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!!

I know right?! 😆 I've taken at least ten bags of clothes to the donations point and I still have no space! It's all fitting in the drawers now though not spilling out like it was. I just watched Minimal Mum and she told her DC she's putting the not favourite clothes in the basement and if they want an item she'll fetch it all they've got to do is ask. I bet they don't ask and then she said she's going to get rid if that's the case

Two more outs. Expired medicines from 2000! And some wrecked scissors. Total is 650

I haven't posted on this thread in a long time (not even sure if it was this thread!) I've been reading along though, trying to get motivated to declutter.
Well things changed almost 2 weeks ago when we had a house fire! No fire damage inside the house, but smoke damage. We've had to go through things (textiles, like clothing) deciding if we want it cleaned and have it back or decide to not have it back. We sent off 5 big bin bags to go and not come back, there'll be at least one more that were sending.
It's been interesting, DH isn't wanting to let go of much, but I'm in the mindset of it's not important. We are all safe, we didn't get hurt, it's stuff. We don't need it. It can go. I'm actually surprised by my reaction, but glad I'm not trying to hold onto everything.
We have to replace all our electronics, as well as possibly our mattresses and couches. We'll see what we actually do get rid of/ replace. Electronics for sure though. DH didn't believe our insurance adjuster and Googled electronics after a fire, and it's really a thing. 3 or so months after a fire it'll start to malfunction, or worse case scenerio, it'll start another fire (which wouldn't be covered, if it's not replaced). So pretty sure he's been convinced on that.

Sorry it's so long. It's been almost 2 weeks and just overwhelming with everything we have to do! We've already had to throw away everything in our fridge and freezer and start replacing it 😢
It's feeling like it'll be a fresh start on everything, although very stressful!

Gosh, @BloomingHazel, I’m so sorry to hear this, it must have been so scary. But you are amazing to have such a positive attitude to it!

@IndianSummer78 and @IncessantNameChanger - you are both doing so well, just keep going. Certainly it’s made me really think about buying anything at all, realising how much stuff we already have! I was thinking we must have over a million things in our house… over 500 and it still looks full! But I take joy in the small corners of tidy!

@BloomingHazel that's horrible, I'm so sorry to hear that. Hopefully they can clean up everything sentimental to you. Gosh, really makes you think about what matters.

After my mum's death and the reality of having to sort out her house I'm hoping to capitalise on focusing on that. If I died, would my kids want my house like my mums? ( very little to sort through at all but disorganised paperwork) or what I have now? Ie a bombsite I a warehouse?

I'm doing round two of dds room. Glad I left it when I got overwhelmed. I need to organise, check two more draws, count and Slim down tshirts. Then it will all fit back.

Then I need to set a reminder to do this again just before term starts.

I've just finished sorting through make up for today - I chucked pretty much everything over 2 years old.

I've kept the new foundation, concealer & brow pencil I purchased recently, along with a couple of lipsticks, a liquid liner & an unopened pencil liner I found in the mix that I think I will use.

I ran out of steam when I got to nail varnishes so have kept them all except a few that were badly separated & didn't look OK after a quick shake. I'll have to revisit those.

I've put a bundle of 10 unopened bits (mostly from free gifts when buying other products on our local eco community Facebook group, & binned about 50 items.

I had planned to use the Boots Scan2Recycle scheme to earn some advantage card points but it wouldn't work. Usually I would have just shoved everything back in the drawer with a vague idea of trying again another day but today I decided to just bin the stuff instead.

The space is more valuable to my mental health& wellbeing than buying more things.

Total - 125 (including the bits waiting to be collected)

107 more out today from dd bedroom. All sorted and tidy and put away now. Phew! I do lots and lots of maintenance sorts on the boys rooms but somehow never dds. Anyway it's maintainable now. I am reminded AGAIN that she doesn't need any clothes this year. She really doesn't and I must remember that. I don't think she need anything until she has a big growth spurt as she is almost 9, but in 7-8 clothes. So the same things have fit her for about 3 years!

@IncessantNameChanger you have done so well there is room there for hervto play now. No progress here today but a lovely family meal has beennehjoyed instead

Out went one uncomfortable pair of knickers and 20 bits of packaging that I have been keeping for years for an unspecified project at an unspecified point in the future. Madness. Total is 671

This looks great @IncessantNameChanger.

