2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

CRANKY40

@Muddy_Walker Rogan looks gorgeous in both his before and after photos.

@Dizzycap I was just watching a youtube video of a cat using talking buttons (they were originally bought for a dog) and I thought "I bet babyface could do that".. Then I had another thought which was the next news bulletin after babyface being taught to use those would be "Daxie now in charge of 10 Downing Street" 😁

Declutteriing totals for the end of this week are 5 for Thursday as we were out most of the day, 15 for Friday (another small part of ds's room sorted), 15 for yesterday and 5 for today. Today's figure is low as I took ds for bird feeding supplies this morning then this afternoon I went to visit my late dad's cousin. I took her 4 stalks of the unstoppable rhubarb from the garden which she said was better than a bunch of flowers. I've also pulled another 12 stalks ready to give to friends tomorrow (4 each for 3 people). 

I'm going to start making dinner soon - the cat is always keen to help with any spare chicken decluttering. I'm tired and a bit sore today though so it won't be anything fancy. Take care all of you 😊

Florenceem

Yesterday our friend took us to Whitstable for Mr F's Echocardiogram. Mr F's heart was behaving well during the test.
The heart test he had on Thursday was an Electrocardiogram.
In the afternoon my youngest daughter called here with some recycling for the charity shop and SA.
Mr F and I walked to the nearby As.. to get some milk.
Just got home when middle daughter and granddaughter called by to collect a frog - the invisible zip job. I had also repaired my daughter's dress sleeve.
Mr F and I watched The Chosen season 3 episode 2.
I found a really old film to watch - 1931 - the make up on the stars was funny. The film was The Bad Sister - starred a young Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart.
I am enjoying watching the old black and white films.
The other film we watched last night was The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case - featuring a very young Lloyd Bridges.

regnbue

Hi everyone

Sending hugs to all those struggling and/or in the TLC carriage.

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger Yes I am going on the bullet train when I'm in Japan.  Thank you for the gold star, medal and flowers.

I am late for declaring items decluttered for March and April so here goes:

159-165 ood food x 7
166-168 2 cards, 1 stamp from stash
169-171 3 emery boards
172-175 4 items sold on fleabay
176-178 3 clear nail polish
179-183 darning x 5
184 1.5 boxes used for fleabay parcels
185 newspapers reused as packaging
186-188 plastic packaging repurposed as rubbish bags 
189 artificial purple poppy to Bob the Cat
190-192 soft plastics x 3
193-196 45+ papers - counting as 4
197-198 2 mags
199 cleaning product
200 melted rubber glove
201 holey trousers
202 mattress protector
203 sooperglue
204 broken clothes peg
205 cracked cat mug (a fave because it looks like my old cat).  However when I purchased it (about 15 years ago) I did buy two...just got to find the other one now. 

I am gradually filling a bag for the cs which I will count when full.  This includes a top bought approx 3 years ago from the cs, never worn, still has tag.  I wondered if it was too low in the neck - most things are on me.  I went to try it on and it was like being in a straightjacket, way too tight.  Also if it had fitted the neck would also be too low.  Easy decision.

"Ins" to follow.

Keep going everybody

Regnbue

Decluttering 205/500     Nail polishes 2/28        Cleaning products     2/22    Hair mousse    0/7   

Make £350 in 2025   £132/£350        Sell 50 items fleabay/FB   15/50      Items in 33

Beauty face masks 0/9     Bags dishwasher salt 0/3      Puzzle books 0/12

2025 ⭐️ 🏅💐💐

2024 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅💐

2023 🏅🏅🏅 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💐 💐 💐 💐

regnbue

My "ins" for March and April are:

34  small toy panda from a friend.  Apparently it cleans your computer screen?
35  box of glasses wipes (replacements)
36  plastic bunny plate (I'm mad about bunnies so only buying just this at Easter was pretty good going for me although it is quite big.  If I don't use it enough this year it will go to cs.
37-46  10 birthday cards (for £1! very MSE) (replacements)
47  large bag of bubble wrap from a friend (replacement)
48-50  3 pairs xmas socks with tags from a friend

The same friend also passed me some shower gel and 5 rolls of kitchen paper none of which I will count as I have already started using them.

He also surprised me with an old book about Bunty as I had mentioned I used to read the comic as a child and my favourite thing to do was cut out the Bunty figure and her outfits on the back page and put them together.  He had gone to a lot of trouble to find it and the bookkeeper had done some restoration on it which was thoughtful of him.  However I had to have a firm chat and reiterate I AM decluttering so, whilst appreciating the kind gesture, no more items given unless they are disposable - hence the kitchen paper!

