2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

QueenJess

Some wins this morning whilst I was waiting for information to come through at work.  Had a bit of an epiphany last night and realised that the pillows were in a cupboard already.  Did I really need to put them in a bag on top of that as I'll never find a perfect size one anyway?  Answer - no.  I put them in pillow case covers instead.  I then rearranged the top of the cupboard and discovered a duvet for DS's bed came with two bags (a horrible plastic thing which I've binned) and a lovely cotton bag which I've now stored my winter duvet in.  So absolutely nothing purchased, lots of storage bags gone and they all fit easily on the top shelf!

Feel quite relieved about that, so just some organisation required on the other shelves and to find a cardboard box that fits in the cupboard for ongoing decluttering stuff so I can start freeing up my library.  I also finished a puzzle last night, so that's on Buy Nothing as I liked making it, but know I won't make that one again.

Physical:
32,087-32,088 - storage bags not needed (Buy Nothing)
32,089 - duvet bag not needed (binned)
32,090 - puzzle finished (Buy Nothing)

32,091 - packaging (reused)

Edit: I also dismantled the high chair and put it in a cupboard. We don’t think it’s needed anymore, but will just leave it there to check before it goes onto Buy Nothing in a month or so.

Florenceem

Decluttered some stuff while making Gertie - more photos on craft thread.

Fizz2015

Morning All, been surviving the school holidays with working and childcare. Got a rare 2 hours too myself this morning as DD at free local club. DSD did exceptionally well in her GCSE results. 
1 day in work tomorrow then not back until 11th September. Very happy at that thought 😀 Got essentials booked in like hair cuts and a few day trips and nice to spent time with DD before back at school and time to sort the house/garden house and get on top of decluttering. 
@QueenJess jealous of your big cupboard. OH knocked ours out when we moved in! We have nowhere to store camping equipment, sleeping bags, winter duvets and bedding. Just gets moved around. I need a solution. 

QueenJess

Fizz2015 said:

Morning All, been surviving the school holidays with working and childcare. Got a rare 2 hours too myself this morning as DD at free local club. DSD did exceptionally well in her GCSE results. 
1 day in work tomorrow then not back until 11th September. Very happy at that thought 😀 Got essentials booked in like hair cuts and a few day trips and nice to spent time with DD before back at school and time to sort the house/garden house and get on top of decluttering. 
@QueenJess jealous of your big cupboard. OH knocked ours out when we moved in! We have nowhere to store camping equipment, sleeping bags, winter duvets and bedding. Just gets moved around. I need a solution. 

If I didn’t have the big cupboard, I would get under bed storage for that stuff. Could that work?

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

Forgot to post yesterday afternoon 🙊 l left my house 11:15, walked to DLR station & caught train into Bank. Followed the Exit signs & ended up coming out of the large new station entrance/exit. Needed to orientate myself before setting off to my destination 😉 I had arrived early so took the opportunity to use the facilities & then stood outside to get a good dose of Vitamin D 😅 My friend turned up & we went into pub, I bought the first round & we found a table. Spent a lovely 90 minutes catching up before he returned to work 😊 We will meet up again before Christmas 🤞As I was in town I headed off to the butchers & spent a small fortune stocking up on good quality meat. A very hot day (26C but felt warmer), so by the time I got home about 15:30 I was rather sweaty 😔 DSis’s appointment at the surgery was a bust 😖 She waited for over an hour after checking in, getting more & more annoyed before the receptionist finally admitted that although DSis had an appointment it had not been logged on the surgery list. DSis was livid especially when she was told to rebook online 😡 However, she held her ground & made them book her an appointment - even then they tried to fob her off with the wrong person 😣 Anyway, all sorted & after going to sm she got back about 16:30 just in time to chat to the window cleaners. More money out of my coffers, as I needed to pay for the previous clean as well 😉DSis fended for herself for dinner. DH phoned from the hotel, had a shower & went down to dinner. He had a successful day but was very, very hot 🥵 DSis had a salad & I had cheesy beans on toast. Wudupa. DSis watered the garden 👏

1870 - 1874 Kitchen recycling, 2 newspapers, cardboard packaging, drinks cans - recycled 

1875 - 1876 Kitchen detritus, plastic packaging - binned

Thursday is a dry but cloudy day & the sun is struggling to break through although it is still warm (22C) I was up at 11:15 & have had my first cuppa & dealt with my post ✅ Thank you for my gift - you know who you are 😊😊 DH phoned about 12:30, still in Wales, but is expecting to be home before it gets dark 🤞 He received a request from niece M to supervise the removals men tomorrow at 09:15 😥 so he will be out most of the day I imagine 😔 DSis has put in an appearance & advised that it had been raining earlier so she was a bit put out that she watered the garden last night 🥲 Just made a 2nd cuppa & am settling down to catch up on the cheerleading.

