2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

TC77

Gosh, so much of what @gettingthrifty @Fizz2015 and others have said resonates. I so want a simpler life. @Dfw38 its a little over a year since my dad dies  and going to see my DB at  the house which still needs sorting. He didn't want me doing things straight after and the next couple of months are difficult with DDs having exams and flat hunt etc. I am trying to restrain my 'collecting' gene and waste not gene and also life's been hard for a long time and sort of associate with happier times, or my parents being v close and in a few months will be on my own when DD2 goes to uni so think of things as a safely net, and ongoing sorting means I don't have to face other things!

TC77

Mrs SD, sounds a good start  to trip and good news about G

Couple of emails written, and managed to scan documents, write email attach scans and send! lots of scope for being distracted. Printed stuff to read tomorrow and about to make list to do for tomorrow - we have a bring and fix at local community centre but really want to know how to make sure personal data on old phones and laptops can be destroyed so I can donate (bits don't work)but apparently still useful), and have old table lamp I may get checked.
Neighbour  sending her husband tomorrow to help sort smoke alarm - can't get the case off and keeps beeping, I'm too short and DD2 on ladder with me holding couldn't do it. I have tidied a little but hoping he isn't observant.

Florenceem

Up and getting ready to leave home early for the SA table sale.
I can see a bit of space in the garage after taking the stuff out to go to the tip but Sil will book another tip slot so I can get rid of more stuff. I have 2 bags of stuff started to take to the charity shops on Tuesday.
Have a good day all.

stellata

I sold 3 things on eBay and sent them off. Bit of cash and a bit more space.

Foofoopuppy

@gettingthrifty, I can see there's been lots of advice, but I am similar to QueenJess in that I find repeated cycles easiest. Go round, get rid of anything obvious that you don't want to keep. If you're not sure, save it for next time.

Then a period later - a day, a week, a month whatever - you go round again making slightly harder decisions  and so on. I will say, don't leave your second round too long otherwise you might lose your momentum. 

I also agree that stopping stuff coming in is important. Over the past few years I've targeted areas, and then had to make sure I don't go overboard buying again. For me those key areas are candles, toiletries and clothes/bags. When you go to buy something, consider where it will go. If my candle box is full, I cannot buy anymore until I've used some. Even if it's a really good deal - you'll find another good deal in the future.

Keeping on top of things here, trying to be mindful of my spending as well as we've had a fairly expensive year so far.

I mostly agree with people who haven't missed things they have decluttered. I thought I was going to miss a bag I'd donated, but then when I went and looked at my bag rack I realised I had a similar but nicer bag that would do the trick. Which I think shows the importance of keeping like with like.

Florenceem, I hope you get a diagnosis for Mr F soon, it's good that he seems to be feeling better but you must miss him terribly, and I hope he comes home soon. Hugs for everyone else struggling as well, I do read along and keep you in my thoughts. 

roundtuit

I've completed a book of Sudoku which surfaced when I was decluttering the TARDIS. The book is now in the recycling box.

I've read three RD Select Editions and put them in the bag for cs. Guess what was on the next shelf down in the TARDIS! Three more RD Select Editions- do they breed in the dark? So they too will be reread and donated to cs. 

Everyday rubbish and recycling continues to leave the building every day. As it should. 😇

Second load of laundry has just finished swishing and will be pegged out when I've finished typing this missive. Laundry hamper is now empty. 

There are dirty pots in the bowl waiting to be washed but no mountains of dirty pots balancing on work tops. One x WUDUPA will sort that.

I've been reading along and fascinated by all your  insights into why we are where we are on the decluttering trail. @Liverpool_Anne has been inspirational Thank you 😘. I wrote a list of my priorities. And was quite surprised by the results even though I can see common sense shining through the list. One of those 💡 🤦‍♀️ moments. I've not decided on how to approach my first priority. But I'm going to use the activity to squelch the hovering cloud of depression which is circling again. Mental image of large hobnailed boot squelching on a large green blob. Splunch!

Love to you all. 
Rxx

Florenceem

I got home from the table top sale - we raised £543.49.
Had a drink and took my tablets and went to collect a JL parcel from our local Waitros. I forgot to take my bus pass with me and it is all up hill going home. My middle Dd came to collect me and she helped me sort out the second wine rack in the garage - she took the champagne and Cointreau + 2 bottles of whisky for her Fil. The rest went in the bin. Then we saw another wine rack - so another 16 bottles went and a case of wine - 12 bottles in it also went. 
My Sil left a few bits behind as his car was full but said most of it can go in the black bin.
I have started a new pile for the tip - 2 wine racks and a mini table top stove.
Eating a white chocolate Easter egg to recuperate.

Pennypincin

Hi everyone.
I've finally got round to cut the grass.
I doubt I will get round to taking it before it gets cut again, but hopefully it will get a rake at some point. And start to do weeding soon.

Pennypincin

Managed to weed the tiny patch at the front by the door (a tiny patch of land, kind of a planter type thing attached to the property) and planted a lavender plant, plus decluttered some seeds by showing them by the lavender.
Plus will be decluttering some more seeds to someone who wants them.

weenancyinAmerica

Thank you @gettingthrifty for your post. I copied your reasons so I can use them to help with my roommates who are having problems also - the reason I am having problems - their stuff all over the house.

Roommate Di - who had two jobs for a couple of weeks, now has neither. I told her not to quit the one job until she finished the training period for the other but she did anyway, and then didn't pass the training for the job she wanted to keep. She can apply again in 6 months, but I'm not very optimistic. I can't get her do do much of anything around the house either.

Roommate G is still having medical problems with his legs. And girlfriend problems. But he is back to cooking some days. of course, I'm the one who has to clean up afterward.

Roommate Da is almost never here. We seldom see him at all. Found out he has been here this last week. Who knew?

Roommate J has been off work all week again. But he did take the weedwhacker to the front lawn. It was over three feet high in some places - the worst looking yard in the area. It still looks pretty bad, so I am going to have to go out and trim it a bit - and sweep up as he never does. The sidewalk is covered in two inches of grass. The backyard still needs the whackers help but I have been using vinegar on the weeds and about half have died down now. Just need to clean them up a bit. Need to do it by Wednesday as we are supposed to get more rain. Climate change has definitely happened here. We never used to get rain after the 1st of April until October. At least I won't have to water the plants and refill the pool yet.

I've mainly been working on family history this week - mine and other people decluttering duplicates and getting copies out to people on flash drives. One more to go and I will caught up. Worked at two Family History Centers this week 12 hours). Did more school work for the four classes I am taking - trying to keep up with it all.

Decluttered the normal stuff - plus decluttering the leftover Easter eggs - by eating them.

Tomorrow is a Mystery Author's Luncheon where four authors come and tell our Library supporters (about 300 of them) how they write their books. Should be fun and very MSE for me as our Friends board pays for the 10 of us on the Board to go and have a few luncheon (otherwise it is $75 a person!). The next day will be getting more books at the library ready to go to the jail, taking Roommate G for X-rays on his broken shoulder, and getting roommate Di signed up for Medicare as she turns 65 this month. Several frogs to cover that day.

Hope everyone is having a successful time decluttering. Hugs to all of you.