2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

QueenJess

daisy_1571 said:

QueenJess said:

My parents are visiting and have brought the least amount of stuff yet, however, they still brought:

4 boxes
4 coins
4 coin pages
1 jumper
1 card
10 books
1 apron

So that's 26 things in...  at least I have 4 boxes to pack it all up into for charity I guess..

So as usual feeling completely overwhelmed when they come.  They did bring a book for DS that he wasn't impressed by, so they are taking it back to bring again for DD.  I did try to tell them she has never been interested in that topic so it's a waste of time, but I could tell they weren't listening as usual.  They mentioned some of the stuff they have in reserve for DD and talked about culling it down to a few things in each category.... I can live in hope

A few things out just whilst I was tidying up as it's a decluttering day off in theory.

1 - plastic bag (recycled)
3 - DS school tops destroyed (recycled)
2 - tights full of holes (recycled)
1 - plastic bowl (charity bag)
1 - instructions I don’t need (recycled)
12 - memory box stuff recycled
1 - DD tat binned
1 - food kids won’t eat given to sister
New total = 14,026

July In: 52, July Out: 839

You've counted everything up to 26 however you got rid of 22 other things today.  Plus 4 of the new things were the boxes you asked for and you know are temporary.   A quick look at the books, apron and jumper and probably they can go in the first box as the start of a charity box or in the bucket as appropriate.   That only leaves the card and the coins.  The card will get recycled soon.  If you don't want the coins and they are valuable get them sold, otherwise put them into any charity collection box, they all have ways of getting some money back for old or foreign coins.  So in 5 minutes you probably had the new stuff sorted.  What I'm wondering is, why do you feel so overwhelmed by this small amount of decisions ?   From the outside it doesn't seem a lot to deal with?  

Also, why didn't you just take the other book ?  It could have gone straight to charity with the others.  I bet you are going to keep thinking about it and wondering when you'll see it again?  That way it would have dealt with already. 

Just idle thoughts, no need to explain, 

Dxxx 

Oh and they did bring you boxes as you asked so they do listen sometimes lol

My kids are 3 and 7. Have you ever tried to get kids that age to declutter stuff they’ve been given immediately? It just doesn’t happen. You have to go through the whole sequence of having them for a while, seeing if they read them, then enough time to not use them before they want to get rid of them. It all takes a huge amount of time. Plus my parents seem to think I should be keeping everything so I avoid questions on where stuff is.

It’s like a comedy show I watched where someone gave a £5 cheque as a present. They said, this isn’t a present, it’s a chore. That’s what my parents give me, chores and more work when I’m always close to the edge of coping and desperately trying to reduce the number of things I do in a day. That’s why it’s stressful.

Some stuff is useful, good and will be kept. For example, a new jumper for DD which is her favourite one in a larger size to fit her. DS also liked the coins as he has a collection. Lots of the books I suspect will be decluttered eventually, but need sifting.  This is the least they have ever brought and they come every month. Either they are starting to listen, or I’ve managed to come off lightly this time. Listening to all the stuff they say they still have at home (with me saying we don’t want it of course), I suspect it’s the latter. Means I dread their visits as I never know what they will bring with them and just means work for me.

Edit: I should say that the whole purpose of this decluttering journey for me is to get to some sort of minimalism because frankly I cannot cope with all the things I need to do in a day. I prioritise, so the most important things to me are spending time with the kids and cooking great food from scratch. I resent any and all time I have to deal with “stuff” as I simply don’t care about the stuff and I know it is removing time from doing the things I want. Effectively it is reducing the quality of my life. This is what drives me to keep reducing until it feels like the right amount of stuff I can keep on top of with incredibly little effort.

TC77

Someone said listen to Taff I think for @weenancyinAmerica , so scrolled back but missed it, but interested as Taff I think is in maintenance mode and has given me great advice. 
Having to use google lens to help identify items at my dad's, one item was only on a polish website but translated is a garlic press cleaner! also have an onion guard, we seem to have lots parts of anything of any monetary value but progress is being made. Have another bag ready to take to CS tomorrow and small bag for me to take home, including measuring spoons for DD2, the garlic press cleaner, receipe  for treacle cake and a couple of others I've forgotten but will remember when I get home

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

I managed to do a little something this afternoon 😉 I wrote & addressed the last six birthday cards for 2024, rotated the mattress & finally made up our bed with summer bedding 😉 DH zizzed up some worm food & also filled the bird feeders. He had to rescue 3 mice from one of the bird feed bins because he forgot to put the lid on 😉 DH fired up the BBQ as it was a nice sunny evening with a pleasant breeze & the temperature was still 24C.  I fried some onions, washed some lettuce & got out the condiments. DSis had hot dogs, DH had a hotdog, burger in a bun & a lamb kebab, whilst I resisted bread products & had salad, a lamb kebab & a burger. Wudupa. 

