2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

QueenJess

Just had another little session after lunch whilst DD was out with DH, but apparently it was too boring for DS.  Tough, because I never get to my own stuff otherwise!  I went through some of the craft drawers in the library and got rid of quite a bit, but as I was going through I knew I was still keeping too much.  It's so hard with craft stuff when you are making greetings cards as small bits and pieces can come in handy.  I will try and use up some of what I have, but I'm sure there will be at least another round of purging to come.  Anything I found in DD's favourite colour I popped in her drawer to use as we are always short on that colour of paper/card for obvious reasons!

Now just considering my next moves.  I only have 3 boxes and 2 bags suitable for charity donations left in the whole house, so am giving as much as I can through Buy Nothing.  I am still far from as minimal as I would like, but I can't seem to ever accelerate the process.  If I had more time and lived alone, then I would happily pack everything up and just get out the things I use and donate the rest.  But since neither is true, I slowly look through to see what I can get rid of and it is slloooowwww.  Maybe I should try a teeny tiny area of things and ask what is my favourite stuff to keep and get rid of the rest instead (what some call reverse decluttering), but I am aware if I do it too quickly that I will more likely make mistakes or buy things back.  We are ok at not bringing in more stuff (to be honest if anyone is the culprit it is me), although obviously my family try to scupper this all the time.  Maybe I should start counting things in, or do a no buy (except for essentials) or something as I may be bringing in more than I think.  I did tell my parents DD does not like the My Little Pony and asked today to declutter it, so they said they will donate that box from their loft.  So one box of stuff saved from coming here, although that was way more effort than I would like!

Not sure there were any conclusions there, but I am a bit sick of the time I seem to spend dealing with stuff and would like that time to decrease, but at the same time I do have too much still and need to work through it...  Perhaps I could do 30 mins per day and then just stop when the timer is done or something?  One to ponder for a July challenge perhaps.

Anyway, enough rabbiting for now.

1 - packaging reused
1 - books (charity box)
137 - craft stuff recycled
13 - books (Buy Nothing)
9 - craft stuff, cards, badges etc (charity bag)

New total = 12,835

May/June mini decluttering challenge = 226/200

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

Saturday is another bright sunny day - temperature already 19C at 10:45. I was up & dressed 10:25 so better than yesterday 😉 Holiday jeans are in the wm & I have my first cuppa. DH is watching MotoGP Qualifying ……….. Washing now out on whirligig. Voting papers completed ✅

crazybunnylady4, Thursday sounds like it was a very busy day for both you & your Mum 👏 You both took advantage of the cooler temperatures 😊 Very pleased to hear that your Mum has the garden set up so that pots etc are easy to move 😮‍💨 The wax melts are a great idea for “best smelling smalls in the south” & yes I did try saying that fast & managed twice before going wrong 😂 

vulpix, please be very careful when you start tackling the top garden 🙏 Shame that you couldn’t get the goat - I was rather looking forward to seeing pictures 🤣 Good luck with the bat signal 🍀 Hopefully the weather will stay cool enough for you to tackle painting the shed village 🤞

crazybunnylady4, more excellent work tackling another section of your craft mountain 👏 You are definitely on a roll sorting out your craft supplies 🥳 & it sounds like you are thoroughly enjoying yourself 😊 I would really like to thank you for sharing your ‘craft stash decluttering journey’. I am learning so much 😊 So many useful tips especially about the various tools for both successful embroidery & cross stitch which I have just taken up. You also have some very beautiful storage solutions 😊 As you have done so much decluttering & sorting I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ Keep up the great work 😊

Florenceem, sorry to hear about MrF’s fall on Thursday 😔 but relieved to hear that it was in the hospital & there was plenty of help on hand 😮‍💨 It does sound like all the pieces are finally coming together so that hopefully a ‘whole body’ treatment plan will soon be put in place 🙏 Although 6 weeks is a long time to wait for the colonoscopy results, I am hoping that this is just because there is nothing to report & someone has forgotten to post the letter 🙏

oceanspirit, sorry to hear that you haven’t been able to do much recently 😔 I hope you are OK 🙏 Very good news that your OH doesn’t have to wait for eleven months & that you are both able to accommodate the cancellation 😊 

Pennypincin, some good decluttering 👏 Nothing wrong with strategic purchases when it helps with your decluttering & tidying 😊

Lovely post daisy_1571 😊 

Florafauna, 😡 to your sellers 😡 I am keeping everything crossed that the good weather mellows them & they get their act together 🤞🙏 Not gloomy just stressed 😣 Cwtches coming your way 🤗 

QueenJess, Lovely response to crazybunnylady4 😊 “Good work 😀 There is nothing more satisfying than having decluttered so much that you realise you no longer need storage”

Excellent decluttering butterfly2507 😊 Congratulations on reaching your first target 🥳 One medal🏅 on its way 😊

Wednesday2000, sorry to hear about the 24 hour bug 😔 You might have to visit London more often so you can build up a resistance 😉 only joking of course 🙃 Hope you managed to get your pantry sorted & that the weather was cool enough to get your batch cooking done 🤞I also hope it stayed dry for the concert in the park last night 😊

Well done Rootle 👏 Halfway to target 🥳 A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way

short_bird, sorry to hear that you have had Covid 😔 Hopefully you have managed to complete your list 🙏 Sending long distance cwtches until you are fully recovered 🤗 

