Decluttering Club thread 20(22)!

[Mommabear20]

Let's go!

I bought the slim line Amazon basics velvety hangers. A game changer.

The fridge has been cleared out and a fair few dubious items binned.

I've also given away a book.

Not got rid of anything for a couple of days but I went to a vintage fair with DD2 yesterday and came across a lovely lady who upcycles vintage jewellery who was both reasonable and takes commissions. One of this weeks jobs is jewellery so I am going through picking out bits of costume jewellery I like but don't wear to take to her to work her magic with in the hope it will spark joy again.

I did ok on the end, aiming for 2 things helped.
Craft kit on the charity bag, I'll never do it. Got OH to look at a few bits in the bathroom cupboard by making it easy for him and taking them out, 4 items gone. Started to go through a college scrapbook, it's a big notebook that I got people to write in but as it's a massive book there's a lot of blank pages. Got rid of all the pages of people I can't remember, was a bit surprised I don't remember them! And Christmas cards etc that were in there gone. Just a small pile to go through now of stuff from people I am still in touch with. Technically a sentimental item but actually I don't feel attached to it, more feel like I should do if you see what I mean.

I just came to post on this thread & it had gone from my 'Threads I'm On' section...I've had to search to find you all again! That's taken all the time I had to post so I'll have to pop back later 😀 (though really all I've decluttered is some empty paint tins from the shed, so an eminently missable update from me 😀)

How bizarre - not even posting on it has shifted it back to my 'I'm On' section 🤔

Is Mumsnet conspiring to turn me into a hoarder? 😀

back on the wagon- did a 'quick' 1hr 36m tidy of DD's room, lots of rubbish,misc, papers and broken lamp out which is mostly neutral but at least it's a bit clearer

@8stone13

How bizarre - not even posting on it has shifted it back to my 'I'm On' section 🤔

Is Mumsnet conspiring to turn me into a hoarder? 😀

I'm hoarding hoarding programs on my sky + 🤭

Separated mum I love a hoarding programme. Don't have sky though, so waiting for next series of sort your life out or the Nick Knowles one.
Gone backwards with clothes hangers, went to hang up the washing last night and had to retrieve some out the bag. Think I had best hang on before getting rid!

Does anyone else struggle to declutter things you'll never use but we're gifted to you so feel guilty? Whether it be selling or throwing out I'm struggling a bit.

Truffle yes definitely! I have got so much better at it though. Asking myself do I love it/ will I use it. Think the more you do it the easier it gets but not quite sure how I got better at it.

I find it hard too Truffle. I have been getting better but have spent this afternoon sorting through jewellery and am finding that harder to let go. Partly as things do have sentimental value and also as some of them have quite a bit of financial value too. I've sorted into family stuff that I really can't give away as I will be expected to pass on as is, family stuff I can get altered to something that suits me, stuff I can sell and things I can donate. I have found someone who recycles jewellery so I am going to see her to ask her to work her magic on some costume jewellery to see what might be possible before I think about the better stuff. Anyway I've been through half of it this afternoon and will do the rest tomorrow. A box to sell a box to donate so far.

I also threw out a load more old underwear and a broken hairclip.

Not a lot to show for today but at least it was something.

Glad it's not just me and it could get easier! Yes for me it's jewelery,, trinkets, baby and wedding gifts that I'm struggling.

I found a watch an ex gave me about 20 years ago and I think I kept it to sell it and forgot about it 😂 😬

I haven't been very good at daily decluttering but am gradually clearing things. Got rid of some baby clothes to a friend who has had a baby, and my nephew has gone up to the next size so another big bag of clothes given to my brother.

Sold a couple more things on Vinted, including some shoes that sold almost instantly so probably should have asked more!

The village where some family lives is having a sale trail in a couple of months (like a car boot but outside your home) so I'm going to have a stall there and hopefully get rid of a load of stuff - unfortunately it means I'm hanging on to things for now to save them for the sale so have bits everywhere...

started on filling a form ended up putting a pile of recycling out and got another for shredding after I collect from after school club. better than nothing

Dropped off one bag of clothes at the charity shop on the way home today. Got a few boxes ready to drop off at the tip tomorrow. Kids are at their clubs in the am and the tip is a 5 min drive so will do it after drop off.

Just binned dh's manky sports bag as it was falling apart. Bought him a replacement under bed storage bag for his underwear & socks.

