2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

diminua

TC77 said:

@diminua are you counting things in? I think that's quite brave but a really good idea

I am - the idea was to get 52 more things out in a year than I brought in, or at least to make me think more before purchasing things (because something else has to go).  It has done that, but if I'm honest I've found it a bit more effort than I thought it would be.  

weenancyinAmerica

@oceanspirit - I agree with you - much more important to work on family history. I sold my iron and gave away my ironing board (to someone who had been ironing on the floor with a crawling baby in the house). I let dishes dry themselves and I listen to TV because my roommate is watching something on it. I can't see it though. She doesn't cook at all but loves cooking shows. I did take one of those on line quizzes to see if you can cook (I usually don't) and it said I was a Master Chef - just from things I heard on the programs she watches. But I love working on family history - have been since 1962.

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

Friday was another bright dry day 🙂

The last two small balls of yarn + some short pieces of lo yarn have been turned into 28 plaited bookmarks 😉 I only have whole balls of yarn now 🙂 The soup that DH made yesterday is delicious 😋 DH finally made an appearance about 14:30 having been up all night watching the Japan MotoGP practice sessions & not going to bed until 08:30 😱 I spent the afternoon watching TV & doing puzzles. DH zizzed vegetable scraps & peelings for worm food. Dinner was fish in breadcrumbs, oven chips & peas. Wudupa. Whilst I remember did anyone watch GBBO & Extra Slice this week? DSis & I thought all the bakers were far more skilled during cake week 😉 

1721 - 1722 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

1723 - 1724 Kitchen & lr detritus- binned

Excellent work upstairs vulpix 👏 As to the tablecloths, such beautiful fabric could be used to make other items 🤔 I must admit that your home is so well appointed that I thought it was quite large 😊 Thank you for the picture of the spoon & the spitfire 👏 Both your grandad & your uncle were very skilled - you have obviously inherited their flair for crafting 🤩 

Lovely to see you nannywindow 👋 I hope your Dad is recovering well 🙏 Excellent decluttering by both you & your DH 👏 Any idea what your DH is going to make when he gets his 3D printer? I am rather looking forward to seeing his makes - ultimate crafting 😊 When I read “…… so I'll be back like Arnie” I used ‘the voice’ 😂

Liverpool_Anne - I would consider the troubles with the ironing board as a sign from the cleaning fairy that I should give the board away and give up ironing.” 🤣 Sorry to hear that it is still so hot 🥵 but well done to you for getting so much done 👏 That is a ‘big’ cat 😥 no wonder you can’t move him once he is settled 😥 I will keep everything crossed that D falls asleep 🤞so that you can have a restful evening. 

Nice to see you Happy_Kitties 👋 You might have been thrown some curveballs but you have done a tremendous amount of decluttering 👏🥳 All your previous gold stars were for neutral items but I now see that your decluttering numbers are moving ahead at a fast pace 🤩 So TWO Gold Stars ⭐️⭐️ for passing 125/500 & 250/500 👏

TC77, it will be lovely to see such a long-standing friend 😊 I have absolutely no doubt that you will succeed in reaching your 250 target 😊 I have faith & now you just have to have faith in yourself 🙏 Good luck 🍀

Excellent work Floss 👏 What a great idea from the band 🥳 I hope you enjoyed the gig 😊

Good luck with the fleabay sales TC77 🍀 Hopefully the quotes to hire a van will be reasonable 🤞If I remember correctly there is a dining room table & chairs at your dad’s house so that will be one headache got rid of for your friends visit 🙏

vulpix, you have been so busy recently & with all the stress of the house selling & house hunting + helping DD1 to move back to the mainland, I am not at all surprised that you don’t know whether you are coming or going 😉 And breathe 🧘‍♀️Excellent work tackling your craft stash 👏 The craft club will be so grateful ☺️ Did you use the cider as toilet cleaner 😅 Good luck with your UFOs 🍀

ruby_eskimo, It is lovely to see you 👋 & now I am blushing ☺️ How exciting that Phase 1 of your building works has started 🤩 Good luck 🍀 Fingers crossed that there are no more ‘surprises’ & that the work progresses smoothly & quickly 🤞I would definitely count the wallpaper 😉

