2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, well the last few days have been a mixture of visiting friends and family, cleaning and sorting, putting together a mini trampoline which was a lot more difficult than the flimsy instructions would have you believe   but worth it when the great nephew unwrapped it , then relaxing at home and going to the footy . Lots of lovely food has been eaten, lots of left overs still in the fridge . We have been very lucky with gifts this year. OH and I had agreed that this year we would not buy each other presents as we both have everything we need but instead would put some money in a pot for treats to use when we see something throughout the year and we have added to that pot gifts in the form of theatre vouchers and a voucher for lunch / afternoon tea at a very posh hotel in town . Also many of the gifts we received were edible so I only had to squeeze them into the fridge / food cupboard on a temporary basis, they will soon be gone apart from the sprout ketchup which I have yet to try and might be a taste experience too far much as I love sprouts Today is getting back to normal time .I have  kept a list of things decluttered and I am hopeful that with 4 days left this year I will make my target . 

I am afraid I have only skim read the posts from the last few days.

@Wednesday2000 I hope your cold has improved enough for you to enjoy your Christmas

@basketcase oh a new fuel tank just what you don't need right before Christmas

@Vulpix what a magical photo , definitely one to print out and frame . Police navidad 😂😂😂. Mr V finally retiring , hope you enjoy NYE . I think you can do yoga in sequins . I also have a bag of 8p veg that will be turned into soup and stew, possibly today

@London_1 hope you are on the road to full recovery, hugs,

@Mrs SD beautiful baby blanket . The one I am working on now is for ln"s expected great grand daughter, 7 weeks to go . I have finished the white one for the friend's grandson we are all waiting impatiently for

@oceanspirit it is a well known fact that books breed . 

@Muddy_Walker my Mum taught me to knit and crochet when I was quite young and I find them both as easy to do as the other but I don't do anything too complicated . I can't, however, use a crochet pattern, Mum never used one so I never learned . There are charts that I am starting to get to grips with which you might find easier. There are lots of videos on YouTube for lots of different stitches etc and I use them. I think the main advice I would give is to give it a go and keep practising . Maybe if you know someone locally who can help you or there may be a knit and natter group locally who might have someone who crochets that could help you, good luck

@GrannyKate good luck with the new car and the electrician

@charlies_tribe hugs

Right now on to my 3rd cuppa but I need to get moving . Despite having a fridge full of food we need milk so will have to go to the sm. I have a small list of things to do so hugs to anybody who would like one

So over the last 4 days
1955 - 1981 gifts delivered
1982 - 1991 gift bags
1992 - 1995 cardboard boxes recycled
1996 - 1998 LDFPA
1999 - 2001 emails permanently deleted
2002 bedroom recycling
2003 kitchen bin
2004 kitchen recycling
2005 bathroom bin
2006 bedroom bin
2007 lr bin
2008 bag of detritus from lr binned
2009 cooker properly cleaned
2010 food from freezer gifted
2011 wrapping paper and paraphernalia put away where it lives, still enough left for about 10 years
2012 tube of moisturiser finally uu, have more to use so no need to buy more
2013 tube of hand cream finally uu, have more to use so  no need to buy more
Take care everyone
2013/2024

vulpix

 Hi, reading posts has reminded me that baby V smashed a couple of glass baubles which were tricky to clear up so 2 less to store and DD1 had some sprout hot sauce for Christmas, I like it, think you do have to be a sprout fan first though!

 I have finally caught up with posts. I am so sorry to hear about pet troubles. They really are part of the family, if they are lucky enough to have a good family. They give so much and leave an impression on the heart when they have to go.

 Charlies tribe, I have said it before and I will say it again, your bonus daughter could not have a better family. You and your family are not only amazing, but de cluttering too!

 Next door have a kitten/ young cat. Fomo is in lurve, he is quite giddy about it. Fluffy is patrolling the grounds in military fashion. Much wailing ensues if they meet. She sits on the wall opposite the house staring and waiting for a glimpse!

