Carrier bag a day till Christmas challenge anyone?

[doublechocchip]

Trying to de-clutter everywhere before Christmas comes. Wondered if anyone wanted to join this carrier bag challenge?
Whether it be clothes or toys passed on/donated/sold/binned or indeed any other household stuff you want to get rid of, I thought filling one carrier bag a day seems more achievable than trying to tackle a whole room at once!

A bin bag of stuff counts for 3 carrier bags

Got rid of a bag of kids clothes to the charity shop today and got a load of cuddly toys waiting to go into school tomorrow for the school fair. Feel lighter already!

[PigeonPie]

How are you getting on with the unpacking Scatty?

I was thinking this morning how far we, as a family, have come in just a few weeks. We put up the tree yesterday and it could go in a space we just didn't have a few weeks ago.

We've still got some things to do, but the improvement is so worthwhile

[CiderwithBuda]

That's a nice feeling Pigeon. I'm feeling a bit the same. I did under the stairs this morning and it only took about half an hour. And much less random crap in than I expected.

My major gain today is no hangover! Went to a Xmas drinks party last night and I was soooo sensible.

MIL arrives later today. I still have Xmas decorations boxes stacked in the hall but as I haven't really managed to do the dining room they can stay there until I do that.

House is untidy but definitely less full of crap. I need to make up bed for MIL shortly and after that I think it will take me about half an hour to do a quick tidy around. And I have a cupboard with empty shelves that I can out this away sensibly rather than just chucking stuff any old where.

Scatty - how is it going? I feel for you! Am rubbish at unpacking after house moves. Tend to wander from room to room not knowing where to start!

[MrsHathaway]

Well done everyone! One box bite at a time.

I did well today: not in volume, but ideologically. A few years ago lovely SIL gave me a beautiful cast iron recipe stand for Christmas. It has sat in a cupboard ever since because is just too big for my kitchen. I've finally put it in the charity shop pile, and I'm really proud of myself. I don't have to keep things just because lovely people gave them to me.

[Scattymum101]

My biggest problem is feeling I have to keep things people gave me!!
I've found so many things that I've held on to out of guilt.

Packing is slowly coming along. Emptied another 15 boxes today and found homes for things and filled 3 bin bags of rubbish.
Oven doesn't work and sink is revolting. Money money money.

[MrsHathaway]

Exactly, Scatty. I'm getting much better at being ruthless nowadays.

[CryingMummy]

It is liberating when you finally can (a recent thing for me!).

[PigeonPie]

I can agree that it's liberating to be able to 'get rid' of things which have been given to you which you don't need - even when it is a thoughtful gift.

Remember that they are gifts - given to you to use as you think fit.

We're still in the 'process' of passing things on, but it feels soooo good. We are starting to see the things we actually want to have in the house (still a work in progress), but it is still hard to say goodbye to things.

However, it's made it hard for DH to get me anything for Christmas because I don't want anything else - I've just taken three large car loads to the charity shop, one to the tip and goodness knows how much to the clothing bank

[MrsHathaway]

The way I have learned to look at it is this:

it's the thought that counts

which means that once you've experienced and appreciated the thought, the gift is fulfilled.

Also consider that in 90% of cases, the person who gave it to you won't remember doing so by the time they could miss it - this is particularly true of books, edibles and toiletries. An ornament might be upstairs in a bedroom; so might a picture or a frame. I couldn't name two Christmas gifts I've given SIL even though I always think at the time that I've found the perfect thing.

And for next year, cut as many adults as possible off your mutual gifting list...

[Scattymum101]

I've been the same with Christmas gifts! I actually wanted to cry when I got a birthday gift of toiletries as I had just had a massive toiletry cull lol.
I've started using some of the cheapy perfumes I've been given as room sprays and I'm making sure I use things up instead of leaving them in a drawer or cupboard.

I'm going to get my planning head on tomorrow about storage and come up with some solutions. Already ordered a free standing larder for kitchen and three chests of drawers for master bedroom so everything will have a place and not be cluttered.
Off to buy some wicker drawers for the ensuite tomorrow so I can organise my toiletries and chuck anything I can't fit in the drawers.

[Greymalkin]

MrsHathaway - that is exactly what Marie Kondo says: the experience of giving and receiving a gift is the important bit and that you can hold onto those feelings even if the gift itself isn't kept.

I'm only just getting the hang of passing on things I have kept out of guilt; it's hugely liberating!!

[Greymalkin]

In the last few days I've managed to expel more stuff from the house:

A bagfull of Christmas themed table linen
Random Christmas decorations that never get used (all that is left are the things that actually get put up)
A few pairs of trousers that haven't been worn in years
A box of Christmas Crackers

Various relatives and friends have made their pre Christmas visits so took their presents with them as well as lots of DVDs they had loaned us.

Shipped more crap that's sold on eBay

[Scattymum101]

I got rid of a box of Xmas decorations today plus some hideous placemats that were a wedding gift that I forgot I had and will never use.

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

I got rid of four decorations, a big deal because Christmas decorations are almost inviolate.

[ArcheryAnnie]

I've got a bag of never-opened toiletries ready to go to the homeless shelter, but I am waiting to add the inevitable boots gift-sets from the SILs to the pile before I take it down, so that will go after xmas. I do use the soaps, etc, but nobody on earth could get through that much moisturiser! (And heavy handcreams and moisturisers are a good thing to have if you live outdoors as your hands tend to crack and get sore in the cold if you don't use cream on them.)

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

Ok, so I have filled my (empty) green wheelie bin with stuff for my Parents to take away. I have a large cardboard box (1m x 1m x 1m) of paper recycling. A large carrier of empty carriers and one full bi bag and one filling.

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

*bin

[CiderwithBuda]

Sounds like you are doing well Two.

I just popped in to wish all you carrier bag people a lovely, peaceful and clutter-free Christmas. My family arrive tonight so it will be manic from here on in! And I'm shattered already.

Still got lots of crap to get rid of so see you back in in January maybe!

[PigeonPie]

Merry - and clutter-free - Christmas to you too Cider and everyone else!

I thought I was doing really well with being organised. Had got a list of things to do which were being ticked off and we even had time to take the DSs to see Star Wars this morning.

Then I realised I'd completely forgotten (despite the fact it's on the list), to decorate the Christmas Cake or have any ideas about what I was going to put on it this year. So this afternoon I put on the covering of white icing and a bottom 'pipe' of green and I've quickly made some holly leaves and berries which can be thrown on tomorrow! There's always something.

Just the last few bits to do tomorrow and the decluttering can start again after Christmas.

[Vinorosso74]

I'm just back after a few days at my parents and the place looks a tip after bringing all our stuff in so much for decluttering! I'll be back in January to continue with what I've started. Am hoping my DD doesn't get too much crap for Xmas.
Merry Christmas all

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

ThanK's, Cider. Unfortunately, I had to stop to take the girls to their hair appointment then wrestle with a collection from Waitrose and it was all too much for everyone when I got back, so there is a layer of debris all over the Dining Room floor awaiting me ...

[TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos]

Huh. *Thanks