2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Tjh1412

Wow this train has really sped up again, only just caught up. Well done to all, some great decluttering going on.

I am now at 1867 items gone, due to a mega tip run. Have 2 bags of children's things to list on vinted too, so hopefully those go fast and leave the house soon.

In other news, searches come back next week and then we can set a date for the move to new house, which is very exciting.

Hope all are enjoying the weekend

oceanspirit

Had a difficult conversation with a friend today.  Not sure how much of it was taken on board, and the most important part is that she needs to speak to a mutual friend to sort things out with them and I am not sure she will do it - I hope so as to build a bridge someone needs to lay the first stone and she really needs to be the one to do it.

Other than that, have had a day off from household chores etc so will hopefully be refreshed and ready to crack on with things tomorrow, starting with the washing up that I have been ignoring all day.

suzeesu2000

Feeling a bit cheesed off this evening as I have has three non paying bidders this week. Why go to the trouble of bidding if you don’t really want the item? Or why not just message and say you’ve changed your mind? No, waste my time instead grrrr. 

Hoping to declutter a donation to Foodbank on Thursday this week. 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend xx

Muddy_Walker

Basket case and everyone who has responded - thank you. 

I have set up a loose plan for recovery which I’ll revise along the way. My boss and workmates have been awesome. I rarely moan about being poorly so to admit I feel so rubbish is an eye opener for them too.

i have a foldable seat thing and used it outside today for 20 mins deadheading a plant so that felt a bit better. Dog1 was bringing me all her toys and dog2 was running around shouting at the birds.

take care all xxx

sqwiffy

Do any of you recommend any decluttering video's or programmes or books? is that what has helped you? Or tips from on here or from someone? Do you think you ever finish decluttering or do you believe that if you didn't work on it you'd end up back to square one?

And what do all your initials stand for in your posts? I figured out OH - other half, SM -supermarket, CS - charity shop, but I can't work out if some are titles, or relationships or just initials of people's names??

Special thanks to those who've sent me comfort as regards my beautiful Aussie, @Liverpool_Anne and @basketcase who lost budgies like me, @brie who asked for photo's, @suzeesu2000 and @Daisy_1571 whose words showed they understood perfectly.

I'm pleased that Mr and @Florenceem seem to be managing his return home well. I for one, as finding the caring for my mum very hard work even though I love her very much. I know I wouldn't be able to do it alone and I have the greatest admiration for those who do so. I thought it was hard when she just had dementia and stayed with us in rotation because she could say some horrible things but now she has a stroke too, it's even harder despite her being more easy going. I'm already missing some of my usual routines and I'm aware that one of my sisters is out of the picture as she's injured her hand while another's got a holiday soon, while my OH will be crutches for 6-8 weeks. I'm not sure how it's all going to pan out.

I'm trying to keep decluttering and so I've sorted out all rest of Aussie's toys that he never used for over a year(not sure why I kept them, or his small travel cage that we used to use when we had a camper van for him to come with us years ago. I also recycled more magazines, some wool and rubbish in a junk drawer.

Iloveyoutoo

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie

(re: selling online)

Really want to save some money this year, and I live alone in a house full of stuff.

I have never sold anything online before, but I think I need to bite the bullet and give it a go so I can get rid of a load of stuff and hopefully make some money.

Most of the stuff is nice, some antique and vintage homeware, ornaments, plus some jewelry and loads of clothes including vintage dresses.  I have kept loads of dresses incase I lose weight and can wear them again.  But I don't think I will truly lose that weight 

Usually give bags to the charity shop, so selling clothes is brand new to me.  Worried about parcelling them and how much I will spend on packaging?  And where to buy the packaging?  

Any tips anyone has about anything to do with selling online please pass on your know how! 

