2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Daily To Do List - written the night before
2. Sort out sleep patterns - initial targets: bed by 03:00, up by 10:30
3. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc.
4. Commence ‘Operation Financial Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter
5. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed
6. Plan & Execute ONE Major Project - 2026 New Bathroom
7. Target 2026 items out

Sunday is a dull overcast day & very windy. Forecast high is 12°C (feeling 7° colder due to a strong SW wind) with a low of 3°C 

Forgot to mention that there is a new series of Sort Your Life Out - 2nd episode is on Tuesday 8.00 pm BBC1. 

487 Cardboard packaging recycled

488 - 489 DSis bedroom & lr detritus - binned

It has rained on & off from 17:00 to 22:00 😞 

GrannyKate what a lovely Saturday 🥹 I love that you & DD went out & left DSiL at home working 🙊 Then dinner at DS2’s 🥹 I do hope you have enough vases for all your flowers ☺️

vulpix, I am with you - “petticoat” is such a lovely word & takes me right back to my younger days 🥹 I think you should definitely treat yourself to some new pillows ☺️ DH & I are so pleased that we treated ourselves 😊

Florenceem, more excellent work by both you & J 👏 A pity that you couldn’t find the jar of curry sauce ☹️ Hope you have a lovely time at your daughter’s house 😊

Excellent work oceanspirit 👏 Remember a slower pace means no mistakes 😊 Very pleased to hear This “The food deliveries were so much easier to put away now there is more space and the systems for using things in the right order are working well.” ☺️

Yorkie1, well done on at least tackling the paperwork 👏 even though you are not making as much headway as you would like 😉 As to the reorganisation of the shelves, I imagine that everything is more easily visible & accessible 😊

I stopped here to make dinner - finished off the bolognaise sauce with conchiglie. Wudupa.

490 - 492 Kitchen recycling, plastic bottle, drinks cans - recycled 

493 - 494 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned 

weenancy, that certainly is an odd end to winter - 5 days at 32°C 🥵 I do hope you can spend time somewhere with air conditioning 🤞Firstly good luck with the scans 🍀 I will be praying that the doctor will confirm that an operation will have a positive  outcome & that you will have someone who can look after you whilst you recover 🙏  I will also be keeping my fingers crossed that you can enlist some help with putting books on shelves so you can start selling and or donating. them 🤞 Wishing you every success with your current selection of books for sale ☺️ A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way for the regular weekly donations of books to the library 😊 Good luck with this months book sale 🍀 I am putting in a request for a photo of your first crocheted hat once it is completed 😊 Don’t forget to pop into the TLC Carriage 😊

Lovely to see you QueenJess 👋 Sorry to hear that work is so busy/hectic ☹️ Thankfully, despite it being her favourite, weenancy did save me some apple & blackberry crumble & custard 😋 Good luck with your continuing efforts to reduce the Apps on your phone 🍀 Excellent decluttering 👏 with your new total of 820 I am awarding 3 more Gold Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️  I am keeping everything crossed that DS will sell some of his less used things 🤞 & then decide that he prefers having a little more space on his shelves & in his room rather than buying new items 🙏  Very impressed that all your hard work over the years is being rewarded by being able to tidy up so quickly 🥳🤩 Good luck with both decluttering the cooking magazines & using up freezer contents 🍀

Brie, thanks for the link 👏 I have saved it and will read later 🙂 

dND, so pleased to hear that you got a good nights sleep & felt a lot better today ☺️ More excellent work in the garden 👏 & very impressive work sorting out the plant labels & pictures 🤩 deserves a medal 🏅 which is on its way 🙂 What a pity that the repurposed wood didn’t work as intended  ☹️ but hopefully you will find a use for it 🤞Hope the bone scan goes well 🙏

Florenceem, very pleased to hear that you had a lovely day & that you managed to eat a good meal 🥹 I am hoping that this is is the start of your appetite returning 🙏More excellent decluttering 👏

Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️💐💐 

DH Awards: 🏅🏅

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 494/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £73.00

vulpix

WeeNancy, I hope you can get some answers when you get the scans. If an operation is offered I personally think it deserves consideration. I had a big 7 hour operation on my spine 10 years ago. My spinal cord was crushed by collapsed vertebrae. I now have lovely new rods , pins and screws and have regained a little height to boot. I cannot claim it was not very painful, but when I woke up "the pain" of the crushing was gone. Once I began to heal from the operation I was a new woman. I felt poorly for about a week. I was lucky enough to be at home in bed. Of course we were having work done converting the loft at the time. Every morning a parade of workers came through the bedroom to access the loft! They had disturbed a lot of flies and I remember asking Mr V if he would hoover them up before the District nurse came!🤣 Do let us know how you get on.

