2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

_Dolly_Rocker_

Hey all, 

Been lurking and not so great with keeping up on the posting. 

New month so I am going to set a small goal to declutter 30 items. That doesn't sound like a lot but I struggle to let things go so it will be a task for me. 

I'm also going to list 15 things on Vinted to try and make some extra money. 

Hugs to everyone who needs one. 

Dolly

London_1

Hi Chums , we've been so  busy with a lot of visitors over the summer, got some more coming this Saturday, then apart from DGS Mikey being here until the end of the month I think we have a break.
He goes back to Uni on the 27th until Christmas. DD is taking him and his goods and chattels to the mainland at Liphook there he will be shuttled by his brother Jack who is driving down from Goudhurst to pick him up and then drive him up to Colchester bless him.
 Its easier as being island residents we get a discount on the ferries so it worked out cheaper, plus Jack hasn't got to drive quite so far.

I did a bit of decluttering this morning and have a cardboard box of stuff to go to the charity shop I'm getting quite ruthless
If its not been used or touched in 6 months then I'm not going to miss it if its gone   DD has caught the habit now and as she has lost some weight she is getting rid of stuff too big for her via Vinted and Ebay and buying smaller sizes

DGS Ben is coming over for a week next month and I have a small list of little jobs for him He likes to do things when he's here if he's not fishing and is always happy to do bit and pieces for me I have bought some of the stuff to go behind my bedroom radiator which reflects the heat out so he will fit that for me, plus another couple of things so I'll keep him busy
We have long chats about politics and how he sees things and we get on very well My DD with whom I share a house has zero interest in the news, and I don't think she has read a paper in years, she says its too depressing  

 My eldest DD who lives in Kent is interested, but then she did politics at 'A' level and has always been a keen news addict.

I have rejoined the U3A over here, and look forward to the first monthly meeting on the 11th of this month. I have a Knit and Natter group I go to every Wednesday morning which is lively, and at times extremely funny as our ages range from 45 -85 and we all love a good natter whilst knitting or crocheting .

The weather has been extremely like a new born baby ...wet and windy ,  and its not due to brighten up until Friday.
We went to see the 'scooter ride out' at the bank holiday in Ryde where thousands of vintage scooters come over every year and it was really good fun to see them all parading.

today its absolutely tipping down so this afternoon I shall be making some tomato soup and using up some of the amazing bumper crop of tomatoes that we raised this summer. We are eating our way through the spuds we grew as well and I have a chilli plant I bought half price at 50p from B&Q which just was in need of some TLC I'm not sure if they are edible as I've never seen purple chilli's before but we must have a good dozen on the plant and its done very well.I'll have to google and see if we can eat them and if so they will be picked, diced and frozen for use in the winter. Lots of blackberries still around ,my late Ma-in-law who lived on the island used to say if there was a big crop on the hedges it usually meant a cold winter !  I hope not but just in case I'm stocking u on bits to save going shopping too much Dried stuff especially 
Right high time for another cuppa as the kettle is calling 

take care all and onwards and upwards with the decluttering

JackieO xx

CRANKY40

Good afternoon 😊

I tidied half of the freezer on Saturday then stopped as the bin doesn't get emptied until tomorrow and I didn't want to fill it to the brim too soon. On my way downstairs to tackle the freezer I also collected the contents of the coat hooks in the hall most of which have not been touched for some time. Ds and I went through them together with the upshot that a bag of wreckage went into the wheelie bin and there is a bag of coats and hoodies in the boot of my car to be dropped off to the local mission. We ended up with two hooks each for coats that we actually use. 

Coat hook contents and the freezer cleanse added up to 40 items out altogether. There were a few mystery bags in the freezer even though I'm usually quite good with labels. Things have also been reorganised into the correct shelf categories. The declutter total for August was 200 things exactly as I gave myself the day off on Sunday. 

This morning I sorted another freezer shelf so another 5 things out and a trundle round upstairs with a bag in my hand has produced another 10 things for the charity shop (a sweatshirt that just isn't comfortable, a candle, a small ceramic pot, that kind of thing). 

Today is not a day off and I have a long "to do" list (some things can be transferred to later in the week if necessary) so I'd best carry on. Take care all of you 😊

BlueJ94

Afternoon all! My aim when I go home is to tackle some more clutter in the room of doom, annoyingly our black bins get emptied every 21days and the next time its emptied is 12th! I also have some Vinted parcels to pack and get ready to send.

Green_hopeful

@CRANKY40 that reminds me I have a tub of something red to identify in the freezer. Its only 500mls. It could be chili or bolognaise sauce or something entirely different. My worst unidentifiable freezer item experience was something I thought was parmesan cheese but turned out to be white chocolate cheesecake. Not sure how I managed that. 

I use masking tape and a sharpie pen which works really well especially when you put the same thing back into the pot so you can keep the label. 

BlueJ94

I need your guys words of wisdom here.. it may seem silly but!

I have a cute little yellow chair that I bought out of the inheritance money i was given when my Grandad passed away from Covid a few years ago. Now my predicament is, I dont use the chair, it sits in the room of doom. It seems sentimental but I do not use the item at all, its just in the way. Do I get rid of the chair? I cant donate to a charity shop as it doesnt have rhe fire safety tag. Should I give it away on Facebook?! 

Please be as honest as you can!

_Dolly_Rocker_

@BlueJ94 What would your Grandad do? I always think like this when it's stuff I would ask my Granny and she'd be like get rid if you don't need it.

_Dolly_Rocker_

Anyone else really struggle with housework? I live alone so have no one to blame but myself but I just can't keep on top of it then before I know it every counter is cluttered, there's piles of clean washing all over the dining table, everything all needs done at the same time and my brain is like aaaaaaargh!

Muddy_Walker

BluJ94…..I had a good think about this. Before you get rid of it and think oh no….are there any shawls or embroidery you want to keep and can artfully drape over it? Perhaps a favourite soft toy! Keep it is a memory chair? So that when the ROD has been done you will have a fond memory sitting there? Perhaps put a couple of favourite books and a candle on the seat?
Just because it was made a chair doesn’t mean it has to remain a chair……

MW x

Muddy_Walker

Dolly rocker rather than spend chunks of time cleaning spend chunks of time putting things away…….never put things down put them away within 5 mins of putting them on an available surface.
Then you can put on your favourite music and zoom away with a duster or damp cloth 😊 and it will take much less time !

In my head that made perfect sense….🤔