2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Floss

@Brie I have a pair of Cole & Mason grinders that are coming up for 23 years old - still in very good condition but weren't cheap when I bought them!

QueenJess

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82115936#Comment_82115936

😊 I am very determined and I have a bit of a vision in my mind of how I want my life to be. I want a more relaxed life with less stuff to do, more holidays and more time with the kids. I do not want to spend any time tidying (so dull), or dealing with stuff. It’s just a waste of time in my mind, so the less I can have, the less I have to deal with stuff and the more time for actual life.

GrannyKate

Morning all. Not much happening as I have a visitor. My friend (who I went to Madeira with) had an unexpected free week as her plans were cancelled and she'd booked time off work so she came over. Nice meal out last night - she likes shopping so we have been visiting lots to look at accessories for her new kitchen. She helped me put flea/worm stuff on back of Sox's neck so he returned the favour by bringing us two live mice yesterday evening. My friend screamed when she saw him with first one so he promptly dropped it and it ran under settee. Must have come out in night as it was dead in hall this morning. The other one was very much alive and I took it off him straight away and set it free outside. He has been out this morning and has just come back looking sad so I guess he couldn't find another one. They are just tiny field mice as it is quite rural round here and I have large area of grass opposite house.

Decluttered DGS4 to his friends for sleepover yesterday so collecting him at 11.30. We got the last of his new school things - football boots - and case and screen saver for his new tablet. Lots of frogs to munch up once I get back from taking friend home Saturday.

825 Decluttered two mice

826 Cat flea/worm treatment done

I have a collection of things in the boot to rehome - CS, tip etc so may see if I can drop those off today or tomorrow

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 continued: Forgot to mention that HH waste wheelie bin was emptied this morning - correct day 😊 I descaled the kettle before leaving the house just before 15:00 & being back indoors by 16:05; having been to the bank & then the P.O. to buy a supply of overseas stamps. I had a nice chat to the lady behind the counter - she had just returned from her first holiday to Turkey with her granddaughter & family 😊  Since I have been back I have had a cuppa, filled coffee & sugar containers & updated my accounts including adding September’s 1p Challenge monies to my Terramundi Pot. DSis didn’t buy anything in Battlesbridge - I am stunned 😳 DH & DSis stopped off at MrS & picked up some ready meals. DSis & I shared a lasagne & garlic bread whilst DH had a Thai green curry & a naan bread. Wudupa.

1436 - 1439 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, plastic bottle, newspaper - recycled 

1440 Kitchen detritus binned 

What a nightmare Miss_BaLu 😱 Definitely time to contact your insurance company. So annoying that the housing association didn’t sort this out before the situation became so dire 😖 Repairs are going to cost them so much more than if they had sorted it out immediately.

Florenceem, St Lucia is such a beautiful place to have a holiday ☺️ Sorry to hear that  your daughter’s flight was cancelled but hopefully she is home now 🤞Pleased to hear that your voice is returning 😊 Good work with the deep cleaning 👏

Brie, I would have to say that starting the work needed on getting your annuity is both swallowing a frog AND a major declutter 👏 worthy of a medal 🏅 which is on its way. Great digital decluttering 👏

Well said florianatwobob ☺️

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏 Very impressed with the amount you have ready to deliver to CS & that you are still donating stuff to your granddaughter 🥳

Lovely cheerleading Yorkie1 ☺️ Good luck with sorting the allotment association admin 🍀

Great work emptying the freezer suzeesu2000 👏 I remember Fablon 😊 just wondering what it is called now 🤔 Great news that your DH is climbing aboard the EDT 🥳 Let us know when the wardrobe has been dismantled as there might be an award for DH 😉

Lovely cheerleading dND 😊 & thank you for my ⭐️ Well done getting your washing done on Sunday 👏 Pleased to hear that your new radiator has been fitted 😊 You are forgiven as you have done very well with your plant buying - less than £4 per plant 🥳 Great decluttering of those annoying little jobs 👏 Very sad to hear about Dolly Parton - a truly remarkable woman 🥹

A steady drizzle started about 05:30 & is due to last for at least another hour.

