst sorting out stuff) 
#21 Un-needed paper notes in the recycling box 

charlies_tribe

Good evening love and hugs (and reminders to go to bed!) For all who need them. I did catch up while sat in A&E yesterday but forgot what I was going to write.

Thank you for the birthday wishes.

DD3 sniffles turned nasty Friday and we ended up in a&e at 4 on Saturday morning. 9 hours later she had antibiotics for a chest infection, steroids for her chest and new inhalers. Finally got home after 1 and had a few naps all afternoon after being awake over 30 hours. Last night was a bit better but still up regularly to give her inhalers. DH still isn't great so no decorating today.

So today DH has nipped to SM to get bits for school tomorrow and dropped the bag of clothes from last weekend off. Biscuit tins with a couple of soft biscuits in from christmas recycled and after being used just fine this morning, the toaster decided it was going to blow the electric every time it was turned on so has also gone out. Nothing else done today, I'm stating under the blanket drinking way too much tea.

301-303  3 x Leggings
304-307  4 x shorts
308-311  4 x tshirts
312          Shirt
313-315  3 x pyjamas
316-317  2x biscuit tins
318          Toaster