2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Muddy_Walker

Welcome to TheMillions and great news to QueenJess!

Had a lovely evening out Sat at the cadet award presentation night! They all did very well and am chuffed to bits.
Rested yesterday as everything caught up with me but once showered and dressed will be off to town to do some Christmas shopping. Haven’t got that much to get really as present list got cut right down due to various children reaching the age of 18. Hoping the Christmas market is there - hubby brought some amazing donoughts the other day.
other than that nothing to report!

ajmoney

I did quite a bit of decluttering on Saturday, the whole of the kitchen has been done with the help of a friend so I actually got rid of some stuff. He also helped me get all of the stuff down from the loft and gave it a clean for me while I started going through all the boxes. Some stuff has been easy and is ready to go back up there, some others will take a more going though, especially as there are loads of photos and a few sentimental things. Baby steps.

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

Good morning fellow declutterati from a damp but not quite so chilly London - temperature is in double figures……. just 😉 Up & dressed by 10:30 & now I have my first cuppa & have settled down to cheerlead 🙂 So timer on & off I go. 

EnergyShifter, the EDT still hasn’t really slowed down even at the back end of November 😉 Our driver feels the need for speed - however many times I ask her to lessen the pressure on the accelerator 😂 Very pleased to hear that the bathroom renovations are progressing smoothly 😊 Fingers crossed that it will all be completed this week 🤞 So sorry to hear about your 2 friends & the DD of a friend 😔 I think 2023 has been an Annus Horribilis for many of us, our families & friends 😢 Meanwhile great work completing tasks, decluttering & restricting the number of items in 👏 I do believe ‘dodgy old sinks’ are a much prized garden feature 😅

Great decluttering TC77 👏 You really are on a roll 🥳 Fingers crossed that you can get the CS to do a pick up 🤞

Excellent decluttering Rootle 👏

TheMillions, what a marvellous approach to your decluttering journey 👏 Very pleased to meet another ‘lover of lists’ - there are many of us who find a list helps to concentrate the mind 😊 An excellent Day 1 as you made progress on 7 of 9 of your DCs 👏 

Moorviews, well done on tackling the desk & excellent progress finding new places to keep those items which are staying 👏 Just remember you should be very proud of yourself for reducing storage options by removing a piece of furniture 👏😊 Good luck with disposing of the copper coins 🍀 Also some great cheerleading 👏😊 - I might have to co-opt you to the cheerleading squad 😉

weenancy, thanks for the reminder about some CSs accepting coins 👏

Lovely to see you charlies_tribe 👋 Pesky RL does have a habit of getting in the way of decluttering ☹️ but well done on getting back into the swing of decluttering 👏 Re the smelly fabric shelves, it might be an idea to give them a wash if possible 🤔 I know it is more work but hopefully it would solve the issue immediately 🤞 Good luck to DD2 for her dance show & to both you & DD3 with the fashion show 🍀 Hopefully you will be able to pass on a number of clothes & then you can both have the fun of planning replacement clothing 🤞 By the way, please do not be so hard on yourself 🙏 you have already sailed past this years decluttering target 🥳

Excellent decluttering TC77 👏 You are definitely on course to reach your target for the year 😊 I have made a note of your new number 1892 👏 

bit_by_bit, perhaps a nice chart with 162 weeks marked on it 🤔 Let the countdown begin 😅 The chart could also be used to jot down any ideas for post-retirement - you know the sort of thing - holiday destinations, activities (bungee jumping, sky diving etc or maybe something more sedate like cocktails on a beach 😉) If it is all there in black & white it might act as a subliminal message to your husband that retirement will be a great thing 🤞😉 Wow you were very busy over the weekend 🤩 made me tired just reading about it 😉 Good luck with the utility company 🍀 

weenancy, I now have this rather marvellous picture in my mind of you wandering around the house (husky in tow) ferreting out Tupperware lids 😂 although I cannot for the life of me ascribe ‘swearing’ - just muttering 😉 Sorry to hear that the cats are causing issues 😔 It really is about time that your roommates got their acts together & accepted responsibility for their pets 😮‍💨 I have absolutely everything crossed, that the potential new home for the husky becomes a reality🤞 I do know that you will miss her but not all the extra work she creates or the extra expense 🙂 

I am now flagging (4 sessions of 23 minutes) with the cheerleading so will break off & definitely return later to continue. 

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

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

Decluttering Target 2023: 2367/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

London_1

Hi chums well the best laid plans etc went out of the window for today.  I had the most dreadful toothache last night and a dreadful nights sleep.

My own dentist when I finally got through said earliest appointment was second week of January !!!
My eldest DD said 'Ring my dentist Mum it will cost but better than being in pain'

 I rang at 08.30am  this morning had an appointment at 10.00am  and will see the dental surgeon to have the offending tooth removed at 3.30 this afternoon.

 Its apparently finally crumbled away at the root and has caused a large hole underneath my back tooth.But then it was last filled in 1961 at Guys Hospital and the chap there actually said you will probably go to your grave with that filling Its the first time its ever caused me any pain so I guess its finally come to the end of its life after 62 years

But I'm still alive and kicking  It has cost me an arm and a leg, but to me toothache is just something you can't put up with no matter the cost.
Even with extra strong painkillers last night they weren't touching it.

 So the dentist said go home have a hearty meal at lunch time and return at 3.30 and it will be removed. I've got some fairly soft food to eat for the next few days as I know it will be a bit painful, but at least it will heal over and never cause me any more trouble.

But my plans for decluttering today have gone right out of the window and I really don't feel up to doing anything today I just want this darned gnasher out and gone

But as is said tomorrow is another day

Its pouring with rain here at the moment and the sky is really black I hope it clears up later, although I can park right next to the dentists as its got a nice big car park on site

Onwards and upwards chums 

JackieO xx

oceanspirit

Had post hospital fatigue for the rest of last week and started feeling better yesterday afternoon.  Celebrated with bath and hair wash.

