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 oil 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

Saturday is another bright sunny day. Clear blue skies & cold with a forecast high of 2°C (feeling 3° colder due to a gusting NW wind 🥶) & low of -1°C.  This is my first cheerleading post of the day & am hoping for several more 🤞

12 Sweetie tub - recycled 

Welcome back Jellybaby 👋 Hopefully this year’s slower & steadier approach will mean that you get to revisit all the categories that you wish to revisit 😊 Fingers crossed that the “right house pops up” & that you get to move this year 🤞

Nice to see you D123456789 😊 I am blushing at the lovely compliments ☺️ Congratulations on being in the MDC 👏  I am looking forward to following LO’s decluttering exploits ☺️ as I know Sophie keeps you on your toes 😅

mehefin, definitely blushing now ☺️ We are fortunate that so many kind & wonderful people have found this thread 😊 What a lovely event to look forward to 🥹 Congratulations to your DS on his upcoming nuptials 🥳

Good luck keeping emails under control boultdj  🍀

florianatwobob, I love This “….. I keep reading redistribution as…….retribution.” Definitely makes me giggle 🙊 

Welcome aboard the EDT MissMoneyMishap 👋 Your house sounds lovely ☺️ Looking forward to seeing your list of good intentions 🙂 Sending lots of positive vibes that you can sell lots of your ‘stuff’ to alleviate your cash poverty 🤞

Wednesday2000, those 2 armchairs look very comfortable 🙂 Donating them is a good start to your 2026 Decluttering campaign 👏

suzeesu2000, love This “Decluttering: The Retribution 😆” it sounds like a great film 🙊 Shame about the stairlift ☹️ fingers crossed that your usual repairman will be successful 🤞

I hope everyone is having as good a day as possible & managing to stay warm 😊

MrsSD Awards: 💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 12/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £0

GrannyKate

Hi all.  Got off to a slow start as I overslept and woke up at 9.15.  I had an online meeting starting at 10 which was thankfully less than an hour.  Sox was disgusted as he had to use the litter tray.  Surprised he didn't jump on me as he usually does when I don't get up.  He was very happy last night to see the Christmas tree gone and 'his chair' back by the window where he likes it. Nothing booked for this weekend so I should be able to get started on my job list and renewed decluttering.  

Great to see so many new 'faces' joining in.  Great thread - no judgement, no right or wrong ways to do things just positive suggestions and whatever you want counts - decuttering the mind is as important as physical things.  A few posters mentioned doing exams etc.  I would just say you can do anything if you believe in yourself.  I left school at 18 with mediocre A Levels more years ago than I care to remember.  I had already met late DH and we decided I would start work to save for house deposit.  Like many of my generation I left work to have three children and had the occasional job to help with money - a few hours here and there fitting round school etc.  One workplace made us do this mandatory training course for which they had funding (basic maths and English) - the external lecturer took me aside one week and asked why I was doing this and suggested a degree course available in the evenings at the local university.  I applied and was accepted.  It was 5 years hard work but I eventually graduated at age 51 by which time I had started off on a career that lasted 25 years.  Some years later, because of the specialist nature of my role, I was able to do a Masters degree.  That first exam in my late forties, after so many years out of education, was terrifying. My mum was so excited when she came to my degree ceremony mostly because Alan Titchmarsh was the guest speaker.  I miss the academic challenge and I am sometimes tempted to do more.  My sister did a theology masters as she retired from her law job in USA.  

Back to today.  I have made a start and written up a House jobs list to which I am allocating 50 points out of my 2026 for each of 10 areas which I get finished.  Finishing off oddments for Bedroom 2 and kitchen; bedroom 3; inner hall area; outer hall area and porch; bathroom and toilet; lounge; front garden and drive; sheds; rear garden; garage.  Not sure how far I'll get but I've divided the 50 points for each area into manageable pieces. 

Diet has restarted in earnest and I've already ticked off January amounts in the 1p challenge. 

