Getting rid of one item a day thread number 14 – where we extract precious autumn leaves, rocks and twigs from our children

[stealthninjamummy]

Well I never thought I’d still be here, on the 14th thread where a bunch of mumsnetters get rid of one item a day while we slowly declutter and reorganise our houses.

It’s autumn and some of us have commented on our children’s beloved treasures that are coming in like conkers and precious twigs that have been named. This is the thread where we focus on sneaking these things out and getting the house ready for Christmas even if we don’t know what Christmas will be like this year.

New joiners are always welcome, just get rid of one item and let us know. We’ve all different issues and challenges and it’s nice to have a friendly chat with a fellow mumsnetter.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4003927-Still-throwing-an-item-away-a-day-part-13?pg=1

And for 2020 some of us are also aiming to get rid of 2020 items!

Managed to finish the wardrobe today. Took two black bags of clothes and one of shoes to the charity bin. Two more carrier bags of out of date stuff in the bin and a few bits and bobs from the bathroom chucked when I emptied the bathroom bin. Also half a black bag of odd or holey socks into the recycling. Quite a satisfactory day!

Yep. Dd is 16 months. And she doesn’t play with the baby baby toys anymore. They are getting a load of stuff for Christmas. Everything is currently everywhere and all mixed up. So. Am having a sort out a tidy up. It’s a necessary evil.

@SleepingStandingUp we do exactly the same and wrap up old toys from previous child.

Day 82: I feel fantastic today. I aimed to get the CD boxes down from the loft in order to go through them all week.

Actually what happened to as DH started to sort with me and we've given 100 cds to eldest child and bf. Kept 200, sold 100 on music magpie and given 260 ish away on freecycle.

Couple of DVD's gone too plus some Xmas stuff to eldest child.

Also someone wants the stereo and is picking it up first thing in the morning.

I need a lie down and to never look at a cd ever again.

Slim pickings today but I put a paperback in the charity shop box and threw out a stray old nappy that I found buried under my plastic bag collection. We were sent a bunch of different types by the continence service and some were too big so didn’t get used.

I have done lots of laundry and sorted my drawers so the tops are all folded the Marie Kondo way in a vaguely rainbow order.

In going through my drawers I realised I have a lot of pants so may send some of the scruffiest pairs to the rag bag. How many pairs of pants does a person need, I wonder? I’m pretty good at keeping in top of washing (though putting away the clean stuff is another matter...) and I have over 20 pairs which seems a bit excessive!

@Miaowse I think I have around 30 pairs of pants.

@ememem84 thank you! At least they don’t take up too much room.

@footprintsintheslow ah good, I felt awful but DS had so many, we kept so many and I don't want to buy much more but also want them to have something to open.

Amazing on the CDs!!

I'm washing plastic ball pit balls in the washing machine so binned half a dozen that didn't survive and dolls house etc is all listed to sell

Impressive achievement getting rid of all those CDs, Footprints!

Today’s update: went through another year’s worth of online grocery shopping receipts, which have gone into the recycling/ to be shredded tomorrow. Also put a smart work dress into the charity shop bag, as I haven’t really worn it since I had DD as it’s a bit too tight now. A few ins over the weekend though - two new tops for DD, Christmas biscuits and chocolates, and treats for stockings. The kitchen cupboards are packed!

PIL suggested today that we visit them for a weekend before Xmas, but DH said no, due to the pandemic and the fact they live in a Tier 3 area! He’s a bit annoyed with them for suggesting it. I’m glad he’s declined as the thought of giving up one of the three weekends before Xmas, plus the cost, and needing to book a cattery at short notice, was a bit much. Might suggest Feb half term if things have calmed down.

@EllieQ I’m tempted to ditch my smart work dresses. Haven’t worn them at all this year what with covid and wfh.

@EllieQ we have the same. Family inviting us over to join multiple households to put up Christmas decs.
I'm trying to stop apologising for just following the basic rules now. I'm sure people eye roll at me for being a goody two shoes (which I can assure you I'm not naturally). But I just don't want to risk it.

footprints ellieq I feel like I’m the only one following covid rules too. Luckily - or maybe unluckily - my relatives are old and vulnerable so happy to shield and not ask to see me anyway. The bonus is that stbexh who left to shag other women will be spending Xmas day on his own while I enjoy it with my kids and boyfriend.

