2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

TC77

Thanks @daisy_1571 and @Dizzcap... the garden was about 10 times the size of mine. It did cross my mind and something I tried to do in my current home when the kids were young. I'm in a lucky position that I don't have to move. Adding 15 from previous days. Sold an item and posted with packaging, added cushion to CS bag and dropped it off and started another with another cushion and jigsaw. Some garden waste - hoping neighbour will let me put in their brown bin, some photos deleted and a few emails. abit of paper out. Top and trousers from £2 CS box- I may pass on to DD2. They're things she might wear which makes me feel abit odd wearing similar things. In 1980 if my mum had worn what I was wearing i'd be horrified or I was wearing what she wore 
Good conversation with person about DD1 accident, so DD1 getting documents together and also did bank frog 
Some other packaging out. 
Forgot someone came and picked up wellies from the free site.... thought they wouldn't make it as agreed to pick up last week
687.

QueenJess

A couple more bits to declare from today:
1 - kitchen supplies used up
2 - paper reused, then recycled
1 - box recycled

New total 1,224
Use it up total 101
Net physical things in/(out) +47
Mini kitchen challenge 14/50

I've also left a Maderia cake in the tlc carriage.

@Dizzycap I thought you'd enjoy this story: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6577106/Valerie

Dizzycap

@ QueenJess - Thanks for the story, but I can't get the link open at the moment as my lappy needs a clean which I'll be doing very soon

Packed all my decluttered sales items for postie collection tomorrow:-) No helper when packing tonight so all done in 15 minutes Put food out for the foxes before I started packing who I think will come late tonight due to the babyface 'vocal' antics HRH has been sitting on her large bean bag looking out into a dark garden and is on 'Fox Watch' since I put out food   It's certianly keeping her entertained, although she was helper while I was having a shower before resuming her throne in front of the window once I'd come out of the bathroom I'm presently decluttering a large mug of coffee while taking pics to upload more decluttered items for sale and I hope they sell pronto as I'm loving the large boxes decreasing in number which has continued to inspire me to keep listing when I have the energy

On a more crazy note, one of my spare bedrooms I've decided to turn into another day room. Someone listed on our local FREE cycle page a fantastic large hardly used L shaped sofa bed which sleeps 3, if needed, and has under storage space which would be perfect for my needs We've made contact tonight and they're going to bring it in their van tomorrow morning and in turn they needed a double bed with headboard which I have, so we're doing a swapsie. I get my day room with a lovely relaxing sofa and they get a decend good quality bed which has also hardly been used - A very fair swap I can just see the posties face with the 'I knew you were moving' look as the bed goes out through the front door I can just see Babyface doing fruit-loops and rolling about on the new sofa bed which she'll think I've got for her I will have to find another ramp but I might just have a spare in one of the garden sheds, so will be trying to find that as soon as it's light Right, time to get another mug of coffee and get back to taking pics & listing. Nighty-night all xxxx

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

DH has gone out for his daily walk. I skim read a newspaper & completed the puzzles & am now ready to resume the cheerleading:

Lovely to see you back Liverpool_Anne 👋 Sorry to hear that the last couple of weeks have been so full on 😞 Sending you lots of cwtches 🤗 Great work finding time to do so much decluttering & getting tasks completed 👏 One Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 🙂 Congratulations to OH’s niece on the safe arrival of her baby 🥳 I was a tad disappointed to hear that your OH left a  mess after batch cooking ☹️ Tidying up after himself was obviously a one-off 😞

Welcome aboard the EDT Maikdonmend 👋 Lovely to meet you 🙂 Sounds like you are raring to get started & we are hear to encourage you every step of the way 😊

Lovely post TC77 😊

Great decluttering QueenJess & well done on reaching your use up target 👏 Please have a medal 🏅 to accompany your 💎 

Florenceem, pleased to hear that you had a restful Thursday morning although I see you went back to being very busy in the afternoon 😉 Makes a change that the bus didn’t pull away as you started approaching 😊 More great decluttering to the CS 👏

Crazycatlady2, sorry to hear that the wills & probate paperwork are giving you headaches 😞 I will keep everything crossed that the last test goes well & that your husband gets some answers soon 🤞 Hopefully once  treatment starts, your stress levels will start to decrease 🙏

Brie, congratulations on your prize 👏 At least you know what to do with the decorated eggs now 😉😉 

oceanspirit, no need to confess to bringing in a very few books especially as I am sure that more will go out than have come in 😊 Good luck tackling the emails 🍀 Hopefully the majority can be dealt with swiftly 🤞

