2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

weenancyinAmerica

Tomorrow's temperature supposed to be 39C - we are having our September heat wave this week. Car going in for repairs on Friday. Eyes crossed not too expensive or we may be without a car for awhile.

Roommate J did take Di for her eye operation this morning - I had to get up at 5 am to get them out the door on time. She has been sleeping all day. Guess who hasn't. Hope I can sleep well tonight in spite of the heat.

And people want me to be able to think this week. Not going to happen. The temperature isn't going down till next week. We still have no fan or air conditioning. Our pool has no hand rail - I think I am going to have one installed for next year. I will feel better about it then. Had to hold onto the 6 foot tree (that came up where it wasn't supposed to) to get out of the pool last time. Not sure it is that safe. So I don't use the pool too often when legs aren't working right.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks 

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 started as a very overcast day & temperature only rose to 20°C The good news is that the rain forecast went from 35% chance to 0% 🙂 Late afternoon the sun broke through - so a lovely end to the day. I put the last load in the wm - including bits from DH’s trip. DH & I spent 45 minutes working in the front garden - DH trimmed our front hedge (as well as next doors), I finished weeding the path & then between us we edged the lawn & fully tidied up after ourselves 🙂 I spent the rest of the afternoon watching episodes of Law & Order, Season 2. Dinner was a ‘use up’ - DH had lo linguine, I had lo bolognaise cottage pie & DSis had ham, chips & beans. Wudupa.

1476 - 1480 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, 2 newspapers, tin can - recycled

1481 Kitchen detritus binned

1482 - 1483 Two bags of garden waste

Sleep tight 😴 I will catch up with cheerleading tomorrow.

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1483/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £381.70

dND

Hi all, just a quick fly-by but hoping to post this weekend.

I spotted this article this morning and thought it might help some.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/05/put-down-the-duster-decluttering-trends-causing-stress-say-experts

I think it all boils down to being yourself - I am now getting more things done because I've worked through all the online hints that haven't worked for me but have finally found routines that work for my brain and schedule.
It's going to be a long haul, but life is all about the journey not the destination,

Well done to all and keep celebrating those successes however small you might think them to be as long as they are all steps in the direction you really want.

Love to all, 💕

ruby_eskimo

That's a great article @dND - like you I've had to step away from the online tips and tricks and realising that while it looks like you can organise a whole house in a day, the reality is far from it 🤣  Personally I break things down into individual drawers, cupboards, even shelves to work through so I just focus on each little area and eventually a whole room will magically be organised 😁

vulpix

The vulnerable customer care does seem to be in name only in my experience, but when Mr V's previous wife died his bank bent over backwards to help him, but he had ID! hahaha.

 I’m having one of those days. 🤣 couldn’t sleep because Mr V was snoring. Eventually got in the spare bed. Opened the window which prompted Fomo to repeatedly shout Hello from the back yard! Finally woke up to an electricity cut. No brew. 😢 viewing at 10am. The EA tells me that the ugly house is being taken off the market. 

Electric back on, I am awaiting a visitor. 😎

I will read back now. 

Vx

Marpau

Vulpix can you not ask the other bank to do an account transfer? They would sort the pension and any regular bills.

suzeesu2000

The 3 stages of life:
Wanting stuff.
Accumulating stuff.
Getting rid of stuff.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks 

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

Thursday: it has rained overnight & this morning. Feels decidedly cooler & is now overcast - no working outside today 😉 I have my first cuppa & have settled down to the cheerleading 

Floss, what absolutely appalling behaviour 😔 

GrannyKate, ah yes - but 50% is way better than none 😅 & it does sound like when DS2 is more settled & you have moved the rest will go 😊 What an absolute travesty 😠 Makes me wonder exactly how much money banks are hanging onto 😔 Shame that ERNIE wasn’t kind to you this month ☹️ Some great decluttering 👏 & I hope you managed to pack a couple of boxes & deal with some frogs yesterday 🤞

Liverpool_Anne, how weird that it will take 2 weeks to get the quilt cleaned 🤔 perhaps it is being outsourced 😉 Excellent decluttering & tidying 👏 I always thought that parcel delivery firms were supposed to provide an exact address of where they leave a parcel or am I just being very naive 😂

Brie, with your experience perhaps you should hire your services out as an advisor to banks & financial institutions 😉 They do need to get back to treating their customers like people rather than thinking we are all financial geniuses & making us do their job for them 😡 

vulpix, I think that banks rely on people just letting it slide as it is way too stressful & time consuming for the individual 😔 Hope the viewing went well 🤞although it does beggar belief that someone would dig up the garden to park a camper van 🤔 There are some odd people about 😉

Well said QueenJess 👏 A pound to a penny it doesn’t affect rich people 😉

I broke off to write a shopping list as DH & DSis are heading off in the car. 

