2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

QueenJess

Trying hard to get back into the routine of finding things to declutter daily to make progress a bit quicker - even if it's just a single thing as it keeps it in the forefront of your mind.  Still not quite nailed down overbuying food yet (don't worry - it does all get eaten and isn't wasted, but overbuying means I have to take a lot more time to make sure it doesn't get wasted and takes more room of course).  I have one cupboard free of "overstock", but I still have 3 more, although I am happy for one to be for extras.

My day off today, but still feeling rubbish and lost my voice completely.  It's making things a bit tricky and DH keeps asking me questions expecting me to respond as he forgets after every second! Anyway, in a bid to do something everyday to make things better, I have found the odd thing from the kitchen and actually cleared the pile of books from my library floor and packed them into a charity box ready to take.  They were there that long that I'd forgotten that was what I needed to do and I thought they were part of the general mess! Oops!  The library always seems to end up as the dumping room and there are difficult to deal with things in there.

More to chip away at tomorrow, but here are my efforts for today:

1 - wooden spoon we never use (charity box)
27 - books (charity box)
1 - DD tat (charity box)
3 - packaging reused
2 - coupons (from kitchen that I won’t use - Buy Nothing)

New total = 7,410

May mini kitchen decluttering challenge = 16/25

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger I definitely am hardest on myself and am much more understanding and nice to other people! I'm just fed up of feeling overwhelmed and I am not a naturally tidy person either (I hate tidying), so I frankly need as little as possible so I don't have to tidy up all the time.  I keep thinking I've finished, but never seem to quite make it and it's a bit frustrating. DH says I should think about how much worse it would be if I'd not done anything at all, but I find that hard... I never look back and only ever look forwards. Honestly my house is not awful and I'm at the stage where although slightly embarrassing, I would have people over without any notice - I mean I can just blame it on the kids right?!

Not sure if anyone remembers me spending months using up my overflowing massive freezer last year, but after I used it up, defrosted it and refilled it, it has never been more than 50% full since.  It is never overstocked and we don't lose things/forget things in it anymore as it is an amount I can control.  This is the aim for the kitchen when I get there.  Then I have to consider the library, (the loft ) and just keep on top of the kids rooms, although DS seems to be doing that all on his own lately.  He keeps handing me things (or putting in the box in our cupboard) the stuff he doesn't want anymore and he's slowly getting down to the things he loves/uses all the time. He's no minimalist as he has a huge amount of Lego for example, but I don't mind that as he really does use it all and plays with it everyday.  I just wish he wouldn't leave it all over the floor for me to step on...

nannywindow

Hello all, I'm back again. DH asked me for a small paintbrush, think child's type and I found several but then I went down the rabbit hole and sorted 2 drawers of craft stuff. I ousted about 50 coloured pencils, pencil sharpeners and erasers, all of which will go to the cs as there's plenty of life in them yet. I did keep some but I don't need so many anymore as the DGC are now teenagers and no longer want to " colour with Nanny" 😥
A rabbit shaped Tic,Tac,Toe game ( I used to call it noughts and crosses) has gone into the cs bag, along with bag of b'day and xmas ribbons, large bag of embroidery anglaise lace trimming, 2 balls of wool plus an adult colouring/puzzle book. Meantime I also started back in the Narnia wardrobe and another 4 T'shirts and 2 more thick tops went into the cs clothes bag too. I'll keep the bags separate for ease of sorting at the cs. 
About 100 broken felt tips and other pencils, a bag of tiny bits of ribbon and material/felt have been binned along with 5 bottles of hardened glitter glue. A medium plastic container and a plastic tin liner have been recycled and I reused a small pretty tin to hold what is left of the pencils, which reminded me of the time when I was small and used an old pretty chocolate box for my pencils.
I rehomed some water colour pencils and a bag of pastels back to the office where they joined the rest of the proper art supplies, DH's not mine, I'm still into colouring in and stick men 🤣
So 2 drawers done and 2 more to go, I'm fed up of feeling rubbish and sorry for myself so I'll have a coffee and think about steeling myself to get on with the others.
Hugs to the poorly ones and anyone in need of 1 or 2.
nan 

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

Good afternoon from a currently sunny East London. In the end I didn’t head to bed, I dozed on the sofa to make sure I was awake enough to say goodbye to DH as he was heading off at about 08:00  😉 I was successful & after a kiss & a cuddle I went to bed @ 07:50 😊 Woke up at 10:00 for a bathroom visit, went back to bed then got up & dressed at 12:15. I have my first cuppa + have taken some Bolognaise sauce out of the freezer for tonight’s dinner. So straight into cheerleading.

