2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

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 ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

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

Apologies for not posting again yesterday 😔 With so many hours of screen time I just couldn’t manage it 😉

So to finish off Monday: I managed to reduce the number of iPad Notes by more than half & tidied the remaining notes 🥳 It took all day on & off but it is done & I have no more digital decluttering to do 🎉(as I had already cleared down my emails) Also managed to clear down a few more programmes from planner 👏 Dinner was sausages, mash, baked beans & plum tomatoes (from a can). DSis wudupa 👏🥳 DH gave his seal of approval on the guacamole 🙂😋 & to round off the day perfectly ERNIE was kind to both of DH (£150) & me (£225) 

1599 - 1600 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

1601 Kitchen detritus binned 

Tuesday is a very overcast day although not as breezy as yesterday. I was up & dressed by 11:15 & have now settled down with my first mug of tea, ready to catch up on the cheerleading 🤞Timer is on, so off I go 🤞

stellata, pleased to hear you had such a great time 😊 DH & I have the same issue - more stops on long journeys - having to balance keeping hydrated with rest stops (which are not only more frequent but with the added issue of getting on & off the bike) 😔 I keep hoping for the wisdom to catch up with the aging 🤣

weenancy, a busy day 👏 & I see you are still in charge of the dog 😔 Is she still helping with the decluttering 😉 Now that is what I call ‘long term thinking’ by both your parents - clothesline & mattress with a combined age of 123 years 👏😊 I imagine you have seen many changes in your neighbourhood over the last 60+ years & possibly not all good 😔 Perhaps that should be your next book - History of My Neighbourhood 😉 Only joking 🙃 you have enough on your plate. As to your roommates, I have absolutely no idea how you cope with them 🤔 You have the patience of Job 😇 No wonder you get frustrated - all 4 of them seem to just coast by & persist in taking advantage of your good nature 😡 None of them ever seem to evolve or develop - heartbreaking really  ❤️‍🩹 No wonder you are tired 😪 I am also wondering if your female roommate has managed to find a job yet? Not sure I would be so magnanimous - if you sold your home surely it would be up to them to find somewhere else to live 😉 Rather than a mobile library perhaps a small library as your new home - plenty of space for your books & living accommodation above 🧐 Once all the boxes have left your home, I look forward to seeing you in the TLC Carriage 😊 Now that we have the sleeping pods, it would be possible to move in permanently 😉 Although I think I need to start planning the addition of a computer room 🤔 as I know that you would get bored if you had nothing to do 😊 

QueenJess, loved your idea of not aiming too high whist DH is away 🤣 & I must admit that SuffolkSue came up with the perfect mantra “Everybody fed, Nobody dead” I really must look at that website a bit more closely - seems that you are finding it very useful 😊 Sorry to hear that your online selling is causing you so much stress 😔 I can understand why you feel that you should try to sell DS’s ‘stuff’ but surely your DH could be responsible for selling his own ‘stuff’ 🧐 After all you both work & YOU are also taking care of everything else on top of that 😔 Great decluttering 👏 & good luck with your 5 minute tidy session 🍀

Muddy_Walker, sorry to hear that you felt low yesterday 😔 Maybe a combination of Monday Blues, change in weather & nervous expectation re the cleaner 🤔 Although I was glad to hear about your bright spots - deadheading & doggy company 😊

SuffolkSue, very droll 🤣

Wednesday2000, perhaps you could sell the whole box as a job lot thereby satisfying the conflicting feelings 🤨 Of course, I am speaking from a position of weakness, as I have never sold anything online, so feel free to ignore me 😂

oceanspirit, I am surprised it only took a week to catch up with the thread as the EDT is still moving along at bullet train speed 😅 I hope you had a lovely holiday & that you didn’t have to climb in through a window when you got back 😅 so you didn’t have to declutter OH 😉 Good luck with the decluttering, sorting & tidying 🍀

Even using the timer system, I am struggling to concentrate 😔 so I think I will post this & take a break. Hopefully I will come back later & just sail through the cheerleading 🤞🤞

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

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 1601/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.00

Florenceem

DGs J helped to put rollator together and painted both sides of the kitchen door. He is coming back next Tuesday.
Decided to pop into town - Mr F went with me - we just got home before the rain.
Got the 10% off in Icelan. - stocked up with choc covered lollies and eggs.
My extending window cleaning item which I ordered yesterday is ready to collect from the PO.

