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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering
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On that note@BluJ94 I think I now have the right amount of storage once the "craft studio". My shed in the garden is cleared and made waterproof again. That's obviously the next big project. In the meantime I still have lots to sort through.craft stash 2023 =161, 2024 = 119 2025 = £25.96 spent, 128 made and 5 mended,
GC 2022 = £3154.96
2023 = £3334. 84
2024 = £.3221.81
2025 = £2043.99/£3300
Jan 413.77 Feb £361.32, March £192. April £438.06 May £261.66 June £204.54 July £172.64/ £250
Decluttering campaign. 2024= 75 and half/52 bin bags full. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🏅💐DH ⭐16 -
I couldn't agree more with the comments from @Dizzycap "Decluttering is... an ongoing life event" and @TC77 "It's so important we see friends and do things outside of the clutter."
@sqwiffy and anyone else worried about not being able to keep a room tidy after you've decluttered it: I have found it best to tidy up little but often. Once everything has its place, a five-minute pick-up can work wonders if things get out of their rightful place - but if you let them linger for too long, so that they get too comfortable and therefore too easily overlooked, there's a fair chance you'll need to pick up and put away for an hour or more. Also, throwing away junk mail and similar as soon as it comes through your letterbox helps keep a lot of the paper clutter down.
We are home from our short break and I've already unpacked my bag, put things away or in the laundry bag as appropriate, and recycled the 2023-24 English Heritage handbook (which lives in the car) and replaced it with the 2025-26 edition. On the other hand, my DH will hoard every leaflet he has picked up while we were away and will live out of his overnight bag for another month if I let him!
You're all doing brilliantly, especially @weenancyinAmerica and those of you with debilitating medical conditions xxx17 -
ionafan said:I couldn't agree more with the comments from @Dizzycap "Decluttering is... an ongoing life event" and @TC77 "It's so important we see friends and do things outside of the clutter."
@sqwiffy and anyone else worried about not being able to keep a room tidy after you've decluttered it: I have found it best to tidy up little but often. Once everything has its place, a five-minute pick-up can work wonders if things get out of their rightful place - but if you let them linger for too long, so that they get too comfortable and therefore too easily overlooked, there's a fair chance you'll need to pick up and put away for an hour or more. Also, throwing away junk mail and similar as soon as it comes through your letterbox helps keep a lot of the paper clutter down.
We are home from our short break and I've already unpacked my bag, put things away or in the laundry bag as appropriate, and recycled the 2023-24 English Heritage handbook (which lives in the car) and replaced it with the 2025-26 edition. On the other hand, my DH will hoard every leaflet he has picked up while we were away and will live out of his overnight bag for another month if I let him!
You're all doing brilliantly, especially @weenancyinAmerica and those of you with debilitating medical conditions xxxDefinitely chipping away at it is the best way. If you don't feel like doing anything one day then that's fine. On a roll another day and want to keep going, then also fine. Any progress is progress.The other half of the battle is stopping the stuff coming in. Talking of junk mail above reminded me that you can opt out of junk mail that is specifically addressed to you here: https://www.mpsonline.org.uk/ . You can also opt out of unaddressed junk mail here: https://help.royalmail.com/personal/s/article/How-to-opt-out-of-junkmail You'll still get stuff "To the occupier" and some general local advert stuff, but I've found I can now go a whole week without any post at all quite easily.2025 decluttering: 3,452🌟🥉🌟💐🏅🏅🌟🥈🏅🌟🏅💐💎🌟🏅🏆🌟🏅
2025 use up challenge: 289🥉🥈🥇💎🏆
Big kitchen declutter challenge 78/150
2025 decluttering goals Use up Challenge: 🥉365 🥈750 🥇1,000 💎2,000 🏆 3,000 👑 8,000 I 🥉12 🥈26 🥇52 💎 100 🏆 250 👑 50016 -
I've loved all the pet pictures lately.
