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

Tuesday is a dull overcast day with a forecast high of 12°C & a low of 5°C Unusually I was up & dressed by 10:15. I am on my 2nd cuppa but have written the to be hand-delivered Christmas cards, packed a couple of bags for drop off at CS. Left home at 13:00 & was back by 15:00. Very lucky with public transport.

Posted a Christmas card on the way to the CS where I dropped off 15 items. Then withdrew some cash, popped into MrS for ciggies & picked up some crackers. Then back to IoD, bought some fat milk from the corner shop, bus to pharmacy to pick up BP meds & home. DH made me a hot drink & I updated my accounts including putting December 1p Challenge amount in Terramundi pot. 

2311 - 2325 Bubble wrap; bn dressing gown; 5 knitted hats; 2 baby hats; 1 scarf 2 matching hat & scarf sets; unworn sweatshirt hoodie - to CS

There was no rain forecast but it did rain  - about 17:00. Dinner was fried chicken, boiled new potatoes & garden peas. We had dessert about an hour later - rhubarb & apple crumble and custard (made with fat milk) 🤤 DSis & I watched a delightful (although occasionally quite dark) film “A Boy Called  Christmas” Wudupa.

2326 - 2328 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, newspaper - recycled 

2329 - 2330 Kichen & lr detritus - binned

Sorry to hear that you still have your cold BlueJ94 😞 I am just picturing you & your OH unwrapping radiators on Christmas morning 😂 Sorry for being silly 😉

 suzeesu2000, Excellent work cleaning the fridge & sorting out the freezer 👏 A good number of meals, so hopefully a smaller grocery spend in January after the more expensive Christmas period 🤞 Also fingers crossed that DH’s ‘hint’ turns into ‘action’ 🤞

GrannyKate, sounds like a well earned restful Monday 😊 especially for Sox 😉Eight grandchildren 🤩  It seems that quite a few of us had roast lamb on Sunday 😊 although it always tastes better when someone else has done the cooking 😉 What a lovely Christmas you have planned 🥹 Fingers crossed for a quick sale of the 2 tables 🤞

You have been busy vulpix 👏 & it sounds like you will be all done & dusted in time for Christmas 😊 

Great decluttering Liverpool_Anne 👏 Sorry to hear that your OH is unwell 😞 Hopefully plenty of sleep will help him recover quickly 🤞Spot on with the countries, please have some flowers 💐 

I have fallen behind again but I keep nodding off so will catch up tomorrow. Sleep tight 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2330/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £677.00

weenancyinAmerica

@vulpix - Thank you so much for the picture. 

GrannyKate

Morning all.  Nothing much to report in declutter wise.  At Christmas we just seem to accumulate things which then leave. Went and did a few bits of shopping with DIL last night but very few shops open round here except supermarkets.  We are going to finish off at the weekend.  Woke up early then fell into short heavy sleep and dreamed about everything going wrong checking in for a weekend break in Moscow!  No plans to go there so not sure where that came from.  Woken DGCs up to take them to school.  I left my shopping in the boot of car so it will be cold but can get it in and wrap once children are delivered to school.  

Staying in today except for school runs so I need to do things.  Perhaps I should start packing for trip to DDs on Monday.  I have everything (Gifts etc) ready for them.  

Hugs to all who need them.  

TC77

Mrs SD well done with all the knitting and donations.
I looked out linen and know i should perhaps of said I only need x sets but taking a more gentle approach as have storage and dds  may take some..duvet cover and large sheet put in suitcase with first aid supplies ( how many bandages does a household need) but didn't drop off as more space to fill and more efficient to take in one go. Didn't drop off plastic wallets and magazine boxes to bank of things.

