2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

CRANKY40

Good morning everyone, 

I did manage to declutter 5 items on Wednesday but none yesterday. I still owed the student a birthday meal from November (when he had a chest infection) so we did that yesterday. We were up early because he had a haircut booked so I dropped him off for that and went shopping for an hour until he was finished and ready for lunch. Everywhere was quiet so it was a much more peaceful and enjoyable event than if we'd gone before Christmas. Afterwards I dropped him off at home and went grocery shopping as the fridge was starting to look like Old Mother Hubbard's cupboard. 

We're back at my friend's house today to collect some slate chips left over from a garden path which we're going to add to my front garden as there are a few patches that could do with refilling. 

Mrs_S_D We're going to New York. My sister has pointed out that the student is only 20 so won't be served alcohol but we're more coffee and cake break fans than beer and cocktail type people so we're not bothered about that. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, very tired again yesterday but I got into town early and picked up the birthday present. I also got myself some foot cream which I did need and had a little wander around as town was quite empty and did some window shopping but didn't need anything else so no more money was spent 😁. I called at the pharmacy on the way home and collected my prescription. When I got home I phoned the garage and my car was ready so back out to the garage and the cc was hit for that bill 😁 but it will be paid off in full 😁, my car is now 15 years old and honestly doesn't owe me anything, very few expensive repairs over the years so I am not complaining. By then I was flagging so had some lunch and OH came in with some coffee and told me ln was "in" for the afternoon and was wandering if I was going to pop in 😁. Had a bit of a sit and then went in to ln for a catch up. Discovered we are both reading Bill Bryson books atm so have agreed to swap when we have finished them 😁. Back home to sort tea. Did a big veggie cottage pie and uu some veg, 2 portions of the base in the freezer and lo for lunch today in the fridge. I used some butternut squash in it for the first time and it was very nice, will do that again 😁. After tea I just did some crochet, blanket is 1/4 done 😁.  Had a discussion with OH about meal planning to do a shopping list and found we have enough in for the next week except probably bread, milk and fruit so that is good 😁. Prevented myself from falling asleep on the couch by heading to bed when my eyes were getting heavy and was asleep very quickly 😁.
Awake quite early but it is very misty here this morning so no moon watching but I am still tired so going to have another cuppa and see what I can do. I have a blood test later and we are planning on visiting the birthday girl on monday so need to get the present wrapped and card sorted from stash so will get on with that 😁.

It's been a while since I have posted some replies but I feel the need today 😁

@dND love the snowdrop, mine are nowhere near opening but it does give you a lift to see them, spring is coming 😁 

@Florenceem glad you are not doing so much at SA right now and you have a bit of time to get some things to the cs but please look after yourself. Hospital visiting is so exhausting but glad to see Mr F is showing some signs of improving, big hugs.

@redofromstart well done on filling the skip 😁

@foxandflowers I don't call shopping a hobby either. I think that is quite sad that people think of it that way but I suppose it means when they have their light bulb moment they will join us here 😂.

@QueenJess love the cards, what a good way to re-use the scraps and all for free 😁

@Crazycatlady2 good luck with the house offers / viewings and hoping dd passed her driving test😁

@D123456789 what a lot you got done 😁

@_Dolly_Rocker_ biscuits definitely count 😂😂😂. Nice to "meet" you and welcome aboard, looking forward to following your journey 😁

@Soontobeoap I am also a bit flighty with housework 😁 there are always other things I find far more interesting 😁

@Wednesday2000 well done on the meditation class, something I am looking out for but shame about the pillow.

@Dizzycap amazing work in the wardrobe 😁

@charlies_tribe hoping dgs is home now and on the mend, hugs

@Vulpix, this "Flowers are always ok, anything else makes me very uncomfortable. It's not that I am ungrateful, I just find it emotional that someone cares enough to give me a gift." You are worth all the gifts in the world, hugs

@GrannyKate very calm response to the parking ticket, I would have been on the phone ranting at them and then probably ignored any further correspondence until it got to court and then just waved the photo and let them pay the court fees 😁 but your way is better 😁.

I am going to take a break here as I need another cuppa

87 present bought
88 car sorted
89 prescription collected
90 session of self care
Take care everyone
90/2025

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, back again 😁

@Blue_Doggy hope the wait for the cataract operation is short, hugs

@TC77 good luck with the decorator

@ionafan the forest was definitely the better option 😁 you have to take advantage of the nice days at this time of year 😁

@Tjh1412 thanks for the crumble 😁

@florianatwobob well done on getting a book off the tbr pile, mine seems to be growing 😁

@dizzycap well done on all the cleaning and sterilizing 😁

@foxandflowers, shame about the ratties but these things are sent to try us, hugs

@ruby_eskimo is your dh related to my OH? Sounds like it to me 😂😂😂

@CRANKY40 sounds like a nice day 😁

And last but not least @Mrs SD well done on catching up with the cheerleading, this train is still going at near supersonic speed 😁. I think you deserve these 💐

Well time to get moving
Take care everyone
STILL 90/2025 😂

Florenceem

One bag and a trolley full decluttered to the charity shop this morning.
I also posted 2 parcels - I expected the post office to be busy as it had just opened but it was very quiet.
Popped into SA - printed V labels.
Came home and popped back to SA with a bag of shopping bags for the food bank and a diamond painting kit for a friend.
I have sorted another bag in my craft room.
One side of my craft room is looking a lot better - we won't mention the other side.
I have more parcels to wrap.
Just having a tea break then I will fill my shopping trolley and go into town again.

