2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Floss

oceanspirit said:

...I am currently fighting the urge to help a friend.  Unfortunately she is not good at helping herself and in the past I have put her before me and it has cost me dearly.  I have to stand firm on this even though it goes against my nature - it feels cruel to leave her struggling but it has been going on for years and she does have paid support as well as ongoing mental health support.

It sounds like you recognise what giving that help does to you, and maybe it is time to think of yourself & leave that support to the professionals. 

vulpix

 Oceanspirit, I have found through painful experience that people like that always find someone to help them. They befriend nice people for just that reason. Your friend will be fine. I do understand how difficult it is but she will be just fine.The favour I did recently was because I wanted to help someone and they were very grateful, I honestly didn't expect or need gifts or gratitude but a nice experience for both of us I hope. 

 nannywindow, I hope things ease for you and yours. It's very early days for your Dad, lets hope he has a good recovery.xx

 Gosh, waiting to move is like living in slow motion. Once I make the decision to move I want to get on with it. Fingers crossed for this week London 1.

 Wishus, I hope work improves for you too.xx

 There has been another viewing at Mother's but no bites yet.

 My friend and I are undecided about going to an open garden this afternoon. Frequent heavy rain showers. Both husbands have declined. But it does a body good to get outside.

DD2 is here again, she is using up holiday before starting her new job.

 A small glimmer of hope next week weather wise. A little drier and a little warmer. Shed painting here we come. I am rubbish at self care. More of a work it off kinda girl.

I imagine the virtual hugs we give each other going round the country and beyond like a Mexican wave. Vx

applepad

Does anyone else have an adult child who lives at home, who has a disgusting cluttered bedroom?

I only take action when it smells but it’s getting worse.

He has been stressed with final year of Uni and all that comes with that -  so I’ve slacked off for a bit- but think it’s now time for a big sort out- I’ve removed all the clothes from in his bed, chocolate wrappers and picked up the clothes on the floor- put them on one side for him to go through- he has too many clothes- I will prioritise washing  the clothes he wants to keep

florianatwobob

@oceanspirit I know that type of friend. They can be draining. It’s perfectly fine to prioritise yourself (I had to do the same). 

Rootle

23/52 - DH binned an old ex-work branded hard hat.

24/52 - 4 weeks worth of tablets' packaging that I was told to take to pharmacy for safe disposal.

25/52 - DH binned 2 old ex-work branded cups and I binned a top my dog mistook for a dog toy!

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Mini Mission in May

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

Sunday is currently bright & breezy - the sun is out 🥳 Up slightly earlier today - noon but feeling very achey for some reason 😔 Finally finished the ShArf & added the button. I took the opportunity to sort out the bags for CS which I will drop off when we return from our break in Scotland - at which time my decluttering numbers will shoot up 😊 Although that will be cancelled out by the lack of decluttering whilst we are away 😕 DH has popped out to sm on the bike to pick up a few bits. DSis thought they were going together in the car via the Tip but of course way too late when he left at 16:00. I have also watered my indoor plants & tidied up the fridge a bit. DH just phoned - he is on his way back. He has already packed his bag but was unable to find his new base layer. So I have done a quick sort out of three of his wardrobe shelves 😊 Success, I found them 🥳 I have prepped everything ready to cook dinner - small lamb joint, roast potatoes & carrots & cauliflower. Stayed warm & dry all day 🥳

Lovely supportive post daisy_1571 😊

Great decluttering & tidying oceanspirit 👏 Good luck keeping your bedroom tidy 🍀 Hopefully if you can do a few minutes tidying every day you will be able to keep on top of it 😊 I am in full agreement with Floss, vulpix & florianatwobob

London_1, such a shame that there have been delays 😔 It was probably quite exciting when you thought it was only going to be a few days camping out indoors 😉 so I can quite see why the shine has worn off 😔 Keeping everything crossed that contracts are exchanged as early as possible this week 🤞Sorry to hear that your eldest DD is having such awful weather 😔

Lovely post vulpix, so supportive 😊 I hope that the weather stayed dry for the open garden visit 🤞Everything crossed that the weather is drier & warmer next week 🤞especially in Scotland as it is miserable riding on the bike in the rain 😔

Welcome aboard applepad 👋 Sorry, no ideas from me, but I am sure that some advice/ideas will be forthcoming from our Declutterati Family 😊

Excellent decluttering Rootle 👏

Hope everyone has had a good day & I will be back later.

