November Declutter Challenge

[Hetyanni]

I'm sure there was a thread on this for October but I can't find it now!

I am planning on decluttering 1 item on the 1st November, 2 on the 2nd, 3 on the 3rd and so on for all of November. If I bring anything new into the house, I declutter an extra thing that day so things aren't just being replaced. I am planning on keeping a box in the porch for this purpose so it can be collected together and donated each time there is enough.

Would anyone like to join me?

out: 1 pair of socks

in: I'm afraid I fell down the Amazon rabbit hole and not only bought a bunch of stuff for a friend's advent calendar I also purchased a lot of face masks.
including some with cannabis sativa - because it's supposed to be calming 🤣🤣🤣
we shall see

19th + 20th +21st = 51

*51 items of my own clothing to the clothing bank - frankly the fact that it tallies up perfectly has made me so happy. I didn't count the items until the end and the coincidence is going to keep me buzzing all day!

I still have way too many clothes but this is a start.
I need to get out of my 'I will lose weight and fit into this again' mindset... so far it hasn't been true and there's nothing to say it ever will happen.

Oh, no - it adds up to 60, doesn't it! What a facepalm moment

scurries off to find 9 more things to bring me up to date

Items decluttered today:

(232) broken fridge magnet
(233) McDonald’s troll toy
(234) out of date fancy hot chocolate
(235) pile of leaflets and magazines
(236) out of date nail lacquer
(237-238) beach towels
(239-241) 3 double duvet covers (we have no double beds or duvets in the house confused )
(242) £5 off a £25 shop coupon that expired in 2019
(243) “Len Deighton's Action Cookbook” no idea why we own this. No offence Len but it’s garbage.

That’s fewer items than I was supposed to clear today. I’ll make it up by the end of the month.

This thread is more alive right now than the November declutter one.

🤦‍♀️ This IS the November declutter thread. This thread is more active than the “playing the minimalism game” thread.

Right, I've got some small eyeshadow palettes, that I never use, but have been holding on to just in case.
I've just swatched them all and said good bye. I've got plenty of other eyeshadow palettes, there is no need for years old Ruby & Millie (just Googles, discontinued in 2011!).
I'm now up-to-date.

I'm kind of intrigued by Len's action cookbook BeefSupreme

a few more items today a couple of old home magazines a defunct laptop battery, pair of trousers and shorts 2 old white school blouses 2 games and a wooden train with bits, scarf ring and broken pen knife missing only 97 left to make a 1000 in 2021

PearlAsylum
Perhaps “garbage” was too harsh, it’s just not interesting. I guess I saw it in a charity shop and was intrigued by the title. The title makes it sound exciting.
It was published in the 60s and one of the first cookbooks marketed solely at men hence the random “macho” title.

@PearlAsylum and @BeefSupreme both your mistakes gave me a chuckle
@TeacupDrama that's fantastic! And here I am being so very pleased with just over 200 items so far

Today and yesterday combined, 41 items, I've been at the 'crap drawer' and found all manner of crap!!

191. Ring sizer
192. Scientific calculator to charity
193. Phone case
194. Bike light
195. Dried out glue stick
196. Dolly peg
197. Empty masking tape roll 198, 199 Two key rings 200-202 Three fridge magnets
198. Tiny plant pot
199. Pen lid
200. Screen protector
201. Birthday candles, used(!)
202. Picture framing accessories
203. Broken Fitbit strap
204. Redundant old Fitbit
205. Broken Fitbit charger
206. Giant paperclip
207. Empty sellotape roll
208. Love Hearts sweet tin
209. Staples that don't fit our stapler
210. Various bits of paper
211. Old sim card 217-229 Thirteen unidentified objects, pictured
212. Empty cat medicine bottle
213. Old Nokia phone box

I can’t remember where I was up to when I last posted. I’m now up to 235 items but its slowing down as I prepare for Christmas and my toddler is still awake for 3 hours every night.

I have also replaced a few items with newer more suitable or non broken versions but I haven’t included them in the list.

Am determined to catch up so today I’m forging on . We have the water softener being installed as atm and I’ll do the clean laundry piles that should generate some outs . I made a find of lots of too small new pants and socks in DS wardrobe in a box I’d put aside for trips so those are all going and these bed valances I’d kept just incase in the messy attic that we have to organise and decluttering some if to fit in a dividing wall and a gym up there !

