2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

florianatwobob

Woohoo, shower gel used up (it was a HUGE bottle from TKMaxx-imus which has lasted well over 6 months and probably far longer). This means I can start on the Christmas smellies stockpile! 

If anyone is looking at reducing costs/the tyranny of buying shampoo or shower gel I recommend a visit to TKMaxx-imus  huge bottles and excellent value. 

Floss

I love mooching in TK Maxx... which reminds me, I have a £10 gift card....

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, sorry I didn't post last night but I got home from our night out and just fell asleep. I continued in the tlc carriage yesterday and did feel a bit better by going out time and OH's back was a bit better as well. We had a lovely time with a friend for her birthday, nice meal, we had a Greek messe so I was able to have a little bit of what I really like and didn't feel overfaced by a big plate of food after not eating much for a couple of days but even so I decided against a pudding. When we got home I found ln's bus pass in the road so I popped it through her letter box as I thought she might need it to go to church this morning . I threw out a tin of peppermint tea bags yesterday, I thought they were ok but when I went to make a cup yesterday I decided they weren't so binned. I have got another packet that were foil wrapped and were ok. I am making a concerted effort to use up some of the not Yorkshire stuff in that cupboard Also out birthday gift, wrapping paper and gift bag and card from stash plus a bottle of booze from stash. OH gets given them from pupils and we always have a stock that we very rarely use and if we kept them all they would be a serious fire risk

@London_1 I grew up in Gravesend which is not so far from you

@Dfw38 getting a company in is why cookery is so expensive. These type of things can enhance education and we did use them sometimes, the big blow up space bubble, mentioned by Vulpix, was one I used to get in every couple of years and we also got music people in but these were paid for by the school. Cookery is a life skill that can be taught by staff but I suspect they are being used to cover groups to allow staff to have planning time. I know of 1 academy chain that employs teachers to work 8 -1 teaching and then after the lunch break uses people such as sports coaches, music people,( not qualified teachers), etc to work 2-4 but these sessions are charged for. There are a lot of things going on in schools that parents are not necessarily aware of and finances can be difficult to get to the bottom of, especially in some academy trusts. I will get off my soap box now. As for someone calling you tight well they obviously have no idea of the situation many people have to deal with and you should ignore them. You are doing a great job with your family in an increasingly difficult economic climate, hugs

Right off for another cuppa and a think about what I will do today, hugs to anybody who would like one

122 more tea bags
123 gift, wrapping, bag and card
124 bottle of booze
Take care everyone
124/2024

London_1

Good Morning all. I'm well into my second 'culling':)  basically the first was things that weren't  binned or CS'd but put into my bedroom and the spare room.

Now I am going through them again to see what can go.I decluttered a whole box of leads and wires for stuff I no longer own.
Mainly ex-desk top computer wires and goodness knows what else
Found a pair of gloves that I had forgotten about in one bag they have a gel like extra pocket in the front of them with a little bag of gel and a round silver disc.
You press the disc and the gel slowly heat up and warms your hands. it crystallises the gel and once crystallised it then cools down. You have to put the gel pouch into a simmering pan of water for 15 minutes to soften are the crystals back to the gel state then once soft and floppy you can preess the disc and start the process again. To be honest I'm not even sure where they came from, but as its winter they will come in handy.

Sorted all the books to save and the ones to go at least and a few more to go, I have a friend who will appreciate some of them so will ask her on Tuesday coffee morning before they go to the CS.

I was pretty ruthless with the cookery books as well and just kept a few, the rest will definitely go to the CS.  Old photos that I have on file anyway have gone to the rubbish bag along with goodness knows how much paper which I shredded as well this morning I find if I do around 2-3 hours first thing then stop I seem to get more done .

Found a nice pair of bootee slippers my DGS bought me a few years ago. It was weird because I was just wondering where they were last night as they are really nice and keep not only my feet warm, but my ankles and lower legs which feel the draughts a bit.

So my decluttering has stopped now as its getting near to time for me to sit down and listen to The Archers omnibus the wireless, while I peel my veg for the week, (spuds ,carrots etc) I do this every Sunday morning, and its put in water in my fridge  I do like to multi task . its a habit I have had for well over 50 plus years and saves a lot of standing around during the week doing veg for dinner. 

