2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Florenceem

TC77 - there are clothes in the built in wardrobe in the large ROD. There will be some of Mr F's clothes in there.

Floss - I had to pay ahead of the direct cremation for Mr F.

Mrs SD - I moved the 6 large storage boxes that were in the garage - came from small ROD. I did lighten them before taking back upstairs - J had carried them downstairs. So now I have that space in the garage to use for stuff from large ROD. My house is in a constant mode of moving about. It will be lovely when I can say - it is all done! Have I got a date in mind for that? By Christmas maybe.

TC77 - taking photos of a room before tackling it is a good idea. Taking photos as you work on it can be encouraging. I took photos of the small ROD - when the room is done - I will share - dreadful mess!

Moorviews - Mr F had moved from a bank he had been at since the 1970s to my one - he said to make it easier for me. This is more evidence that he knew his health was failing. I am going to leave all important documents in one place for my children to find when I join Mr F.

Moorviews - getting rid of stuff means space to move about easily and it certainly helps with cleaning. I think I am a non sentimental person.

TC77 - I had to google - The Pomodoro Technique. I will use a timer today.

I carried on with knitting a glove last night. When I have used all the balls of variegated yarn on knitting gloves - I will move on to a very different make - watch this space.

I had a good night pain wise but many trips to the bathroom.

I am having my hair done at lunchtime. Apart from that I plan a day at home - sorting. I want to move boxes out of the large ROD into the small ROD - they have yarn in them. As I have 6 empty storage boxes in the small ROD - I plan to sort the yarn by colours or probably lights/darks. It is mostly DK.

Had a text from a lovely chap at my old corps - misses me - I would usually be there on a Wednesday organising volunteers at lunch club.

GrannyKate

Been trying to get all holidays sorted so got some Euros and a couple of clothing items and underwear at Mr A. I've not got started on frogs yet as unexpected things came up. A positive declutter though when a polite man knocked on door and asked if radiators were scrap. They were very happy to take 4 radiators, a rusted bird feeder pole and a battered wheelbarrow. I plan to drop off some wood and cardboard at tip when I go to do school run.

456-461 Six metal items taken for scrap

462 Old manky wash bag binned (new one bought)

463 Holiday purse to CS bag (new one bought)

Florenceem

GrannyKate - I too have a positive declutter. Someone has asked for the Penny Pincher Papers that I put on Freggle.

I have ventured into the large ROD and heaved 5 large containers and 2 bags out of there. One of the bags is disintegrating so making a mess.

Soontobeoap

Just clearing up house after weekend away and then car boot sale. Sold a bedside table today just have a beautiful mirror from the big things to go. Have reduced its price in the hope of it selling. I am beginning to see more space again. Lovely sunny day here.

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988152#Comment_81988152

Invited some friends over for coffee and cake and made everyone's favourite banana oatmeal loaf. We were busy chattering in the dining room with our coffee and I heard a ominous thump in the kitchen - the sound of a cat landing on the ground. Went out to discover a bite out of the middle of the loaf still cooling in it's baking tin. Thankfully there were 2 loaves and the other was unscathed. I mentioned the bite out of the other while serving up the nice one and 2 of the attendees made faces and went "yuck". The third person (a true cat friend!!!) said "well if no one else wants it can I take that loaf home with me?".

TC77

Flagging no, while dining room table is slightly clearer I had to work on the back room which is meant to be my study, dodgy looking mould like appearance on the old french doors so wiped these down, cleared and cleaned my desk surface and screen, and lots of papers filed and others recycled (lots more to do).

requested GP appointed, boiler service booked for tomorrow, posted on free sites items for my dad, other bits - I'll list later for decluttering, booked a slot at auction valuation day in June in Greenwich (see if anything worth more than pennies), waiting for call back about where to drop things for the teenage project. Sent a list of printers, chargers to the computer project to see if they want and asked about help with my laptop, and said maybe someone there this pm. Hitch - I can't find the laptop :( DD2's but I borrowed and caused a problem which I hope to fix before she's home!

Wash hung outside and now in as looks like rain with some forecast everyday for a while!

Just had phone call that boiler service brought forward to this pm so going to clear a path in the hall (bags awaiting being taken) and check they can get to the boiler!

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

Wednesday is a brighter day than yesterday as the sun is managing to peek through the clouds. A forecast high of 14°C (feeling 3° cooler due to N wind) & a low of 8°C. Yesterday DH took down the empty bird feeders as per advice from the RSPB. DH has just changed the positions of the car & bike on the drive & cleaned the inside of the car. I received my TV licence renewal this morning. Now £180 but I still think it is good value as it works out at just under 50p per day.

