New home for the new year - still getting rid of one item a day part 6

[StealthNinjaMum]

Here we are again!

Little by little a group of mums netters have been decluttering our homes by getting rid of one item a day. Whether we eat it, bin it, recycle it, sell or give it away we are slowly tidying our homes.

Is this the thread where we finish? Probably not

As usual newbies are welcome to join us. We get rid of one thing and come back to update everyone on our progress and get support when it gets hard.

Previous thread is here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3381702-Getting-rid-of-one-thing-a-day-decluttering-challenge-Part-5?pg=1

Willow - that's the best idea for your sofas. I recently had the same dilemma but settled for a 3 seater and 2 recliners. It was a big mistake and I hate them! We all do, in fact. They are nowhere near as comfortable despite looking so much plumper and are already flattening unevenly.
Our old one has been outside but under cover and has largely been adopted by the dogs, but I am seriously considering bringing it back in and getting it restuffed and recovered. The older ones really are better. People told me that and they were right.
I rearranged DD's room - the room that I'm always tidying up - you're not alone Gibble. I put a desk in there and I've put all her art stuff on that and it's much less stressful for me now. She used to always have multiple jars of 'painty' water, teacups, etc, all just about to fall onto the carpet . Thankfully, it never actually happened and now it's much less likely to. I took a bag of rubbish and a bag of cardboard out of there in the process.
I've also been inspired by a PP and cleared out the hall cupboard drawers. One small bag of rubbish, 4 drawers checked and 3 now empty. They're quite small. They've always just been full of DD's treasures. What should I keep in them, I wonder? Any ideas? Somethings that we all need to access? All of our bedrooms come off the hallway where the cupboard is.
I feel like I'm back on track now.

Yesterday was a bit of an off day. However, I did take my niece’s birthday present to the post office and sent it on its way, and I also got rid of my work secret Santa gift (admittedly by taking it along to a NYE party and thus ensuring it actually got drunk).

Today I need to go through some financial paperwork and actually finish off my tax return. I think it might be time for the Christmas tree to go too.

Happy New Year everyone! I had quite a productive day yesterday. Lots of rubbish and recycling collected up and put in the bins. I cleaned and tidied the lounge and most of the presents were put away. There was a lot less this year for various reasons and DH and I had practical things that were needed so it was much easier to get everything sorted. DS hasn’t noticed that he didn’t have as much and for once everything he had has been played with a lot which is much better.

I threw away one of the DC’s stockings and a present sack as both had big holes in them and lots more food/alcohol was decluttered last night.

Today’s items so far - a couple of tupperware boxes that I had borrowed were returned to DM and also she had a large cardboard box that we had left over from the move for some things she needs to store. I am going to start taking the decorations down later so I’ll sort through those and see if we need everything in the decoration boxes.

Happy New Year 🥳

I bought this planner book yesterday from B&M for £2.99 if anyone is interested...(see pic)

Today my plan is to declutter the 4 dining chairs back to dm that I borrowed for Christmas dinner.

I think I'll also go through the toiletries and see what's empty.

I didn't get dd's clothes sorted and I don't know if I have the energy for that today but it needs doing so I'll do it, erm...soon! she's got lots of clothes so it's a daunting task.

Forgot the picture 🤦‍♀️

Did my wardrobe yesterday - a full bag of recycling in car for the charity shop on Wednesday. And then I got DH to join me and we did all of our admin files - one full file of paper to his work shredder - he works for himself !!! - and one half green bin of old paper. Feel fully prepared for back to work / school. Just as well, we are all shattered today. I’m just about to sit and watch Marie Kondo - DH said no thanks!!!!

Happy New Year everyone! (Especially @StealthNinjaMum - I am sorry to hear your news, but am impressed how positive you sound moving forward. I hope that 2019 is better for you than 2018!)

Nice to see a few new faces. I am determined that this is the year I will get everything sorted out.

Actually, I have managed to do quite a lot this past year, especially over the last couple of months. True to form, I had great plans for what I was going to achieve over the holidays but haven't managed very much... so far. I had been going to sell some big toys before Christmas, but discovered that batteries had leaked, so they needed a bit of attention before I could list them. I have left them out and intend to sort them in the next few days. If I decide to leave listing them until next Christmas, at least I will know that they are ready to go.

Before Christmas I took all the flattened cardboard boxes in the porch to the recycling site together with the contents of my miscellaneous recycling box. That ended up being a bag of small electrical items, a bag of metal bits, a small bag of batteries (including the leaking ones), and a couple of light bulbs.

Last week I at last got round to sorting out the cupboard that used to house the old boiler. I haven't floored it yet, but to keep out mice I have blocked up the old pipe holes in the floor with wire wool and taped over the top. I have put all the spare boxes of washing powder and fabric conditioner in there, as well as basins and buckets. I managed to empty the contents of two nearly finished washing powder boxes into new ones, so that will save some space.

I also emptied a crate of pet stuff that had been sitting in the dining room and put the contents away in the new unit in the back sitting room, then got another large box of stuff from the dining room up into the loft.