vulpix, shame that the lamp is heading to the cs but two positives - the lamp will be sold more quickly now that it has a revamped shade + you have a new skill 😊 Excellent decluttering at your Mum’s house 👏  Forget the drum roll 🥁, I think you deserve a full Military Tattoo for getting to the stage of emptying the under stairs cupboard of doom 🥳 This “We went to our casualties meeting. Spent an hour practising injury makeup. We have homework to do and have been given a bag of makeup to do it. Could do without this really but we are committed.or should be.” made me laugh 😹 I am just thinking that once the house is sold you will need something to fill the extra time available to you & MrV 😉😉

Florenceem, I suppose that having such a large supply of crafting materials does mean less expenditure in the future 😉 I hope MrF’s calls went well yesterday 🙏

Pennypincin, Good Luck with your maths exam 🍀 Sending lots of positive vibes 😊 DH & I gave up buying presents many, many years ago, so fully understand your decision 😊

Excellent decluttering of books Florenceem 👏 Looking forward to seeing pictures of the aprons you made yesterday 😊

Wednesday2000, as to washing the decking only taking half an hour that just goes to show what an excellent job you did last time 🥳 I must admit to a wry grin at the reason for donating the vases 😁 

vulpix, I hope DD1 managed to sate her appetite for charity shop purchases whilst visiting her friend 🤞😊 + I hope you enjoyed your quiz 😊 I am also keeping everything crossed that today’s Estate Agent visit goes well & the Cupboard of Doom is nowhere near as difficult to sort out as you think it is going to be 🤞Apologies for the poor grammar 😅

Brie, no shame in buying plants 😊 Fingers crossed that the hollyhocks do flower this year🤞+ it sounds like you managed more out than in 👏

Wednesday2000, sorry there were no pictures of topless men but I think that being drooled over by me was probably quite enough 🤣 The Departed is an excellent film but for some obscure & unknown reason I am not a great fan of Leo 😔 

GrannyKate, that sounds like a wonderful trip 🤩 Were you taking it in turns to drive? I have checked & there is a rail track in the Great Smoky Mountains so I probably need to start negotiating track time for the EDT 😉 Yippee to having a viewing booked 🥳 Hopefully they will love your house & put in a good offer immediately 🤞

TC77, thank you for such an encouraging post in regards to PIP claims 👏 Well done on finding the tablecloth (& napkins) & yes you should definitely count as 5 items 😊

QueenJess, sorry to hear that your cold has progressed to losing your voice 😔 However more excellent decluttering & great progress on your May kitchen challenge - already more than halfway to target 👏

I am flagging now so will post & run 😉 In between cheerleading & making drinks I have dealt with today’s post + I have also acquired a pair of good quality lined curtains from the pile of stuff left on ndn’s drive - it seemed rude not to 😂 Good job the binmen didn’t come today probably due to the Bank Holiday as I would have missed out 😉

Hope everyone is having some good weather at last 🤞 The sun is still shining here despite the forecast saying it is cloudy 😉 I have timed it perfectly - DH just phoned - he is at Whitley Bay & has stopped for lunch. A lovely sunny day but very blowy - I could hear the wind 😉 

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 💐 🎖️ 💐 ⭐️ 💐 💐 🥇 ⭐️ 

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 740/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.85

short_bird

Afternoon all: congratulations, commiserations and get well soons as needed.
Sorted everything for the "new to me" TV but it isn't here yet as the the car they thought was big enough to carry it wasn't big enough. So, still revelling in the space made for that move.
Totals for the last 10 days:
1446-1452: 7GB data deleted
1453-1463: 550 emails deleted (I count them in fifties)
1464-1465: shredding
1466-1470: bags of rubbish and recycling to bins downstairs
1471-1570: items to rubbish
1571-1600: items to recycling.
1601: submitted delay repay for Monday's journey
1602: meter readings sent.
Total of 40 items added to "old stuff that needs to go" list for a new total of 150. Time to repack the overnight bag as out of town tomorrow.

