Getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge: Part 3: Are we nearly there yet?

[StealthNinjaMum]

For 2000 posts a group of messy mumsnetters have been chucking out, selling, recycling and cooking weird cakes.

Are we free of clutter yet? Sadly not.

Thankfully we're here to get support and be told off when we have a relapse and bring more clutter into the house, garages, sheds, gardens.

Newbies are welcome to join us, it's easy we literally just get rid of one thing a day and report back.

Previous thread here

carpet that's really annoying about the delivery. I'm sure they lie half the time.

I think half empty bookcases don't look weird. Just move things around the shelves so that the emptiness is evenly distributed. Or buy an attractive box (something stylish not plastic) and stick that on one shelf. Or a small photo frame in a gap.

My hall table just has one phone on it now and the clipboard I mentioned the other day even though it has three shelves I love that it's empty.

I have done 11 of my to dos and I am getting really bored. I need to focus.

This morning I have thrown out the vests that are too small for dd2 and given her dd1s. I am going to spend some time in dd2s bedroom tidying and looking for toys so I can start selling complete sets of toys. I'll also be back in the room of doom.

Really liking this list for the week idea. Seems so obvious but I have never done it.

Completed 5 items:

Prescription
Pay self storage
DD Nursery call to confirm times and days
Pay a bill 1
Pay a bill 2

Can I ask what is the plan I see some working to where when new things are bought the same number of items have to be thrown away/ removed? Sounds interesting.

Estate agent has taken photos and house will be advertised this afternoon, here come the viewings. Was nice however to saunter downstairs in my nightie for my coffee on the decking without having the get dressed due to the handyman being there.

I totally overuse exclamation marks I’ve also noticed

My stealth paying a bill the day it arrives is incredible...

DONE DS's drawers are lovely and organised, list made of what he needs for the next two sizes up. I'll try to hold off on 12-18 month stuff until the Christmas sales though.

Moved the too small stuff into storage, but DF will hopefully be helping herself to some bits if she's expecting a boy.

Three random roast potatoes, two odd bits of salmon and a vegetable of some description for lunch. Means the bags have gone in the bin too. Also found two half used Johnson's bits that have gone in the bin as they give DS a rash.

@Nofilter - I tend to stick to the 'one in - one out' rule which is pretty easy to do and stops stuff building up. I do this in addition to getting rid of at least one thing a day.

If you've got quite a bit of clutter still to tackle though, 'one in - two out' would be better.

Even better still though is to do 'no buy' months. This refers to extras like clothes, not food essentials, obviously.

I've consequently, been able to sell a chest of drawers and swap it for a smaller one and am now looking to sell another, small one. I went through my wardrobe earlier today and I'm now taking up less space in there than DP!

Another massive period has derailed me having optimistically declutter my sanitary pad stash, I had to borrow one of DS's nappies to go to the shop in!

Fridge and under the sink left to do.

ihate I have drawer envy! They look fab... can’t wait to get settled in our new home and do stuff like this..

sand thanks for the info, I’m buying so much stuff at the moment, move related mostly but then I “see” something I like while shopping for the essentials. I’ve actually followed the frugal thread for a while before now to try and curb spending on non essentials (crap) but I do well with it for a bit and then it tails off... I have joined that Plum automatic savings app which takes small regular amounts out of your account so while I am frittering I’m still saving a little... I’d love to overcome this as I just don’t need it all, especially clothes it’s ridiculous! It makes me worry too, as a single mum I’ve a lot of years to support DD yet - I sold my business due to a (long story) disagreement with my business partners so need to make what I have work... I find if I am respectful of my money I don’t have those worries if the future and finances....

No time to do wardrobes today as DD has not napped. We’ve even been to the farm and then a separate field where she rode a Shetland, ran around and played on a park. Not slept a single minute! Phew I’m tired out with this heat and a toddler.

Does/Has anyone else felt bored to death of playing with their child? I feel awful saying it but my DD has a toy horse in my face the moment we wake up to play horsie which is basically not a lot - moving the horses around while DD has an imaginary game in her head. For the whole day she try’s to get me to play. I do stuff with her - take her out. Then I play with her at least 3-4 times for a good half hour, then we read books before bed 1/2 hour but it still doesn’t seem to be enough. Is that enough do you think? I keep thinking I should be making the most of these young years as everyone tells me it goes so quick.

Progressed today:

Handled 12 things off my list.
Threw away some magazines, old dog lead, some manuals for things like hoover, coffee machine etc as it’s all online.

They only stay like that because DS is too small to destroy them nofilter I bet you're getting really excited about moving now though!

