Decluttering Thread 3 - Decluttering on bit at a time

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Just realised we filled up Thread 2 without a way to link to this one, can’t see that anyone else has started one?

I did drop back the borrowed boots, go me!

didn’t tackle the umbrella pot/dumping ground though

Some decisions on DS2’s out pile:

12 cuddly toys for charity
1 broken toy to bin

= 35/2023

More into charity box

8 x random toy figures

= 43/2023

plus old folder from DH’s office

44/2023

Sadly the success of yesterday hasn’t carried on today. But I did find 6 fabric face masks for the rag bag!

Total 141/2023

Yesterday I took a bag of plastic bags / bread wrappers to be recycled at the supermarket - not technically decluttering, but it’s been hanging around for a while so it feels like a decluttering achievement!

Today I went through all the tops/ skirts/ jackets in my wardrobe and put two work shirts in the charity bag. I also put two school skirts into the donations pile as DD has been wearing the next size up since the autumn.

The new dress that I ordered for work arrived, and I’ve pulled two dresses out of the wardrobe to decide which one to get rid of in its place. Still thinking about it.

I reorganised the bottom of the wardrobe (as it was used for hiding presents and had got messy) and re-discovered two breastfeeding tops that I’d found while sorting out my maternity clothes before Xmas. They were never used, so I’m going to put them on FB to see if there’s any interest.

Also put all the packaging that was hidden in the bottom of the wardrobe out for recycling.

The tree and decorations have been taken down and packed away, and I’ve moved all the stuff I usually get out on the 1 December to a separate bag in the back of the wardrobe, so they’re easier to get out, while the main decorations are back under the bed.

So I feel that I’ve been quite productive this weekend and I’ve got rid of 5 things 🙂

It's not been a bad weekend, I've totally finished the kitchen cupboard sort out, more out of date food chucked, ice cube tray (why do we have 5!) in charity shop pile, and I've packed away the sippy cups into the camping gear box in the garage.

My son's old high chair has been gifted and I've started putting a bag together for charity that has some of his old clothes in and a few bits from Christmas we aren't going to use.

This weekend’s dump trip was moved to yesterday from Sat and now garage is much better again with the recycling collection tomorrow too . DH put up the garden trellis on two sides of the sheds but didn’t have time to put the plants on them yet . We have climbing plants on sticks waiting to go . He’s managed to unravel them elsewhere so it should be fine hopefully . More driving practise for DS whose test is in two weeks hopefully . A lot of laundry ,some cleaning , and board games after dinner which I’m hoping I could somehow thin out a bit . Christmas ornaments were all packet away . There was nothing to declutter in them after last year it turns out and they were easy to pack once I got around to it . Not much decluttered today but I got out a few more bits from the larder for the food bank and 1 packet had gone old . Gave a nearly finished dot to dot book to DD that can then go soon . We have one more exam day for DD end of this week , can’t wait to be done with them although will have to wait for results a few weeks still . One of DS unis could be any time now and the other should be end of the month, the suspense is killing us !
Tomorrow I’ll fold the laundry , should be more outs there . I’ve also asked DH to take a look at his books on the big bookcase maybe he doesn’t need them all .
Out :
-7 packets of food to food bank
-1 to bin
-3 pairs of old pants to rags

Dd has put her lunchbox/bag in the charity box. She says she wants another though, given she has many bags to choose from 8m disinclined to purchase yet another bag.

plus another pair of holey pants - why?!

46/2023

We are all coldy / fluey here so I have done a minimum of housework. I did take three bags into a charity shop and have now put another four into my car boot so hopefully I’ll take them tomorrow.

I have only managed to add five. things to the to go pile - a craft set, material, boots, a plant pot and a small toy.

I’ve also been organising the Christmas decorations. I took them down last week but decided to put them in my wardrobe as there’s more space than the spare room so there’s been jiggling around of stuff which I haven’t yet finished.

Nothing decluttered today, I’m afraid. But I did have a win in Ikea - I popped in to pick up a part for something and I very nearly bought a chopping board because it was a nice wooden board and it was on sale and who doesn’t need a good chopping board? Me, that’s who. I have an adequate number of chopping boards and if I run out, I can wash one up. I was very proud of myself.

