2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

QueenJess

Baby footsteps today, with +4 of packaging in, but overall more leaving.  The place is slowly getting tidier as well.

Digital:
1 - notes deleted

Physical:
1 - DS tat binned
2 - paper, reused then recycled
1 - pack of seeds I know I won't use (Buy Nothing)
1 - DS pair of shoes used up (destroyed!)
1 - DVD player doesn’t work (tip)
1 - packaging reused

New total 1,107
Use it up total 79
Net physical things in/(out) +80

I've also put a cake with buttercream and sprinkles in the tlc carriage

GrannyKate

Hi all.  Reading along but busy this week despite no GCs.  Furniture gone so dining end of kitchen much clearer.  Lovely weather but cold at times.  DS2 and family having great time in Portugal - a bit rough the first day but they have been able to go in the sea since then.  Staying in flat belonging to my brother on coast but nearby sports centre has nice pool you can use - free if buying drinks or 3 euros otherwise.  I have been to Madeira and it was lovely as we were there the week after the annual flower festival and most of the displays were still around.  Late DH and I also toured Thailand going right up to the Northern border.  DD goes on holiday later this week - Singapore, Malaysia and Maldives and DS1 goes to Bali and Australia next week.  All very exciting.  Less exotic places coming up for me - overnight stay in Bradford for party, concert in Birmingham with DD, a few days in Reading with sil, 4 days in Edinburgh with DGS1 and then 4 days in Portugal with DD.  

I have managed to fall over twice this week always landing on my right arm which I hurt last week moving furniture.  I've not drunk anything stronger than tea.  I have bought a few containers and boxes for my new bedroom units.  All the spare space is now filled with kitchen and dining room things as I empty the kitchen.  I went to the antiques centre at the weekend but only bought three postcards and some tea and plain cake. Sox has been very friendly this week climbing on me for fuss and purring - he definitely misses GCs. I moved a side table and put a padded bench unit in the hall with cushions and rug.  Sox has been on it throughout the day.  

405 Photos downloaded
406 Committee papers written and sent out
407 Emails read, saved, replied to and/or deleted (Hundreds as always)
408 Two kingsized quilts taken to be cleaned. Special offer on for two.  Bought a double quilt for bed DGD4 uses
409 Plastics to SM
410 Empty inhaler to pharmacy
411 Bathroom scales replaced with new as not working properly - old ones binned and battery recycled
412-5 Four dining room units sold - lovely young couple were very pleased with them.  Two journeys with both their cars.  Money will go towards gift for next weekend and the rest in my savings pot
416 Wallpaper stripped from behind the units
417 Bag dropped off at CS
418 An old hi-fi unit needing up cycling sold 
419 Covid jab booked for Wednesday

Right off to get a shower.  Sox has second jab tomorrow pm.  

Happy_Kitties

131)-132) photograph and frame binned. Only small and filthy from DDads and already have a nice copy of the photo
133) charging plug from DDads tat in my living room-plug now in recycling after being found not to work
134) lots more paperwork shredded today
135) crusty phone case that almost fell off the phone-binned
136) one frog sorted and popped into the letterbox when I went to pick up V parcel
137) one great big toad that took Friday night and all weekend to work on -now sorted. Didn’t know what to do with myself today as solidly worked on the toad and finally sent it 11pm last night. That was a great relief. 

138) Energy gels of DDs, worse for wear-binned
139) another item sold on V

@vulpix enjoy ur holiday, the photo just looked amazing
@Florenceem, I’m really happy that Mr F is now back home

Brambling

CRANKY40 said:

@Brambling our cat can be a bit fussy with actual catfood but her favourite things are bacon, cooked chicken,  doner kebab and ham. She is also very loud when telling people that they should share with the cat. 

Cranky My cat was five when I got him in 2018 and didn't eat any human food it was only about six months ago that I dropped some chicken and he discovered he actually like it after all 🙂 he doesn't beg, yet!  He is really fussy with cat food including one brand for gravy varieties and a different brand for jelly 🙄  my last cats could hear my fridge door open from two gardens away!

A extra volunteering day for me to help over the Easter holidays. I took a large bag of books in a mix of friction and nonfiction and I've started on culling my cookery books.  I only brought two books home and they are both ones my sister asked me to lookout for so they won't be in the house very long 

Dizzycap

Muddy_Walker said:

Helloooooooo

For some bizarre reason depression really hit over the weekend and I was absolutely no use at all. I think I’m overwhelmed with things that need doing, trying to pace myself and worrying. Even having a shower was too much and with the sun being out felt guilty I wasn’t making the most of it. 

I have some medical stuff this week follow ups for the DVT and I need to arrange more blood tests.

