Decluttering at the speed of life

[Sallygoroundtheroses]

The follow on from www.mumsnet.com/talk/housekeeping/4709904-im-doing-the-31-day-declutter-challenge?page=21&reply=123534967 as we go into February and maybe beyond. We are no longer doing the numbers challenge but chucking, recycling, regifting and reselling the clutter in our life.

*The title is a nod to Dana K White, someone who has helped me declutter.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

Thanks for setting this up.
I did the January declutter and got rid of nearly 1000 items!
My house feels so much lighter.
I've still got the garage and spare room to go so will stick with it.

[mum2jakie]

Thanks for continuing the thread @Sallygoroundtheroses

I have some time available this month and really want to continue with the good work started in January 🙂

[BrewandBiscuit]

Thank you. I did 500 items in January, and that was without doing the shed! I will continue to work through things and aim for another 250 items in fEB.

[IpanemaPomegranate]

Reposting on this thread to placemark

I struggled a bit then hit the jackpot on Sunday with two boxes of kids paints and craft stuff. It feels a sad end of an era but all my dc are secondary age now so craft stuff is going.

Ive taken a lot to the local primary school, including old kids coats and boots (in decent condition) and they were very grateful.

Finished on 320 items not including photos and paperwork. I shall continue slowly through the year on this thread.

[Bemyclementine]

I didn't meet the target in Jan not least because we have been ill for what seems like forever, topped off with D&V this week. Decluttered 7lbs from me . I am going to carry on though and concentrate on the stuff on show rather than the things in cupboards and drawers.

[SwordBilledHummingbird]

Thanks for the new thread! I'm continuing with the numbers challenge through February (and possibly beyond) so I have something to aim for. Currently on 49/406, which takes me up to the 10th, so I'm pretty pleased with that.

[CherrySocks]

Thanks for the new thread and also for the old thread - with the numbers motivation I must have got to around 300 which was a great start to the year!

[WombatBombat]

Thanks for setting this up. Managed to sell 110 items across January so really impressed with that. Probably donated/chucked out another 100.

I do look at each room though & still think how have we got so much stuff! I’ve definitely got some more clothes and bags to go through, but the big one is always going to be toys!

It’s made me a lot more mindful of what I’m buying though. No toiletries/make up, I’ve got enough to last a lifetime. Same for clothes, I’m only shopping on Vinted & it’s a 2 out, 1 in rule. We’ve set up a toy/puzzle swap amongst friends but only of toys that they would donate anyway. My online shopping habit has hugely cut down, so just need to continue this way.

I estimate that I’ve made £400 in January & saved another £250 ish from not buying crap/lunch out/coffees etc.

[Redshoeblueshoe]

I need to join this thread.

[mum2jakie]

Wow well done @WombatBombat That's pretty impressive going! How have you been selling things? All mine has gone to charity shop so far but might consider selling if it is worth my while!

[SwordBilledHummingbird]

It's also made me more mindful of what I buy, we have so much STUFF and simply don't need any more.

[Cottagecheeseisnotcheese]

when selling unless it goes into a small bag ( £5) not box I only sell if worth £10 as it takes time to wrap and postage is not free, also it can hinder decluttering if you think you are actually going to list 100's of items so I only sell items worth approx £10 or more in almost new condition , if they are genuinely antiques or vintage then wear is OK
I try not to bin things that could be used again, but dumping unsaleable things at charity shops is not good

[Sallygoroundtheroses]

I’ve decided to tackle the room I see immediately as
I walk through the door. The state of it can determine how I feel when I get home. So I’m going for all the visual
clutter first. I’ve done one book shelf so far!

I mostly take items to the charity shop. I’m someone who has the best intentions to sell it but I just don’t get round to it. Then it accumulates again. I just decided to cost my mental health-as in the money I would eventually get would not be worth the overwhelm I feel the piles of stuff waiting to be sold. I hope when my kids are more independent I might go back to selling stuff as it worked well
when I had a bit more free time in the day.

[WombatBombat]

@mum2jakie mainly on Vinted but some through FB Marketplace. Mainly clothes & toys, and then I use the money to buy the next size up.

I get the parcel bags for free or reuse boxes, and then the drop off point is next to DS’ nursery so I’m there multiple times a week.

It’s the amount I’ve saved from not spending that I’m most amazed about. We’re lucky that we’ve always had money left over each month & I’ve always been pretty frugal, but it just shows how much I normally fritter away & then get stressed by the actual stuff!

[MastieMum]

May I join you all please? I have difficulty getting rid of things so when I declutter they very often end up in my shed or loft for a while until I feel comfy letting them go. Loft and shed currently full! So I made a start today and took 2 bags of miscellaneous items to the charity shop. Escaped without buying anything new! My aim for February is to get rid of all the quarantined loft and shed items.

[Bellaisoneluckywoman]

Making a cup of tea and pulling up a chair. I really really need to join your gang. One of my biggest blocks to decluttering is a hatred of waste.... I can't help thinking I could use things in the future etc. Also - food/medicine past its sell-by date - I know not everything has to be chucked out the minute it hits those dates - but then where's the line???? ARGH......

[Sallygoroundtheroses]

@MastieMum and @Bellaisoneluckywoman and any others who want to join, you are most welcome. We are all decluttering in different ways and different speeds here.

I follow a lot of tips from Dana K White as she has a similar mind set to me (or how I was a few years ago).
I choose a small space that I can manage without creating more mess, and getting tired halfway through and leave it half done. I have a bin bag and a donatable donate bag. I take anything going to a new home in the house immediately (no piles to do later that also get abandoned), rubbish is binned and the charity bag in the car for donation.

Today I cleared a box of children’s toys that did not need to be in a huge plastic box but could be in the small boxes that house the toys.

[CornedBeef451]

I love Dana! I've decluttered my house and got into fairly good habits after a couple of years of Dana and Minimal Mom hypnotising me. It's definitely worth doing.

This morning I am taking a bag of curtains and Christmas ornaments to the charity shop, hope it's not too late for them to take them.

[mum2jakie]

Welcome @Bellaisoneluckywoman and @MastieMum

Best of luck with decluttering!

[MastieMum]

Thanks for the welcome! Managed another bag to the charity shop and a big bag to the tip this morning. Posted a couple of items on Olio, more to add this afternoon. One problem rith my decluttering is the number of plastic storage crates no longer needed - counted 18 unused ones in the shed...

[Bemyclementine]

1 pair of holey pantstaken off and binned. It's a start !

[MastieMum]

Some craft items and kids chalks collected via Olio. Some small progress at least!

[Bemyclementine]

I have listed about 10 things on Facebook and vinted to sell. And then wondered why I'd bothered. Might just take to the charity shop. Fed up with it all!

[Bemyclementine]

Listed another thing on Vinted. I'm putting all the things in a bag with today's date and if not sold in 2 weeks, charity shop.

Thrown away - leaky hot water bottle that I kept using and ending up with a wet patch. Sweets that the DC dont like. Bunting things that's knackered. Several things from the cat cupboard.

[Bemyclementine]

Also, listed bundle of 30 toys on Facebook. For £15. 10 of them were £15 EACH so I really hope they sell!