Soontobeoap

@Siebrie One bed on top of the other. The bottom bunk nearly sits on the floor so the top bunk is not too much higher than an ordinary bunk bed. It has been screwed to the wall just incase of overexcited Gc xpullung it down on themselves

QueenJess

Thanks everyone who commented and I'm glad it's not just me that gets stressed selling things.  Not much happening today as I didn't sleep worrying about an emergency dentist appointment that I needed and went to today.  It's never as bad as I think, so I'm not sure why I always get so stressed about it.  I do have an infection and antibiotics though and as usual get slightly odd looks when I say I almost never take pain killers for anything (including this... after my C-section I had some paracetamol for a few days).

I am consoling myself with some chocolate and concentrating on very small but feel good tasks.  So I just bagged up one load of charity to dump into DH's room out of the library.  I've not labelled it yet as I'm not sure he'll be able to post this week, but at least it isn't cluttering up my view whilst I'm working.  I've also taken off everything bar 2 things from sales that are selling and sending to charity/offering on Buy Nothing to get them gone and relieve some stress.  Lots more to do in the library that will keep me quiet for weeks, but getting it tidier is high on the list.  I will ask DH about his sale stuff as I haven't even got round to listing it yet...

No decluttering to list yet today and the mini task was old sunscreen, but I don't have any!

Siebrie

@QueenJess I don't have any success selling stuff online, and it stresses me out: taking nice pictures, writing an alluring text, setting a price, keeping the items separate, organised and clean, and then dealing with either no replies, or people trying to haggle the already low price down. I deciced early on that my time and energy was better spent setting meal plans based on sales and my pantry; or mending clothes; or making cards; or teaching my dds housekeeping skills.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

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 ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

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

It came over all dark & then the heavens opened ………… for all of 10 minutes 🤷‍♀️ although it is still very dark & the air is damp 😔 I have done something - scrubbed the sink & toilet in the cloakroom 😉 both sparkling now so I haven’t been completely lazy today 😅 DH had a bath & has just headed off for his doctors appointment (15:20). Typically it just started to rain as he headed off with no coat & the words “I’m not made of sugar” 😠 Fortunately it only rained for a couple of minutes 😮‍💨 

Liverpool_Anne, you might not have decluttered as many physical items as you wanted but you did declutter several tasks 👏 Hopefully OH will let you use the laptop today 🤞so you can get the car insurance sorted 🙂 Sounds like you had a pleasant time for part of the afternoon chatting to ln 😊You mentioning that you don’t drink much reminded me of something DH said 😉 The wife of one of DH’s great nephews decided to give up drinking completely & has recently reached ONE Year without a drop of alcohol passing her lips 🥳👏 What an achievement & apparently she feels marvellous 🤩 You forgot to count decluttering yarn in your numbers 😉 Sounds like you might be coming down with some sort of bug 😔 Hopefully returning to bed & a bit of TLC will see you feeling better by tomorrow 🤞

TC77, sorry to hear that it feels ‘odd’ having the house to yourself but hopefully by the end of today you will be able to appreciate the peace & quiet & of course the freedom to declutter your own stuff at your own pace 😉 Excellent decluttering 👏 & good luck with your stated intention of decluttering tiredness 🍀 Hope you enjoy your evening out 😊

Florenceem, not selling stuff was a great decision as evidenced by how much decluttering you did 🥳👏 You definitely did not need the added stress of awkward buyers or people coming to your door all the time whilst MrF was in hospital 😥 Very pleased to hear that life is more settled now that MrF is home 😊 Well done on decluttering your craft supplies by making cards 👏 & good luck with your sewing 🍀 I am hoping for pictures 🙏 Your statement “I would encourage people to declutter - it is so much quicker to clean when areas are clear. Also no embarrassment when having visitors” bears repeating 👏

Soontobeoap, a triple bunk bed - how exciting for your gcs 🥳 (although I am curious as to how many you have which sort of ties in with Siebrie’s question 😉) Do you have very high ceilings 🧐 

