2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

QueenJess

Not much happening here with a new job, but I am trying to tidy away 10 things a day in the hope I will finally clear everything up.  Not been in the house much, so little time to declutter.

5 - paper reused then recycled 
1 - paperwork recycled

New total 3,979
Use it up total 339
Big kitchen declutter challenge 113/150

florianatwobob

Decluttered the old shower valve yesterday when my plumber installed the new one. He also took the old one away for the scrap pile at the  plumber’s
merchants which saved me a job (woohoo)! Also decluttered his payment (how I miss the days he wasn’t VAT registered). After consultation with DSis also sent him a recommendation for a private audiologist as his mum’s having sudden problems with her hearing. He’s got the same surname as us so he’s virtually family.

He also diagnosed a problem with my boiler’s shock arrestor (who knew they had one) and gave me a lesson on what it was for and its purpose all whilst downing a pint of water and propping himself up for a chat (off the clock) The boiler is still under warranty so I’ve got someone coming out to sort that on Monday. 

StickyTheStickInsect

I didn’t realise I had been away so long but I see my last post was on May 13th! I haven’t had chance to read all the pages I’ve missed, so I hope everyone is okay and there hasn’t been a London meet up that I’ve missed.

My Mum got a terminal cancer diagnosis and we moved house within a month of each other and I just haven’t had time to do anything other than focus on those two things. We seem to be settling in a bit in to the new house and have managed to get to halfway through the summer holidays without too much incident.

We’ve moved to a smaller house to be in catchment for the schools we need, so a lot of our stuff is in a container as we work through what we need. We are also waiting for planning permission for a small extension, so we’ll have an office downstairs, this will free up space in our dining room which is currently acting as a temporary office, so it is still quite chaotic.

Decluttering continues, I’ll update by month as that’s how I’ve kept note of it.

May – 2 bags to the local freebies site, 2 bags of books and toys to the local nursery and 2 bags of books and 1 bag of fidget toys to the local primary school. (7 bags in total).

June – 1 bag of shoe recycling, 3 bags of books to the primary school, half a bag to the church Sunday school, 6 bags to the tip near our old house, 20 bags to the tip near our new house, 3 bags of fabric recycling, 3 bags to the charity shop, 3 bags of books to the bookshop at our local cancer centre, 7.5 bags to a local charity that supports the homeless, 19 bags to the freebies site near our old house and 34 bags to the freebies site near our new house. (100 bags in total)

July – 6 bags of fabric recycling, 1 bag of shoe recycling, 3 bags to Oxfam by post, 1 charity shop bag, 10 equivalent bags to the tip, 27 to the local freebies site. (48 bags in total).

This makes 155 bags, which is an eye watering number and made more concerning by the lack of dent it has made in the amount of stuff we still have in the container! On top of that we have also done two car boot sales and shifted a car load of stuff but I don’t count that as a decluttering number as we made some money from it and I’ll account for it on the £2,025 thread instead.

This makes my new total 200.5/104. I think I’d like to change my yearly total to 312 bags, if I manage to reach this by the end of the year, I’ll be surprised but I think I need a big total to aim for simply because of how much stuff we have to get rid of to ensure our smaller space doesn’t become overrun with stuff!!

Love to everyone xxx

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, another hot day here so 1 LDFPA, did the union visit and managed to see someone but it is still a work in progress as they need to get back to me with some crucial information. Got home in time for the engineer who ended up installing a new smart meter for the electricity. Lets hope this one works, only taken since November for them to fix the problem 😁. The bathroom bin was emptied and 200 emails deleted. I also collected 2 bags for life of cooking apples someone had put on 0lio, very local and when cooked something OH can eat and really likes. OH has an allergy problem with some fruit that is linked to hayfever but can eat it when cooked. Unfortunately for OH I refuse to cook strawberries but happy to bake other things 😂.
The latest news on the car is that the technician couldn't fix it so we are now waiting for the master technician on Friday. The garage manager suggested it might be a fuse but when questioned admitted they don't know but anyway didn't have the tools to change a fuse. OH is now writting down all conversations and looking up no win no fee solicitors. I am just keeping quiet 😂. 
Tomorrow I have nothing in my calendar but Friday I am helping with a mosaic at the footy ground during the day and then a match in the evening, Saturday I have a friends birthday party, I do need to get a present, and Sunday we are meeting friends for a picnic in the park so I will have to try to get somethinh done tomorrow 😂

@MadamMim2013 hope the health issues are resolved soon, hugs

@Muddy_Walker I would contact the union asap. They are not just there for job threatening situations, if they are any good they should be able to negotiate a new contract to bring your pay and working conditions into line with the new team you will be linked with 😁. Give them a call, after all what are you paying them dues for if not to help in times like this 😁.

