Today I Am Packing A Bag And Leaving

keep going OP, this is a fab thread, and everyone will be cheering you on. I'm fairly close but have no free time this weekend or I'd come over too. Well done to Laurie - are you actually Monica from Friends in disguise ? Someone should send THIS to the Daily Mail!! Which journalist is it that always slags us off as harpies?

Well done OP, that's progress.

Good luck DoneWithIt, you will feel great sitting in your house on Christmas day, clutter free.

I had a friend, who was in a similar situation, she had a tiny kitchen with no storage and she just kept piling up and piling up the dishes as there was no where to put them. Eventually we went in to sort it. The amount of things she had for one person, too much food that then went off, too many dishes, she had about 12 mugs, you couldn't fit 12 people in that flat!

So just start buying again but only what you need, less to keep clean and stored.

If the fridge is in a really bad way it is safer to replace. I remember watching an episode of 'how clean is your house?' where the fridge was so bad that even if they cleaned it they couldn't make it safe to store food ( once they'd done the swab test for harmful bacteria ).

Well done op! Hope you feel you've made a dent

well done! does it look better?

The bin bags not the elephants!!

Just wanted to add my voice to the support you already have

This could have happened to anyone in your circumstances, keep going, you're doing great! x x x

Op if those elephant are local to you, then you are local ish to me!!

Do you have a local tip nearby? I have a 7 seater and can lay seats flat and take them to the tip for you?

No keep the fridge, get a steamer onto it. Save the xmas money for a dishwasher

Just wanted to join the chorus of go donewith!!!!

You are doing AMAZING, not only to start to deal with/come out of your depression, but to tackle this head on!!! Honestly, you could have walked and you haven't.

Think you should name change after today to ...... TipWithItAll..... Or, IDoneItAll!!!

Keep it up, we are all behind you, and remember Rome wasn't built in a day, your Husband will be so happy to see you on the up and up, you can get your life and home back!!!!!

Or look on gumtree/free cycle for a new fridge.

With it being near Xmas a lot of people may be looking to upgrade what they already have, I know when we got our new fridge freezer we gave the old one away for free to anyone that would collect it

Dying to read an update from you, op now you have your bin bags!

Just joining in with the moral support - what an amazing lady you must be, you have turned that around.

I would call the elephant removal people just to deal with the fridge. If it has 2 year old stuff in it, it might be a health hazard. You don't want to get dragged down by catching something now that you've started to take control.

OP so glad that you posted and got the response you didn't expect. You have come so far to get better, just take small steps.

Bin everything - if you haven't touched it in over a year you probably don't need it.

Laurie you are lovely for helping out

This thread has inspired me to get off my bum and tidy my kitchen. I've got DS1 off school poorly and the lack of routine is not suiting me.

Back in 15 minutes!

You will feel so much better too to be eating home cooked fresh food. Can't be good for either of you eating what you currently are day in day out. You've made me want a shepherd's pie too.

We do the 10 minute tidy, me and DD! We put on loud music and she bops her way into sorting her things out. Helps if it can be fun,or if there is a positive goal at the end (usually Mint Aero works well with her). Go you!!!

I agree with all the other posters just bin everything you can bear to bin. If you have argos vouchers you could use you can replace you kitchen stuff very cheaply. When you buy new only buy a set with 4 place settings in (4 large plates, 4 small plates, 4 bowls). Cheap pack of 4 glasses, ditto mugs if not in dinner set.

You can do this OP. Keep filling bin bags and putting them out. Do you have anyone who could do a run to the tip with their car? Maybe a friend or neighbour could help out? If not just fill your bin then if you can, other's bins too on collection day.

If I lived nearby I'd help out, I love a good clear out.

I haven't managed to read the whole thread (at work) but if you are South East I will come to help you.
Perhaps the fact that your mental health has improved (and just WOW! that you have come this far!) is why you have really noticed what you are living with - so perhaps you can see your feelings today as a big positive and really mean that you are another step forwards!
I often set a timer for 15 minute for those insurmountable tasks (suggested by other MNers to me) and suddenly I find I am 2 hours in!
I second the idea that bin bags are the first step - I would say bin bags for the things you're going to get rid of (chuck all your cutlery and crockery and the nasty microwave), one spot in the room where the things you're going to keep can go and then you can clean around.

I second the "15 minute rule". Thats how I do alot of things!

Get a wiggle on for 15 minutes, then take a break for 15 minutes. Theres something about it that works.

Earlier this year I had a particularly bad bout of depression, which resulted in my not even being able to go out. Once I started getting better the 15 minute thing really helped me get control over my home back.

You are ace for asking for help!!! Well done you xxx

some motivation!