2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

vulpix

jivjules1,parents walk a tightrope at times. Hugs.<3

Grannykate, you can feel my cat's eyes rolling almost everyday. There is always something going on in the house that they don't approve of. They are thinking,what IS she doing now?

Oceandreamer, I knew someone with a capsule wardrobe. It was strange at first to only ever see her in a few smart pieces. She had a pair of trousers, a skirt and 3 tops. Oh and a pair of shoes.(don't know what she wore at weekend)Every season she had a complete new set of clothes and you never saw the other things ever again! I don't know if I could be that disciplined.

I need to get my act together, stuff to do before craft club.

 Vx

Florenceem

Grandson J arrived at 9 and together we cleared the garage of some cardboard boxes which he broke down  J tidied up the front area of the house - not much garden but lots of leaves and moss to clear.
J also tidied the side alley. He was here two hours.
Next job when he returns - he offered to wash down the front paintwork and garage door. The back garden will be after that.
I have a parcel coming - I hope it is my smaller SA jacket - can't think of anything else it could be.
I sorted and got rid of a file this morning.
I cleaned and took photos of a storage unit that was in the garage - put it on Freegle.
I am going to have a snack then clean and sort another food cupboard shelf.
Bright and dry day here.
This will be my first day of not going out for 25 days.

DundeeDoll

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said

DundeeDoll, what a lovely way to spend the afternoon ☺️ Hope you have a good flight home 🙏

Many thanks yes it was good (4 films good!) and we were 40 minutes early landing. if my luggage came out quick i'd make it for the 7:30pm bus rather than the 9pm (the airport bus from dundee is fabulous) - colleague's luggage came out 10 mins before mine despite going on Dubai end same time. mine came out 5 mins to spare - went as quickly as queues allowed to exit then ran to the bus stop (fortunately i know quickest way to get there - out the arrivals door) with 2 mins to spare. 
And today a lazy day - I had unpacked last night so my 26 mins declutter was tidying my bedroom and sorting the first bags from the office - i did the first 3 as they were last in and didn't have old stuff in. best find - a bedside lamp from the room of (un) requirements when i put the case back, but haven't tested yet to check it still works.  

QueenJess

A few more bits gone.  On Sunday DD took herself into her room, declared that her paper drawer (drawings etc she's done) was too full and then played "keep or get rid of" herself with her whole drawer, whilst singing to herself.  She got rid of a massive pile of paper, although it's mostly sat with me to keep the odd special one and reuse the rest for notes.  She's only 4!

DS also spent hours on Sunday putting together some toys he doesn't want anymore and determining how best to sell them online so he can save up for the things he wants.  DH helped put them online.  I'll count them up if they sell as not sure whether they all will yet and I can't be sure he won't keep them if they don't.

So the kids are doing well and it feels like I am going backwards.  I am using up things incredibly slowly, but did get a pile of wrapping paper back in as someone round the corner is moving house and I couldn't bear for it to be binned.  I'll use it up eventually...

1 - puzzle book completed (recycled)
1 - paperwork (recycled)
6 - DD paperwork recycled
2 - boxes recycled 

New total 96
Use it up total 34

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

Tuesday: after light rain in the early hours it is now a bright day with some sunshine -  high of 10°C (feeling 6° colder due to a gusting SSE wind) & a low of 7°C. No rain forecast until 21:00. I had intended to go to the CS but was up so late that I need to revise my plans 😉 So cheerleading first then make a decision ……

Great work cleaning out all the animals Willowtree222 👏

Lovely cheerleading TC77 😊 Sounds like the possible redundancy is now confirmed 😔 I just hope that TPTB don’t mess you around as it is difficult making plans when you are in limbo. Meanwhile well done on decluttering something each day & remembering that every item out is a win 👏 

