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!

It is definitely a lazy kind of day, nobody needs to feel guilty for that!

I finally got dressed a couple of hours ago & brought in the rest of my tomatoes from the garden. Have filled up the garden bin with the plants, so counting that as a satisfying out. Need to work out what to do with green tomatoes though!

Over half term, we are going to start playing all our Orchard games one last time, so we can check they are complete & sell them, as they are too easy for my lot now. Planning to buy Rummikub & Yahtzee for Christmas, secondhand if possible.

I had a spontaneous go through the underwear draw today, and bravely concluded that 14 pairs of pants and socks should be enough for anyone. Hopefully with the most tatty excess removed I'll actually be able to find the nicer ones in the morning.
@confusedofengland I've heard that green tomato cake is a thing

Ghost I am not sure that I am brave enough for that one either!

This is such an inspiring thread! Well done on the underwear clear out @TheGhostofGlumy.

Yes well done glumy I made a similar decision a while back enough for a two week holiday is enough Two more eBay items posted but I still haven’t got around to sorting out the last of the playmobil to list
But the LEGO sort is going well can even see floor in one area - preferred storage method of youngest is to rake through it whilst it is strewn across the corner of the room.

@confusedofengland I literally put my green tomatoes in a box in my shed and when I checked them a couple of weeks later 50% of them were bright red! Couldn't believe it. I've put the rest of the green ones to see if they follow suit

Day 36:
Cleaned one cupboard:
One broken plate out
Random jar lids gone
Some use ups whilst making a cake
And of course the daily emails delete-athon

When is it time to make the Christmas cake? That would use a few things up and kill a bit of time in lockdown Wales.

Can anyone share their tips on getting rid of papers and semi-sentimental stuff? I seem to collect piles of cards, letters, bits and bobs, especially now I have kids, and it’s so hard to get rid.

I think keep the things at the time of you find it really hard to let go but then set an alarm on your phone to revisit the things. Then chuck out anything you don't feel so strongly about.

Get a ring binder to put in pictures the children have made that you want to keep any. Date them and put their ages on each picture.

Anything you've already kept go back through and see if your feelings have changed. When I've done that I've got cards from people I literally have no recollection of.

Keep a box for each child so they have their own sentimental box for each of them.

ferntwist it’s hard to get rid of these things. Personally I have found that by getting rid of things bit by bit I have just got used to the process and just learnt that ultimately it makes me more happy to have the space and lack of possessions than an object which I have probably not even thought about for years anyway. I rarely regret anything that’s gone so can be quite quick now to chuck something out. I still have lots of papers and cards to go through - maybe a box full - but about two years ago I chucked out a whole box of cards, old theatre tickets and programmes, things like wedding invitations. If you think you’ll miss these things you could scan them or you could create a memory box of just the most special things.

Thank you, these are really good approaches. I’m inspire to tackle my two stubborn drawers tomorrow

I got rid of some old packaging today, plus some post, some very out of date sachets of cream of tartar, the end of a bag of flour that had a couple of wee bugs , 8 empty toilet rolls I was saving for crafts, and random rubbish from my desk.

I’m currently trying to decide whether I’m ready to let go of a mug. It was painted for me by a friend to mark a special occasion but I don’t use it and I’m not displaying it so it is just in a cupboard. Hmm.

Why do some companies use sticky stuff that just doesn't come off and others come off with no effort at all?!

You could try using something like this?

www.amazon.co.uk/Mykal-Sticky-Stuff-Remover-250ml/dp/B000TAT4GM/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

We used to use that stuff at work (library, sometimes stickers wouldn’t come off the book covers!). At home I’ve used olive oil to get tape traces off surfaces too

I didn't know there was a fellow librarian on the thread, hi @SingToTheSky

Hi! :o I am sadly not an actual librarian, I was just an assistant. I did consider trying to qualify when I worked there but health stuff got in the way so I had to leave a few years back. I did really love working there though. I am starting to think about work again now but it’ll have to be something different!

I am also not qualified, just use librarian as a catch-all term. I sadly haven't worked since lockdown, as I am a Peak Relief assistant, filling in for others where needed & my services have not been required I do still volunteer in my village library though, absolutely love it. I hope you can start working again soon, if you want to.

Thank you, that is helpful, @IWillWearTallGhostlyWellies. Your conclusions are very similar to mine. Weirdly I still seem to be having trouble with the actual discarding part of the process even though rationally I know that if the mug had just quietly disappeared from the cupboard I probably would not have noticed it was gone.

Useful tip about olive oil to get sticky stuff off. I hate buying things when they have sticky stuff on them.

I have had a more productive day. I have found another plastics drink cup to go and done a load of washing / drying / putting clothes away. I have found three more too small items of school pe kit that can leave the house.

My stbexh wants dc today so if it stops raining I might go for a long walk somewhere or go shopping for more Xmas presents. I’ve also been online shopping just stocking up the freezer so feel prepared if I get sick or we go into lockdown again.

I have listed a load of stuff on FB to sell, no bites yet sadly. Will consider giving some of it away, but finances are very tight here so every £ counts, unfortunately.

Have listed a pair of kids shoes and added a few more bits to the charity pile. Really must get around to actually taking it to a charity shop!

Curiously, there seems to be a pet brush conspiracy going on though. When I left ex I’m sure I brought the cat brush but then couldn’t find it so bought a new cat brush. Went to brush the cat, it’s gone! I cannot find it for the life of me and I know exactly where it was (in a cupboard the kids can’t reach) ex says he can’t find the original pet brush at his either. Where have the both gone?! I live in a caravan ffs, there’s not that many places for things to get lost!

Just one item out today - a print out 'how to' guide that DH was using to install something in his car. Usually it would 'hang about' in the kitchen until DH had a tidy up of his pile. However, he gave it to me in the garage, I confirmed it was no longer needed and could go in the bin, he said yes so straight in the recycling it went.

Outs today:

A grinder
A electric box thing
An extension lead
Hedge clippers
Buckets
Assorted tools

All fils which he’s been wanting back for a couple of months. He’s refused to get them. So today I took them back. Left them inside his garage.

Apparently dh now needs to apologise for my behaviour because I shouldn’t have done that. It was raining. And electrics and rain don’t mix. So I thought I was doing the right thing.

Fil hates me anyhow so....

My outs for yesterday were pretty crap but I didn't do anything else so I'll include them:

Emails
A few of photos on my phone

Today's for now:
A pair of too small knickers (mine)

Can't make my appointment at the tip today unfortunately