Sadly it's been 15 years since I last owned a cat but on a recent visit to London I popped over to see the memorial to Bob the Cat.
I think he looks very handsome and I especially like the way people have kindly made little scarves for him to wear.
I decluttered a purple poppy to him on behalf of the declutterati.
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Evening everyone
I've decluttered a big bag of soft plastics at the c00p and some OOD meds at the pharmacy. I've now got prescription meds for my back so it is slowly getting better
@sqwiffy - I've not done yoga for years but usually do a weekly pilates class and have been doing stretching exercises off the NHS website
@regnbue - thank you for the lovely photo of Bob and for leaving a purple poppy
Love to all
Deni xLBM - October 2018; finally debt free on 16 March 2021
2023 Mortgage Free Wannabee #92023 Mortgage free in March 23 !
Decluttering Campaign member 2023🏅🏅 🏅⭐️⭐️
Decluttering Campaign Member 2024 🏅🏅
Decluttering Campaign Member 202517 -
A extra volunteering day at Petworth so the bag of books my sister returned to me was duly dropped off with a half dozen more from my shelves.Whilst out a house elf visited and fixed the door on my new cupboard and brought her cordless light hover to do my stairs, it was a lovely surprise when I got home.i may keep this sisters 😁
I don't have a suitable armchair for after the op so picked up one in the Dunelm online sale which has good reviews, that will be delivered next Wednesday so a space will need to be sorted, there are just a few bits left in the corner I plan for it most can be binned / tipped or sent to CS. Once I'm recovered it will probably be rehomedLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage - Anais Nin14 -
@regnbue love that people leave scarfs and flowers for Bob, thanks for posting the photo.
Struggling with how to help DD2 and I know the answer is to just focus on my things, however, she has alot of things, and cannot cope with change. I was going to get rid of a biscuit jar and sugar jar (as I have another if we have biscuits) and have a small sugar bowl. I asked her if she minded and she said yes - she hasn't forgiven me for getting rid of a pooh bear that I thought she was happy to let go. DD2 recognises at times difficulties around change and some other areas and we're so different that I struggle to understand. I offer to help and it stresses her more. I want to offer things I have (not hers) to see if she wants them but have decided will just go in CS bag. She only has a few days here and is revising and trying to see friends abit and then a few days in June before going to Melbourne. On the outside chance I find a house to move to when she's away I want to know what I can not take (could be much smaller). Hey ho, there is plenty of my stuff to sort and probably accounts for at least 85% of the stuff in the house.
Item in new textile bag
Unopened stockings (Not worn any for years) in CS bag
Broken plastic folder in bin
Broken pen binned.
Garden waste including broken flower pot and 2 dead shrubs dug up - thought I would have to get someone to do this but I managed but others which are far too large I'll have to pay someone to do.
Reduced items trying to sell for a few days and then will go in CS bag so should be able to add to nos at the weekend.