Vx

suzeesu2000

I am shattered. Up before 7 this morning as freezer was being delivered between 0700 & 2000.
Emptied a tall drawer unit in the kitchen and decluttered a bit of contents sadly. I have those sheets and sachets of stuff you add to the washing machine and a whole load had escaped from a box….couldnt find the box and have no idea if they are whiteners or blackeners. The blackeners go in with DHs shirts and help to stop the fading. So sadly had to declutter them😿But everything else for laundry is now in a small crate on top of the tumble dryer.

Freezer was delivered about 11:30 so was able to add all the packaging to the recycling bin still waiting to be emptied.

Removed the big old freezer drawer that I keep all my food boxes for the freezer in, that’s gone to top of pantry shelves.
Found a carrier bag full of baking paper and cling films, now out of boxes and all in a nice basket on the shelf by the freezer. All boxes went in recycling before collection too.
All the food bags, kitchen bin bags and black bags are now in a crate on top of pantry shelves
Found 5 aprons, the long ones from neck to mid thigh, only need two so took the other three apart as I have a use for the fabric.
Split the dishwasher tablets between 2 lidded containers. Ones holding all the good Fairy ones and the other is now housing the Finish ones which are not as good, will use them up now I can easily see them.
Moved a few bits around in the cupboards and still have room. I have a caravan step to use in the kitchen, like you would use to access a caravan or similar, nice wide step but a PITA to store. They now live on top of the tall freezer.
My kitchen is now 100% clutter free! 🎉👏
Fixed DHs zipped cardigan.
Got rid of 2 parcels to post.
Have plans for Tuesday, will have to wait and see if body will cooperate!

Dinner was cooked roast meat from freezer, lo veg from yesterday and a potato, DH had totally from freezer.

Have a good evening all, sweet dreams xx

Florenceem

weenancyinAmerica - hope scans go well.

Another chilly day here - says someone who feels the cold.

I did the weekly meter readings and then managed to change my council tax from 10 months to 12.

I phoned the council - again about the failed bin collection. Got told same thing.

Went for some shopping at Lid.

C text about counting - gave me about 4 possible times - I can only do one of them.

I asked R about a tip run - happening on Wednesday afternoon.

No one came to fill in the hole around the gas pipe today.

I emptied the wardrobe - still no definite collection arranged.

I found a piece of leather - put that on Freegle - someone has asked for it.

Bestie rang in the afternoon then my youngest daughter followed by a Church friend.

Decluttered today - tub of glitter glue, tub of gloss finish, tube of filigree fluid, empty wipes pack ,envelope x 2, candle, receipt, 8 packs of sequins, colouring book, plastic packaging, cardboard box, ood food, 2 packets of serviettes, storage container of sequins, gel pen x 2, glitter pen x 3, box of map pins, yellow florist paper x 2, lots of tubs of glitter, 1 1/2 bags of gems, storage bag, paper and a pack of mount board.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Daily To Do List - written the night before
2. Sort out sleep patterns - initial targets: bed by 03:00, up by 10:30
3. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc.
4. Commence ‘Operation Financial Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter
5. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed
6. Plan & Execute ONE Major Project - 2026 New Bathroom
7. Target 2026 items out

Monday is slightly brighter than yesterday with some sunshine & a high of 12°C (feeling 6° colder due to strong WSW wind) & a low of 6°C Stayed dry all day but very windy. DH emptied one of the garden boxes, hoovered it all out & then returned just the bird food containers. Bag of detritus + 4 broken bird feeders - plastic bits added to HH waste wheelie bin & metal parts added to pile for Tip run (495 - 499) Yet another lazy day for me - watching TV & knitting - another hat nearly completed. 

DH went out for a bit of shopping & forgot to buy the one specific item I had requested 😉 Dinner was burgers in buns with French fries. Wudupa

500 - 503 Kitchen recycling, glass jar, drinks cans, cardboard packaging - recycled 

504 - 505 Kitchen detritus, plastic packaging - binned 

vulpix, thanks for sharing this 🥹

suzeesu2000, excellent work in the kitchen 👏 A pity about the unintended decluttering 🙁 I am not surprised that you were tired, so hopefully a nice shiny medal 🏅 will help to reinvigorate you 😉

Florenceem, another busy day with some excellent decluttering 👏 I will keep my fingers crossed that the hole round the gas pipe is filled in tomorrow 🤞 Also hope that the council arrange a one off bin collection 🤞

Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️💐💐 

DH Awards: 🏅🏅

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 505/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £73.00

GrannyKate

Morning all - just checking in from down South. DSil in new flat which is very nice and she has managed to fit in the nicest of the stuff from her old home. She is not very mobile as lots of medical problems. We had a trip out to some larger stores yesterday followed by a very nice lunch on the Thames. We are going out for breakfast this morning and then on to the NT place where my brother's ashes are (unofficially so won't say where) and then I saw an antique place nearby so may pop in there. Her grandson comes here before school (age10) and he is watching the Australian Border force tv programmes which he watches every morning. His school is very close to the new flat. I had a good journey down Sunday - 4 hours which is better than the 8 hours it took last time.