Loving everyone’s pictures ❤️

Rogan is patrolling the garden and Pepper wants me to throw rubber snake……

Bless you Muddy_Walker and sending you big hugs xxxxxx Depression is terrible and especially when it's triggered by being or becoming overwhelmed. There's light at the end of tunnel xx Take each day as it comes and do what you can and don't worry what you can't do;) They'll always be things that need to be done Take care & ta-ta for now xxx

@ vulpix - "Mrs SD, me n Jenny Bond are best mates now. We talked about gardening and she was also telling me about her husband’s bad back." -  Do give my regards to her husband James and I hope his back gets better soon! Oops, sorry for the name dropping I really hope you're all having a wonderful time!

@ Florenceem - WOW, you've been busy! Great to hear that Mr.F is out and about with you

There's so much positive decluttering going on which is really helping me to keep focused on trying to keep the personal decluttering train ticking along, but I've lost my mojo Last seen playing silly games with babyface on the bed 3 hours ago before the last of my what little energy I did have today left me fatigued Babyface is coming along in leaps and bounds and has been full of it today. The old curiosity shop daxie is back with rear end protruding from any bag or box of items from the now defunct & hopefully burnt mega wardrobe of total gloom spread out on DD bedroom floor while I moved things around to hover along with a hover game which sent her on fruit-loop mode for 5 minutes. I have to work at encouraging her to rest which involves me either sitting down on the sofa and having snuggly cuddles when she finally stops rolling on her back kicking her legs up and piggy grunting or going to bed and snuggling up together, which is her favourite and has her to sleep in no time So what's good for the goose... That reminds me, I was reading some article somewhere by some dog psychologist who presented a list of the 10 easiest dogs to look after. As I began reading through each dog; and had previously recue owned the first 3 listed, I was thinking; Are you sure?🤔🫨. Then came dog 4. Dachshund, which is when I realised that this person had never owned let alone lived with a Daxie or any of the first 3 in their life! 🤪🫨😂🤣🫣🤥🤐.

On the personal decluttering front, I've done absolutely nothing physically, except for 1 load of washing and the usual HH bin and kitchen clean basics. But to be fair, babyface needed to rest so aside from cuddles and afternoon sleepies, I have managed to go through & sort out some financial paperwork while she has been snoozing in her Bunty bed tonight, so all has not been lost. Tomorrow; which is now today, I'm hoping is going to be an relaxed morning of gardening, watering, & coffee breaks, but it won't be if I don't go to bed and get some sleep soon as time is ticking on Decluttering my last coffee before I and my shadow potter off to bed. Wishing everyone a peaceful and restful nights sleep xxxxx

TC77

Remembered  decluttered a lipstick 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, I am knackered again and heading for bed but got a few things done today. 4 LDFPA, 2 cardboard boxes broken up and into the recycling, 3 carpets checked over and measured and posted on free site, 4 carpets not good enough to list so taken to the tip along with a bag of hard plastic, an old maiden and 3 old bird feeders. The kitchen recycling was also emptied. Luckily the normal rubbish bin is emptied tomorrow as it is full to the bin but the recycling bin is also nearly full and we have a week to wait for that to go. I might have to ask ln if I can put some stuff in hers if it builds up 😁. 
I have had a request for one of the carpets so I am hoping that will go soon.
Tomorrow I need to pop to the sm as I am running out of washing up liquid, this is what happens when you run down the stocks 😂. I also have the last 2 loads of the towel mountain to wash. Then I will have a massive sort out of the towels and decide what to keep and what to move on 😁. I am not entirely convinced there isn't another bag full in the loft 😂.
I had a phone call about the loft insulation. They can do it but not for free and honestly the price they quoted, (which included a kitchen vent which I said I didn't need as I will be getting one when the kitchen is done but they said I had to have it), was far too much so I have refused it. Discussing it with OH we think we can probably do it far cheaper ourselves. For that read I can do it as OH will never manage it 😂. I have decided to continue emptying the loft as it really is time it was done but sorting for the understairs toilet will now alternate with the loft.
OH has been no help today, suffering after a covid jab but refusing to go to bed so has snored all evening on the couch 😂

@charlies_tribe good luck sorting the shed, looks like a big job 😁

@foxandflowers the patio looks amazing 😁

@Yoshimi2025 yes we can still get free papers on the bus and train here, obviously mainly adverts but handy if you need a bit of newspaper 😂.

@YBR sentimental stuff is definitely the hardest to move on, hugs. Great idea to have a scale drawing, I would never have thought of that. Mind you when I moved in to this house all I had was an air bed, a camping chair and a radio 😂. All my clothes and linen fitted in one suitcase 😂  I moved in a hackney cab 😂 but I did have to make a second trip for my plants and the cat 😂.

@Mrs SD thank you for my medal 😁. Count me in on the trip to help weenancy.

@Muddy_Walker big hugs

@Vulpix I haven't made a decision about the duvets yet, just put them in the rod 😂 but yes the suitcase would be a good option 😁. I have been to LaPalma but I was very young and only have sketchy memories 😁 I will be checking out the web cam, isn't technology wonderful 😁.

