2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Blue_Doggy

How lovely to see your lovely handicrafts! You are all so very talented! Apologies, I read along but can’t type quickly enough to comment on everyone’s input.
 

This past week I’ve been tackling the paperwork on my desk (it’s disorganized on what I’ve seen referred to as “The Piling System” - but with very little system to it. Still quite eclectic, the theory being that little pools of cleared space gradually spread and become lakes as the bits in between get cleared. 

 

Decluttered since last post:

- household recyclables to recycling bin
- 30 emails deleted
- 3 Charity Christmas catalogues (received in August, I don’t think of Xmas in August!)
- 3 items of junk mail direct from letterbox to recycling bin
- 54 pieces of paper to recycling
- 2 pieces of paper to reuse in printer
- 4 envelopes from mail received to recycling
- out-of-date grocery vouchers to recycling
- 5 old (2019 & 2020) insurance papers for my dogs to recycling
- 2 pet insurance booklets to recycling
- 2 misplaced documents from 2021 onto filing pile
- 1 misplaced elastic band to kitchen hook (kept for closing opened boxes in the freezer)
- 2 large handfuls of dead pond vegetation to garden waste bin (gathered while in the garden with my dog)
- 2 tags from new jumper binned
- 12 cash receipts binned after recording in accounts
- 2 expired credit cards and one long-defunct bank card cut up and disposed of
- 7 library receipts
- 2 long stems of bramble cut down and one small bramble plant pulled up, all in garden waste bin
- 2 tins from emergency food stash used up
- 3 strong mailing envelopes (from subscribed-to magazine) repurposed as filing folders
 
So, the 2023 accounts are made up, excluding the banking items (direct debits etc, so easy to forget about - I much preferred to pay them by cheque quarterly). There are now only 5 piles waiting to be dealt with, and I know what each is. Oh, and last year’s filing to be done.
 

I also tidied the stationery drawer, sorted the “spare pencils” box while looking for a new biro (none there, but found 3 fibre tipped pens which will be as good), and put away a bargain pack of Sharpies, and washed the pens-and-pencils pot.

 

Now the weather is getting a bit better I go into the garden with my dog (only one dog now, my older boy died in 2020 😢) and while he potters about in his doggy way I try to tidy a few bits and pieces. It’s not a 23-minuter, but does make a surprising difference.
 

Wishing everyone a good week, and happy decluttering!

vulpix

Hi, I am holed up in the back bedroom with the fluffy cat. 

 Taking the curtains down and moving all the furniture has given me a birds eye view of the filth. I do clean, honestly but the sooty dust reappears as quickly as I wash it off.
  Moving the radiator is the last job in the sitting room. Just thought, need the joiner to box some pipes in and fit a piece of skirting board. Almost done!

 Mr V has been in Nottingham again all day to see his Mum. 

 This plumber is a lovely lad. As different again as the last one. He is going to look at moving the radiator in the spare room so the bed doesn’t have to be under the window. He is also going to look at reinstating the outside toilet. 

 I forgot that I also have an old pair of kitchen scissors in my gardening shed. So useful. I suppose MrV could have some in his studio. That leaves 3 pairs to rehome. Good idea to see if the charity shop could take them. 

 I can always rely on you people to give me ideas or jog my memory for a forgotten item that could go. 

 Vx 

 

Blue_Doggy

Just joining in the scissors saga, I have
- embroidery scissors in the mending box
- cutting out scissors in the sewing bag
- pinking shears which may be in Mum’s sewing box
- 2 pairs of nail scissors in the dressing table
- 1 pair of scissors on each desk (1 upstairs and 1 downstairs)
- 2 pairs in the kitchen, one for cutting food, one for cutting packaging etc
- 1 pair for the garden
- 1 pair for flowers (florists vase type, not garden gatherings)
- 1 pair with the pack and wrap stuff
- 1 pair in the cemetery visiting box
 
Amazingly, 12 pairs, not really interchangeable though, just one pair of nail scissors could go. I knew I had plenty, but not quite so many. And I could really do with some poultry shears ...
 
@vulpix I know what you mean about moving things and dust appears, always worse this time of year when the sun throws a spotlight onto it.

