2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

suzeesu2000

Oh my goodness but it got cold here today. Really chilly once the sun went down. Mum said it was snowing where she lives.
Decluttered a mountain of dust and debris from the downstairs air con. It does get used a LOT. Took it to pieces, cleaned all its filters - could have grown potatoes in the dust! 

Filled some holes and damage to bedroom wall where that shelf fell down. 

Emptied bedroom and sitting room bins.
Dinner was totally freezer.
Decluttered a couple of things out of the freezer: bread rolls that looked very unpleasant from freezer burn and a bag of mini chicken Kievs that have been in the freezer way too long. Everything else was good.
Decluttered 4 long sleeve tops out of my drawer, posted on Vinted. 

Scanned, filed, shredded today’s post straight away. 

Checked our council tax account on council website. Now got to ring them tomorrow as it looks like we might be in credit for 2025/2026. It’s a very confusing site to be honest so I’m not certain.
Got all the clean laundry put away.
Been a day of being busy, not huge jobs but satisfying to see them done.
Hope everyone is doing okay. Have a good evening, sleep tight. xx

weenancyinAmerica

Last of Christmas presents ordered. Just need to sort out the books for five birthday people. Already have the books, thank goodness. December is one of the hardest months for me financially so I am glad birthdays and Christmas are sorted and almost done.

Feel I have been in a holding pattern for the last few weeks. I need to pull myself together and get some energy and plow ahead with cleaning and decluttering and ignore everyone else who lives here. And especially ignore all news on the Internet and the TV. Pretend I am in my own little world and no one else is in it. One roommate ignores me most of the time and won't clean up her stuff. One roommate has been drunk for over a week, paramedics have been called once because he fell, neighbors helped the second time he fell, refused to go to hospital. One roommate is supposed to be down here helping clean up but he only appears for about ten minutes, he is behind on our cable and phone bill so afraid to talk to me I think. Other roommate has been in a mental hospital for two weeks and didn't tell anyone where he was. May have to get all new roommates at the beginning of the year. Or just kick everyone out and live with just the cats. 

I come on the forum to see that things are good in some places and people can overcome problems. Thank you for being here. 

Wednesday2000

weenancyinAmerica said:

May have to get all new roommates at the beginning of the year. 

I think that would be a great idea as you seem to be stuck in a bad situation with your current roommates.😢

regnbue

@weenancyinAmerica I hope you don't mind me saying I feel you deserve a fresh start for 2026.  Could you and your sister present a united front to the current roommates and make your home just you and the cats in the new year?

Cats can't possibly be as stressful for you as your current living arrangements.

Sending hugs with a hope that things improve for you soon.

suzeesu2000

Oh @weenancyinAmerica, so sorry you are having a rough time. Kick them all out and have some peace and space…..and room for more kitties🙀🙀😸😸🙀🙀xx

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 wash a bright sunny day with a high of 8°C (feeling 3° colder) & a low of 4°C DH got up very early to take car to garage (opens at 08:00) for its MOT. He walked back & was home by 08:35 as the garage is very close 😊 DH has just had a call - the car is ready 11:10. Walking round to pick it up. Finally….. no extra expenses just £50 for the MOT  🥳 After picking up the car, DH filled the windscreen washer reservoir, then zizzed up some worm food + filled the bird feeders. I spent the day knitting. Dinner was the rest of the bolognese sauce with conchiglie. Wudupa

2186 - 2189 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, cardboard box, paper packaging - recycled 

2190 - 2191 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned 

Excellent decluttering GrannyKate 👏 Sorry to hear about the extra expense associated with the MOT 😞

A busy day suzeesu2000 👏 Well done getting so much done especially dismantling & cleaning the air-con 👏

Oh, weenancy what can I say 😞 I agree with all the comments that if it is at all possible you should get rid of all your human roommates. They have all had plenty of chances to change their attitude & have let you down badly. Meanwhile I am sending many, many cwtches across the Pond 🤗 

Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2191/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

Moorviews

Like everyone else I am sending hugs @weenancyinAmerica 💐 You are obviously a wonderful, kind soul but these roommates are not good for you. Contributing properly to a household and cleaning up after oneself are absolute basics. I know this can be especially difficult when people have severe mental or/and physical health difficulties but it really isn’t up to you to support them when you are so frail yourself. I hope you can get help from your family to move them on and give yourself some respite xx

I seem to be doing well with using up food from the cupboards etc. It has meant pushing myself to use up more of the dried and frozen food which is what tends to linger too long. The cold weather has definitely made me happier to spend time in the kitchen keeping warm over the stove and having the oven in use. 

suzeesu2000

Decluttered the rubbish that has accumulated in a big glass bowl on the sideboard: bits of paper, laptop bits, Frankie’s toys to name but a few. All now either in rightful home or the bin.
Did some shredding too. 

Dinner totally from the freezer, DH saved me a plastic takeaway container as they hold just the right amount for the freezer.
Decided that I still need to declutter some long sleeve tops from my chest of drawers. I hardly ever wear long sleeves and never wear round necks so they won’t be missed. Will either list on Vinted or send to CS. Have got 2 bags for the CS just from bits I have collected daily, no real decluttering done. 

Hoping to get the raised bed totally emptied tomorrow. Hope it doesn’t rain.
Have a good evening all. Sleep tight xx

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 another bright sunny day with a high of 9°C & a low of 1°C. Started raining about 21:30. Spent the day knitting & snoozing. For dinner DH recreated shop bought toasted panini. Ciabatta roll with mozzarella, salami, Italian ham & garlic mayonnaise. Delicious 😋 Wudupa.

2192 - 2194 Kitchen recycling, newspaper, drinks cans - recycled 

2195 Kitchen detritus - binned

Lovely post Moorviews ☺️ Great work using up dried & frozen food 👏

Excellent decluttering suzeesu2000 👏 Fingers crossed for a dry day & success in emptying the raised bed 🤞

Sleep tight 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2195/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

Wednesday2000

I took a donation bag to a shop at the weekend. I can’t remember if I said it on here. I put up my Christmas tree very early this year, but it looks quite festive. I have a bag of decorations I don’t use as I’m quite minimalist so I am going to take them tomorrow to a charity shop that has a big box of decorations outside the shop. I saw it the other day so I assume they will want them now rather than after Christmas 🎄 I will look around for anything else I can donate too.