Siebrie, what a marvellous garden looks quite wide as well 😊 So much packed into it & still looks half empty 🤩 Very impressed that it is not only low maintenance (my sort of gardening 😂) but also that all the garden equipment has been bought at discounted prices - very MSE 👏 I agree with 2Scratters that green is good always looks so fresh 😊 No wonder you don’t want to move 😉

2Scratters, what a busy weekend 👏 not only decluttering but also tidying & doing LDFPA as well 👏 One medal 🏅 coming your way 🙂 Very pleased to hear that your decluttering is having such a positive benefit - “Feeling a lot lighter about things - that makes me feel better about it all.” Good luck with your meeting with your Head boss tomorrow 🍀 

wort, a very succinct & easily understandable explanation 👏 so I am awarding you a medal 🏅Always nice to be reminded of the benefits of decluttering 😊

Florenceem, DGS J has been busy 👏 It sounds like MrF is getting better & fitter by the day 😊 So much nicer to be at home recovering with loved ones 🥳

Soontobeoap, now the DGC will probably argue about who gets which bunk 😅 You might have to put a rota in place 😉 A good idea to have it fixed to the wall 😉

QueenJess, very pleased to hear that your emergency dentist appointment wasn’t as bad as you feared 😊 Like you I tend to worry too much about things but oh the relief when it isn’t as bad as feared 😉 Sorry to hear that you are in pain but hopefully the antibiotics will start working on the infection & the pain will abate 🤞Well done on deciding to remove all the listings apart from the two that are being bid on 👏 I do think you should be counting ‘bagging up’ for CS etc as well as counting sessions of tidying 😉 

Well said Siebrie 👏 I think even watching paint dry or scrubbing the toilet is less stressful than trying to sell online 🤣

All caught up 🥳 Now I just need to decide on dinner 😔 Anyone else get rather tired of having to decide what to cook?

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

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 1601/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.00

roundtuit

Been an in and out sort of day.

Optician's appointment this morning and decluttered £££ on new glasses. Ouch.

Had a coffee with Pops and dropped off a book he wants to read.

Been over to check house / water flowers for DS and GF, who are in Florida for two weeks. 

Home now until Thursday morning so I've brought a binbag down from RoD1 ready to declutter the contents.

Love to all
Rxx

QueenJess

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger yes, but I already count items as soon as they are moved to the boxes for charity so don’t want to count them twice. I only count Buy Nothing and sales though once I’ve put them on the sites to incentivise me to get them out the house… that is completely inconsistent I realise. I should package up them immediately so they don’t hang around.

Florenceem

I had 3 items listed on Freegle - no takers so they went to the charity shop yesterday.
I had asked for a rollator with seat on Freegle but no offers.
I did give lots of stuff away on Freegle but decided taking photos/writing a description and loading to a selling site + packaging and posting would take too much time.
Rain cleared away here - Mr F is in the office doing some printing after making necessary appointments - audio and dental. I have made an optician appointment.
Mr F's rehab hospital phoned to do a follow up - spoke to us both - an OT technician is going to come and see about taking away the step from the drive and making it a slope.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I fell asleep about 8 and woke up about 11.30 feeling better but still sore. I have had a mini sort out of my swimming costumes and 1 put in the fabric recycling pile. After having a shower I decided I needed a hair cut so I thought I'd make the trip worth going by taking 5 items to the SA fabric recycling bin, 6 books and 3 other items to the cs on the way . Back home now and resting again. I have told OH I will sort my own tea as I am not really up to a meal, think I will have some soup.

Re selling things I kind of reached the conclusion myself before reading the posts today as the last lot of stuff I took to the cs was what I had earmarked for a car boot but then thought I can't cope with this hanging around, and I decided the same thing today with the books. I have more to pass on but I wasn't sure if the cs would take them so only took 6 as I didn't want to lug them all there only to have to bring them home again.

@Mrs SD hope the drs appt goes well for Mr SD. The yarn will be counted when the blanket for OH is finished

@Floss hope you are ok after your session today, hugs

Hugs to everyone who would like one
923 - 927 clothing to recycling
928 - 936 items to cs
Take care everyone
936/2023