Anyway I think this is week 6 of my weekly to do list on word and it is working. I have to buy paint and some bits today but my main decluttering is old food from the freezer and 30 mins in the Room of Doom and shredding.

Three boxes sorted. Plus the bag of clothes for charity. It’s off there today. Wahooo.

I'm jealous your charity bag will go today!
I put a full bag in the textile recycling this morning so one less bag lying around.
I gave the lounge a good clean this morning before the tree goes up. Next job was to clean up DD's scooter to sell; it's started raining and is cold so I don't fancy going outside to do that now.

Two parcels sold overnight and packed to go this afternoon on scho run, fingers criss crossed that the dolls house goes too tonight

And the bags are gone. Wahooooo.

I’ve also unpacked a box of picture frames and have put pictures in them.

I’m jealous of all this talk of stuff leaving the house. My bins are collected tomorrow so I have a bag of shredded paper going and a few bits of art and broken toys, but I have bags and bags of toys and clothes to go.

Not much of an update now, just tidying the Room of Doom and shredding. I had years of dc stuff that didn’t really have a home like certificates and school reports. I have been sorting through this stuff over the last few weeks so each dc gets their own folder. Do other people keep this stuff? It feels like they worked hard to achieve something so it’s not my place to throw it out. I also wrapped a couple of presents so that’s made things tidier.

@stealthninjamummy stbexh sounds like the best decluttered item ever!

@stealthninjamummy sounds like you are doing very well actually. I have a box for each child stuff like that.

Day 83: quite a come down from yesterday's highs.
Neither the person for the stereo nor cd's has turned up as planned today. At least the one is coming tomorrow but can't get a reply from the other person. Honestly just say if you can't make it or if you've changed your mind. I've never had someone not turn up before.
Anyway we ate fridge leftovers for lunch and I put two pairs of trousers in the charity rag bag. So still plodding on.

Thanks footprints I feel a bit sorry for him now, he was having some kind of crisis. He seems pretty miserable since he left. Anyway I’m glad I’m not the only one that keeps stuff for their kids. They can decide what to do with in when they’re older. I suspect they might throw it away they seem quite good at getting rid of old artwork so don’t seem as attached to those sort of things as me.

It’s awful when people don’t turn up. I have lost count of the times that people don’t turn up.

Oh no! The dolls for the dolls house have been posted and DH just found the baby. Baby wasn't listed for sale as I couldn't find her to take photo so technically I don't have to send her. But I can't bin her, she's a baby dolly and needs her mommy dolly. Please tell me someone else would do this and I'm not weird??

I have so much artwork stuffed in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet plus numerous 'models' which are going to be today's throw outs. The dds are far less sentimental than me about this stuff.

I decluttered my old work clothes yesterday. I have a different life now and no intention of going back to the London commute although I enjoyed it at the time (job not commute!)
All I've actually thrown out today is half a pack of puppy training pads. The puppy is five!

@SleepingStandingUp

Oh no! The dolls for the dolls house have been posted and DH just found the baby. Baby wasn't listed for sale as I couldn't find her to take photo so technically I don't have to send her. But I can't bin her, she's a baby dolly and needs her mommy dolly. Please tell me someone else would do this and I'm not weird??

Yes, send the baby dolly. I sold something and then found another part to it and its still hanging around.

@SleepingStandingUp I would also post the baby on to join the rest of the family. In fact I had to reunite an ELC police dog with the rest of the squad
Some of my fabric stash made into small drawstring bags for advent chocolates for the kids.

I would send the baby doll as well, Sleeping

Today’s update: I shredded the paperwork from yesterday, and found a few baby blankets while searching the linen cupboard for a missing tea towel, which have gone in the bag of cot bedding on top of the wardrobe - not out, but there is more space for the things we actually use.

The rest of the day wasn’t great. I had a productive day at work, but as soon as I finished work lots of stuff went wrong (internet banking issues; forgot to chase up a prescription; whiteboard pen on DD’s new hoody (she’s only 5, but it’s so frustrating as I can’t get the marks out); late to zoom book club; and DH didn’t bother to order DD’s Lego advent calendar until yesterday (even though she chose it on Friday), and it hasn’t arrived today as it was supposed to. I’m annoyed with him (this happens quite a bit), and feel like I can’t trust him to do anything I ask without checking again and again, so I might as well do it myself!

Hoping for a better day tomorrow.