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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD
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Hello all, I did some decluttering yesterday and out went the box and inner of some biscuits and the plastic tub from some sweeties. Also recycled the box from "letterbox" flowers, they are the first of 6 months of flowers from DD, part of my xmas present. The washing was done and the xmas tablecloth thrown in for good measure, it should all be dry today so it will get put away. We binge watched The Castaway series with Sheridan Smith yesterday, it was really good but seemed very short.
Today I've gone downhill with something as I'm coughing, sneezing and aching, wrong timing as I have a hospital appointment that I need to attend on Tuesday so I'm dosing myself up and having hot honey and lemon drinks. Fingers crossed that whatever it is is short and sweet 🤞 I have no idea where I caught it from either as I haven't been out since the Wed before Xmas.
Hugs to the poorly ones, there seem to be a lot of people with some illness or other. Many hugs to the sad or lonely ones too.
London 1 condolences to you and your friend. Hope the house hunting goes well.
I probably won't be posting on here again and will transfer to the 2024 thread. Thank you all for your company and encouragement over this past year and extra thanks to MrsSD for her unwavering cheerleading.
Have a Happy and Peaceful New Year everyone🥂
love nanFailure is simply the opportunity to begin again, but this time more intelligently17 -
I'm off to London by train. I did manage to declutter a glass last night by breaking it. I saw a pic of this pub in Leigh-on-sea on Instagram last week and it looked really Christmassy. In daylight it just looks like a pub.🤣
I at least got some steps here walking to the beach. The tide is out today so that pic was equally unimpressive.
2025 GOALS
16/25 classes
20/100 books14 -
morning (still just!)LOndon! so hear to hear your sad news and I hope you are enjoying the WofWI am actually decluttering today, whoop de whoop!! the pantry shalves are in a right state, so its all come out and im cleaning and putting back. Trying to reorganise and organise to keep all the gluten free stuff on a shelf but away from comtamination! so far its been kept on the shelf in a cardboard box, but thats not working either!!And even better while Im in the kitchen DH is in the second hall (really not as posh as it sounds!!) sorting out the huge shelving we have out there!PLeased to be finally getting a job done!♥️ ♥️ ♥️🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸Decluttering 2025 So far 403 / 2025
Decluttering 2024🏅🏅🥇🏅🏅🏅⭐⭐⭐🌸 DS2🏅🏅DD🏅🥇🌸
25 in 25 So far 1 /25
⭐My rambling savings Diary ~⭐15 -
Sorry to hear your news London1. But good luck on the house hunting. I'm waving to you from about 30 miles west!!!
Meanwhile - pencil sympathies to all. I have a HUGE stash. Got into the habit too many years ago of buying one from any museum, gallery, concert hall, cathedral I went to so have a lot. And then when I got into doing artwork I bought myself some nice Faber drawing pencils. And someone bought me another set from Lidl, and OH bought another set for a Christmas present. And then I bought some coloured pencils as part of a travelling art kit, and some gave me a set of watercolour pencils which I liked so I've ended up buying another 4 sets one of which was more money than I normally pay for shoes. granted I'm cheap but £80 for 24 pencils?? (Faber Magna watercolour so very thick so easy to hold). I did manage to declutter one of the cheaper sets of drawing pencils to the charity shop earlier this year but can't imagine getting rid of any of the others any time soon.
And I'm a bit OCD about bulldog clips. About 10 years back the department I worked in needed some bulldog clips and I asked in work post room if they had any going spare. They gave me a couple of boxes full - think laundry basket pile of assorted clips. I became besotted with the coloured ones and the tiniest ones too. So separated them out and claimed them as my own. 2 department moves and redundancy and I still have them. Well some have been lost over the years of course but I still have at least 100. But I use them daily both at home and work so I think I'm justified.
Meanwhile managed to clear a couple of small items from the garage into the house - a random napkin (provencial print) and a laundry bag hand stitched and embroidered by (I think) my MiL. Both will be going into the wash. I'll see if I can match up the napkin to anything but the bag will go in the charity box. I'm certain someone will love it.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
Check your state pension on: Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung
⭐️🏅😇12 -
Hi, Welcome wishus,you are in good company here, There is always encouragement and congratulations on hand.
Goodness so many of you are poorly. I can't believe that we have only had Covid in our lives for 3 years. It seems so much longer. Sending you all good wishes to feel better soon. As it affects people in a most individual way I think it's just sensible to stop at home if you feel poorly as you are doing. Look after yourselves folks. xxx
Our Christmas was a joy. Spent in an ancient chocolate box cottage with our nearest and dearest. We have come home with a few physical things. For Mr V a rugby world cup hoody, and a couple of MASH dvds. For me some hand cream and an apple tree called Christmas Pipin. Everyone except me and the baby went to the pub on the last night to spend the remainder of our food float. I was surprised that DIL was so happy to leave baby. Mind you they were less than an hour. He is a very easy baby in comparison to his Dad as a baby. He was a shocker!
We have decided to go to Dublin for our summer get together.
DD1 and BF are staying with us for a few more days but they will be in and out catching up with friends, today it is an old school pal who lives in Brighton but is here visiting her family.
I have taken the Christmas cards down and sadly thrown some bits away out of the fridge. I am sure there will be more to go when I tidy round and put everything away from our trip. I did go a bit ott and took my dinner service and dessert set,etc. Good job really as the only downside of the accommodation was a not very well equipped kitchen.