 Off to get yet another clothes airer, this one has 100% good reviews. I will see how long it is before I break it due to over loading. Luckily half price atm. I must kill 2 airers a year.

 I would much rather go out than finish tidying the house. Mr V at work again tomorrow so I can do it then. I want to re arrange the kitchen cupboards to put the stuff we hardly use out of the way. Christmas mugs, trifle bowls etc. I never properly unpacked at this house. I never expected to be here very long and having a new kitchen etc. It's about time I gave some thought to where everything lives. I am resigned to staying here for the foreseeable. I have though recently begun to fantasise about living in a shop at the end of my road. I have already turned the shop room into the kitchen. It isn't for sale btw!

 Vx

Brie

vulpix said:

 Next door have a kitten/ young cat. Fomo is in lurve, he is quite giddy about it. Fluffy is patrolling the grounds in military fashion. Much wailing ensues if they meet. She sits on the wall opposite the house staring and waiting for a glimpse!

 Off to get yet another clothes airer, this one has 100% good reviews. I will see how long it is before I break it due to over loading. Luckily half price atm. I must kill 2 airers a year.

 Vx

We get glimpses of one of the orange mogs that rule the neighbourhood.  Not sure how many there are as I don't think any one is allowed out unless it has possession of the collective brain cell.  Fairly certain there are at least 5 going by the various amounts off fluff or white patches.  Nice given that we decluttered out last cat about 3 years back now.  Sadly still missed.

But as for killing airers I'm not sure how that is possible.  When we moved into our first house in 2002 my MiL treated herself to a new airer and gave us her old one.  That lasted just fine until we 3 moved in together in 2018 and we retired the old one and took on MiL's new one (still with a Lakeland tag on it after 16 years).  Still haven't managed to break it yet despite the percentage of it that's plastic.  Much lighter than the ancient one that I suspect MiL had purchased when my OH was still a puppy.   Solid metal so heavier which I think is why she needed to get something lighter and easier to shift about.  

BlueJ94

helloooo long time! 

I have so so much stuff to sort out, I started listening to an audiobook on Spotify called "the year of less: how I stopped shopping, gave away my belongings and discovered life is worth more than anything you can buy in store" and its really motivating me to just throw, donate or sell a lot of things! I plan on starting to organise my stuff when I get home from work. I will post updates

TC77

I'll look out the year of less, great @BlueJ94 that this is inspiring you.

Not been sleeping well which I think is all the frogs and not getting on with dd2 who seems to think I'm the devil qnd  a 2 min chat in 48 hours is too much. On train to my dad's house , having taken back a couple of things this morning I am determined to just give things to cs, certainly anything wobbled will be donated.
Give thought to areas I'd like to tackle in 2025.
Jewellery
Kitchen/ crockery
Photographs 
Digital
Books
Stationeŕy/ papers ( à big area)
Craft stuff
Clothes/ shoes
Sentimental/ family , from kids and parents 
Finances 
Will declare my target 2025 excluding frogs.

charlies_tribe

Good afternoon. I'm still sat on the sofa in my pjs, enjoying the quiet. I did venture into the conservatory to clear the christmas bits from the table, got distracted and sat back on the sofa.

Thank you all so much for your kind words. I remember a long time ago when we lost our shepherd saying I'd never do it again as its too painful and here we are with 3 elderly Labs and I know well probably do it all over again at some point. 

Just to say we'll done to any of you that can knit or crochet, I can't even sew, I have to ask my DMIL.

I've tried to add as much to the list as I can remember, I know there was more but if I don't write it down straight away, I completely forget. Sorry, it'll probably make it a huge post.