@florianatwobob I for one have never heard of a shock arrestor and am now going to have to google it 😂

Right off to bed
Hugs to everyone who would like one
1137 LDFPA
1138 bathroom bin
1139 - 1140 200 emails permanently deleted
Take care everyone
1140/2025

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

Wednesday is a cloudy day but still warm & very muggy - high 27°C low 19°C humidity 58% so feels warmer than yesterday’s 31°C  DH left at 10:00 for a day of RBR - landmarks Kent, East & West Sussex. He also took the opportunity to see his DSis, DBiL, DNiece S, DGNiece Sh & DGGNephew R who are on holiday in Camber Sands. DH stayed long enough to play ‘cricket’ on the beach with a tennis racket & bal 😂

3rd load of laundry in wm, brought in yesterday’s 1st load of washing as dry (now folded) & hung the 2nd load of laundry out to dry + now 3rd load is out. Meanwhile I have repaired a tear in another pair of knickers + repaired a long vertical tear in my favourite skirt. It is at least 35 years old & 100% viscose but is light & cool. I really must look out for another one 😉 The 2nd load of washing dried but I couldn’t risk the 3rd load as it went dark, thunder rumbled & then it heaved down 🌧️ so finished off in td. DH finally got home around 19:00 due to heavy traffic. Dinner was bacon, egg, chips & beans. Wudupa

1484 - 1488 Kitchen recycling, glass bottle, plastic bottle, drinks cans, newspaper - recycled 

1489 Kitchen detritus - binned

Lovely post vulpix 😊 I didn’t realise it had been quite so long 😱 17 months 😥 no wonder you are pleased to see the back of it 😮‍💨 although possibly a bit sad that you won’t be able to visit again 😢 Just wondering if you will still be hiring the cleaner when you are in your new home 🤔 Excellent work decluttering more clothes 👏 Absolutely no need to read in a whisper as the price equates to £18 per year & is excellent value ☺️ Hopefully the new owners will get another 10 years use 🤞

Lovely to see you MadamMim2013 👋 So sorry to hear about the health issues that you & other family members have been assailed by 😞 Sending lots of good vibes that everything can be resolved & you will all be back to full health 🙏 Great work with your listings & sales 👏 This “Yesterday however I had a “moment” the very large suitcase I had stored in the garage full of clothes (to be car-booted) was opened and the contents de-hangered and put in black bags.. I then dropped at my nearest charity shop along with a bag of paperbacks! It felt quite freeing, we’ve not managed to do a car boot again & I can’t see it happening any time soon.. The suitcase will go up in the loft for now, it can actually be used when we go away in September! 😇” is very impressive & as such deserves a medal🏅which is on its way 😊 Thank you on behalf of all of us for such a lovely compliment ☺️

Lovely post daisy_1571 😊

Excellent decluttering Rootle 👏

Nice to see you Muddy_Walker 👋 Hopefully once you have had all your tests & the results back, the doctors can start a treatment plan to set you on the road to health 🙏 As to This “…..the work demon struck. In short my little team is being ripped apart from the main team (with the lovely boss) and being amalgamated with a different team who are based up north. As we do a mix of hybrid working we don’t need to travel and can use our existing office when we need to be onsite. we were told last Friday - and move 1st September. 3 weeks notice with no idea what the transition plan will be as various people are now on holiday……as you can imagine we are furious as the northern team are on a different contract and better pay and that’s only the start of it. A formal complaint to the ethics committee is going in on the way this was done. Don’t know whether to involve the union as our jobs aren’t at risk - yet!!!! So not sure what they could do for us.” what an appalling way to treat you & your colleagues 😠  Everything crossed that the ethics committee can sort something out 🤞🤞

Happy_Kitties, shame about the cancellation of the summer charity collection 😞 hopefully it won’t take too many visits to the CS to drop off the items 🤞Excellent decluttering of general items 👏 Definitely can’t keep the cats out of the kitchen if it is a sun trap 🙊 & nice to have some company whilst you are working☺️

suzeesu2000, wow you have been busy 🤩 Good luck finding a home for the organic compost 🍀

Great work QueenJess 👏 I hope you are enjoying your new job 😊

florianatwobob, always good to have a friendly plumber especially one with the same surname 😊 Our plumber has the same first name as my DH & still likes to be paid in cash 😉 

Almost caught up but just noticed the time so will finish up tomorrow. Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1489/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00

Floss

Muddy_Walker said:

... Don’t know whether to involve the union as our jobs aren’t at risk - yet!!!! So not sure what they could do for us.