Florenceem

When Mr F got a letter from the hospital about a telephone appointment - we didn't know what it was about. I had to speak to the Dr when he rang - with Mr F's permission because of his deafness. They found more blood in his recent stool test than the one last year so he is to have another Colonoscopy.
The nurse was meant to phone at 3 yesterday - I phoned the surgery at 3.50 - no 8 in the queue - to be told - Mr F had got it wrong - the phone appointment was today.
I had a day indoors yesterday - first for nearly 5 weeks - I needed it.
I offered to take in the food delivery last night - sat by my phone but C forgot to text me so it was put in the outside crate and the fridge stuff thrown away this morning - what a waste.
Been to SA - lots of donations to sort.
Had a lovely meal - Swedish meatballs/Dauphinoise potatoes/brocolli/carrots followed by chocolate muffin & custard.
Mr F went upstairs to change his clothes and I told him to bring the office phone downstairs so he could get the call from the nurse. He came downstairs and I heard the phone ring - he had forgotten so I ran upstairs to answer it. Mr F has been complaining that his compression stockings keep falling down - so is having his legs measured as they think he needs a smaller size now.
I finished 4 aprons this morning.

vulpix

Phew. Goodness me. The deed is done. Under stairs empty. FULL car to the tip. We have a big car too. The cooker, ironing board, and loads of other metal  is on the front lawn for the scrap man. A box of tools listed on thrift. A few pieces of wood brought home. A piece of oak that I have a plan for. Some other bits I liked. Old AA badges and my Dad’s divining rods. I will go through it and see if I actually do want it all, but not today.

 We are going back later with DD2. She is meeting someone atm. Mattress, cabinet, and dolls house coming back here. 🥲 we need to load the dryer into the car for Mr V to deliver. 

 Council booked for collection of the sofa. Wardrobe man reminded. All I need to do is take all the curtains down and put the bins out. 

 Oh there are some things of my brothers there that need collecting. If he doesn't collect,tough. This work has almost broken us, no way are we running round after him.

 I told the EA to price for a VERY quick sale. Not told Mum as she isn’t answering her phone. Usually needs charging. DD is visiting her later and taking 3 boxes of stuff to her. Her woodcarving tools. she is in the middle of carving an elephant, as you do when you are 90. Hahahaha I have just had a message from EA wanting copies of my Mothers Driving licence and her passport. She has never had either. We have had this issue before when trying to close a building society account. It remains open as they could not proceed without them.

 I have had to come for a lie down as I am so over stimulated. I can't even cope with the noise of the TV that Mr V is watching.

 Laters Vx

Brie

[Deleted User] said:

Having posts removed for  medical advice, i will no longer be posting. 

I woild like to repeat what i told the mse team - i gave information to florenceem to help her look on a certain direction. No one was "advised" to take/not take meds or have a procedure. 

 

Oh dear.  Don't leave daisy.  There's certainly nothing the matter, in my opinion, in saying "have the checked for X".  I know some people get in to a right tizzy about things and panic I didn't read anything of yours that was panic worthy.  

bamboo_socks

Goodness me, a few days off and tens of posts to catch up on!

I hope all is well with everyone and the sun is shining, wherever you are.

Six parcels dropped off today, the big bag of clothes finally donated and a couple of bits (a manky pillow and broken basket) into the bin. All progress!

Moorviews

daisythelab - I personally found your raising awareness of a condition that I was unaware of very helpful. Please don’t be put off joining in here. 

vulpix - you really have done an amazing job with your mother’s house. I hope it sells quickly and is soon off everyone’s minds. Thinking of you and bitbybit. 

Mrs SD - enjoy the woodpecker visitor. I hope Mr SD has a good trip. 

Grannykate- I did a similar journey and thought the scenery was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. I hope good things happen with your viewing 🤞
nannywindow - you did great work down that rabbit hole and in Narnia! I can relate to the felt pens and congealed glue etc. What fun your grandchildren must have had with you 😊
Florenceem - love the aprons! And the reminder that it is never too early to start crafting for Christmas. So wise!
LiverpoolAnne - I think we have similar problems in trying to make our way back to good health. I hope you feel better soon. 

Muddywalker - you deserve all the rest that you need to take. 

Weenancyinamerica - you are always so amazingly busy and kind to everyone. I hope you get a break soon. 

Apologies that I have just cherry picked from my currently addled brain and only mentioned a few of the fabulous declutterati. You are all an inspiration to me though 👏
It is a much more difficult year than I predicted so I am struggling to make the planned progress or to post regularly. We put some large items from the spare room into the loft because they won’t be used for a while. Still waiting for the time when we can move some things out! My big goal for the year of clearing out the loft feels inappropriate now. 

machasraven

Good evening everyone I haven't done much this week. I had a busy weekend out on both Saturday and Sunday, so Monday was just little bit of housework. 
Had a hospital appointment today it doesn't sound good news but ho hum barrage of tests coming up hate hospitals spent too much time in them before but I have wonderful friends there for me.