2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Brie

Gardeners weren't interested in our old bbq but suggested we leave it by the road so any metal merchants could spot and nab it and save us a trip to the tip. OH didn't like the idea so it's on the drive by the house - somewhat hidden from the street. But at least it's been shifted from the back and there's a clean and tidy spot for the new bbq to land next Tuesday. I might be buying some steaks…..

Soontobeoap

OM goodness this thread moves so fast

@suzeesu2000 what a very generous offer. I would love to take you up on it. I am away now until October 5th but could pick them up after that if that's ok. If you want to declutter them before then and happen to be in Cowes you could drop them off at the Community club in Park Road and let them know that they are for Craft group. I really hope that you get over your injurys soon and your DH is on the mend. Thanks again for your generosity and hope to see you soon. X

suzeesu2000

@Soontobeoap I’ve messaged you.

Safe riding @Mrs_Salad_Dodger loving the meals, especially the duck.

Was asleep last night by 2330 which is unheard of, I’m usually awake til 0200 at least. Slept solidly til bathroom break at 0500 then back to sleep til DH brought me some tea at 0900. I have slept the sleep of the Just.

Very lazy day as wrist is quite sore so can’t do too much anyway. DH said I should rest. Dinner was L/O pasta from Monday.

Packed 1 eBay sale late this afternoon.

Got all the bags together ready for the charity shop collection tomorrow. Currently with that plus all the stuff we’ve got listed on selling sites, my sitting room looks like a badly organised warehouse! Oh and I did fill a crate with ambient foods to stack away for when the kitchens being done - wish they would give us a date!

Put the machine on for another darks load, will get that out in the morning.

Have a good night all, sweet dreams xx

dND

Time is racing by again! I think I've spent a lot of it either in the garden attacking the brambles or processing fruit and veg from the garden. Everything is beginning to wind down in the veg patch and I've started on clearing the beds but it looks like even that is going on hold for a month or so.

I almost can't believe it but on Tuesday I had a phone call to say they were going to start the works on my house 😱😁😁

They're starting on the loft on the 25th which gives me about a week to rehome everything from up there and remove all the flooring too! I did ask if they could do the loft last as all the stuff will have to be stored in the house as it will be quite a while before new boarding can be installed in the loft and the storage returned. But no, it has, for some reason, to be done first so I really don't know where everything is going to go and still leave space in the house for the windows to be fitted. But, where there's a will, there is always a way. 😁

Workmen will be back and forth until the 17th October for the first round and then at some date still to be confirmed for the windows. I think I may be AWOL for a bit. 😁

It was definitely panic stations after the phone call but I have had some thinking time and feel I have some ideas how to rearrange bits and pieces to make space for the loft items. I must have got rid of quite a lot of stuff as there is actually space available so even what felt like very little decluttering over the last year has had quite a big effect.

My DD is coming down for a long weekend this weekend, it was supposed to be a relaxing one 🤣. DS1 is coming over on Monday to help get the heavy stuff out of the loft, something I can not do on my own. I think it will be achievable by the 3 of us especially if I have made/found the storage spaces in the house and already brought down the lighter bits that I can safely manage.

I'm finally beginning to let myself dream that turning the house into a home is going to happen. And the decluttering can start in earnest once I'm no longer in limbo. 😁

Well done everyone on what you've all been achieving. Hugs to those who would like one and love to you all. Dxx

Floss

@dND windows can be done quite easily with limited room - they usually do one fitter inside / one out, and don't need empty rooms just room to get to the windows.

dND

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82139212#Comment_82139212

That's the problem @Floss, access to the windows is already compromised. I'll just have to make the piles higher where there are no windows 🤣🤣

Florenceem

My young J got here at 8.30 this morning. I told him about the EE box so off he went upstairs and started to set it up. He came to ask me for internet details - I said young S got them off my phone so I gave him the phone and everything is working. He asked me if I wanted it to be left on - I said - oh no - no tv watching in the daytime. I need to get a cables tidy as it looks messy.

Next J went out in the garden and when he saw the mess - sorted it - filled a bag and then asked me - do you know there's a bike in the alley? I explained about finding it and putting it on a local site - no takers so it will be off to the tip. I will ask my neighbour who has an estate car if he can take it when he goes to the tip.

I realised that the dustbin in the cubby hole down the side alley was full as my black bin was rammed to the lid last time it was due to be emptied. Young J sorted that out. Then J tidied and filled holes around my front door. He couldn't do any more there so I suggested that he hung some pictures for me. J is going to fit a key safe when he has painted the woodwork in the porch. J hung the picture that my DIL painted for my birthday in my bedroom as it has a green frame.J hung my tree of life painting above the arch into my craft room but it needs to be raised higher as I can see the frame while at my desk.

Photo of cushion covers I made for son and dil. I sewed 4 of them.

TC77

A couple of frogs including seeing gp blood tests and dentist tomorrow but hoping only blood being decluttered

Pj's to textile recycling, vase to the CS bag and bookcase picked up.

1398

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: it must have rained overnight as the bike seat was damp 🙁 We left 10:10 & due to the roadworks we had to travel for 10 minutes in the wrong direction before we could safely turn around. However it only took 7 minutes to get back to our starting point 😊 Our last landmark for the 2026 RBR was in Colyford - an historic filling station. Next door was Amy’s Cafe - a wonderful place where we had cappuccinos & delicious hm cakes - coffee & walnut for DH & lemon for me. Then the long slog home. The weather remained dry & there were some periods of sunshine but definitely chillier. Not too bad a journey but traffic was heavy the nearer we got to London. We had a good view of Stonehenge from the A303. One more short stop for petrol & coffee. Home by 17:35. Dealt with my mail & updated my accounts. DSis cooked dinner - pasta bake for me & DH whilst she had sausage & spinach linguine from the freezer. Wudupa.

1554 - 1558 Kitchen recycling, 0.5” paperwork, 3 plastic bottles - recycled 

1559 - 1560 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned 

Nice to see you Gers 👋 Well done on the continuing background decluttering 👏 Thank you for sharing the paragraph about dealing with sentimental items especially the last comment “you’re not giving away the memory. The memory stays with you, not with the object.” I must try to remember that 🤔 

Florenceem, goodness you were laden 🤩 Very pleased to hear that your DIL was available to give you a lift home from the station 🥹

I have not done very well with the cheerleading so will try harder tomorrow. Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️ 🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅

Decluttering Target 2026: 1560/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £373.61

Willowtree222

I got made redundant yesterday. Does decluttering a job count?