2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

foxandflowers

On the news this morning they said a THIRD of all Brits say that shopping is their favourite hobby. 
I do not count shopping as a hobby!! 

Decluttering continues to stall as I am frankly too tired to do very much. The most I've managed is to declutter my laundry mountain. Today's task is to box up Stepson's things and post them to him. A little frog to deal with! 

QueenJess

foxandflowers said:

On the news this morning they said a THIRD of all Brits say that shopping is their favourite hobby. 

Gosh - that’s depressing! I hate shopping, although I do love a nice browse in a gift shop, charity shop or antiques shop, but I don’t do that as a main activity, only if I’m already there for something else.

Not lots of decluttering happening here, but I am slowly working through my box of saved scraps by making Xmas cards and birthday/xmas tags. Added a photo of some of the Xmas cards I’ve made below - they are rustic, but perfectly fine to use. I used free card backs from Buy Nothing, the cardboard presents are made from a Xmas cracker box, wrapped in scraps of wrapping paper too small to reuse and some ribbon also from Buy Nothing. Inside I’ve stamped greetings from free stamps from Buy Nothing. Cost to me £0 and saved lots from landfill and recycling.

Better run and make a chocolate cake before lunch as it’s DH’s birthday tomorrow!

Crazycatlady2

We had an offer on house and have 2 more viewings booked 🎉

No motivation at all this week so just doing what I can as I can

Cat still plodding on bless him.....still can run and growl at the dog 😂

Good luck vibes for DD Driving test this afternoon.....then we can fill her garage spot with stuff from other house as she can park outside if she using it every day 🤣

Sorry to hear Mr F still poorly fingers crossed for improvement and soon x 

D123456789

Took an unexpected day off today as it’s quiet and I had some time owing.

i decided on half an hour decluttering. I pulled 5 storage containers out of the loft eaves and gave them all a good wash as very dusty.

i have a shoe cupboard under the stairs and a cupboard of doom under the stairs. I emptied them both, hoovered and re organised. I did use 2 of the storage  boxes, and I decluttered some old  packaging, 2 pairs of my shoes, some school shoes of LO and some slippers she’s hardly worn and now outgrown.

i have boxed up some electrical cables etc which I think can go but better check with DH. Also some fluorescent jackets for cycling in the dark which neither of us do these days. I found some carrier bags which prompted cleaning out my spare bag / packaging / recycling bag cupboard and organising it.

i hoovered the kitchen and folded all the clean washing.

it took me 3 hours!! Debating whether to do another small area, or go for a swim.

All the best to fellow declutterers!

[Deleted User]

Good morning all. 

I had great intentions of reading through the whole thread but so many pages already! You are a busy bunch. 

So instead I read the first and last few pages to get the gist of what I'm planning on doing while drinking a cuppa and 'decluttering' 1/2 a packet of chocolate caramel digestives - that counts right?

So a bit about me. I'm 41, live with my 2 lovely collies, have 2 jobs, am currently paying off some credit card debt then planning to pay off my mortgage in full before I am 50! 

Also I am a bit of a hoarder - get it from my mum. I have little piles about the place and it doesn't look too bad but jeez you open the cupboards then you're in for a right treat!

I have a serious stash of;

• shoes
• bags
• clothes
• toiletries
• stationary
• candles and wax melts
• dog toys
• gifts

So my plan is to get rid of what I know for a fact I am not going to use or gift to people through the year and to use up the stashes and start buying to replace only when I need it!

I'm a sucker for a bargain so this is going to be difficult for me but I do need to sort it out, I am drowning in stuff!

Plan for today is;

• Housework
• Declutter 3 cupboards under the breakfast bar

That is it! I'm not going to plan too much in a day because then I get overwhelmed and just do nothing.

Soontobeoap

@_Dolly_Rocker 3 cupboards sounds like plenty to me.Especially for a lady with 2 jobs. Blimey if only I had your energy. 

Slow start today for me. I have sorted more Christmas craft bits to take to Community club for Craft group. My problem is getting back to the big  tasks the next day and sticking with one area until it is finished.I have realized that I am a bit flighty where housework is concerned which is why we always look cluttered It's not just a case of letting go of stuff is it? Although that helps obviously! It has only taken me 49 years of marriage and 2 years before that living alone to work this out!🤦 We have packed this house full of fitted storage when we downsized so there is plenty. Its just a case of to much stuff. If we ever moved we wouldn't have much furniture to take, even our bed is built in!

