2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

SeekingFlight

Today I have reduced the 'useful' empty box pile down to 2 really strong walled boxes, the rest have gone to recycling

QueenJess

Gosh, everything is moving so fast that I can't keep up with all the posts.  @Elisheba such a lovely success story to hear.  I remember when I moved into my house (significantly upsized from a shoe box) and I promised myself that if I ever thought my house was too small then I had too much stuff.  I still think about that all the time!

Been too busy at work to make much progress, although I am slowly wearing my clothes and making the tinest of dents into my food stashes.  I think I wear even fewer of my clothes than I originally thought as I'm not sure I can get through them all in a month, but let's see.

I have to admit to bringing in one of those lovely solitare games on the wooden board with marbles.  It was in a second hand shop, but was brand new and so lovely.  DS loves it as a game, so another tool to try and keep them off screens.  It fits perfectly on a side table

Digital:
1 - filed emails deleted

Physical:
3 - paper reused then recycled 
1 - DS tat recycled
1 - tiny box I haven’t got a use for (recycled)
New total 59
Use it up total 27

Look at that - just met my first use up target for this year!

Florenceem

I was picked up by my friend and taken to her SA corps.I did get very upset during the service.
I have watched notices and prayers from my old Church and started to watch my SA corp service.
GrannyKate - my middle daughter was on a Christmas caribbean cruise so had fun and games try to get home from Barbados.
I am still trying to catch up on emails from the start of this thread.
Need To Sort - kitchen cupboards + medicine cupboard - we had a shelf each - now I will use one shelf and put  kitchen overflow in there. I still have medications to take to the pharmacy after taking a big bag full the other day.
Decluttered today - 
debris from my handbag + 3 more newspapers.

Yorkie1

SeekingFlight said:

Today I have reduced the 'useful' empty box pile down to 2 really strong walled boxes, the rest have gone to recycling

This will be on my list for later in the year, when it's not quite so brrrr in the loft!

Chocolatedrinker

It finally (sort of) snowed here this morning, although it has been rained away since then. My daughter is off to her her nails done now - hopefully the shop is open after 4pm otherwise I don't think there will be time to do them properly.

anyway, my next list of things done:

25. - 27. perfumes used up
28 - 32 books and toiletries sent to friend
33. cardboard boxes recycled
34. room scenter to charity shop
35. pack of tea lights to charity shop
36. gift bag used to give
37 - 42 unwanted advent calendar items (Liberty) given to sister, who does want them
43. body scrub to charity shop
44. candle used up
45 - 53 christmas presents wrapped
54. still in packet eye curler to charity shop
55 - 60 mini shower gels decanted into handwash bottle, recycled
61. lego kit done. packaging recycled
62. perfume used up
63. xmas presents wrapped and stored under bed for xmas this year
64. daughter's DIY advent calendar filled
65. advent calendar bought on instalment plan
66. -67 2 x too small tops returned. refunded was processed as soon as it was confirmed the parcel had been dropped off. 

This week I'm hoping to do some tidying in the study - I'm a lego nut so have made up the pink roses, tulip bouquet and maple bonsai tree in the last couple of weeks but now need to find them a home as they've been living on my husband's desk whilst he's been on annual leave but as he's back at work on Monday they need moving.

so fingers crossed I get a lot of tidying and/or charity shopping or binning stuff in the next week.

CD

vulpix

De cluttering for me helps me feel in more control. There isn't a huge amount you can do to control the outside world but you can work wonders on your own environment.

Our fitted wardrobes are floor to ceiling all down one wall. It looks like a huge amount of storage compared to our old 2 free standing wardrobes and a big chest of drawers, it has proved to not be the case.There is a full wardrobe in an alcove and a half length wardrobe with shallow drawers underneath in the other alcove.Almost like map drawers.The other 3 wardrobe doors reveal very shallow shelves where the chimney breast is. We also have a very small chest of drawers in the room. Mr V has the half wardrobe and the drawers underneath it. I have the full wardrobe and the small chest of drawers. 
 Today I have rehomed the gift wrap and gifts from under the bed drawer to a banana box in the bottom of my wardrobe. Jumpers and fleeces are now under the bed. I need to buy some shoe box size storage so my scarf collection can fit on the narrow wardrobe shelves. Freeing up a drawer in the chest of drawers for tee shirts n stuff. We shall see if this arrangement is better.

 A very quick look through my clothes found an England Football hoody bnwt for the chazzer and a dressy blouse whose arms are too tight. I also found some card in the gift drawer to give to my friend. She has just started making cards. I know there is some more she can have from my craft cupboard. I have no clue when or why I bought it.

 I have to stop going through the bedroom storage now as we are due visitors shortly. No tidying up needed, it's great when you don't have too much stuff.

 Vx

Muddy_Walker

Hello!!!

Gosh busy thread!

