2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

CRANKY40

Lucky that ds and I did some gardening yesterday afternoon because it's raining here today. I cut the grass (first cut after winter) and ds chopped some stuff down. It all went in the garden waste bin. 

Once indoors I relocated the remaining clothes out of the ottoman onto my bed and checked both what fitted and what Iooked ok with me inside of them 😁 I've lost a bit more weight recently (ready for our jolly holidays) so the bra drawer was also visited and anything that I wouldn't want to be wearing if I was run over went out.  Did anyone else's mum or nan tell them you needed decent underwear on if you were going out in case you were run over? Once I was older I realised that the last thing the emergency services would be looking at was your knickers but when I was small it seemed like a real possibility.

Anyway 20 items of clothing out divided fairly equally between the charity shop bag and the bin. I've made a mental note that I really need to wash whites separately from other clothes. Sometimes I don't notice them as I'm loading the machine but putting them in with ds's jeans is not good. 

Vulpix I'm glad DiL is feeling a bit better. 

Get well wishes for anyone feeling a bit under the weather.

GrannyKate

@Duchess2 - re decorating being exhausting when you get older I can totally sympathise.  It is silly things that get to you and the permanent dust.  I have tried to do bits myself but I am defeated by things like not being able to open the paint can which meant I couldn't start without help.  Half the woodwork primer done now so will try and do the rest later today.  May get some help over the weekend.  I can ring plumber to book getting new radiator fitted and we are going to the Swedish shop next weekend (no DGCs here) to order some wardrobes.  I need to go and look at curtains again as well.

@CRANKY40 - yes my granny always warned me to have clean knickers in case I got run over.  

DD has booked us a trip in July - 4 days in Portugal.  My brother has lived there since he retired and kept inviting me so I am looking forward to that.  DD will drive as they live in a very rural area.  I only have two of my 5 siblings left now and neither of them live in the UK.  

328 Banking done
329 Money decluttered for July trip 

Frogs must be eaten up today! 

Pennypincin

I've had more tinned/long Life food stuff stuff go from the cupboard Wednesday and have more bits going out today.
I'm giving myself permission to buy what I need as I need it, although bulk buying too much is being kept in mind too and to the minimum where possible.
I've my 2 small slow cookers on and filled with soup for part of tonights dinner.
Some will end up in the freezer and I will likely be giving a friend a portion.

daisy_1571

I was told the same re underwear, heavens yes it was v important!   One of the times I ended up in hospital unexpectedly (id got knocked off my motorbike by a car early one morning on the way to work and they thought I'd chipped a bone in my pelvis) I remember looking at my pants rather ruefully as they were definitely no longer the same colour as when they'd been fresh out the packet,  and although I had the figure for them in those days they were sensible rather than foxy.  Ah well, I'm glad to say noone mentioned it and I was very grateful to them for checking me out  😀   (the other time I was in a bad car accident and I was beyond caring tbh 😆 )

Hugs to all

Daisy xxx 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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: another bright sunny day with temperatures creeping up 🙂 Forecast high of 16°C & low of 9°C. DH popped out to pick up his meds & I have written a 4 day menu plan & a shopping list. 

447 Newspaper recycled 

So now I am settled, I will go straight into cheerleading: 

Dizzycap, the HMRC App & Government Gateway & the phone system sound like a nightmare 😡 No doubt there will be no acknowledgement or extension granted to those people updating their records 😞 Excellent decluttering 👏 Very pleased to hear that Gorgeous Gorda was coaxed into having her nails clipped ☺️ Hopefully the next time she needs it done she will not only find it less traumatic but will also remember how good it felt to walk with no pain 🤞Just wondering if you watched the daxies on Crufts yesterday 🙂 

_Dolly_Rocker_, great work sorting out the big cupboard 👏 Sounds like you are S.A.B.L.E. in dog toys (stash acquisition beyond life expectancy), so as long as you remember not to buy anymore it should save you some money 🤞 Shame that the back fence repairs weren’t completed 😔 but keeping my fingers crossed that your Nephew will be able to visit again soon to finish the job 🤞Belated Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳  & I hope that the vegan/vegetarian food was just as delicious this time 🙏

