Decluttering in 2017- A carrier bag a day

[Snap8TheCat]

I read about this method in 2015 and gave it a try last year, it was mostly sucessful and I kept a track of what I had got rid of on my phone. It was interesting to look back at the end of the year to realise I missed none of it!

I'd like to do it all again for 2017, perhaps even more committed this year!

I like lots of the other decluttering methods such as KonMarie or Flylady and do incorporate many of their rules but I also know that getting rid of a carrier bag a day is easier for me to fit in to my life.

I'm a childminder working 4 days a week 8-6pm and have 3 dc of my own, 13,10 and 6. Dh is a shift worker so our lives are busy and the house can get out of control quickly with the mindees and my job.

I'm looking for anyone to join me, anyone who likes the idea of decluttering but always feels they fail as they don't have the time. This is literally one carrier bag a day, either a large item like a toy or a quick sort out of a kitchen drawer whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. Just trying to stay on top of the flow of stuff that constantly enters our home.

January 1st and I have got rid of two plants on my kitchen that we're dying. I was desperately trying to keep them alive but realise I'm crap and that and they depress me every time I see them.

Anyone else?

Back again after a long weekend away and from behind a stack of washing, not sure why so much generated from such a short break.

One bag of clothes recycling gone, another packing box full of cardboard / paper gone.

Bigger recycling bin ordered and recieved, along with another rubbish bin to prevent build up of rubbish again / skip runs.

Well done everyone! It's hard keeping up the pace, when life gets in the way.

Decided to make the most of the fact that the bins go out tonight and cleaned out my fridge. Not as bad as I thought - 4 out of date jars, 1 old yoghurt and some out of date eggs.

Have another bag for the charity shop but it hasn't made it out of the car boot yet!

Binbag full of clothes into textile recycling today. I think I have decluttered what I can for now until DP does his stuff (yep still waiting) and need to sell DD's old bike.
The garden needs decluttering and our communal hallway needs decorating (need to speak to upstairs neighbour) but think I need to crack on with that now.
Am keeping on top of any paperwork and trying to keep the amount of stuff coming in to a minimum.

I have had to start again despite still feeling quite rough as the people who might want to buy our house need a valuation....so I need it finished

A whole bootful has gone to electrical recycling and another bag for charity

Who knows what tomorrow will bring

Oh no sorry you're still feeling rough Katymac. Don't overdo things.

Thanks Vinorosso - I am taking it slow but steady

Signing back in with the hope of getting inspired again! I did manage to get some stuff out to the charity shop yesterday and I'm just starting to photograph some bits for selling on FB. But generally haven't done well at this decluttering

Right. Signing back in clearly worked. I have sorted through lots of the kids' dressing up stuff - a small pile of decent (but outgrown) stuff to give to my reception teacher friend, and at least a carrier bag's worth chucked.

I find coming back helps. I got DP to sort through a pile of his papers which have been sitting in the kitchen by dumping them in front of him but am getting seriously fed up of him not making any effort with his stuff

I did the DIY cupboard & the playroom (well started it)

Painting tomorrow!!

Good luck & keep up the good work everyone

I have half a bag of clothes for the charity collection. I've done no other sorting this weekend.

I'm jumping in/jumping back in maybe.

I need this. Little and often.

Am aiming to get rid of some stuff from spare room wardrobe today.

Hey em :)

I'm not sure I'll get anything done today. DH has taken the huge back of stuff I'd put aside to throw out, so at least that's out of the house now! But we're off to a home ed event for most of the day so I don't think I'll have any energy left for decluttering.

I'm really pleased some of my books have been snapped up by friends, that's a tenner or more for zero effort. I want to do the same with picture books, but DS is being resistant despite mostly having chapter books at bedtime now. We reduced it greatly already TBF.

I realised what my issue is yesterday. I grew up in a big house. Not like a mansion, but big rooms including one spare, huge attic, big office and dining room, double size kitchen etc. My parents are actually hoarders (well mum's improving now as she moved into her own flat) but it was kind of easy to get away with that because there was so much space and storage.

Now, I live in a tiny new build with both Caglets crammed into a tiny room (so tiny in fact that we are overcrowded by council standards!), galley kitchen, a tiny attic space without a ladder, the entire ground floor is smaller than our old living room.

But I'm still keeping STUFF as if I live in the big house!

#epiphany

Huge amount to the tip yesterday

Painting this morning

Valuation wed lunchtime

Joining here too.

Loads of books and old baby clothes to friends and charity shop.

Sofa bed storage cleared, cleaned and washed.

More baby clothes to go through and lots in attic to skip.

Hi!!

So sorry this thread dropped off my Threads I'm On list and I completely forgot I started it!

How are you all doing? Some great sorting out, sounds fab.

I'm plodding on fine but I have actually got this week off work and hope to make big big progress in clearing out.

Much of the stuff is sorted but it never quite leaves the house so actually makes the house look worse because it's in places it shouldn't be such as on the landing.

So far I have packed the car of

• our old Christmas tree
• 3x clothes bags
• packaging
• kids old school books
• 2 big ikea bags of old toys

Looking forward to dropping all this off!!

Will check in throughout the week. Happy chucking!

I huge bin of garden recycling ready to be picked up. Two boxes gone off from the new guinea pig run and baby walker.

Really pleased I got £12 for a handful of kids books yesterday from some friends. Not done anything else though!

Excellent. Listed the guitar on Guntree. Have a stack of craft magazines - is it worth trying to sell, give away or recycle?

So. This week I've sorted three bin bags.

All for the charity shop.

A box of the nicer stuffs been listed on eBay.

And I've got probably a car load of stuff for the dump.

And two bags of rubbish.

#ruthless

Some good work going on! I took DD to the cinema this morning and suggested to DP he started sorting his stuff out. He has gone through two drawers and got rid of stuff. Woohoo!! It's not loads but it's a start.

Keep going everyone! I'm glad I've rejoined this thread, it's keeping me motivated where otherwise I'd be totally despondent. I'm not too well at the moment both physically and mentally so a big decluttering session is off the cards for now, but I'm trying to just do tiny bits and pieces here and there. Yesterday I got rid of a few books so that is something, and better by default than nothing at all :)

Hope you feel better soon cagliostro Remember little and often is much better than a huge declutter for many of us and it's still progress.

I have got rid of two carrier bags of kids clothes and put them straight in to my car so they don't clutter up the house.

Yes little and often is definitely easier. I think a huge declutter all in one go can be a bit overwhelming for most people eve more so if you're not feeling well.

Sold the guitar today. Listed my stack of craft mags and some Playmobil.

Returned some out of date meds to Boots pharmacy.

But no huge items dealt with. However, am pretty inspired by reading the latest Konmarie thread.