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Original poster

Getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge Part 5

984 replies

StealthNinjaMum · 01/10/2018 17:18

We’re still here!

For 4 threads a group of mumsnetters have been getting rid of just one thing a day. We’ve been throwing out, selling, recycling and giving our stuff away.

But we're still not finished.

Newbies are always welcome to join us. Just get rid of one thing each day and come back here to discuss your progress and get support when it gets hard.

Previous thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3298777-Getting-rid-of-one-thing-a-day-decluttering-challenge-Part-4?msgid=81434878

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 05/10/2018 19:20

I was coming on to say i haven't yet rid of anything but as I sit here I can see a very dirty grey (formerly pink) purse that was free in a magazine or party bag. I'm thinking my child won't miss it if it goes in the bin and they shouldn't have left it on my table!

OP posts:
gassylady · 05/10/2018 19:27

Another bag to charity largely old glassware, including some lovely old dishes. I was going to try and sell it to the vintage shop - but it’s closed downShock so it went to charity instead. Thought I’d it came back in it might not leave againGrin

SandAndSea · 05/10/2018 19:28

Thanks for all the mould tips, peeps. I've tried everything and have now accepted getting rid of it.

Today's items are some underwear and... wait for it... another box!!! Grin

GirlfriendInAKorma · 05/10/2018 19:31

Huge bag of books ready to take to the school Christmas fair.
Plus some more dressing up outfits for charity shop (I swear these things breed).
Plus an old mobile from DDs cot that's a bit broken so needed to go in the bin as not safe to pass on.

PawneeParksDept · 05/10/2018 19:32

Earmarking some old console games for charity tonight

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 05/10/2018 19:34

SandandSea have you found homes for everything in the cupboard you're getting rid of? (Or are they going to sit in piles for the next 2 months years? Well done on the box!

That reminds me I am throwing away a box. I bought dd1 a music stand and it came in a box and within that was a bag to transport the music stand in. The old me would've kept the box. Why? It just means I keep a thing in a bag in a box!

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 05/10/2018 19:44

@StealthNinjaMum - Not yet. I've binned/charity'd some. A lot of the rest is still drying/airing and some of it needs washing again.

Bowerbird5 · 05/10/2018 22:20

Lots of paperwork. On my last bag now so rather pleased with myself. Have done 10 bags and I have got it down to about seven now. I have to keep what is in those for work.
Went through a bag of socks and threw out any with thin bits. Will keep odd ones for a month and if the pair doesn’t turn up they are out. DH was doing some washing and it doesn’t occur to him to put the paired socks in. He doesn’t peg them in pairs either but he does sometimes pair them when dry.Think I might reduce the amount too as they take up room in my drawer. Think I might go through all underwear, socks and tights and get rid of some so I have more room. I have some drawer dividers which I find useful in the mornings.

ememem84 · 06/10/2018 07:35

bower I find getting rid of paperwork so satisfying.

ememem84 · 06/10/2018 07:37

Bah. Hit send too soon.

I went through all of ours a few weeks ago after the house move and shredded everything relating to the old apartment (except for the “last” one of everything).

Annoyingly because we’re temporarily with dparents I’ve had to do address changes and switch on paper bills again as they’re needed for due diligence. Aaah.

Once we get the new house though (hopefully next week) we can go back to (almost) paperless.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 06/10/2018 11:46

Wow Bowerbird5 well done on the paperwork. I hate doing it but it's so satisfying when it was done.

I haven't really done much in the last couple of days but today I have spent an hour going through arts and crafts. I am still sticking labels on things and putting things away. We have lots of craft kits but dds don't really do kits, but if you give them pom poms, glue, paint, feathers they'll spend hours creating things. So I am wondering whether to take the complete kits and give them all away. About a year ago I gave loads of stuff to a local preschool. I feel slightly bad because many were presents but some have been sitting around for 5 years and dds haven't done them! I also feel bad because I used to sit with dds while they did stuff like play dough and painting and I never do so I suppose giving the kits away makes me a bad mother who spends no time with her children!

OP posts:
socraties1234 · 06/10/2018 13:19

joining again getting harassed with all y family's junk

ememem84 · 06/10/2018 16:11

stealth is just give them away. Or regift then?

SandAndSea · 06/10/2018 16:29

Still in de-moulding mode. The cupboard has now left the house though which feels wonderful! It was so good to come home and smell fresh air in the house again!

SandAndSea · 06/10/2018 16:31

@StealthNinjaMum - With Christmas coming, could you sell them on FB? Who doesn't like a cheap craft kit at Christmas? Smile

PawneeParksDept · 06/10/2018 16:41

Busy today and haven't chucked out a thing. Looking at things and plotting their demise though Grin

lljkk · 06/10/2018 19:21

Have spent hours today sorting... many things are in better places & many small things in recycling & rubbish bin. Preparing to sell a few things, too. Steady progress??!!

SandAndSea · 06/10/2018 21:19

No one I know in RL would get this but...

DP came home tonight with a load of stuff from Poundland. Apparently, he thought it would be nice to try a new shower cream...

PawneeParksDept · 06/10/2018 21:53

A capital offence @SandAndSea Grin

I work in a charity shop and I'm constantly baffled by the tat people buy

Gibble1 · 06/10/2018 22:05

I haven’t done much for quite some time but as the entire summer was taken up without me managing to have a car boot sale, I think I will have a rummage through the bags and take most of it to charity at the recycling place. At least I’ll regain my cupboard under the stairs then.

PenelopeFlintstone · 07/10/2018 06:26

Today, I went to throw a dead plant away. It's had not a drop of water since it was hit by frost 5 months ago and presumed dead. I went to chuck it and saw two little shoots. I'm amazed. Look how pretty it will be Smile

Getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge Part 5
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 07/10/2018 09:54

@SandandSea how annoying! Dh is not allowed to buy ANYTHING.

I tried selling some craft kits last year and no-one wanted them (possibly none of us have time to spend with our kids!) I can't sell the ones that were gifts in the case the givers see them on Facebook so we're a bit limited. I have labelled a drawer 'little craft kits' as it contains things like little one-off projects in bags and then I have a couple of drawers with bigger ones in boxes. If they're still there after the xmas holidays then I will definitely give them away.

I have set myself two deadlines. To finish arts, craft and stationery stuff by half-term holidays and tidy playroom and Room of Doom by Christmas holidays. They're really ambitious targets especially as I have lots on now and haven't done much Christmas preparation.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 07/10/2018 09:58

For parents of children who have done GCSEs / A Levels. We are many years away from that but I think we have about 20 or 30 empty lever arch folders and box files that used to contain paperwork I have shredded.

Did your children use these to do A Levels or GCSEs? How many? I could empty about 3 shelves of these but wonder how many I'll need to rebuy. They're not cheap.

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 07/10/2018 10:54

@StealthNinjaMum - DP is also not allowed to buy anything but he doesn't get to go to big shops on his own very often and got over-excited. I had asked him to buy me one thing: dark chocolate peppermint cream. He FORGOT it!!!! We've had a talk.

Smile
SandAndSea · 07/10/2018 10:58

@StealthNinjaMum - Well done on the goal setting!

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