2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Keiths_Mum

Evening All

Back from a few days swanning around London. Went to the National Gallery on Monday and walked from King's Cross to Little Venice along the canal on Tuesday, did 17,000 steps so hopefully decuttered some weight.

Back to the decluttering, finished round three of paperwork decluttering and have now gone from 6 boxes to 3/4 box. Really pleased with that, just need to sort it into years, which should then make it easier to go through on a yearly basis. Not sure how many I shredded, lost count, but I think I'm going to miss the shredding, its very therapeutic after an arduous work day!

To the person who said about donating bras, I think it was me who threw away a tatty sports bra. I've already donated all of my really decent ones. About 10 years ago I had shingles, it was along my bra line on my side. I found I couldn't wear a bra after, as the pressure was too uncomfortable. I kept all of my lovely, expensive bras for about 8 years, (I would say for Justin but I don't think he'd wear them!), thinking I might be able to wear them again. But a couple of years ago I admitted to myself that I was never going to be able to wear them again, I can't even sleep on that side, and I  donated them all. I only wear sports bras now, which have to be slightly big, so they are comfortable.

Florenceem

Brave folk on here - getting rid of yarn. I am not brave enough to do that.

diminua

Thank you for my medal Mrs SD

I've been decluttering a bit more today. 

Old buttons (only keeping the ones I like best/might use one day) - counting that as one item
Old keys - no idea what they open - I have extra keys to my cousin's and brother's, and a locker at work, and those are all accounted for - counting that as one item
another old notebook torn up and in the recycling
knickers with hole in
metal clasps from an old handbag 
plastic bulldog clip 
a guitar plectrum (I don't play guitar - where did it come from?)
seven badges - I kept the six I liked best. More could probably go but this will do for now
earrings which the stones fell out of
a woven palm fan the handle of which was unravelling 
a ring made of seashell
a glass pot that used to have a candle in it. 

In - my Christmas present from someone at work, which she didn't give me at the time because I was off with covid. 

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

Forgot to mention that Oddbox was delivered Wednesday evening - in a new collapsable box which almost emptied out all the contents onto the floor 😬 

Thursday - weather stayed dull & overcast until 4:00 p.m. but now brighter & some blue sky visible 🙂For some reason I am feeling very woolly headed today & cannot seem to concentrate on anything or even summon up the enthusiasm to do pretty much anything 😔 Surprising really as there have been some very ‘bright spots’ today 🙂 DSis was ecstatic at buying 4 specially themed pin badges for 20% of their value 🥳, DH now has a new name “The Pied Piper of Squirrels” (he takes a handful of monkey nuts on his walks & today he fed 5 squirrels individually, continued his walk, heard a noise behind him & turned around to discover 5 squirrels trailing him 🤣) & I am jumping for joy as my Swap Out stamps arrived today 🥳🥳 (I had written them off in Tuesday’s 1:35 p.m. post 😉) - how does it go ‘o ye of little faith’ 😅 I took the opportunity to sort out my ‘Postage’ envelopes - now neat & tidy & easily accessible 🙂 DH & I had his hm soup for lunch & bearing in mind how tasty it was, I think I will let him make the next one 😉 I spent the afternoon dealing with todays mail ✅ & watching TV& a little bit of proper TLC - used my shoulder massager for five minutes. Dinner was bacon, eggs, mushrooms & potatoes (from the freezer) which were fried 🤤 Wudupa

613 - 616 Kitchen recycling, cardboard box, cardboard packaging, drinks cans - recycled 

617 - 618 Kitchen & DSis bedroom detritus - binned

Thanks for the information Wednesday2000 👏 I have bookmarked the online store.

QueenJess, the great thing about kids is that they never notice if a house is cluttered 😉 they are more concerned that they have enough room to play with their friends & that mummy is providing drinks & snacks 😅 Please do NOT beat yourself up 🙏 You are doing a great job whilst still working plus caring for your children & DH 👏 Pleased to hear that DH is finally coming around to the wisdom of decluttering 🙂 Not too sure how DH having half the wardrobe space  works with you & the children having the other half 🤔 I will have to ponder 😉

vulpix, I often wonder how siblings who are brought up in the same home can be so different 🤔 You obviously got the ‘nice’ gene 😊 I think you are well out of it 😉 I rather like the idea that you would come back & haunt your children if they act in the same way as your brother !  Well done MrV - nice to hear that romance isn’t dead 😊 A bionic vulpix - any other super powers 😉 Oh yes, you have - being able to locate good workmen as evidenced by plumber & builder turning up 👏 I need to take my own planning advice re the bathroom renovation 😉 Btw, you were not moaning - you were ordering your thoughts 😊 Always good to see things in written form rather than swirling around in your head 👏

Thanks for the link QueenJess 👏 Very interesting - the same one appeals to me - less clutter = 40% less housework - not that I do much anyway 😂 Ooh, a diamond 💎- I love sparkly things 😉