Today, I am the middle of sorting out some kitchen cupboards. I realised that one shelf in an easily accessible cupboard is completely full of children's plastic plates, tumblers, sippy cups and water bottles. We are highly unlikely to get any visitors with small children these days, so I have taken out all the stuff we won't use. Some are too scruffy to pass on to anyone so will be going in the recycling, but I will wash the others then decide what to do with them. I have now put a storage box on that shelf for all the small tupperware boxes and lids. Hopefully that will stop the usual avalanche when I open the overhead cupboard.

I tided up and decluttered the utility room yesterday - still too much stuff but at the moment nowhere else for it to go. At least I can walk in and out properly without having to shimmy in sideways. I have a huge pile for the charity shop though!

I am just trying to motivate myself to tidy 2 drawers in my dressing table - full of make up and ad hoc rubbish.

Stealth I've just read the end of the last thread. I'm sorry you're going through this. Really happy for you with the decluttering though - I can see how this will make your life easier.

Munch that is a really good deal - the same book is out of stock on Amazon but selling for £9.99!

I've just had to walk out of a shop because 'D'H is offering to buy toys for DC. I've told him if he wants to buy another house to keep it in he should go ahead. We don't need another toy in the house ever again. I can't live like this any more.

Can I join please? I’m actually a very uncluttered person but my husband has made our home a cluttered mess. After 10 years he realises it needs to go! So I am dec,uttering with his permission. Yeah!

Happy new year, everyone!!

Today's items so far are 16 books and a holey sock.

Happy New Year!

Today I’ve been through half of my wardrobe and DD has been through her wardrobe/drawers. Between us we’ve cleared out a huge plastic bags worth of clothes. They’ll be on their way to the charity shop soon.

It’s so freeing to just get rid of things rather than thinking that I might get around to selling them. Definitely a more helpful mindset for me.

Can I join you? My house is incredibly cluttered and finding time to declutter is hard. I can probably manage 7 things in a week though (possibly not one thing a day as some days are just too busy).

My biggest problem is actually taking things out of the house instead of just moving them around. I've got 3 bags of stuff for charity shops but I just moved them to the shed "for Christmas, I'll deal with them properly in the new year". I need to get them to a charity shop. I also need to do a tip run with broken electrical items (2 electric grills and 2 printers!)

I did manage to clear the dining room last week, which has been an ongoing issue probably since last Christmas. It is now usable as a dining room and as somewhere to do homework/work and it will be staying that way. I'm about to go and sort dd2's clothes in her bedroom.

Welcome, @MsAwesomeDragon !
Some charities will collect (eg. BHF). Might help?

I have had more in today rather than take any out.... It is random bargains i can use for gifts etc though even though some may not be until next xmas
I have got a big recycling pile on the go for tip though that im going to keep adding to and take away by the end of week!

myawesomedragon the tip items are a good start can you set yourself a day to go to the tip within the coming week and then add to it as much as possible until that date. Anything like bulky cardboard, hard plastic, textiles you can instantly see hanging around gather it up its very satisfying taking it down to the tip and coming back with a empty car! and you know your not just throwing it straight into landfil so feels abit better.x

Evening all :)

Today was pretty good actually. Tree down, Xmas stuff gone through and down to two storage boxes instead of three. My rule was if I didn't use it this year then I obviously don't want it. Furniture back in its normal place.

Did about 1/3 shredding until the unit overheated. Will carry on tomorrow.

A few frames up in DDs room, need more command strips to finish off, again tomorrow.

Someone on woolly hugs is taking about 1/3 of my stash so that'll also go out the door tomorrow :)

Also planning a tip run tomorrow while I still have DH to help me.

Prize for most times saying tomorrow on a post? 😂😂

Had a look through my youngest’s wardrobe. Several t shirts into charity shop bag along with a couple of books. My weeks decluttering work is done!

I’ve recycled the Christmas cards and other bits and bobs for the bin lift. Nothing for the next few days as we are away.

I tidied the inside of the car today. It wasn't that bad but I disposed of various receipts and old pens.

We're moving house next week so I've been slowly sorting/decluttering/packing the last few days as I've been off work. Last couple of days I've packed up the Xmas decorations and got rid of cards. Also 2 bags of clothes and DVDs to charity shop and shredded and recycled old some paperwork. I'm also using up the dregs of things so condiments in fridge of beauty products etc. Have used up some body scrub and nearly to the end of some face cream and some body spray which will be used by the move. Also got rid of DP's unwanted bass guitar and amp on Freecycle. Very pleased with progress so far but no doubt I'll find all kinds of rubbish when I pack up the kitchen.

I've been decluttering throughout the entire year but the prospect of moving (and packing!) has made me much more ruthless

Happy New Year everyone.cant believe how busy you have all been over the new year. Our final set of visitors leaves today so I will be starting to sort things again. I shall report back later!

Welcome msawesomedragon well done on the dining room, it's lovely to have a clear table.

Our dining room table is still clear at present.

Joining back in after Christmas break but I did manage to get rid of one thing most days. Some days I doubled up.

Yesterday DD helped me go through my clothes. Have a basket full of things for charity shop. Might sneak a cardio back in as it is so comfy and my friend knitted it.
Plan to carry on in bedroom today.

I’ve only bought food and I did buy Sainsbury’s wrapping paper some down to 50p. I used it this year and it was really easy to wrap with as it has squares for cutting guidelines on other side. I wrapped a pile well before Christmas and didn’t need to do Christmas Eve rush. So I figure if I buy now I will wrap as I buy next Christmas.