Lovely to see you StickyTheStickInsect 👋  I can’t believe we are over a third of the way through the year already 😰 Poor DS1 😣 Seven dislocations/breaks in under 2 years is a lot 😱 Hopefully he will get a quick referral & can be started on the road to a proper treatment and recovery 🙏 Very pleased to hear that you are “doing things for yourself” That is a long time to be on a waiting list 😯 I hadn’t realised the WI is still so popular 😊 Excellent decluttering both at your home & from your dad’s house 👏I am especially impressed that you are tackling the storage container 👏 I will check my records as it is time to make some awards……….FIVE GOLD STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the decluttering at your dad’s house  🤩🥳👏 +  I have made a note of the new target 😊 

GrannyKate, your quiet week before going on holiday sounds quite busy to me 😉 Excellent work decluttering & cleaning 👏 Very impressed that you have already packed for your holiday 🥳 DH & I always seem to leave our packing until the last minute 🙊 Poor Sox he obviously wants to come on holiday with you 😉

Really enjoying the conversation about cats food preferences & their little foibles 🥹

Great decluttering Floss 👏

vulpix, sounds like your cats are a perfect character match for you 🥹 Good news that you will soon have proper drainage 😊 Great work with the decluttering 👏 although a pity that MrV had a momentary memory lapse 🙊

Excellent decluttering of the wardrobes Willowtree222 👏 A medal🏅 is on its way 

Florenceem, a shame about the gloves 🙁 I am very sorry to hear that your run of pain-free nights has been broken 😔 Please remember to mention it to the doctor at your next appointment 🙏 Excellent work in the small RoD 👏 with some great decluttering 👏

Excellent decluttering & sorting TC77 especially your SABLE collection of cards 👏

Soontobeoap, well done on sorting out the frog before it became a cane toad 👏 Just wondering if your DH used an unofficial website hence the request for payment of a fee 🧐 Thank you for the welcome back 😊

suzeesu2000, great work sorting out & decluttering emails 👏 Reading about your cats made me smile 😃 Pepper was a cat after my own heart - ice cream & cheese and onion crisps 😋 although I prefer fried eggs 🙊 I agree with Yorkie1, very exciting to find a treasure trove of information for your family tree ☺️

Yorkie1, I laughed out loud reading about cat 🤣 Obviously a cat with good taste 😉

oceanspirit, definitely feeling better although the older I get the longer it takes to recover 🙁 Sorry to hear about the “overwhelm wobble” 😞  I always thought that technology was supposed to make our lives easier rather than stressed out ☹️ 

TC77, thanks for the reminder about coat hangers 👏 & thanks for the idea about clothing drawers 🙂

I have caught up a little so will see you later 👋 

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 800/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £165.11

florianatwobob

@Brie what a naughty moggy. I’d have cut round the cat bite!

I think it’s one of those things where you know where your cat (or dog) has been, what they’re habits are and you’ve probably swapped germs with them numerous times already!

Very little decluttering done however I signed up yonks ago to gift aid on donations to our local air ambulance shop. Our sporadic decluttering to them has made them over £350. Although they have to tell you how much gift aid they’ve received from the sales it actually incentivises you to keep donating to them.

Florenceem

On my way to have my hair done I pass the SA - officer was outside - I went across as I had plenty of time before my appointment. He again said about meeting up - I explained that I can't face being sat next to the chair Mr F used. So now he said - that will not be a short time then. Is he getting it that I am grieving?

On my way home after having my hair done I popped into the hall - saw a few friends including the chap who had sent a missing you message this morning. I didn't look for the officer.

I have been taking boxes out of the large ROD and sorting the contents. Empty boxes are dusted and cleaned with a wipe. Fabric is coming down into my craft room. Yarn that I want to keep is going in boxes with a note of where.

I must be getting rid of lots as I have 6 large empty storage boxes. I have 5 bags of stuff ready for the SA charity shop and stuff ready for my daughter and granddaughter's schools.

After only popping down the road to the hairdresser - I have done 5500 steps - it is all the up and downstairs and in and out of rooms.

After I have eaten I will get back to my knitting.

Yorkie1

@Florenceem well done for having that conversation with the officer and for popping back in afterwards. Hopefully that will ease the pressure they put on you. I hope you like your hairdo!

@Moorviews very wise words about how to let go of items that have sentimental value. Something I struggle with.

I have started an Executors' file which I will eventually share with my brother and cousin (executors). I got the idea from a post on MSE, but I also note that Age UK have a similar document (their LifeBook) which is broader in what it covers. My version sets out things like the institutions where I have insurance, bank accounts, direct debits, standing orders, pensions, key contacts for my activities, location of will. Plus things like driving licence number. All that stuff which they would not have any idea of where to start looking. I don't live close to them (cousin has never been to my house, brother only a couple of times) and so they are not familiar with my mess … Must get on and finish it! (And then keep it up to date).