Yorkie1, what a lovely sentiment 🥹

Florenceem, wow 🤩 more excellent decluttering of crafting stuff 👏

More excellent work in the garden vulpix 👏 Good luck to MrV & his friend putting extra insulation in the loft 🍀 Hopefully there will be no more heatwaves 🤞😉 At least when the rain starts you will have plenty of indoor jobs to do 😁

EnergyShifter, I will keep my fingers crossed that you manage to avoid a head cold 🤞Yippee to catching up on your admin work 👏🥳 

Florenceem, I have absolutely no doubt that your home won’t be messy for very long ☺️

Excellent decluttering vulpix 👏 Wishing your DiL a successful interview 🍀 Enjoy your time with your grandsons 🥹

Brie, like you I hadn’t realised how philanthropic Dolly was 🥹 I think one of my favourite things was that she was married for over 50 years & managed to keep her husband out of the spotlight 🥹 She will be greatly missed 🥺

I have caught up a bit even though the EDT has speeded up recently 😉 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️ 🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅

Decluttering Target 2026: 1440/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £373.61

Moorviews

On Tuesday I commenced a deep clean of the kitchen. It took several hours but is still only half done and doesn't count the insides of drawers and cupboards. I did get the windows, the walls and cupboards all washed down, the skirting washed and some furniture pulled out and the grot behind cleaned away. Mainly dog hair and cobwebs! All the items on the surfaces were washed. I have let go of a couple of items to go the CS. The stove is cleaned and has been relit ready for the damp that is autumn. Mr MV did a good clean in the utility room at the same time. I'll tackle the rest next week but what is left will be easier. It doesn't sound like much for the time taken but I was determined to go at a pace where I would not exhaust myself and end up feeling ill. Nothing was really filthy but when I clean I do like to be thorough so it is quite energetic. Otherwise, I am still eating frogs. I have started a large one but will need to come back to it after the Bank Holiday to properly apply myself.

I am going to read back what you have all been up to so might return. The radio has been playing many Dolly Parton songs - what a lovely woman she was😍

Thank you @vulpix for your kind words.

Thank you @Mrs_Salad_Dodger for my medal.

@Siebrie - the only consolation I think when people behave as your soon to be ExH does is that it confirms that you are absolutely doing the right thing for a better future for you and your girls. We are behind you all the way xx

@dND - I do actually appreciate the gardening tip of just getting things into the ground. I often overthink, plants languish in pots and then struggle to get going.

@Miss_BaLu - it is shocking that you were left in a situation where your flat was inevitably going to flood due to investigations and repair work in the flat above not being carried out. I really hope that your insurance company has the teeth to deal with this for you.

Miss_BaLu

Thanks all.

So had the guy out from the housing yesterday, they sent in a massive industrial dehumidifier and had someone come in and check out the ceilings - they're fine - yay!

They'll be sending the electrician back out to fix the lights and they'll bulk uplift the old bed.

Need to order a bed now, won't be worth claiming my insurance for that so I'll shop around over the next few days and might take this opportunity to move the furniture around in the bedroom again.

Floss

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82116407#Comment_82116407

Your insurance will need to know even if you don't claim. And the housing association should be covering ALL your costs including redecorating & replacing any furniture damaged by the flood.

Florenceem

Morning all. Wet here.

I went to unlock the front door and saw an empty porch - bestie had taken all the donations on her way to work this morning.

I am going to do upkeep jobs then deep clean the new lounge and the top landing and stairs.

Then I will have a tea break - nectarine and a needed chocolate bar.

I spoke to my son last night - he has a Dr's phone call today - will need to be signed off as he is in a mess and can't face going back to work at the moment.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Wednesday2000

I dropped off a donation bag yesterday when I went to Southend to the cinema.

My friend I met says she has a "Room of Doom" so she should be on this forum! She emptied the room a few weeks ago and she hired professional people to help her and she has filled it up again!

Florenceem

Wednesday2000 - yes your friend needs to be on this thread. How could she fill the room again after a few weeks? Maybe she buys at charity shops. I knew someone who had 2 enforced deep cleans of her house and both times she cluttered again with charity shop buys.

I hadn't been visiting charity shops in my town apart from giving in donations. When I was away I went in charity shops and bought 3 pairs of summer trousers and a top. One pair of trousers and the top have left the house as I only bought them for emergency wear when I dashed up to my son's. A second pair is washed,pressed and hanging in my wardrobe. I am wearing the other pair when I go shopping. At home I am wearing a skirt while the weather is warm.