Decluttering accountability buddies?

[PrettyWitch]

2016 is the year I'm going to get my stuff sorted out properly - but I might need you to help keep on track!

I have a minor shopping addiction, which hinges mostly on books and indie make up/perfume, but does include lots of other things - we moved house six months ago and after a big declutter then, it's starting to get silly again.

I'd like to stop bringing so much stuff into the house, and get rid of at least five items per day until I feel like the house is no longer bursting at the seams!

So, anyone up for keeping me accountable and getting some support with decluttering in return? Maybe we should start with a January no buy? :)

I'm ok at confrontation - send them to me! I'm naturally shy but I have taken my LA to three tribunals to make them address his additional needs. I didn't want to, but I did it. Right outside of my comfort zone and I was very determined.

I can force myself out of that comfort zone, but this is harder. It's a dirty secret kind of thing.

Close friends know I hoard. They offer help. I joke about it but really it's like a weight on me.

Things in car now, 29 things gone. Couldn't go to the dump as my eldest said he would loose gaming time ( has only 45 minutes before his club starts). But it their for tomorrow.

Can I join?
I'm pregnant with DC2, due in May, and moving in March. I tend to save things 'just incase' but I'd love to get rid of everything before we move, and become more organised!

Today I went through my wardrobe and threw out 2 big carrier bags, one for the bin and one for the charity shop. I've started on DDs wardrobe, she's 2 this month so I'm putting everything that is 12-18m or less in storage and sorting all that's left into outfits and hanging them up so I can grab them more easily (idea stolen from a thread on here!) I'm very sentimental but I'm trying to be ruthless!

So far I am keeping to the plan. Today I have found some magazines in the bookcase. All out. Took out a couple of things which will interest my daughter I should post them to her shouldn't I :)
Tidied some of the kitchen mainly worktops put away stuff others have left out. Looks a lot better. Did under the sofa yesterday.I have hidden Really useful boxes under there so need to take decs down and do the rest tonight. Wanted the tree on one more time and have candles on. Won't it look tidy though. Ventured into craft rom today quick retreat and shut door. Can't face that yet. Cleaned out chest downstairs. Found a tapestry and did about an hours work on it. Given to me last year by a lovely lady who finds it difficult to see it. I joked that I would do it and give it back to her for Christmas. As she is in London just now I am going to try and get it done and frame it for her. Half way through a baby blanket so going to try and finish that while I am off sick. Hope I still feel like completing the more difficult jobs when I am better. Very therapeutic so far just small tasks that are achievable so spurring me on. Recycling this week so going to get bags out of shed tomorrow and fill with stuff piled in kitchen ready for Friday.

Right here's my list from 465 so far
1st - toddler shoes
2nd - baby top, baby vest
3rd - kids t shirt, kids jeans, hanky
4th - hanky, scented pillow, body cream, ironiser
5th - manicure set, hanky * 2, baby sleeping bag
6th - two out of date hot chocolate tubs, house plant, 2 2015 dairies, 2 paperback books

So far so good!

I have done 38 items so far as I have done days 8 & 9 already.

If I get to day 15 that's 120 items. That's my small target.

Read my Kondo book again and feel that it would be better to do things properly in one pass but I have tax return and school admission deadlines. Once both of them are done I will start properly on my wardrobe.

Until then I'm just going to keep chipping away on the 465 method which conveniently the 15th day is also school admission application deadline!

Another 3 carrier bags gone today. I can't really see a difference. I need to get rid of so much stuff! Just under 8 weeks until we move, also need to clean the house and repaint quite a bit of it.

I think moving will really help declutterring. You have to look at every item twice and both times think "do I still want / need this" the more you get rid the more easier it gets I think. You get into the mind set

We moved twice in 6 months. Alas the first move was in a panic and was horrendous. In hindsight we should have got a skip. Everyone told me we needed one, I refused, and it was awful. I didn't have time to go to the top enough, so we ended up moving rubbish. And then trying to throw it away before the second move. Which was a lot better !

I have a friend who is always moving. Her house is immaculate. She has no clutter. She bought me the Kondo book I wish I could be like her. I wish I could see the contents of her garage.....

Is there a name for that "so many things a day" method? I was describing it to someone today.

I can't recommend the moving things. It may work for some, but we mislaid things (kitchen scales, bottle opener) and ended up buying replacements. I hated not knowing where things were. Actually I guess that's sort of why I decided to try and get a grip on things. I got into a right headf**k not knowing where things were in this house, just where they were two houses ago.

When unpacking from last time we moved I found some empty plastic drinks bottles that I'd shoved in a cupboard to use at the gym and forgotten about. The movers had very carefully wrapped them in paper and packed them with the crockery! We've only been here 3 years (DH is Army so we move at least once every 3 years) and somehow I've filled the house with crap :( going to try really hard not to do this at the next place!

30 day get chucked challenge it's called.

Nothing out today so far. But to be fair I have taken my toddler to 3 hour in total round trip clinic appointment, meet with eldest son head of year and had the toddlers haircut. I have earmarked the things in my mind, just need to move them along.

Just plastic and some toys I washed to give to next Syrian or similar charity boxes. Don't even know why some of those were kept. Found another one my Aunt gave I'll keep it ...it is an anteater. She had a great ability to find unusual, wacky gifts. I do love it! I miss her she was a wonderful aunt.
Still I did loads extra yesterday.
I was really ill today so haven't done much. I stitched some of the tapestry so I will aim to get it finished and give to M when she returns.
Bathroom tomorrow!