TC77, keep up the good work sorting out paperwork & stationery 😊

Lovely cheerleading post sqwiffy ☺️ Your youngest DN sounds wonderful such a caring young lady 🥹 So sorry to hear about your DMiL’s rather bad fall 😢 Sending lots of gentle cwtches to her & also you & DH 🤗 A very stressful time for you all 😢 Congratulations on the new baby in the extended family 🥳 Good luck with the paperwork sorting & decluttering 🍀

Lovely cheerleading Dizzycap ☺️ Sorry to hear about the rather horrid side effects of your new meds 😢 Hopefully, the doctor can can get something sorted as a matter of urgency as not sleeping & being sick will will quickly become unsustainable 😞 Fingers crossed that you managed to get some sleep  Thursday night & felt a bit better Friday 🤞 The lilies sound absolutely stunning 😍 

Excellent decluttering of CDs Brambling 👏 worthy of a medal 🏅 which is on its way 😊 Well done on also decluttering the ‘Tardis’ magazine rack 👏

Lovely post weenancy ☺️

Broke off to make our usual Friday dinner - chicken & chips for DSis, fish, chips & peas for DH & me. Wudupa

743 - 747 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, glass bottle, 2 newspapers - recycled 

748 Kitchen detritus - binned

Wonderful post TC77 ☺️ Thank you for sharing 🥹

Liverpool_Anne, nice to know that the cake decorating class is still going on 🙂 I hope you enjoy practising piping next week - it is a really good skill to have & makes a cake look like it has been made by a professional ☺️ I wish that I had been able to have more practice when I did my course about 30 years ago. Great work completing the union thing 👏

Excellent decluttering Brie 👏

Lovely post vulpix ☺️ How exciting, a writing group 😊 You write so well when you post here that I am absolutely positive that whatever you write will be well received 🥹 A great idea to hang up clothes to remind you to iron them 👏 Had to smile at the idea that MrV & his friend were both happy to hoard an empty box 😂

I have caught up a little more but am nodding off. Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 748/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.00

Happy_Kitties

@Crazycatlady2 sorry to hear about the probate problems. I’m guessing they are stopping/starting to keep finding out more info? It is absolutely draining, a year with DDads. Once they had all the info, I would ring them once a week, they move so slowly but can accelerate once they have the info. I also ended up involving my MP who was good, then Parliament was dissolved for the election, having to wait, contacted new MP, I just explained  the situation which helped massively and ended up being given a Probate Officer by the agency which they don’t  tell you about. I didn’t know. The  officer was excellent and sorted it.

@sqwiffy thank you for your kind words, ur DMIL and me are def cut from the same cloth! I would have battled exactly the same but I’ve learnt to fly the white flag a little better now and hip and shoulder, painful and nasty to have a break in. Hopefully she is on the mend very soon. 

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger thank you for your kind words aswell. When u become paralysed as a child you have two choices, to not do anything and be defined by ur disability or choose to take the different path and live a life well, and I wanted to live a life to the best of my abilities and more which I have done, i think at times nearly caused several breakdowns in my old GP, but I think he secretly loved it!

New GP, I saw him last week. He did look nervous. I might have a minor/major issue related to the surgery, I’ve got a good one in him. He has worked at the speed of light, tests done already and I had the shock of my life to find a specialist I had been discharged  from last year, the GP had contacted them and an appointment has come through for next week which wasn’t expected or in my mind planned but I am very grateful he is looking out for me. He will definitely be getting a box of biscuits at Christmas from me! 

I am finally going to be dropping off more neutral items today. Some things there are multiples of but I have just counted as one but 

248+50= 298 neutral items so far.

Generally
195-198) charity shoeboxes x 4 also being dropped off today. The odd neutral item has been popped in them but not counted as I cannot remember!

199)-200) items x 2 sold on V, very happy
201) recycled packaging used for the above 
202) a big bag of soft plastics dropped off at supermarket recycling pont

GrannyKate

Morning all. I came back to another 66 posts unread.  I was doing well despite the chaos this week and kitchen is moving on very slowly.  Then Wednesday evening I was trying to sort out curtain issue kneeling on settee and step back only to fall straight back and hit my head on corner of a very solid oak table.  Decluttered 4 hours in A&E - one and a half inch gash has been glued together. A bit of concussion so not done much for two days.  DS2 and DiL took me out for a meal last night.  Old cardigan and top I was wearing thrown away.  I have cleared some stuff away out of living room and DS2 removed the rug which bunches up and probably why I fell.  Sox has decided he likes being an outdoor cat as long as the sun is out.  His preference is for me to leave the windows open so he can come and go - most pets are the same.  Lovely flowers from DD who is back from her travels in Far East.  Right will do some pottering - head ok if I don't shake it or bend down.  