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

Thursday: I managed a 3 hour sleep 😮‍💨 I have made myself a large cup of tea & the plan is to have that & then when DH & DSis go shopping have a bath. It is rather overcast & looks like it has rained. Forecast high of 9°C. Now ready to continue cheerleading posts dated the 15th:

Welcome aboard the EDT thorntonx 👋 & congratulations on becoming a mum 🥳 I am looking forward to cheering you on as you begin your decluttering journey making ready to move house 😊 Please remember to give yourself some TLC in between looking after the baby & decluttering 🙏 

Lovely to meet you addacomment 👋 I absolutely love This “………… need to 'redistribute' stuff! .... I'm not decluttering I'm redistributing .... to charity shops, to family, to friends and neighbours.  Sounds so much more positive  ” You are so right 😊 “Redistribute” sounds so positive, that with your permission, I would like to use it as a subtitle for the 2026 thread 🙏 I am looking forward to following your journey 😊 I am also sending positive thoughts that any sales you make will raise lots of funds for the poor of Tanzania & towards a return visit 🥹

Florenceem, no wonder you have lost so much weight what with all the worrying & stressing over MrF combined with all the walking 😔 Please remember to eat & give yourself some TLC 🙏 Keeping everything crossed that the detailed mri report will shed some light on MrF’s condition & will help the doctors reach a diagnosis & start to implement a comprehensive treatment plan 🤞

GrannyKate, good news about finding a plasterer 😊 Hope the nurse managed to take your blood quickly & painlessly 🤞& that the weather was kind for your walk 😊

Good luck using up the teabags ruby_eskimo 🍀 How exciting - a new kitchen 🥳 Good luck decluttering & boxing up the contents of the old kitchen 🍀 

Florenceem, sounds like an ideal location 😊 I agree with Cranky40 “Some people just love to be doom mongers don't they? Such folk should practice sticking to "I hope he's better soon" like normal people......” - please ignore such people 🙏

Well said CRANKY40 👏 This “Our cat has discovered youtube and is currently demanding to sit on my lap and watch the squirrel video again. We have to sit through it at least 5 times a day. I have it on a split screen so I can carry on reading/typing while she watches.” had me in stitches 🤣 Excellent & eclectic decluttering 👏 Yippee to dealing with a frog 🥳 Remembering how inquisitive I am, I hope you don’t mind me asking which part of America you are visiting 😉

GrannyKate, thank you so much for that information 😊

daisy_1571, had to look up “Send three and four pence, we're going to a dance” as I had not heard it before & couldn’t work out the original wording 😉 the rather more serious version of Chinese Whispers 😧 

regnbue, funny you should say that as the first time I typed Gigli it was autocorrected to ‘giggly’ 😂

Well said florianatwobob 👏

Liverpool_Anne, your poor friend 😢 Very glad that she has family nearby & that she also has you as a friend 🥹 I would like to join daisy in sending virtual hugs 🤗 Pity about the car, but well done on getting it sorted out so quickly 👏 Fingers crossed it won’t be eye-wateringly expensive 🤞 Sounds like you are knitting for England 😉 so I do hope we get to see pictures of all your completed baby blankets 🙏

As I have caught up a couple more pages, I will post this & have a little breather 😉 I hope everyone is having as good a day as possible 🤞Sending cwtches for all who need or would like one 🤗 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 

DH Awards:

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 101/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Florenceem

foxandflowers - that is so sad to have shopping as a favourite hobby. No wonder there is so much debt.
I have been into town again to declutter a bag and trolley full of stuff to the charity shop.
I had an hour's sort out in my craft room this morning.
Had the LO SA dinner from yesterday - too tired to eat when I get back from the hospital.
I have packed my shopping trolley again and a bag ready for tomorrow morning's 9 am walk to the charity shop.
I plan my hospital visit for the afternoon as I am trying to declutter in the mornings. I leave the hospital to go home when the Doctor's go off duty at 5pm.

Wednesday2000

I do enjoy charity shop shopping as I like a bargain. 

I had my first class this week as I'm doing a challenge to do 25 classes in 2025. I had a meditation class. The only problem is now I have hurt my neck as the pillow at the class must have been too high for me. If I go back I will bring my own pillow with me.

I sorted out my sock drawer yesterday and binned 7 pairs of black socks that were quite manky. I still have 10 pairs which should last me a while.

Dizzycap

foxandflowers said:

On the news this morning they said a THIRD of all Brits say that shopping is their favourite hobby. 
I do not count shopping as a hobby!! 

Decluttering continues to stall as I am frankly too tired to do very much. The most I've managed is to declutter my laundry mountain. Today's task is to box up Stepson's things and post them to him. A little frog to deal with! 

Personally, I absolutely hate shopping. I would never in a million years ever think of it as a hobbie  

I've decided that this year, I'm only going food shopping once a fortnight. That's how much I really do hate shopping. I only shop online for bulk buying of absolute essentials only, which is usually twice a year.

On the decluttering front, I have 6 more bags left to check, put in a dust cover, and put back behind wardrobe door No.2. Doors 1 & 3 are EMPTY! Going to celebrate at home with a nice cup of coffee when I'm finished

Then I'm back on bed rest