2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

weenancyinAmerica

@mehefin - Love the look of the community library. Should be great to work in when done!

The missionaries will be coming back with additional missionaries this spring when the weather stops changing enough so that we can take everything out of the two big storage rooms (i.e. former garage and current garage - no car will fit in) - one at a time, so we can sort what is in there at least. Looking forward to it, but a few months off yet. By the way, you don't have to be Mormon here to get help. They will help any one who asks. Part of their service hours. They also help us at the Library sorting books. 

Today is church-library-genealogy day. Tomorrow is laundry - clean house - do phone calls - genealogy day. Getting ready for Endoscopy on Wednesday. Been checking my to-do lists - not necessarily checking things off it very fast. Just one or two a day usually. But checking it so I won't forget. A combined list from my 24 in 2024 lists with a few additions. I'll get there yet.

Warm weather today. Came in suddenly - 27C yesterday, 25C for today and the next three days. Then Thursday drops down to normal with rain storm. Need to get yard swept today too. And close up waiting bags so they won't fill with water waiting for their place in the waste bins. About 6 weeks worth so far. 

When I was younger, my friends always wanted to play at my house because my mother didn't worry about the mess. We had some friends whose mothers always wanted everything perfect and no one wanted to play there.
My mother claimed it was so she could keep an eye on us better. So I grew up with "relaxed" housekeeping. If I could get enough bookshelves (it would require about twice what is in mehefin's new library), I think I would be fine here. Plus a large pantry as we have 6 eating here, mostly different things. Those are the two main issues.

Hope everyone is staying warm and dry. Hugs to those who need it.

charlies_tribe

Good evening.  Just a quick post as phones about to die.
I didn't bring the books down from upstairs Friday as there was a really big cobweb covering them! DH went to try and fix DD1s car yesterday so he brought them all down for me today.
There's quite a few ruined by damp but the others have been sorted into piles and some already listed on the free site.
I don't know why I find it so hard to part with books, especially when some haven't been looked at for years. I was tempted to keep some for DGD but I'll have probably forgot about them in 5 years time. I have kept her some toddler books though.

2023 calendar-recycled
5x used postage bags de-labled and binned
Deteriorated bag for life
2x ood hand sanitizer
Cracked lunch box
Pickled onion jar and vinegar-DH had kept in tge summer to use the vinegar, its still there. 
Physical 275/2024

TC77

@Moorviews thank you for the reminder to visualise what I want my home and life to be. I want more time to read, listen to music and see friends and not be moving things from place to place to find space or find what I'm looking for, frequently things fall on the floor as they are too piled up!  not on the floor but other surfaces (except room of doom which has stuff on the floor).
Have cleared 2/3 rds of the table as looking to sell some vintage tablecloths so had to take photos!
 The pile at the other end is big.
Mouldy aubergine out , and some folders put together for the bank of things (for youngsters) but nothing in the CS bag as wnt to the coast with my camera - for my photography Wed morning class. V behind with work so will be long days this week.
@Floss , think I'm the same sort of age, and trying to work out when I reduce work/ retire. As had my youngest late and oldest went to uni later have some commitments, but have some frustrating people at work (although most lovely) and won't  get training or more interesting (quite interesting - took sideways/downwards move about 6 years ago as too much going on with ex/DD1.  I love the photos you've shared with your home filled with colour and things you treasure and display.

I've forgotten who said they'd decluttered and tidy their whole house!!  Are you near me.... tips needed.
@Muddy_Walker , we're all hear to listen and send hugs. Good decluttering .
Take care all, and hopefully the sun will be out this week. 
146

QueenJess

Back again with lots of stuff decluttered.  I did most the seeds/indoor plant stuff today, although sadly I probably need a new container as I haven't got one that fits properly in the cupboard under the sink.  On the plus side, I should be able to get it all in there without it being too busy.  That'll please DH as he'll be able to claim the whole of the garage to himself.

I also went through DD's big stack of paperwork/sticker books/activity books and found loads to get rid of there.  I can't help but feel there is still a lot that is hiding around the house that I should be digging out somewhere.  Will be busy at work for the next few days, but will be making sure I do a proper shopping list for the big shop so I don't buy anything we don't need and can continue working through using things up in the kitchen.  Need to finish the indoor plant stuff still and may take another look through the cleaning cupboard that I did a few months ago to make sure we only have exactly what we need/use.

Digital:
1 - online account deleted

Physical:
2 - boxes donated to DSis
6 - vases/indoor pots (Buy Nothing)
3 - plant stuff recycled
1 - indoor plant fork binned
10 - packs of seeds
7 - cardboard boxes recycled
31 - DD paperwork recycled
143 - reusable stickers/scenes parts all had to be checked/located (Buy Nothing)

New total = 2,455

ilovetea

Evening.  was going to post about what I've done or not done  but just woke up so I'm off to bed.
Take care everyone.

ilovetea  xx

TC77

Forgot 2 holey socks retired 148

Brambling

weenancyinAmerica said:. 

When I was younger, my friends always wanted to play at my house because my mother didn't worry about the mess. We had some friends whose mothers always wanted everything perfect and no one wanted to play there.
My mother claimed it was so she could keep an eye on us better. So I grew up with "relaxed" housekeeping.

