2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

QueenJess

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042714#Comment_82042714

I find my mojo leaks away in proportion to each degree above 25 Celsius, then even more for high humidity. I’m looking forward to the freezing air con in the office tomorrow, even though I’ll have to take a thick jumper!

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 continued: it has been a glorious day for biking with plenty of other bikers out enjoying the weather. We managed to find  7 of the 8 old landmarks but didn’t find anywhere convenient to stop for a drink so we arrived at our hotel before 15:00. Luckily our room in The Balmoral Arms, Ballater was ready - the receptionist had apparently upgraded us 😉 We are already booked in for dinner tonight - prebooked as advised by the hotel 😉 We are in our room relaxing - DH is watching the MotoGP races on his phone & I am catching up with MSE forums 😊

Liverpool_Anne, yikes to getting up at 5 a.m. 😧 Seagulls are particularly raucous & not a particularly pleasant sound in my opinion unless you are at the seaside 😉 Hopefully you are winning the war on dust 🤞 Some excellent & eclectic decluttering 👏 worthy of a medal 🏅which is on its way 😊 Well done on finding the glasses screw - they are so tiny it something of a miracle you found it 😉 Hopefully your B12 jab will take effect soon 🤞

Green_hopeful, very pleased to hear that the party went well despite the fiasco with the gazebo. Sounds like you had a wonderful time 🥹 & I am just sorry to have missed out on the chilli 😅

TC77, nowadays we tend to avoid the landmarks that are up gravel roads 😉 Hope it wasn’t too hot to do some gardening 🤞

Excellent work helping your DD to declutter, QueenJess 👏 Pleased to hear that you are feeling better about the state of your house ☺️ Good luck going through the kitchen cupboards 🍀

Florenceem, a busy Sunday morning 😊 Well done getting all your donations to the shop 👏 I didn’t think they would all fit in your Bestie’s car 😉An excellent sum of main raised on Friday 🤩

Good luck with the listings florianatwobob 🍀  busy morning 👏 Fingers crossed that the roofer doesn’t keep you waiting 🤞

dND, I think your mojo has hitched a ride with us & is currently enjoying a tour of Scotland 🤣 I will try to persuade it to come back 😉 Great work in the garden & I am especially impressed with the up-cycling of the fibre glass rods 👏 a medal 🏅is on its way 😊 My DSis can’t cope with the hot weather either despite having lived in the south of France for over 20 years 😞 

QueenJess, love it 😻😻  

All caught up for the time being & perfect timing. Scrubbed & changed & heading down to the bar for a drink before dinner. I hope everyone has coped with whatever type of weather you have had 🙏 See you later at which time I will report on today’s menagerie👋 

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 1000/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £226.61

Moorviews

Phew, 'tis rather warm! Hope you are all doing okay with it.

Mrs SD - thank you for my latest medal. I too am really enjoying your Scotland road trip although your restaurant meals always make me really hungry!

@daisy_1571 - you were definitely missed and it is lovely to see you back.

@Green_hopeful - wow, that was quite some party! Well done for orchestrating everything including all the decluttering in preparation.

@Liverpool_Anne - you are doing well under trying circumstances. Hopefully your B12 injection will help quickly and make you feel better.

@dND - a waiting game for trades here too. I hope you at least get a firm date and that it doesn't clash with your other plans. I sympathise with you and @QueenJess regarding the heat sapping energy - the desire to have a nap right now is qute strong.

@Yorkie1 - I hope everything goes well with your trip to your mum and that she will feel calmer after her new broadband is set up.

@Florenceem - your home is sounding lovely with all the decorating and updating you are doing. You and grandson J are a great team.

I have been through a pile of circulars and junk mail ready for the recycling collection. Some damaged crockery has been put aside to go to the RC, also some metal and small electrical items. I managed to clear a shelf in the kitchen removing a couple of baskets and recycling unwanted jars. This meant I could put some things away that were cluttering the kitchen worktop. I am not doing well with eating down the stores. Mr MV is constantly buying things that we already have in. He has plenty of opportunity now that he has retired so I am fighting a losing battle with that one. The supermarkets seem to stimulate the hunter/gatherer in him.