Soontobeoap, great decluttering on Wednesday 👏 Are the fir cones being used as fire starters or had they been treated? This “House is beginning to look slightly more organized and dare I say it , BIGGER" is lovely to hear ☺️

Wednesday2000, to be fair I probably wouldn’t have been looking either 😉

Florenceem This “Today (Wednesday) I trimmed Mr F's hair and beard - he was very shaggy.” is there no end to your talents ☺️ Sorry to hear that MrF is so unsteady on his feet 😔 hopefully he will see the wisdom of using his rollator until he has built up his strength  🙏 I imagine everyone was delighted to see him at friendship/lunch club 😊 More excellent decluttering 👏 & wow to the number of steps 🤩 I do hope you managed to have a rest later in the evening 🤞Sorry to hear about the sore throat & I will keep my fingers crossed that you manage to avoid getting a cold 🤞

QueenJess, shame that work is “so ridiculously busy” ☹️ Although I see that you are still getting a lot of decluttering done 👏 Good luck with ‘Project Use Up Bathroom Products’ & tackling frogs 🍀 I also have everything crossed (including eyes) that your parents will NOT bring a car full of ‘stuff’ 🤞🤞

vulpix, pleased to hear that you had such a lovely evening out & hopefully a few more stories for ‘The Book’ 😊 This “I did nip into the Estate Agent on our way out. She said property is flying off the shelves and to list now ,not wait. Upshot is she coming tomorrow at 11am! I am just sorry that my garden is still asleep. She also told me of a house we might like coming on the market in a couple of days.” had me grinning like a Cheshire Cat 😁 I will keep everything crossed that the house coming on the market is your dream house 🤞Sorry to hear that your DIL is in hospital 😔 Sending wishes for a speedy recovery & a quick return home 🙏

oceanspirit, shame about the cancelled appointment 😞 but as you say definitely better to have an up to date scan to aid in reaching decisions moving forward 🤞However, I am surprised that the doctor didn’t arrange a date for the scan so that you don’t have to join another waiting list 😞 Bean stew sounds yummy 🤤 

One page caught up 🥳 Will post & then descale the kettle (must remember to ask DH to order some more filters). Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible. Cwtches to all our poorlies & hopes for speedy recoveries 🤗

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 447/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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 continued: Whilst DH & DSis were out I  descaled the kettle & then put the ‘used water’ down the toilet 🙂 Back to cheerleading: 

Dizzycap, I do hope that your daughter has put all her serious medical conditions behind her & is now fit & well 🙏 I must confess to having ‘enjoyed’ reading your tales about the ‘Tardis Mega Wardrobe of Doom’ 🙊 but am also very pleased to hear that you are on the final phase of decluttering ☺️ It will be a Red Letter Day once the smaller wardrobe is installed 🥳 & I do hope you have a suitable celebration planned 😉 

Can you ‘Adam & Eve it’ I am just about to start cheerleading posts dated Thursday 🎉 

Dizzycap, This “I need to clutter up on doggie essentials which I'm going to bulk buy as Mr. Sains has given me a 50% off along with extra super points on all the items I need using Shop&Scan” what a result 👏 Excellent decluttering via sales👏 & everything crossed that Thursday’s decluttering went to plan 🤞ALTHOUGH I do sincerely hope that you have factored in plenty of rest 🙏 You have been doing so well on your journey to recovery that I would really hate to see you going backwards 🥹

Welcome aboard the EDT BizzyBee_9 👋 We are here to cheer each other on & offer encouragement when needed. Well done on starting your Journey to a clutter free life 👏 I am looking forward to celebrating your successes, big & small especially when you have your Craft Room 🥹 As an aside, I struggled to work out what the ‘H’ word was 🤔 as we try very hard not use it 😅 although many of us are ‘collectors’ who just need bigger houses 🙃 - I am of course joking 🙃 

DH & DSis got back about 15:30 & I have spent 30 minutes putting everything away including portioning meat for the freezer 🙂 

