2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Siebrie

Out:
single sock
broken microphone
nice shirt that's too tight for husband.

btw he found the envelope. He also sideways hit a lady on a zebra crossing, so that will be that admin mess to deal with (ambulance and police were involved, but lady was fine and car not even a scratch. Husband was looking at his gps and not paying proper attention to surroundings in snowy and dark weather).

Brambling

Ouch Daisy, you're still too young to be having a fall 🤔  take it easy I hope you won't be too sore tomorrow 

glad no one was hurt Siebrie 

retiredinfrance

Another Butterscotch fan. I think it was Instant Whip in my day before being renamed Angel Delight. My DM was also a fan of a sliced half banana added to every possible dessert and cereal. My DSis and I grew up on half this and half that, probably DM’s way of adding variety and vitamins. 

Frogletina

Instant Whip was much nicer than Angel Delight, but it was discontinued. My favourite was butterscotch too.

I did buy some Moirs butterscotch instant pudding from Amazon a couple of years ago which I felt was more like the original Instant Whip

Fizz2015

@daisy_1571 hope you are not too battered and bruised. I would declutter chocolate too or a very strong drink. 
@Siebrie glad everyone is ok and a reminder to us all at how easy it is to get distracted when driving. 
Well I survived the week at work, but it was a hard slog. A positive is that we met with school this week and they were supportive. Have started DD in an appropriate group and we are to keep log of things at home and in regular contact with school. I have done some decluttering but will update totals tomorrow, right now its bedtime once I've fed the Guinea Pigs and wrapped them up. They are outside and currently got duvet and blanket over the hutch for added insulation. 

betasam

Hi, it's so encouraging to read about all your successes.

I have made a start on 2024's decluttering. I finally made it into the airing cupboard last night. There wasn't as much to go as I thought there might be, although there were 4 hot water bottles and 2 wheat bags! We took some spare bedding to the local food bank today as I know they make up textile packs to give out, and I noticed a bleach mark on the bath towel I used this morning so that will be relegated to the dogs.

I have also sorted the contents of three storage boxes from the corner of the landing. I have been wanting to get rid of those boxes for a while but the largest one contains hats and I couldn't work out where else they could go that was wide enough. Both large hats are now in the charity shop pile as I don't think they suit me now, if they ever did. If I can manage to clear three cubby holes in the unit in the spare room I should be able to rehome the contents of those boxes now and get rid of the stacking boxes on the landing (they are leather-effect and bright red and they don't fit in with the house at all). One of the items I found was a small box containing rings I inherited from my great aunt. These hold no memories for me, and I would rather keep the tablecloths she embroidered, so I have decided to sell them and donate the proceeds to the air ambulance charity she supported.

The drawers in the bathroom have been decluttered and reorganised and an ancient bath bomb that has been sitting waiting to be used for at least 2 years disposed of.

I moved onto quick wins in the hall. The key cupboard has been sorted, some keys for unknown locks and random keyrings have gone out. We have earmarked one small picture for rehoming but have agreed we like the rest. 

The shoebenches in the porch and my bedroom have also been looked at. Why do I keep worn out shoes for walking the dogs then complain I have wet feet? I have bought some boots specifically for walking the dogs and thrown away several pairs of worn out shoes. A couple of uncomfortable pairs are in the charity shop pile. I shall buy some clear shoeboxes for out-of-season shoes so they can be stashed in the bottom of the wardrobe and plan to use the shoebench in the porch for those shoes most likely to be worn and the shoebench in my bedroom for storing other small things (it is a lovely pine bench with cubby holes and I like it too much to get rid of it yet).

I have also gone through my wardrobe and removed several items that are too large. Current weight loss 4.5 stone. I am short of smart tops so shall have to rummage through the 'grown out of' clothes to see whether any now fit. Anything I cannot fit into by the end of the year that is in storage can go. 

We have decided to swap the bedrooms round and there is still so much stuff in the craft room/ office that a storage unit looked like the best way to manage this whilst the room was decorated. I  think that is a waste of money so have agreed to see how much I can release or use in the next 8 months to make it easier to move things about.

