2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

weenancyinAmerica

Still waiting to celebrate Christmas - sickness and rain caused a postponement until Sunday. Other than roommate G going to the ER on Wednesday (home that evening) and middle cat seeming to be sick (we are taking him to the vet tomorrow to be sure what is going on), just been visiting MSE and reading back on Frugaldom threads, doing family history (mine in Sweden this time), and reading. Getting rid of a book a day minimum. Decluttering should be going on a bit stronger but I did get rid of forty magazines this week and a box of trash. Just wish others in the family could be motivated to move.

StickyTheStickInsect

I haven’t posted for a while and I haven’t caught up on the many, many pages I have missed, so love to everyone and I hope everyone is managing okay.

My Mum died at the end of October, the last three weeks were brutal and then I was drowning in sorting out my Dad and the funeral at the end of November and then straight into trying to sort out Christmas. So today DH and I started trying to sort things out in the house, we started in DS1’s room and put up shelves and are sorting through all his clothes as I’ve dropped the ball over the last six months and need to try and get to some resemblance of organisation.

DS2 and DD still haven’t had their room divided, since we moved in at the end of June, as my Mum and her care took precedence, so that is next on the list for the Christmas holidays, painting and filling first and then furniture as DS2 is still on a mattress on the floor.

To catch up on my numbers; 

September - the remainder of the month I hadn’t posted about, a whole load of miscellaneous stuff which accounted to 10 bags to the local freebies site.

October – 4 bags to the tip, 4 bags to the local freebies site and 1 bag to the charity shop.

November – 1 bag to the charity shop and 1 to the local freebies site.

December – 8 bags to the tip and 3 bags to the local freebies site.

So a new total of 281/104 (312)

I didn't make my amended target of 312 bags but given how things have been, I'm more than happy with 281 bags.

I think I might say this is my final total for the year. I’ll account for anything sorted between now and the end of the year when it leaves the house in January.

Hope to see you all on the 2026 thread (is there a link for a new thread?) and being a bit more present!

Love to everyone xxx

suzeesu2000

StickyTheStickInsect So sorry for your loss

regnbue

@StickyTheStickInsect You've had a lot to deal with in the last few months.

I hope you can pace yourself now and not burn yourself out.

Sending hugs and strength to you.

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

We had a reasonable trip with just the one slow section as we approached the turn off for Bluewater. Just for once we arrived on time 😉 which was a surprise to everyone 😊 A couple of tables set up for lunch as there were 9 of us. Cold meats, salad, hm coleslaw, hm cauliflower cheese + potato wedges, followed by a very delicious hm cheesecake. Lots of laughter & conversation + I set the question about the 5 countries 😉 to everyone apart from DH but including the 7 year old. I gave him the first letter Y so he got one country. Took everyone about 15 minutes to get the other 4 with a couple of vague clues 🙂 we spent the afternoon chatting & laughing with the 7year old being taken home by his parents at about 17:30. DH’s DSis & DBiL went home i.e. next door at about 19:00 so then there were 4. We had sandwiches for dinner. Then stayed at the table until 00:30 chatting & putting the world to rights. Now in a warm but exceedingly uncomfortable bed. Will do a little cheerleading before I nod off 🤞Forgot to mention that everyone enjoyed the cheese savouries even the 7 year old (who apparently is not known for trying new things) 😊

Wednesday2000, now that is what I call a quick removal of decorations 😉 Ours will be even quicker…… just 2 lines of string that have the Christmas cards hung on 🤭 

surprisinglynice, that book sounds interesting 🤔 Enjoy your quiet time, a Christmas present to yourself ☺️ The lurgy has stayed away 🥳 & we have had a wonderful time 🥹

Floss, thank goodness no-one was hurt 😥 although a real shock 😳 I am surprised that Meg didn’t have a stiff drink rather than a cup of tea.

Nodding off so will wish you all a good night 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2367/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £677.00

suprisinglynice

@StickyTheStickInsect sincere condolences. Be kind to yourself 

GrannyKate

So sorry about your mum @StickyTheStickInsect

BlueJ94

Im back in work today which has appeared pointless so far as we've had no delivery so just sat here doing nothing. 

Ive ordered some bits in the sales for birthdays and next Christmas, will continue to look later. 

Plan on going though the spare room and donating anything I dont need or use too! Im very tempted to order a new desk and change my glass units into a bigger glass unit as it takes up so much room! 

CRANKY40

@StickyTheStickInsect I'm sorry to hear about your mum. Don't forget about yourself while you're still sorting out the aftermath in your home - take some time just for you here and there. Big hugs . 

vulpix

regnbue, love your snowman.

C_Charlie, I am sorry to hear about your cat. xxx

Cranky, best wishes for your great nephew. xxx

 Bloomin eck Floss, thank goodness no one was hurt. xxx

 Sticky, I am so sorry, you have had a very tough time. I am pleased you came back to us. I hope we can be  some support for you. xxxx

 We went shopping yesterday! Why you ask. My step son said he and his GF were coming up today after they had had a kip from being on nights last night. ( ambulance service) We don't have much in as we were at DD1's Christmas day and no hosting for us planned,  Doh, today is the day we are going out for a meal with friends. So visitors now coming tomorrow on their rest day.

 So anyway. we went to the big Asda as that is the only place in the vicinity Mr V can get the right ink for his printer. They were giving away free veg. Christmasy stuff seemed reduced but there wasn't much and I don't need anything so didn't look. There was a clothes sale too but again I don't need anything. I did buy a hand towel for £1 something.

 Your picky bits table sound lush Mrs SD. I prefer that type of meal tbh. I have decided to make Christmas dinner tomorrow as making picky bits is much more time consuming. I might make some Christmas cookies though for the GF's daughters to take home.

 Went to see my Mum Christmas eve. She was telling me what a good cook my son's wife is. When he went to visit her I asked him to take a gift I had made!  Dgs1 had stuck stickers on a gingerbread house box and added sprinkles to melted chocolate on some cookies. There were also marzipan stuffed dates and hand made chocolate all beautifully and artisticly wrapped! Hahahaha good old DIL eh?

 I need a good tidy up today, remake the spare beds, prep some veg for tomorrow. Eating out at 7 at a pub that does very good home made food.

 Vx