According to DS2 the work has started at my house and the loft hatch is in place. Hopefully DIL will send some pictures. Waiting on cleaner to arrive.

Nothing to report as declutter as I'm not at home. Weather supposed to get better. back home tomorrow pm

Moorviews

I have finally given up on trying to type on my iPad since the forum changes. It was just too blooming awful! Then I struggled to be able to log on to MSE on my laptop as the site kept saying my details weren't correct. I got there in the end! My paperwork mission has continued and now I am able to see how much end of year financial sorting I need to do. It being the last chance to chuck some money into an ISA for this year. I don't enjoy this but am trying to be more organised with it. Also, I have managed to declutter over a thousand emails! Unfortunately there are still just under 2000 left. I definitely need to redo some unsubscribing as I am sure some have ignored me and carried on sending them despite me doing it months ago. I have kept good control of the shopping and still making good inroads on the freezer. I can't remember if I said but I made a list on Alexa, so I can check it when I am out shopping.

I had a lovely weekend and am enjoying decluttering chocolates. Sadly, they will soon be gone!

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger - thank you for the supportive comments regarding horrible relative. Thankfully, everyone else is lovely! Your days are full of knitting for charity, cooking and looking after everyone here and at home. Sounds like plenty to me!

@vulpix - belated happy birthday wishes! It sounds like your new home is coming along nicely for hosting family get togethers. Your tradesmen and being stuck in bed story reminded me of a similar experience. I was ill one day whilst staying in a hotel for a few days. Too faint to get out of bed, however, some maintenance was required in the room. I spent the day slipping in and out of sleep as various men came and went. It was quite surreal!

@suzeesu2000 - that was a great find with those DVDs. Good luck with all the sewing. It is so satisfying to get all those jobs done.

@mehefin - it must be a relief to finally see that printer go! I too store some things to do with my volunteering and it is frustrating how much space it takes up. Would be lovely to hand it on but funnily enough no-one else wants it either!

@dND - you have achieved an amazing amount in the garden in your time there. I totally understand that feeling of there always being more to do than energy to do it. Unfortunately, we can always rely on getting some soggy days in which to catch up on rest! Hope all shows up as being good with the bone scan.

@GrannyKate - hope you have a nice time away. It's lovely how your family help one another out and enjoy spending time together.

@Yorkie1 - I find making the decisions the hardest part of decluttering. You are making progress which is the important thing and it all adds up.

@weenancyinAmerica - well done on getting so many books sorted and organised for leaving the house. Good luck with the MRIs today. Hopefully, there will be some surgery offered to help with your mobility. It would be great if you could share the warmth over here as it is so dank and chilly most days.

@oceanspirit - I actually loathe going through the paperwork. Like you, I am plodding on through it. Well done for getting the food system in such good shape!

@QueenJess - hope work quietens down soon and you can enjoy your tidy home. Thank you for the crumble - delicious as always!

@Brie - thanks that was interesting. I can see it would be helpful for us as one day we will probably need to downsize anyway.

@Florenceem - glad you had a nice Mother's Day. Hopefully you will hear from your son too. Your bedroom sounds almost finished and will make a lovely place to start and end the day.

Happy decluttering to all and apologies to anyone I have missed. I was so excited to be able to type and not have the page freeze that I kept waffling on xx

vulpix

It's done, a MASSIVE frog eaten. At my GP you cannot just ring and ask for an appointment, you have to apply online for a response from someone which may if the stars align result in a Dr appointment. Never had one yet! So a message sent about my knee. I have had pain 15 years or more but there was a sudden big deterioration last year. I have finally admitted that it will not improve and is affecting my life. I admit I cannot carry on as I am. We shall see what transpires.

Vx

_Dolly_Rocker_

Morning all,

So I decluttered £3,000 from my savings to my mortgage yesterday. Feel good about it and I'll keep throwing money at it as and when I can to pay it off ASAP.

I have an OP limit of £5,100 per year so not at the limit yet which means no fees for this.

Floss

@_Dolly_Rocker_ the good thing about paying chunks off is that your regular payment will be paying off a bit more capital each time, as the interest amount will reduce 😊