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

It's my birthday so I'm having a day off - quite a lot of things coming in today (cake, prosecco, peppermint tea and a lovely Butler & Wilson bracelet from DH). Not much out - just some football boots and children's clothes that sold on ebay. Annoyingly the girl who was going to pick up the sack of toys is a no show.

I need to get back to posting here regularly!
Took a bag to the charity shop today, quite pleased with what I got rid of. We have been passed on a few Christmas decs which I don't hate but I definitely don't love, this year instead of just putting them up as usual I aske what he thought (from his side of the family). They're quite ugly aren't they! So not sentimental or loved by either of us. Feels like a big win.
Not sure what I can tackle tomorrow but hopefully one thing! I tend to find I do nothing for a couple of days then see lots that can go, usually when my charity shop bag is almost ready to go.

Nothing getting one here today as landlords are here fixing things. DH has said how much he likes the place being empty though and that he wants to half what we have while we put it away! 😁😁 only took a year, but he's finally on board! 😂 he's off tomorrow too so hoping to get a lot done this afternoon once they leave and we can put stuff back and then do some more tomorrow 🤞🤞

Been struggling to find time to declutter but I’m always trying to streamline my chores. So I have just put in the rag bag all of dd2s school socks. They were all mismatched, different sizes and incomplete pairs. Six new pairs of socks will be delivered today. I’m only getting rid of 13 socks so it’s only one thing going but I’m hoping the new ones will make things easier. The other ones were up to ten years old and first used by dd1 so really scruffy.

Has anybody had any luck selling clothing bundles on Facebook? I've had some up for 2 weeks now with little to no interest. But I could really use the money so would really rather sell them, they may not be flashy designer but they are all excellent condition.

@LittleTwiglet I never get much interest when selling clothes on Facebook, I sell most of my stuff at car boot sales tbh. I find Facebook so hot and miss and then you have to wait in for people and just cba tbh

@Mommabear20 ah I wish I could do a car boot, but kinda need a car 🤔

@LittleTwiglet I've managed to sell some on ebay recently. I don't usually bother due to the faff of sending parcels but the Post Office are picking up ebay parcels from you for free at the moment.

@LittleTwiglet have you tried Ebay, vinted or search FB for local kids selling groups?

@stealthninjamum my two oldest boys have the same black socks and I have about 50 pairs. My younger boy has about 12 pairs of identical socks. No more faff matching them up. The youngest two have some random fun socks but I'm trying to move to bulk same socks

I have changed over to lots of bulk socks too.

I also, controversial alert, stopped turning socks the right way round for everyone a while back.
Shocker I know, but no one died and it’s up to them if they want their socks the right way round.

I haven’t gone as far as one mum I read who just put all clean socks in a big bucket and let everyone find whatever they wanted.

Not much out today as first day in new job as a care assistant, knackered now!

Some Waitrose vouchers that went out of date went into the recycling. I’m almost relieved when the date passes so I can get rid of them!

House more chaotic than usual as we’re out of the tv room while the floor comes up. Hoping to start using the rear extension soon…..

Managed to throw away three broken decorations when we put the tree up at the weekend. I also have another bag of beyond use clothes to go out with the recycling tomorrow.

Happy belated birthday londonmummy!

@WithCatLikeTread congratulations on the new job. My older boys have the £3 for 7 pairs of plain black socks so I don turn them in the right way either. I should really as I have noticed quite times their toes are hanging out. But meh, if there happy with it...

We have a bucket if doom for socks. They sit in their fot months until we do a massive matching evening.

I have so much to do again. I volunteer inna charity shop one day a week and also am a school governor. I think I need to quit one or both. Mind you the shop closes over Christmas.

I feel really done in. I keep trying to get my heart echo results but the hospital dept arent answering my calls

Small bag into charity shop today. Included some new gloves and slippers with tags so should be a lovely xmas gift for someone. No new areas tackled but ticking over at least

Thank you Raspberry

I know how you feel @IncessantNameChanger I've just had to cut back on the foodbank as the vaccination centre has cranked up massively in the last few days. I didn't get to do any decluttering today as I was there did get to see Prince Charles though as he did a brief visit so there are compensations!!