@BloomingHazel That's terrifying. Glad to hear you are all ok and although stuff is just stuff, the idea of having to replace most things is just daunting. But definitely take the opportunity to get rid of anything you don't love, and replace it with fabulous new things.

I took a small bag to the charity shop - few bulky items like baby blanket, and a big jumper, and some smaller things like 3 moses basket sheets and a babygro. It's been hanging out in the hallway for a week so it felt like a small victory.

1083 items now

Nice one @Pigtailsandall - I love getting a whole bag out, it feels like an achievement!

I have sorted my “party” stuff and got rid of enough that it all fits in one tidy box now.

Really pleased with that. Won’t count it yet, as some bits are in a box outside to see if anyone wants them!

Great progress everyone and so sorry @BloomingHazel it must have been terrifying going through that :(

Got rid of 2 big boxes of papers,old magazines, and the crappy plastic from said magazines.

I dropped off a carrier bag of clothes to the charity shop today, still have a big bin bag to go but I can't manage that on the bus.

13 things sold on Vinted today. My declutter was supposed to come but couldn't make it. They are coming Thursday instead. Will list a lot more on Vinted tomorrow but there is also a big table top clothing bank in a church a few towns away, so I might bag up stuff for them as they don't seem very fussy.

5 cuddly toys and a tray out today so far, so a good start! Toys gone to school for the tombola and given my partner strict instructions not to let my son bring any more home :P

Feeling proud of myself. I put a box of odds and ends out yesterday to see what was taken. A load were taken but not everything. I’ve been through it today and binned most of what was left (one charity shop suitable thing). I find binning things hard but this had been given it’s fair chance!

27 bits of bathroom tat and make up out today. Listed another 11 things on Vinted but I think if it doesn't go by the end of next week it's going to both my sons clothing stall ( they sell donated clothes for school funds) and the clothing bank. I have at least another 100 items of kids clothes that can go if not more now. Would be good to just rid of it all rather than selling it.

Got a pile of cooking books to wipe over and donate but I just want to bin them. We normally have things we cook from scratch weekly from memory or occasionally we look up a new recipe on bbc good food.

Really think I'm getting going now.

July's total
241 out
20 in ( but some from Next sale might go back yet)

5 things also sold on Vinted

1 pair of shoes in on Vinted for ds but he did shred a pair that went out last week

One more shrunken undies gone. Total is 672

I’m working on it a little each day, and I’m combining actually sorting stuff out with making sure we match the right storage to the right things. And a bit of “just get something out of the door today”. a few more things on my hitlist too.

From the last couple of days (can’t remember which ones I’ve mentioned)

5 bbq/ picnic declutter
1 big load plastic recycling
1 can to food bank
1 Sophie toy (bin)
1 breast pump
5 general declutter
17 party stuff declutter (mix of give away and bin)
6 glass ramekins

135 total for July
573 total

It really is just doing something, anything, isn't it RealFastFoodie

You're on a roll LivingDeadGirl. The "after" pics of the bedroom are so much better. It's good you're getting the easier stuff out by yourself, means you'll be able o tackle the more emotional stuff with your professional declutterer

BloomingHazel I'm sorry you had a fire, must have been terrifying. Forces you to declutter I suppose!

I gave a book to a friend yesterday, forgot about that. My plan is to get back to focusing on the decluttering tomorrow. Total is 673

Yes just getting anything out the day daily really mounts up @Realfastfoodie because you have to sort and tidy to find things.

I'm going to clean and clear the table again today and at least one side table so that should look a lot better. I might list 5 more things on Vinted too. I'm almost at the point where my vinted pile could just go to the clothes bank, buy still got a few more things to sort through in dds room. She is almost done. Looking so much better in there now

16 items listed on Vinted today. I think I'm happy with that. I will happy to let things go if I know I can't sell dd Fatface, Zara and Monsoon clothes for a few quid each. It's not listing them for £1 either as some people are buying the £1 items rather than bundling them up!

Today I remembered to put the four bags of shredded paper out with the recycling. They’ve been in the corner of the dining room for ages! More everyday decluttering than actual decluttering, but I’ll take it as a win for me.