Otherwise, I am continuing with my alterations for clothing in my wardrobe, although there is some light at the end of that tunnel. I am appreciating being able to actually wear things that have been hanging there unworn for years. If I improve my skills, I hopefully won't avoid for as long in the future. I keep reminding myself that the clothes are already mine and that I can't do any worse than never wearing them and having to give them away!

Also, lots and lots of garden stuff being done but very little bought in. My aim is to get anything that requires planting up done this summer - yes, there are a few plants lingering from last year.

You are all as inspiring as ever and I love reading what everyone is up to and cheering you on in the background. Wishing you all a happy solstice xx

suzeesu2000

Did bit more of the gloss.
Measured some kitchen cupboards.
Scrubbed 2 absolutely filthy lampshades, didn’t realise just how mucky they were. Now delightfully clean again.
Took broken coat hooks down.
Took brackets for front door curtain rod down.
Filled all the holes.
Took the net curtain down in the bathroom.
Took the curtain up. Washed and hung back up, was dry in less than 10 minutes.

Joints are absolutely screaming at me and a bit more swollen than usual. Taking it easy now.
Hop everyone has had a reasonable day. Sweet dreams all xx

TC77

Blaming the heat for lack of action, noce time hitting with a friend and could take them through the dining room and kitchen to the garden so an improvement. Have put many things in their home. Some digital decluttering , some paper and plants decluttered in the ground amd 3 books for cs.

955

Florenceem

I have had a lazy time this afternoon & evening.

I did write and send a long email to the divisional mission officer asking for a transfer.

I did the ironing and then sat and knitted while I watched you tube videos.

I found a new with tags linen blouse/top among the bag of clothes - tried it on and didn't like the neckline so bestie will put it on vinted.

Just paid my credit cards - ouch!

Going to a strawberry tea tomorrow afternoon at my new corps, I am going to be helping with the washing up.

A friend will collect me as bestie will already be there.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, busyish day in fits and starts. Put another pair of curtains and another sheet on the line with a small rug to help blow away some dust. They will all need washing but will just be put in a bin bag until I can get to them.

Concentrated mainly on the conservatory today and 2 boxes out resulting in 2 cardboard boxes recycled, a broken glass vase recycled, some random metal and plastic recycled, a bag of old papers recycled, various other items put where they will be used including 2 more candles and a bin bag of rubbish binned. I also found a bag of old gardening magazines. 4 were recycled as they were torn but the rest I have put on the local free site but if there are no takers they will be recycled. They are currently on the gas cupboard in the hall so they are handy if anyone asks for them, ever the optimist 😂. The bedroom bin and kitchen bin were emptied.

@Florenceem I was also born near the salt water and have spent most of my life either near the sea or on tidal estuaries and I am used to seagulls, just not on my house roof at 5am 😂. I quite like them but they are even noisier than the blackbird 😂. I hope you are happier with your new Corp and enjoy the strawberry tea , hugs.

@dND no the spell checker on mse is definitely missing 😂. I have to read my posts twice before I post and even then I am not convinced it's right 😂. Don't blame you for going to ground, it was definitely on the Hot side of comfortable here 😁.

@Mrs SD thank you for my medal 😁. As usual your trip sounds fab 😁.

@Moorviews the B12 jab usually takes 3-4 days to kick in so not long now until I feel much better 😁. Can I suggest you designate Mr MV to put away any shopping he buys so he can see the overstock he is creating and this might help him to be more selective when shopping 😁.

Someone mentioned in a post a few days ago, sorry I can't remember who, that they were off to watch Messi. I have to say I have seen him play in the flesh twice and I wasn't that impressed. Maybe he just didn't like Anfield 😂

Right.off to bed now, hugs to anybody who would like one.

Adding 14 to my numbers so 892/2026

Take care everyone

vulpix

shortened my new top to a length that suits me.

spent a couple of hours weeding and re potting pots at the side of the house. Emptied some pots that I will sell. Found a ceramic pot to take for DIL tomorrow. Some things could be planted out in the front garden but I will wait until after the heatwave. Some things are for the back garden when it is revamped. I would say there are only half the pots I brought with me left to deal with. Some things I am waiting for them to flower and that will decide which garden they will go in. The drive looks much tidier.

I am not looking forward to the heat. We are staying in a hotel tomorrow night, I hope they have a fan.