Nothing out at all today and one in a huge Christmas tree that is cluttering up the living room. DD2 has agreed to decorate it whilst I'm doing the vaccine centre tomorrow. However at some point I need to create a window display as we are "door" 15 on the local virtual advent calendar. One good thing about never throwing stuff out is that I have some stuff left over from last year that might do/make a start!

@IncessantNameChanger @londonmummy1966 I need to look into eBay I think, especially if they are doing free pick ups. Not to sure what to charge for things, buy the packaging, postage costs, etc.

I am in a few local children's groups, but still no interest, maybe I'm pricing too high. How much would you do say per black bag full, like I said they're not designer, mostly supermarkets, primark, h&m, m&Co, Marks and Spencer, mothercare, boots, Jasper conran, etc.

@LittleTwiglet I would put them into smaller normal carrier bags and price at £5 a bag. Take one photo of everyone laid out and one photo of it stacked up in a pile and / or in the bag. You could try £10 a bag and then reduce it. Price point is 50p - £1 a item.

I have almost cleared my bed! So in turn my hallway is also clear. Getting rid and putting back in proper homes is the way to go it seems.

Just got about 500 tonnes of washing to put away and both kids wet the beds this morning 😭

we've had a few emergencies, urgent stuff, illnesses & birthdays since the beginning of this month so I'm all over the place!

Finally got to the point when I can sort DS6's clothes one last time before filling up his new wardrobe: everything in this heap fits him (the rest is gone) so we just need to trim the fat.
Once everything is put away that will be the catalyst moment for a chain reaction of going through all the clothes of each child to see what they have, what they need new, what needs to be binned.
I'm ridiculously excited about it🤣

@LittleTwiglet I agree with Incessant that £5 for a carrier bagful is about right and photographing everything. I have a bundle of about 16 things on ebay at £5 at the moment (quite a lot of designery stuff in there). The price is probably a bit on the low side but I'm factoring in that they'll have to pay £3 postage as well.

For postage I only charge the royal mail fee and mentally include the cost of packing etc into the item cost as people will complain/give bad feedback if you charge more than the cost on the packet.

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba I hate that job but it feels amazing when finished. My third son has a real capsule wardrobe that fits in 3 draws. But he is the only one. dd is my only girl so has way to many clothes as ds3 gets more hand me downs so things get shredded fast. Dd has a lower turnover and never seems to grow at all.

Ds3 shredded his shoes today so lots in the bin plus his shoes, two broadband hubs and two sky type boxes ready for a tip run. I'm being slower but more thorough this week

@IncessantNameChanger

well that's the thing, he is son #6 and inherited clothes from brothers, cousins, friends plus we bough him new stuff too.
it's madness

Nothing actually gone yet but we have a plan that ends with us ditching a wardrobe and 2 large bookcases and only bringing in 1 new double height clothes rail. 🙌🙌
End result will be a lot out of our room and things closer to where they're actually needed! I'm getting giddy just thinking about it 😂

Yesterday I managed to take a bag of clothes (sorted a couple of weeks ago) to the charity bank. Felt like a real achievement for me! Nothing else being sorted at the moment, presents coming into the house, and somewhere in the mess I have lost a pack of Xmas cards which has upset me quite a bit. They are cards produced by a charity I support, and while we have plenty of other cards, I’m really annoyed with myself for losing these ones as they were really nice. No doubt they’ll turn up after Xmas!

DH at work today so I'm making a start on our plan so he can't change his mind! 😂 have ordered the new hanging rail unit, and plan to do some of the moving around of stuff while DD naps this afternoon! Finding it rather sad how happy this is making me! 😂 I may need to find a new hobby or 2! 😆

Does anyone know what I can do with no longer needed coat hangers (mostly the ones you get from shops) and old pillows (not great condition but seems a waste to just stick in a rubbish bin)?