The minimalism game Jan 2022

[ImFree2doasiwant]

The idea is to get rid of 1 item on the 1st of the month, 2 on the 2nd, 3 on the 3rd etc. I hopped on the way of a thread in December but am here to start afresh if anyone want to join in. I might do this in reverse though, starting with 31 today and working back to 1, only because DC are going to their dad's tomorrow 2 fir days so I will have the time to maje a good start at it.

I aim to post updates daily!

I'm 2 days behind thanks to an ear and sinus infection plus work 😟 I felt a bit better this afternoon so managed to photo a load of stuff to list on eBay over the weekend

2 broken lamps, 4 old plugs/adaptors to electrical recycling (6), 3 sweatshirts, a framed picture, to charity (4) ,Binned 2 coat hangers, 2 candles, an old wash kit and contents, plus 3 locked padlocks without keys (8). Total 18.

I attacked the toolbox today and have ditched...

15 Alan keys!!
Some broken picture hooks
A broken screwdriver
A hacksaw
4 nuts from an old scooter
2 tape measures (had 4!)
Some leftover IKEA flatpack crap
Lots of little plastic bags of screws
A packet of silica gel.

I wiped everything out and now it looks amazing!

Also a pair of holey socks.

I'm having a break for the weekend now as I have a friend coming. I will make up for it on Monday.

Day 14, also had 11 items to carry over from yesterday.

I cleared out my old 2021 diary which definitely covers the 11 from yesterday. It barely closed with all of the things from "I'll just pop that in there, I'll remember where it is then".

For today:
1-2. Baby sleeping bags sold.

1. Bag of weaning equipment sold.

4-5. Trousers for nursery removed from DS' wardrobe and listed for sale. If no interest, they'll go to nursery for spares. A few other more neutral ones in the loft to save for DD but I don't think moving them from DS' room to the loft counts

1. Run out pens from the stuff cupboard
2. Random spare napkin from DDs Baptism from the stuff cupboard
3. Various scraps of paper from the stuff cupboard
4. Stuff sack from some waterproof trousers.

10. Too small coat from DD put aside for friend.

4 to carry over to tomorrow...

Day 15 :

• 9 box files
• 1 packet of snowflake confetti both to charity
• 3 useless sharpeners to bin
• 1 wooden container from Christmas nuts to charity
• 1 mostly finished science kit to bin and recycling ( one of many …)

Day 15

We are decorating the hall, stairs and landing over the next few weeks. It’s not really a clutter zone for us though. If we were decorating DS’ bedroom I’d definitely have lots of easy wins to add to the list. A tip slot is booked for this afternoon to dump the carpet and I found a few bits in the shed this morning to add to the list:

1. Carpet from hall, stairs and landing!

2 - 6 Five rusty old garden lanterns

1. Broken plastic planter
2. Tankard
3. Bag of batteries for recycling

10. Uncomfortable tights 11. Handbag - I love the look of this bag but it’s actually really annoying to wear as it keeps sliding off my shoulder. 12. Jacket 13. Dress 14. Dress 15. Buena Vista Social Club cd

I've only got a few done yesterday and today but will try and carry on later. The car seat and one bundle of clothes were collected yesterday though so they've left the house! I gave the seat away and the clothes were were only a tenner but still it's something.

Lots of old packaging gone today to the recycling. AIBU to ask DH to please put his Xmas gifts away?!

Asked if he wanted help sorting thru the utility room today. Was met with he is TIRED and needs REST and weekends are for RELAXING

Also DH did a dump run with lots of packaging , clothing to rag bank etc then dropped off the food bank items to Waitrose collection while he was there . There’s another load of food to take next week . Need to ship some dog toys to a dog rescue as well the parcel is waiting . Lots of admin to do and we are looking for the next school for DD and it’s a pain . We only just moved her in sep due to the new house and now we have to come up with 5 schools to apply to next year although she might not move until when she’s 13.
Earlier DD hurt her elbow balancing on a basketball but it seems ok she’s icing it now . I’m feeling very down I possibly have a new health problem I’m taking action on but I really didn’t need more I’m so poorly as it is . I’ve been meaning to go up to attic for the past week and it’s just not happening .I can hardly get out of bed . It’s our 18th wedding anniversary today we’ll all go out to a nice restaurant tomorrow tonight just putting kids to bed after their dinner and having ours in front of the tv hopefully watching the new Dexter or something . Our shutters might be being installed next week we have about 23 windows to be fitted with shutters and two roller blinds on doors . Am stressed praying a) they’re right colour and good looking fit well and the right amount of them ! They took 4 m to arrive and cost and absolute fortune so they better be perfect ! Then we will declutter all the temp paper blinds ! Also DH has ordered rest of his garage storage and is intending to put up the racking in there tomorrow so then hopefully we can organise it a bit and remote some stuff from the attic thats going on the racks before shutter fitters arrive .

More clothes and books to charity shop (17) Easier at the weekend to get them straight out the door so I am pleased to say everything so far has actually left the house except the tile cleaner that never did get taken on Freecycle and one toiletries set not collected from Olio. Sadly not made much of a dent in the march toward minimalism yet here but well done everyone - we are half way through the month tomorrow.

@Nordicmom sorry to hear your health is not great. All of this stuff is hard enough let alone when you're feeling crap. Also...23 windows!! My house has 7.