Moorviews

We had a good clear out of books and have rehomed at least 60. We have loads left still as we love books! At least there is now room on the shelves for the books which will come as Christmas presents. This is a first 😂
The fridges have been cleaned and there is plenty of room in the freezers. Cupboards still somewhat stuffed although a lot of dried fruits went into the mincemeat. Enough left for a fruitcake and a stollen. We have made some mince pies but bought ones still make it into the house as DH loves them so much and can’t resist trying every shop’s offerings! Unlike me, he can afford to eat as many as he likes 😊 I have been sticking to the home baking though for cakes, biscuits, bread and pies so quite pleased with that. 

I have thankfully resisted the lure of new decorations for the tree and have finally got it decorated with what we have had for many years. 

We do need to start braving the food shops and I will try to hold in mind that it is only one day that the shops will be shut and there are only two of us living here! A list will be essential for planned hosting though to try and keep myself on track. This is my danger point for panic buying gifts and food. Then I feel very burdened by how much there is to use up after Christmas. 

I am loving reading everyone’s wisdom in here 💕 This is such a balanced and thoughtful thread. Thank you @Mrs_Salad_Dodger 💐  🥇 and all the Declutterati xx

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hi Everyone Hope your all keeping well and not getting too stressed about Christmas and all that goes with it.
Still sorting emails and photos but have a new phone to transfer over to so trying to clear my old one.
Emails deleted 1597
Photos/videos 481
Returned items to son 6
Raffle donations 8
Ebay sells 2
= 2094 Total now 17207
Take care x

diminua

Decluttered a tin opener and nail scissors - not real decluttering as they'll both have to be replaced though. I've also read and lined up another book for the bookswap (the gentleman in the parlour, Somerset Maugham) but nothing has actually gone yet. Now making inroads into Homecomings by C P Snow and then planning a change of pace over Christmas with The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella - I haven't read anything of hers since the first Shopaholic book but the sad news last week and a chance find in the Octavia shop reminded me I meant to give her another try (I rarely buy books first hand). 
I feel on top of the Christmas stuff at least - fancy cake on order, drinks I said I'd buy bought, cards sent, presents about half done, plenty of wrapping paper in, tickets to Sheffield on the 27th to stay with my brother purchased and on my phone. 

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 dull, overcast day much colder than yesterday with a forecast high of 10°C (feeling 4° colder) & a low of 3°C. I was up later today 12:15. DH has had a bath as he has his annual MOT (health check) this afternoon…….. DH has just headed off (13:38) I have finally fixed the string to hang up the Christmas cards 😂 Now to start the cheerleading before I fall further behind:

London_1, early bird riser indeed 😊 Your bedroom sounds ideal 🤩 If I had a room like that I would probably never go downstairs 😂 although that would mean that DH & DSis would have to do all the cooking 🤔 On reflection perhaps not 😉 The U3A social sounds like fun & also well catered 😊 You definitely have a busy week ahead of you & next week I assume most of the DGS will be home so another hectic week. Totally family orientated Christmas for all of you 🥹🥹 Belated Happy Birthday to Ben 🥳 🎂 & an early Happy Birthday to Tess 🥳🎂 What a great birthday present 👏 

TC77, sorry to hear about the sore throat & exhaustion 😞 please take it easy & dose up on hot soothing drinks 🙏 Like you, I have a quiet festive season planned - Christmas Day just the 3 of us & then Boxing Day we drive to Kent & spend the day with DH’s niece S & assorted family. We may or may not stay overnight. Some good decluttering 👏 & thanks for sharing This “decide what you want to take into the next chapter of your life” 😊 Sounds like a good way to approach decluttering 🤔 & I wish you every success 🥹 Excellent work cleaning the dish washer & yippee to the use-ups 👏

_Dolly_Rocker_ , sorry to hear you are feeling a bit downcast 😞 I will not be saying anything new but am seconding the comments from ionafan, daisy_1571, TC77, vulpix, Muddy_Walker & florianatwobob 🥹 Some very wise comments & great ideas. Meanwhile please accept some flowers 💐 & some gentle cwtches 🤗 

ionafan, beautiful encouraging post 🥹☺️ Fingers crossed that your DH sorts his stuff out & doesn’t just dump it all into a bag 🤞

