Decluttering one item a day thread number 19 – running out of ideas for original titles

[stealthninjamum]

Another ‘one a day’ thread. We’re still here.

This is a group of mumsnetters who are slowly decluttering our spaces and organising our lives, chatting as we go.

We all want to live in a nicer, emptier, clearer more relaxing environment and this is our space to talk and moan about our husbands and children who often do not share our desire for such a peaceful, decluttered haven!

We only aim to get rid of one item a day, when we have time, although often we manage more. Newbies are always welcome to join us.

Previous thread here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4259830-Decluttering-one-item-a-day-thread-number-18-quickly-stashing-our-clutter-in-charity-shops-now-we-can-let-people-back-inside-our-houses?pg=1

Well done Stealth!

Ellie - don’t stress, if they mind they should be polite enough not to comment, and they should see that you’re working on things.
Our house is always a complete disaster zone, I figure it helps people relax knowing it’s not perfect 😂

Old teddy posted ✅
Some old cables put in a box for DH to take to the electrical bit of the tip ✅

Hi can I join in? I've lurked here for a couple of weeks since deciding that I need a monumental declutter now DC are not here that often? SInce beginning I've sent a bag of clothes to Thrift, invited local children round to help themselves to craft stuff and books that used to belong to my DC, taken several bags to the charity shop and started taking bagfuls of my old teaching resources to a local music centre. I'm trying to chuck something everyday and the days I don't trying to list something on ebay.

Any other ideas especially for selling stuff would be appreciated.

@londonmummy1966 welcome!! Sounds like you've e some good progress already!

Out already today, the fair I wore yesterday that has a hole in it has gone straight in the bin! Such a shame as I loved it but got to be ruthless!

I was hoping to pull all the boxes of craft stuff out of the shed today as they got relegated there when I found out I was pregnant with DD and haven't been touched since so can pretty much all go. I have a friend who runs a brownie unit (girl guides) so will send anything if any good to her for the girls to use up, but the weather is awful here today and feel like a drowned rat just from getting the boxes out 😂

Well the weather dried up just long enough for me to get into the shed so I've got an afternoon off craft box sorting to keep me out of mischief 😂

Have started a mammoth listing on fb marketplace with DD to hopefully sell some of her outgoing stuff. I’d just give it away but she wants the £, which is fair enough, just more work than driving to the charity shop!

1 large box of craft stuff to donate to my local brownie unit! And another box of stuff to go to the bin!!

Thanks Mommabear. I just feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that needs to go. Yesterday I only managed to list a pair of boots on ebay and offer some old school stuff to a local mums group - someone wants it and will pick up at the weekend. Today I just grabbed a large bag and filled it with stuff from the hall on my way out so that I could drop off at the charity shop on my way to the supermarket. I know that a little bit each day will mean that eventually a meaningful amount of stuff will be gone but it seems a bit endless at the moment. It would be easier if I could drive as I could offload in bootfuls but that's not an option.

Well done today!

6 Wii games going tomorrow. DD can start her savings lol. She’ll spend it all by Christmas if I let her.

Overdue Library books back to the library, but more came home so not really a win there.

More marketplace listing to do.

Am I right in thinking that Macdonald's take back and recycle their happy meal toys? And will they also take Burger King toys? I'm sure I saw something in an advertt recently?

Binned. Another handful, literally, of barbie bits and pieces. Nothing that could be donated or recycled unfortunately.

Hello everyone and welcome Londonmummy and anyone else new I've missed.

I've sorted out two more bags of baby clothes to go. That will be the last of the boys baby bits. I need to find somewhere to take the decent bits of girl's stuff, none of our local charity shops take children's clothes and I'm not sure it's worth the hassle of trying to sell. I've also got the bag of cloth nappies out to sort through as my sister wants some of them.

I have a sneaking feeling our library books may be overdue @LivingInABuildingSite, should probably check that today. Our library gives you a receipt rather than stamping the books so I always forget the return date!

Yeah nowhere seems to stamp anymore. The machines are clever and cool but if I don’t remember to print out the little slip, or lose it later, I have to remember to go online to renew. Luckily the kids don’t get fined, but I’d taken some adult history books out for DD and that’s what got me as they were with her books in her room.

Have got new slips this time that I’ll stick up on the fridge I think.
Was only a couple of quid, and compared to the price of books it’s still worth it, just annoying.

@stealthninjamum Can I join?! Currently have a 8.5 month old baby with more toys than Smyths toy shop, a puppy with lots of half eaten toys because he HAS to chew them and I have an obsession with buying absolute tat from the local charity shop and buying storage boxes 'just because'.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

Hey starfishdish lovely to meet you! Ooh tips you say, what is it you're trying to achieve? What are the worst areas? How much time do you realistically have? I think a lot of us found the baby stage really hard because their toys / equipment take up so much space and the decision to not have any more children can take years so we hang onto this stuff for years after we should've done. I love storage boxes but all they do is encourage me to buy / keep more stuff so I am learning the difference between buying them to be organised and buying them to help me hoard!

