2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

daisy_1571

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050777#Comment_82050777

I understand, I hope you can find a way through. Every day, week, month that goes by the kids will get older and if you keep at it the lessons you teach now will stick so although its quicker to do it yourself now invest that time to save the time later. A list by each bucket will help son. When he dumps stuff call him out and refer to the list. Whats this.. paper? Which bin does paper go in etc etc. The harder you make it for them to dump it on you the less they will. If you just do it, you've taught them you'll do it.

Sending love and strength thru the ether dxx

daisy_1571

Yorkie, sorry I keep meaning to check what cat litter we use, will get back

Floss

@Yorkie1 calling via WhatsApp is very easy - find the contact, click on the phone icon & connect. My sons often call me when they're abroad on holiday or on business.

Floss

@QueenJess I think by doing the hard work of sorting & moving stuff out of your home, you've created a couple of monsters in your DH & DS.

There is no reason why your DH cannot learn how to sort his things, he's just deflecting responsibility. He is, I am sure, quite capable - can he drive / tie shoelaces / make a cup of tea? Then he can decide where his possessions can go if he no longer wants / needs them.

Your DS is also capable of putting things in the bin or a charity box - the questions he needs to ask himself (maybe written down for him?) are (a) is it broken / scrap paper (b) does he think another child could use it.

Keep it simple to simplify your life as well as theirs.

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: I slept quite well as the temperature was a lot cooler at 19°C with just one bathroom visit. I was up at 09:55 with the temperature already at 22°C with the merest hint of a SW breeze although it was rather dull & cloudy. The forecast is for a high of 25°C & a low of 17°C with some sunshine. I have finally unpacked our bags & the first load of laundry is in. The sky+ box still isn’t working but the good news is that I found my original paperwork in the FIRST place I looked 🥳  As I was on a mini decluttering jaunt, I went into the kitchen & went through my teabag supply. Managed to condense 2 jars into one & binned some ancient teabags. I also tested the eggs but only had to bin 2 😮‍💨 I wrote a small shopping list & DH went to A*da mainly for drinks, ice creams & milk. 

1019 Magazine recycled

1020 - 1022 Pair of my Sunday knickers, a pair of DH’s base layer trousers (not fit for purpose), ancient teabags - binned

When he got back, DH moved the bike before re-parking the car & then he put everything away whilst I hung the washing out & put a 2nd load in the wm. 

Siebrie, it is so lovely to see you ☺️ Sorry to hear that you have been having such a torrid time especially with your husband & my condolences on the loss of your father 🥺 I am keeping everything crossed that your husband doesn’t make trouble & that the divorce goes through quickly & without any major issues 🤞 It sounds like your daughters are doing very well 🥹 I agree with ‘daisy’ that your “girls will see through ‘his’ nonsense” Please take care of yourself & your daughters 🙏

Florenceem, another successful day for jobs done by young J 👏

BlueJ94, a great start to your commitment to clearing your loans 👏 I am especially impressed with all the Surveys you are doing 😊

Yorkie1, pleased to hear that your Mum’s landline & broadband switch went well ☺️ Also very pleased to hear that you have delayed your plans to return home until the weather gets cooler & you can travel safely 🥹 Hopefully you can sort out the smelly cat litter issue 🤞

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 I am rather intrigued with what I am calling the “magic drawer” sorted so many times & still providing useful items like the cables 🤩

Lovely post daisy_1571 🥹 

florianatwobob, loved the reference to Hobbits ☺️

Lovely post weenancy 🥹

BlueJ94, sounds like the dog has you completely under his ‘paw’ 😉 Hope you managed to get your “little snooze” 🤞

I have caught up a little. The 1st load of washing dried on the whirligig & is folded ready to put away. 2nd load hung out & 3rd load in wm. I hope everyone has had a more comfortable day but still keeping properly hydrated 😊 I will see everyone later 👋 

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️

DSis Awards: 🏅

Decluttering Target 2026: 1022/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £226.61

TC77

@QueenJess

TC77

Sorry issue with typing on the thread. QJ You have done so much over the last few years which I've been in awe of, hoping you're not feeling so frazzled or overwhelmed.

Day at DB and some stuff sorted for tip, charity etc, came back with a carrier bag and a few things in my back pack, a desk tidy and pot for pens with a few pens (,not good enough to pass on) wooden spoon, better than many of mine, book ends, clip frame ( dd2 can put a photo from her trip in it,) a vintage unopened bottle of stones ginger wine ( unsure the vintage but says doesn't expire) , a thing that db said was a cocktail swizzler but just found out its a gadget to flatten down your tobacco in a pipe - very useful of course 😀

My rule is that I have to unpack things I've brought back and find a home for them. Unsure about the pipe accessory although maybe with the grape scissors and toasting fork!

All the sheets, duvets were taken over 4 or 5 trips to donation hub. DB will be driving up next month and staying bringing boxes for me to sort/ use. I couldn't see lots of paper, label and stationery so as I will go through. I'm out of scrap paper. Also some books. Amazing the things I find of interest! 😄

Forgot brought 2 fold back clips came back, including my first red one - very useful for making kitchen supplies airtight!

retiredinfrance

@Siebrie my heart goes out to you having followed your troubles over the years. Bon courage as we say here in France. I used to find muttering I will survive under my breath in difficult situations helped …..a bit ,
We are just coming through the canicule the heatwave. Eight days of it and 5 in the Red. Records were broken and we were at over 40C for 4 days . Five kms from us they recorded 42.5. But the bungalow is very well insulated and after early morning cooling the shutters were shut, no cooking , no hot drinks.We are in a small valley beside a treed river so that also helps , and getting up at 6.30 to do the essentials also helps.

We decluttered our car , 12 years old but it needed a first dearish repair so the salesman pounced on me as I was idly surveying prices on the stock. So a pile of money declutter on an automatic for the first time and I’m pleased that there will be no repairs hopefully for sometime. Also declutterred was all the paperwork from the old car, the junk from the old car as it went to be valued.

So 3 out, money, car paperwork and car junk

Total 164+3=167. Hopefully I’ll be back soon with more out.

Green_hopeful

@queenjess its super frustrating to carry the mental load for others. Sometimes I am good at going through other peoples stuff and really race through. Other times I just don’t have the energy.

My husband and adult step son are hopeless at putting things away. I sometimes find adding a label helps. I use masking tape and a sharpie pen. For example in the freezer. I am pretty sure they just lob the food in. I have drawers with labels so at least they can’t pretend not to know. I think it has got a little better.

I hope that it gets better soon. Big hugs.

Florenceem

I took an envelope of stamps with me to Church as a friend P collects them. I saw some with the old King on so over 70 years old.

No sorting has happened here today but I did empty the airing cupboard and do some ironing. There is a bag in my shopping trolley for the charity shop in town.

I am still watching hoarding programmes as therapy while I knit. Some of the homes are extremely dirty and cluttered plus have animal waste amongst the possessions.

I said to my daughter today that if the house was to become messy - I can't blame Mr F. I think hoarding is a learned behaviour and having parents with the problem leads to thinking it is normal. Mr F's mother was a terrible hoarder but explained it by the fact that she lost her home during the war.

I want to do some decluttering of the old office this week.