2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

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: reasonably bright but a lot cooler with a high of 17°C, low of 11°C but still windy although the gusts are only 29mph 😉 I am enclosing another picture of my flowers now that all the buds have opened

DH went out for his first walk after watching the MotoGP races. As I was so disappointed with the 4th Bridget Jones film I have watched the first 3 films. Sad to say that apart from the first one, I didn’t really enjoy films 2 & 3 as BJ never really appeared to grow up 😔 Oh well, I assume that is just a reflection on me ☹️ Will now do the cheerleading:

Lovely post Happy_Kitties ☺️ Excellent work with the shoebox appeal 👏 I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ for passing 750 neutral items 🤩 next one will be at 1,000 which at the rate you are going will be sometime next week 😉 Also excellent decluttering of general items 👏 you are zooming along 🥳

Excellent work Willowtree222 👏 I am especially impressed with This “Also located a lot of tea light holders when I was in my tea light phase. A lot are unused so going to make up little gifts with them for some of DD's teachers. I have bought some of the mini bottles of wine to go with them and a nice small candle. Means I save money and declutter at the same time. “ 🥳

Excellent decluttering TC77 👏 I hope you enjoy your walk & that the weather is kind 🙏

vulpix, that sounds like a wonderful day with your DD1 🥹 I had forgotten about  your cruise 😉 it must be quite soon now 🤔 so I am hoping that you will be in your new house very soon 🙏 As to This “I must say I donated some shoes about 8 months ago. They are still there in a glass case priced £55. Will anyone ever pay that much even if they are in fab condition? I know overheads are high but some charity shops are far too expensive. I think some have a national price policy which doesn't translate up North!” what a waste 😔 Re This “I decided I wanted to buy a toy panda for the new baby. Scoured the internet and even visited a couple of toy shops. Pandas don't to be in fashion these days. I have bought one but it is too real panda like for me. I wanted one like a teddy but black and white iykwim.” I was curious to see what you meant so googled & agree that the toy pandas are rather lifelike 😞 Although having said that there was one I was quite taken with 😊 on the Natural History Museum website (Small Giant Panda Soft Toy | Natural History Museum online shop) & I thought quite reasonably priced. It might be worth a look 😉

charlies_tribe, sounds like the kids room is a work in progress, well done on keeping going 👏 This “Spent Friday chasing up the scan that should have been done after my doctors appointment 2 weeks ago but there's no record of me actually attending! The one that wasn't where the text message said it was. I can't get through on the phone to actually talk to someone so having to fill in the online forms, tgey reply by text that i cant reply to and then i haveto fill in another form that couldtake up to 48 hours to be read. I was getting a bit stressed. New system coming in 2 weeks, hoping that makes it easier. I have an appointment for my last scan on Thursday so will just sort it then.” absolutely beggars belief 😥 😞 Hopefully it can be sorted out on Thursday 🙏 Sorry to hear that DH is unwell 😔 & I will keep everything crossed that you are correct 🤞

Moorviews, such a lovely thing to say, I am blushing ☺️ No such thing as spending “too much time in the TLC Carriage” 😉 just sorry to hear the reason 😔 Hopefully you are on the mend 🙏 or preferably fully recovered 🙏 Excellent work decluttering books & hot water bottles 👏 This “Larder use ups continue and I discover some things have not kept well at all and have had to go. Basically, anything with fats or oils needs using quickly so I have made a mental note not to overstock in future.” sounds familiar 😞 And This “……. because I wasn’t getting out much I managed to shop very little and used up fresh and garden produce well. It made for a cheap September which was great.….. so I need to work on getting the turnover right and get comfortable with being a little more lavish with myself” was a great silver lining 😊 Good luck with both the loft decluttering & sorting out the food turnover 🍀 I agree with This “There is an art to this I am sure 😊” there is definitely an art to decluttering & a lot of us take quite a while honing our decluttering skills 😉

Brie, now that is what I call great customer service 👏

DH got back just as I finished the cheerleading & has done 6,000 of his 10,000 target. Hope everyone has had a restful Sunday 😊

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️🏅🏅⭐️😇

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1868/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

_Dolly_Rocker_

Hey all, 

Thanks for the explanation of the frogs. It appears I have tadpoles, frogs and some cane toads LOL

Used up 2 candles so grabbed another 2 to replace from the hoard in the cupboard. 

Started burning them when I'm relaxing at night, makes the place feel more cosy.

All my toiletries ran out at the same time so replaced them all then when I got home found shower gel in the cupboard that my mum decluttered to me a few weeks ago. 

Oh well that will get used when this lot runs out. 

weenancyinAmerica

@Brie - I agree with you about the polite complaints. I also would like to point out that companies would like to hear from us if we really like their products. I wrote to a tea company telling them how much my parents and I enjoyed having a pot of their tea in the evening. They sent me a large wooden box of their tea products and and a note saying I was the first letter they had received saying nice things about their product and they were putting it up on the bulletin board so everyone could see it. The company had been in business for over 40 years (and is still going strong) but apparently everyone writes when they don't like something - not when they like it. When I was working with a group of young people, I challenged them to write about a product they really liked and to let the company know. They all received wonderful answers and many received vouchers for more products. One of the girls must have written a fantastic letter as she received a large box with full-sized products from the company. Maybe it would be nice if everyone could write a nice letter to company about something they really like.

