2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

BudgetingBelinda

Well done all! This thread is keeping me motivated! Sending best wishes to those having life kick their butt in whatever way. Hope things are on the up soon. 

Here… a little shop done…

Sofa cushion covers washed, sofas cleaned, a teeny little bit of garden declutter. Planning hidden clutter of the airing cupboard attack tomorrow.. I am going to throw it all out on the floor when I wake up so it has to be sorted! Tomorrow is going to be a chill day so I’m excited to chill/potter and do a smidge of  declutter 

Moorviews

Mrs SD - it’s great to hear that your sister is starting to feel better now. I hope that you have been okay during this stressful time. I thought that salad sister and salad bowl were inspired turns of phrase too! Another good example of giving a sweatshirt new life by mending the frayed cuffs so well 👏
The Library looks very orderly and inviting @mehefin. Congratulations on the reopening 🥳
Great gardening/landscaping work Flowerpot 👏
@dND - I am so disappointed for you with the house purchase and hope that it all works out soon. 

@Florafauna - glad that everything is healing as it should. 

@TC77 - thank you for the tip on another place to buy small frames. 

@London_1 - you did such a great job getting your house ready and looking lovely. I hope your buyer appears soon!

Well done to everyone on all the fantastic decluttering; I really enjoy reading all about it!

Not much happening here beyond the removal of excess paper. It’s time consuming but I am inspired by Florenceem last year and JackieO who really bit the bullet on this. I now have purchased a confidential shredding bag, which I hope will speed things up. 

Brie

2 and a bit banana boxes emptied of various kitchen bits and put away with a modicum of approval from the OH.  He has declared my putting my blender stick with all it's various attachments in an easy to reach spot " a greedy use of space for something used so rarely".  (yes he does talk like that!!)   While I do agree there might be somewhere else it could go (top shelf of corner cupboard would suit) it's hard for me to reach.  I shall consider.....

Basically this leaves 3 banana boxes left to be done.  One is easy as it's tins of stuff that will all be loaded into a particular cupboard - just a matter of me having the time and energy to do so.  Other stuff it's a case still of "do we want it".  So big sealer jars, glass milk bottles (love my fresh milk from the machine but have already got rid of 2 out of 6 of the litre bottles we'd acquired), empty spice jars that match the set for the spice rack we're definitely keeping (for some reason....there's no need for them to be on display as long as they're handy).  And the former contents of the "random stuff" drawer.  Corn cob picks, net picnic plate covers, plastic tin caps....   And the big box with the raclette and the air popcorn maker (both of which get used about once a year).   

In other rooms - I realised I had accumulated the cardboard centres from 10 toilet rolls so have down the recycle things with them - 1 inch cut made at quarter points around one end so they can be folded down to make little seedling pots.  My art teacher says they are the best thing for starting sweet peas so they can be planted without harming the roots.  And she has a marvellous garden so I'm taking her advice.  Haven't done anything beyond prepping them and putting them in the greenhouse.  Seeds are there so just need to get that done, along with planting the morning glory seeds as well.  And the last of the hyacinth bulbs......

All of which means I have now been able to find my art paper well in advance of tomorrow's art class.  Which also means I have to put the final touches on at least 1 of the 2 masterpieces currently taped on my drawing board so that I can put the new paper on it ready for use tomorrow afternoon.....  

Every time I get one thing done it means there's something else that pops out.....

Happy_Kitties

83-87) medical items x 5 to recycling
88-90) Christmas presents x 3 finally given out
91) big glut of cardboard either used or recycled resulting in two big boxes full out for recycling this week
92) small decorative blue bottle, worse for wear -recycling

neutral items 158+ another 20 items sent =178

Florafauna

A glorious time was had in Knaresborough, driving home now full of roast dinner, crumble and custard. Lovely sunset to my right. I'm back to swimming tomorrow now my stitches are out. May potter round and declutter a little tonight whilst preparing for the work week ahead. No food required until tomorrow! 

TC77

Mrs SD, I hope your DSis is continuing to make good progress, and the power of proper tea when in hospital (or anywhere) is well proven. 
@mehefin absolutely love the library.... I so want to spend time there. What a transformation and looks so welcoming!

I did do a small tip run at my dad's including my microwave, and although I went to the tip shop, and even asked how much some lovely italian cups and saucers ( 7 and 8 respectively) I resisted! Realise not as nice as some I gave away and I use mugs all the time, plus why would I want that many as now live mainly on my own!!

