2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Florenceem

J was here for 7 hours painting outside. He gave the front side wall a first coat then did the seventies stone horror on the kitchen wall. We had a breeze here so the first wall was dry - it got a second coat. Then he gave the kitchen wall a second coat of paint. Lastly he painted the wall from side gate to back wall - with a brush - first coat was with a roller. He was using the brush to get the spots the roller missed. There are still patches that need a touch up.

He won't be here tomorrow or Thursday. I hope to finish emptying the small room of doom by Friday. If he comes here on Friday - he could do any filling needed and paint the ceiling - it is the tiny bedroom.

J remembered his wrench today - clever lad fixed my wonky sewing machine table. He had said all along which nut needed to be adjusted.

I am feeling very sad tonight - no particular reason.

I had a text from the officer this morning - could we meet so they could get a feel for how I'm doing. How ridiculous - I lost my husband - surely any pastoral training they received would tell them that a widow of 3 months is an emotional wreck. They also said - what can they do to support me returning to worship with them when the time is right. They can't do anything - I feel safe where I worship with my bestie. Where I worship I have no one coming up to me and talking about how wonderful Mr F was. There are a lot of special needs people at the officer's corps and I know they wouldn't be meaning to upset me. Any decision on where I worship will be made when I feel ready to do so and after a lot of prayer. After all I am still worshipping every week and watch the streamed corps meeting.

Decluttered - 3 pairs of socks, bag of cardboard tubes, pack of Christmas serviettes & coasters, sets of hair elastics, bracelet, rubber stamps, craft punches, jumbo paper clips, 2 pkts binder clips, 4 pkts of serviettes, fabrics, notebooks, tissue paper, pkt of tissues, sheet of stickers, pkt of 2 pairs of socks, shoe boxes, crepe paper x 2, storage box, tea lights, stationery set,

Floss

@florianatwobob I have a neat scar beneath my chin where I had 3 stitches after trying to use the (banned) trapeze bar on our swing set....

Brambling

I'm sorry you're being pressurised Florenceem I'm glad you have your bestie for support.

I envy those with honeysuckle it gives me really bad asthma and hay-fever, so do most night scented flowers so I have to avoid even sitting in someone else's garden.

Three large bags mainly my friends' stuff but have been cluttering my dining room dropped of to CS this morning they wouldn't take cookery books but I have found somewhere who will so the fourth bag is still in my car. They also don't sell that quickly at petworth. I knew they weren't taking clothes at the moment so my two bags of clothes with a couple of handbags and three pairs of shoes can be dropped off in town later in the week.

I checked and the shop which will take the cookery books will take my friends late 1960s ornate silver plated cutlery all 80 pieces, she wasn't keen on it going to an artist to be repurposed, I'll double check and allow her a week to change her mind to rehomed it there! The charity supports the food bank so a good home, they also help people going into emergency accommodation with the basics but I think it's to ornate so they'll sell it.

Brambling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81972661#Comment_81972661

I never needed stitches but was hit off my feet more than once running behind my sister as she 'tried to go over the top'

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

Tuesday has been bright & sunny with a high of 14°C, warm in the sun but feeling 5° colder due to a brisk ENE wind, low of 6°C. DH left 08:45 for a day of RBR - we call it his “Bakewell Day” I stirred my stumps - went out at 14:45 & was back indoors by 16:55 having got cash from the bank, posted letters & cards, stopped at the surgery to book an appointment with the pharmacist - very lucky as I have an appointment for tomorrow at 10:15. Then bus to A*da to buy a loaf of bread & some envelopes & pens. Updated my accounts. DH phoned 17:45 to say he was on his way home & would stop off at the chippie for our dinner. Window cleaners turned up at 18:25 & we had a long chat. They are off to the Isle of Wight on Friday for a wedding on Saturday & decided to make it into a 10 day holiday ☺️ DH got home 19:15 & was rather upset as when he was in the chippie he noticed his wedding ring was missing 😿 After taking his coat off, he went upstairs to our bedroom in the hope that it had come off in the bed & he just hadn’t noticed it was missing when he set off …………….. a joyous whoop confirmed that he was correct 😮‍💨 Wudupa