So lovely to see you regnbue 👋 I hope you are well & fighting fit after last years op 🙏 I love your list especially as it is S.M.A.R.T.  I also commend your choice of  the word “tiresome” about the problematic neighbour & I hope that the situation has been resolved 🤞You might have delayed posting your 2024 Aims/Goals but I see that you have been working very hard 👏 I noticed from your first ‘numbers’ post that you have 93/365 which merits your first Gold Star ⭐️ of 2024 👏 & your 2nd post (193/365) has upped the ante & leads to me awarding you your 2nd Gold Star ⭐️ Just wow 🤩 I am looking forward to following your progress 😊

You are very welcome oceanspirit 😊 Well done on tackling two such diverse frogs 👏 A medal each for you & OH 🏅🏅

TC77, not sure I have the vocabulary to comment 😔😡 It almost appears that banking institutions do not know the meaning of the word “vulnerable” 😢 Excellent decluttering & well done on selling a few items 👏 Don’t forget to update your numbers 😉😉

weenancy, that is way too hot 🥵 I do hope you are not doing too much & are managing to rest even if you cannot sleep 🙏 Keeping absolutely everything crossed that the car repairs are not too expensive 🤞 Also sending lots of positive vibes that Di’s eye operation goes well & that she will soon be home 🙏 

dND, a very interesting (if quite short) article 🤔 & I actually found your observations far more useful 😊 “I think it all boils down to being yourself - I am now getting more things done because I've worked through all the online hints that haven't worked for me but have finally found routines that work for my brain and schedule. It's going to be a long haul, but life is all about the journey not the destination,” Also a succinct & lovely bit of cheerleading “Well done to all and keep celebrating those successes however small you might think them to be as long as they are all steps in the direction you really want.” 😊

Great tips ruby_eskimo 👏 & I loved “……………magically be organised” 🤩 One of the many positives about this thread is the willingness of our Declutterati Family to share any & all hints/tips/experiences (whether they have worked or not for the individual) 🥹 

vulpix ha-ha indeed 😂 Sorry to hear about the power cut ☹️ Has there been any explanation given? Hope the ‘presumably rearranged’ viewing went well 🤞

suzeesu2000, that is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS 🤣 but oh so true 😆

All caught up & just in time as I am expecting DH & DSis back soon (they left at 13:00)  Wishing everyone a good day 🙏 Cwtches to all 🤗 P.S. it has suddenly got very, very dark 😦 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1483/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £381.70

Floss

To confirm that it is worth properly closing any bank accounts that are showing a zero balance....

Today I went into Nationwide as I've just switched to Barclays & had 3 savings accounts, 2 showing zero on my app and one with 1p. After asking nicely for my 1p back, I walked out with £24.04! 

weenancyinAmerica

Five more days of over 37C weather predicted for here. Then we will go down getting ready for fall. Usually the tree out front gets its yellow blossoms on the first day of fall, it's red seed pods in October, looses leaves in January, suddenlyis green again in March.  Coolest place in yard is under the tree. They had to cancel flights at the airports because the tarmac was too hot. 

Working on computer mostly instead of doing housework. Wish I could follow the cats example and just sleep on the floor where it is coolest - but I might not be able to get back up. 

Di's eye surgery went well. Now just G to get his done later this year. I wish they could move it up as he is in bad shape and can barely see. This morning G and I went to the bank, then grocery shopping. Back home to work on computer - have finished my school homework for the week. Went to doctor with Di (we were picked up in a van). Then home again to feed the cats and clean out the kitty litter box so the cats would speak to us again. Take G to Doctor (he will take bus home) tomorrow, then knitting class, the car repair place, meet couple of members of Friends group at the bank so we can set up Zelle payments for book sales. Just a matter of timing to get around. Home to get presents ready for Family Get-together on Sunday (2 birthdays being celebrated - 1 is 40, the other is 58).  It is to be a pizza party, bring your own drinks. Saturday will be going to Family History Center and then out for lunch.