Decluttering one thing a day part 8 - the one where we de-tetris the cupboard of doom!

[WoogleCone]

Welcome! This is thread 8 of the declutter one thing a day challenge!

This is just holding the discussion open until @stealthninjamum gets her computer sorted and back in action :)

Everyone is welcome here, new and old. We implore you to join us on our mission to clear the cupboards, swipe the sides and declutter all debris!
We recycle, reuse, give away, donate or just plain chuck it out to help clear our spaces.

If you're new, start with a small mission - can you tackle one small area at a time? Be it a bedside table, a bathroom cabinet or The Kitchen Drawer?
Just one thing a day is all we ask and report back here with your outs for the day, or week at a time. It's very easy to get the bug when you start small and have success!

Will we find any more big bags of change? Can we sell more big ticket items? Will the school books all get returned? Will the happy meal toys ever stop multiplying and just how many books can we say goodbye to?!

Previous thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3525812-Part-7-of-the-decluttering-challenge-can-you-get-rid-of-one-item-a-day?msgid=87790915#87790915

I am childfree for the firstborn time in 15 years when dd starts reception on Friday.

I’m not sure if I need another baby or to stop my hoarding ways forever. No big clear outs this just, just try to keep steady but omg it’s baby clothes, cots, proms etc.

It will be hard.

Now living in New house and unpacking. I have a box of cups and glasses that have no new home and are surplus to requirements.

Ah yes, nothing like a move to realise some things just don’t have a home anymore! We decluttered before moving here 2 years ago, but still managed to stuff things everywhere instead of making a conscious decision to just get rid of it... which is why I’m still decluttering now...

Welcome back, Medway!

Good luck in your new home, Around!

More outs today: 5 pieces of wood and a paint tray.

Approx 2 big bags have now gone to charity, as in, actually left the house, not just added to the pile, which always feels good.

Today I took the old cot and mattres to the tip, with a plastic box, kids guitar and a toy case.

However dd bought a assortment of tat from the recycling shop!

I miss the cot. Stupidly thinking now I should have made it into a keepsake box. What wrong with me? I can’t do carpentry! This will be a painful process I fear

Out: a shoe box. It's a nice one and I really want to keep it, but, I'm being strong.

Medway - Do you have any photos of it? This can really help. It also helps to remember that you still have your memories of it and that letting go of things can take practise.

Out: more paperwork, and lots of old envelopes that had got damaged in their storage box.

I’ve reorganised quite a bit downstairs, so we’re starting to see some space!

Well done, Times!

I've been decluttering dust - lots of cleaning going on here. The bedroom is now clean and clear of anything diy-ish. I've moved back the furniture I can lift - I'm waiting for DP to get home to help move the rest.

I've washed all sorts of bits and bobs from the bedroom curtains, inc rail and hooks, to the kitchen bin lid and even the vacuum cleaner nozzle.

Oh wow, you know you’re on a roll if you’re cleaning the vacuum cleaner nozzle!! Mine desperately needs some attention... maybe a job for tomorrow!

And now they’ve cancelled the sale! Aaaargh!!
Two other people have messaged me about different listings.
I think I agree, Sand, about delivery. I’m not sure now as delivery seemed to ‘get them gone’ but not in this case!
I know how much work it is to store, clean, maintain and declutter it all Yes, to this!!!
That YouTuber that I link to sometimes (I won’t do it again in case you all think she’s my sister ) says she knows how much work it’s been to declutter; so, so many hard decisions the making of which is exhausting, that she does not want to have to do it all over again. I can relate, even though I’m the slackest on this thread Ha ha I just like hanging out here
Peoplepleaser - I don’t there are any penalties on Marketplace for not turning up. I feel sorry for her anyway. I would hate to live where I live and not have a car. There is NO public transport except the school bus. Luckily, the listings stay up till I take them down so no extra work for me there

Hallelujah! A pair of bookends has been bought and picked up. About £7.50, so not time to go shopping yet. (Sorry - that’s not an appropriate sentiment for a declutter thread 😁)

Out: storage boxes! Well they’re in the out pile, but DH might find a use for them and as they were so pricey, I don’t mind if he finds something he needs them for (as long as that something is in the shed, and not the house )
Where was Marie Kondo when I first moved out of my parents? I’d have a much much healthier bank balance right now and so much less stuff! It’s quite scary when you start adding up how much money I’ve wasted!
I also had to throw away a lot of dried out art supplies, again, they weren’t cheap, but I didn’t use them in time, so now I’m basically throwing money away...