Broken Fan
Dolls pushchair
Driving test disc
6x washer balls
3x washer bags
Shower puff
Bag
2x boxes
265 odd socks
3 odd gloves
2 old belts
Shoe box
1 wash basket with no handles left
3x boxes
Metal money tin
Broken Razor
2x cables
Halloween bucket
Pile of sweets stuck inside Halloween bucket
4x boxes for game controllers etc From under boys bed
Large box from conservatory
2x tights
Pillowcase
Tea towel
2x dusters
Teddy bear
5x small toy pieces
2x lego box
Phone box
Earphone box
Greetings cards
Handful of Plastic
Carrier bag
Broken hairbrush
3x halloween costumes to bin- past saving
1x bar mat!?!-where on earth from- To recycling Bag
10 halloween costumes to nieces
2x Xmas hats- binned
2x dressup masks- binned
Teddy binned
Ripped Leggings binned
30+ Dress up costumes (3 bin bags) to nieces
5x period pants- only 1 pair used but didnt think anyone would want them- binned
Pencil case                            
37 items charity bag
Lava lamp
9 holey socks
Science model from at least 6-8 years ago
Stereo-free site
Nest of tables-free site
Physical 2642/4048- going for double

I think 2025 will be time to attack the sheds and the loft as we can't fit anything else in them.

QueenJess

Just a quick check in as I failed to come before xmas to declare some digital decluttering done whilst in front of the TV.  Nothing else decluttered post xmas, although I've been busy trying to reduce the amount recorded on the box and eat our way through the mountains of food!  I've sorted through the wrapping paper now and have saved what I can.  The rest of the scraps I will use to make gift tags and some xmas cards.

Digital:
30 - photos deleted
10 - notes deleted
117 - wish list items deleted
6 - bookmarks deleted
10 - downloaded documents deleted
2 - text conversations deleted
1 - apps deleted

New total = 17,864

Floss

@vulpix when I get back from my hols late Jan, we will have to plan another catch-up. And have you thought about fitting a sheila maid for your laundry, rather than regularly killing airers?

basketcase

@charlies_tribe
Wow!  That's quite a list.  Congratulations
@TC77
I hope you manage to get some proper sleep - and, especially, that things improve with your daughter.  Have a hug from me🫂
@vulpix
Good luck with the new airer.  I've often wondered about getting a Sheila Maid myself.  But, like you, I'd tend to over load it and then I'd have a broken ceiling, as well as a dead airer!🤣

I don't know if there's going to be a 2025 thread, but I've set myself a few vague goals for next year.

Whether or not there is MANY THANKS @Mrs_Salad_Dodger for all the hard work you've put in this year.  Also for all the stars, medals and general cheerleading.  You're a ✨ and deserve a🥇 and a💐

vulpix

Hi, I had to look up a Sheila maid. I had one years ago but couldn't find anyone to put it up for me, but I loved using them in various children's homes I worked at. I have thought about getting one at this house and getting my step son to fit it over the stairs. I think I just put too much weight on the floor maidens, obviously my smalls should be renamed bigs. The one I have bought today is Good housekeeping recommended and half price at Argos atm. It seems very sturdy. I will test it out tomorrow as I have just put the Christmas throws in to wash before I came to bed.

 Always up for a meet up Floss.

 So, returned the clothes to Sains and bought 2 hand towels , a body wash and sock gift set and a incense sticks and holder all in the sale for various gifts. Oh, treated myself to £1 hand cream too.

 Christmas is packed away and the sitting room is tidy. The kitchen is worse than ever but will be sorted tomorrow. Once the kitchen is re arranged I want to empty and clean the freezer and fridge and clean the oven. I will then start on the bedrooms and sitting room and go through everything to get rid of stuff we don't need. I have already earmarked things to go. I have a load of papers and photos my Mum has given me. I just shoved them in a drawer but I think I need to actually look at them now. My best charity shop is closed until next year, I have got bags in the shed already, waiting.

 Blue J 94, looking forward to hearing all about your decluttering.

 TC, I know what you mean about daughters. We have never actually fallen out but when DD1 was younger she could be prickly, she is a delight now as an old lady of almost 32. DD2 is 23 and is sometimes ok, sometimes prickly. I just carry on regardless and hope she will be ok when she is older. I am sure that will be the case for you.xxx

 I did a screen shot of this years goals. I will have a look and see how I did. I think for me my goals next year will be more about frogs. I can't say I have de cluttering to do now, more maintenance and bring less in.

 Vx