Decluttering Thread 5 - Slowly Does It

[Pigtailsandall]

We filled the previous thread quickly! I'm still in the middle of my annual leave and working through my old sentimental items so I need to keep the momentum going! It's taking ages.

@incessantnamechanger
@EllieQ
@nordicmum
@IndianSummer78
@Realfastfoodie
@nordicmom
@CornedBeef451
@thingshavegottogo

@stealthninjamum
@pissedoffneighbour22

Sorry for anyone I missed! Hope you find us!

Recycling a bathroom metal product holder that suction cups to the wall, except it doesn't and keeps falling down, it's going rusty now too. Total is 1275

Back after a few days at work, not done much today other than lunch out with a friend and laundry.

Out:
one unwanted shopping bag into charity box

Have boxed up my mums diaries to recycle, halfway there, maybe they’ll go out next week if I commit…
(apart from 2 my sister wants)

I am quite pleased with myself as I took out all the cardboard from a few deliveries straight away today. The 'in's' were things like laundry detergent etc rather than frivolous purchase.

Also recycled some cosmetics packaging and I've sold a pair of trousers on Vinted I need to package up and post tomorrow.

The other half has even managed to sort half a bag of rubbish from his piles of doom so that's a bonus!

One pair of too small leggings gone. Total is 1276

Colouring book given to neighbours little girl.

old boots into charity box

not getting much else done but have moved the empty plastic storage boxes I’ve created into the utility so they are all together so I can see what we have - and not buy anymore!

There was an article in the The Times a few weeks ago about decluttering. There is somewhere that will accept nearly everything. Old bras, baby stuff, odd socks (!),opened cosmetics, old mobile phones, bedding, packaging, shabby shoes, old books etc etc. I'll post links it anyone wants them.

@ThreeBearsPorridge please do 🙂

One pair of bobbled pyjama trousers out today. Total is 1277

old storage bench from hallway. Nobody puts shoes on it anyway - will need taking to a charity shop at some point this week. Unfortunately it has been contributing to making that part of the hall damp as heating is poor and no sir can circulate. Two old textbooks into recycling - for professional exam prep but the exam has changed a lot.

Just some old passport photos today but every little bit counts :)

Two more empty cardboard boxes recycled. Total is 1279

September's totals was
Total out 171
Total in 11
Total to date 1032

So far this month 6 Vinted sales, in 9 new white polo shirts for ds off Vinted.

I have another bag filling up of things to donate and recycle this week. More things sorted to sell on Vinted but I might take a break at some point and start again in the summer. Dd and youngest ds summer bits are mostly packed away now so I will check sizes and sell what doesn't fit as soon as I unpack it next April.

I can feel I'm winning now. Ds draws have free space in them. I know that the kids have and where it is. Come summer they will be back to a normal amount of clothes. I'm sorting and wearing all of my clothes. I can see that's coming down. I'm not buying anything clothes wise unless it's absolutely nessary.

I must not tempt fate but honestly this time next year I will not meet any criteria to be a hoarder. This feels amazing.

I got myself two pairs of gloves in the Turtle Doves sale and I took 7 days weighing that up!

Still a long way to go but doing something every day is a habit now so I can't see myself going a week without decluttering. Very freeing!

We are all doing so well

Sounds like you’re doing really well @IncessantNameChanger 😊

I suspect my total for September (and the whole year) will be low, but it’s better than nothing. Dropped off that bag of school uniform at the school on Monday, and put two pairs of worn out knickers in the textile recycling bag yesterday.

Well done incessant it’s just a question of managing ins and outs with dc’s clothes. I am going to do a cull of dd2s uniform. I bought her new short sleeved shirts a year ago, she refuses to wear them, so I have to accept she won’t change her mind. I’m also debating getting rid of sports jackets and skorts she also won’t wear as her sports kit drawer is crammed. For Christmas she’ll want clothes so I need to clear a space for them.

Yesterday I sold a toy.

I have also asked my cleaner to do a second day a week. I have to accept I can’t cope with my dc with high needs, decluttering and housework. If I declutter I do t have time to do housework.

Well done everyone. Lots of great work.

I’m really not doing anything much although possibly planning for my first baby bank run in the next few weeks and maybe a little charity shop run this week. Small steps and mainly baby snuggles.

Really good going @IncessantNameChanger ! And enjoy the baby snuggles Realfastfoodie, time for decluttering later on.
I should be better at asking for help @stealthninjamum. We let go of our cleaner last summer and I do regret it - but my bank balance is healthier.

I have hoarded pretty boxes from Liberty beauty drop, and I have no use for them. Today I posted a Vinted sale in one of them and I'll start actually using them. I'm terrible for things like that, particularly if they are pretty.

Out this morning
3 Vinted sales (kids top, adult top and a toy)
1 pretty box
1 shoe box to nursery (It was finally free of random stuff!!)
Listed a bag of coffee we won't drink and an art poster on Freecycle last night and both were picked up today!
Binned a piece of kids art which was actually nice but she left it outside in the rain...

Really noticing that I have empty containers etc

I'm also, maybe controversially, counting a dress I returned. Old me would have kept it because it was "nice enough" and so cheap it was almost not worth the hassle but I thought I would wear it once, maybe twice and then declutter. So counting that as a win - getting rid of something BEFORE it becomes clutter!

Total is 1678

There's a lot of excellent decluttering going on! I've gradually been sorting through some old school stuff of DD's and got two bags for recycling. Do we really need her handwriting books from Years 2-4? That said, it looks neater than now in year 9! It's a huge storage box so I'm just going through it slowly.
Textile bin near us still out of action so it's going to have to be a dump run which will get ride of all the above too. Our bedroom floor has been taken over by the stuff to go!
In an effort to get stuff out, I did get rid of some soft plastics at the shop yesterday and DP put a box he was keeping "just in case" in the recycling.
I've just about got the back garden tidied before it gets cold.

One necklace I don't wear into the charity bag. Total is 1280

Two more work books passed on to colleagues who are at the correct stage to use them.

A pair of trousers sold on Vinted and posted, I've also done a bit of shredding.

I just sold a jumper that was a bit pricey on Vinted (well, £30) so I dropped it off immediately. Was so happy, it had been up for sale for ages.

Also binned a really uncomfortable pair of tights

Total is 1680

Have been through the books with DH and have another pile to go
A new stone art kit.
A few clothes
Magazine files - bulky but brand new - I don't even know if a charity shop would make any money on them?
A thin mattress from a camp bed
A load of 'camping' clothes unworn for 4 years
An earring book thing
Some old work training logs

All books now for on the bookshelves which is good

Got rid today of a plate rack thing that falls over, a woolly hat bought on impulse that doesn't fit, an egg slicers, and a sticky roller thing. I'm spring cleaning the kitchen (yes I'm late with it) and have found three bottles of surface cleaner that I'd forgotten about and two bottles of descaler for the coffee machine.

My professional declutterer is coming tomorrow so it will be interesting to see what's suggested. I think I'm ready to work on a area by area basis now.

Still need to do toys and coats as problem categories but the coats are in the porch as you walk in so maybe tackle them all at once with the shoes?

No outs today. I have washed a few things to list on Vinted though

@IncessantNameChanger what did the professional say, I’m intrigued to hear about their visit.

I have committed to recycling my mums diaries, they are out with the recycling to be collected tomorrow.

OUT:
A big heavy box plus the pile of diaries.
random empty cardboard box to recycling

Nearly out:
next box of books to charity friend for school libraries

• must try and get to the charity shop soon as that shelf is full (big bag and box)

@LivingInaBuildingSite he didn't turn up again! I'm not sure I will get anything out it tbh