Take care all xxx

I would suggest contacting the Union - there should be protocols for consulting & advising on changes like this, and the Union should have been involved - and especially bring them in if you & the others are on different contract terms than the Northern team.

vulpix

Fabulous decluttering going on, it has inspired me to empty my wardrobe onto the bed and have a shuffle through for a charity donation bag for Saturday.

 I am very sorry to hear about your Mum Sticky. xx

 Muddy, I agree with Liverpool Anne and Floss to contact your Union.

Mrs SD, Thank you for the words of wisdom about the expensive duvet covers. I will need to buy some replacements before they can be released.
 We will keep our cleaner. She doesn't drive so will offer her lifts. The new house is probably only a mile and a half away but it's up a long steep hill, a trek in this weather. It is very close to my Mum's house. The times I have walked up and down that hill in my time you would expect it to have worn down a bit, but no.

I must say the bread belly diet isn't doing anything or should I say, I am not doing anything. I am a bit stressed about our move and Mum's house sale. I am a stress eater. I am keeping up with my sit ups though.

 laters Vx

florianatwobob

Well having a traditionally northern surname in the deepest darkest Home Counties does make me and the plumber anomalies Mrs SD  

Brie

I am hoping to be forgiven for sinning if I offer up a new twist on decluttering for the general population. 

Due to having an interest in art (aka I paint badly) I'm on various mailing lists and got an interesting email to say that one of my favourite local artists was moving soon and so was having a clear out of artwork, art materials and various other things related to her art (aka interesting pots, china, etc used in still life works).  Given that almost all of her work is done with oil pastels I thought there was little danger of me seeing anything I would want as I do mostly watercolour and so thought it safe to attend this event.  Basically she started yesterday and going until Sunday having an open house, serving tea and biscuits and selling art off her walls (stuff is floor to ceiling) plus lots of unframed things as well.  Again, her work is so expensive I knew I was in no danger of being able to afford anything beyond some of the gift cards she has which feature her pictures.  Anyways it was an interesting experience to walk into someone's house where there were price tags on a LOT of stuff with signs saying to suggest a price for something if you wanted. 

There were quite a few people there, the majority who have known her for years, who were quite happy saying "well I've got some books here, will you take a tenner?".  I considered some books but managed to stay strong but then things went wrong when I started looking at the art.  Lovely framed works reduced to £300ish?  Easy. No.  No place to hang it and I'm not going to pay that amount in any case.   A beautiful unframed picture of apples, done to perfection, just £20?  No!  I stayed strong.  So how about a charcoal sketch of her cat Thomas who was at the first art event I attended at her house about 15 years back??  Ummmm.  £10.  Ummmm.  Ah.  OK but only if she signs it.  Which she did with a flourish.  Then I looked at the art material and discovered to my dismay that there was some watercolour things available, and, worst of all, things I had recently considering purchasing but was prevaricating about the price.  OK so slightly used but double the selection that I had considered at less than half the price?  Sigh.  And a single gift card.  (more views of Thomas).  Somehow I decluttered £46 in total.  And I have to find a frame for Thomas, who is laying on his back waiting for his tum to be rubbed.  I did try out some of the art materials today at our Thursday group and I really like the result.  I'll be using water soluble crayons quite a bit I think.....  (justification??)

if you are interested - another pic of Thomas is about half way down.....Drawings & Sketch book - Felicity House Artist

Willowtree222

No new card, yet. So can't even replace the broken bottle of gin. Sighs. 

It does mean I have had to stay in though so that's a good part. 

Also, decluttered several items from the garage. No update on the listed items, yet. My neighbour is away so I have asked if I can use her bin to get rid of more items that aren't needed. A big push coming next week when DD is away. I will go through ber wardrobe and get rid of the clothes that don't fit her. I will then be able to see what she needs for winter and order accordingly. 

Used my new steam cleaner to declutter some dirt. That was almost as satisfying as getting rid of bags from the house! 

Hope everyone is having a much cooler day today. It has just started to rain here.