Today I took a bag of old sheets to the textile recycling bank. I’ve been meaning to do it all week, but had to wait for the bank to be emptied. I do need to replace them, so it will be one in and one out.

Tomorrow I’m planning to take DD’s old baby walker to a charity shop, but need to clean it first.

Not getting much decluttering done otherwise. I feel I have so many barriers to getting more than the occasional thing done. Time is always one - I’m at work or doing childcare most of the week. Then energy is another - by the evenings, I often feel quite worn out (I have a chronic disease that affects energy levels), and at weekends I’m usually busy with day to day household stuff or spending time with DD. Logistics is another - eg: there’s a few bags of clothes to be sorted out in DD’s room, so once she’s asleep I can’t do that (there isn’t space to store them in our room or downstairs). It all seems like excuses, but I’m struggling to address these issues.

I also feel resentful that I have to spend child-free time Doing Boring Stuff instead of doing something that I want to do. I feel like I spend most of my free time on household or family stuff, with very little time for me

Oo this has been a lovely cathartic week! For some reason I struggle to get rid of clothes I had loads that don't fit quite right so are never worn, or are really old and I keep for what ifs, round the house, gardening, painting or something. I have been determined to have a proper purge this week and only keep what's in good condition and actually worn and then limit the number (socks for example, no-one needs over 60 pairs of socks!!)

I bought myself some lovely storage baskets for my wardrobe shelves for things like socks and underwear that just end up in a big heap otherwise and I've followed in @ememem84 shoes and bought some new coathangers velvet so they all match and strappy tops don't just slide off. I still have to go through my hanging stuff but after my shelving purge have only used half the storage baskets I thought I would need! I have 50 hangers so am aiming to not need to buy anymore when I purge the hanging stuff, fingers crossed. Kept a note of all the outs so far:
10x trinkets, 129 cosmetics/hair stuff/jewelery, 79 miscellaneous, 20x knickers, 57x socks, 25 cards, 81 items of clothing, 10x pairs of shoes/slippers, 14 bras, 5 sets of bra straps, 3 bags, 5 scarves.

Dh just dropped off the following at the tip:
X 4 bags of garden waste
X 1 old shower unit
X 1 box of old kitchen taps
X 1 toddler bed mattress
X 1 bag of paper recycling
X 1 bag of clothes to the charity shop

After my slightly self-pitying (aka wine-fuelled) post last night, I’ve done more decluttering today. The baby walker was dropped off at the charity shop, and I’ve taken another bag of textiles (two sets of sheets and one old throw) to the charity bank for recycling. So I’m feeling much more positive.

Also decluttered some money by finally booking our summer holiday Have splashed out on a holiday abroad (after two years with no holiday) in a family- friendly resort. It will be our first proper family holiday!

Ellieq I totally understand the resentfulness doing the boring stuff when I have time for me. Try to tell myself it is looking after 'future me' and it's me who feels so much better when I get rid of stuff but it feels hard.
Fur baby you have done loads!!
I need some inspiration this weekend, not sure where to tackle next really. Definitely stalled.

I've been plodding on one thing at a day, some holey socks binned, 3 items sold on Vinted and posted, some cardboard recycled and more old paper work shredded.

Tomorrow its the tip where I will hopefully have much progress to report :)

Anyone else feel like they have done all the 'easy wins' now and are putting off more tricky spots? For me this is the kids craft stuff and the living room shelves.

That’s a really good point @Pineappleapple about thinking of decluttering as something I do for my future self. I will try to remember that! I definitely feel better now that the two bags of old sheets/ throws and the baby walker are no longer cluttering up my living room

Need to think of something I can do tomorrow - like @LivingDeadGirlUK I feel that I have done all the easy things.

Jumping in. I have decluttered a good bit the past few weeks. Clothes I've owned ore DC. Ten years under the spare bed and now gone. Dishes and jugs I never use. Two black bags of odds and ends (old chargers and diy stuff) and then today ten cushion covers to the recycling bank. Place feels very clear. Tackled the kitchen cupboards too and decanted into clear containers. Tired now but it feels good.

We managed to miss our general waste bin collection this week which is a bloody nightmare as its every 3 weeks. Especially annoying as my partner had had a big clear out of rubbish from the office (although looking at it now I can STILL see loads under his desk so he's done a crap job...) however I will let him off as he has gone to the tip with 3 bags of rubbish, 2 bags of textiles recycling and 2 large broken plastic toys from the Garden.