1184 - 1185 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

1186 Kitchen detritus binned 

D123456789, I did have to smile at the idea that children only wear their shoes to get to & from school 😅 I have to confess that I don’t need a reason to do minimal cleaning 😂 Good luck with the clothes decluttering on Tuesday 🍀

TC77, excellent work at your dad’s house 👏 I also love that you have already picked up several tips from TGAofDC 😊 “As they said on the Swedish programme because we've brought things in we assign value to them  That was quite a big step for me, and will try if not to empty a room, do a wall or section so I love it. I have when I've cleared and sorted say the top of my dresser and it’s been very calming.”……………”I feel accepting that everything is always changing, me , the house and relationships, and bringing one or two things in means many more can go out. Not sure if this makes sense.”  Makes perfect sense to me 👏 Good luck with the potential sales & tackling the important frogs 🍀 I will keep everything crossed that the offers will be accepted & you will finally have some new staff 🤞🙏

Brie, I don’t envy you at all 😱 I think one warning is fair & then big kicky boots should definitely come into play 😊 Don’t forget to take them with you 😂

daisy_1571, some interesting thoughts for QueenJess 🤔 + hopefully weenancy will listen to -taff & start putting herself first 🙏

QueenJess, I just want to give you some huge cwtches 🤗  & get the Swedish folks in to give you a hand 😊 Thank you for sharing your well worked out reasons for decluttering “……… I should say that the whole purpose of this decluttering journey for me is to get to some sort of minimalism because frankly I cannot cope with all the things I need to do in a day. I prioritise, so the most important things to me are spending time with the kids and cooking great food from scratch. I resent any and all time I have to deal with “stuff” as I simply don’t care about the stuff and I know it is removing time from doing the things I want. Effectively it is reducing the quality of my life. This is what drives me to keep reducing until it feels like the right amount of stuff I can keep on top of with incredibly little effort.” With your determination, I have every faith that you will succeed 😊

TC77, I hope you can post some pics of the more unusual items 😉 It could be an interesting game to play 😉 

All caught up again so off to bed 🙂 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1186/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £303.85

GrannyKate

Quick check in - feeling better as shingles jab and holiday effects are wearing off.  All washing done and put away which is a result.  Frog list has grown but that is Monday's job.  No small people until Thursday. A viewing today and tomorrow - I need to find somewhere.  

787 Both lawns mowed
788-799 Lego sets sold by DS2 at small local place he found recently.  I resisted the garden centre lures next door but I did succumb to coffee and cake in their cafe. 

TC77

Onion guard, garlic press cleaner both plastic , wooden scissoe type things - for what purpose? Google suggests childrens chop sticks, vintage item for measuring for electricity as says charge/ half charge and also small chinoiserie item which may be an ashtray?  The onion guard looks.like a large nit comb but as betterware suggests  kitchen use 

oceanspirit

Sorted out more papers yesterday and tackled a year old frog.

Not doing at all well on emptying freezer as it’s too hot for soup!  And I had a cheeky box of ice lollies in my SM delivery last night.

vulpix

Haha, I am imagining the mice being the size of guinea pigs after vacationing in the seed bin Mrs SD 

 House viewing all good, well the house is a bit grim really.Just how I like them.It's not damp or anything just unloved and grubby. A single bloke has lived there a long time. Estate Agent closed until Monday. All I need to do is come up with some money!

 I went mad and bagged up even more fabric and the same girl is having it. Vintage tins collected. 
 
  2 More tops in the charity bag that I tried on and I think are too low at the front. I bought them for hols last year and they have never been worn. Two empty half drawers in the chest of drawers. I seem to be making inroads with clothes.

 Thrift has gone overboard about a hedgehog pin cushion I listed, now gone. As the hedgehog was so popular I listed some more 60’s ornaments. Koalas anybody?koalas were de rigueur when I was a kid. KItch giraffe and koala bears gone.

4 seat pads gone, I was going to recover for the garden cba.

 I now have one slim drawer with craft items and one drawer with the yet to be finished patchwork from Mum.

 Mr V has said without prompting that the giant family bible can go. 

 I think I am going to start and sell a few things again instead of giving everything away. Anything under £5 I will still give away. I will try and make some money towards a table and chairs.

interesting items TC. I love the ashtray. 

 I have used up all my stash of bags to give stuff away in, and all of Mum's stash too. A good problem to have.

 Vx

-taff

@TC77 sorry, advice to wee nancy was just finger wagging health stuff

But your betterware item I think is to slice boiled eggs..You stick it in the egg and slice away.

.and I do have to say this, I would have no problem putting all that in the bin...I doubt I would even have thought, what does that do? I would have seen a bunch of little objects that would take up space in the junk drawer and known that I would never use them..SO maintenace mode is really, refusing to spend time with things and just getting shot

daisy_1571

Betterware thing can be used for tomatoes too with a sharp knife.  Useful if you worry about cutting your fingers trying to hold stuff or if you want neat slices as you have the prongs to guide you.

Yup, most of that I'd think its too small for charity shops to want.  Wood in for burning, rubber thing dismantled if the middle bit could go in glass, everything else in bin.  In the long run thats where it will end up anyway. 

Vulpix love your cute 🐨 🐨   😆 

Pennypincin

A planner pad and 3 small bags of bulgar wheat have gone.
A few round microwaveable containers are pending. They will go, but probably not for a couple of weeks.