I'm going to have an accident. I feel sad, all my makeup is pretty much past it's best, and my boots shopping cart is looking rather full. Obviously I would throw out all my old makeup!

I'm not sure I can be persuaded to not click the checkout button.

@Nofilter - I'm hoping to move soon too so am very interested to know what you have to buy that's move related? (I haven't bought anything so pls do tell me if I need to.) I just don't want to move clutter, or pay movers to move clutter for that matter so am feeling very driven to clear my crap and not buy more. (Disclaimer: I did treat myself to a new belt today but the old one will be going out.)

@IHateYourCarpet - It's good to have clean make-up. But, will it all (ie everything) fit in one small make-up bag? If not, pls step away from that button!

Out today: a couple of boxes and an old (much loved but sadly deceased) scarf.

I had a really abrupt change of plan when I remembered that the outlet centre near me is open till 9 - the joy of going to buy in person!

Then realised DH, who promised he'd be back by 7 to relieve me of teething, grumpy, crying DS, still isn't home. So there's no one to look after DS tried ringing him, but no answer. Selfish arse.

I also want to have a bath but DS shrieks every time I turn the bloody tap on. So not even the chance of decluttering some bubble bath.

Monday's TaDa!

Ran out of steam, what with and other things. Nevertheless, laundry load dine and another tiny bit of tidying in utility room. Cut back some of the rampant laurel, then swept path and steps behind kitchen.

Declitteringg. Forty magazines into paper recycling bin.

I've just decluttered a World Cup penalty shoot out. Whoop-whoop!!

Another one appreciating your drawers carpet. They're lovely and wide but also shallow so you can just lay everything out neatly. Things get thrown into ours.

nofilter you sound like a lovely mum. I used to get bored with dc when they were young too. Both have always been obsessed with books and so I must've read some of our books 200 times!

carpet I'm going to be naughty and suggest you maybe buy one or two bits of makeup. You work so hard, we can see it on the thread, A couple of people have made comments about how I always smell nice (am decluttering perfurme!) or look nice in makeup as I now wear it and it does give me a boost. And your dh was an arse so I would feed him baked beans tomorrow and spend the money on makeup.

Tidy well done on the magazine's. I be they took up loads of space.

Dd2 took about two hours to eat dinner (she's a slow eater) so I found myself looking at a very high kitchen shelf with some old tins. Two were used by mil for transporting cakes but looked grubby so I have decluttered them. Now I have an enormous amount of space on a shelf I can't reach without standing on a chair. But I feel good about it.

Hello sand you may find it useful to look on Pinterest for the rule of 3s in terms of bookcases. It suggests grouping things in 3s and I’ve followed this and it looks really cool. A lot of what I have on mine is from the £1 shop or just cheap from home bargains.. I chose chrome as I have a white and grey/silver theme in my living room...

In terms of moving I have bought:

Boxes
TV boxes with foam corners (it’s not worth the risk of breaking them)
A box for glassware with the inserts inside for some sentimental items.
Bubble wrap
4 Light Roses fittings to replace when I take my chandeliers down for the tenants
Lightbulbs
Paint
Bath sealant
Wood stain
Decking paint
White emulsion
Masking tape & Gun
Feliway calmer for cats & dog moving stress
2 New Cat boxes
Grass fertiliser it’s brown/ scorched it didn’t work!
Replacement light switch
Two extra large plastic heavy duty boxes 145L on wheels for all my tack at the farm to go in the lorry with the horses - quite pleased with these only £15 each and massive!
Replacement light switch
Clothing rails as we have fitted wardrobes in this house but are adding an extension to the new house so will be without them for a while
Self storage unit
Gas safety checks
Curtain Maker to adjust all the curtains for new house...
One tip my aunt gave me was to pack a suitcase of a few days stuff we need and also a tea towel, toilet roll, box of all the essentials so regardless of boxes we can function in the first day and morning after... incase a van breaks down or there is a delay basically.
Sky made me pay to upgrade to their Q Boxes as I want two more multirooms but there is no longer multiple monthly multiroom charges so kind of pays it back eventually.
Bought a ride on lawnmower and kitchen table from the vendors that was made to fit the kitchen..
Horse related stuff like feed bins etc

Furniture for my apartment as it’s been let as unfurnished but since we have spare furniture as my Mum is moving in with us we’ve furnished it and increased the rent... so I’ve bought a floor lamp, bar stools, bedside tables and a mattress. Pays itself back and more.

Most of my stuff is getting the old properties in a good order so I can avoid having to pay big fees for call outs with the managing agents for small silly stuff when we move.

