2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Florenceem

Morning all.

Still coughing and a bit croaky but slept okay.

Bestie is giving me a Christmas wreath making day as a birthday gift at end of November.

At the moment the sorting of stuff is making the house more messy but I need to sort though my stash.

I haven't been out the last two days, today I may need to pop to nearby shop for milk.

vulpix

So far today, a single bed base, a dehumidifier, an exercise bike in bits and someone else's family bible have come out of the loft, plus our stuff. I will try to ask the previous owner if she wants the bible, Mr V has taken the rest of it to the tip.

DIL has an interview tomorrow so off we go down South again for baby sitting. Fingers crossed for DIL. She is back at work next week and has already given her notice to finish at Christmas . She associates her current job with lots of bad memories so wants a fresh start.

Sad news about Dolly Parton.

Take care Vx

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82114682#Comment_82114682

Timeless - yes! And not being catty she admitted there had been a bit of surgical assistance over the years. But as she said "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap!". And while I knew about some of her charity work like sending children a book every month for free (200 million distributed!!!) I didn't know about some of the other things like giving people money for living expenses for 6 months when their homes had been destroyed by fires and paying for a lot of covid vaccine research.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, quick post to report in 😁.

Eye test decluttered and even though there was a slight change in one eye I decided not to fork out ££££ on new glasses as I will have another eye test next year, they have detected a very slight cataract and want to monitor it and I suspect it will change again so I will get new glasses then. Because I have varifocals and reactor light lenses they cost an arm and a leg and any money I have atm is earmarked for the kitchen project 😁. The kitchen bin and bathroom bin were emptied and the fridge cleaned. 3 bottles of mayo that I have been telling OH to take for at least 6 weeks as I don't like mayo were emptied and recycled, a bottle of plum sauce uu for tea 😁. A session of ironing done and a cleaning rag binned.

Yesterday I went to the bag wash and 2 LDFPA before the weather changes. Paid my credit card and dealt with a couple of financial frogs that actually were quite easy once I got into them but for some stupid reason I had procrastinated 😂. Also dealt with a small union thing. The bedroom bin and kitchen recycling were emptied and a bag of broken tiles and other bits from the conservatory binned..

Today I have to call to the garage, I can hear a rattle somewhere near the exhaust so need to get it checked out, possibly a new exhaust needed but they won't know until they get it up on the ramp and look at it 🙄.

My niece arrives in the area tonight so not sure if I will see her tomorrow but we are meeting on Friday as she and her hubby are coming to help with the mosaic at the footy club we are doing for Kevin Keegan and then I have a footy match on Saturday but we are hoping to do the ferry cross the Mersey thing on Sunday 😁 . There is so much on locally this weekend , Beatles weekend and a half marathon so the roads will probably be total chaos 😂. Today I need to crack on with a few jobs as I might not have much time over the weekend 😂.

@Mrs SD thank you for my medals 😁

@Miss_BaLu what a nightmare for you. I hope your insurance company can help quickly, hugs.

@Siebrie lovely to see you. That hubby of yours needs a good talking to, I am available if you need me to, I have experience of dealing with idiot husbands, hugs.

I was also sad to hear about Dolly Parton, such a nice caring lady 😪

Right time to get to the garage.

Hugs to everyone who would like one.

2055/2026

Take care everyone

florianatwobob

Two bags dropped off at the CS (where does it keep coming from???) en route to a meeting with a colleague (over a pot of tea in the local museum cafe - only the best 😉).

Ran into my dental nurse in M n S so we had a quick chat. She’s off on holiday.

Brie

Full marks to Royal Mail!! Despite the horrendous service provided over the last year (deliveries done maybe twice a month rather than daily - as admitted by our postie) I was shocked to discover how good they are when things work as they should. I mentioned yesterday that I had posted my annuity application at long last. This morning I have an email to say the application has been received and is being reviewed. So 4 pm into the post box in Dorset and received in Belfast the following morning. Astounding!!! Now it will likely be a 5-6 week wait (they state) for them to requote and me post the updated application but at least it's started!!!!!