Sat down with OH this morning to make a provisional plan for the next few weeks.  Have continued decluttering older food stocks and finally feel am able to breathe in the kitchen even if there is still no space on the worktop to put anything down.  DSis is cooking for the freezer for me and I will ask if she can do a bit more next week which will help with reducing stocks further.

Have put some food items in a box separately to be used for Christmas so feel a little more organised and nothing further needs buying except f&v nearer the time.

Plan for this week is to tidy bedroom further, then living room so decs can go up at the weekend.

QueenJess

And I'm back!  Waiting for the paperwork to come through today before I can officially resign, but I have warned my boss it is coming so he can process and start thinking about what he wants me to do before I go (and hopefully let me go early).  In the meantime, I need to seriously sort through some stuff and finally get the house tidied before Xmas.  Thanks everyone for your kind responses.  I'm very excited after almost 9 years in this company to move to a new one.  I'm definitely very relaxed about work right now

I've started sorting through some photos as it's pretty easy to flick through digital stuff whilst I'm already on a computer with work and I can flick between the two so I don't get too bored.  Sadly I've got at least 10,000 photos/videos left to go through, so it will take ages.  On the practical side, the freezer has been defrosted!  Still got a handful of things that need to be used up, but I can restock more sensibly from tomorrow.  Tidying has commenced in the bedroom as it is a bit of an easier win than the scary library.  Will deal with some easier rooms first.  Kitchen cupboards are still in progress, but they are hugely less cluttered than previously and I've been slowly using things up and just restocking more sensibly.  It will continue for a few months yet though.

Reporting figures for today:
Digital:
34,265-34,267 - text conversations deleted
34,268 - online account deleted
34,269-34,276 - documents deleted
34,277-34,698 - photos/videos deleted
34,699 - notes deleted
34,700 - emails with automatic filter set up

Physical:
34,701-34,704 - cupboard overstock used up
34,705-34,706 - freezer overstock used up
34,707 - cleaning products overstock used up
34,708 - magazine recycled

I'm considering aiming for 40k decluttering before the end of the year to try and get through a lot of these photos by then.  More will likely continue through January.

Welcome to new people on the decluttering train.  I think lots of people are rushing through decluttering before Xmas because my local Buy Nothing group is very active at the moment.

ajmoney

QueenJess said:

Welcome to new people on the decluttering train.  I think lots of people are rushing through decluttering before Xmas because my local Buy Nothing group is very active at the moment.

There is a wonderful chat in one of my local fb group where people can post things they have and if someone else wants it they get in touch. I believe there is a separate fb page too. I have found a few bits I would like to put up as I don't know if they are right for the charity shop.

London_1

Back from the dentists minus my back tooth and a huge amount of cash plus 6 stitches and a lot of packing into the socket . I'm glad its gone and fingers crossed I will feel more inclined to get stuck into more decluttering tomorrow.

Looks like soup and a strawberry mouse for me for tea tonight with a couple of paracetamols  

JackieO xx

GrannyKate

Evening all.  I've been awol for several days but had a quick skim read of posts.  Congrats on the job @QueenJess.  I have 4 days to myself before small people return then they are here for 8 days until I leave for my short break with DD.  Determined to do cleaning and sorting and only have a small Christmas to do list for when I come back.  Not helped by vacuum giving up the ghost.  I bought a new one but only a lightweight small one - will probably need something more substantial but it will have to wait. 

1710 Photos downloaded and saved
1711 Two more letters of the alphabet completed in my family history sort out.  Three to go ABC
1712 Leaves raked up and DGS4 helped me fill garden bin with them and some more small branches before bin collected
1713 Ordered some foreign currency to collect tomorrow
1714 Garden tidied and remaining bits stored away for winter
1715 Barbecue items put in box
1716 Last of swimming pool bits put away
1717 Broken radiator thermostat binned and replaced with new one
1718 Car booster seat sold
1719-1721 Joggers, shorts and trousers to CS bag
1722 Cardboard boxes and packaging out
1723 Last payment on mobile - replaced with new one - old one will go to DGS4
1724 Phone case binned
1725 Stale snacks binned
1726 Random tat binned
1727-1728 At least 2 x 10 things put away
1729 Plastic bottles from DGD4's room (at least 5) to recycling
1730-1736  7 rooms cleaned and moved round -  Lounge, dining room, porch, hall, 3 bedrooms.  (Kitchen and bathrooms tomorrow)
1737 Various containers to CS pile
1738 Rug in car for tip
1739 Ink cartridges for recycling
1740 More Christmas cards purchased and money wallets
1741 A few more stocking presents purchased
1742 Shoes binned - not worth recycling
1743 Had to re set up some apps on my new phone including banking 

 Don't think I'll make it to 2023 items but I'll keep trying before 31 Dec
 Right town tomorrow to collect currency, visit charity shop, tip, MrI for Tuesday discount and need to get some shoes from somewhere

Siebrie

Two days at Mum’s doing Admin were successful. We managed to find some information about the Owner’s Society she has with the upstairs neighbour and passed it on to her insurer.
She will also contact her bank, because she seems to have two savings accounts; one with just an amount in it gathering interest, the other getting a fixed amount per month, but has hardly anything in it. They need to be combined and one closed. Mum has persuaded the bank to close all digital access and go fully paperwork-only. That’s easier for her and stops her feeling anxious (but she can’t give me access to keep an eye on things; we’ll see how we deal with this in future).
Our freezer is now packed to the brim!
It’s the annual ‘renew your subscription/membership’ month, so I’ll be decluttering money!