Sorry to hear that you have been struggling grandmanerd 😔 but lovely to see you back with us 😊 I think a ‘slowing down’ happens quite often after a big declutter - gives you a chance to catch your breath & admire your handiwork 🙂 Remember the more you declutter, the more you want to declutter & the more likely you are to spot new areas to declutter 😉 So having a long To Do list is a sign of a successful declutterer 🤔 Great work getting so many smaller tasks done on Tuesday & using waiting time for buses as time spent dong things you like to do 👏 Well done to DS3 for putting the rubbish out, maybe you can get him to do it each week as practice for when he & Beloved move out 🙂 Please don’t feel stupid at not being able to navigate your way through the tech labyrinth - I am almost positive that they make it more difficult than it should be 😖 All you can do for DS3 & Beloved is to continue leading by example & hope that their being with you means that your sensible decisions re financial matters have been absorbed sub consciously 🤞 Excellent decluttering 👏

Great work oceanspirit 👏 & good luck with the filing 🍀

Thanks for the link to Smalls For All, Brie 👏 Although sadly it is not something I will ever use as I always wear my undies to destruction 🤣

I am just about to go to bed & will hopefully wake up full of the joys of spring & with a clear head & be able to catch up with the cheerleading 🤞

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 618/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £43.00

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, not much decluttering done but I feel like I have been busy. 
I decided to clean the fridge as we seem to have a problem with the drain thing and I have to keep wiping it out. Investigation pending.
This led to the decision to batch cook some veg stew and a general sort out of the veg. I made 10 portions . I had 1 for my tea and I have put the smallest portion in the fridge for my tea tomorrow as I am out for lunch. 8 have been put into the freezer. Freezer tetris pending
I sorted through the store cupboard and 2 items had to be thrown out as they were ood, very annoying but had been bought by OH to make a specific thing and it wasn't made.
I have binned a saucepan as the handle was becoming very wobbly and I couldn't fix it. I inherited it from my Mum over 20 years ago so it doesn't owe me anything and I have others. It is in the bag to take to the tip so not counted yet
While prepping the veg I decluttered some recordings from the telly and filled and emptied the lr bin.
I also finished reading a magazine which was becoming a frog with just one article left to read but sitting there unread. Read and recycled
I also spent some time texting about footie ticket and sorting out when I can drop stuff into school and some union advice.


@Mrs SD, hope you feel better tomorrow hugs

So
342 fridge cleaned
343 veg decluttered into veg stew
344 lr bin emptied
345 ood food binned
Take care everyone
345/2023

Dfw38

@Liverpool_Anne the drain thing in fridge; we had the same problem. If you pull the fridge out you might have a drip tray at back, carefully put it out and empty. (Ours is stupidly placed over something important and electrical to the fridge, who knows the designer? Should be ashamed for that!) Then replace drip tray and use a pipe cleaner in the internal drain hole, might be something sticking there (was for us). I then poured some sterilising fluid (only a small amount) down hole and pulled drip tray out again,  emptied and replaced. Hasn't been a problem since. If you want me to send you pictures of back of our fridge message me and I will wing them over to you. 

Dfw38

Hope you feel better soon @Mrs_Salad_Dodger
Hugest hugs to you all and hope you all have a lovely Friday.
No wallpapering done yet, I will declutter dh if he doesn't pull his finger out, so the decluttering quest continues! Filled 3 bags full of clothes from yesterday's box. Organised the lunch box drawer and arranged a food delivery for Monday as my car sounds like it is tap dancing, the car is booked in to the mechanic on Tuesday and might be getting decluttered if it is the problem we think it is. Not sure where to start decluttering today, feel like I need something with minimal work but maximum impact....watch this space! 

GrannyKate

Hugs to anyone who needs them. Saving tidying and cleaning for the weekend as it is half term this week.  Took small people to Cleethorpes yesterday - it was surprisingly busy but not cold or wet.  They bought a couple of small things, we had a walk along front and played on 2p machines. Better than sitting at home on phones and iPads.  Today I have promised to go to one of those indoor play centres - ugh.  

239 Contacted plumber re boiler service etc - no response yet - one of my 23 minute tadpoles
240 Cleaned kitchen floor
241 Paid some money towards energy bill to bring it back to credit.  Used some of money refunded by insurance company for dehumidifier.
242 Bag of electricals dropped off at recycling

Weighed myself and back at where I started so now serious dieting needed.  No sweet things eaten all day Thursday.  Like another poster said, sorry forgotten which, I reward myself with sweets, cakes etc to cope with stress and this last year has certainly been months of that.  

Crazycatlady2

Looks like everyone is doing great.

I got a standstill as it’s half term but got last few bits out the shed in the bin just the vinyl floor left which needs cutting as I want to use it on top of rabbit run to keep the rain out

eldest failed his driving test and still waiting to see if hubby has job at current work or redundancy going ahead 

wort

@QueenJess I can attest to the fact that being clear of clutter means less cleaning, I find even a deep clean is quick and easy, I have so much more time and many days such as today I am searching for any chores to do🤪  life is for living and now if someone comes around or invites me out I have time, and no guilt about things I still need to do.

@vulpix My mum said if we fell out over anything after she died she’d come back and haunt us 😂 luckily that didn’t happen. Though I understand taking a step back will help to keep the peace.

In the words of Joshua Becker - If you are not using the stuff in your home, get rid of it. You’re not going to start using it more by stuffing it in a cupboard somewhere.

hope Mrs Sd is in bed , and hugs to all that need them.