Trifle is made to take to DDs later for pudding after dinner, I think its shoulder of lamb this week. My son-in-law cooks a brilliant Sunday dinner every week and I go there around 4.00 and DD and I play scrabble or cards before we have our dinner in the evening. They do main meal and I take pudding.win-win  

I hope everyone has a nice day ,its a bit warmer today but rather windy and rain is forecast for tonight.

   JackieO xxx

emsi_b

@London_1 just delurking to say a big thank you for the tip on the gel handwarmers- when I bought them from a show they said boiling water, and pouring a kettle over didn't work! I will simmer them instead- really don't like binning the disposables, but sometimes when I'm working on a site my hands and feet get so cold! 

Pitlanepiglet

Morning all, hugs to all that need them 🤗 

I managed to declutter a travel cot and mattress that we had for our visiting littlies,  they've all outgrown it so I sold it via FB yesterday, so a bit of money in as well.   Next to go is the world's heaviest baby car seat which I need OH to get out as I can't lift it! 

Not much physical decluttering this week,  work takes over,  but I'm trying to do bits and pieces as I see them.   I've carried on with the digital decluttering and that's going well.   

I'm heading off to the TLC carriage,  I've picked up a lurgy and I have a nasty cough and not much voice.   Definitely a sofa and blanket day with a bit more digital decluttering.  

Happy Sunday everyone! 

London_1

emsi_b said:

@London_1 just delurking to say a big thank you for the tip on the gel handwarmers- when I bought them from a show they said boiling water, and pouring a kettle over didn't work! I will simmer them instead- really don't like binning the disposables, but sometimes when I'm working on a site my hands and feet get so cold! 

No problem, simmer for 15 minutes in a pan of water and it makes the gel back to floppy gain (multi task and chuck an egg in there to use the hot water up as well for a hard boiled egg, then make some chicken mayo for a sandwich spread or if you have some available  egg and cress sandwich


  JackieO xx

vulpix

Hi, sorry to hear that the lurgy is still doing the rounds. Get well soon Pitlanepiglet and anyone else under the weather. I am still coughing and wheezing from my lurgy,3 weeks on.

 I was ruthless with the fabric stash. 2 drawers now empty. I have kept Christmas fabric and a piece of the velvet I brought from my Mothers last week ( to make a bag with the tapestry panel).I was going to make a throw for DD but she doesn't need another throw. Someone is coming to collect it all at 4pm. She is also taking a suitcase full of wrapping paper from my Mum's. Disposing of my Mum's fabric stash was sobering. All that money she spent and just not enough hours in the day to use it all. I realised that when I die my kids would get rid of it all, none of them are crafters.

 Also 2 pillows to go. We don't ever have more than 2 people to stay and 6 is excessive.They were off an unused spare bed. Washed and ready to go.

 I was wondering where you were weenancy, you have been too busy to post. It must feel great to boss the kitchen. Here's hoping you are reunited if only briefly with your crockery.

 We were going out for breakfast but I woke at 6, made us a brew then fell back to sleep. The new blind in the bedroom makes the room so dark, I am sleeping like a baby.

 out. 77

 Vx

Muddy_Walker

Hi everyone! I started a frog on Friday - a gigantic one which will take a while to complete- but it’s started so that’s the main thing.
got a very stressful family visit today. Hubby missed the last one as he had Covid and now has a cold. He is still coming though……the look I gave him spoke volumes. 

Onwards….

bit_by_bit

Been taking a break in the TLC carriage again. Sooo easily tired still. I have stopped working Saturdays the charity shop for now as I am not reliable. I was thinking of stopping anyway as I don't enjoy it any more and the demands on my time are many.

@Dizzycap. It sounds like your 10/10/10 strategy is really effective. Will look at it when I have the energy.
@Crazycatlady2: I am there with teh cleaning of the shower while sitill in it.
@Dfw38: There are some people who just need a punch of reality, esp in the face. 

I have managed to pull the boxes out from under DS1s bed again and gone through the books, again. A few are going to an online buying site and the rest to the charity table at the local superstore today. (not counting yet)

After clearing under DS1s bed I found space for the box of summer hats that never made it to the loft, I am trying to keep stuff from going up there.

Also a small box Christmas gifts and makes for the church fair to come out in October. I have put a date in the diary to pull that box out and prepare jars of goodies and gift bags as they went well last year. Not buying anything to add though except maybe sachets of hot chocolate.

He also has more space for his stuff.

Big hugs to all. January is always a tough month either financially or mood and health wise. Not long now to sunny days.