1 Christmas crackers to DS2's on NYD - recycled cardboard and ribbons saved to DGD2 for sewing
2 Diet planning set up on line
3 Major job list for house done for 2026. I confess to buying a new notebook
4 December banking done and annual accounts/targets set up for 2026
5 Bought some premium bonds
6-10 Clothing in CS bag - some of mine and DGS4s
11 Inflatable storage bag in CS bag
12 Christmas decorations down and tree outside ready for collection
13 Christmas decorations reduced from 4 to 3 boxes 
14 Bag of Christmas things put aside to go to CS next November
15 Some broken Christmas things binned
16 Large plastic decorating sheet used to wrap round Christmas tree on its way outside - then put with plastic recycling
17 Bag of Plastics to SM
18 Random rubbish from round back garden - broken pots etc to recycling
19 Broken plastic birdbath to recyling
20 Chocolate log back to his mums with DGS4 - that will stop me eating it and he loves choc logs
21 Random metal pieces - old fence posts etc - to recycling at tip
22 Meeting and papers decluttered
23 Bag dropped off at CS shop
24 A point for actually going to recycling tip - first one unexpectedly closed then I went to main one and waited half an hour to get in.
25 Paid membership of a society - should have been simple but it wasn't
26 Bought DS2 his yearly prescription payment certificate.  This is his annual birthday present - I have been doing it about 10 years. He is asthmatic and appreciates this as he can sometimes have a lot of prescriptions.  

Hoping DS2 will come and put Christmas boxes in loft.  I have attempted three times to pay off my share of Madeira Holiday but it is not working  - no rush as final date is 1 March.  Will get DD to help when she is here in a fortnight. 

Right I need to actually do something useful. 

Happy_Kitties

Took time to read and catch up with all of the posts.
I also read ‘Redistribution’ as ‘Retribution’!

Targets for 2026
General  500 items to be decluttered

Neutral items 700 items out.

Have already made a good start on Neutral items, I didn’t want them getting too comfortable and I’ve picked up some fantastic bargains, so 70 items have already been sent to the charity organiser.

General
1) Halloween decoration, worse for wear- into recycling
2) Soft plastics sorted as things popped away, big bag ready to go to supermarket recycling point.

Neutral 
70 items out 

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 oil 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

Saturday continued: no sign of the recycling chaps so that is 2 weeks without the recycling wheelie bin being emptied 😞 On a brighter note ERNIE was kind - £50 for me & £100 for DH 😊 Now ready to continue cheerleading 

Welcome back BlueJ94 - pleased to see that you found us 😊 I love your goal of growing your own fruit & vegetables 👏 Wishing you every success as there is nothing quite like the pride you feel when eating something you have grown yourself 🥹 & so much tastier than sm f&v 😋 10/2026 is a great start to your decluttering campaign 👏

suzeesu2000, sounds like your stairlift was never really fit for purpose 😖 

Well said daisy_1571 👏

suzeesu2000, what is that saying …….. ‘the law is an !!!!!!’ I went down a rabbit hole & discovered that although this saying was popularised by Dickens it was either someone called George Chapman or Henry Glapthorne who appears to have mentioned it in a play titled Revenge for Honour. 🤔 

And now you understand why I fall behind with the cheerleading 😞😉

Lovely to see you regnbue 👋 & pleased to hear that you are raring to go 😊

Lovely to meet you corrieflash 😊 So pleased that you have joined us & I wish you every success in your journey to a ‘lighter’ house & a ‘lighter’ you 😊 Hopefully you can give Justin his marching orders 🤞

One more page caught up 🙂

MrsSD Awards: 💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 12/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £0

Esmeralda2662

Hi Mrs_Salad_Dodger, please can i join for the 2026 clutter redistribution challenge? Thank you! 

Moorviews

daisy_1571 said:

guerilla decluttering 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣 

Dxx

Great phrase thank you!
We have sneaked up on the loft already and removed several malfunctioning appliances - all now at the Recycling Centre. DH has gone through a suitcase of photos and memorabilia and is saving just a few items. I have gone through one kitchen cabinet and the drinks cabinet and disposed of the really old stuff that I kidded myself I might use last year. On the 4th load of laundry now too. Started to put some decorations away. 

It’s fab to see so many people on here and to be inspired by all your activities 😊 I am especially delighted by the baking being done for the TLC carriage! Make yourself comfy @weenancyinAmerica and we will do our best to channel some positive vibes from afar 💐

QueenJess

@weenancyinAmerica please, please, please look after yourself and try to put yourself first more 

A few bits gone today, including some packaging to take things to charity as I realised the box I leave in our cupboard for everyone to contribute to was full.  I packaged it up and then as DH was heading out anyway, he took it immediately!  I also did the big pile of shredding and put away all the dry clothes.  I'm ignoring the pile of wrapping paper post xmas that needs to be sorted through to see what I can keep with the rest going to xmas card making.

