2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

Florenceem

Morning all.

I must finish emptying my suitcase and put it back where I store it.

I am going to roll up one of my new mats which are on the floor in my craft room - I plan to put it in the guest bedroom as I won't be able to easily pull out my craft table with it on the floor.

Feeling colder here this morning but it is bright and sunny.

I need to go out to post a birthday card - I should have posted it yesterday with the other one.

Hope everyone has a good decluttering day.

Florenceem

Where is everybody?

My young J came here and painted around the front door after sanding the filling he did on Wednesday.

He didn't take long doing the painting so I said he could hang pictures for me. He forgot to bring screws to hang the metal sign in my craft room.

Photo of a lovely cross stitch that my sister did for me.

Photos of a mirror and a painting in my hall and on the landing.

No idea of why photos are sideways.

Yorkie1

Last official day of leave today (back to work on Monday). Had a lazy morning, which was just as well because we had another few hours with water problems - another burst leak being mended, although I think the pressure was just lower today rather than completely off yesterday.

Must empty the suitcase and put it away. And do some clearing in the house.

QueenJess

@Willowtree222 sorry for the shock. I hope it all works out for the best.

@Florenceem sorry to hear about your daughter.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed this week and even thinking of all the things I need to use up is feeling too much. I decided to concentrate today only on the cupboard under the sink. I've pulled out the few cleaning items I want to finish and put them in the bathroom where I will see them everyday and remember to use them. I also went round and cleaned the toilets and did loads of little cleaning jobs that never get done (cleaning paintwork etc). The cloth is now filthy and is in the wash. I think I've decided Friday is cleaning day and I am aiming to use these all up by the end of the year.

I also emptied the very small indoor gardening box that was under the sink… some rubbish went in the bin, I was never going to use that 2nd hand specialist fertiliser and it was taunting me every time I opened the cupboard as to why I hadn't done it yet (binned), rehomed another fertiliser that can only be used outside with outdoor gardening stuff, repotted a plant to use the pot in there and binned the one that was rubbish (and got rid of some stuff in the shed whilst I was doing that) and have temporary put the tiny trowel I use for indoor stuff with the outdoor stuff since I physically repot outside anyway. The box has been removed now and is in the loft pile to be added to a small selection of organisers I keep up there. I am left with a mister, a plant fertiliser I will just use up and then the cutters I use for flowers which are just loose in the cupboard.

The cupboard still feels too busy for my liking, but maybe it'll be better as I use things up. Requires quite a bit of thought as I want to really minimalise it to the bare essentials in there. I can't part with the massive bin of duck food though… we love feeding the ducks!

I really need to start targeting using up specific ingredients in my baking cupboard to try and thin that down a bit. Soda bread is already on the list for next week to use up an OOD bag of wholemeal flour.

Digital:
4 - notes deleted
1 - auto delete filter set up for emails I don’t need to see and can’t opt out of
1 - emails unsubscribed from
2 - text message conversations deleted

Physical:
Bags and packaging
1 - packaging reused
2 - paper bags recycled

Kitchen stuff
2 - food cupboard overstock used up
2 - freezer overstock used up
1 - broken container binned
2 - fridge overstock used up

Books and Paperwork
10 - paper reused then recycled

Bathroom stuff
2 - bathroom supplies used up

Random stuff
1 - pen stopped working (binned)
1 - plant I don’t want (Buy Nothing)
1 - plant food I don’t use and is very old (binned)
1 - puzzle I’m not bothered about making again (charity bag)
1 - stationery used up
1 - bottle cap with no bottle (binned)
1 - plant pot (binned)
10 - canes that are too small to use for plants (binned)
3 - tiny random bits that fell to the bottom of a box (binned)

New total 9,123
Use it up total 873

I am also starting to think about the stuff I have differently. Yes there are things I like doing, but the reality is that I don't have enough time to do all of them and there are other things I would like to do as well. So, things like puzzles etc I really need to pare down as there are too many and I realistically don't have enough time to make all this stuff. Not quite managed to translate it into decluttering yet though 😂

I've left some hm custard creams in the tlc carriage.

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

Friday is another cloudy day with a high of 20°C, low of 11° & a WSW wind making it feel 3° cooler. DH’s hygienist appointment has been moved to next week as she is in hospital 🙁 Fortunately he was contacted before setting off 😮‍💨 I finally got around to unpacking our bags.