I seem to have been quite productive since I started last night!

short_bird

Have made a start on the photo box: 50 gone to the shredder so that's another 5 to add to the Old Stuff total making 8. Old stuff is as the name suggests: things that have been around for a while and need redistributing or chucking. I've shared some of the photos online and they've been warmly received.
261-270: 9GB data and 50 emails deleted.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

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 

Today I was finally inspired to empty, clean & rearrange a couple of my kitchen cupboards 😉 I started with the three shelves in the double cupboard previously known as the Brexit cupboard 😅 I can now see everything so do not need an inventory 👏 Inspired by Liverpool_Anne, I then moved on to the other double cupboard, my coffee & tea cupboard with all its cups etc. unfortunately I didn’t have as much to oust 😉 - 11 sachets of hot chocolate (3 undated & oldest 2015) binned, 3 packets of ground coffee (oldest 2008) to be emptied into compost bins & 1 jar of ovaltine emptied & jar washed & recycled (the wheelie bin still hasn’t been emptied 😔) I should have tackled another cupboard but instead I watched the first 2 episodes of the new series of Fathers Brown on iPlayer 😉 For dinner I made one of the Hello Fresh recipes - Sausage Linguine which was delicious 🤤 Wudupa.

110 - 112 Kitchen recycling, plastic jar, drinks cans - recycled 

113 - 124 Kitchen detritus, 11 sachets of hot chocolate - binned

125 - 127 Three bags of coffee emptied into compost bins & packaging binned.

Wednesday2000, well at least the bedroom was aired 😉 Excellent work in the bathroom 👏 A website for cheaters - I’ve heard it all now 😮

Liverpool_Anne, sorry to hear that you had such a bad night 😔 I hope you are now fully recovered & have a better night tonight 🤞

TheDoolallyDilly, well done on fitting in the housework today 👏 Hopefully this means that your Saturday can be spent doing nicer things 🙂

daisy_1571, intrigued by your wooden spoon 🤔 so I am hoping for a picture 🙏

foxandflowers, what a delicious sounding breakfast 😋 

vulpix, thanks for sharing your experience regarding the teaching profession 👏 It seems such a shame that bureaucracy has almost taken the place of actual  teaching & that good teachers are being forced out just to protect their sanity & health 😔 What a lovely Step son - medal🏅 on its way for him - obviously not as good as you feeding him 😉

BudgetingBelinda, “Cleared out my wallet (looking for a tip for the takeaway I’m trying not to order)” - that did make me smile 😀 Did you manage to resist 😉 Good luck with wardrobe decluttering tomorrow 🍀 

Brie, you are a card 😂

Excellent decluttering GrannyKate especially managing a Tip run 👏

Liverpool_Anne, very pleased to hear that you spent most of the day in bed 😊 although I see you still managed to do some decluttering 👏 Sorry to hear about OH’s back 😔 Fingers crossed that you both recover so that you can enjoy your evening out 🤞Sounds like you loved teaching 😊 but it does come to something when you have to avoid promotions because you would have spent too much time away from the classroom 😔

Dizzycap, you really did have a very successful day of decluttering & cleaning 🤩👏 Good luck with Saturday’s decorating 🍀 & well done on starting the shed declutter 😉 Hopefully you will finish the tin of paint so that it doesn’t have to be returned to the shed 🤞

QueenJess, I am not surprised you are tired 😪 You have had an exhausting week & now you are also doing handover sessions at work 😱 I am pleased to hear that you took a bit of time for yourself today 😊 & please, please do try to take some time for yourself over the weekend 🙏 

Brambling, I’m with daisy - gorgeous photo of a gorgeous cat 😊

oh daisy_1571 😫 😔 That is what we call a ‘Random Gravity Test’ & sadly gravity won 😔 As to saying “I fell down” when you were 6 y.o. - that was usually because you were rushing 😉 Definitely a rather spectacular fall & sounds like you have been very lucky not to break any bones 😰 Lots of very gentle cwtches coming your way & a place has been reserved in the TLC Carriage + the sauna & spa pool are both available 😊 

Siebrie, good news that DH found the envelope 😮‍💨 Glad no one was hurt.

retiredinfrance, did you ever get sick of bananas 😉

Frogletina, now you mention it I am sure we had Instant Whip in our house - very creamy 😋 I have just done a bit of research & it seems that when Kraft bought out Bird’s they discontinued it as they had Angel Delight 😔

Fizz2015, good news that the school are being so supportive to your DD 😊

betasam, 🤩 that is some mega decluttering 👏 Just wondering if you found time to sleep 😉 A bit of an understatement “I seem to have been quite productive” 😉 You have done so well that I am awarding you a medal🏅 I would also like to congratulate you on your weight loss 🥳

Excellent photo & digital decluttering short_bird 👏

Cwtches to all but especially our ill, battered & bruised declutterati 🤗 🤗 

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 127/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

weenancyinAmerica

@daisy_1571 - Oh I hope you are feeling better today. Falling puts pains everywhere. I used to think they added little pain buddies each day for a long time. Hope you are taking it easy until you recover.