724 - 729 Kitchen recycling, 3 booklets, half a Sudoku book, newspaper - recycled 

730 - 732 Kitchen & lr detritus, pair of Sunday knickers - binned

Starting the cheerleading for posts dated the 20th

Florenceem, yikes to the “stab of pain” 😧 I hope the doctor’s appointment went well & that you managed to get the paint home without injuring yourself 🤞

vulpix, very pleased to hear that both you & MrV had a great weekend ☺️ although I know I would have preferred yours 😉 Hopefully you will get around to resuming your work on your book - I am looking forward to purchasing a copy 😊 Well done on not only decluttering by ‘using up’ but also keeping your house tidy 👏 Sounds like the door painting is going well 😊

GrannyKate, wow that was quick getting the holiday washing done 🥳 Pleased to hear that Sox appears to have enjoyed his stay at the cattery 😮‍💨 Your holiday sounds wonderful & a good result from deciding not to hire a car 🥳 Gorgeous photos  & the weather looks glorious 🥹

Excellent decluttering from the garage Green_hopeful 👏 What a sporty family 😊 Good luck clearing your mum’s storage unit 🍀 This “She was talking about a hypnotist. I thought they might say, ‘you are feeling sleepy, you have become a minimalist’. We might all sign up for that.” is brilliant 👏 Fingers crossed that the local up-cycler will take a few items off your hands 🤞

Dizzycap, a busy morning & lovely to hear that Babyface was in such fine form ☺️ What a lovely thing to do for your neighbour 🥹

GrannyKate, great work dealing with your banking & the weeding 👏 Hopefully Sox will forgive you for moving things……..again 😉

Floss, sounds beautiful 😍 

Excellent work rearranging the gardens florianatwobob 👏

Welcome home TC77 ☺️ Sounds like you had a wonderful time in Australia 🥹 Looking forward to seeing a few photos 🙏 Fingers crossed that work isn’t too busy 🤞 Good luck dealing with your key frogs 🍀

Great decluttering Florenceem both to CS & to your DD 👏 A medal 🏅 is on its way. Pleased to hear that your persistence re the masonry paint paid off 🥳 and I am taking an educated guess that you used your trolley to get the paint home 😉 Did the doctor have any ideas to combat the pain you have been experiencing at night? Hopefully you will get on well with the milkshakes & start to put on a little weight 🙏

Yorkie1, loved the reminiscences about your pets ☺️

Excellent decluttering diminua 👏 So pleased to hear that you have started such an important frog 🥹 sounds like time well spent ☺️

BlueJ94, good luck getting into your new morning routine 🍀 Well done on your vinted/ebay sales 👏

Florenceem, good luck to J with the painting & you having a reasonably quiet day at home 🍀

Willowtree222, an excellent start on decluttering your loft 👏

Excellent work keeping up with the digital decluttering Deni_debt-free_dreamer 👏 & well done on decluttering most of the small bits of furniture to the CS 👏

_Dolly_Rocker_ sorry to hear about the migraine 😔 Well done on all the cleaning & tidying 👏 you definitely have more willpower than me 😉

Dizzycap, pleased to hear that you managed to quickly sort out the issue with Babyface’s gums 🥹 Hopefully your mother will get bored at not being waited on hand & foot & will leave you & Babyface in peace 🤞 Excellent work in the garden 👏 Please accept 💐 to brighten up the inside to match the outside 😊

florianatwobob, thank you for sharing such lovely memories 😊

Florenceem, excellent work by young J 👏 He is such a hard worker 🥹 Fingers crossed that you manage to empty the small RoD by Friday 🤞 Sorry to hear that you are being pressured by your local officer 😢🥺  so well done on resisting them & I am so happy that your bestie is such a great support 🥹 More excellent decluttering 👏

Floss, you little scallywag 🙊 

Brambling, such a shame that you are allergic to honeysuckle 😔 Excellent decluttering 👏

Beautiful & thoughtful post Dizzycap 🥹

All caught up 😊 Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️💐💐⭐️💐❤️ ⭐️🎖️🥇 

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 732/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £165.11

BlueJ94

Morning!