I’d recommend getting a pack of stickers for your boxes off eBay for a few pounds. We’ve put them all on the top right and written a room number as we’ve numbered the rooms on a floor plan so it’s really clear for the movers I was quite pleased with those.

I’ve also written a change of address letter and made 30 photocopies - I’m filling them in by going off my bank direct debits and a list I’ve been adding to. I’ll walk down the Rd to the post box the day before we leave and I’ll also setup a Royal Mail redirection for a couple of months to cover any I’ve missed.

Got to tackle a call to BT tomorrow grrr was on for 1.5hrs to sky today!!

Then I’ve got a “moving day” list for meter readings, letter to council tax, that sort of thing.

Hope this helps I feel like I’ve rambled a bit!

X

I hope you feel better ihate it’s horrid isn’t it!

Also I’ve asked for a summary sheet from vendors of who supplies everything - utilities and contact info..

Tuesday TaDa!

Weeded some of side path down to the front gate. Swept alongsude the pavement wall. Enjoyed watching the recycling lorry taking my clutter away :-))

Sewed up small holes in three socks, taking about ten minutes while watching tv. Put the three pairs in my drawer and got another tiny spot cleared.

Decluttered -
Pair of ripped trousers into garage rag bag.

One plastic tub from daft stash.

All "Which" magazines from 2017, first clipping several articles.
Shredder broken, burnt some papers in grate. Very therapeutic!

Very productive morning

Been shopping already - bought a few new bits of makeup (that all fit in my tiny bag Sand!) and chucked all the old stuff out. Thank you for the encouragement Stealth. I know it's silly, but post baby I just sort of feel in a rut.

Begrudgingly picked up my parcel... so that's the delivery note decluttered.

Parents are visiting today, so probably won't get much done.

Oh, and I'm going to go get some new glasses this afternoon! So I can donate my two pairs that no longer fit my prescription.

DH had an adorable reason for being late, he'd noticed that DS had grown out of his summer stuff so he went and bought him some bits in Next before he went to watch the football. So he's contributed some useful clutter!

Everyone's doing amazingly - even in the heat!

@Nofilter - Thanks so much for all that.

Used up the dregs of not 1 but 2 bottles of shampoo! DH has gone to the tip with a whole load of stuff, including a length of drainage pipe which irrationally gives me the anger.

Yesterday I sorted a whole bag of fabric odds & ends which I'm going to drop at the scrap store later this week. Also did the drawer of placemats, tablecloths etc & got rid of 6 trivets which I'd forgotten I even had!

3 self help books now ready to go... I'm going to trust my own reactions instead!

We're going great guns, aren't we!

Nofilter that's really organised, if I ever move house again I might ask you to organise me!

carpet I just put lipstick on today and instantly felt more groomed. Lots of friends have noticed that I wear makeup now and perfume every day and I do feel happier with myself.

I have done 14 of my 24 weekly to dos and I can feel myself procrastinating over the other 10. 2 I probably won't do because they involve driving a few miles and I actually think it's more worthwhile doing stuff at home.

So far today I have

• bought a new paintbrush to oil my chairs
• gone to the bottle bank
• paid another bill (that had been waiting for a week!)
• paid in a cheque
• bumped my Facebook sales stuff. If they don't go I will give them to a charity shop next week
• donated a pair of shoes to the 'shoe bank'
• taken all the stuff I have recently mentioned in the 'charity shop pile' to a charity shop. This was four bags and included dd vests, tights, rags, a couple of my handbags, books, CDs, cassettes.
• sent some emails that I've been meaning to send.
• washed and hung out the bedding

I am waiting for someone to pick up a board game. I am hoping she'll be here soon so I can do the final coat of oil on the chairs before I pick up dds from school. I tried to do this this morning but I hadn't washed the paintbrush and it was stuck solid which is why i went out to buy a new one.

Your welcome sand...

ihate how old is your DS? I remember feeling totally bedraggled for the first year! I actually went 14 months in between haircuts (horror)! Was nice to finally have the peace to think about myself a bit... good for you with the makeup splurge. I’m sure I have some stuff over the amount of time you supposed to keep it!

stealth your list was a list for the week and you’ve done loads and it’s only Wednesday!

So much progress it’s catching!!

We’re having a family party today at 4pm to see everyone before we move. All DDs cousins. Bouncy castle and paddling pool sorted! Going to be really cool seeing everyone... there’ll be lost of decluttering after this but hey ho it’s fun :-)

Under the bed... didn't find any monsters (no room!!!) but lots of stuff that is now either redeployed or binned or in the charity shop pile.

Lots of room for monsters now...