GrannyKate, thank goodness DS2 noticed the ‘crackling’ lamp 😥 I see you have a busy week ahead including keeping Sox distracted whilst you move things around 👏 I think I might have to fight Sox for the use of the bench as it sounds so comfortable 🙊 

ruby_eskimo, only feeling “a little sense of pride” talk about self deprecating 😉 It was an excellent start & how wonderful that your Dad is definitely on board as evidenced by This “………But a lot of the stuff we donated this weekend included shirts and black socks (some still in the packets) with the words "I don't need these anymore" 🥲” which is so lovely 🥹 Now you have got the ball rolling, it seems to be gathering pace - decluttering books, quotes for carpet & a skip arriving 🤩 Good luck with This “With all the things we sell from my parents house, I'm going to put that money into paint and decorating supplies for them as we've offered our free decorating services for them - after the two rooms upstairs here, we have no more decorating to do in our own house, but can't start in my parent's until they have the windows done, but they can't get the window replaced until they can actually get to the windows etc. etc.” a very complicated jigsaw 🍀 

oceandreamer, sorry to hear that you have come to a “bit of a standstill in the kitchen” 😞 however it sounds like you have a plan to get started again 😊 What is that saying ……..  🤔 oh yes ‘ Slowly, slowly catchy monkey’ You will succeed 😊 Good luck with the wardrobe decluttering 🍀

Wise words MadamMim2013 in a beautiful & empathetic post 🥹

Lovely cheerleading vulpix ☺️

Florenceem, an excellent morning’s work by you & grandson J 👏 Pleased to hear This “I am going to have a snack….” as I was getting a bit concerned that you weren’t eating 😔 First day of staying indoors all day for 25 days 😧 please try to have a little rest during the day 🙏

DundeeDoll,what a great result especially catching the earlier bus from the airport 🥳 Finding the lamp is another good result 👏 Fingers crossed that it works 🤞

QueenJess, the ‘using up’ might be going slowly but you are still decluttering 👏 I am so impressed by your 4 year old DD 🤩 Fancy keeping herself entertained by decluttering 👏☺️ She has more than earned a medal 🏅 which is on its way 😊 As to This “DS also spent hours on Sunday putting together some toys he doesn't want anymore and determining how best to sell them online so he can save up for the things he wants.  DH helped put them online.  I'll count them up if they sell as not sure whether they all will yet and I can't be sure he won't keep them if they don't.” you could have knocked me down with a feather 😅 So I am also awarding him a medal 🏅& will keep my fingers crossed that should certain toys not sell your DS might be persuaded to donate them 🤞 

All done 😉 DH has been out in the garage & made some fat balls for the birds. I am about to make myself a hot drink & then decide on a mini task 🤔 Hope everyone is having as good a day as possible & that the weather is being kind 🤞 See you later 👋 

MrsSD Awards: 💐🙏💐💐🌟⭐️❤️

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 118/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

dND

TC77 said:

Reminding myself anything put away/ out etc is a win. And hope other remember this and that sometimes we need to take ourselves off to the tlc carriage!

I so agree @TC77. Not all of us want minimalist houses - I for one have so many hobbies and interests that I rotate, it would be a pipedream - but I would like to be able to move around, have space to work and be able to find whatever I need.  The put away/out is an essential starting point for me and very slowly it is working. 😁 

I love all your knitting @Mrs_Salad_Dodger.  Seeing it all has given me the impetus to get back to the piece I started well before Christmas.  It's a vest/tank-top and the idea was to have something warm as another layer.  All went well until dividing for the front neck and there was no way I could make the instructions and the resulting number of stitches tally.  It was put to one side while I waited for some inspiration.  I, and others in my family, still can't figure it out but I've spotted a knit-and-natter session being run at a local wool shop.  I think I will have to get myself there for coffee and cake and see what real knitters think I should be doing.

Only the regular detritus has actually left the house but I've finally decided that I'm never going to use the charger plates I've had since the 80's. 🤣 I got them out for the meal when my children were here over the Xmas period and we very quickly realised that they take up far too much of the table to be usable.  So I've spit the 8!! into two lots of four and they have joined the pile for the CS.

A sort of halfhearted declutter will happen tomorrow.  Way back in the mists of time, ie., the 80's, I won a competition and the prize never materialised. The promotor then sent me a M4thmos Telstar lamp. Unfortunately the vibrations of being transported back from France along with the temperature changes and its age meant that the waxes amalgamated and won't separate again. 😞 
I ordered a new bottle from the company along with a couple of other replacement bits and looked forward to getting it going again.  The items duly arrived but since my lamp was produced, the design of the bottle has changed very slightly and the new one didn't quite fit; it rested on the bulb and looked as though it was trying to replicate the leaning tower of Pisa. 😱  So the complete order is being returned which means that the packaging that would have been in the house had I kept the items, is leaving as well.  Tenuous I know but...🤣🤣  I now have to gird my loins and get rid of the old lamp. 😞 

Well done everyone on your amazing decluttering and gentle hugs to all those who need or want. Dxx

Green_hopeful

@oceandreamer we decluttered our kitchen a few years ago. We sort of used a kondo light method. For example we got all the baking tins out. We had tonnes. We decided we only needed a couple of each size. We are not even great bakers. So two 8 inch, two nine inch and a deep 7 inch. We kept a couple of cupcake tins and some baking sheets. When we looked at the rest it wasn’t even worth donating. We recycled a whole wheelie bin full. We had been taking it all from house to house over 20 years. 