432/3 Both lawns cut and grass in recycling
434 Bills paid and banking done
435 Clothes binned
436 Old PJs hanging together by threads binned
437 Holiday accommodation booked for Edinburgh in June with DGS1

Dizzycap

Good morning all Another day, another dollar on a very cloudy but warm morning  

Having had 3 very rough nights I finally managed 4 hours sleep and am decluttering my first mug of coffee of the day - hooray! One of the wheelies has just been decluttered and babyface is still snoring away under the duvet with her nose sticking out the bottom of the bed and not a care in the world I'll give her 20 minutes before she comes thundering down the hallway ready for action. Waiting for my new free cycle l shaped sofa bed to arrive in the next half an hour and my extra spare bed to be decluttered off to a new home Hoping to potter around a little in the garden late morning after postie has collected the decluttering parcels. I've still got my lillies to put in their pre-ready pots and give them a long watering and I'm sure my helper will have lots of fun & games along the way, including digging, so no doubt she'll be demanding a bath & swim afterwards, which she hasn't had since her op, so that delight is due
Wishing everyone a very peaceful delcuttering Saturday

TC77

@GrannyKate ... lovely flowers and hope you're recovering well from your fall. 

Awake too early again so took some files back to bed and watched TV while sorting ( does make it more enjoyable but slower!having a TV on my bedroom ( only started when recovering from an operation  and kept the TV there whixh explains going to sleep too late)
Two big files sorted and one for recyling, plastic wallets for donation hub and some paper out.
Counting as 5. 
Off soon to see if I can get zip in shorts sorted and drop off cs bag. 
Reading @Happy_Kitties and others' post reminds me of the resilence, persistence and kindness of everyone on this fast moving train..

Florenceem

GrannyKate - so sorry to hear about your fall - please rest up after a head injury. Gorgeous flowers.
I had a sit down and watched a film yesterday afternoon - Blithe Spirit. Margaret Rutherford is a brilliant actress and stole the limelight in her role.
I enjoyed it so much that I looked for another Margaret Rutherford film to watch in the evening.
I did watch an episode of The Chosen with Mr F. He was busy in his office shredding old files. There are 2 large sacks of shredding in the garage for collection next Friday.
I did loads of shredding when Mr F was ill in 2023 but left the more recent files for later sorting.
I watched the film Aunt Clara in the evening.
Had a long lie in this morning.

dND

@GrannyKate Gentle hugs and take it easy, it takes longer than you think to recover from concussion - no personal experience just used to watch cycling 😁.

@Dizzycap You mention boxes from Mr S; do you have to ask for them?  I'm on the frontier of Mr S's territory so only a small supermarket and I haven't seen any lying around and the nearest big branch is in the city, not far away but a bit of a stressful drive.

Well done everyone, you've all been so busy.  I'm trying to ramp up what I do again but it's slow going.  I'm hoping to get blood test results next week and see where we go from there.
I'm actually quite pleased to see the rain this morning: It means that I can't do anything outside so I have to do a bit of the inside work. 🤣

Spider alert!!

Yesterday however, I did make it into the garden and start a bit of a clear up.  It's the weekend of the City Nature Challenge so I snapped away at some of the things I saw while clearing.  My highlight was a Woodlouse spider - I can cope with spiders as long as I can do it on my terms!  I moved something and there were 2 underneath.



I might go and turn over a few more bits this weekend and see what else I can find. 😁

Decluttering wise, 4 more bags of hedge trimmings went out in the waste collection this week and I've also worked out how to deal with the wood waste I have.  I bought and incinerator a week or so back and I will cut all the pieces of wood to fit into that to be burnt.  The though of piling it into the car and the 18 mile round trip to the tip was a blockage especially with having to book a time slot.  These days I can't guarantee when and if I'll feel fit enough to work under that time constraint/pressure especially as I know how difficult the access is at the main tip.

Today's plan is to start on the wood filler in the spare room and the leftovers will start filling the wood cladding in the kitchen where the old sockets were taken out.  After that it will be back to my 2 large Rooms of Doom and sort a bit more of my craft mountain.  I keep looking at things to go but I still want to do all of it. 🤣  That said I did declutter a large tapestry floor stand, a bag of embroidery thread and a couple of cross stitch kits to my DD when she was here a week or so ago. 😁

I have identified that I will no longer be using my Tu99erware so that's being cleaned and I'm hoping to get my son to walk me through using V.  I have a much better memory recall of things I see being done than things I read, probably more to do with the scrolling/flicking back and forth on the computer screen.

But none of that will get done if I don't finish getting up 🤣 

Have a great Saturday everyone. Dx