It's all go here! The bedroom is now mostly 'together' and looks nice. My main chest of drawers has been put back, thoroughly cleaned and clothes put away. (I've been living out of suitcases whilst decorating.)

I've vacuumed upstairs and paid a bill.

My downstairs area is still a mess.

Out: a nightie I avoid wearing.

so now I’m basically throwing money away...
Yes, we've all been there. At least you wont have to look at those dried up tubes now and be reminded of it.

Sand, how nice to have newly decorated rooms

Thanks, Penelope. I've only finished the one room atm but it is nice.

Wow! It's been full-on today. I had a cleaner come to help out and between us, we have cleaned loads! I've even cleaned out 2 plug holes and a drain!!!

Quite a few more bits and bobs out including flyers, rail tickets, receipts, empty packets, some ood food and a small shovel.

Well done Sand! We have visitors tomorrow morning, so I need to make sure downstairs is presentable... I’ve got rid of a ton of things today, but created a bit of a mess in the process, so after a small break, I need to start neatening things out so we can actually appreciate the progress, instead of just seeing all the undone things!

Well done n finishing the decorating SandandSea. It always takes so much longer than you think.

Hope you settling well into the new house 80moves.

Sounds like as usual everyone is making great progress. Nothing much to report here although a couple of books have made it onto the charity pile. I am at home most of tomorrow awaiting various people to come around so will hopefully get a few things identified and out! Fortunately none of the visitors are connected with Marketplace sales...that sounds so frustrating Penelope.

Thanks everyone! It's lovely to get so much positive feedback. I am really enjoying my new bedroom, that's for sure.

I've got some more outs today including a worn out cat toy and a scarf I haven't worn for ages.

Dinner is a weird salad to use up fresh foods before they go off.

I've been working on some small outs just lately. Tonight dinner used up the rest of a chicken and ham, made into chicken cordon bleu casserole. I am trying to use up as much leftover food as possible as I hate waste!

I did clean windows today after work, on one side of the house anyway (the other had sun shining on it- thats my excuse anyway!)- so I de-cluttered a layer of dust.

I have tried selling things on Facebook, doesn't always work out the way I hope. It has been a while and we did have a little success, I may have to take a trip to the storage unit and list things on there in the meantime since yard sale season is over now.

Does anybody have any advice for successful selling on Facebook? I never really know how much to ask for things, scared to ask too much yet not sure if I'm going too low.

Don’t worry IWill it still does! Quiet week here little out except quite a few magazines that OH has finally agreed to start sorting. Excuse is that we’ve had workmen doing a few jobs. So I’m claiming those for the team anyway. About to tackle a kitchen cupboard.

I've finally finished reading the thread so thought it was about time I delurked as I need some accountability! I'm doing the Minimalists' 30 day challenge to kick-start my decluttering (getting rid of 1 thing on day 1, 2 on day 2, etc.) and am actually slightly ahead at the moment, although I do feel I've cheated a little by counting e.g. 12 business cards - by day 30, I'll probably just be decluttering 30 different pieces of paper.

I'm also deducting anything that comes into the house from my total, apart from food and other consumables, which will hopefully encourage me to buy less. The real challenge is going to come over the next few days, when I'll be back in the UK (I live abroad), as my trips back are usually an opportunity to stock up on anything and everything. Maybe I'll just buy food, as that won't count.

Hi Stillbe!

I’m pretty new to this thread but am a long-time declutterer. I’ve never managed to finish the Minsgame but it’s such a. Good idea! Have you read their book, Everything That Remains? It’s a good read if I ever want to kick-start a decluttering spell.

I haven’t done much the past few days - it’s been a busy week of ferrying kids around to various activities (and they’re both under 4 so god knows how I’ll cope when they have proper social lives and extra-curricular stuff all the time!) but this weekend I’m determined to get back on with Project House. I’m going to start painting what will be DD’s room, and then sort through anything in her current room that can be sold/sent to charity.