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 another bright sunny day although we did have a short rain shower at 05:30. Forecast is for a high of 25°C, a low of 18°C & an ESE wind. This morning DH was lucky enough to see 2 Blue tits & 5 long tailed tits on the fat cake feeder - all at the same time. DH & DSis have gone to Battlesbridge for the first time in months. I was about to head out to the bank in CW but DH phoned - cheekily asking if I needed any more wool/yarn 🤣

Excellent work GrannyKate especially dealing with a couple of frogs 👏 I looked up Kosice, Slovakia - looks charming ☺️ I hope your DD has time to explore a little despite being on a business trip 🤞

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏 The ROD must be getting quite empty by now ☺️ Hopefully your granddaughter has learnt her lesson & will put her bra in a bag/pillowcase next time 😉

Heading off now & will resume cheerleading when I get back. Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible 😊

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️💐💐⭐️💐❤️⭐️🎖️🥇⭐️⭐️⭐️😇🏅💐🌻💐💐🌻🥇 

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️ 🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅

Decluttering Target 2026: 1435/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £297.61

Floss

@Liverpool_Anne I've had exactly the same experience with my eyes last week - a very slight change in vision not worth getting new varifocals for, but also the beginning of a cataract in each eye.

I dropped 3 bags off at the chazzer earlier, 2 of clothing I've turfed out & one of misc carp. I was very good & didn't buy any more either! There may be some more when I get to the bottom of my ironing basket if I can't see things being worn again.

QueenJess

Brilliant to see you @Siebrie and I know you will get it all sorted out then be able to live however you want to :)

My decluttering has paused whilst I continue to use things up. I find after a decluttering session I need to live with the result for a while and notice all the extra things I have that will need to be used up and sometimes I eventually see the things I don't even use. My decluttering is definitely in waves. Instead of asking myself if there's anything to declutter whenever I open a drawer/cupboard, I'm now asking if there's anything I need to use up.

I've almost cleared one cupboard to the minimum in the kitchen and just now have one extra box of tea for DH to use up and a packet of hot chocolate DS took from a hotel that he is very slowly using. It makes me happy to see the emptier cupboard as it was a bit overwhelming before. I have lots of other cupboards to use things up in - the baking cupboard is always the worst and as I am the only baker I really do only have myself to blame for that! I also have a purgatory cupboard (an awkward place to get to) in the kitchen for a few items I don't think I need, but am not 100% sure about it. If I don't need them by the end of the year they'll be gone.

Packaging/plastic bags, gift wrap/bags, bathroom supplies, stationary, candles, cleaning supplies and food cupboard items that need to slowly be used up (and probably other stuff I've forgotten!). I am also doing all the puzzles and reading all the books to evaluate whether I want to keep or get rid of them. I've not allowed myself to buy any books now until I've read all the ones I have that I've never read… I have a whole library room in my house and so that list keeps getting longer with more items I keep finding! I've given up with decluttering the cooking books for now.. I have halved them, but come to an impasse, so will just live with what I have and see what I use. I'm sure I could curtail them a bit more.

DS has left a pile of things outside his room again, so I suspect that means it's another declutter I need to deal with. It's a struggle to donate things to charity tbh as everyone seems to be really picky or overwhelmed with things. We just all have too much stuff it seems. Hopefully my local Buy Nothing group will pick up once the schools are back.

Digital:
1 - app deleted
9 - photos deleted

Physical:

Kitchen stuff
3 - food overstock used up

Books and Paperwork
3 - paperwork reused then recycled

Bathroom stuff
2 - bathroom supplies used up

Kids stuff
5 - DD tat recycled
1 - DS tat recycled
1 - DS book (charity bag)

Random stuff
1 - credit card shredded (closed account)
1 - puzzle that I don’t want to do again (charity bag)
2 - puzzle books used up (recycled)

New total 8,290
Use it up total 787

I'm now wondering if I could get to 10,000 things decluttered this year and use up 1,000 🤔

Florenceem

MrsSD - not much space in the ROD yet.

I have lots of donations in the porch and the door end of the hall to be collected.

I didn't take many photos of the mess that was my craft storage room. I am happy with how I can walk in there now

without stepping over stuff on the floor.

I have now deep cleaned the porch, cloakroom, bottom hall and the craft storage room. The aim is to deep clean the entire house so there is minimal upkeep needed.

Before and after photos of part of my craft storage room.

There is still lots in the room but the floor is empty and stuff is tidily put away.