Yippee TC77 🥳 Well done on persevering with the decluttering of the heavy oak dining table, extension leaves & chairs 👏 A medal 🏅 is on its way 😊

Florenceem, very pleased to hear that your DGD managed to get back from Australia 😊 It must have been lovely to see her ☺️

Great decluttering QueenJess 👏 Thanks for stocking up the TLC Carriage with HM goodies 👏 I was in time to have a small taste of everything 😋 - my particular favourite was the hummus 🤤 Very sorry to hear that your colleagues are being so obnoxious 😔 Possibly jealous that you are getting out 🤨 but very childish to stop speaking to you 😡 

Excellent decluttering & tidying GrannyKate 👏 Pleased to hear that the viewings went well & fingers crossed that you get feedback soon. Have a safe trip tomorrow to your DD’s place & I hope you have a wonderful holiday 😊

I have written a shopping list for DH as he & my DSis are taking the car to sm. He will be posting our votes. DH has filled the bird feeders & is just watering the plants. I am enclosing a couple of pictures of a very large radish & a very small crop of potatoes from a random plant 😊 

Temperature now 24C. Whilst DSis & DH are out I will put away the laundered clothes, write up a To Do List & finish dealing with the last of my mail 🙂

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅 

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 986/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.85

Florenceem

I was at SA from 7 - 2 - not a busy day but we raised £578.
Now we have a break - no more table top sales until 28 September so 13 weeks away.
I am so tired - got woke up at 2 by a sound - thought it was a smoke alarm - searched around upstairs - nothing. I thought it was outside - shut the window - Mr F went straight back to sleep - I couldn't
Eventually I fell asleep until the 6 am alarm.
When we got up - Mr F realised that the noise was coming from his office phone which was in the bedroom as a second alarm call.
I go back to SA at 7 to take in the M & S food delivery which then needs to be sorted.
It will be an early night for me.

Brie

Had picked up a book on watercolour techniques from the tesco charity book shelf a couple of months back.  Always looking for new ideas.  Unfortunately this was about stuff I never need to know - like how to make your own egg tempura paints (start by separating egg yolk from white....).  So today I took it back to Tescos and they can sell it again.  Hopefully not to me.  (I have form for this sort of thing...)

GrannyKate

Quick update - one day before I leave for DDs I got an offer.  Slightly lower than I want but more than 95% so children think it is quite good.  EA said it was a little low and she will go back to them with my counter suggestion and check out their chain.  Hope to get some positive news before I fly Weds morning.  The solicitor's portal has the most horrendous form to fill in - I have started but will go through it with DD - not sure I know the answers to many of the questions.  Never done this on my own before - late DH would have answered all these questions.  

718 Plastics to SM
719 Bag of stuff to CS
720 Euros bought

Took DS2, girlfriend and DGCs out for a meal - that's 2 new pubs this week.  Suitcase is full but things missing so will have to get DD to help me repack.  I have too many clothes in there I know.  Leaving here at 12 tomorrow.  Passport, money, insurance details etc all together with case.  I had to go to three stores to find mechanical pencils which I use for sudokus etc.  

Florafauna

Hi all, thanks for the kindness shown to me.  More packing and tip runs here. We are completing with our buyers in a week and loving out. But will be staying short term with friends as  we have no house to live into due to our sellers tardiness. Stress is off the scale here. However, we are giving a three week ultimatum to the sellers or we shall walk away and rent short term while we look for a new house. So not good. Three weeks left at work

Soontobeoap

@crazybunnylady absolutely love your cross stitch especially the yachts. You have such patience. 

Floss

Florafauna said:

... However, we are giving a three week ultimatum to the sellers or we shall walk away and rent short term while we look for a new house. So not good....

I hope everything works out for you,  its a stressful time x

vulpix

Beautiful work crazybunnylady. You are very talented. 

Granny Kate, marvellous news on the offer. I hope it progresses to a sale. 

Florafauna, argh! Stress, stress, stress. Here’s hoping that they get their act together very soon.  

Queen Jess,  counting what I bring in has been helpful to me. It concentrates my mind. 

I tried on about 20 items of clothing. 🙄 I will alter about 6 tops to make them hang better and then I can wear them. A few evenings work there. I have a wish list now for 3 items and no more, no matter what bargains I find. That is my wardrobe done for a while. Jewellery,shoes and bags still to do. 

I cut out fabric for the patchwork quilt. I have until August to finish it. Should be ok, I am machine sewing it. 

 I MUST get on with shed painting tomorrow. 

 Vx

TC77

Homegrown good Mrs SD. Reminds me I should have checked my strawberries.
Looks.luke my morning post disappeared. Was mainly I praise of everyone's talents most notable this morning @crazybunnylady4!

And to say button decorations will be in the autumn if I remember.

Few frog emails today, 2 items for old kitchen stuff, cleaned w/m and d/w. Sunhat in cs and another item( forgotten what). Tidied some drawers, 
Another unworn dress in posh cs pile, will take when I visit my friend in blackheath.
Few items posted for sale etc and one item sold and packaging , will count now as by the front door, stationery ready for dd2 to review when home..been reading in the garden and making time for things other than decluttering to help me speed up, a few receipts and old loyalty card. Counting as 11 as sold item is 2kg and lots of packaging 988. Hoping I may get to 1000 tomorrow , maybe if I drop things at donation hub but unsure of I've counted any of them!