2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

daisy_1571

Ooh Grannykate  I feel your squish!  More than 45 years ago I used your sick-finding-in-the-dark technique after my dog was sick in my bedroom doorway.   Can still feel the squish through my toes!


Dxx

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 dull but currently dry day with a forecast high of 19°C (although it feels cooler due to a chilly breeze). Low is 10°C & there is an 80% chance of rain from 15:00. DH was up quite early to take in some parcels so stayed up to watch the MotoGP races. I got up 12:30 & as 2 of the parcels had been requested by me, I unpacked them. The first is an oil spray glass bottle to assist in reducing oil when cooking (a little tweak to help DH in his weight loss & will also help me) The 2nd was a box of 6 fridge tidies as my fridge is a mess. I have already organised the fridge contents using all 6 boxes. Looks a lot better so now I will be able to quickly clean the fridge - a job for this afternoon. 14:35 the drizzle has started 🙁 Still drizzling when DH left on his walk. The oil spray bottle has been washed & dried & is now full of olive oil & in my newly clean & sorted condiments cupboard 🙂

1715 - 1719 Cardboard packaging, 3 cardboard boxes, paper packaging - recycled

1720 Plastic packaging - binned

I have my 2nd cuppa, timer is on so ready to start the cheerleading 😉

vulpix, yippee to clearing the back garden 🥳  Fingers crossed that your provisional moving date becomes your actual moving date so that you can book a van 🤞 This “I have realised why this move is so stressful compared to previous moves. The chuffin internet. Contact from the solicitor several times a day informing every high and low. I think in the past you would only get to hear of things on a need to know basis.” would drive me to distraction 😱 as I am a natural born worrier 😞  I loved This “Today we are off to Sheffield. My bangle with all my rag tag collection of diamonds is ready. Sounds very grand to have a diamond collection. Just unworn rings really.” ☺️ I do hope you will honour us with a photo 🙏 As you are so far ahead with the packing, it was inevitable that you would be looking for something to keep you occupied until your moving date😉😂 Although I am pleased to hear that MrV is a convert to furniture restoration ☺️ Such a lovely Stepson 🥹

Liverpool_Anne, Friday sounds like a wonderful day 🥹 Good luck to you & ln when you assemble the flat pack upholstered wingback chair 🍀

Brie, love it 🥰 Unintentional decluttering with the added bonus of finding something you possibly thought was lost 👏 Just wondering if you have a neighbour who could keep an eye on the tomatoes whilst you are away 🤔 

Crikey what a busy & productive Saturday GrannyKate 🤩 Excellent decluttering  👏 Thanks for the reminder about birthday cards - I really need to pull my finger out & get mine written 😉 Good luck with This “I am working myself up to throwing a large bowl away.  It was a permanent fixture of my childhood but it has been so badly broken and repaired over the years that it remains hidden away.  Even in perfect condition it has very little value possibly £30-£40 so I really don't see any point in keeping it.  I can just see my children's reaction when I'm gone 'straight in the skip' and I wouldn't blame them.  Those memories are mine alone and mean nothing to them.” 🍀 Surprising the item/s which cause the most angst & difficulty in decluttering 😞 Enjoy using your carpet cleaner 😉

vulpix, so pleased to hear that the jeweller has done a good job with the bangle ☺️ Although sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell 😞 Please try & get some rest 🙏 & remember the TLC Carriage is open 😉

 suzeesu2000, another of our Declutterati family who had a busy Saturday 🤩 Excellent work both tidying & decluttering 👏 Also well done on getting space in your freezer 😊 Just remember that this is not an excuse to go food shopping 😉🙊 Frankie is such a cutie 😻 love his teeny white socks ☺️ It beggars belief how cruel some people are 😖 thank goodness for lovely people like yourself 🥹 

StickyTheStickInsect that sounds very complicated 😥 Hopefully the concrete will dry quickly despite the rain 🤞I do hope the ‘guy’ is coming back to rebuild the shed 🤞 I suppose you could say that the wet weather has been fortuitous as you had to bring in all the boxes from the shed 😉 & found several items that belonged in the kitchen 😊 Although it is a shame that some of the food was ood ☹️ 

DH was out for over an hour & got a bit damp 🙁 I did break off here to put the meat in the oven & prep all the veg. Should have posted this at the time but better late than never 😉

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 🏅

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1720/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00

TC77

Hope everyone is safe indoors with the terrible weather ( it's windy and torrential rain here) I went out with friends yesterday to a book slam.( readings comedy and music and open house today but several hours of tidying..sorted larder and fridge , 9 out of date items out and used up only slightly out of date red lentils for a stew.
I had a freestanding clothes rail in my bedroom which is now in dd2 study/ airing room.as will use when I can't hand things outside to dry and keep some coats as now hanging space in the hall.
Put away summer things and got out winter.  2 more pairs of trousers for cs, although good quality decided hassle to list and have large bag that I may ask my cousin to help me release or I may do myself..
Hoovered and dusted bedroom and made bed.
Hoping donation hub will take a tv and lots of pairs of tights.
Dropped off medicines yesterday.
Also card sent from stash and have more bdays coming up..some small wooden hangers I'm going to offer dd1 when I see her. 
Reminding myself if I have less easier to keep tidier. Going to ask friend to help me hang curtains I bought in cs some time ago but dd2 didn't want them chaning. One of the old one fell down so decided will change and see if I like ( dd2 away til next summer) if not to the cs and if I do hope dd2 will not notice or be more chilled! 

