2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

FrugalFalafel

First day of home ownership! Sale completed today so the tasks and projects begin 😂
So some task decluttering:
Signed up for the gas and electric currently supplying the place and organised a switch to a better value one.
Water has to wait for tomorrow as the provider says it has to be either 30 days before or within 90 days after moving in (which I thought was weird, why not day of?)
Frustratingly, the seller has left a load of rubbish hidden round the back of the house up an alley - there's been a lot of back and forth about removing it in the run up to the sale, including the estate agent going round and checking/photos. Realistically I could probably get it to the tip in 2 trips, but I know some people have been able to claim money for rubbish removal. So I got in touch with the solicitors/estate agent to see what the options are. My simplest solution might just do it myself and hope karma gets the seller!
Got a recommendation for a roofer from my physio this evening as well, so that will be a call for tomorrow.
Made a shopping list for the stuff I need for a deep clean, will get that on Friday evening, along with packing up my stuff from my friends house I've been staying at
Then Saturday is moving van day!

Yorkie1

@Florenceem you're doing really well in just starting to nibble away at the pile of admin. Be kind to yourself and there's a lot of helpful advice available on the deaths, funerals and probate board.

Congratulations @FrugalFalafel!

Willowtree222

Yay congrats on the new house!

What an achievement 

charlies_tribe

Good evening.  Not sure where the last few days have gone. Not a great deal has been done. UC appointment done, DD2 photos done for passport, 8 attempts to get one not looking at the floor or with her hands over her face. All filled in online, just need to post her birth certificate. DH is off work as he's the 4th one of us to be on antibiotics after the flu, he's got a chest infection so not fetched anything out of the loft but what was sorted in the car is now in the clothes bin.
Things that have got shortened down on here, ive got every item listed. 

158-239  82 clothing items
240-262  Baking cupboard items
263-276  Pet cupboard items

dND

Florenceem said:

I feel overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork in the office for me to sort through.
How many years of council tax, water rates, energy bills etc do I need to keep? My friend says she keeps none as hers is all electronic.
Then I don't understand what I have or need to do about the will - obviously don't want to involve solicitors if not needed.
It is a simple will - I am executrix and inherit everything - I am so confused by the sound of probate - do I need that? 
I think I will get 4 copies of the death certificate tomorrow as I will use the Just Once system - not sure I understand about that either.
I just can't concentrate.
I have money to pay the undertaker - going there on Monday.

It's 20 years since my dad died so I really can't remember but I found this on MSE

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/

which might be helpful.

Many hugs Florenceem and much love. Dxx

regnbue

@Florenceem

Citizens Advice Bureau for free advice.  The number below connects you to a local Citizens Advice.

Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848

From their website - "Adviceline is usually busiest at the beginning of the day.  Adviceline is usually available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday"

You can also chat online or drop in in person to your nearest office.  You will have to use your postcode on their website to find your nearest CAB.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk

I hope they can assist you.

dND

Congratulations @FrugalFalafel, time for your next iteration. 😁

I am barely keeping up with the EDT! I don't know how you do it @Mrs_Salad_Dodger, You more than deserve a ⭐

Am I decluttering??? I have no idea.  Life is happening - things are a bit up in the air at the moment for DS1 - and time is already racing past. 
Today was spent putting together a Heath Robinson growing station, comprising of a small boot tray (seed tray size), from the blue & yellow store with a heat mat, a 20 cell propagator and my small daylight LED light.  Chilli seeds have been planted after soaking them overnight in chamomile tea.  Will it work? I guess I'll find out soon. 🤣 So in a way I've decluttered a few seeds. 🤣  Talking of seeds, Mr L is advertising their 29p/pk / 5 packs for £1 from next Thursday.

Around the house I've hit an impasse.  The day-to-day things are getting done so that's a plus but I really would like to get my head around what I want to do in the house and more importantly what I can do with my current energy and money.

I've decluttered a few more bits from the freezers but not enough yet to have space to make and freeze a batch of pizzas.  I would be very bad about feeding myself if I didn't batch cook.  I'd get to the end of the day and just not be bothered to cook so grabbed the nearest thing to hand, usually fattening and very ultra processed.  I now try to have re-heatable meals in the freezer that already have a good portion of veg included as I often wouldn't be bothered to turn on the stove just to cook a single portion of veg.  Overall I find I am eating pretty healthily now. 😁

My memory is still not fully back online from its walkabout at the end of last year so I will send my love to all who need it at the moment.  I try to read through everything but by the time I get through the 20-50 posts I generally have to read, I've forgotten who posted what. 😞  

Brilliant work everyone. Dxx

GrannyKate

@Florenceem - you are doing really well but take your time.  Age UK have a really useful page on What to do when someone dies.  They take you through things in a logical order.  
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/legal-issues/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/
I got 4 death certifcates - a lot of places accepted a scanned copy.  I did not need probate as the house and joint accounts passed to me directly but it does depend on details which only you will know.  I assume you are the only executor. Bizarrely the only people who were difficult were NS&I who insisted on a certified copy of the will for just £100 worth of premium bonds (solicitor who held the will provided this). Just work slowly through a list - I didn't do everything at once but just made a list of things I came across as I went through paperwork.  DWP were a bit slow so I had to repay the last attendance allowance late DH received and one of the private pensions overpaid.  Once you have a certifcate send a copy to your local authority as you will get a discount on your council tax as a single occupant.  Ask on here or on the other board about wills and probate.  Thinking of you - I know how overwhelming it is but you have your own and the SA family to help. 

My plans keep getting de-railed and I now have a 50 mile round journey to do tomorrow which wasn't planned.  Hopefully my bedroom 2 furniture will be delivered mid day tomorrow.  Nothing new to report although I have started filling another bag of stripped wallpaper from bedroom 3. 

TC77

@FrugalFalafel congratulations , how exciting! 

Hugs @Florenceem , good suggestions by others and try and see what isn't urgent ans can wait to reduce overwhelm. 

Dd1 came round lunchtime to move sofa dd2 and friends had moved to extension making it too crowded as small aofa/ big seat which  is perfect for me ans a cat and cosy when I'll be my own for next 6 months. Taking up a pair of my work trousers for dd1 to use for interviews, luckily only done one leg as when she tried on they were still too long. Will do at the weekenr as tired as not slept much last night. 
Also had lovely cleaning help ( typically every couple of months when someone cancels) and deep cleaned kitchen and some otherw bits with me clearing all shelfs. Will be mindful what I put back. 
Scissors out as not working well, general debris  / the 2 right foot slippers in textile bag and one flip-flops whose partner hasn't reappeared over 18 months. Some more paper recycled.
Have pile of things to be listed for  one more sale attempt. 
I  have so much packaging  but parted with some.
So adding 6 which seems little given the effort but have pile to sell or donate.  

Suffolksue

I found Tell us Once informed my local council and the Council tax was reduced automatically 
When you register the death ( sorry that sounds blunt ,but I found it easier to be factual) the registrars are usually v helpful ,my DH died during COVID so it was all done on the phone .
They will explain about Tell us once and that is v useful .
Keep going ,it isn’t a race ,hugs xx