Welcome back MrsF and so sorry to hear your sad news. Grieve in your own way and try not to keep a stiff upper lip - if you need a full on crying fit then do so. You wouldn’t be human otherwise and Mr F will have left a massive hole. It is all still very new but you have friends and family and your faith to help even if it’s a tiny bit.

Decluttering for me:
1 box of lens wipes
2 old calendar
3 another old calendar 
4 dog walking bag which fell apart
5 broken pen
6 bras x 3
7 a diary
8 pens x 3
9 Household rubbish

26 for 2026
11 journal entries 
1 biography
1 documentary 
1 baked item.

There we are!

_Dolly_Rocker_

Hello all, 

Had a busy Sunday as usual and got totally soaked while out walking dogs. Been home a couple of hours and sat down to work out my plans for paying off this mortgage. 

So initially I aimed to pay it off in the next 5 years. Then I thought instead of paying it off I would add the maximum savings to my LISA to get the £1,000 back a year. Well today I thought I'm going to see what would actually be better by you know looking at the figures. Turns out that if I focus on overpaying the mortgage I would save approximately £2,585.55 in interest. 

Now that I write this down I'm sure this can't be in a year but must be for the whole term of the mortgage - Why am I so bad at this. 

Either way I've decided it's best to just throw all the money to the mortgage and get that all paid off by the time I am 48 - woooooooooo! 

No decluttering from me today. I'm having a lazy one. 

Although very happy to report that I've managed to eat my way through most of the food in the house so ready to start from scratch tomorrow and be more mindful with what I eat.

florianatwobob

@_dollyrocker_ that sounds like the interest over the remaining term. Mine’s due to end Feb 2029 and is averaging about £450.00 per annum in my current FR and outstanding capital. 

If you haven’t already check with your mortgage company as they may give you the option to keep you DD pmt the same and reduce your term. 

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 oil 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 continued: Forgot to mention that DH made soup yesterday. He has had a bowlful & advised that it is quite spicy initially but not overwhelmingly spicy 😥 Straight back to cheerleading - still the 8th

My sincere condolences Florenceem. Please be kind to yourself. 

Yorkie1, good luck sorting out your plastic tubs 🍀 I am sure they start breeding the minute they are put into a cupboard 🤭

BlueJ94, when the decluttering mood strikes it is best just to go with it ☺️ Hopefully you have taken all the photos you need so can start the lengthy process of listing items. Remember to put away the clothing you are keeping as you don’t want to sell your favourite dress/skirt/top 😉 Good luck & hopefully your sales will be quick & plentiful 🍀

oceandreamer, excellent work with the cookery books 👏 Decluttering 8 cookery books is a major feat 👏 Having removed the bookshelf from your kitchen, I am curious to know if it is being moved to a different room or being ousted completely 🤔 

Willowtree222, very impressive decluttering of books over the years 🤩

daisy_1571, This “One tip for those who think they aren't getting on very fast and the place doesn't look different- go round today and take photos.   You'll have something to compare if you take another set in a few weeks.   Keep doing regularly and you'll see just how much progress a little and often approach does make 👍 especially when you compare today's photos to June or July” is a brilliant tip 👏 A medal 🏅is on its way as a thanks for reminding us 😊

Florenceem, well done on decluttering the loft last year 👏 Hopefully one of our Declutterati family knows how to transfer photos from a mobile to the is thread 🤞

_Dolly_Rocker_  well done for This “Nipped to Home Bargains to get dog food and they had a nice shiny new range of toys. Automatically picked a couple up then immediately thought NO and put them back.” very impressive 👏 You are definitely “a changed woman.” ☺️

dND a beautiful sentiment 🥹 This “It's another of those days when I think I've not done anything but what I have done is the, now, day-to-day things and not leaving any bits of paper/packets around but getting them straight into the correct refuse bag for disposal.” is brilliant 🤩👏 I trust that you are very proud of yourself 🥹 & please accept a medal 🏅not only for getting into a routine but also recognising your success 👏 I am also so pleased that you are not stressing about the washing up ☺️ Fingers crossed that the forecast high winds didn’t cause any damage & that your neighbours were also sensible/thoughtful & put out their bins in the morning 🤞

Florenceem, please be gentle with yourself & please try to remember to eat 🙏 I am keeping everything crossed that the MRI results come back clear 🤞

Fizz2015, sorry to hear that you are “struggling with female monthly issues yet again” 😔 Hopefully the doctor can arrange an early scan to discover the problem & an effective treatment can be started 🙏

Another page caught up 🙂 so will reward myself with a bit of knitting & TV watching 😉 Dinner will be the last of the Bolognaise with conchiglie. This time rather than draining the pan when DH & I are happy I will just remove enough for us & carry on cooking DSis’s portion & she can decide when she is happy 😉 Hope everyone is managing to stay warm & dry. 

MrsSD Awards: 💐🙏💐💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 62/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00