Happy_Kitties

Many thanks for my gold star Mrs SD
@vulpix with being a hub, the hub actually has a lorry pick up collecting all of the shoeboxes plus things like the blankets aswell. I don’t know the exact date it is coming, will find out from the organiser but it is usually the beginning of November.They will be very gratefully received.

Neutral items 977 +6 more Dunelm Bags of Joy dropped off this afternoon=983
(Total Bags of Joy dropped off so far this year =18)

Soontobeoap

We decluttered our broadband for the weekend! Open reach came to put a new box in to speed up out broadband on Wednesday. Couldn't get it back so came back on Thursday. We had it for one day and then during the strong winds we lost it again. They are coming in Monday to try and sort the problem so I need to stay in in the morning.

On a much better note the carpenter that works for us has made our new fire surround and is bringing it over to fit in the morning. DH will be here to help him get it out of the car. I am very excited.

We have had COVID which has slowed me right down but today I sorted the Grandkids toy box out and got rid of a toy xylophone that no longer works. Also discarded a plate that I painted at craft group.this week I have sealed some diamond painting cards that craft group have made and sewed up a load of little elves that a lady at craft group had made but didn't feel she could do all of the sewing up. We are going to hide them around our community for people to find. I will take them to craft group tomorrow so that will be a bit out of the house. @basketcase if you are still reading along I hope that you recognize a lot of the wool that you sent me in our makes for charity. Thank you once again.

suzeesu2000

It’s done! The first raised bed is empty and ready for DH to do manly stuff and take it apart or squish it. Now to work on the 2nd one. 

Decluttered most of a vey small leg of lamb for dinner with enough for one further meal bagged and in the freezer.
worked on family tree most of the afternoon. I’m frustrated now as I’m stuck. I have a great great granny with a very common name, her father has an equally common name and place of birth being Middlesex - London as is now. I’ll get past it, just have to find another route. I said to my niece last night that doing a family tree is like having a load of puzzle pieces and no picture to help you place them. 

Tomorrow I will try to get the ottoman sorted, I don’t think there’s much to declutter but it would be nice to know what’s in it. Not sure if I should mention the loft again…..🤔

Have a good night all, sleep tight xx

TC77

Had a lovely walk and great weather and I'm sure I will sleep well! 
A few receipts binned
@Brie I agree with you. We moved offices and there are some problems, like broken screens etc and I had to write to point these out but added that we really like the offices - which we do.
I also tell DDs when they read bad things about a place/product that again they only hear the bad things..
Disappointed that I have so many watchers of items but don't translate to buying although one item bought but not paid. Will count if it happens and is posted.
1685
Will try and drop off some bags of things this week and keep going with some paper work although still need to keep quite abit. Some of it is around organisation.

BlueJ94

Evening all! Well past my normal bed time 😂 on later shifts this week! 

I met my sister in spoons for breakfast and also a few new ladies from this FB group where we all meet with new ladies who want to make new friends etc! 

Then came home and myself and OH walked dogs and chilled out for the rest of the day! 

QueenJess

weenancyinAmerica said:

@Brie - I agree with you about the polite complaints. I also would like to point out that companies would like to hear from us if we really like their products. I wrote to a tea company telling them how much my parents and I enjoyed having a pot of their tea in the evening. They sent me a large wooden box of their tea products and and a note saying I was the first letter they had received saying nice things about their product and they were putting it up on the bulletin board so everyone could see it. The company had been in business for over 40 years (and is still going strong) but apparently everyone writes when they don't like something - not when they like it. When I was working with a group of young people, I challenged them to write about a product they really liked and to let the company know. They all received wonderful answers and many received vouchers for more products. One of the girls must have written a fantastic letter as she received a large box with full-sized products from the company. Maybe it would be nice if everyone could write a nice letter to company about something they really like.

It's funny you say that as I wanted to give good feedback about my Royal Mail postman a couple of years ago.  Somehow he manages to be incredibly efficient as well as polite and really friendly all at the same time.  I really struggled to submit anything because all I could find were places to complain!

A bit of decluttering done today, including going through all DD's clothes and her next size up ones which I really hate doing (so overwhelming!).  She's almost into the next size already.. she's been growing a solid 2cm a month all year!

Digital:
17 - documents/photos deleted
8 - notes deleted
6 - wish list items deleted
1 - online accounts deleted
7 - filed emails deleted

Physical:
1 - freezer overstock used up
3 - gift bags/wrap etc used up
1 - DD dress too small (charity bag)
13 - DD clothes grown out of (charity bag)

New total 5,225
Use it up total 391
Big kitchen declutter challenge 132/150

purplevamp

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger I watched Bridget Jones 4 last night and have to say the same thing.  It was obvious from the beginning what the ending would be.  It was too long and too predictable.  Also, why was she walking like that??!  

Decluttering efforts this weekend have been sparse - Cleaned and removed a lot of toot from the kitchen window sill, mainly water from a burst kitchen tap 3 weeks ago.  I'm still finding water in various places.  It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Sold 3 things - 2 on Ebay and 1 on Vinted.  So they're going out tomorrow.  I'm also trying to keep on top of my emails, which is easier said than done.  I really need to unsubscribe from a lot of them too.  I get so many as I enter the comps and you need to sign up to a lot of the sites to enter.

Early bed tonight, I think (she says as it's gone 11pm!!) but I'll end up watching Netflix or YouTube until 2am as always!

Goodnight everyone, sleep tight xx