Floss

GrannyKate said:

DD has decluttered her two today.  One to an archaeological trip to Athens before he starts year 3 and the other (with her horse) to her first term at uni.  I need to go and sort tea for DGS4.

I'm intrigued - is your DGD doing something horse-related at uni? 

Floss

TC77 said:

Reminding myself if I have less easier to keep tidier. Going to ask friend to help me hang curtains I bought in cs some time ago but dd2 didn't want them chaning. One of the old one fell down so decided will change and see if I like ( dd2 away til next summer) if not to the cs and if I do hope dd2 will not notice or be more chilled! 

My view of my kids opinions on things is "it's my home, as long as I pay the bills I will have casting vote". I appreciate that your girls have strong views, but as you say, DD2's away for almost a year x

suzeesu2000

Thank you to everyone who said my boy is handsome. He is also a stinker!
I have got it bad, this decluttering bug. And I am feeling much better mentally too now there is less. 

Yesterday was washing, drying and ironing. Today was folding everything on the airer and putting the whole lot away. 

Sorted through both freezers. Only had to bin a tiny bit of chicken that was freezer burnt and gross. We seem to have accumulated a ton of crumbs in the drawers though, not breadcrumbs more like flakes of crusty bread which is weird as I never put any in the freezer. Anyways, all listed now so I know what I have and am better able to meal plan. Did that today too. Second week of no shopping. We have ample food without buying any more. 

This evening I cut down a beaded door curtain to go at the bathroom window. Ours is always open and I can’t cope with wasps getting in, they terrify me as a result of getting one caught in my hair when I was young. Also I have to go to hospital if I get stung as I swell up like Violet Beauregard, although I don’t turn blue! I now have 2 tubs of wooden beads. 

Put all the recycling out ready for Mondays collection.
Have a brilliant week all, night night xx

TC77

@floss I agree.  Dd1 has no interest but dd2 is neurodiverse and prob ASD but couldnt cope with other diagnosis..she chose the current curtaina but I am  asking friend to help next week as they're too heavy and big to do myself.
I was telling myself how well I'm  tidying as I carried a big basket of washing and a bag of 'unsures' downstairs and couldn't see I'd left someone on the stairs to move later. Small tumble but should make me get rid of more this week. 
The hope is by tinkering around the edges I'll get to the heart of the chaos at some point. 
Another pen used up and a little paper/ digital decluttering.  1625.

Dizzycap

suzeesu2000 said:

And this is my fluff: Frankie. Poor little man had a hard start to life and is a proper scaredy cat. He adores DH, follows him about all over. I love him to pieces but he’s still a bit wary of women, sadly the person who caused his sad start was a women. He does come to me and we enjoy tickles and playtime but he’s not ready for cuddles or being picked up yet. We’ve had him since December 2023, he was about six months old when he came to us so still a baby. Thought you might enjoy a pic, cos I think he’s so handsome, but I may be slightly bias! 

I just popped in & this was the first post I was given - What a gorgeous cutie!      It's always so sad when an animal has such a bad start, but with endless patience & love, they can eventually turn the corner   

I hipe to catch up with all the posts at some point but been rushed off my feet for the past couple of weeks and next week won't be much better - endless appointments & trying to keep things just ticking along decluttering wise Although, I'm still decluttering sold decluttered items off every day, so the space is increasing The girls are doing fine with plenty of crazy antics and they are total terrors when they play together. Gorda is staying with me at the moment as I've had to put her back on antibiotics for a couple of weeks and I need to check her eating / weight and assist with any inflamation & pain she may unfortunately have  Bless her   Take care all & ta-ta for now xxxxx

BlueJ94

Morning all back to it! 

Nice and early one this week, im 5.30/2.30 shifts! I'll be home by 3pm latest! But i am so tired already, one of the dogs has been sick this morning so I was awoken by 4am to clean the bedroom floor. Won't go into too much detail, won't wanna ruin anyone's breakfast 😂

Not much planned for today, its wet and windy as usual. Still waiting on CC to arrive and im still being very impatient about it haha!

