2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

QueenJess

StickyTheStickInsect said:

Thank you for my gold star Mrs SD!

Pleased to hear that I haven’t missed a meet up 😊

No decluttering to report, several people have been no shows for things I’ve listed on the Freebies site, it is always the same people too, I think I’ve got to the end of my tolerance for it, so I’ll either have to work out how to block them or just take things to the charity shop.

I’m about to declutter a significant amount of money as the cat has eaten part of a cardboard box and has some of it caught in her throat, so we are off to the vets later to have it sorted out. She is lovely but sometimes is just ridiculous!!

My cat (no longer with us) as a kitten used to love cardboard boxes.  He would pull them apart pretty quickly, although never ate them.  He preferred to bite a piece off and see how far he could spit it across the room.  It's a fun game

As for people not turning up, I just block them and move on.  After a few I find I know the people (although my group is local) and so don't have many problems anymore.  I know others must do as I am sure I get picked more often than I should statistically as I always make sure I pick up immediately.  I did have to restrain myself yesterday when someone was giving away an enormous french dresser (I don't have anywhere to put it, but it was lovely) and also one of those globes where you store bottles in them (so wanted that one, but again impractical for my space).

retiredinfrance

@Moorviews, have you tried th Scouts? When Bob a Job week came round they made my Mum’s life  so much easier as my Dad was useless.
Mrs Salad-Dodger , thank you so much for my two gold stars. I’m so pleased as decluttering has been slow this year. 

@QueenJess, I know what you mean about slow to use up stuff - I hate the two halves of toothpaste tube sitting on the bathroom counter but MSE makes me clean them out.
I’m so happy today! I have a plan for my two empty drawers. I have one small sock drawer and the rest are in a big bag in the walk-in dressing room . New sock situation - winter in one and summer in the other and the big bag gets emptied. There are many I think are either too tight round the ankles or on their last legs! (sorry!) 

Hugs for anyone who would like one.

vulpix

Hi, I am home, knackered. DIL’s Mum passed and she was able to be with her. She will be missed. 

Plenty of viewings to people not ready to actually buy! I have a viewing at 5pm today with someone who actually could proceed. I have got house sellers fatigue. Luckily the house only takes a few minutes to be visitor ready. I have some clean laundry to put away and a load to bring in off the line and a few pots to wash. Mr V is out all day as the car is having a service at the dealer, miles away. 

A few things out because they no longer work. Solar garden lights and my laptop charger. Mr V was able to magically produce a replacement charger from the shed. I have also used up some cleaning stuff inherited from MIL.

 I have acquired an old petrol can which I intend to make into a lamp. I have also been given a couple of sofa cushions which I hope will fit the new shoe cupboard/ seat. I bought a little paint roller to use when I paint it. I think I have suitable paint left from other jobs in the cupboard. I really don’t want to buy paint for an item that I enjoy fixing up and give it away after a while. I might try to mix a colour with what I have. I also bought 3 strawberry plants that were half price after suffering abuse in B n Q. They are already looking better with a good drink and a little hair cut. I will plant them at my son’s next week. It will be ongoing childcare for a while until nursery have an extra day availability. Fine by me, me and the 18 month old are on the same page. 7 hour round trip though. Plus I am dependent on lifts. Still the cheapest and quickest option. 

Pages and pages to catch up with. 

Vx

QueenJess

Lots of intention today, but little achieved.  Will try again tomorrow.  On the plus side, I picked up 14 free marigold plants from Buy Nothing and planted them out   Love a freebie.  I currently have a vague plan to get up early for any baking requirements, spend morning gaps sorting the library shelves and the afternoon/evening gaps doing bits in the garden.  Hopefully will get there eventually!

A bit of progress to report:

4 - paperwork shredded
1 - paper reused then recycled
1 - kitchen overstock used up
1 - seed packet used up

New total 1,372
Use it up total 124
Net physical things in/(out) +30
Mini kitchen challenge 27/50

Soontobeoap

I didn't have time for much today
 No gardening fore.bit DH red the edges
 ( He couldn't find some as I am still tidying) Anyway I.did.clear.pit the bottom of the carrier bag cupboard. I know! Bit we have many? Anyway half a bin bag of rubbish out

YBR

retiredinfrance said:

@QueenJess, I know what you mean about slow to use up stuff - I hate the two halves of toothpaste tube sitting on the bathroom counter but MSE makes me clean them out.

Yes me too - slow to use some things, I've had a hair spray for a couple of decades, I think we eventually used it up for DD1's Dance exams!

I've been doing the "tidying with a bin bag" thing in DD2's room today, and I can see the floor! It won't last long, but have found several things she claimed were lost, but were only buried <eye roll>, some of which we'd replaced too.