Kitchen item to CS bag
54212 -
- Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
- Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m
- Continue dealing with mail & email on a daily basis
- 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
- Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter
- Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed
Wednesday: mixed weather - overcast with some sunshine. Forecast to be breezy later but no rain - high 15°C, low 9°C. I was up & dressed by 10:45.DH & DSis both already up as they have dental appointments & will be setting off soon. As DH & DSis set off at 12:20, the skies cleared & the sun came out 🙂
Florenceem, well done to your daughter - 14 marathons 🤩 Sorry to hear that MrF has had another fall 😔 but relieved, as you must be, that he appeared to be unhurt 😥 It is probably worth mentioning to the doctor that MrF is still having falls (especially as I believe you mentioned he is on blood thinners) 🙏 Pleased to hear that MrF enjoyed his time outdoors 😊
Excellent decluttering Jellybaby 👏 This “I seem to be jumping from one area to another with no systematic approach but I guess it’s working for me and I’m slowly storing like with like and beginning to see some semblance of calm and order.” is great 😊 You have found the decluttering method that works for you & eventually all the decluttered areas will join together & you will have done your whole house 😊
Dizzycap, pleased to hear that you & babyface managed to avoid the rain when you went out on Monday 😊 Just wondering if you have seen the fox cubs playing but not on camera 🤔
TC77, nothing wrong with being random in your decluttering 😉 There is a steady stream of items being decluttered, so it is working 👏 I am very impressed that you tackled cables, so am awarding you a medal 🏅 DH has TWO crates of cables to tackle 😬 Keeping my fingers crossed that DD2 finds some time to watch films with 🤞
sqwiffy, that sounds like a wonderful day with your friend 😊 I agree with TC77 that posting photos can be a very useful tool to help you declutter 😊 Might I suggest that you take a photo after each decluttering session (just for you) so you can see your progress 😊 Once the room of doom is decluttered & tidy & can be used for its intended purpose, print off a copy of both the before & after photos which will hopefully help you maintain the the room in its decluttered state 😊 Sorry to hear that your Mum had such a bad night 😔 hopefully Tuesday night there were no power cuts & your DM had a restful, peaceful night 🙏 Lovely cheerleading 😊
TC77, well said 👏
Back to my day 😉 I made & drank a 2nd cuppa after DH & DSis left & then added descaler to the kettle & left it to do its work whilst I went out at 13:50. Bus to Canary Wharf: 1st stop the bank where I banked my raffle win & withdrew some cash. Then into Bo*ts to buy some interdental brushes & a dosette box - no money exchanged hands as I used my Advantage points. Posted some letters then caught the bus to A*da. Picked up a few bits including treating myself to a new baking tray & a new fish slice 😉 + an Easter Egg for each of us - not a great choice. Bus home & I was indoors by 15:50. Finished descaling & rinsing the kettle, added a new filter & had a cuppa whilst I updated my accounts, including adding April & May’s 1p Challenge monies to my Terramundi pot. DH & DSis got home 16:30. DSis had an issue with her Oyster Card 😞 DH then spent an hour and a half on the phone (an hour just waiting to talk to someone 😠) DSis now needs to get a new card ☹️ DH & I had salad for dinner whilst DSis made herself beans on toast. Wudupa.
696 - 699 Kitchen recycling, cardboard packaging, drinks cans, newspaper - recycled
700 Kitchen detritus binned
Hope everyone had as good a day as possible 🙂 Sleep tight 😴 P.S. paid milkman.
MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍🥇
DH Awards: 🏅
DSis Awards:
Decluttering Target 2025: 700/2025
1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.00Be Kind. Stay Safe. Break the Chain. Save Lives. ⭐️2025 Savings Pot Challenge: As a monthly amount, running total = £299.00
Jan £5.00 Feb £12.74 Mch £23.26 Apr £32 May £43 Jun £50 July £62 Aug £71 Sep Oct Nov Dec Grand Total £18 -
A quick post before a long weekend off from workmen. Two pictures - empty kitchen and Sox's new water fountain which he is very happy if especially as I have no kitchen sink for him to use. Plasterboard and plastering have started, a few electrical bits still to do and one plumbing/gas to be moved about.
2025 Decluttering Campaign 635/2025 🏅🏅🏅🏅(🏅🏅) 🌟🌟
2025 Weight loss target 13/16 lbs
2025 1p Challenge 195/36519 -
Mrs SD, thank you for my medal which I feel I have under false pretences as I only rescued the video one! However I am putting down on my.list for the weekend to at least put them all together. Dd2 pointed out we still don't have the remote control!!
@GrannyKate the kitchen looks a fab space..I'd never seen a water fountain until the other week when I looked after my neighbours cat. Now I can't believe my dd1 didn't get ours one when they were staying with her along with the toys and new bowls.
Woke up late today which after 5ish the last few mornings is good but must dash as an in office day.
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