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?

Hello Officer I have spent all day looking for my P60 too. Found it at last!

The effort has resulted in a lot of filing being done but somehow I have made the study and dining area look much much worse

Back at work now (childminder) so found it harder, I still sorted out a kitchen drawer whilst they ate lunch and chucked the Next and Argos catalogues. Everything's online anyway.

I have very luckily already done my tax return. I never ever do it before the last week of January but for some reason, this year I did it back in September. So glad I did because it was much much more than I was expecting and I have furiously been each g for the past 5 months to pay it. V stressful. I vow never to get in that state again and will make it a job to do each April. yeah right

*saving

just marking place.. I'll definately be doing more at the weekend.. when I come home from work all I want to do is eat dinner and plop !

I'm the same son I've literally been doing teeny tiny areas. Dh asked for some paracetamol and whilst there I went through the medicine box and chucked out all the out of date medicines in there. Another half a bag gone.

I think when DP 'tidies' he just puts things in a drawer....
Sounds incredibly familiar. Drives me mad! But I think me being quite organised drives DH just as mad

Great idea! Charity bag came through our door at the weekend too so that gave me a kick-start. Will try to do this too, doesn't sound too impossible and although we have no DCs yet, seem to gain clutter at an alarming rate! I'm quite organised and tidy but also good at hoarding so count me in

Great thread, been reading along and feeling inspired. Came on to make a suggestion to the person wanting to get rid of a large piece of exercise equipment - I have disposed of several items like this by advertising on Freecycle or as a freebie on Gumtree or Facebook selling pages. Make it clear that it's collection only, a big item, (state if it needs a van to transport, if they'll need two people to move it etc). If it's free you're unlikely to get complaints if it doesn't work - people are often willing to take the chance for nowt! Good luck

"I think when DP 'tidies' he just puts things in a drawer...."

Same here BUT he would say he does all the day to day tidying.

Anyway, under the influence of KonMarie, I have cleared out and cleaned the cupboards under the sink for the first time since we got them three years ago. I think I am actually going to post a photo!

Re incoming, I did shop today, but only for things on a list, and I politely said no to a catalogue.

Here

Empty space in a cupboard? What kind of sorcery is that?!

Boat I should definitely do that. Just a bit nervous of reprisals if they can't get it to work!

At the moment I am gritting my teeth till the weekend when DH can go to the tip with lots of stuff (empty helium canister, anyone?). I will have to bribe him.

In the meantime I have ordered a proper 3-drawer filing cabinet. I have a small one (single drawer thing) that is so crap it is actually too small for hanging files. So it is basically a useless drawer thing. Then my filing is in one of those Really Useful boxes, which is both too small and taking up more floor space. And is always buried under something else when I need it. So the crap drawer is going and true filing joy is coming in its place. That will eliminate a lot of stress when looking for paperwork. And should be accessible enough for me to file things promptly, instead of being permanently buried.

Now I just need some charity collection bags.

have yourself that looks great, well done you! It's very satisfying once you get going isn't it?
I have a bit of time this morning so am going to get calendar updated for the year then go tackle one bag!

thank you.
I haven't let anyone close the doors yet :)

Looks good haveyourself. Am glad I filled a few bags early in the week as last couple of days were busy de Christmassing then today have come out in a streaming cold. Can a carrier bag of tissues count????

LOL haveyourself well done!!!

I'm a bit late to this but definitely in. Definitely my kind of decluttering...

Ooooo more newcomers! Welcome

Today's bag from me was some candles I have finished burning and both ds (dss? Never know what the plural of ds is without it looking like I have a step son!) have got new trainers for Christmas so the old ones have been added to the charity bag.

Me too please!

well done with the candles.

I am planning to get rid of all candles from the house except small birthday candles.

Because I love KonMarie so much though, I want to make sure I have gathered every sodding candle up first....

Great idea.. I'm in!

Yesssss. I am basically doing this now as a NY thing. Today I threw out a bag of Christmas debris I collected from my room. Yesterday I threw out a bag of old and broken shoes etc from the utility cupboard. I have kept a few we might grow into and need to get the heels fixed and I can wear another pair but there were so many I could just chuck. Awful really.
Feels so good!

If I was doing Konmarie I should have collected all the shoes.... that's a good idea

Loving all your work, I'm inspired to prise myself of the sofa and fill a bag before bed!

I'm going to bed to read the book but am looking forward to the weekend so I can gather together all the redundant cleaning products from around the house......

it's sort of a pity I have to go to work and go out tomorrow.

I don't understand why Marie Kondo advocates clearing items by category rather than location? What's the supposed benefit of it?

May I join?

I want to put the house on the market in April & I have so much stuff

I need to do attic & shed; sewing room is a nightmare & I want to halve my use of kitchen cupboards - I think I can get it down to just the left half......but we will see

I am making difficult decisions about wedding presents and treasured 'stuff' we never use!!

Plus tools DH can't/won't ever use

But I have just realised as I sort the shed I can store it in the bike shed as I got rid of three bikes last year

& I got rid of 5 bin bags of clothing just before Christmas & 2 handbags just after so I am on a roll (I hope)