Welcome londonmummy it can be overwhelming at first but trust me in a few weeks you will see a difference. It's not just space, but time! Every time you get rid of an item you will never move it out of the way to find another one so you'll never be bothered by those boots again. Some charities will pick stuff up if you have enough, I saw on facebook one of my local ones offering to pick up books, toys and clothes. I think British Heart Foundation do that in some areas? It might be worth checking. Or I might have mentioned some on the second post.

I am doing practically nothing here. Still getting through my massive shredding pile and hanging out with dc. Doing lots of cooking and watching them play minecraft, trying to bond with them a bit. (But it's so boring!)

Thank you - taking it easy today but thinking I ought to do another drop at the charity shop as it is only a 40 minute round trip and I could make the time. Just need to decide what to grab and go....

Just cleared out one kitchen cupboard - full of baby cutlery and sippy cups (my youngest is 17...) Now I can actually reach the stick blender without a cascade of plastic falling on my head.

DD offered to walk it to the charity shop so that is another win.

We are headed back from half term away. I'm going to set aside a week clean and tidy before decluttering more. Next thing to declutter is under the boys bed again as it's time to go through the hand me downs.

I have bought the little two one new outfit each which has scratched my hoarder itch. I got dd a lovely outfit from Morrisons for £10. Lots of sequins and sparkle and I have let her wear it swimming. No more saving anything for best.

Have spent hours today (with more needed) rebuilding lego sets with DD, then disassembling them and listing on Fb.
Lego all over the landing now!

But lots bagged up and she’s excited thinking of all the money she might make.

Sold a pair of DD’s old winter boots earlier this week and they were collected today. They were in very good condition as she only wore them twice, but as she didn’t like them I didn’t feel sad about getting them out of the house.

Hi, I’m a new joinee if that’s okay. My house is in a right state with the clutter, it’s awful.
The most awful thing is that it’s mainly DH’s stuff.
I was trying to sell some on eBay and did make some money out of it, but have now lost the will with it all. It gets me down.
I must admit, I’m resentful of the fact that getting rid of his stuff is somehow my responsibility.
Sorry, I imagine this is supposed to be an upbeat, positive thread.
Today I’m going to sort out some of the kids old toys to make room for Christmas. They will go to the charity shop tomorrow and some to a friend on Wednesday. DH has promised to help.
Onwards and upwards!

Nuffaluff I think we all have a moan from time to time. That is so hard that it feels your responsibility. I think clutter usually bothers one person in a couple more than another.
The toy plan sounds good. Maybe DH will get on a roll! I always find it easier once I've started.
Lots of things in at the moment - couple of Christmas presents, clothes for DD etc, and I tend to order a lot then send most back so boxes everywhere. Have just packaged up a box to be returned and booked a collection for Monday though.

Welcome nuffaluff. It's pretty normal to be fed up while decluttering. It take years to accumulate so takes a long time to get rid and change your ways. Getting rid of toys before Christmas and birthdays is always a really good idea.

Hi to all old and new. Dropped off thread for a bit as I’ve been away with youngest to visit eldest at uni. This involved decluttering a guitar and amp! Nice time was had although travelling was stressful.
Now we have sleepover guests until tomorrow. Bags waiting in car boot for charity shop as staff shortages mean my closest two are not taking donations at the moment 🙄 A shame but I suppose they are out of the house 🤣 Eldest has left a fair amount of stuff here that will need sorting through when they are home at Christmas but is all boxed up in loft storage room.

A fairly constructive day today as I sold my unused kitchen mixer and it was collected - sold for enough to buy a new food processor which I really do need so that is a win. Took a bag of assorted clutter to the charity shop and signed DH up for their gift aid scheme so he will be able to claim the tax relief on future donations - still loads to go. I managed to get the guy in the shop to give me one of their plastic bags with the gift aid identification label on - now I can fill it in before I go and just drop the bag off and they will know its from us. I also listed a couple more items on ebay -- just found out that Royal Mail will collect so I can sell bigger items without having to go to the post office so that is another win.

I can't say that the house feels any less empty though!

Thanks for the welcome.
We had a pretty good clear out of toys today. DH was on board. I have a bag full to eBay, a bag to give to a friend or charity shop if she doesn’t want it and a bag that’s straight to the charity shop.
The thing that gets me is when I’ve just had to throw some broken toys away. Awful sending them to landfill.
I also have two winter coats to go to charity.
Here is a photo of one of the bags - nice and big!

When does it count as actually ‘getting rid of one thing a day’? Is it when it leaves the house?