Resuming cheerleading from the 16th

suzeesu2000, what a great night’s sleep - definitely “the sleep of the Just” ☺️ I do hope that you are going to get your wrist x-rayed, just to be on the safe side 🙏 Remember once everything has either been donated or sold, you will have your living room back ☺️

dND, brilliant news that finally you have a start date for the work on your house 🥳 Very exciting 🤩 Just wondering if there Is there any chance of either your DD or DS1 taking a few boxes of stuff for a while 🤔 So happy that it is finally happening ☺️

We had a short light shower from 17:30

Florenceem, sounds like you have kept young J very busy with an eclectic range of jobs ☺️ He is a marvel 🤩 Beautiful cushions 😍 

Good work decluttering frogs TC77 👏

Willowtree222, sorry to hear about the redundancy 🥺 Fingers crossed you get a good redundancy package 🤞

Excellent work in the garden EnergyShifter 👏 Hope DS’s appointments went well 🙏

Excellent advice daisy_1571 👏 What a great light bulb moment, keeping loft hatches closed should be a great help in keeping heat in 👏

GrannyKate, what a pain - hopefully you had water by the end of the day 🤞

I have caught up a little 🤏 but need to make dinner. See you later 👋

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

DH Awards: 🏅🏅🏅🏅⭐️ 🏅

DSis Awards: 🏅

Decluttering Target 2026: 1565/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £373.61

daisy_1571

gorgeous xstitch florenceem, especially against that wall colour

suzeesu2000

Evening all.

Thank you for the medals @Mrs_Salad_Dodger, DH is getting quite the collection!

Had another asbestos check regarding the kitchen refit. Definitely no asbestos, especially as the house was built in 2001. Never mind, it was pretty quick and keeps someone in a job.

Sorted the tote boxes where I have been putting everything as it’s been listed. Much neater and I can get into the totes better.

Sold again on both sites, I am really enjoying this. So nice to see something go to someone who actually wants it rather than having it just cluttering up the house. I found 2 pairs of work boots that DH didn’t know he had! He is a monkey🙊

No dinner today as I was recovering from an allergic reaction still. I ate one small crisp from a bag of prawn cocktail crisps and immediately had swelling and tingling like bee stings. Thank goodness for medication. Wasn’t serious but more a nuisance. Read the ingredients and discovered they now use REAL shrimp in the recipe. I am allergic to all shellfish and crustaceans among other things. Won’t be buying those again. Hey ho, we live and learn.

Packed another four parcels today. So more packaging had gone out too.

Got another darks wash done and hung out, all dried. Did another wash for DFriend.

Sorted a big box and a tool case thing ready to be listed tomorrow.

Have a great night all, sweet dreams xx

Willowtree222

Thanks for all your kind words.

Unfortunately, I have only been there a few months so received nothing. Thankfully I have a secure emergency fund that will get me through x

GrannyKate

Today, like the rest of the week, didn't go as planned. I went down and picked children up for school. Had to stop at shop as DGD4 needed something and then dropped them off. DGS3 texted to say he had missed his college bus and the next one was too late for his first class so I nipped home to check in with builder and then took him to college. Meanwhile DGD4 had texted to say she had forgotten she was supposed to bring flowers as part of a gift they were giving to dinner lady who was leaving. Down to Mr A as near college and got flowers and some other shopping. Flowers dropped off at lunchtime then picked DIL up to go for a bit of shopping. Met DS2 in shop and he said school had rung to say DGS4 had a fall in playground whilst playing football and had a very bruised hand. Back home and fell asleep despite banging about in hall. DGD4 texted to say could I collect them as it was raining hard and DGS4's hand was very sore. Collected them and we all went down to DS2's and I stayed for tea. I came home and I have at least given the kitchen a good clean including the floor. It rained hard whilst I was asleep so washing on line got wet and I have just left it out.

Plastering completed and he does make a good job of clearing up. Coving to be done Monday and then I can get ceiling and walls painted. I should also get quote for woodwork, doors and flooring which they can hopefully do fairly soon. It is my birthday tomorrow and DS1 is coming for the day. DD has just texted to say she and DGS1 will come tomorrow afternoon so I guess they will stay over - will change beds tomorrow - that was on my to do list today. I will give myself one point for tidying away in kitchen, getting rid of tat etc. I did not get to tip with old skirting and coving which are outside.

I did buy an oven glove reduced to £2 as I only have one so no spare when in the wash which happened last week, some larger size play trainers for DGS4, a small storage box with compartments to put some bits and pieces in which are currently muddled up. Sox has been in and out all day - he loves it when workmen are here as they have all the doors open. Builder said he was allowed two gentle strokes this morning before he got the look and he didn't risk any futher liberties.

914 Kitchen tidied, tat thrown out, cleaned surfaces, cooker top and floor

TC77

@Willowtree222 very tough for you. Do check anything you can claim as no-one can be prepared for that.

Mrs SD managed a few frogs and moved others along. Took 3 pictures to be framed - 2 old ones from parents i like but frames damaged. I was debating mount and frame and woman picking up frames asked me the colour of the room they're going in. Hadn't occurred to me to consider that as a).don't. Know where they are going b).rooms can change colour .

Dropped off bag to charity- red Cross still have a notice saying they dont accept but the manager yesterday said she'd take mine ( they know me too well , fortunately in recent years for taking things in)

Dd2 coming home.at weekend as left things here. Want to tidy tomorrow as looks worse than when she was here.

Anyone had experience selling antique books? I looked at selling my records to a shop and they said they give you about a third of what they sell them for which seems quite poor. I think auction houses charge about 17.5% which seems good if they're interested in the ones I have. Ideas and experiences appreciated.