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Original poster

Decluttering accountability buddies?

183 replies

PrettyWitch · 31/12/2015 15:51

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? :)

OP posts:
2boysnamedR · 08/01/2016 20:39

I think the tree counts. It wasn't bought this year was it.

I didn't chuck anything today but that's ok as I am ahead. Going to pull out furniture tomorrow. Babies cot is next to my bed and blocking full access to a few things. In theory I could do all quota for this week in the 5 * 12 area just by the cot.

Must be ruthless as I don't want to move it again until it's gone for good ( I have to convert the dinning / toy room into a bedroom for her which is rammed too).

Omg the loft! I never go there. Things go there to die.. I'm surprised our roof hasn't caved in. If there was a big storm and our roof came off the entire county would covered in my tat.

That could be a whole new chuck for another time. Ten times over!

SugarMiceInTheRain · 08/01/2016 20:52

Ah Christmas stuff, we had so much Christmas-related rubbish which we bring down in our boxes of decorations but never use, so I did ditch quite a few things out of the Christmas stash just before I put it away. Haven't counted those things towards the 30 day declutter.

PMSL at 2boys description of the tat in the loft. If DH would let me clear out his stuff I would have a field day up there! But he cannot fathom why you would buy stuff only to throw it away. He is totally unconvinced that we need to declutter - doesn't realise that we'd be drowning in stuff were it not for my regular decluttering marathons while he's at work Grin I only throw out stuff that none of us use that isn't his.

I did get DH to pull some stuff out of a top cupboard which I couldn't reach on a stepladder, so have this evening cleared out an old duvet set, 5 manky pillows, 2 random-sized sheets which don't fit any of our beds, and a couple of throw pillows that came with a cheap duvet set which I culled earlier. We have a whole cupboard that seems to be dedicated to towels and swimwear too - surely a family of 5 can't need that many?

2boysnamedR · 08/01/2016 21:33

Towels. Oh yes. So many towels. I have too many. Dh has pointed out I could declutter there this weekend. I buy too many ( notice a theme here?) he's got a good point.

My dh would throw everything out if let him. Even things we need.

Interestingly I could relate to the original chuck it out article that the kids stuff is automatically my clutter. Mind you I did buy it all in vast excess and kept it since my 12 yr old was born

didireallysaythat · 08/01/2016 23:08

Towels - one in use, clean one in the cupboard. Couple of spares for visitors. Maybe four hand towels for the kitchen and downstairs loo. And 4-5 for swimming. It adds up. Maybe a dozen max though ?

2boysnamedR · 08/01/2016 23:19

Ok I will name and shame tomorrow. I could do a before and after shot.

Again, the hoarder inside of me says " if I go abroad I could leave my old towels" but they always come home. We haven't been on beach holiday abroad for well two years....

I wonder how many I have?

Ditsy4 · 08/01/2016 23:27

2boys that made me lol -the loft! We probably have got dead things up there we have bats and sometimes mice.
My DH is the same he says he is going to get a big skip when I die!
I have quite a few towels to bought new ones when we redid the bathroom in several colours. Somehow some other towels have appeared no idea who they belong too. If they remain unclaimed I 'll take them to school for swimming someone always forgets one. Found a box tonight and sorted it and finished off a liqueur so that is another thing out.
I chucked manly pillows in Nov.washed the other ones.

2boysnamedR · 09/01/2016 00:19

Dh says he's getting flame thrower when I die. I was half watching Independence Day yesterday and thought the laser Ray thingie would make declutterring faster.

I am watching obsessive compulsive cleansers. I don't want to end up on that being the cluttered person out of control

2boysnamedR · 09/01/2016 12:33

Here is my towel cupboard. I have pulled everything out. As you can see I have too many and they did fit either. But now I have looked at them all I don't think I can part with much as there's nothing really wrong with most of them. I am on day ten so I will get rid of ten but it's so hard. This is my dads war / rationing habits I grew up with. If I ever buy a towel again I only need bath sheets for the rest of my life.

Decluttering accountability buddies?
didireallysaythat · 09/01/2016 14:32

I know it's hard to get rid of stuff there's nothing wrong with. DH has two jigsaws (the wood cutting variety). He might use one. He will never need one in each hand. Someone else might need one. So we're giving it away. I did the same with clothes. I'm giving a couple of suits away to a charity for women reentering the workplace. That still leaves me with a suit for the once or twice a year I need one. Maybe you feel the same about one or two towels ?

2boysnamedR · 09/01/2016 15:22

The towels are going to a wildlife hospital down the road. Not much better 11 tea towels and four towels. I'm part way through day 13 now. I just grabbed some old bottles from medicine cabinet and that made it bit easier to get into the chuck mindset. Some towels was wedding presents. Defiantly had good use.

Decluttering accountability buddies?
SugarMiceInTheRain · 09/01/2016 15:31

Good job on the towel cupboard!

