Decluttering thread 4 - progress rather than perfection

[Pigtailsandall]

Thread 3 got filled up so decided to start a new one - hope everyone can find it!!

It was DD birthday in the weekend so we had some ins but I don’t mind as long as she uses them . In the meantime I’m grabbing things to go as I noticed them . No proper decluttering sessions and I’m still to return to attic but I’m mainly maintaining now so that’s ok . Those few boxes in the attic can wait . Still haven’t folded all the clean laundry it’s been busy and I’ve been tired and in pain from all the other housework etc . There’ll likely be some outs from the laundry .
A few bits going ;
-DS old trainers
-A random broken pen
-7 packets of old freezer food
-1 pair of my broken pyjama bottoms to rag bank ( keep on finding holey ones …)
-1 DD unused sticker activity books that’s too young for her to charity
-a bunch of balloons
-a bunch of wrong coloured flowers that were sent in error to garden waste, I was so angry , they’ve sent another bouquet and this better be what ordered !
-1 nearly empty nail polish bottle

One empty cardboard box and one worn out pair of jeans into recycling. Total is 562

Pile of paperwork shredded at work
Pile of nursery papers/art etc binned
plastic ringbinder sleeves recycled

I have decided to count all these things as lots because otherwise I'd get to 2023 without actually decluttering any of the motherload! These are just maintenance things but they don't actually make a dent in the pile I have stored. I need to start on those again

683

I've got rid of some weening bits, an old card board box, and shredded some old documents.

Also just posted a toy sold on Vinted, its been surprisingly good for selling games, puzzles etc.

I just posted 2 things I sold on Vinted too. Both things I was a bit on the fence about but it was time to let them go.
685 items down now!

Lots gone today

• 8 things from a file I went through into the paper recycling as no longer needed
• 2 damaged plastic sleeves binned
• 1 ring binder into donation pile because I used a smaller spare one, now all the ring binders fit in the box again
• 4 leaflets into paper recycling
• 2 empty boxes into cardboard recycling
• 7 CDs binned
• 3 CD cases into recycling

Total is 589

A few bits out of here today :
-1 DS raincoat to charity ,he has several
-2 old opened hand gels from my bedside table that aren’t used ,I left 1 unopened one
-1 uncomfortable night mouth guard I don’t use
-wooden spatula
-1 DD old football that was a question mark earlier is now going
-1 bobbly wool blanket that was earmarked earlier I’m now sure about so it’s in the pile too
Might add something from the laundry later …

Another 5 things sold on eBay. Total now 387 since February.

We're having a new bedroom carpet today so emptied the wardrobe last night to move it. I cannot believe the amount of clothes that came out of it. It was shocking and that's only about a third of the clothing I own. I also saw at least 30 shirts in my DP's wardrobe so looks like I need to persuade someone else to have a clear out!

My husband is working through his extensive CD collection, and today saw 7 CDs gone. Honestly he could let go a hundred times that but baby steps.
Also gave a half a packet of nappies to a friend that we've outgrown
695 items down now

One plastic crate emptied, mostly toddler art. Kept a few pieces for posterity but most will be quietly recycled.

From the clean laundry last night :
-2 DD winter uniform skirts to the school secondhand uniform sale
-19 pairs of old socks inc more winter uniform ones
-2 DD small T-shirts
-1 pair of DH old ski socks
Am thinking about DS old (snow )boots, I’ll have to check what condition they’re in after our visit to my parents , DD ones went already since she’ll grow out of them by next winter …

One empty cardboard box gone. Total is 590

13 packets of decades old expired seeds. Total is 603

6 empty boxes and 3 leaflets gone today. Total is 612

Some old outgrown vests donated today. Also the other half has actually cleared some junk from our office room of doom!

I’m shocked to see that my last post on here was 12 April and I’d totally lost track of the thread - I’ve been busy with work and not having a great time with my mental health, so I’ve been retreating from everything.

I haven’t done any further decluttering and I still have a bag of DD’s old shoes and the bag of cot bedding to donate. The only achievement is that DH and I have decided to get rid of a set of books from an author we both loved, but are unlikely to read again as the story is quite sad (The Farseer books by Robin Hobb). Planning to donate them this weekend, which will clear one shelf on a bookshelf (which will be filled straight away by the piles books without homes, no doubt).

I've been really productive today

Dropped off two old textile bags at the drop off

Listed the big bulky things on the local free site

Listed some English language stuff on my local English site which has had some interest

Remaining English stuff to go to the American library if nobody wants it.

My husband is going through his own stuff (and kitchen things, as kitchen is his remit) - 17 t-shirts that are old/too small for him; I just dropped them off. Plus a really old bag of lentils - he made lentil soup from them. Also binned the remains of some ground almonds and expired baking soda.

715 items down. It made a huge dent in particularly his wardrobe.

Not much lately but it all counts !
-4 more broken pyjama bottoms
-2 unsuitable health supplement packets
-2 cooking utensils
-1 of my books finished
-1 old present mini cocktail bottles used up from the larder

Bag dropped off to charity shop yesterday.
Vinted is annoying me, people favouriting items then no buyers. I'm selling most things for £2 as I thought it would make them sell quicker but no.
Do people buy Lego sets without the boxes? DD has loads and we have instruction booklets but boxes are long gone. Eg. She has a Frozen set which has been retired.

DH is heading off to deal with his sailing boat that needs to be cleaned and repaired before selling . There should be at least an old life vest to go today , I’ll report outs later . Can’t wait to get rid of the whole thing since it’s not used but he needs to either fix a small area himself or get someone else to do it before posting it on a selling website . When it goes it’ll be a big out though !

Just maintainence ticking over activities here. There is a billy bookcase in the study with loads of work books I should tackle but its becoming another area to avoid. I have opened the door and hastily shut it a few times but at least they are containedI guess. Childfree today so should tackle something but to be honest I sat here with a cup of tea enjoying the peace and quiet.

A dress that's too tight around the ribs and restricting my breathing is today's out. Total is 613

Hello. I would like to join…. Does anyone have any tips for getting started?

We moved house 7 months ago and things aren’t horrendous, we did some declutter before and some as we unpacked. But we are cluttered by nature and I have a toddler with another on the way, so I’m finding it hard to work out what to keep and what to move on. It seems like there’s lots needing to come into the house right now!