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2023: 971/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.85

florianatwobob

I have finally found the bits for charity that have been running off and hiding in dark corners in their attempts to evade eviction. They’re now bagged up for the doorstep collection van tomorrow. 

If anyone has any hugs to spare could they point them this way please? On top of DBro1’s problems DSis is waiting for a biopsy appointment. The results of which may lead to a hysterectomy. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

florianatwobob, I decided not to wait 😉 I am sending lots of cwtches your way with plenty for  DBro 1 & DSis 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 

MrsSD

QueenJess

Sorry I've been awol, but had food poisoning and only just sticking my head out of the tlc carriage. Sick of only being able to eat toast and hoping I'll be able to eat a bit more tomorrow.  In the meantime (and over the past 4 days), I've been doing the smallest bits of tidying and decluttering - think 1 or 2 things at a time, but it's really added up.  DS is also tidying his room right now and managed to put loads of stuff outside his room for me to sort out as he doesn't want them anymore.  I wanted to do so much more decluttering on Friday, but have been enforced resting which is very dull.

I am trying to concentrate my tidying and decluttering in the most untidy rooms since there is probably a good reason they are untidy (i.e. too much clutter).  So that's the library, DD's room, my bedroom and the kitchen/dining room. I ignore DS's room as he tidies it himself and he manages to declutter things every week - he's on the right track with his things anyway as I've trained him well. However, as I've been trapped in my room most the time, I haven't done much downstairs.

Digital:
1 - notes deleted
12 - filed emails deleted
7 - files deleted
11 - bookmarks deleted
1 - emails unsubscribed from

Physical:
2 - DS clothes grown out of/wont wear (charity bag)
1 - food (food bank)
3 - jewellery I don’t wear (charity)
2 - clothes I don’t wear (charity bag)
1 - DD’s clothes grown out of
1 - broken sunglasses (binned)
2 - DD tat (charity bag)
1 - DD tat (binned)
1 - DD books (charity bag)
4 - DD puzzles (Buy Nothing)
2 - packaging reused
3 - plastic bags recycled
16 - paper recycled
14 - photo pages (charity bag)
17 - photos binned
1 - paper, reused then recycled
1 - photo album (charity bag)
27 - DS tat binned/recycled
7 - DS tat (school)
New total = 12,307

May/June mini clothes decluttering challenge = 209/200

I've watched a few decluttering videos recently and although it isn't mentioned very often, the consensus is that decluttering over time is the best option as this way lets you figure out the right amount of stuff for you (for me that's quite low as I'm busy with 2 little kids) BUT it also lets you change your mindset so you stop bringing stuff in.  No point in doing a massive declutter really fast and then rebuying stuff.  Slow and steady wins the race...  I have to admit I look at things in shops now and think "will I actually use/like this or is it more likely that I'll have to end up decluttering this next week/month?".  I've been at this decluttering lark a few years now and online lots of people seem to say it takes them up to 5 years to reach the status quo point, so my journey seems quite typical.  It also does get so much easier to get rid of things.

With the kids clothes I've roughly written a list of how much of each category of clothes they actually need so nothing is overbought as they change sizes (notwithstanding my inability to control overzealous grandparents), but it's a bit of trial and error and particularly with DD as she's a mucky child.  For DD (as she's changing size right now), I've been cautiously buying as I've needed things.  For example, I bought 2 PJs as I just didn't think she'd need more and if the worst happens and she hasn't got any clean ones, then she could just use a t-shirt.  If it turns out she needs more, I can buy another one.

In theory it all means my decluttering should be lower and lower each year and if not then I'm probably bringing too much stuff in still.  Might make creating my targets each year interesting Last year I decluttered 40,000 items though and just can't see how I can make that again, even with lots of photos still to go through and lots more to declutter, so hopefully that means I am winning?!  I have to say that since clearing my window sill in my bedroom (just has one aloe vera plant on it) and the window sill in the hallway I put a trailing plant on, I admire them and enjoy them everyday.  The simplicity and beauty appeals to me.  Just need to get more of the house like that now.  I feel I'm getting quite close now, but a fair bit of work to do still.  Plus I do have things that need using up and they may last a while, but I refuse to bin them as it's a waste.  They will slowly be consumed and I've been working on bathroom products for a few years now.  Oops.. wittering again, sorry.. been mainly lying in bed for 3 days and it's very dull!

Florenceem

QueenJess - I go by my mum's saying on clothes - 1 - on,  1 off and 1 in the wash.