On the de-cluttering & packing, 

- I've found someone who'd possibly be interested in the white table cloths I was putting in the yard sale so I have to remember to dig them out from the heap;

- Have been through my own wardrobe and bed-side table but already there was nothing excessive there, I did find a sewing project in the shape of some leggings with perished elastic (Oops).

- have a box packed of worship-related stuff.

- started shredding the heap related to the end of the tax year (it goes in the compost, but not all at once)

- collected more boxes from a friendly local bookshop.

- and got distracted sewing Guide badges onto a camp blanket and names onto stuff for DD2 going to her fist guide camp this weekend.

DH has organised some appointments for quotes from removals companies, so that's another item off the list ... but 'scuse my ignorance ... is this the sort of thing referred to as "Frogs"?

StickyTheStickInsect

QueenJess said:

My cat (no longer with us) as a kitten used to love cardboard boxes.  He would pull them apart pretty quickly, although never ate them.  He preferred to bite a piece off and see how far he could spit it across the room.  It's a fun game

I wouldn’t mind quite so much if she hadn’t done this before, she had surgery 18 months ago for the same thing. We try and keep boxes out of her way but as we are packing up to move, they are everywhere and Cookie (the cat) thinks it’s Christmas!!

TC77

Arrgh seem to have lost my post!  I thought I had saved earlier. Short version, 2 jumpers in CS, one was a new to me jumper which was great til I washed it and now a size small and noticed that original label was for 2 sizes bigger so already shrunk. Item posted with packaging and some small debris out , a few emails out and some unsubscribing . DB staying and he's taking a spare three pin to 2 pin plug (seem to have 4)  and as he's staying tomorrow will hope to pass more on to him. Have pile of cycling stuff for DD2 to check when she's back, spare lights which may be useful as her uni bike was stolen I think with lights and lock broken..
Tomorrow work from home day tomorrow so hope to take shoes back I don't want, and should have call tomorrow from an email frog (from company's escalation team) as I told them I couldn't speak today. Also got partial refund for long train journey a few weeks back.
842 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, just getting back with numbers for yesterday and today. Very little done today but roof fixed 😁. 1 LDFPA and I took ln to get some plants after her dance session as she didn't have enough for her other 2 hanging baskets but we didn't get them made up. 
I have been quite dozy with the heat today and fell asleep on the couch after tea and am only now heading to bed.
Tomorrow is cake decorating but I can't remember what we are doing so have organised a big bag of stuff to take with me so hopefully I will have everything we need 😂.

Right off to bed
Hugs to everyone who would like one

690 - 698 towels
699 holes fleece
700 - 719 2 bags plastic containers , counting as 10 per bin bag
720 - 729 bin bag plant pots, counting as 10 
730 & 731 LDFPA
732 roof fixed
Take care everyone
732/2025

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

Tuesday - another bright sunny day, high 23°C  & low 13°C Yet another lazy day but gradually clearing down programmes from TV planner 😉 DH phoned at 16:45 to say he was just heading for his last landmark & then again at 19:36 to say he was on his way home. He arrived home at 22:05 - absolutely exhausted as it is hard work riding a motorbike in strong winds. DSis & I had spaghetti bolognaise again & I cooked extra spaghetti for DH. I then used the wok to stir fry spaghetti bolognaise for DH. Wudupa.

847 - 850 Kitchen & office recycling, drinks cans, magazine - recycled 

851 - 852 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

QueenJess, very impressed that you are so MSE in ‘using up’ 👏 as you say it does take longer to declutter but the bonus is that you are saving money 😊 Rhubarb & ginger is a great combination & the scones were delicious 😋 

StickyTheStickInsect, so annoying when people don’t pick up 😡 I hope your cat is OK & is recovering well 🙏

Liverpool_Anne, what a great Monday - lots decluttered & a wonderful evening spent with friends 🥹 Still keeping my fingers crossed that you can find a gardener 🤞 This “Most of the teenagers I see are not that keen on doing manual work and seem to want other types of work, the girls want to be influencers or beauty technicians and the boys want to be footballers or musicians 😂.” had me in stitches 🤣 I am still trying to work out what the heck ‘an influencer’ is/does 🤔 

QueenJess, I loved This “My cat (no longer with us) as a kitten used to love cardboard boxes.  He would pull them apart pretty quickly, although never ate them.  He preferred to bite a piece off and see how far he could spit it across the room.  It's a fun game 😆” 

Lovely post retiredinfrance 😊 An excellent plan for the two empty drawers & even more space in your wardrobe 👏

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

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’

DSis Awards: ⭐️ 

Decluttering Target 2025: 852/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.00