DH did a tip run today so the bits of worktop and old sink are finally gone, as is the broken sewing machine. Can't do any more today as I have work this afternoon/ evening but feeling quite in the mood for more decluttering. Much to my children's dismay. Grin

2boysnamedR · 09/01/2016 15:51

That's great your in the mood. It does get strangely additive. Also once you have been to the tip it feels easier to bag up and leave by the door for the next tip run.

My kids don't notice what I throw away. My eldest can't see the point in buying anything "you already have shoes. Why do you need more?" He is also quite happy to wear things that don't fit him. He is going to be a interesting adult!

Ditsy4 · 09/01/2016 22:58

Love the frog. Had to laugh at the OCC programme I found a new channel which had hoarders on and made me feel " Oh,i don't want to get like them!"
Towels cupboard looks great. I put hand towels in a basket in the bathroom. I fold then roll them. More room in the cupboard and always clean towel for visitors. Washed the floor in there today as in a very thorough clean.
I didn't feel like doing any today but I made myself. I spent half an hour chopping stuff in the garden, then washed floor then dada ...I went into craft room and stayed there for 2 1/2 hrs. So I have put all the Christmas stuff away. Organised my trolley for next art day and threw out one A4 box of stuff and a plastic bag full. It still needs a couple of hours work but at least I can get in there now. I was thinking it would have been easier to start with the large number 31 and work backwards. I think I will find it hard on the last week. Good work from all of us today :)

didireallysaythat · 10/01/2016 19:34

Right I'm back home. In time for the bedtime arguments. Need to sort out laundry next.... I need to look at my underwear this week I think - I laddered another pair of tights while away so that's one less thing to put in the wash....

Ditsy4 · 10/01/2016 23:30

Been really ill this afternoon so haven't done anything other than plant some bulbs I found this morning. I threw the packet out. Still I was ahead so not going to worry about losing a day. I was planning to go back to work tomorrow but not sure now. I went to bed this afternoon I was so I'll. :(

Ditsy4 · 10/01/2016 23:30

I'll.

Ditsy4 · 10/01/2016 23:31

Ohh not again. I l l

2boysnamedR · 11/01/2016 08:48

Hope you feel better today ditsy

I didn't get anything done yesterday. Monday in theroy is my housework day. Both kids are in nursery. However I have to take my ds to hospital which means collecting him from and dropping back at school.

Will see what I can manage

GunShotResidue · 11/01/2016 12:15

Decluttering has taken a back seat to redecorating before moving, hopefully I'll be able to catch up next week!

Ditsy4 · 12/01/2016 03:51

Thanks feel better than yesterday but not well enough for work. Painted some little IKEA drawers for craft room. Earmarked some bits to take to work when I go back.didn't feel up to doing any cleaning.

2boysnamedR · 12/01/2016 09:33

Still no declutterring done. I have done lots of cleaning. Feel stressed until I don't sons school admission. So hard choosing a place as he has asd and is non verbal. he should get into a special school so worrying is a stupid non issue probably.

I'm going to do a non specific grab today I think. Just walking around and grabbing. I can't face tackling a area but I don't want to give up on the chuck target

Ditsy4 · 12/01/2016 15:39

Did a second set of drawers. Quite pleased with my effort. Going to go and sort through some craft boxes now to get today's target. I like the non specific grab day idea! It is getting harder.e

2boysnamedR · 12/01/2016 17:15

I found about eight things in 20 minutes today - but it was a desperate attempt! I odd nail separator (for painting your toe nails) but too be fair I have had it years and never used it and lost its friend.

I booked a appointment to see my dr to ask for CBT! I think I will be laughed out of the surgery.

I asked social services to come and see if they could offer my asd toddler any respite. They said he is to young - but she did check the kids bedrooms ( didn't demand them to be taken into care so hey it's not too cluttered - yet!) she said it looked more tidy since her last visit and agrees I need CBT.

I really need some respite so I can tidy up. Oh well it was worth asking I guess.

Feel very emotional today. I would normally turn to my hoarding when I feel like this but will go to gym and run instead. Then come home and hunt out those last four things.

It is getting hard now. Might have to rip up one item soon to make it into ten Wink

didireallysaythat · 12/01/2016 18:18

2boys you've achieved a lot. Do you have a goal ? A little goal ? One thing you feel like you could do ? For me, if my bedside table is tidy I feel better. In the summer I pick flowers for my bedside table (I like daisies!) - currently I've got a fabric bag with lavender oil on it. Gives my head space.

Great that social services think CBT will be useful - do you have joined up support between your GP and them ? If they talk to each other would that increase you chance of CBT ?

2boysnamedR · 12/01/2016 18:49

No i am not under social services. I asked them to come ( childrens disabilty team) but they need a panel to decide if they will help us ( seems unlikely) a few people have mentioned CBT to me now. It's also getting obvious that I am a hoarder rather than a collector of clutter ( the shame!) but I fully accept that ( acceptance is the first step and all that).

My small goal is the area next to my bed. I have Dd cot and a clothes rail for her. My bed side table and a chest of draws. I would like to start there and eventually do my whole bedroom.

I keep putting it off. Those things in that area are clothes which is my major issue. If I had 1000 items of clothing I would need more. Why I have no idea