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

Friday: I was up & dressed before 10:00 😉 Just the 2 bathroom visits during the night 04:45 & 06:30 & was back to sleep each time within a few minutes 🙂 Whilst I was waiting for the kettle to boil I checked on the weather - dull & overcast & chilly 4°C - only forecast to rise to 6°C 🥶 I have my first cuppa & have settled down to some cheerleading. I am now just a day behind but the EDT has picked up speed so still 5 pages behind 😉

Welcome back bigdaftkid, lovely to see you again 👋 You have got off to a great start - 32 items in a day 👏🤩 I for one am looking forward to following your decluttering journey 😊

Lovely supportive post Moorviews 😊 Great work decluttering frogs 👏 definitely far more time consuming than ousting physical clutter but just as, if not more, satisfying 😊

2Scratters, excellent work dealing with frog spawn immediately 👏 I wonder just how many fewer frogs (possibly Cane toads) I would have now if I had dealt with the frog spawn 😉 I really do need to make a start on number 5 of my daily mantras 🙊

Liverpool_Anne, it sounds like you need a shorter period between injections 🙂 I seem to remember that even when you have had the B12 booster it takes a few days to kick in 🤨 Your slow day of decluttering tasks is a busy day for me 😉 so well done on getting so much done on Wednesday even when feeling so tired 👏 Our Declutterati family need to get our thinking caps on re an approach to your OH’s lack of decluttering prowess 🤔 Perhaps one of the bags could ‘accidentally’ split open & have to be dealt with there & then 😂 Hope yesterdays train trip into town was successful 🤞

Excellent decluttering of frogs GrannyKate 👏

dND, thank you for the snowdrop photo - beautiful 😍 

Great decluttering Florenceem 👏 Definitely getting your steps in 😊

~FlowerPot~, lovely cheerleading post 🥹 I hope you enjoyed your ‘quiet day’ 🤞

Brilliant work filling the skip redofromstart 🥳 Good luck with decluttering your excess crafting items 🍀

One page caught up 🥳 See you later 👋 Wishing everyone as good a day as possible & please stay warm 🙏

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 106/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

florianatwobob

Well the TBR pile was decreasing @Liverpool_Anne however I then popped into the CS before a haircut today…. Came out with 2 books. However in my defence one is only 170 pages and I’m already on page 64 (a slow bus ride home). 

Florenceem

Back from my second walk into town - another bag and trolley full out of the house.
I am going to pack my shopping trolley and a bag ready for tomorrow morning.
Nothing has come into the house this week apart from a hot water bottle which I am enjoying and dinners/puds from SA which will be eaten so not permanently here.
I forgot - new glasses came in but they were cancelled out by the broken ones going in the bin. I also bought a net of satsumas which I am eating to get my vitamin C and milk for my copious cups of tea
I find it strange that Mr F has low Folic acid as we eat fresh veg - sprouts and broccoli are good sources.

foxandflowers

@Florenceem I am amazed that there is still anything left in your house! You are a very industrious woman and I take huge inspiration from you x

Florenceem

foxandflowers - I brought lots of stuff back from SA into the house to list and sell on V for their funds - now it all has to go.
I also have loads of my stuff to go - mostly craft related.
I have packed my shopping trolley and a bag so I'm ready for tomorrow's walk into town.

basketcase

I broke my journey a few days back.  DD and I hadn’t had Christmas because she’d been down south with her dad’s family for Christmas (as usual) but had flown out to meet up with an Australian girl who she met in Canada a few years back.  She and her dad ‘do Europe’ most winters, so they get together for a few days.  That's usually at Twixtmas and DD's back for Hogmanay.  However, this year they were in Turkey and it seemed a waste of time and money for just a couple of days, so DD went on a mini-tour of archaeological sites.  We’ve always had an extended Christmas period, so this year we held Christmas from 8-13 January.  Then I drove her, all the presents, the rabbit and assorted bits back home.

My goodness, but the train had really moved on!  I felt like I was in one of the old B&W silent films.  I’d run up to the train, which would move off before I could get on and I’d be jumping up and down on the platform before dashing off again!  🤣

Special call to @Mrs_Salad_Dodger , who definitely deserves a medal.🥇 

I was glad when the train slowed down a bit and I leapt on, only to turn round and see my mojo waving from the platform!  It looked far too pleased with itself, if you ask me. 😡

I’ve left some chocolate and boxes of Turkish Delight (from a place we found last time in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul) in the TLC carriage.  There’s cinnamon, clove and ginger flavours, all of which are exceptionally yum – and they’re suitable for vegetarians and, I think, vegans.  Please save me from myself!

There are far too many pages to write individual replies, but my thoughts and prayers are with all those who have suffered loss, pain and troubles since I last contributed.  I hope you’re all in a better place soon and take care of yourselves in the meantime (with a special mention for @Florenceem and @weenancyinAmerica who tend not to!)

Anyway that means I haven’t been declutterating too energetically, but I haven’t been completely idle either.

Admin Amphibians:

I’m currently batch cooking a few frogs, prior to eating them.  The only one actually eaten is moving a Direct Debit to my new bank account and notifying the council of the change.  (It was in a different account from the one I switched.

General decluttering:

I was quite surprised to see that I’d actually done 10 containers of different sizes this week – if you include the washing hampers – which I am!  Also, the Christmas tree, decorations, presents and wrapping paper; DD & pet back home and the cage etc scrubbed and put away; several lots of recycling and food stocks used from fridge & freezer.  So not quite as bad as I thought…

NSDs

I think that the last time I posted (but forgot to update my signature – oops) I had 5 NSDs.  Despite swanning around with DD, I didn’t spend too much but only managed another 4. 

Totals – NSDs = 9/15. Containers = 20/365. Frogs = 1