I have caught up a little but have just noticed the time so am off to bed. I will try harder tomorrow 🙂 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: IS A 💎🏅 🌟 🥰 🏅🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅 💐 💐 🤗 ⭐️ ⭐️

Decluttering Target 2024: 1724/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £471.70

vulpix

 Mrs SD, I didn't know that you could use cider as toilet cleaner, too late now. On the subject of cleaning I have told my lovely cleaner to take whatever cleaning materials she wants from my stash. I have no clue what she uses as she brings her own with her. Also I could give DD1 loads of cleaning stuff back that she brought here as she didn't want to take it to Shetland with her. There are specialist cleaning things from MIL's that I didn't even know existed. I have always been a damp cloth duster and bleach frenzy kind of girl.

 Our house is tiny, one step away from a narrow boat size! All the recent house viewers said it was too small.Built in 1865 for mill workers. I bet large families have been brought up here. People in the past just didn't have the amount of " stuff" we have these days. I am constantly looking for items to get rid of, It is better for my mental health to have an uncluttered environment. Hard as I like " stuff" as much as the next woman!

 I used to count items out and items in too but gave it up as decluttering is ingrained now. I still like to mention here that things are leaving the premises at a fairly regular rate and more definitely leaves than comes in. I try to buy second hand where I can to do my little bit to help the environment. That said I have recognised that I have a problem with excessive bra buying. How many bras is enough? I am forever on the hunt for that most elusive thing, a comfy,pretty bra. I buy one, it fits well, I go back buy it in another colour and it doesn't fit! But I only find out after I have worn it.

 4 cushions made, tote bags next. All cut out so shouldn't take long. 

 Vx

2Scratters

@TC77 I haven't counted any numbers in my journey. I am extricating stuff that I find along the way in any random place I go. These are items, (not many are of any significant size either) that have not sparked any reason for them to be held onto any longer. I am still putting finds with like with like. I am slowly starting to "feel" the space appearing in  random places and it is allowing me to breathe. Small joys when it happens, it lifts me up. 
This past week has provided some recycled financial rewards of putting in some effort. These were large items stored in the back garden which has now tidied it up some what.
Need to get the last of the rhubarb and the stray pears that have filled up quite nicely. Then do a quick cutback before the frost and the garden is somewhat winter ready. 
I took 4 chainsaw chains to be re-sharpened to a firm we have used for 30 years and got informed yesterday I had handed over a fake £20 note - I was mortified This had clearly been passed through the banking system, who gets a £20 note as change? not like I have a purse full of 50s.They said it was a good one though. I did spot too, that it had 7 digits after the 2 letters and numbers bit. They forwarded a photograph of it with a genuine one to show the differences. Everyday is a school day Fortunately it came from a little purse that is attached to my car keys as a just in case. Imagine having used it for fuel or other emergency I could have been arrested 


I'd better get a wobble on whilst I still have my freedom

Have a good weekend all what ever you are doing


2 Scratters xx

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, rambling post alert, feel free to scrole by
The debate about ironing is interesting. I agree that some things are more important but I put ironing in the same category as washing up and cleaning the bathroom, not particularly enjoyable but needs to be done. I don't iron underwear or sheets or tea towels etc as I know some people do . I suppose to some extent it depends how clothes are dried, what fabric they are made from and how they are stored. As I said OH wears smart cotton shirt things for work, a driving instructor, they would look terrible if they weren't ironed. I don't do them though . Sometimes I can get away with not ironing a t shirt but once it's ironed it's much better. @daisy_1571 no the t shirts don't get stretched , I just lay them flat on the board and press one side then flip them over and repeat . I usually get my t shirts from mands and to be honest they never lose shape like some others and last ages but you have to check the fabric content and just get the 100% cotton, anything else just doesn't last as well . I used to wear them for work and to be honest if they weren't ironed they were creased to bootle as we say here and I looked like a bag lady , not a good role model for young people . Maybe I am just particularly bad at folding things so they don't get creased . I think ironing also used to serve a purpose of making sure things were dried and to kill off any lurking bug eggs etc . OH's Dmum used to iron the sheets on the bed in the winter to warm it up before the kids went to bed as she didn't trust hot water bottles
I went for several years without a tv, after I got divorced and the tv went with the ex , during which time I was harassed by the licence chasing police who would regularly knock on my door to check and I would invite them in and show them the end of the airial lead and the non existent tv . During that time I listened to the radio and played music quite a lot . I do watch tv now though, the footy and some things like gardeners world and documentaries, question time and films etc. OH watches all sorts of carp that I ignore

