Do we have a Christmas 2014 decluttering thread yet?

[Titsalinabumsquash]

I wasn't sure if this should go in Good Housekeeping but I know people get twitchy enraged at the mention of Christmas in non designated topics!

Anyway, it's only 3 months away and my house needs a decluttering and sorting, would anyone want to join me in doing a small space at a time?

I'm a list maker, I'm planning on splitting my house into zones and doing one at a time and sorting into keep and lose piles and dealing with them there and then rather than sorting into new piles and leaving them to gather into more clutter.

Hello noisy and seven! Welcome! Congatulations on imminent and new babies!

batgirl I once tried to screw a pen holder to the wall. DH ended up having to re-plaster. . I am NOT good with power tools. TBF DH is a carpenter so getting the DIY done is defintely his forte. Unfortunately by the time he's done a full day's work he's (a) tired and (b) sick of the sight of tools! Plus, DS is usually nearing bed time so he can't really start hammering and screwing.

Fox job days are defintely the way to go! DH works so much though it's hard for him to find the time. Think I have booked him for the 18th though! Will put together a list in preperation.

Got rid of a massive box and a bag of stuff to the charity shop on Friday. which has helped massively. I'm going to start focussing on some of my half finished craft projects to try and get them done. Most are planned as gifts for people so will be out of the house if I can just crack on with them.

Done dds bedroom other day, 2 black bags of rubbish, 2 black bags for the bootsale, This adds to the 18 bags of bootsale stuff in the loft
Where on earth does all of this stuff come from ..

Good lord Zazza! When will you do the car boot? Our CM did one emerge other week and netted £150!

I've cleared another 2 black bags from my parents house and got some stuff labelled up for the NCT sale this weekend. More to do this evening though

I did one last month with a friend, we had half a car each I made about £80.
Probably not doing anymore untill next summer, we have plenty of room to store it .

Hello all. After lurking on this thread, I got inspired and started getting rid of stuff this weekend.

Managed to sell some baby stuff on ebay, took a pile of the dc's toys and books to the charity shop (dc really on board with sorting through stuff since we redecorated and decluttered the playroom last month and they can actually find things), got stuff sorted for the NCT sale in a couple of weeks, and, miracle of miracles, got dh to help tidy and sort the 'dumping ground' aka the library (which makes us sound grand but it's actually an odd shaped bedroom which we shelved for all the books).

Still got loads of clearing to do, but we're getting there and I must admit I've become more ruthless when making the decision to keep or chuck.

Dh also made the phonecall to his parents to try and get them onboard for the dc's birthdays (both in December) and Christmas. Whether they take any notice is another matter...

Hi Issy - sounds like you're making good progress. I am of your library. I have a craft room at the moment, but if we decide to have a second DC it will have to become their bedroom, so I'm trying to make the most of it whilst I can!

I really need to try and get on the ebay wagon - could really do with the extra cash. I'm really tempted to try and sell my wedding dress but not sure if that's feasible as I didn't get it cleaned after the big day. Might give it a go I suppose.

Morning! I'm clocking on to report on another week's progress. It's slow, but it is happening!

Spent a rainy Saturday going through the DC's wardrobe and turfing out all those too-small shoes and old PE kit; I have two more bags ready to pass on to DB and threw another load into the rag recycling.

Then spent a sunny Sunday on the shed, which whilst not glamorous, made a huge difference. Took loads of broken furniture, punctured paddling pools and other stuff to the tip, and filled both wheelie bins. It now has sufficient floor space for all four bikes and the lawn mower. It's a miracle!

In other news, DH changed 11 bulbs and mended three light fittings. I can now see to type. That's another miracle, right there!

Big clear out well underway here. Moved house to one without a loft so most of my dds baby bits have to go :-( have a spare room of stuff for a carboot sale. My rooms nearly there. Kitchens nearly there. Bathrooms nearly there. Dds room no where near. Landing, stairs, hallway done. Living/dining room not even started.

Morning ladies.
This thread is really inspiring! I had a bit of a wake up call last week and realised my life is a mess....I need you lovely ladies to help me get organised! Started in the kitchen yesterday, it was disgusting (it took me and dm four hours) but we cleaned and sorted every nook and cranny. We threw away three black bin liners of rubbish and now I have a short list of what still needs to be done. I'm not sure where to start next, our study/spare room is a hovel and just a dumping ground but that seems like such a mammoth task. Ds is overrun with books and toys! Gosh am not sure I will ever get it all done by christmas!
How are you all getting on?

