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!

I managed to fill a supermarket carrier bag with unneeded papers and old magazines - now in the recycling. I shredded about half as much again.

I am still drowning in papers and have a bad habit of keeping things in case I need to refer to them, but chances are I’d google for most information rather than digging through my piles of papers/files.

@IWillWearTallGhostlyWellies welcome along. I'm decluttering before the baby come in January and this thread really helps.

@pollyannaperspective good luck with your life changes. Maybe you can return or do something different in future.

Well done everyone else. Sounds like it's paperwork and Lego day today.

Day 38: the STRANGEST out ever today.

Not sure if any of you remember but my grandmother dropped of a bag off toys for me and I was manically trying to hide them from my toddler whilst sorting into keep and pass on/recycle.

Well in the bag was a strange little brass plaque, looked very old and with a Welsh place name on it. When I googled the place name it's a tiny North Welsh village. I live in South Wales with no connection to the place.
My grandmother lives in England and didn't even know how she had come to own it and didn't know why it was in the bag she gave me. She said to just get rid of it.

So I went on Facebook and the village has its own fb page. I posted a picture of the sign and asked if anyone wanted it and someone replied so I'm posting it tomorrow!

A family member has recently moved out which has kickstarted a (rare) declutter mindset in me! Today’s offering to the great grey bin was a cheap stuffed toy that lost a fight with a pot of glue and tub of gold glitter.

Welcome @IWillWearTallGhostlyWellies

@footprintsintheslow what a strange but lovely story. So great that it's going to someone who will appreciate it.

A few little outs today. An annual that DS3 has finished has gone in the recycling. Sold & delivered 2 jumpers & 2 hats. Sold 2 tshirts, a pair of football boots & a book/DVD set so waiting for those to be collected. Also gone through the rest of the DSes coats & putting another 5 or 6 upstairs - so not an out but is definitely clearer.

Been busy clearing and cleaning DS's room, now that he has moved out. The move itself was quick, and he sounds happy and settled into his new wfh. He says he'll make decluttering decisions of the stuff he left behind if I email photos of it all. Should be interesting.

Recycling trolley and food waste caddy are out at the kerb.

Welcome @thelastmullercorner - I’m fairly new to posting but have been reading along for many threads - lots of inspiring posters on here. I enjoy reading what other people have discarded as it can help with identifying possible outs from my own home.

I have just discovered an open box of cornflakes BBE Nov 2015 at the very back of my bottom food cupboard, so they’ve gone out. I also unearthed a rather nice Jamie Oliver wooden spice holder complete with very out of date spices also with a BBE In 2015. I’ve decanted the (practically scentless) spices into the food bin and am wondering whether to send the empty jars in the rack to the charity shop or whether to discard the jars & just donate the wooden rack. Hmmm...

Not much today but earmarked a few things for the next tip run and going to tackle the top of the microwave tomorrow which has become a dumping ground.

@Miaowse

Welcome *@thelastmullercorner* - I’m fairly new to posting but have been reading along for many threads - lots of inspiring posters on here. I enjoy reading what other people have discarded as it can help with identifying possible outs from my own home.

I have just discovered an open box of cornflakes BBE Nov 2015 at the very back of my bottom food cupboard, so they’ve gone out. I also unearthed a rather nice Jamie Oliver wooden spice holder complete with very out of date spices also with a BBE In 2015. I’ve decanted the (practically scentless) spices into the food bin and am wondering whether to send the empty jars in the rack to the charity shop or whether to discard the jars & just donate the wooden rack. Hmmm...

I would send the whole thing personally. What if they can't find jars that fit and end up throwing the whole thing?

Hello all. I've been lurking for ages, can't remember if I posted a while back (I lurk on two similar threads!)

I'm in the process of buying my first property (eek) and trying to declutter before I move, particularly as the regular moves between rentals have previously been my declutter points and I know I won't have that going forwards!

The fridge freezer in my flat has barely been working so it's being replaced today and I then plan to declutter food out of that/possibly back into the (working! Yes!) new freezer later.

I'm not sure how good I'll be at daily posting but I love the supportive-ness on this thread so I'll try!

Good point @footprintsintheslow I’ll include the jars.

footprints that sounds strange but awesome a positive of Facebook I guess.
Miaowse I would also send it complete with jars to the charity shop more likely to sell that way I think.
Welcome to all the new posters I’m sure you will find these threads as helpful and supportive as I have.

Welcome to flipperdoda and all the new posters. Footprints it's a good idea to declutter before the baby comes. They come with a whole new level of stuff, but it's not forever and it does leave the house eventually.

Quick tidy up but no decluttering. I'm still decluttering the to do list.

Welcome flipperdoda & good luck with property buying!

I have had a few outs already- 3 books returned to the library & book/DVD set sold, plus football boots sold yesterday evening. Will try to do more later. Having a day in & feeling sorry for myself about not being able to see anybody & being broke (plus period started unexpectedly which doesn't help my mood)

Drove round to DS's place with some newly washed clothes, and a standing rail to hang them while he doesn't have a wardrobe. One more LOL of his left-behind clothes. Lots more space on the pulleys soon for the backlog.

No real decluttering going on atm. Keeping up with daily routines.

Day 39:
Cleared the garden again and got rid of broken pots: casualty of a cat fight!

Utensils drawer cleaned out: charity bag for three random things, a couple of bits binned and a tea strainer given to toddler for sand pit.

THEN a lot of ins.... just temporary fun for lockdown here in Wales

Today I’ve put a giant tube of bubbles and a silicon spatula into the charity shop bag, plus finally finished up a little tube of hand cream.

Hi everyone! I can't believe you're all already on page 2 and I'm only just checking in! I'm pretty behind but at least I'm still going.

Today's outs:

1 large bag with a broken handle.
1 too-sticky frying pan.
1 artificial flower.
2 old receipts.

I've completely lost my way here so feeling envious of those making progress. Am having no joy getting rid of stuff! Might try advertising DD's old scooter next. DP is working late most nights (from home) so I seem to be having to keep on top of day to day things let alone decluttering.
I am doing well on using stuff up so there are outs albeit small ones.

@Vinorosso74 it's hard to do any more than normal stuff but that's where the one thing a day is appealing to me. I can cope with one thing (up to now).

Day 40: a car windshield frost protector that has never been used.
DH's shirt from the ironing pile so that was a double win as it was an out plus I didn't have to iron it.

True footprintsintheslow. I just feel like I'm not making much progress at the moment.

Welcome thelastmullercorner and fliperdoda.

You’ve all been busier decluttering than me. Since I last posted I broke an egg timer, and found two DVDs that can go and a puzzle. I haven’t had time to declutter specifically but found them when I was playing with dc.

footprintsintheslow how lovely that you’d have someone want to take the brass plaque off your hands rather than it being binned.

ghostlywellies well done for the tip visit.

vinorosso we all go through phases of not doing much but sometimes life just gets in the way. I am just about putting aside one thing a day at the moment but that’s still nearly 400 things a year. It all mounts up. At some point you’ll get more free time again and you can focus a bit more time on it.

Pair of shoes returned by post - not that pleased as I still need replacements, but those really didn't fit/suit so at least they're out quickly.

Two library books back.

Lots of packaging recycled/binned as appropriate - I have a thing about keeping padded envelopes for future use but there's only so many it's sensible to keep particularly in a small flat!

I’ve managed a fair bit of decluttering lately, compared to usual standards anyway! The odd bit of clothing, books etc, and lots of stuff just chucked away. Crazy how little difference it seems to make over all, but progress is progress