@Florenceem glad to hear Mr F is continuing his recovery, hugs

@TC77 yay to being able to see the table, I always feel it's an achievement when clear space appears 😁. Not that it seems to stay that way for long in my house, eyeing the top of the gas cuoboard right now 😁

@GrannyKate you might not be visiting exotic places but still some nice things to look forward to 😁

@Brambling well done on being so restrained with the books, takes a lot of will power to resist them 😁

Right time for bed, falling asleep now 😁
Hugs to everyone who would like one

467 - 470 LDFPA
471 & 472 cardboard boxes recycled
473 - 476 carpets to tip
477 bag of hard plastic to the tip
478 - 480 old bird feeders to the tip
481 old maiden to the tip
482 kitchen recycling
Take care everyone
482/2025

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

So much for a shortish break 😉 Spent the afternoon knitting & watching TV. Dinner was chicken fried in butter, boiled potatoes & peas. Wudupa

635 - 640 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, newspaper, 2 plastic bottles, magazine - recycled 

641 - 642 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

Lovely cheerleading Liverpool_Anne 😊 Sounds like a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning 😊 Excellent work with the laundry & decluttering 👏 Good luck with Monday’s loft decluttering 🍀

charlies_tribe, sorry to hear that you couldn’t sleep Sunday night 😞 Perhaps you were over tired after your exertions emptying then refilling the large shed 🤔 Loved This “DGD was here while we were doing it and absolutely loved it. She was on the scooters and skateboards. Had a bucket of warm bubbles to wash the happyland toys. Her dad came to collect her at half 2 and she cried whole leaving as she was having so much fun and DD1 said she still wasn't talking to them 2 hours later as they had taken her home when she was enjoying Nanas treasure trove” especially the underlined bit ☺️ That is a lot of cardboard 😥 especially if it is only half 😬 Fingers crossed that DH managed to book a skip 🤞

Excellent work over the weekend foxandflowers 👏 Your patio looks amazing 😻 Reminiscent of somewhere like Spain - very exotic ☺️

Yoshimi2025, I remember my Nonno (Italian grandfather) using newspaper to clean windows 😉

YBR, I had to smile at This “….. Mum's been trying to reclutter his accumulations (recluttering = her decluttering into my house) since she can't bear to dump "perfectly good" stuff…..” - I suppose that is one way to declutter 😉 What a great idea This is “We've seen and measured the Manse, and have a scale drawing, with scale furniture pieces to move around, so have a very good idea we won't fit in as we are. Doesn't seem MSE to be putting stuff in storage so am trying to plan ahead” 🤩 Great work decluttering two largish items 👏

Great decluttering QueenJess 👏 Fingers crossed that all your vegetables grow 🤞especially as they are free 😊

Just noticed the time so I am off to bed. Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 642/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

TC77

@Liverpool_Anne, yep occassional reminder what the top of my furniture looks like is progress- doesn't stay like that.
Have moved things into different cupboards, e.g crockery into dining room sideboard from living room. Old 1920s dinner service which people don't want but I'm keeping plates and think other bits can go. 
Have about 30 watchers on an item but no buyers so may go in cs bag. Hoping dd2 will do a good sort out and help my numbers! 
Getting rid of the lipstick saves me on the occasion I wear it picking it up and realising the wrong one so seeing decluttering as ultimately time saving although  dithering does not help! 
Take care all.

Moorviews

I am a day or two behind reading up but wanted to thank people for the encouragement and support regarding fatigue, mood, resting and trying to be productive. I had a complete rest day at the weekend, dozing on the sofa for most of the day despite the beautiful weather. It really helped recharge me a bit so thank you 🙏 

@YBR - welcome and good luck with your downsizing plans. You sound very organised 😊 We have always done it the wrong way and taken everything. Not to be recommended!
@Florenceem - great to hear that Mr F is making good progress and is back at home. I hope he will see sense regarding the rollator and avoid falls. 

@vulpix - lovely to see you and your holiday snap  ☀️ 🛳️ 
@Liverpool_Anne - hope your wrist is recovering. 

@foxandflowers - your patio looks lovely and very inviting. I hope you get to sit and enjoy it this week. 

@charlies_tribe - like you we are in the big shed and delving amongst the mucky stuff. Worth doing but I will be glad when it is over. 

@_Dolly_Rocker_ - beautiful photo of the gorgeous Bailey and Luna! 

I am always happy to see all the lovely cat and dog pictures, rooms and before and afters. Great work on clearing that table @sqwiffy - you have a very pretty kitchen!

I am just jumping about with random thoughts here so I shall love you and leave you to all the wonderful decluttering that you are doing, whether large or small it all counts. I will be in my scruffs and picking cobwebs out of my hair, wishing that I was weeding instead.