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!

Moved a piece of furnitures and found an old gardening catalogue from 2019, 4 padded envelopes and a little locking plastic box that looked like it would be useful but actually isn’t. All discarded. There was a lot of dust too

Well done to everyone for all your efforts!

I'm trying to do one significant, extra thing a day, by way of preparation in the run up to Christmas. So far, this has been things like cleaning the fridge-freezer, washing all the cushion covers, getting the car serviced etc. Today, we started to put the tree up and prepare the living room. This has led to discussions about certain items and some possible re-jigging and, DP has agreed to let go of 18 DVDs and games. 18!!!!! I could hardly believe it - he's been guarding them all very carefully for many years.

One question though: Does anyone know how to get rid of PC games without losing access to them through the code which is on them? DP still wants to play them but doesn't need the originals anymore as it's all online.

Slow progress here, mainly managing one item a day out. However, managed to deal with 17 e-mails that weren't pressing but needed to be dealt with and have now been read/actioned/binned.
Door to RofD still closed but I will get to it.
1940/2020

I have a large stock of Xmas cards - all bought in January sales because I can’t resist a bargain. Anyway I wrote a few. They might sit in my handbag until after Xmas!

I also decided that two vases must go. I have 5 and rarely use them.

Then I managed to get a Xmas eve food delivery slot and did some meal planning and food ordering. I am still trying to empty the freezer to put a load of Xmas food in. So breakfast at the moment is porridge made with all the frozen fruit I bought for lockdown.

Day 86: still sciatica agony here.
Managed to recycle an out of date pregnancy book.
Gave 3 pairs of scissors to eldest daughter

Everyone seems to be doing so well and dealing with lots of clutter!

Yesterday I shredded the paperwork I’d sorted through the previous day, but didn’t get any more sorting done. Today I shredded/ recycled some of the paperwork from work, but didn’t get anything else sorted. A couple of ins - Xmas presents from a very organised relative, and the advent calendar finally arrived!

I really struggle to find the time during the week due to work - I work part-time but over five days, so never have a day to myself during the week. And at weekends I do resent having to give up my free time (if DH takes DD out) to housework and decluttering But the messy house makes me sad too.

Decorative went up last night so threw a small tree that was missing a base and a small bins worth of other tat. Found LOTS of small cards so will get DS to pick one box for school and then will put them in the charity box. Sounds weird but I wonder if they'd be useful in the food bank box?? I need to find a food bank before Xmas, got some time of soup etc in good date but which I don't like.

Also realised we have a duplicate Christmas book when I got the book trunk out so that's in the bag too asking with two boxes of candles and a few other little bits

footprints I hope you're feeling better. Sciatica is awful.
Everyone seems to be doing very well. I've tried to get something out every day but nothing big

• few small model animals and a few hats and scarves to the baby room
• a carriage clock to the pre-school room for their home corner

-some old paperwork and an empty chocolate box from the Shelf of Random Crap in the kitchen

If I can get some wrapping done this weekend that will get rid of some rolls of paper.

I need to catch up with the thread properly (it’s been a while!) but am just dropping in to say that today I’ve chucked some medication that was seven years out of date () and have filled a large bin bag for the charity shop with clothes and shoes that I never wear anymore for various reasons. I would say I now wear about 70% of the clothes in my winter wardrobe on a regular basis, so whilst there’s still a way to go, I feel that capsule wardrobe I’ve always wanted is within my reach!

Today’s update: Sorted through the last of the online grocery shopping receipts, so they have gone into the recycling or to be shredded. Can’t believe I had several years worth of them I also dealt with packaging from a delivery earlier this week (recycling/ bin) and an old cardboard folder has gone into the recycling.

Checked the stash of cards and wrapping paper, and I don’t need to buy any more.

