Join me in getting rid of at least one thing a day decluttering challenge?

[SandSnakeOfDorne]

I am trying to declutter, starting with our loft and garage both of which need some work doing so need to be a lot emptier! After they're done I want to declutter the rest of the house. I've already got rid of loads of stuff but I'm starting to lose motivation alone!

We have quite strict rules for what we can put in rubbish so I'm selling, free cycling, taking stuff to the clothes bank etc. At least one thing a day. I'm hoping to be done by Christmas!

Anyone want to join me?

SandandSea I bet you read your books more often than mine.I bought new ones for dd2 today (school readers) so I probably need to prune them from all over the house. I think I am going to start borrowing library books to read as apart from the space they take up they cost so much money.

Just took a bag of books and a bag of clothes to the charity shop. I had to park miles away so it was all I could carry.

Good work going on from everyone!

I have got rid of a few items on eBay, and given away a couple of things on gumteee that didn’t sell, including a washing machine! This has left a nice gap for storage in the utility.

The house does seem emptier and I had space to put away all of the Baby things (car seat etc) that DS has grown out of rather than them filling up the floor in the spare room so I must be making progress!

Still working on getting DH to sort his things out, he has currently filled the study with his tools that he is ‘sorting’ so I can’t sort the paperwork out atm.

Split the bracelet making gear in 3 and gave 1 each to the other Jamboree mums. Made up 42 bracelets yesterday and sold 8 today.
Nothing else achieved.

**
I'm with teenagers if that helps with those pangs, Ninja? :)

Wow chunky you're doing well, it's great when you realise things have an actual home because you have got rid of other stuff.

I have just downloaded an app that I saw recommended by a friend on Facebook called Trash Nothing! It's part of freecycle. I have never added anything to free cycle before so I don't know how easy it is but this app was amazing. It took about 4 minutes to advertise something. I really hope it goes.

I am about to start on my half an hour paperwork session. I have also just put another t-shirt and scarf in the charity shop pile.

I'm behind on my washing (due to paperwork) but the good news is, my top drawer is almost empty. In the past, I would have been left with drawers of clothes I don't wear, but not anymore! I'm feeling quite pleased with myself.

• By 'top drawer' I meant my big drawer of tops.

I was going to get off mumsnet to do paperwork 25 minutes ago and I'm still here! I could have nearly finished my 30 minutes by now. I'm so lazy.

Well done on the drawer and the paperwork sandandsea

Thanks Ninja.

I actually finished my tax return today (hurrah!) and did a load of washing. More paperwork is on the list for tomorrow.

Well done SandandSea sounds like a good day.

I have done my paperwork today and feel pretty pleased with myself. The more I do the easier it gets as there are now folders / homes for things. There's still a lot to do and I am wondering if it'll be done by my deadline of 30th January. I could do 2 or 3 hours a day but I think restricting it to just 30 minutes makes it easier - I invariably end up doing 40 or 50.

Really angry with people who don't collect things when they say they will, especially free things. Over Christmas 4 or 5 women didn't turn up to buy things they said they would and since then I have offered a number of things free and send pms / emails and heard nothing. I got a taker for a lovely baby gym I advertised on free cycle yesterday and have actually offered to drop it off at her house if she is close so I can be in control and not wait around. It's missing some bits so can't be given to a charity shop but is still very good quality but I guess it'll be landfill next Tuesday if I don't hear back.

Ninja, I hear you! I've had so many people not show up for stuff and it's so rude! I've got quite a bit to sell but am building up to that.

For today, I'm doing paperwork again. I've discovered another secret stash in dp's office and have explained to him again (loudly and slowly) that he needs to put filing in the box labelled: House Filing. Apparently, this is hard to remember.

Not much out today. Sold a few bracelets and have a mug order. Been busy all week with meetings so not getting any chance to be home in the evenings.

Is there anywhere you could leave things outside for Freecycle collectors? Even wrapped in a binbag for protection or something? Then you could stick it out there and forget about it. Take it to the charity shop if not collected. Or just say, "It's outside, first to collect gets it."

Yes Penelope I often agree to leave things on my front door step. I am actually paranoid about being burgled and so don't like telling a stranger when I'm in or out (although I am in most of the time). I will often say 'I'll leave it on the doorstep because I won't hear the doorbell above the hoover or I'll be in the garden' so that if I'm out they can still collect it.

I just have to accept I need to throw things away to clear the house quicker.

Anyway rant over, SandandSea poor you finding more paperwork! I am off to do my 30 minutes paperwork must get off mumsnet and Facebook.

Paperwork victory!

I found £20 John Lewis vouchers in the room of doom before xmas. They were dated 2006.

They still work! I have had two lights in my wardrobe for about 4 years waiting for an electrician. Found an electrician today so thought I'd buy a third light from JL to be fitted at the same time and my voucher worked!

So I get to clear my wardrobe of two boxes, a lighting project that has been going on forever gets sorted, and I get to chuck out some paper vouchers that I have now used!

That's great about the lights! :D

Well done, Ninja!

Am I the only one still doing this? Or are you all in tidy houses now?

Today I got rid of some crutches (back to hospital) and an old baby gym - advertised on freecycle and someone collected it.

Had a headache so did no paperwork but am thinking of giving the girls 'movie night' so I can do some filing. Was looking at storage boxes (which is like online porn to me!) today to put some old papers in the loft for a year with a view to throwing them away next year)

I'm still here, Ninja! I'm laughing at the idea of storage porn!! I also need a box for the bathroom cupboard but I'll wait until I see the right one - no rush.

I haven't done much clearing today tbh - lots of washing though which sort of counts. I have definitely slowed up now - the clutter is harder to find these days.

I'll be back in one week, I promise. I'm still in Thailand. Sorry, not sorry

Jealous about Thailand!
Today I have got rid of a bra. Chucked it in the bin as it was terrible! Need a blimmin good clear out again though 😬

Don't be jealous. We've all had enough of each other now, and I'd like to go home!
I'm looking g forward to continuing with this when I get home.
I'll start another thread too, based on a Kondo list of possessions to work through, if anyone wants to join me.

Got rid of our bathroom bin 👍🏼 controversial but we never use it and we never have guests

@PenelopeFlintstone I'm up for a Kondo thread. I've done clothes but I got stuck on sentimental life and the random stuff like electrical cables and tools (can't remember what she calls that section). I could do with doing paperwork again too, although that's much better than it was

Cool! I keep trying to post a list but Chrome stops working every time. I can do it next week or you can start one if you're in a hurry to get going @Grumpysquirrel. Either way is fine by me :) Tag me if you start one, so I can join you, or I'll do it when I get back. :)