Hello hoping to join in.

I was on minimalist thread and made some good progress re clothes but now feel I'm suffocating again.

I've allowed my amazon wishlist to grow which will get some serious editing but the thought of anymore 'stuff' makes my heart sink.

Currently have some long overdue jobs too..but I gues thats for another thread.

Can I join? I joined last year's ( or was it 2012) thread-can not believe I am no further forward-i will do it this time.

FirstTimer try making a list per room of jobs to do, helps keep me focussed and I love ticking them off!

I got rid of LOADS at the NCT sale. Still got a pram to sell though. Getting rid of that will make me some space and hopefully a couple of hundred quid

I am trying to focus on only keeping useful or beautiful things, and keeping my home clear and airy...

I got rid of a charity bag yesterday too - only half full, but still half a bag of outgrown/unused items OUT OF THIS HOUSE!

Thanks blonde minx. I made it up to the study and then the phone rang three times so now I am back cleaning the kitchen again! Am trying to write lists. Our problem with the study is my hd is such a hoarder and so we have paperwork from years a go...think I just need to get up there a bin the lot...does that count as a list?!?

Mine looks more like:

BATHROOM
-clear out cabinets

• refresh grouting using this
• replace wall cabinet and blind

Break it down into tickable off jobs - these would prob get done quicker if I posted here less tbh

Morning again.
I have just found this amazing link in good housekeeping:
www.keeperofthehome.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/8-weeks-to-declutter.pdf
I am going to work my way through the list and as I have already done the kitchen, today's job is the study. I will report back when mission is complete. Come on we can do this before christmas!!!

Woohoo...study done and dusted. Two big black bin liners and only a couple of DIY jobs for hd over the weekend. Back to work on Monday so may need smaller projects. How are you ladies all getting on? What are your projects for the weekend?

Great link!

I have been at my parents house today. Had a really good blitz, got rid of 2 black bags, 3x boxes of drugs/dressings, and a stack of clothes/shoes/bags for Oxfam.

Back at mine, I've been through the bathroom cabinets!

Firsttimer - great link, printed out and i'm joining you all. We have too much STUFF and it is stressing me out!

Thank you for the link! I'm moving house and going to use this as a guide for packing and decluttering :)

Really glad you liked the link. I am going to have a little look through the airing cupboard now (I am following the link but also adding in a few extras as I go). Getting into it now. Just need to continue buying Christmas presents and I will be all sorted...plan is to have decluttered and be ready by the 1st December!!!! (That way when timings slip I still have a few weeks).

MrsCK...good luck with the moving, are you going before Christmas?

Mabelbabel, it was stressing me out too but it is amazing how much better I feel having done just two rooms, it is probably true what they say...tidy house, tidy mind!

Blondieminx...bathrooms are making me nervous, I have unused makeup etc from probably the last ten years!!!

I found 2 bags of duplicate birthday gifts in the cupboard under the stairs last winter. So I wrapped them in festive paper & gave them to the salvation army as they were collecting for disadvantaged families.

I lost you all for a minute there

Good progress in the cupcakes household:

• top of wardrobe decluttered to make room for stash of christmas pressies
• Christmas pressies all stacked together on top of wardrobe (rather than strewn around house)
• Latest lot of outgrown baby clothes into loft (plus some other bits and bobs)
• 2 more bags to charity shop, and another one started.

DH and I had a chat about trying for DC2 last night and have decided to go for it early-mid next year which will mean I'll lose the craft room, so need to really hit the decluttering now.

DS has been given a load of new toys by our neighbours. Where on earth am I going to put them?!?

Hope everyone's decluttering is going well? Found this article about the emotional reasons we hold onto clutter, quite interesting.

I got my cheque back from the NCT sale, minus the commission I earned £170 from getting rid of DD's outgrown stuff.

Blondie that's really good for nearly new sale. I'm waiting on a cheque for one I did recently, I'm hoping for £50 but have made over £100 the last 2 sales. Didn't have any big items this time though. I now need to try and sell the few bits which didn't sell on Facebook otherwise off to preschool as they get money for them.

LetThere your post just made me go "awww". Good luck with next year!!!!

We moved our DDs into the same bedroom last week, now we're going to make the small room into a playroom with a sofa bed so that's the job for this week.

I'm still slowly but surely sorting drawers etc. Need to sort under my bed but needs doing when the girls are out of sight!!!