448 Cardboard packaging recycled 

449 Plastic packaging binned

Dizzycap, Lovely welcome for BizzyBee_9 😊

Nice to see you Chieveley 👋 & congratulations on your successful decluttering 👏 Love that your DH lets Justin live in the garage 😊 JackieO aka London_1 is still about but is enjoying her life on the Isle of Wight so much that she only has time to pop in occasionally 🥹

Yoshimi2025, wow that is amazing 🤩 I bet you didn’t realise that you had such lovely coloured patio slabs 😊 Hope your new listings sell quickly 🤞

I am flagging a bit now so will post & make myself another cuppa. See you later 👋 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 449/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

Florenceem

Yes I remember - clean underwear in case you have an accident.
I remember my Mum putting a woolly hat on me to hold a flannel in place when I had a brick dropped on my head - I wonder if Mum used a clean flannel.
When I started to trim Mr F's hair and beard - I didn't do a good job but with practice - I manage to smarten him up. Mr F hasn't been to a barber for years.
I started to feel really poorly yesterday afternoon. This morning I was worse. I had a Covid test in the cupboard but it must have been out of date as no solution came out of the stopper.
I felt so ill that I wondered if it was Covid or flu as it didn't seem just a cold.
I am concerned that London1 hasn't posted from IOW.
I did a bit of work on the curtains this morning as I need to get them finished. Then I felt too ill to carry on.
I had my meal and some Paracetamol and perked up so got the hems pinned up and started to hand sew them. I used a grey cotton to stitch the two widths together and to neaten the edges but thought it was too dark for hemming. I have found a reel of silver thread so I am using that - these curtains are much easier to hand sew than the velvet ones. I am still waiting for photos of the hung velvet curtains - so now I am worried - is it that R hasn't had time to hang them or have I done them wrong.
I had to lose a bit of fabric to match the pattern on these curtains but I can use it to make tie backs.
Today was a day indoors - first for 3 weeks.

Blue_Doggy

Thank you for my medal and flowers, Mrs S_D, much appreciated. You ask how I hurt my back and hip: I was turning the mattress (not just a end to end twizzle round, but a proper flip-over) and it fought back, at one time it got one of its corners around the freestanding wardrobe and threatened to pull it over. Luckily I was able to prevent that and wrestle the mattress back onto the bed but wrenched my hip and strained my back in doing so.
 

Yesterday I decluttered a flock of mushroom punnets and a storage basket from the top of puppy-wuppy’s crate and washed them (they are so useful for sorting small things, and most of them had been used before). Today I moved them to the RoD. I also decluttered some vases from the kitchen table, and WUDUPA them. Looked through the vases cupboard and found eight (mostly my late DMum’s) which regretfully will go to the CS as I’ve hardly ever used them. That will use up some bubble-wrap from the stash! 

 

Decluttered an hour’s worth of ironing. Decided on some more books to get rid of: when it warms up a bit I’ll get them out of the study and pack them up. 

 

I’ve spent most of the afternoon letting puppy_wuppy into the garden: he went out at lunchtime and found a C-A-T there. He was disappointed that it growled at him and showed him the claw-paw when he wanted to make friends (he is cat-friendly), and he came in when I called him away. He has been in and out all afternoon looking for it, but it had decluttered itself long since. 

Another one here remembering the advice about wearing clean underwear. 😀

I hope you soon feel better Florenceem. 

Yoshimi2025

Declutter 5 empties at boots and 28 Blister packs and got another £5 in points on my Advantage card, they had lots of hair scrunchies and hair ties reduced to 0.68 for 5 good quality ones so I stocked up on those to put in Christmas crackers when we make them. 

Clean knickers in case you were run over was definitely something I remember from childhood 🤣 definitely bought back memories of my lovely nana reading those posts so thank you ☺️ 

Brie

@Liverpool_Anne
Well I could try to help find my friend a place to live but so far all I've done is made an appointment for him at work for when Shelter and the local council housing officer are on site.  I shall try to avoid that particular meeting even if I will be working about 10 feet away.  But am planning on going to lunch with him after to rehash it all.