2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

GrannyKate

A quick post as still suffering with the lurgy. Chap came before 8 to collect fridge freezer - £50 so that's good.  On a positive year end note late DB's daughter received an OBE in New Year Honours. He would have been very proud of her.  Planned another trip for September as sister from US is renting house in Provence for 2 weeks.  Looking at going down by train with two of my sisters in law.  81, 71 and I will be 76 whilst we are there.  I am also going to Greece earlier in the summer with DD and family. 

1861 Fridge freezer sold and collected
1862 2024 birthday calendar filled in and 2023 one recycled ( I won't hang it until after midnight) 

Moorviews

I can only further echo the lovely comments of thanks for the wonderfully generous Mrs SD and the Declutterati. Getting rid of clutter can be an emotional as well as practical journey. While we each have to practically do the job ourselves, the emotional support of having a non judgemental, kind, understanding and sharing space is invaluable for keeping going. Reading the thread is often a great pick me up if I am losing my way. I am often inspired to tackle something that another member mentions and have copied people many a time!

So, my last post on this year’s thread:

JackieO - I am very sorry for the loss of your friend’s husband. It must be very hard for her and those of you who enjoyed him as a friend. 

I have been tidying up the Christmas craft stuff and finishing some projects off. As I don’t want to put them away unfinished, I shall carry on tomorrow if necessary. 

Mrs SD- you are quite correct in that the wrappings cupboard will stay tidy if only I access it 😂 I may offer to find things for people that require it, rather than directing them to the cupboard. It might be the lesser of the two evils! Thank you for my final medal of 2023 - I think that I may have lost count at some point!

Lots of paperwork has gone out plus all the Christmas catalogues. The recycling boxes are now stuffed. I have sorted out some skincare samples to be used up quickly. I now realise that these don’t keep well. My face is now benefitting (I hope) from a treatment essence!

One of my big lessons from 2023 is that things shouldn’t be kept for too long. Most things go off in some way, rather than accumulate value. They also get in the way of me enjoying everyday life. Learning the difference between the precious and the clutter is something I shall continue to learn about in 2024. People do matter more than things though so I definitely will always want space for them ❤️

Wishing you all an enjoyable end to the year and a happy entry into 2024 🎉xxx

ETA - that’s fantastic GrannyKate! Well done to her 👏🎉 Your travel plans for 2024 sound very exciting too!

flamingo747

So many lovely wrap ups here. Again, thank you to Mrs SD for all your hard work  

I love it here because it is so calm and peaceful compared to social media, which is something I desperately need to declutter next year for my mental wellbeing! I also love reading about all your lives. I am a bit younger than some of you at 40, but I love the kind wisdom you all have, and the way you make me think about the future and what life will hopefully be like for me in the decades ahead. I don't really have many friends, and not much family, so this place is so helpful

Hope you all have a lovely NYE

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

Recycling wheelie bin was emptied Saturday - just 2 days late 🙂 Spent the afternoon & early evening on 2 x LDFPA, descaling kettle, knitting, clearing more programmes from TV planner, making preparations/deciding on Daily Mantras & Annual Decluttering Targets (to include self care incl losing weight, exercising, financial affairs incl wills & POAs, cleaning/decorating/renovations + physical & electronic decluttering) 

Dinner was chicken pieces fried in butter, boiled potatoes & peas. Wudupa

2562 - 2563 Kitchen recycling & detritus dealt with

New Year’s Eve & I woke to brilliant sunshine at 09:40 🙂 but sad to say that within 15 minutes the heavens opened 😔 The 3rd & final load is in the wm & I have my 1st cuppa of the day - so all set for cheerleading.

Muddy_Walker, excellent work 👏 & your successes are clear winners in 2023 😊 I am awarding you 2 Gold Stars ⭐️⭐️ - one for the financial successes & one for changing your job 🥳

Brie, hopefully high winds mean that the abandoned duvet is now someone else’s challenge 😉🙃

TC77, I will quote flamingo747 “those (pencil extenders) are fab!”

Fizz2015, the trouble with taking a holiday somewhere warm is the hassle of getting there 😂 😉 The advantage of staying home is that your decluttering journey is continuing to the last possible moment 🤣 Hope you have a lovely time meeting up with family & friends 🤞

EnergyShifter, what great news from your tutor 🥳 Well done on submitting your assignment in 2023 👏 All in all 2023 has been a very successful year for you especially the 2nd half 🥳 Thank you for my 💐 

Chocolatedrinker, you might not have been posting but you certainly didn’t stint on the decluttering 🤩 Excellent work - sailing past your 2023 target for the year 👏 It is my great pleasure to award you 3 Gold Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (1012, 1519, 2023 items) + a medal 🏅for the extra items up to 2444. 