Thank you and here's to a decluttered 2025

...and hopefully some money!  My savings account is exactly zero.

daisy_1571

Sqwiffy  if initials have a d its usually darling - d son, d daughter etc. il afterwards means in law

I sometimes initialise forum names if ive 'spoken' with them before or if I cant be bothered tapping out a long name.   Sometimes my autothingy suggests the name so its quick to type them, with others it doesn't- not sure why

Mrs sd often initialises her relatives rather then putting in their full name, usually best to keep somewhat anonymous since this is a very public forum

I tried to gather good hints and tips from us all over the years - I'm sure its on page 6 of this thread


Muddywalker I think its definitely best to follow drs orders, no matter the size of the clot you don't want it travelling around before the medication breaks it up.  Nowadays the advice is usually to get up and about as soon as possible so if they prescribe bed rest I would think they mean it.  Definitely use this time for all the things you don't normally get time for - reading, listening to podcasts, bbc sounds have a vast array of plays/audio books/comedy shows/news etc, (just one thing with Michael mosely is fascinating as is A thorough examination with the van tullikens, the curious history of your home is another im working through some episodes especially are really interesting),  watch YouToob for things you are keen to learn  decluttering - minimalmom is good - usually i try to stay away from them as its easy to lose an hour and a half watching stuff lol, guided meditation, crafting, language skills, old comedy shows to keep you laughing, finance (check pensions, investments, interest rates on bank accounts and see if you can make some money).  Make lists like a list making fiend.   Catch up with friends you haven't seen for a while via messenger type/email or even phone calls and letters.

Night all

Daisy xxx

sqwiffy

Sorry, I forgot the most important message tonight to @Muddy_Walker. You are NO imposter. Those are three BIG health conditions, potentially serious or even fatal, in some cases. To be told you have them is scary and your body and brain will go into "fight or flight" mode. The psychological effects are as bad as physical ones, and do cause physical effects too. You need to process these things and your GP recognised the need for time for this. You don't need to justify the time off to yourself by doing loads. Give your body and mind time to recover, eat as well as you can, rest and do some exercise, get out in the fresh air, sleep and socialise, all these things will benefit you and hopefully avoid any recurrence of illness or new ones.

StickyTheStickInsect

I love the thought of a cane toad instead of a big frog, Mrs SD, I shall start referring to them as such. More vernacular for Mr Sticky to learn!!! And what a beautiful Sparrow Hawk, we get lots of Red Kites here but very rarely see Sparrow Hawk’s or Kestrels anymore, I think they’ve been displaced by the Kites.

@Muddy_Walkerif you’ve been signed off for a month, you certainly aren’t an imposter! They are lots to deal with and whilst everyone manages things differently, you should absolutely cut yourself some slack. Take care and look after yourself 😊

@Iloveyoutoo , I buy parcel bags from ebay for selling clothes on Vinted and board and hard back expandable envelopes for selling books and magazines on eBay. I don’t sell anything breakable to be posted anymore, it’s too much hassle for me, I car boot it, or put it on Facebook marketplace or Sphock or ebay as collection only. If it might be worth a bit more, I take it to the local auction house (this is very rare!). I pick up jiffy bags and bubble wrap from our local freebies site or re-use the packaging we have. Every now and again I buy a huge roll of bubble wrap on ebay when the freebies stock is getting low.

Glad to hear that things are okay @Florenceem , I’ve been worried about how you are with Mr F being home.

The new steroids aren’t making much difference to how I’m feeling but I have developed an unhealthy relationship with the boxes of 5 mini Danish pastries from Tesco’s. So whilst I’m not feeling any better, I am feeling not better full of cake !!!!

And to make my weekend, we got DS1’s DLA renewal, I’d convinced myself it was going to be rejected but we are okay for another year. I’ve also decluttered several episodes of Father Brown but nothing else of note!

Love to everyone xx

weenancyinAmerica

@Florenceem - When we ordered slippers for my roommate, I had her up the size a bit. She normally wears a size 9 and I had her order a size 11 men's slippers with hard rubber sole that fasten with velcro. They fit her perfectly with her swollen feet. Good things this week: I am learning to purl as well as knit. That's about it. We did get rain for one day. Otherwise weather is nice. 

Hope all those who are having problems know that we are rooting for them to get better.