I am stil randomly grabbing things for my chuck out.

Question. I have some visions. I asked dh if he wanted them for his tearoom. He said yes but they are here weeks later. They also have nice zips I could re use - do I just chuck anyway?

Also clothes in wardrobe that are dusty ( one was mouldy!!) do I wash and charity or just chuck in fabric recycling?

I'm feeling just get rid ASAP and who cares if it's a waste. I'm sure that's part of this process. If and when I sow my new visions I can buy a new zip?

A "vision"?

Oops cushions! Lol! Think they just need to go.

On day ten now. That's 55 things gone!! Ok so I have to actually go to the tip and charity shop - but its in the car ready.

I find it's helping as say I have got four things but it's day five it's easier to just grab something to say "I have to do one more"

But it's going to harder from now on as its going into big numbers. But I am ahead.

Yeah and the zips it may not be the size/colour you want. Take them to the charity shop as someone will get a bargain and when you need one you can go and purchase one from there.
Could you put teacups?cushions?in his car or just take them down and have a surprise visit ... Tea and cake expected as a reward!
I would wash and charity. Makes you feel good.
I have had quite a productive morning in the bathroom. Cleaned out three baskets and cleaned shelves, then bathroom. Put out DH's after shave. Left it for years, don't think he uses it and I opened them all and off so they have all gone. Washed my hair and used the rest of daughter's condition as she won't be back till summer. Reorganise stuff into two baskets - his and mine. Found face mask and some foot soak stuff so going to have a little pamper evening tomorrow. Got my numbers easily today. I like this method!

Bathroom is really a good place if your in the mood to be ruthless. I'm sure there are things in there I haven't used in years dispite doing a recent purge.

I think I might have also got day 11 half sorted! I should get to my target of day 15 ( at least - would love to reach the end of the month).

Even though i know I'm doing well I still feel very anxious. I have two little kids so they are demanding my time ( so feel guilty) and they are trashing the house as per normal.

I'm sure I will feel better once it's done so I must carry on. I do like throwing the stuff, it's just what's left to do and seeing the big picture freaks me out

Yeah I know what you mean. I haven't ventured into craft room the door is firmly shut but I will have to get in there soon because I think I will be fit enough for work. Really pleased with what I have done so far. No one else is here so what I have tidied has stayed tidy! I have done some work today as well. Need to finish that before Monday. I would like to think that I will get in the craft room but I have some homework to do for a course too. I would also like to get to the end of the month too.
I've checked on the recycling and it goes tomorrow. Plastic and box next week is magazines and paper so they can go out and earn me some points for next week.i 've sorted them but they are sitting in the kitchen at the moment. Paper is ok because I light the fire with any spare. Put a pair of jeans out today they won't go anywhere near me so I felt fine about putting them out instead of wondering if I could get back into them. I won't.
Much more difficult for you with two little ones around. Don't feel guilty you are doing a marvellous job and it will be easier to keep once it is done. I might do it again in 6 months.

I was wondering if I could do this more than once a year. Feels like a great way to declutter so far.

Dh has just got home and said he will clear up for me ( ds throws all the cusions on the floor every day). I told him I had been to the tip but it's obviously made zero dent, he couldn't tell so that's spurred me on.

I had a sneaky peak in his wardrobe and I can throw some of clothes out if I get desperate. But it's my clutter I need to concentrate on.

Sounds like a lot has been going on for everyone ! Late mtg so only just got in, plus away with work from Friday lunchtime to Sunday evening so no decluttering this weekend either. And away the weekend after too... Still, the recycling goes out tonight (we could fill the bin twice over as we missed it over Xmas). I found a bag of shoes for recycling so I'll put them in the car - I may drive past a recycling point on my trip this weekend !

Our recycling bin went out full this morning, and i have loads for DH to take to the tip and charity shop. Some areas, like our wardrobe, are looking really good, but generally if you just glance in a room you can't see a difference :(

DD throws all the cushions on the floor too 2boys, I'm hoping it's a phase!

Hi all, late to this thread but I really need it. I did the 30 day declutter challenge back in the summer and it was great. However, we've acquired masses of stuff again, plus I didn't even touch the loft when I did it last time! So I've caught up on the days from the beginning of January and have cleared out way more, so will start deducting those from the days when there is more to get rid of! My porch now has 6 bin bags full of clothes/ old sheets etc for textile recycling plus 2 bags of toddler wellies/ DVDs/ books for my friend's little boy. This is actually great fun when you get into it. Plus, we've been feeling cramped in our house and contemplating moving, but it'd be great to get rid of enough stuff that moving house was no longer a necessity! (Perhaps a little optimistic, but who knows?)

Our tip isn't open Thurs or Fri, but when it is open next week I will be headed there with old worktops and sinks from the garage. Why oh why does this stuff sit around for so long???

Got to go now, as 2 yo DD is currently emptying the bags which are at the front door

Does the Christmas tree count? Haven't been able to get anyone to take it out so first thing this morning I wrapped it in a sheet and dragged it out. Lots of needles to vacuum. I then tackled the cupboard to get some candles out and found some in there that I will use this week then chuck. More room in cupboard now. Sitting room is so tidy.
Completed some craft work and school work so haven't done much more. Saturday is my big cleaning day of the week so I have a head start tomorrow because dining room, sitting room and bathroom don't need touching. Will be able to concentrate on craft room and a bit of bedroom. The loft ...now there is somewhere I can't get into but would be able to get rid of a lot if I could. Might persuade a small child/son to go up there? Managed to get my 8. I think we are all doing really well.