Went through the freezer and binned some stuff which had been there since the dawn of time There was a pack of frozen puff pastry that had been there since before my four year old was born…

Also binned a couple of leftover favours from the DCs christening, just kept one each for memory boxes. And we cut up an old T-shirt of DPs to make a costume for Ancient Egypt day at school, so that makes 10/2023 items out this year.

3x DVD a TV show that looked good but I just couldn't get into. Used the box which held 3 disks to store the LOTR films, so 3x DVD boxes decluttered too.

Very cute baby pram snow suit to the charity bag, it's too small.

Forgot that yesterday I also cleaned out a food cupboard and got rid of OOD cornflour, a pack of curry powder and some very stale biscuits, and last Monday I took four pairs of outgrown wellies to the recycling. 17/2023

I’ve just dropped a mug and a ramekin, neither will be replaced so I guess that’s two gone. I’m also donating a steamer that sits in the cupboard and never gets used.

im up to 36 outs. I need to do about 5 a day so should be on 50 by now. Dd1 is off sick so might see if she lets me go through her wardrobe while she’s in bed. That fun will make her rush back to school tomorrow.

2 x unpaired Tupperware lids out

(others collected together to see if I can find their pairs soon)

1 holey sock

49/2023

Lurker here finally breaching the daylight!

I'm trying to declutter my bedroom, however I've reached a block with jewellery. I just don't know if any of it is worth anything. Does anybody know how to find out? A lot is left over from teenage years or presents that just weren't my taste. It's all been in the box for 5+ years now without me wanting any of it (I always wear the same cross necklace, watch and rings). I don't want to just give them away if it could help me make a little bit of money back.

Not sure re the jewellery - if old enough, sometimes auction places run free valuation days so could try them?
otherwise, look on eBay for similar and see what’s selling - look on the sold listings.

one empty Christmas sweet tub recycled

50!/2023

I haven't decluttered anything today but forgot to post my total the other day, it's 13

For jewellery - dress jewellery is basically worthless. Solid gold and silver, if hallmarked, holds value even if broken. Precious stones eg diamonds, rubies etc hold value too. You can take it to one of the "cash for gold" places on the high street for a valuation, some jewellers will offer this service also if they sell second hand jewellery.

Dd1 wasn’t in the mood to declutter so I turned to bookshelves. 6 are in the pile.

I also found a diary from 1996. It was mainly a work diary but there were comments like ‘dinner A’ with A being my boyfriend at the time. I also found a photo of an ex boyfriend and so that’s going. And I found a notepad with about 6 pages so that’s going in bag and it’ll have my next 12 to do lists on it then will be binned.

45 / 2023

One scout shirt passed along to a friends DC.

51/2023

Old pair of pants which don’t fit properly (don’t think they ever did tbh) binned. 18/2023

I need to join this thread . I have a loft with so much stuff it could stock another entire house. I just can’t get rid of stuff.

Can someone please give me a huge kick up my unmotivated backside? DS (aged 2) hasn’t been sleeping well for weeks and it’s left me with zero energy to manage work and the house!

I say, go easy on yourself! I didn’t do any Decluttering when my DC were that small, standards fell through the floor and we just got through each day.

• kids fed, dressed, maybe washed, you’re winning!

my youngest is 11 now and at secondary school, it does get easier.
until it gets harder again with drinking, driving, heartbreak, etc 😂

dropped off uniform back to work at the care home as I’ve finished there now, 3 shirts and a name badge.
also donated a spare travel hairbrush.

56/2023

did buy some new pants to replace all the holey ones I’ve been chucking but not going to complicate things by counting ins, especially if actually needed.

As above posters have said if it’s gold and silver take it to a jewellers and see what they’ll give you for it.

I took a bit of mine last year that was old and broken. I got maybe £15 for the silver stuff. Not a huge amount but it got it out of the house.

if you have any of the more “collectible” stuff - Ie Pandora charms try and sell them.

Thank you for your help. I'll bag it up and just take it to a local jewellers and whatever they'll give me will be a bonus.
Part of my problem with 'stuff' is I don't like to just throw/donate if it can help me make some money, but then as a result I end up with a lot of 'stuff' just sitting around the house.