Regnbue

Decluttering 205/500     Nail polishes 2/28        Cleaning products     2/22    Hair mousse    0/7   

Make £350 in 2025   £132/£350        Sell 50 items fleabay/FB   15/50      Items in 50

Beauty face masks 0/9     Bags dishwasher salt 0/3      Puzzle books 0/12

2025 ⭐️ 🏅💐💐

2024 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅💐

2023 🏅🏅🏅 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💐 💐 💐 💐

TC77

Lots going on with everyone. The hug cupboard is bursting so help yourselves - I think it was a drawer but I'e now made it a cupboard bursting full of hugs for anyone and everyone.
Quick pop in as off to bed, up at 5.30 after 6ish the last few days so trying to adjust bedtime. Been non stop but slow going, quite a lot of cleaning, dropped off couple of things at donation hub today and CS yesterday. More tinkering but counting 10 as paper and some debris out as well as donations. 785

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, managed to get into the garden and start on the rose chopping 😁. I got 3 vases full of flowers because I couldn't bear to put them in the green bin, they smell so nice 😁 and 15 cuttings planted and watered. Not sure if they will take but nothing lost except a little rooting gel that I already had 😁. Some bits of leaves and stalks into the green waste bin. I will do another chunk tomorrow 😁. Also got 2 LDFPA and the kitchen bin was emptied.
After tea I had a fight with the internet which kept dropping out but it seems to be ok now, much sweary swearing 😂 as I was trying to sort out a frog which will have to wait until tomorrow now as I lost patience with it 😁. and I did some crochet. Also used some wrapping paper for 2 birthday presents and sorted a birthday card from stash that will be put in the post tomorrow, I have a stamp,  but the presents will have to go to the post office on Tuesday. A bracelet box has been reused for one of the presents 😁.

I watched the footy on tv, we were soundly beaten as we were rubbish so serves us right 😐. 

I am off to bed now as I am knackered again 😂
Take care everyone

600 chunk of rose
601 kitchen bin
602 & 603 LDFPA
Take care everyone
603/2025

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

Sunday is a lot cooler with limited sunshine & a chilly breeze - high of 14°C & a low of 7°C DSis spotted a/the woodpecker on the fat ball (I failed in my attempt to get a photo) DH checked his phone & he has a gorgeous photo of a woodpecker which was taken on the 4th May 2024 🤩 Who knew woodpeckers know the date 🤣 Apart from finally turning the mattress & making the bed, a completely lazy day, so will attempt to catch up with the cheerleading starting from Friday’s posts:

Crikey Dizzycap, an early & busy start to Friday 🤩 I was exhausted just reading about your early morning exploits 🥱 & your plans for the rest of the morning/day. Hopefully babyface will leave water in the pool when she commences her training for the doggy Olympics 😉 

TC77, good luck with ‘project duvet cover’ 🍀 Well done with the decluttering, great & steady progress 👏 Hopefully your cousin will be able to help you reach even more great decluttering decisions 🤞 What a very kind man at the CS 🥹

daisy_1571, wonderful post about using up material 🥹 I am almost tempted (as I have various pieces of material although none as large as the fabric that TC77 has) but will follow the advice in your last sentence “Don't get derailed into all that at the moment, just fold them neatly somewhere just now and carry on your decluttering which you seem to be really getting on top of now  😆” although I am not doing as well with my decluttering as TC77 is 😉

ruby_eskimo thank you for the lovely compliment ☺️ Sorry to hear that “life just got a little too much with lots of stressful things…..” 😞 & I hope that life has now settled down & that the stressful issues have been resolved 🙏 Good luck sorting out the wardrobe & the final suitcases full of clothes 🍀 Thanks for This “You don't need it.  You want it.  You're bored.  You're anxious.  You can't find what you have.  You forgot what you have.  Take the time, instead of shopping and go thought your stuff to see what you have an know what you need.  Appreciate and use the thinks you spent so much time and energy to buy and keep"

Florenceem pleased to hear that MrF managed to attend the Falls Clinic on Thursday, despite the confusion 🙂 Hopefully the exercise team can help MrF 🙏 Although I am a tad confused as to why MrF has already been discharged from the Falls Clinic 🤨 Surely discharge should take place once the exercise team has started & finished helping MrF 🧐 A very busy Thursday, so I am pleased to hear that you managed to relax a bit in the afternoon 😊

Excellent decluttering Pennypincin 👏

Excellent tidying work on Friday QueenJess 👏

TC77, shame your cousin isn’t coming this weekend ☹️ but on the flip side it means that you can fill the ‘2nd opinion needed’ bag 😉 I loved This “……..have long list of frogs and also areas I want to declutter but know its the equivalent of my eyes are bigger than my tummy, in that I want to do all these things but in reality if I did half I would be v happy.” 😊  I need a kick start with my decluttering, so I think I will try your approach 🤔 Well done on the decluttering, well on target 👏 I do hope you are using your Egyptian cotton sheets - sleeping in luxury 😊

