2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

TC77

Some.frogs done, had 8 on my.list , did 3 on it and another 3 but not on list. 
I item sold and posted. Dress gloves in CS bag, collected a fan a neighbour was getting rid of, and a manged not to rummage through other things:) 
Also some paper.declutter and ood food.
1123

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

Wednesday was another hot & sunny day 🥵 with a high of 28C. GB & N.I. are doing really well - 4th in the Medals Table - 6 Gold, 6 Silver & 5 Bronze 🥳 Just basking in the fact that Team GB is above Australia & USA - even if only for a little while 😂 Pleased that I noticed we were 4th as we have dropped down to 5th behind France 🙁 A great day for the team & the end stage of the Men’s Triathlon has to be seen to be believed 🤩 Also very pleased to see that France’s pin up man won 2 Golds in the pool 😊 & that Guatemala won the Ladies Clay Shooting 👏 A good day of sport 🙂 & I ticked off Women’s Beach Volleyball 😉 Late afternoon I had a long relaxing bath to cool down & found a sleeveless cotton top in my wardrobe which I had forgotten about 😉 Dinner was a ‘use up’ - a portion of spaghetti bolognese & salad for DH, a portion of lasagne & salad for DSis, the rest of the salad + hard boiled eggs & the last of the previously cooked hg potatoes for me. Trifle for afters. Wudupa

1245 - 1248 Kitchen recycling, drinks can, glass jar, cardboard packaging - recycled 

1249 - 1250 Kitchen & office detritus - binned 

Pennypincin, sounds like a good purchase & now you have them for next year or more probably the rest of summer in September 😊

vulpix, I did have a rueful smile at how out of touch the emergency viewers were 😉 Shame that they didn’t do some proper research 🧐 as I see a lot of disappointment in their future 🙁 You have definitely widened the net - good luck 🍀

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 Most of the ‘things’ you brought in are not superfluous to requirements & several of them will eventually be used up 🙂 + you are still running at almost 9 out to 1 in, so still doing really well 🥳

Good work today oceanspirit 👏 What a lovely way to spend the 1st of a month 😊 nicer than mine as I have a visit to the dental hygienist 😣 

London_1, I love the heat but I too am wilting 🥀 Although the good news is that I do cut down on food 😉 Very well put - the world is going mad & not only is it so deeply saddening but also quite frightening 😞 Oh well if I can’t borrow Simon I will have to change my mind set & start learning to enjoy menu planning & cooking 😉 

Great work decluttering frogs TC77 👏 and very well done on resisting the temptation to ‘rummage’ 🥳 

Hope everyone is coping with the heat & is keeping fully hydrated 🤞 Also hope that it is cooling down enough overnight that you can all get some sleep 😴 

See you tomorrow with a lighter purse 😉

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1250/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £303.85

Floss

MrsSD, I'm not sure it cooled down, but I was rudely awoken by a thunderstorm at 4am.

vulpix

 I walked past the wool stall in Bury whilst shielding my eyes ! The clock will be ready for collection next week. He has to order stronger gubbins as it has got big hands to push round. I did buy wadding for the quilt which has taken the cost to over £70 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dil asked me to make a double size quilt for GS.Machine sewn this time. The last one I made was every stitch hand sewn and it's now a cats bed! I was so proud of it too. If I get time I will make some bunting with the left over fabric. I am still loving the selvedge edge cushion. Worth spending £70 just to get that.haha.

  Purchased a new firm pillow in Bury. Also a big bag of red peppers, £1 . A big bag of baby toms,£1. Stuffed peppers tonight? yep.

 We got the thunderstorm at 8am Floss.

Ooo, the baby wrens have fledged. There were 2 of them.

 Not sure if the top I wore yesterday is a keeper. There are more tops to try on now it's hot. Panic purchases before holiday last year. I think some of them will be too big. I have lost about 10 lbs since then.

 I have finally sent you a pm Liverpool Anne.

 Vx

 

Wednesday2000

I decluttered my bathroom chest of drawers yesterday and took everything out and cleaned the drawers. I threw away two items and put the rest back. We have 9 bottles of hand wash which is ridiculous. I must have bought more without checking first. You can at least see everything that is in there now.

I am going to get my hair cut tomorrow so I had to go and get cash out as you can't pay on card at that hairdresser and I have booked an Indian Head Massage for next week which is also cash. I listened to a This is Money podcast on the way there and back. I know how to enjoy myself!

I decided to write down everything I spend in August to see how much we spend in a average month. My monthly bills are £735 without groceries and I have a Tesco order coming today so added to the cash I just got out it seems like we have spent a lot already and it is only the 1st! I'm kind of regretting picking this month to do it now. Oh well, that was the point to see how much we are spending.