I need to tidy up now. I have quickly got used to having a tidy house.
laters Vx
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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 afternoon everyone. DH kindly woke me up just before he headed off to his niece’s house 😊 We were both supposed to be going but I am feeling rather bleugh & thought it might be rather unkind to pass my germs around 😔 Fingers are crossed that the weather stays dry for DH 🤞No particular plans but I might have a relaxing bath later 😊 & I might even do the laundry 🤨 Meanwhile some cheerleading might get me in the mood for some decluttering……. you never know 😉
Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏 Please remember that you have also been decluttering neutral items as well so all in all I would say you have had a very successful Decluttering Year 😊
London_1, I hope that the weather on the IoW is being kind 🤞Good luck with the house hunting 🍀 Such sad news, I am so sorry to hear about your friend’s OH 😢 Condolences to both you & your friend.
Congratulations on completing your assignment EnergyShifter 🥳 & well done on maintaining 1:1 for the last days of 2023 👏
Well done on the continued decluttering nannywindow 👏 Hopefully your relaxing day yesterday & your dosing yourself today will see a quick declutter of your ‘lurgy’ 🤞Your seat is reserved for the 2024 EDT & I look forward to seeing you there 😊
Wednesday2000, hope the train was on time 🤞 The pub still looks quite Christmassy but must have looked magical at night 😊
~FlowerPot~, sounds like you are enjoying your decluttering 😉 & always gratifying when someone else joins in 👏 Good luck to both you & DH 🍀
Brie, love the idea of offering “pencil sympathies” 😅 That is definitely a HUGE stash but as you love them so much & use them, I see no earthly reason why you should even consider donating any of them 😊 If I could actually draw, I would probably rival you for the title of ‘Empress of Pencils’ 😅 😂 as there is something rather soothing about looking at sets of coloured pencils 😌 You might also have converted me to a Bulldog Clip lover 😉 I just spent a happy few minutes googling 😂 - I thought, erroneously as it turns out, that bulldog clips were just black 😉
vulpix, I agree - Covid seems to have been around so much longer than 3 years 😔 but rather looks like it will be a year round permanent fixture 😔 Sounds like a wonderful Christmas - chocolate box cottage surrounded by loved ones & close to a pub 😉 Was there also an open fire just to complete the picture 🙏 Thanks for the mention of Christmas cards - I think I might take mine down tomorrow 🤔
DH phoned just before 14:00, he had arrived safely & was just about to have lunch 🙂
MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟 💐🏅💐🏅💐💐💐🏅💐 ⭐️ ❤️🏅🍾🏅 📣🦸♀️💐 ⭐️ 🏅 💐 (✨✨ aka platinum stars) 😇 🏅 💐💐 💐 ⭐️ 🏅 🏆 💐 ⭐️ 💐
DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐, perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 😇
Decluttering Target 2023: 2561/2023
1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £679.00
Be Kind. Stay Safe. Break the Chain. Save Lives. ⭐️2025 Savings Pot Challenge: As a monthly amount, running total = £299.00
Jan £5.00 Feb £12.74 Mch £23.26 Apr £32 May £43 Jun £50 July £62 Aug £71 Sep Oct Nov Dec Grand Total £17 -
Last but 1 day of 2023!! I have given serious thought to goals for next year as this one was such a mix….. although I have major illness problems the good points were:
Paid off car
Paid off solar panels
Got a wonderful new team
Got a cleaner!
Saved a nice chunk of money towards the mortgage when the fixed rate ends in 2025
Managed to raise funds for my cancer charity
Grew nice things in the garden
Fed a billion caterpillars and bugs and slugs from said garden
Dogs constantly make me laugh
Bad things that I can remember:
Dog1 cost lots in vet fees
nasty boss
ignorant relatives
marital rows
mental stress
I have bought a line a day 5 year diary as well so can remember and compare and the small space means I don’t feel guilty or stressed not writing great big chunks of text .
am doing the last of the washing and will start ironing soon.⭐️⭐️⭐️🥇🥇🥇 2024 decluttering
⭐️ 2025 decluttering
Frogs:
Mortgage frog DONE!!!
Pension frog DONE!!!
Will frog about DONE!!
PIP frog waiting on tribunal date…still waiting 🧐….chased and waiting
Medical frogs…..getting there about 80% done
Decluttering: 268/550
Miles walked: 143/500 - not going to stress about this….
Books read: 94 read very fast!
1p challenge £778.97
More green things!14 -
Trying to decide how to declutter the duvet someone has left on the hedge in front of our property. Not on our property but very visible from the front. Of course because it's raining it's also fully soggy so I'd not want to touch it let alone put it in the car to take to the tip. Also don't want to put it in our bin as we've so much we need to bin over the next few days and it won't be collected until 8th so nearly 3 weeks since the last collection!!!! Also not sure I want to trust the bin people to collect it when they do come as it's not in a bin so not their responsibility. grrrrrrrrrrrI’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
Check your state pension on: Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung
⭐️🏅😇12 -
@London_1 my sympathies to you and your friend and family, very sad news.
@brie thank you for pencil sympathies. There are lots of little tins with different items mostly labelled, rubber bands, small fold back clips, medium fold back clips , slightly different from bull dog clips, and all sorts of tacks, cartridges etc.
Favourite find are these v small bulldog clips and 2 pencil extenders so the small pencils can be kept!
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Those are fab @TC77Married 40y.o. mum of an autistic 11y.o. Carer/SAHM.
OS '24 Fashion On The Ration: 0(34 preloved)/67 coupons used - OS '24 Declutter Challenge: 633/500 items gone 🏅 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 - Now aiming for 750!
Feb GC: (1st-29th inc) £161.45/£495
((OS 2023 Decluttering: 740 items 🏅 🏅 🏅 🌟 . OS 2023 Fashion on the ration: 14/15 used))10
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