Dfw38

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger when we told mil we were moving out she spent days sobbing! I think she liked to feel useful as she had given up work a few years prior due to ill health. She was a lovely lady, treated me like one of her own, she just spoilt dh with habits that feel impossible to break!
2nd dd is a lot better this afternoon- the miracle of calp0l and a double chocolate cookie 🤣. All woodwork painting will be finished tonight, not sure if papering will be done tonight or maybe tomorrow.  2nd dd was very good at entertaining ds so I managed to catch up. Unfortunately entertaining also meant trashing their bedroom and the living room. She is currently doing a grand impression of me to her brother and sister "I am not impressed, the whole lot can go to the other children (cs), if you think I am having this chaos over the holidays you are very much mistaken" ha ha ha I have had to hide in the kitchen because I am laughing so much especially as she created the mess 🤣

QueenJess

@Dfw38 that is hilarious

I managed to crawl out of the TLC carriage a few times today so that the tidying all got done.  I also opened the cleaning cupboard, stared into it for a while and identified a few more things to remove.  It all needs taking out, cleaning the bottom and rearranging, but I don't feel up to that yet.  Will try and declutter it first.  I also sorted out the wrapping paper/packaging paper.... I realised that I wrap so few presents in the year and the ones I wrap for the kids just get reused as I don't use any sellotape, so I was completely ruthless with what I think I'll actually use and what is in good enough condition.  Between that and the shredding yesterday, I've already filled up my recycling bags for this week!

After that, the house is really looking so much better in almost every room and I can see real progress.  Just need to keep it up.  For now I'm crawling back into the TLC carriage for the rest of the night.  DS has instructions to make dinner which I am having in bed and he will look after DS.  DD is in bed asleep already.

1,739 - packaging (used)

1,740 - unneeded bottle (Buy Nothing, or will recycle if no interest)

1,741 - unneeded new cleaning cloth (Buy Nothing)

1,742 - empty cleaning bottle (recycled)

1,743 - bag not needed (binned)

1,744-1,811 - packing paper/wrapping paper (recycled)

gettingthrifty

Hi All
Although I am going at a snails pace lots of frogs are being dealt with !
For those of you that were cheerleading me when I had the humiliating medical appointment (very grateful to you all) just to update. Rude registrar had said 'maybe your anxious?' I refrained from saying 'maybe your patronising' ( although that was what I was thinking. Im not usually rude but it doesnt stop me thinking unkindly)  -
2 days later GP did blood test for same symptom rang me within 2 hours of test  to advise me to stop taking medication he thought was causing it. Had to have urgent bloods taken 2 days after to see if blood count recovering ..it was. Relief.
89- took sanitary products to local cafe for the' got caught out' basket in their loos where you can leave nappies, tampons pads etc.
90-pewter cat ornament to donation box gift from DS' ex . lovely girl but we move on
91- 30 minutes clearing email in box
92 - shirt to recycling

EnergyShifter

I must admit when I went into the TLC carriage yesterday I was worried that I was coming down with DS' cold ( I really don't want to have to cancel op next week.).but I feel fine today thank goodness. 🙏  I had such a nice afternoon & eve in there yesterday that I decided to stay there today too!  I met one of my Cousins for lunch - it must be about 2 years since we've seen each other!  

While I was up in Town I popped into Paperchase at Waterloo to use up my "Reward" voucher before they close down.  I'll be sorry to see them go and really feel for all those people losing their jobs.  

Tasks:
0

IN (running total 38)
39. String bag - Sent free from TK Maxx - immediately put to use to hold cleaning cloths in the cupboard under the stairs
40. Notebook 
41. Pack of small notebooks

OUT (running total 218)
219.  Olympics programme & other paper bits DS
220.  Scarf
221.  Paperchase reward card
222.  cotton laundry bag - repurposed as dustcloths

GrannyKate

Only a few bits to report today but I have tackled three quarters of the huge legal frog for DS2.  Writing statements etc and hope to finish it off tomorrow to send off next week.  I still feel very tired but did get to hairdressers for the first time since Christmas.

219-Large frog munched up - I'll give myself 5 points when its gone 
220 Set up new WhatsApp with sister - with help
221 Bag of plastic to recycling
222 Hair decluttered 

Mrs SD - I'd had my cleaner for a while - when I said i'd left it by the bed I meant I took it in there to vacuum and never did it.  Re scissors - I rounded up lots when I first started sorting but children just leave them everywhere.  I do, however, have a good sewing/material pair hidden where only I can find them. 

short_bird

647-659: items to bin
660-670: items to recycling
671: 50 emails deleted
672-673: 2 records to charity shop bag
674-675: bag of rubbish and wodge of card taken to outside bins
676-720: 45 GB data deleted in a large digital tidy up.
Deferred decisions:
62-67: craft items consolidated and/or binned resulting in 4 plastic tubs emptied and gone into the recycling. (I have Dana K White to thank for that one - the concept of decluttering without making a mess.)

Also had a record sort out - put some new records in fancy anti-static sleeves and earmarked some new to me vinyl for proper cleaning. Definitely a work in progress like so much around here.

QueenJess

short_bird said:
676-720: 45 GB data deleted in a large digital tidy up.

😲😲😲😲😲😲