GrannyKate, sorry to hear that the ‘evil lurgy’ has got you too 😔 but very well done on keeping up the momentum on your decluttering 👏 Very MSE using the disposable Christmas tablecloths for 4 years 🥳

More excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 Like flamingo747, I am willing you on to your 40,000 target 😊 🤞

charlies_tribe, sorry to hear that you have not been sleeping well 😔 but pleased to hear that you had a fairly restful day yesterday 😊 You must still be quite tired as I notice your numbering went a bit awry 🙊 - your revised figure is 2360 👏

regnbue, I have reserved your seat on the 2024 EDT (which is moving back & forth in the sidings whilst the clean up crew are on board) 😊 Sorry to hear about the trip to A&E 😔 but pleased to hear that you are now recovered from your surgery 😊 A rather successful year of decluttering 👏 I am especially impressed at your weight loss - 61 lbs is tremendous 🤩🥳 & is worthy of a Gold Star ⭐️ which is flying to you as I type, accompanied by a medal  🏅 for surpassing your target for earning some extra cash 😊 Thank you for such a lovely compliment - I am blushing furiously ☺️ 

StickyTheStickInsect, surely the children were ‘helping’ rather than ‘hindering’ 😉😅 Hopefully DS2 will forget his disappointment at missing out on the football whilst he & DD are at soft play 🤞 More compliments - at this rate I will still be blushing in February 😂

TC77, great work at your Dad’s 👏 You are definitely blossoming as a ‘declutterer’ & your new tactic of matching the number of items brought home from your Dad’s to the number of items disposed of, should stand you in good stead 😊 

weenancy, please don’t go putting ideas into TC77’s head 🤣

Liverpool_Anne, sorry to hear that both you & OH are still testing positive for Covid 😔 It is definitely an insidious little beastie 😥 😖 Very relieved to hear that your mind is at rest re the email issue 😮‍💨 Hopefully whoever it is will get bored soon & your daily checking will prevent any potential issues 🤞

Excellent work wishus 👏

Fizz2015, hopefully you managed to rally the troops & are now enjoying your lunch 😉 Excellent decluttering in 2023 👏 & as you managed 2006/2023 + the flourish of 250 emails/folders decluttered in a week, I have decided to award you a Gold Star ⭐️ which will be waiting for you when lunch is over 😊

An excellent & successful year of decluttering oceanspirit 👏 You have not only kept the loft, your wardrobe & your paperwork in check but you managed to do more than enough to get OH moved in without having to resort to keeping him in a shed 😂 Overall, that translates into me awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ which is on its way 😊

Gradually catching up 😉 but have decided to have a short rest & do something knitting 🙂

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

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

Decluttering Target 2023: 2563/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £679.00

Suffolksue

I’ve been reading and getting inspiration all year ,quite a bit has gone but loads more to do .I am also a fully qualified procrastinator!
please may I join for next year and I will try harder .
Hopefully I will declutter my worn out hip ,but it will be replaced with a new one 
A different definition of one in one out !!

Floss

I've come over all emotional at the lovely posts - my head is full of porridge right now and the only decluttering going on today is tissues & snot (sorry!)

I'm another who's glad to get this year behind me - cancer surgery, treatment & 6 months off work was not planned. 

Next year starts with a week in Madeira, an 11-night Northern Lights cruise in March and an "0" birthday. I am planning my retirement for 3 years after that and have 39 paydays left 😁

Muddy_Walker

Thank you for my stars!!!!!!
Doing a last wash and iron whilst hubby washes the floors.
I was going to get my final 2 miles on a dog walk today but looking at the weather may just jog along to some rubbish on tv instead……….tis a bit wet…..

QueenJess

As I've been changing around my wardrobe with some new to me buys, I needed to go back through my wardrobe and weed out the things I don't wear.  Now I'm in my second winter post feeding a baby (and I've previously harshly culled my wardrobe), there are a number of things in there which can easily see I haven't worn in that time.  Grabbed myself a gin and tonic whilst DD was having a nap this afternoon and tackled some of it.  I decided I ideally don't want to get more hangers down from the loft because I think I have roughly the right number in there without everything being too squashed and so I do need to make room for some new stuff.  I have the highest standards for clothes.. if I don't love them or they don't make me feel good, then they go.

Also I should switch in winter and summer coats as the downstairs cupboard gets too full, but I would need DH to clear out some of his shirts as he is currently occupying a whole double wardrobe to himself for shirts and a couple of suits.  He mainly works at home and so doesn't need 40+ shirts...  I actually do have 2 nice occasion dresses in there and am not impressed they keep getting squashed into the side as there is too much in there.  I suspect I won't be winning that battle any time soon.

Anyway, a few more things gone (including the matching buttons/threads that I had judiciously kept and filed).  I've got more to do, but want to take my time (and try things on) as the wardrobe change is still ongoing really.  It's highlighted a couple of gaps, so I can have fun online looking for exactly what I want.

As I said I was going to sort it out, DS said he was going to do some stuff in his room and so he's gone through a few things as well.  Earlier I was also tidying and realised one of the craft drawers was a mess that I needed to put things into.  Took 3 extra mins to tidy that up and whilst I was doing that, a few extra things have left the house.

Digital:
10 - favourites removed from wish list
5 - photos deleted

Physical:
1 - stationery used up
4 - kids craft stuff recycled
5 - my clothes (charity bag)
24 - DS tat recycled

New total: 39,916    84 more things to find before midnight!

Fizz2015

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger your comments made me chuckle and thankyou do much for the medal! Ending the year on a high! 😊Plus I can start my decluttering journey tomorrow and make a good start next week. 

Lunch was delicious, lovely roast in a country pub near Ross-on-Wye and a play area which kept the younger people happy and covered in mud 🤣 home now and time for a vino whilst sorting the lego continues! 

daisy_1571

Evening all, last update for 2023

I needed 66 more things to hit my target of 1164.

Fancy bathroom: empty boxes, utensils, ood stuff, duplicates 15
Bedroom/Ensuite: ood, face pack tub, completed puzzle books, ornaments, diary/notebooks 10
Downstairs: books, Xmas ornaments,  Xmas gift bags 17
Craft room: random bits 5

47 so 19 more things to find before midnight!!!!

Daisy