More ins, though - a present I’d ordered, and DH has bought his mum’s Xmas present already. Very unusual for him to be buying presents so early in December

My only out is a pair of leggings I got a hole in 🤣

Dance and fundraising walk tomorrow, both bins full and Def no chance of a charity shop run so I suspect that's me done till next week

Today's outs are about half a bucket of soil (etc) from a drain and some old string lights which have definitely seen better days. I also took back the new Christmas tree as it wasn't right - I'll need to replace that soon. The front room has also now been thoroughly cleaned and everything washable in there (even the rugs) has now been washed.

@KateF thanks for the well wishes. I'm completely bedbound and never known anything like it.

Day 87 yesterday:
Just photo and emails on phone.
Oh and DH recycled a load of Amazon boxes

Hope you are doing OK footprints, it must be difficult.

Very little decluttering done here as I am trying to get on top of Christmas. I have four more gifts to sort I think which I am aiming to do today, then hopefully I can make a start on sorting the house out! I think the only people coming are maybe in laws on Boxing Day so a decent attempt rather than perfection should be OK... Otherwise only outs are the usual constant stream of 'art', far outweighed by the stream of birthday and Xmas gifts coming in!

I

Sorry to read that, footprints. Hope you feel better very soon.

footprints I’m so sorry to hear that, I don’t know much about sciaticas, will it get better on its own or do you need treatment?

I haven’t done much other than continue to shred, file and eat old frozen food. I had a curry last night and opened some old chutneys and today I have also opened mustard in a posh jar that someone once gave me. It’s a nice jar and nice mustard but not that special. It’s like the posh toiletries I used to save til ‘best’ whatever ‘best’ means.

Dc also announced that I had to buy secret Santa gifts for school friends so I had a horrible trip to the shops this morning. Fortunately we’re now through all the many rolls of wrapping paper we used to have and I am about to use a bit more.

katefs post about an empty chocolate box has reminded me we have a nice box from fortnum and mason that someone gave us (after they ate the nice things inside and drunk the wine). I keep thinking it would be nice for something but I’m going to throw it away because we don’t need it and it’s quite big.

Thanks for all the well wishes. I have new pain relief which allows me to function at a basic level so that is utterly fantastic. Apparently the pain will all go away when the new baby is here in January....which apparently weighs 6lb 8oz now according to their calculations and I have 5 weeks to go yet. They are squashing a nerve.

Footprints Glad the pain relief is helping. My littlest one nearly weighed that at birth!

A bit of loft of doom sorting, basically moving boxes around. Stealth I also never finish anything. I'm trying to get on top of Christmas early, I don't think I'll be able to get a Christmas food delivery slot as I was too slow and they all disappeared.

Ooooh sciatica, very painful! Take it easy and don't do too much. Apparently it's better to try and keep active even though when I've got it it's usually the last thing I want to do!

Not much done over the last few days but to be honest I don't feel so bad for not doing anything and I think that's because the sitting room is clean and calm rather than stuff everywhere and making me feel anxious.

Some Christmas decorations went up the other day and I got rid of the window lights as they wouldn't switch on and an old plastic light up window stocking that dh brought from mils years ago (it's straight out of the 80's!)

I don't think the full house will be done before Christmas and I need a few bits of furniture but money is tight especially this time of year.

Painkillers have allowed me to be up and about for most of the day and now I feel bloody dreadful and I've overdone it and can't escape the agony now. But on the plus side
Day 88:
Two boring as hell kids books gone in the charity bag.
3 Christmas presents wrapped to go out this week
More packaging out for recycling.
Photos and emails.

@AlexTheLittleCat I can't get a food slot either so H will be going out in the middle of the night alone.

@footprintsintheslow

Thanks for all the well wishes. I have new pain relief which allows me to function at a basic level so that is utterly fantastic. Apparently the pain will all go away when the new baby is here in January....which apparently weighs 6lb 8oz now according to their calculations and I have 5 weeks to go yet. They are squashing a nerve.

Ooh you must be due when I was and mine came Dec 13th weighing 6b 13 and 6lb 15 so I'll be intrigued how big yours if if you make it to term. Just don't over do it xx

Today, I've had a much needed haircut and encouraged DP to part with 61 DVDs. 61!!! (I counted.)

Ah too late I see Footprint. Can you get a bath to help?