Green_hopeful, had to smile at This “We are having my mum and her best ex husband (she has two ex husbands and he is definitely the nicer of the two) round for lunch on Sunday. He is a kiwi and his party dish is colonial goose, which is a leg of lamb stuffed to look like a goose.” 😆 Good luck making the vegetarian version 🍀

TC77, lovely encouragement for _Dolly_Rocker_ 🥹 Well done on both the decluttering & This “Resisting temptation to keep items to declutter with dd1 and cousin when they help to avoid having to tackle more difficult areas.” 👏

vulpix, lovely words for TC77 &  _Dolly_Rocker_ 🥹 Shame about the gardener 😞 Hopefully you can find someone soon 🤞maybe your new neighbours can make a recommendation 🤔 Excellent work 👏 & I love the idea of leaving “some jobs for another day!” 😁 unfortunately I leave nearly all my jobs to another day & unlike you I never quite get around to doing them 😞 P.S. the blanket is lovely 😻 

Muddy_Walker, what a brilliant & encouraging post 🥹 I have taken a copy as it is a timely reminder that sometimes we expect far too much of ourselves 😞 

suzeesu2000, sorry to hear about your “stomach condition” 😞 Hopefully the flare up will clear up quickly 🙏 Good luck getting the whiteboard mounted 🍀

florianatwobob, wonderful sentiment 🥹 

GrannyKate, odd dream 😰 although I would say that from memory, Moscow is a beautiful city (school trip when I was 17) 😊 

TC77, thanks for the reminder about bed linen 👏 Nothing wrong with a more gentle approach to decluttering……..saves regrets later on ☺️

Excellent decluttering of books Moorviews 👏 Particularly love This “At least there is now room on the shelves for the books which will come as Christmas presents. This is a first 😂” Great work cleaning/emptying fridges & freezers ready to stock up with Christmas food 👏 Hopefully as you are aware of your predisposition to overstock, the list will work wonders 🤞🙏 By the way, what a beautiful & heartfelt compliment to all our Declutterati family & thank you for the 💐 & 🥇 

Excellent work on the digital decluttering Mrs_Money_Penny 👏 Just noticed your decluttering number so two Gold Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ on their way 😊

Lovely to see you diminua 👋 Great work being so well organised 👏😊 

Perfect timing as DH has just got back & I have caught up with the cheerleading 🥳 DH was especially cold when he got back as he took the opportunity to visit the barber 😉 Now looks like a shorn sheep rather than looking like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards 🙊 

Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible 🤞 See you later 👋 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2330/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £677.00

oceanspirit

Still dealing with fatigue.  The damaged dryer was finally picked up on Monday.  A parcel of Christmas shopping arrived very badly damaged - replacement items on their way and hope they arrive in time before I go away.

Was given a book the other day by friend however have planned my revenge and a book I have nearly finished reading will go to them in the next couple of days.  We are both currently on a mission to declutter books, lol.

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 continued: I spent the afternoon knitting & have almost finished another scarf. We were going to have ham, egg & chips for dinner but unfortunately the eggs floated so DH went to the chippie for our dinner. Wudupa. It stayed dry all day but started raining on & off from midnight 😞 

2331 - 2332 Kitchen recycling, newspaper - recycled 

2333 Kitchen detritus - binned

oceanspirit, sorry to hear that you are still fatigued 🫩 hopefully a bit of rest will see you fit for Christmas 🤞 Pleased to hear that the damaged dryer has finally been picked up 😮‍💨 Rather liked This “Was given a book the other day by friend however have planned my revenge and a book I have nearly finished reading will go to them in the next couple of days.  We are both currently on a mission to declutter books, lol.” 😂 

Apart from starting to prep the awards list for 2025, I have done nothing.

Sleep tight 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2333/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £677.00