I have another donation bag of clothes to take with me tomorrow. I just came back and had breakfast and an iced coffee and caught the end of the women's rowing.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@Mrs SD electrics at OH's need a proper electrician, probably a new fuse box and possibly rewiring. We don't know an electrician as I honestly wouldn't use the guys I had again so we are asking around for recommendations and I have told OH I will go to the house when we find someone to look at it. I am really hoping it doesn't need rewiring having been through it here as I know the upheaval it causes and the house is still full of stuff but I don't think OH has the energy to deal with it all atm.
The Olympics have been amazing, I agree the triathlon was excellent . I have also enjoyed the rowing and the diving. The skateboarding just blows my mind as I don't know how they do it , the BMX I can see they usually keep some contact with the bike to control it but still amazing. The Chinese synchronised divers were so good as well and seeing Tom Daley sitting in the crowd with his knitting and crochet was great. I was also pleased to see our medal table place, so unusual to be ahead of USA,

@Muddy_Walker I do include "normal" things in my numbers in the form of full bags of stuff, I could never remember each item, as it does motivate me to look for things to fill the bag iyswim. So if I sort out a draw for example, and put stuff in a bin or bag but it's not quite full I will look around for something else to fill it so I can count the bag. I don't think it's a rule or anything like that, it is just whatever works for people to help them on their journey. Some people are on maintenance decluttering while others, like me, are still drowning in carp but I do struggle with it all so any motivation to do something is welcome. It is whatever works for you . Sometimes, as with the garden waste it is a way to reward myself for tackling a long neglected task that is almost overwhelming I also count things that I hate doing like the ironing as I can easily ignore it for months so it is a motivator to get it done

@Floss you must live very near me as the thunderstorm hit us at about 3.30. I love a good thunderstorm

@Vulpix, thanks for the pm. I will have a discussion with OH and get back to you soon . Shame about the emergency viewers not really having done their research but I am sure someone will want your house soon. All you need to do now is find a new one. Have you thought about North of Manchester? Some lovely places with views around there though I have no idea about prices . Well done on resisting the wool

@Wednesday2000 I listened to that programme as well . I like your idea about writing down everything you spend. Probably something I should do. On the subject of cash v card I try to use cash if I can but some places I go to regularly no longer accept cash, like the footy club and it does annoy me but not enough to go without my cup of coffee . Other places ask for bank transfers, like where I went for reflexology, but I don't do internet banking so it was cash as they didn't have a card machine. Considering the cost to the seller I struggle to understand why they don't want cash but I suppose the cost is just added to the price . As for handwash I am finally getting to the end of what was stashed due to covid, I think I carried on buying it even after the worst was over without thinking about how much we were using, it became a habit every time I went shopping . 

The past couple of days have been hot hot hot but I have got a few things done . 2 LDFPA, 2 kitchen draws though these need more attention as some hard decisions need to be made, 4 bags of garden waste to the tip along with some old guttering kept for who knows why, meds collected, kitchen recycling, ironing and a bottle of wine decluttered from the fridge between OH and ln with the cakes from the cream tea but I won't count that as it was a reward in itself
I am pleased with the progress in the garden but it is nowhere near finished and I must admit it nearly finished me off yesterday but I have recovered today and am just heading back out now

I have just heard they have lifted reporting restrictions on the young man involved in the Southport incident and given out his name. I hope this will stop the indiscriminate violence happening all over the country but I feel for his parents who will now be targeted. 

Right off to do some chopping, hugs to anybody who would like one

1092 & 1093 LDFPA
1094 - 1097 garden waste
1098 old guttering
1099 & 1100 kitchen draws
1101 meds collected
1102 kitchen recycling
1103 ironing
Take care everyone
1103/2024

Siebrie

I actually bought 2 new dresses and was so pleased with myself that I wahtsappt it to quite a few people! It's Voodoo Vixen coral reef with halter neckline (https://cdn.quicq.io/simsalabim/product/3572994307-DRA9915-VoodooVixen-Jaren50flarejurkmetcoralreefprint-1.jpeg) and Voodoo Vixen Green with embroidered sunflower and bee (https://www.unique-vintage.com/cdn/shop/files/voodoo-vixen-1950s-green-sunflower-bee-embroidered-fit-flare-dress-888279.jpg?v=1712699868&width=1946).

GrannyKate

A quick post.  Lots of childcare so not doing much.  Some issues re potential buy and a tree just outside boundary.  I have survey booked.  I have asked council as they own tree but not sure how long a reply will take - have mentioned concern to my solicitor although think she is on a course this week. 

I started doing a spreadsheet a couple of years ago of spending so at least I know where money is going.  I have set targets but rarely meet them.  I have Groceries, general sundries (meals out, things for me), Household items, grandchildren, fuel, holidays, monthly DDs, annual payments, cash and savings.  Then I add up all pensions and any other money (interest etc) coming in.  Usually break even but has been going down lately.  I measure my 'funds' by adding up savings accounts, premium bonds and lowest balance figure during month in two current accounts.  Not managing to reduce spending much but I do feel more in control.  DS2 should be moving out 1 September and then I have some plans for things which could go once I've moved.  

Booked some time at DDs with DGCs and she has booked weekend lodge break for us all near her home which will be nice.  DGD1 (17) passed her driving theory test and has test booked for December. 

923 Monthly banking done
924 Survey done for this house
925 Various dead/dying pots emptied and recycling bin completely full when collected this morning
926 Completed yet another set of forms for solicitors

Wednesday2000

I get reflexology too Liverpool Anne, it is the same woman who is doing the Indian Head Massage for me next week.

I should think about doing my budget with a spreadsheet as I am just doing it with pen and paper. I did see on Instagram that someone was recommending a budget planner book.

Decluttering - I put two of my husband's joggers into textile recycling as the fabric attracts pet fur and we have three pets.

Floss

Liverpool_Anne said:

@Floss you must live very near me as the thunderstorm hit us at about 3.30. I love a good thunderstorm

I live just over that new bridge over the Mersey but work at Alder Hey.