Day 19:

• 2 plastic storage boxes and a lid
• 1 hanger from DS new coat
• 4 packets of dog treats / chews going to food bank with the tins of wet food he doesn’t like
• 7 pairs of DS too small pants
• 5 pairs of DS too small trainer socks

Day 20:

• 3 bed valances I’d kept just incase but one look at the crammed now messy attic prompted me to decide they’re going now ,we need to organise and declutter more there or no space for the gym or the stuff from the storage locker we want to empty ideally !
• 7 more pairs of DS too small trainer socks
• 10 pairs of DS different too small socks

Day 21:

• 1 DS too small fleece
• 1 pair of DS too small shorts
• 1 pair of DD too small shorts
• 1 pair of DD old tights
• 1 DS stained school shirt
• 2 DS old sports socks
• 8 DS old school socks
• 2 more pairs of DS too small pants
• 3 DD spare new black T-shirts for drama to charity , I’m keeping two others
• 1 pair of DD spare black leggings to charity too

Pheeew I’m caught up as in next is day 22 which is today but I probably won’t get that done today . I’ve nearly dealt with all the clean dry laundry just a few sheets to go . Also a big decluttered coming up ; our limescale hopefully ! The watersoftener has been put in and a filter installed into the kitchen 😊

BeefSupreme I looked on Amazon at LD'sACookbook and the cover is absolutely stellar

I'm having a break today, long day at work, and a long day tomorrow too.
However, I've discovered a rich seam of pickings in the cupboard under the attic stairs which is stuffed with boxes of things I rarely use. We've lived here 3 years and I've only used the fancy dress, really (teacher).
A lot of it will be sentimental though and I'll need to be ruthless with myself. I doubt people from 4 or 5 jobs ago will care if I get rid of the scarf they bought me...

no decluttering today, just being miserable, wallowing in pathetic self-pity and also feeling sorry for DS1 who failed his driving test again.
ho hum
onwards & upwards

Sorry Zing

just two items yesterday some old commemorative coins i found from Prince Charles first wedding and a scarf ( thank you gift from an aquaintance) kept the chocolates though
I have finally got into the habit of not keeping gifts I don't like just because it was a gift

Inspired by another poster on the minimalism thread I had DD look through her books ,I think she still has the most in our house . She happened to extract exactly 22 which was amazing coincidence ! Books she says she’s read or just wasn’t interested so what’s the point of keeping them. I’ve told her to read today and finish another book ,,she’s in the middle of about 10 or so it seems . She’s getting a few more for Christmas but ones I know she’ll read quickly . I’m still a day behind and not sure if I’ll manage anything else today . DD is home a bit sick but getting negative tests ,DH feeling under the weather too and now I feel like I’m getting it just as I’ve got my covid booster on sat followed by a hair app aaaarghhh. Plus of the day ;our garage cupboards finally showed up although might be missing something . I’ve cleaned and done laundry downstairs that’s all other than looking through the books . I’m so shattered I haven’t even finished my breakfast and will have to sleep more next . Luckily DD isn’t too ill and is minding the dog . Have about hundred things to do later I’ll try to achieve something . Am trying to clear the few boxes out of the study and my room plus do admin , shopping etc .

Day 22:

• 22 DD old books to charity

thanks @Nordicmom

Much calmer today so back in the saddle.
sorted through boxed up shirts & t-shirts for DS5 (will count stuff later).
These are the trousers & shorts I'm gonna sort for him after Tesco shop: 37 pairs of jeans, 11 pairs of tracksuits/PE, 3 pyjamas, 18 shorts.
I'll also have to go through his current clothes...

I’m way behind and starting to believe I won’t finish the challenge.

Decluttered today:
(244) lip balm
(245) deodorant
(246) girdle type thing
(247) eye mask that slips down my face, the elastic is so stretched
(248) tablet/iPad case with tags on
(249) unopened Liz Earle gift set
(250) bio oil still in plastic packaging

The last 3 things added to one of the many charity shop bags that are piling up. I might try to find and get rid of a few more things this evening.

one kid off school after another🙄
not that they need too much attention but I fall back into duvet day mentality when they are home and lose all focus & motivation.

urgh. those trousers are still spread out on the rug, untouched 🙈
But yesterday I went through my SSDK yarn stash and bagged up 40 balls to donate to Woolly Hugs, I guess that's something.
I actually need to finish 3 blankets to drop off next week so further decluttering might have to wait.
we shall see

1 dud pen 3 jam jars that i was keeping for making jam but realistically alredy have more than enough, from DH 1 pair of shoes so that's 5 from yesterday
will be having a christmas decor sort out next week

1 plastic lightsaber: binned.
Not quite in the name of decluttering, more because I'm fed up with kids' fighting over it & with it.
I'd had enough.

3 silver rings for sale 1 necklace (broken) 1 bracelet 2 watches faded need batteries, 10 old leaving cards 2 ribbons 2 photo frames 6 gift bags 20 old wedding cards, a tea giftand a book= 50 items total for year 955 need another 45

198 items gone from the upstairs cupboard today. I found so many things I hadn't seen in ages!

I last posted on the 22nd and I owe from the 22nd to the 27th.
22+23+24+25+26+27 is 147.

That means I'm ahead of tomorrow and if I can find 6 more things (I have no doubt I can), Monday is sorted as well. Then it's the final day - I can't believe it!

I've got a bag of stuff to go to school which I haven't counted yet, and a massive bag of coathangers which I think my husband is going to struggle to let go. He's the same with the cardboard boxes in the garage.

I still have a lot of stuff to part with, so I'm going to start again in January.