1 - pencil used up (too short to sharpen now!)
2 - gift wrap supplies used up
1 - lip balm I won’t use (Buy Nothing)
3 - packaging reused
1 - DD paperwork recycled 

New total 16
Use it up total 7

Edit: I have to admit to some recluttering... someone on Buy Nothing is getting rid of loads of random stuff prior to moving house.  I knew no one else would want random paper, notebooks and envelopes, but I know I will use it all eventually as I make my own notebooks from scrap paper for work notes and all my own greetings cards.  I'm a glutton for punishment I know.... I should be using up all my own things before adopting other people's to also use up!

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 oil 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

Straight into cheerleading 

Welcome back Willowtree222, lovely to see you 😊 I have made a note of your ‘tasks’ & wish you every success 😊 especially chivvying along family members to declutter their stuff from the garage so that you can declutter your stuff 🍀

Welcome aboard the EDT Watty1, so nice to meet you 😊 Sorry to hear that you are struggling at the moment 😔 although hopefully as you start to ‘redistribute’ the physical clutter, you will also start to declutter the mental & emotional baggage 🙏 I hope you don’t mind me sending you a few gentle cwtches 🤗 🤗

Of course you can join us Christa27 😊 We are always happy to welcome new people into our Declutterati family 🙂 I notice from your signature that you are also doing the 1p Savings Challenge - good luck 🍀 Also hopefully as you start to declutter you can find many items that you can sell & raise money 🙏

You are most welcome CRANKY40 😊 Lovely to see you back 👋 Good luck 🍀

Of course you can join us Quantaqa 😊 The more the merrier 😊 I have made a note of your intentions & am ready to cheer you along your journey ☺️ You have mentioned decluttering your sewing machine because you are hardly using it at the moment - my thought is that if you enjoy sewing & you like using the machine you should keep it ☺️ Wishing you a successful year of decluttering 😊

Welcome aboard the EDT DebtBustingButterfly, lovely to meet you 😊 You are in good company as there are many of us who look around our homes (especially after Christmas) & like you want to “cull/purge the household clutter” 😉 cheaper & less stressful than moving house 🙊Good luck 🍀

Sound advice daisy_1571 👏 

Lovely to see you back diminua 😊 I have made a note of your target. Good luck 🍀

Welcome aboard the EDT KajiKita, very nice to meet you 😊 Please may I make a suggestion? Declutter first then work out storage options - you might find that you have storage solutions that just need to be repurposed 🤞which would mean that you can save a bit of money 🙂 This “A big one for me this year will be the office / craft cupboard. It’s full to bursting and I already know I don’t want to let anything go …” made me smile 😀 ruefully I admit but nevertheless I did smile! You might find that once you collate the contents of the cupboard, you might be able to ‘release’ a few bits to new homes 😉 Good luck with your vegetable patch 🍀 As to This “I have decluttered a long standing ‘friendship’ toward the end of this year and I will be looking out for other ‘stones in my shoe’ that might need editing out of my life.” well done 👏 None of us need ‘negative’ relationships although it can be difficult to cut the cord 😞 

I have reached the end of another page so will post & reward myself with a fresh cuppa & a bit of knitting 🙊 See you later 👋 

MrsSD Awards: 💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 12/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £0

CRANKY40

Good afternoon,  

I have been sorting out the pan drawer in the kitchen today. It's the deepest drawer so guaranteed to have a bit of room and consequently things do just get shoved in there. I wanted at least  for it to be tidy so I didn't have to half empty it to reach a pan but I managed some decluttering as well. 

Total so far are 30 New Years day, 10 yesterday and 15 today so 55 things gone already. I have another kitchen cupboard and the bottom shelf of the pantry to do yet so I may do one a day - it depends if DS needs any help with revision. 

@weenancyinAmerica I'm glad that your roommates have taken some bags to recycling. I would sort the refrigerator out for you if I lived closer. I've done it for both of my neighbours since I've lived here. One was on holiday and left salad and things for her teenage son. That didn't go well 🤣

Take care all of you 😊

purplevamp

Afternoon everyone.

Only a couple of things for me today

5. Empty sellotape roll, been sitting on the window sill for months!
6-8. Old post x 3

Also, the sausage rolls have now gone . I've been trying to find my electric drill for weeks now.  I cannot find it anywhere and I need to put up my new portiere and curtain as my old one droops.  I have three drills: 1 that doesn't work, 1 that works but cannot find the charger and 1 that works fully but cannot find it.  I think it was cleared away in July when we decluttered the house for moving - I hope I didn't throw it away

My new dressing gown came but it doesn't really fit that well, sleeves are too long and the body doesn't wrap around without leaving a gap when I sit down . Not going to send it back as I may fit into it in a few months after I've lost some weight (finger's crossed).  Still wearing the old one for now.