I’m doing the 31 Day declutter challenge

[Sallygoroundtheroses]

I’ve done it before but not for a while. Despite a huge effort to declutter last year, the house is looking a bit chaotic again. So 1 item on day 1, 2 on day 2 etc.

I’m off to find an item…

That is a really good motivation!

I have decluttered today one car. It was written off before Christmas.

I hope it will start to make a difference soon! I don't know about anyone else but I'm starting to feel a bit over-whelmed by clutter.

There's a few bits I was thinking of trying to sell (unopened foundation - stupidly bought several in the wrong shade, several What Katie Did corsets) but I don't know if I can face it. Maybe it'd be better to just charity shop them? It's a little more tricky for me too as I have a condition that causes severe fatigue (currently signed off work) so I think a big part of it is knowing that it could be months before I have the energy to actually list something on Ebay 😫

Bag of empty coffee pods dropped off to be sent for recycling (counting as one)
Five very very old recipe books
Two large torn old bags
Eight so far today.
Running total: 183/500

I'm taking it easy myself today as I had a very long day at work. I took 5 items to Boots recycling point, 7 receipts from my bedside table were recycled, three bits and pieces from work recycled and 4 things cleared up from the car. I have also just recycled 4 bits of charity post. Usually I'd count all these bits as one each rather than individually, but today I'm just going to say the total is well over enough for today!

Just two for me today as im so busy at the minute (both my son and I put socks in this morning with holes! Total 333/500

Dammit I haven't been counting!!

Was about to go to bed and read when I realised I hadn't done any decluttering. So, went to the kitchen drawer that I siphon all the post and crap into when I'm tidying up. It was bursting.

47 items gone. Mostly papers but I didn't count each piece, rather 47 bundles. More vets bills than I care to think about.

168/496

I definitely feel overwhelmed, I just wish I could empty my whole house and start over just buying essentials!

Honestly if you don't need the money I would charity shop it. Or put on a Facebook page/olio for free, you could make someone's day who couldn't otherwise afford foundation etc. When we were struggling last year and I got given some bath bombs for the kids it made our week. I couldn't afford to spend out on non essentials but they had a lovely treat which didn't cost me anything. (Also got lots of presents for dds birthday from olio!) As an alternative to ebay I found vinted a far less stressful and easier process. Takes less than 5 mins per item to list Inc photos and postage is all worked out for you. I only allow Evri so I can print the label at home and drop off on my way to work. Plus no fees and it just stays on there until it sells. You can mark yourself as 'on holiday' which I've done when I've got too much on and no time to sort out packages. I made around £300 last year!

You're absolutely right. It could make someone's day and I think that has more value to me right now than the money (which we could use but don't urgently need). Thanks :)

My house doesn't really look any different, as I've taken a scattergun approach. Which is better than nothing, but I really want to focus more on each room at a time.

I have though got much better at putting stuff away so that's helping.

Bin bag smuggled out of the house as it contains items that some would want to keep but they will never ever notice has gone.

DAY 13:

I bravely tackled the crap-drawer in the kitchen!

I got rid of:

Roll of cellophane, large cardboard tube, empty sewing needle tube, 3 packs of sparklers, bottle of sewing glue, a pen that looks like Jesus , bag of miniature pegs, 3 reels of washi tape, 2 candles, a key ring, 2 dried up tubes of superglue, an old library card, a key for a door we no longer have, magnifying glass, old Fitbit charger, dice and a pile of unidentified small bits of plastic and rubbish.

166/310

I’ve managed most of day 13 by getting rid of ancient Prima magazine patterns , from the days when the patterns were detachable from the centre of the magazine rather than have to send off for them. Must be at least 10-15 years old , if I haven’t made the clothes by now it’s fairly safe to assume that I never will.

It definitely helps being on this group !

Dd 21 is very messy. I've warned her that when I've decluttered the rest of the house and I'm still looking for stuff to get rid of, I'm coming for her room.

Today it is looking a bit tidier. I think she's scared!

Day 13 - productive!

Needed to go into town so had a quick sweep and took 11 unwanted DVDs and two books to the charity shop on my in. I did end up buying another book though but also binned a ripped Santa hat and some old paperwork so still think I'm ahead

Nothing went today 😯but one further item went yesterday, taken by an adult DC, so nudges running total up by one: 184/500.

Nothing today as worked late but looking at the weather, it may be the weekend to make a start on the 'triple wardrobe of doom'! its a built in wall length cupboard where I shove anything I don't need or use often. I'm oddly looking forward to it and after decluttering the car I can fill it back up with loads of crap!

10 items of clothing taken to the charity shop and 3 email mailing lists unsubscribed gets mr through today, and one of the kids wardrobes sorted has revealed another 14 things to cover tomorrow, although I can't officially count them til I drop them off on Monday! I've popped some things on vinted too, so I'll see how that works out. I usually use ebay.

6 Ebay parcels taken to the shop today so it is good to get some space back.

Day 12 ( am behind) sorted out hallway so:
3 hats
1 face mask
1 pair of gloves
4 items of clothing to charity shop
3 pairs of worn out socks

85/496

I managed 1 yesterday, dried up glue.

3 today, just rubbish really but stuff that has been lying around the house.

172/496

Tupperware. 14 mismatched lids and boxes gone. No more spending 5 mins trying to find a fitting pair in the mornings.

Catching up after a few days:

15 items to the charity shop
3 assorted bath products
1 Pile of assorted receipts binned from letter tray
1 Pile of now irrelevant paperwork out
1 candle
4 pairs of DD1s tights
2 Tupperware sets

Total: 289/496