Another day down until the weekend! Not a lot to really report on, ebay and vinted sales have been good ive made over £150 in 3 days!

Declutter wise I havent done anything for a few days but going to maybe have a look later on after work. All washing is still up to date and the house is overall clean and tidy

oceanspirit

A collander for CS, more papers into recycling and two electrical items for tip. Plus a gone off tube of sunscreen binned.

regnbue

Hello everybody

I went back to work last week after my year off 🙁 so been too busy to post but did want to mention that yesterday with the help of a friend and a passing young lady (who very kindly offered) we managed to manoeuvre 2 sofas and a mattress out of the house and to the kerb for collection today.

I've never felt my age as much as I did doing all that.

They had taken everything by 8 this morning and decluttering three huge items feels great😀

Florenceem

Morning all.

Mrs SD - great that hubby found his wedding ring. Has he lost weight for it to slip off? I am surprised that my wedding ring doesn't come off with my weight loss.

Still in my pjs. Decided to leave shopping until tomorrow as Lid. are having an XXL promotion.

Will pop to a friend this afternoon to collect some stuff she has for me.

Had another pain free night.

I will go out to the front of the house - after I get dressed - to remove masking tape. There may be a bit of cleaning off of paint on the pvc window surround.

Sunny day but we have the chilly north east wind which keeps temperatures down.

Hope everyone has a good and productive day.

vulpix

Hi, iv'e had no decluttering to tell you about but I have been on the go. Went to B&Q the other day for more undercoat. £19 ,yes £19 for a small tin of paint. Bumped into a very old friend and her husband whilst we were there. Whilst we were chatting my ex husband joined us. He is waiting to have his knee replaced, perhaps we will be in hospital together! Not seen any of these people for about 5 years.My female friend always suggests a meet up and I always say when, but she never comes up with the goods.🤣 I have finally realised it will never happen.

I have now been referred to a surgeon for knee replacement. Apparently my left knee is worse but my right knee is the most painful. Something has shifted and is trapping a nerve which shoots pain up and down my leg. I am a coward with surgery but I have finally realised if there is a solution to constant pain I need to take it. My knees will only ever get worse so it's Hobson's choice. Has anyone here had a knee done? I spend a lot of my time sat on the floor. I worry that I won't be able to kneel or sit cross legged anymore. Not that my right knee is having any of that atm.

Great news for DD1, her primary job has secured funding to give her more hours and the other job which is being dissolved has given her 1 day a week doing the part of her current job she loves. Win win. She just needs to convince HMRC that she isn't a master defrauding criminal and all will be good. She has been in an eternal loop for months. Try to change details online, online says you need to phone HMRC. Phone line says do this online ad infinitum. She has finally spoken to a person and now they want to fine her for not telling them new information!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Peak District National Park was 75 years old last week. Great foresight all those years ago. It is a victim of it's success as the most visited national park in the country but gives a lot of pleasure to a lot of people.

I hope you got a Bakewell pudding the other day Mrs SD. What a relief Mr SD's ring was found.

I get a lot of motorbikes past my new house on a weekend. Some large clubs on a run I think. We are on a nice loop of great roads for motor bikes. Plus push bikes! The tour de France Femmes is passing through next year.

Florenceem, I am sorry you have been on the receiving end of clumsy conversations. They obviously don't know you as well as they thought and just put their foot in it at every attempt to support you.xxx

The women came and dug up the raspberry canes yesterday.

We are off to Nottingham shortly. I am at the dentist, then on to visit DD2. I shall take my note book and interrogate Mr V about things for the book on the 3 hour drive.

I am buying some 2nd hand curtains for our bedroom, I am still not completely happy with it. Dark green velvet curtains may be the solution. TBH I think it's actually a full wall of grey floor to ceiling wardrobes that is the problem!😂

Vx