London_1

@daisy 1571 Oh dear I feel your pain honey, I am at the age where falling down seems to be at least if not a regular occurrence, it's a distinct possibility at times.
 Unfortunately, for those old enough to remember the advert, I'm not a 'Weeble, and I don't bounce backup'
 Last year rushing (my own fault ) I tripped and cracked three ribs, nose diving into the coffee table, and at the time more concerned that I wouldn't send my TV flying !

Got severely spoken to by both of my daughters on the fact that I am no longer 25 and should slow down a bit as they are 56 & 54 I do realise that
What is it with daughters and elderly Mums, we seem to have had a role reversal along the line and once past 75 (in my case well past ) I'm then treated like a five year old But I suppose its only because they worry bless them.

Well today I'm into stage two of decluttering. As I had decluttered  the smaller bedroom, (my ex-computer/junk room so the nice young chap Sam, the decorator can start this Thursday all the stuff that hadn't gone to either the tip or the charity shop was stashed in the other spare bedroom or my own bedroom.

 Today I will go through it and see what can go. I really must sort all the family history stuff out and box it up for my eldest daughter as she wants all the notes and research etc done by myself sine 1976. I have done both my parents trees and their Dads parents trees so four family trees altogether. its an awful lot of stuff but she insists that she would really like it. I shall box it up in a big plastic box and it can go to her house., along with her wedding dress which for some reason is stashed in the top shelf of my wardrobe. I know she knows its there and I've told her to decide what she wants to do with it. As she got married in 1988 and I've had it ever since ? why I don't know as the live in a large 4 bedroomed house and after 35 years I don't think she's ever likely to wear it again (her and her OH are still supremely happy still, and she's a somewhat different size to the size 8 she was back then, time and two children have changed her shape somewhat .So that too can go  

An awful lot of the stuff I know can realistically go to the CS but I shall keep some things ,mainly my favourite books and the rest can be bagged up.
I won't be able to take it today as my youngest DD has borrowed my car to use to go to work as her OH will be taking their three dogs out this afternoon as the EA has now got two viewings for their house fingers crossed

Once my decorating is finished, I've been in touch with the carpet cleaning company and they have a provisional booking for the room and my hall and staircase to be shampooed.
I figured rather than replace the carpet in the room, it still in good condition, just wants a clean and spruce up then they can come and do it .

The hall and stairs I will get done at the same time just to freshen them up a bit. I've never actually walked on the stair carpet as I have a stair lift , so it should come up nicely its a pale cream colour just needs brightening up a bit.

The stairs and room I've had the quote of £70 for the two.  I think its a darned good price, and a lot cheaper than replacing the carpet in the room The stair carpet once shampooed will look virtually new as its not had any wear at all. Once that's done, then the house can go on the market, and the EA said it should fly because of the position and the condition it's in.

 Once we are both under offer it will be all systems go for getting our next house together on the IoW. Hopefully we should be moved by mid summer or early autumn. Hence all the decluttering as we will be two houses going into one, she's already done her decorating and decluttering  mine was next thing on the list  

I can see the difference already in the amount of stuff that gone , for a little house it was surprising how much had accumulated over the past 28 plus years. Handy that my grandsons ,well three of them, have moved out and I have been able to 'donate' stuff to them.
A lot of kitchen stuff has gone as we won't need two of everything. I'm eating down my freezer, so it can be defrosted and I'm leaving the white goods, F/F and washing machine if the new owners want them.

This year will be a new start in a new house, and we all like the idea of moving back to the IoW My late husband came from there, and we have spent a lot of time there both winter and summer so we know what it's like.

Well time to get a wriggle on, and sort the rest of the stuff out and get it bagged up and into the conservatory, to be either binned or donated on Monday

Hope you all have a good day and keep warm and out of the wind and rain thats due over the weekend

Cheers chums 

  JackieO xx