I have fallen behind yesterday and today. I'm so bloody tired. Keep being offered extra work, and can't afford to turn it down. Hoping to start the divorce next week and need my finances as healthy as possible for the remortgage. But bloody hell. Tired and busy. In fact, have managed to forget to pick up my prescription for a whole week which won't be helping.

Day 15 - 17
1 in hand
1 cardboard pack salt, gone damp in the pantry
1 pair DC poopy pants (yes I am counting them!)
3 paitlrs clean outgrown clean pants!
2 party hats
3 small toys

Thats 11 , so 6 to find. I can do that I think...

Rolled off the bed, opened a drawer and....
1 pair cycling shorts (I no longer really get to cycle properly)
5 pairs sports socks
1 novelty sweatshirt
2 swimming caps
1 Washable swim nappy.
1 crap game ds was given

All in the charity bag

So that's 11 more, meaning I'm 5 in hand

Day 15 - was too tired to record yesterday's / having some quality family time.

But yesterday went:
3 old sample stretch mark creams. Couldn't give away on our Freecycle as they're out of date.
2 out of date moisturisers.
1 old chopping board, not in use here. Not fit for giving away though unfortunately.
Lid of a sippy cup, for a cup that we threw out months ago located under the sofa.
2 Christmas cards pulled out from under the sofa.
1 dress.

That's 10 things yesterday, so 5 behind. Will easily catch up once I get round to my wardrobe
Also waiting for my husband to go to the tip with a bunch of stuff that's cluttering up our utility room he was going to go roughly 3/4 weeks ago.

Had to buy the kids new shoes yesterday - all that growing. Have chucked DS' because they're absolutely ditched, but DDs are still in good condition so on vinted, although adding to the clutter until then...

We’re half way there! Well done everyone!
I got ahead yesterday and did today’s target:

Day 16

1. Atomic Kitten Right Now cd
2. Atomic Kitten Feels So Good cd
3. Jackie The Album cd
4. Clutch of paper and leaflets for recycling
5. Random piece of wood in understairs cupboard
6. Trays for steamer that got recycled last month
7. Copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (I’ll take it into work)
8. “Brilliant and Wild” gardening book that I was a bit disappointed with
9. Collection of plastic bags for recycling crate at Tesco

10. Thermal top that’s shrunk in the dryer 11. Knitted top 12. Individually wrapped cleaning wipe - found and used on table lamp 13. Grubby and old glasses case - I have a nicer one 14. Broken “fur magic” mini clothes brush. The quest to find the perfect cat fur remover continues! 15. Football annual 2021. 16. Light fitting for lamp

I think the second half of the month is going to be really tricky, both in terms of time and the daily target. It took me quite a long time to find today’s items but I’ll give it my best shot. I still haven’t told dh or ds what I’m up to. They don’t appear to have noticed either!

Caught up earlier with yesterday's remaining items:

1. Mangled takeaway container. I save them for stacking in the freezer but husband stuck one in the dishwasher.
2. Little tykes reins in the charity bag.
3. Pair of holey socks
4. Outgrown coat put away for friend's DD
5. Toys X 2 both outgrown

My husband is singing at church later tonight so I'll make a start on my wardrobe once the kids are sleeping.

Decorations made at school and glove without a pair all binned (7) old towels kept to mop up spills that had still not made it to the airing cupboard months later (6) suit no longer worn to charity (2) remains of a stack of takeaway boxes bought for an event but not used requested by someone on olio (1) Total 16

I've photographed abd listed loads of stuff today which would easily hit my next 2 days targets, but they're not gone so not counting them yet I don't think. So bloody time consuming!

Same @imfree2doasiwant - sorted well over 100 things today, in various categories -

Cookbooks for charity shop
Listed 30 things on eBay
Bag of clothes for friend's daughter
Bag of clothes for school 'bag2school' campaign
Bag for the textiles bin at the tip

But none of it is actually out of the house yet!

@wejammin someone is coming to collect a bundle later, which i listed last week and didnt count. Hope they turn up as its 14 items.

More being collected weds too hopefully. I count the charity shop stuff as I know it will be gone soon enough - I have developed a habit of taking a bag with me to work Tuesdays and dropping it off in my lunch hour - I work in the town centre so easy enough.

Had a productive weekend. It's been a bit of a wet one and OH has been watching snooker so have used the time to make a start under the kids' bunk beds.

3x ripped books binned
5x books (too young) to be taken into school for their classroom reading challenge
Large bag of oldest son's old school books/exam papers/revision notes binned
Cheap game binned ...

Wow ladies! Brilliant work! Back to it for me tomorrow. I’ve got clothes to go & furniture.

The bundle of kids clothes was collected!! Woop
So...

Day 16 -16
5 in hand
1 Dustpan brush- binned (broke while I was cleaning the chickens out)
14 x kids clothes Sold abd collected!!

So that's 20 which gives me 4 in hand for tomorrow 😊

Running Total 376!! (Not Inc the 4 in hand)

Pulled my finger out:
2 face packs
4 more pairs of Ralph Lauren PJ
1 Jaeger scarf (vintage. Sob)
1 Joules scarf (never worn)
4 vests
1 dreadful novel
2 dead plants

15 total. Getting there.

Ooh @AgathaMystery now I could definitely declutter some dead plants. Just how many pairs of RL pjs do you have?? or is it none, now