Brought back things for the donation hub (refugees and homeless community) Including 12 combs which went in the dishwasher. I am allowing books back from my dad's but little else

Going to clear the kitchen and dining table for the week ahead - it was easier when I went into work every day but there are advantages as well.

wishus

I'm not counting most of the tech stuff just yet as my brother is going through the computers to see if anything can be salvaged, but this is what has just gone into the recycling centre:

2 monitors, so retro!
1 very old TV
1 broken bin
2 bird statues 
1 old blanket
1 pair wellies
1 pair hand weights
1 resistance band
1 end roll lino
1 old beer pump
2 plant sticks
30 pieces assorted wood


Plus - 20 bottles of home made cider and elderflower wine made before Lockdown and which no longer taste nice which have gone into the recycling bin, 2 broken Christmas decorations, 1 gift box, and 6 awful badly made beermats we won in a raffle. Adding 73 items to my total!

We've cleared so much space, and made more room in my office to move around in. The cat also has more access to his tower. This feels so good! 

You'll be glad to know we have also bought nice jam today,

London_1

Glad you sil is doing better Mrs SD, indeed a small world I drive down that road to get to my road when I’m returning from Dobbie’s 👍😉 I had the day off from decluttering today and did some baking instead, made a box of sausage rolls plus a box of melting moments and taken them to DDs for the boys. Then wolfed them down needless to say 😋🤣 just waiting for dinner as my son-in-law cooks Sunday dinner every week bless him . Tomorrow will drop off some more stuff at the CS. I just said to my DD that since she ‘dressed’ the house I’ve got used to it being a lot less cluttered although I’ll be glad to get my family photos back up again. Chap who was supposed to come on Friday changed his mind and came yesterday morning. But the EA showed him around as I made myself scarce ( it is his job after all) but the feedback I got made even the EA chuckle apparently he told the EA that he would want to strip and replace both the kitchen and bathroom and wanted a larger conservatory . But Michael , the EA said the chap is a bit of a messer and has said the same about two other houses. EA said my house is a really good solid property so he said not to worry it will get sold, hopefully to a first time buyer as it’s an ideal first time buy. We bought it in 1995 when we retired and down sized as we didn’t need more than three bedrooms anyway as our children had both grown and flown. But it’s onwards and upwards so I’m not too fussed. I have a few odds and ends and a friend will be taking my jigsaws as she goes to a jigsaw club where they are always looking for different ones so they will go tomorrow hopefully 👍😀 onwards and upwards  JackieO xx 

QueenJess

Didn't meet my target of 10 physical items to declutter today, but it's just a guideline and I did loads yesterday, so not beating myself up about it.  Thanks for my medal Mrs SD House is relatively tidy despite not clearing the backlog of tidying per the numbers.  However, not quite got to the bottom of decluttering as there are bits hanging around here and there and every room has a few bits that need tidying from the sides etc.  Progress is being made I think.  Just need to keep doing bits everyday and the ongoing food decluttering will probably take months.

Not sure what is next - probably whatever annoys me most at the time.  Garage has a few bits left, my library may have stuff (but is a really difficult one to tackle with the most sentimental stuff in there), loft (only doing this on an ad hoc basis), more coat cupboard decluttering, possibly DD's toys before her birthday next month and my stash of puzzles.  Oh - and of course a pile of digital decluttering including photos, but I have to be in the mood to tackle these as it can get heavy on the decision making.  This is off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are other areas to tackle as well.  

The garage has a lovely container for bird food in there, but I can't fit it in my under sink cupboard and already have a larger container for duck food in there which is possibly more practical as you can fit multiple things in there.  Can't seem to make the decision of whether I should get rid of it or not and so parking that for now.  The decision fatigue is definitely real!

Thanks for the suggestions on frames, but no independents around here that I know of.  I have my fingers crossed I can find something soon.  Will cost a fortune as I have to have the lenses thinned as I have one eye significantly worse than the other one and my glasses would be lopsided otherwise!

Digital:
3 - favourite items removed from wish list

Physical:
1 - container (binned)
1 - kitchen sponge composted
1 - plant cutters broken (binned)
5 - DS tat recycled 

New total = 3,137

Interestingly I flicked back to last years decluttering challenge and at this time last year I was on 1,823 items decluttered.  So I'm way ahead of the game this year and I *should* really have less overall to declutter this year since I did so much last year and I am pretty much around maintenance mode (once digital photos are sorted).

flamingo747

Decluttered +3 paper craft bits.

Went to the local panto with my mum today, very silly but very enjoyable