We did the same with everything else. If we were sure it could go, we freecycled or donated straight away. If we were not sure, we put the item in a box in the garage and then freecycled the lot after a year. My favourite was all the random novelty mugs which i took to work. It was hilarious watching engineers using floral or wallace and gromit mugs. 

I helped my step son move a couple of months ago. He gave me quite a bit of stuff to store for his new house and quite a bit of stuff he didn’t want. We gave some to our local homeless charity which buys and furnishes houses for homeless people and a duvet to a relative who has always used blankets but has decided to get duvet aged 74. He was getting a bit confused by the choices so I said I can send you one and if you don’t like it we will have it back. Anyway he seems happy with it. Yesterday I sold a strange gym thing. It looked like an unwanted present because it hadn’t been opened. £35 on eBay. It sold in a day so I guess it could have made more. 

I started going through the bedding which had got a bit crazy. I was going to chuck some pillow cases that looked a bit discoloured. But i soaked them in oxi stuff and washing up liquid and they all look lovely and white. I have put aside some bathmats and towels for redistribution. I have another couple of piles to do and I will see if the homeless charity wants any of them. 

Florenceem

I cleaned and decluttered another food shelf - now got lots of washing up to do - all the storage boxes.
Delivery man brought my size 12 SA jacket but I have a feeling - this is not a new one, They knew I had a deadline to receive the jacket - it has the same colour lining as my old one where the new size 14 has a navy lining. I will try it on tomorrow and give it a good inspection - it costs £75.
Had a phone call from teacher 1 - youngest daughter and teacher 2 - granddaughter. 
I decided to buy myself a new shopping trolley - I bought one years ago - a Rolser and it has lasted so well - it is an expensive make. My new trolley arrives on Thursday - I will take the old one to the £2 charity shop.
Decluttered today - 
Paperwork, 6 files, cardboard boxes, packaging, leaves, weeds, plastic file holders, pair of jeans, 3 books, dictionary x 2, and a booklet. 

Yorkie1

That's a lovely hat @Mrs_Salad_Dodger. My mum has knitted me two and I have another one from my aunt. I love wearing them in this weather. Even when the house hasn't yet warmed up after I get home from work.

I endorse the approach of at least getting things into the right room if doing more is too overwhelming, @TC77. There is still method in the little steps.

@GrannyKate I'm not sure you have a choice about a) keeping the bench, and b) where it goes, now that it's been adopted in this weather ... !!

@ruby_eskimo I think the transition from full work (even if it's from home) to retirement can be particularly difficult for men (stereotyping massively). My dad had been a teacher all his working life, and therefore had been ruled by bells since he was 5. He used a (my!) cork board to put up a more detailed calendar, initially with 2-hour slots, to give him some semblance of routine. Rather than just going from structure to nothing. After a bit, the slots got longer, and then to a usual calendar. It was also helpful that the local primary school, affiliated with the church, didn't have a Vicar at the time. So he stood in as a governor for the Vicar role. He was still there in various capacities for years!!

It is recycling day tomorrow. I must decide which of the remaining plastic trays / lids I will keep as small seed trays, and which will go into the recycling. But off to church group before then. The actual recycling boxes are quite full already, which is good.

Brie

@Brambling
I'm another who would like to hear the decluttering interview you heard.  Any chance it was R4 Women's Hour?  They often have interesting things (though I do wonder why we still need a specific hour about women's stuff and why it's not just part of the general broadcasting...)

The bit you mentioned about work clothes rang a bell.  Granted I was always very casually dressed at work so much has carried over particularly as I did 3 years part time before properly retiring.  But it reminded me that I have my "interview" suit - casual looking black linen trousers with a button free jacket with 3/4 sleeves.  Didn't need it for my last interview so it's got to be 4 years at least since I wore it.  I'd only need it again if I lost weight and needed to go to a funeral I think and I don't think I'd wear black in any case.