Brie, better selective deafness rather than actual deafness 😂 Pleased to hear that not only has the large bush been collected but that you also received a Thank You 😊 Although I like the smell of freshly mown grass I think, like you, I prefer the ‘wild meadow’ look 😉 At least with the gardeners not having time to mow the lawn, you can enjoy the buttercups until their next visit 🥳

Floss, what a lovely memory 😊

Florenceem, we have our very own Susie Dent 🥳

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 I am chuffed to bits that all your hard work is reaping such positive benefits 🥳🥹 Fingers crossed that you will soon have half an hour every day to just sit & ‘contemplate your navel’ 🤞 The etymology is fascinating & goes back to the ancient Greeks & is a form of meditation - I learn something new every day 😉 Re “Some of the mess in my bedroom I can’t really put away as it’s related to sorting out the upstairs cupboard. It’s one of those situations where you need to sort X to get Y away, but in order to sort X you need to decide on Z etc etc. I stood looking into the cupboard and to stop the overwhelm of various decisions to be made, I just looked for one small thing I could achieve in there, no matter how small. I pulled out a big bag from the top shelf and found the sofa cushions in it that came with the sofa. Honestly they are useless and very irritating to use, but we kept them because they came with the sofa. I need the space in the cupboard more, so convinced DH they can go. One biggish space sorted and now I’m considering the storage of duvets/pillows that go on the top and what I might need to buy (I currently have no storage bag for our winter duvet, which is why it’s on the floor in the cupboard in the photo I took). I’m currently trying to work out the best way to arrange this stuff and then the cupboard will be significantly improved.” I do believe that is one of the biggest bugbears about decluttering 😔 Although I am absolutely 100% certain that if anyone can work their way through it is you ☺️ 

Liverpool_Anne, how kind of you to help your friend’s daughter with her discrimination claim 😊Everything crossed that today’s meeting goes really well 🤞 I like it, evidence that Grannies do not always know best 😂 & that sometimes dad’s do know best 👏 Well done on decluttering various tasks & finding some time for a bit of TLC 👏

EnergyShifter, enjoy your ‘staycation’ Another word I looked up & was surprised to learn that this word appeared in a full page advert for Felsenbrau Supreme beer in an American newspaper dated 18th July 1944 🤩 Today is definitely a learning day - yet another great excuse not to do any decluttering 🤣Thank you for the flowers 💐 

Siebrie, how sad that the swimming pool is dismantled 😔 a sure sign that summer is over 😔 Great decluttering of stationery items 👏 Is DD2 getting excited about going to secondary school? you know how curious I am 😉

More excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 A lovely & useful epiphany 🥳 & I am getting really excited about seeing the final photo of your upstairs cupboard 🙏

Florenceem, Gertie is very pretty - is she Barbie inspired 🤭 

Nice to see you Fizz2015 👋 Well done on “surviving the school holidays with working and childcare” & how lovely to have a couple of hours to yourself ☺️ Congratulations to DSD on her GCSE results 🥳Hope your last day of work passes quickly & you have a relaxing couple of weeks off 🤞

QueenJess, good idea re under bed storage 👏

It has just started raining but only lightly so I need to find something to do indoors 😉 other than watch the TV 🤣

See you later 😽 

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

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

Decluttering Target 2023: 1876/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £299.00

QueenJess

Well now I did the worst bit of the cupboard, it all got pretty easy. I tidied up and swapped some storage boxes out for others. I keep a few storage boxes in the attic as needs change over time. It means I can just switch them over as needed to the best solution without buying anything new. I was swapping bigger boxes for smaller ones now I have less stuff.

It’s not perfect since there is still a bunch of stuff that will get used up over time, but it’s all done for now. I will probably end up with space I don’t even need! I already have half an unused shelf space. The library will take a lot longer and I have bigger decisions to make as well as lots of tidying, some decluttering and I want to catalogue all my books. Slowly getting there though!

Here’s the new tidier cupboard. The wicker basket at the bottom has our big blankets all made my mum and very handy for winter. We also have some hidden in a footstool in the lounge for when it gets cold and lots of smaller ones in a basket under a bench in our hallway to grab for the car (for kids). The kids also love playing with them!

32,092 - paper (reused, then recycled)

32,093-32,094 - paper bags (recycled)

32,095 - blanket (Charity bag)

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

I just had to post 🥹 A lovely surprise - a knock on the door …. florist delivering a bouquet of flowers …….. for me 💐 ☺️ from my wonderful husband ☺️ Picture below

MrsSD

QueenJess

Ooh - what a lovely surprise @Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Florenceem

Mrs SD - no not Barbie inspired - just fabric in my stash to use.

vulpix

Hi. Thank you lovely people. The baby is a beautiful highlight in a very busy, difficult year. 

 QJ I have linen cupboard envy. I had a linen cupboard several houses ago. The best thing ever. 

I have an airing cupboard at this house but it’s not very accessible and also in the bathroom. It’s a big cupboard with a few bathroom cleaning supplies in. My spare linens are in the drawers in the spare bedroom. The drawers under our bed has my shoe collection. I have had plenty of time to think recently and have earmarked plenty of things to go. I don’t need so many duvets or pillows for a start. Quite a few clothes are going when they have been washed. More stuff will also go when the boxes in the shed are unpacked. 

 Well done for folks with GCSE results. It’s been a hard few years for kids and schooling. 

 We have almost got a kitchen. The lovely fitter has plumbed the washing machine back in today. I can’t wait to get laundry done. I have always loved doing laundry. I love to see it blowing on the line. I am very fussy about it and will only let others do laundry after they have served a long apprenticeship. 🤣

 I have done a bit more sorting and distributing of stuff from my Mum’s house. The enormity of the task makes me want to be minimalist. 

 A vase of teasels and dried allium heads have gone in the green bin today. The upstairs is now packed up ready for the decorator. DSS has put stuff in the loft for me and got the suitcases down. 

 Electrician coming tomorrow. Plasterer and joiner to put doors on etc next week. Kitchen guy then coming back to tile. The plaster is just doing the wall in the sitting room from where the door was moved. It’s all cutting it fine. We go away next Thursday. 

 I found 5 started to be used lip salves. I am concisely using them up. 

 Out large bookcase given to DD1
        Dried flowers 
        2 lip salves

 total 860

 lbs lost 24

 Vx