Take care people. Vx

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 continued: not enough dinner bookings for the hotel to justify opening the restaurant so we had dinner in the bar but with the restaurant menu 😉 DH started with broccoli & Stilton soup & hm bread followed by a venison burger topped with pulled venison & chunky chips whilst I had chicken liver parfait with chutney & julienne carrots followed by venison loin with redcurrant sauce, fondant potatoes, whisky black pudding, broccoli, carrots & sugar snap peas + a couple of beers each. Everything was absolutely delicious 🤤 There was an issue with me paying the bill as my card was rejected twice but then accepted as a Tap & Go. Whilst I was trying to pay DH was looking at the bill which had the wrong drinks. To cut a long story short our bill should have been £3 more but we were let off 😊 The food is always excellent in this hotel & they excelled themselves yet again 👏 

Today’s small menagerie: sheep, cows, ponies, horses, 2 pheasants & DH saw a hawk sitting on a post surveying its territory.

Lovely cheerleading Moorviews ☺️ Great work clearing items off your kitchen worktops 👏 A pity MrMV is sabotaging your attempts to use up food stores 😔 We might have to send a delegation to have a few words 😂 Your mention of “hunter/gatherer” now has me imagining MrMV in furs & carrying a spear 🙊 Well done on your alterations to your clothing 👏 it will not only save you money but hopefully will help you fall in love with clothes you already have 🤞Also great work in the garden & good luck planting up the last of the plants 🍀

Wow, suzeesu2000 you have been busy 👏 no wonder your joints are “absolutely screaming” at you 😣 Please have a lot of rest & either ice packs or hot packs on your joints 🙏

Excellent decluttering TC77 👏 So pleased to hear that you are finally noticing how well you are doing by taking your friend through the dining room & kitchen into the garden ☺️ Not that long ago you wouldn’t have invited them at all 😉

Florenceem, hopefully you will get a quick response from the divisional mission officer 🤞 Pleased to hear that you are fitting in so well at your new corps ☺️ The members of your old corps will certainly miss you 😢 

Lovely cheerleading Liverpool_Anne ☺️ Excellent decluttering 👏 & I will keep my fingers crossed that someone wants the gardening magazines 🤞 What a great idea for Moorviews to try with MrMV 👏

vulpix, excellent work in the garden 👏 Fingers crossed that the hotel has air conditioning 🤞

Currently watching the Uruguay/Cabo Verde match - very exciting & I don’t really like football that much 😉 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2026: 1000/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £226.61

GrannyKate

Checking in. Spent most of the weekend sweltering hot. I emptied stuff out of a storage box and moved things around. Spent ages putting swimming pool frame together but realised I had top frame upside down! Had to start again. The frame is quite rusted but looks like it may do another year but don't think I'll keep it at end of year. Side of house looks a bit like Steptoe's yard now. New microwave arrived so old one and a cardboard box are out there as well. I think I may round stuff up and start today with a visit to the tip. Continuing to clear weeds a few at a time but ground is far too hard to dig shrubs up. I still have lots that need to go.

I realised my milk has 18 June expiry date so I need to go to shop. I found a random pork chop in freezer so I had that for tea with some chips and sweet corn. Garden club visit tomorrow to somewhere just over Nottinghamshire border. Will need to check driving time and get some cash. I also need to get football top for DGD4's birthday on Thursday. Chatted to DD and she has got pantomime tickets again for us all on 22 December. I will do what I did last year and go to DDs and come back Boxing Day to spend time at DS2s with his 4 children. No idea when tradespeople may turn up again to finish hall and do plumbing but it can wait.

626 Banking done

627 Weeding

628 Old microwave out with new packaging - mainlyb paid for with £50 voucher from bank swap

629 Swimming pool put up and half filled - DS2 will come and sort filter etc out. I have some filters from last year and I bought chlorine tablets a few weeks ago.

I need to get going before it is too hot. I had all the windows open all day yesterday but doors kept closing. Sox was pacing up and down the hall very cross when I realised he couldn't get into bedroom 2 where he has a fleece on top of a very cosy bed cover. Once I opened the door he was straight in there for a 4 hour nap in the cool. He could of course have walked round the bungalow and jumped in the open window but doesn't have that many brain cells.