We were the overly house proud house I've never worked out what my mum did to spend all day doing housework, luckily the road we grew up in had a lot of kids our age and they had open door policies if the rained stopped us playing outside.  She may have dusted and hoovered everyday (sometimes twice!) even when there was just the two of them but she was the war generation who never threw anything away just in case and collected stuff she had china cabinets full of collectibles 🫣

It seems like it's been a difficult month for a lot of people roll on February 

My sinuses have been complaining today which causes the tinnitus to get louder  so nothing stirring up too much dust was done today.  I sorted the freezers checked the larder cupboard and drafted the menu plan for the week there are a lot of jars of herbs and spices I need to use up   

A quiet afternoon was spent going over pension paperwork I get a 25 year company pension when I turn 60 in May which isn't that complicated the current smaller one needs working out the best option if I go with my gut and retire in May 

wishus

A productive evening in my office... no further decluttering in here tonight, but I had forgotten that a box had gone with loads of old tech back to the old Broadband provider, and on my husband's insistence I just binned a loose pair of old jeans I was wearing round the house. I'm too thin for them, and they weren't good enough for the chazzas, so not many options for them unfortunately. But that means I am up to 99 things decluttered this year. Happy days!

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

2. Sort out sleep patterns - target bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 9:00 a.m 

3. Deal with mail & email on a daily basis

4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter

6. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed 

Well so much for coming back shortly & catching up with the cheerleading 🙊 All I did all afternoon was knit, watch TV & drink coffee 😉 I did make a Bolognaise sauce from scratch - half used for dinner with conchiglie & half for the freezer. I have also taken several things out of the freezer for tomorrow’s dinner + ingredients for an hm soup. Wudupa. DSis did her laundry & but no idea what DH did - probably just played on his computer 😉 

176 - 177 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

178 Kitchen detritus binned 

QueenJess, not sure a ‘perfectly’ tidy house is possible with people living in it 😉😉 I shouldn’t worry too much about DS’s birthday party - as long as there are games, food & drinks I am sure everyone will have a great time 😊 Some great decluttering 👏 & everything crossed that your parents restrained themselves from bringing too much 🤞

TC77, I think you are being way too hard on yourself ‘wagging finger emoji’ Please remember your successes - especially the two rooms at the front of your house & the humongous frog 😊 You have also been tackling other paperwork, donating to CS & if I remember correctly also tackling digital clutter on top of working full time 😊 Whichever date you decide on - 2 weeks from now or in March will be the correct decision for you 👏 

wishus, very pleased to hear that your ‘fainting husband’ is OK now 😮‍💨

That is phenomenal work Dizzycap 👏🤩 So brilliant that I am awarding you 2 Gold Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ - one for the decluttering & one for the cleaning 👏 Good luck with the sales & also the shed & garden decluttering 🍀

weenancy, wow the missionaries certainly worked hard 👏 and I love your reward system - oranges & candy bars 😊 So pleased that Bella’s visit went well 😊 & that you got to meet her new ‘pack’ Sorry to hear about G & his torn rotator cuff 😔 Excellent book decluttering, worthy of a medal🏅 which I hope doesn’t melt in the heat 😉 Good luck with the rest of the books 🍀

Liverpool_Anne, you had a very busy Saturday & got a lot done 👏 Hopefully OH was as productive on Sunday 😉 & did clean up the kitchen 🤞+ I hope your team won 🙂 Lovely of OH to be on childcare duties while niece catches up with herself 😊 Some more lovely cheerleading 😊 I must confess I surprised myself 😉 Thank you so much for my flowers 💐 

TheDoolallyDilly, sorry to hear about the ongoing health issues 😔 & by the way not moaning at all - just getting everything straight so that you can factor in a visit to B*ots to pick up your meds🙂

Madbat60, I am so sorry to hear about DP’s heart attack 😔 although pleased to hear that he is now safely home & that he is making a good recovery 🤞Good luck with the benefits forms ✅ Great work decluttering some of your fabric stash 👏

Oops, late again 🙊 I will try harder to catch up with the cheerleading later today 🙂 Sleep tight everyone 💤 

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 💐 🎖️ 💐 

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 178/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00 

Dfw38

Morning all, bag 10 filled. Books, kids clothes, a witch dress up costume and some toys. I realised this morning that I must have spent half the weekend dealing with 'stuff'. Finding stuff, cleaning stuff, decluttering stuff, dumping stuff.... and on and on and on. 
Even dh is fed up and had a rant yesterday about the mess. Nothing more productive from him, just a grown up tantrum.
This week I am going to crack on and try and clear a load out. I have booked a tip slot for Friday afternoon and am going to fill the car with stuff. Friday morning will be spent doing CS runs. 
I am going to do this for the next 3 weeks and the theory is that by half term I should be able to be 'off' from decluttering and just enjoy my time with the dcs.
Yesterday I saw a young family out for a bike ride and felt sad that we have never done that (logistically a nightmare, dh would probably be working and it would be me and the 3dcs and only my 2 dds own bikes at the moment). It wasn't even specifically a bike ride I am hankering after but just that this is the sort of thing I want to do but can't actually do if you know what I mean. 
Anyway, full steam ahead. Hope you all have a lovely Monday.