@Vulpix if your dd has the quilt leave it with her, a family heirloom in the making . Yes it was my friend who had a quilting room, she had the loft converted, it was a lovely room. She is, unfortunately, no longer with us but another friend quilts and I keep being drawn to it so it's on the list of things to try when I have the space . Cheap cola is good for cleaning the toilet if you have limescale problems though I have never heard of using cider . I think your house is perfectly formed and you are right there were probably lots of large families brought up in there. Many of my friends come from large families brought up in normal size houses and I think you are right, they just didn't have as much stuff. I was talking to OH about this only today as OH"s dniece is pregnant again and I was wondering how they would cope in their new build 3 bed as 1 bedroom is an office as she WFH and the other bedrooms have no storage space, typical new build. I forsee bunk beds in the future .

Well yesterday wasn't very productive after a bad night's sleep and through the day I developed flu like symptoms after my jab which continued through the night last night. I think I am through the worst now which is just as well as we are out tonight with a friend for tea. OH is also under the weather with a kidney infection and dosed up with antibiotics so we will be a fun pair tonight . I got 1 LDFPA, another 2 loads were left on the line as I cba to bring them in and sort out the maiden . They will dry today . I have booked an appointment with the practice nurse for my meds review and got an appointment with the chiropodist . The kitchen recycling was emptied, apart from that I spent the day feeling sorry for myself huddled under a blankie on the couch .
Off to make another cuppa , hugs to anybody who would like one

1501 LDFPA
1502 nurse appointment booked
1503 chiropodist appointment booked
1504 kitchen recycling
Take care everyone
1504/2024

daisy_1571

A family near us had 2 bedroom flat.  Mum, dad and latest baby slept in livingroom.   Oldest daughter slept in the tiny bedroom.  5 boys slept in biggest bedroom.   Then oldest daughter moved her boyfriend in and they had a baby.  We had same size flat as them and same number of pets.  Two of us.  Our house was too small.  So we moved to a bigger house.  Which became too small.  So we moved to same size house but put an extension on.  Once it was too small we have moved to a huge house.  For 2 of us.  And occasionally I think I'd like a bit more space.  😆 🤣 😂 

Definitely we have more stuff than earlier generations had and mr d and I have more stuff than plenty of this generation have.  Mr ds mum was brought up in the same size flat as our first one (in the same street actually).  Three girls and mum and dad.  Lived there all their lives and had plenty space. 

daisy_1571

thanks la. I understand how you do it now.  I'm sure I'd still pull it out of shape but I see what you mean.  (I'm currently wearing todays tshirt but I cant see that it has any wrinkles on it at all.  I wonder if you would look at it and agree or if you'd think I looked like I'd gone through a hedge backwards 🤔 😉 😜 😏 😅   love all these discussions on here)

Dxxxxxx

TC77

@daisy_1571 I'm in a big house and went into the loft and extension and now mainly me.... rooms of doom. Renewing my home insurance made me think that as I near retirement ( hopefully) then many benefits of a smaller ( notice not small) home would be good. I don't use half my house except for storage  except when friends come to stay.
On the ironing front, I iron may - September and love freshly ironed shirts and linen, but crinkled sheets are fine. 
Books is a weakness, 3 picked up in cs yesterday. Reading one of the journey to brum.

D123456789

I lost my post!

The essence of it was that LO has found almost 40 books she has outgrown -they will go to school.

my colleagues little girl would like LO dolls house so that’s 1 large item to go probably next week when I see him. 

It’s slow progress, but it’s progress …..