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 continued: it rained on & off all afternoon & evening with a couple of short but heavy downpours. Watched the athletics & then watched/listened to a two hour programme about Iron Maiden’s 2008 World Tour 😅 whilst cooking dinner - roast beef, roast potatoes, parsnips & carrots, cabbage + broccoli & cauliflower from the freezer, Yorkshire puddings & hm gravy. Dinner was delicious - especially the tender beef & the roast potatoes which were crispy on the outside & fluffy on the inside 🤤 DH headed out for a 2nd walk after dinner. Confession time, I never did get around to cleaning the fridge 😔 a job for tomorrow as I have written a To Do list rather than relying on my memory 🙊 Wudupa

1721 - 1722 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

1723 - 1724 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

Back to the cheerleading:

vulpix, I do so admire cats who rule the roost 🥹 I think I would like to come back as a cat 😂 I am hoping that it is a quiet road outside your new home 🤞Sorry to hear that you are still feeling rough ☹️ please try & get some rest 🙏

Liverpool_Anne, that must be some sort of record for putting flat pack furniture together 👏 You & ln are a good team 😊 I am keeping everything crossed that This “I might have found a teenager to help with some of the heavy moving of the wood shed but not counting my chickens just yet 😂” comes to fruition 🤞I do hope OH is tidying up after all the cooking is done 😉 or is that too much to hope for 🙊 Thanks for This “Mrs SD your comment about meal planning reminded me that I have started a thing in a little notebook. Like a lot of people I suppose I get worn out with the "what shall we have for tea?" question so I wrote down all the meals we both like. OH and I alternate with the cooking. I only cook veggie meals but OH will sometimes do 2 meals, veggie for me and some meat for OH. Then I wrote down the days for 2 weeks and filled in what I had cooked on those days and when it is finished I will have 4 weeks of meals to refer to for when I cook iyswim. I have tried getting OH involved in the meal planning but have met resistance so I am sorting what I can for when I cook and when OH asks for suggestions I say whatever you want to cook 😂. I am hoping this will result in some engagement with the meal planning and make the shopping easier 😂” My issue is that unlike me & DH who will eat most things or at least give them a try, my DSis is rather fussy & her idea of giving things a try is a teaspoon of something 😞 Any ideas 😉

Willowtree222, now that was lucky that your dad mentioned he was going to the Tip 😊 Good work sorting your fridge 👏

BlueJ94, camping 😥 no wonder you finished off the gin 😂 Wonderful pics & the dogs definitely look like they enjoyed themselves 🤩 I love the picture of the cove - you are an excellent photographer 👏 😉 I assume that the flower arch is for weddings 🤔 

Lovely post Muddy_Walker 😊 Good luck with This “I have been sorting out a kind of plan for my new normal and pacing myself. So far so good!” 🍀

GrannyKate, 🤢 Poor Sox 😔 maybe he was just giving you an extra reason to try out the new carpet cleaner 😉 Joking aside I hope Sox is OK after a day of dry food 🙏  You have been busy what with the carpet cleaning, gardening & cooking 👏 This “DD has decluttered her two today.  One to an archaeological trip to Athens before he starts year 3 and the other (with her horse) to her first term at uni.” is one way of ‘decluttering’ 😂

Green_hopeful, re using a carpet cleaner This “…. I am pretty sure that soap is designed to change to dirty brown to make you feel like it was worth it.” had me in stitches 🤣

BlueJ94, I will keep everything crossed that there is no flooding 🤞

Excellent & eclectic decluttering florianatwobob 👏 Free coffee grounds 🙂 I think your DSis should have sneaked a couple of quick photos of people’s expressions 😉 Pleased to hear that you had a skilled phlebotomist 😮‍💨 Here’s hoping the genetic testing doesn’t highlight any issues 🙏

daisy_1571, yuck 🤢 

TC77, the wind wasn’t too bad here but now at 03:00 it has really picked up 🙁 I had to look up Book Slam - sounds wonderful & very MSE 😊 Excellent work with the tidying & decluttering 👏 & Great work sorting clothes 👏 very impressed that you have already put away your summer clothes 😊 Good luck hanging the curtains 🍀

Floss, This “My view of my kids opinions on things is "it's my home, as long as I pay the bills I will have casting vote". I appreciate that your girls have strong views, but as you say, DD2's away for almost a year x” also had me in stitches just as I was recovering from Green_hopeful’s observation 🤣

suzeesu2000, such a pleasure to hear This “I have got it bad, this decluttering bug. And I am feeling much better mentally too now there is less.” 🥹 Excellent work dealing with your laundry & sorting both freezers 👏 & Well done on having a 2nd week of no shopping 👏 not only are you using up food stocks but you are also saving money 🥳 Ouch re This “…. I have to go to hospital if I get stung as I swell up like Violet Beauregard, although I don’t turn blue! 😣 

TC77, re This “I was telling myself how well I'm tidying as I carried a big basket of washing and a bag of 'unsures' downstairs and couldn't see I'd left some(one) on the stairs to move later. Small tumble but should make me get rid of more this week.” you really are doing well 👏 but I am sorry to hear about the fall 😔 Hope you are OK & haven’t hurt yourself 🙏

Dizzycap, wow you have been busy 🤩 I do hope you are taking care of yourself as well as you are taking care of Babyface & Gorda 🙏 Great work with your sales & yippee to having more space 👏🥳

BlueJ94, so you are getting up & getting ready for work just as I am going to bed 😧 Sorry to hear about your poorly dog 😔 Hope he is OK now 🤞I am also keeping everything crossed that the new CC is waiting for you when you get home 🤞as I can see that you are raring to get started on your debt reduction plan 🥹

Yippee all caught up 🥳 so I will post & head to bed. Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 🏅

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1724/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00