Lovely cheerleading Dizzycap 😊 Sorry to say, that all 3 of us like After Eight mints, so won’t be sharing 😉 A very busy Friday - pleased to hear that ‘sales’ are still going well 👏 I will keep everything crossed that it is only a slight blip in babyface’s recovery 🤞 & that you both get plenty of rest over the weekend 🙏

weenancy, I loved This “Was there with four men and the director who is a she - and guess who ended up fixing everything. The director and I.” Sounds like the FamilySearch Center needs to invest in a maintenance worker 😉 How wonderful that you have another string to your family research bow 😊 Pleased to hear that roommate G is home 😊 Hopefully, having had such a big scare, it might be just the kick start he needs to stop drinking 🙏 It sounds like you needed the sleep, so I hope that you can continue catching up by having a quiet weekend 🙏 Fingers crossed that if it does rain, only enough falls to help water plants 🤞

Dizzycap, pleased to hear that you are getting some sleep now that you have some spine support bedding 😊 as long as babyface doesn’t beat you to it 😉 I hope you managed to get back to bed after hanging out the washing on Saturday 🤞

TC77, those tablecloths sound beautiful & I imagine there will be plenty of people who would buy them 😊 Nothing wrong with your method of decluttering as ‘tinkering’ frequently provides good results 👏

Dizzycap, what a great result 👏

Lovely cheerleading post Liverpool_Anne ☺️ My gift from the P.O. Lady was so unexpected I almost shed a tear. Nice to know that OH is on board with the towel decluttering 👏 hopefully it isn’t because he would like some brand new towels 😉😉 Great decluttering 👏

TC77, This “Liverpool_Anne  you made me smile about grave goods. DD1 and me were talking a while back about all my crockery and glassware etc and she suggested that it could be buried with my pharaoh style for my use in the after world!  Made me think that I don't want some of it coming with me 😆” not only made me smile but gave me food for thought 😊 Just what would I want to ‘take’ with me 🧐 Excellent decluttering 👏 & well done on starting a new CS bag 👏

Brie, that did make me laugh 🤭 

Muddy_Walker, what lovey eyes Rogan has 😍 Excellent news that the remortgage frog is finally completed 🥳 I am not quite sure why the  ‘specialists’ nowadays seem to think that their clients don’t know what they want 😡  & almost insist on making life difficult  😥 After all they have supposedly been trained in their jobs & are being paid for their services 🤷‍♀️ As to the difficulty in getting a doctor’s appointment ………. talk about stressful 😣 

Dizzycap, very pleased to hear that you managed to get a bit more sleep 😊 Babyface is so lucky to have you as her butler, housekeeper, chef & nurse all rolled into one 😉 & now she has your neighbour as her builder & chief tester 😅 

Brie, useful & interesting information - thank you 👏

Liverpool_Anne, Saturday might not have gone as planned but what an excellent amount of decluttering 👏 As your OH also pitched in, I am awarding each of you a medal 🏅 🏅 

I have caught up a couple of pages & seeing as I am running out of charge I will stop here. Dinner was lamb shoulder with a redcurrant sauce, mash, roasted carrots & green beans 😋 Wudupa

794 - 795 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

796 Kitchen detritus binned

Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 796/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.00

TC77

Mrs SD just looking at your many awards and Mr SDs and thinking your DSis should have one for making the final decision about France and closing accounts perhaps.
Project Duvet Cover may take time to happen as I think you and others may have realised that I have ideas but they need to marinate for some time, often months or even more before being put into action!
Printed a number of documents to help with frogs. Had meant to go to the Energy Ombudsman for the energy company that issues a court claim (Wrongly) against DD1 and failed to provide information, make reasonable adjustments and I had to help her with two court forms and I spent tens of hours trying to engage prior to court with written refusals to engage and litigation team coming back after court papers filed. Immediately court got papers (and they had a copy) they dropped the case and woman rang dd1 and said she'd reviewed and within 10 minutes realised they'd made a mistake. Still not go the DSAR and information I requested! Decided to have one last letter to them but need to attach documents buried in my 6000+ emails  
Arranged to see a friend later in town as had 'forgotten' about some frogs. Back to work tomorrow and 5 day weeks for a few months....
The house does look tidier and cleaner.... note not tidy and clean 

Soontobeoap

I can't keep up with this train. I don't know how you do it Mrs SD. More gardening this week. 2 bags of grass cuttings tied up into compost bags to store behind the shed. Also a bin bag of broken pots only hanging basket, plastic grow bags that are no longer any good for compost etc. also had 2 afternoons on card making from old birthday cards. Another bin bag full of off cuts, cards that are no good to use etc. so 2 more bin bags cleared.

florianatwobob

Morning everyone no decluttering done the last couple of days as DSis have been out and about gallivanting. 

In lieu of decluttering I can offer you a picture from Saturday of the beach in Whitstable, just down from the Old Neptune.