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!

Well done on the garage clear out CornedBeef

Re clothes - I've done a little experiment, I pulled out everything needed for a capsule wardrobe of mix and match items. I didn't limit myself at all and I bought a few new things for it too. I counted it all up and it was 40 items including the bag, shoes, coat etc too. So, close to what the Project 333 says you need, which I found interesting. I couldn't manage on so little long term because I like to switch up my style regularly, but I don't need as much as I have.

The problem is how to whittle it down when I don't actually want to. I think it's going to come down to wearing things out and not replacing. I'm planning a no-spend winter (except life's essentials like food) and I might try to carry that through to the whole of next year. If I keep decluttering too that should make a dent in things (I have a lot of cheap clothes that don't necessarily last long).

In other areas I have enough of everything so the no-spend should see me using things up there too. My kitchen is looking pretty tidy although it contains too much stuff and could be better. The bathroom is going to be the one that falls under control next I think because toiletries seems to be the quickest and easiest things to use up.

One thing I've noticed with all this decluttering is I'm not having to count parcel packaging any more because I'm unpacking, putting away and recycling packaging as soon as it arrives. Probably because I don't have to mess around with storage to find somewhere to put things any more.

Been busy with work again, home late today.

Out:
buyer came and got the too small wetsuit I bought 2nd hand that I never wore.

Need to go:
box of books to charity friend for school libraries (still in hallway)
pile of old plant pots, need to just bin now as tried to give away several times
charity shop trip - well overdue

also need a general attack of areas of doom when I next get a few days off.

Just one out today, the magazine I finished reading. Total is 1365

Not much out this weekend unfortunately.

Looks like we're not going to be able to do a car boot sale as we'd hoped - they're only during the week and we either can't get time off work or can't get help with the nursery run for the weeks left until they end this month. They don't restart until the end of April next year so we're stuck with the stuff but it will give us longer to go through things properly and ditch/freecycle anything not worth storing for 6mths.

Need to sort some more books and dvds to send off to world of books asap as they're offering an extra 10%.

I also have huge bookcases to go through after renovating/decorating the current room we're working on but that will be a few weeks away yet. I really need to try to be ruthless.

Busy day but I gave away very heavy art book, plus a soap that I didn't like. After a busy September, Vinted sales have totally stopped. I've only sold one item in October so I withdrew the balance to my bank account. Total is at 1710.

I'm doing bugger all. Bought dd 10 pairs of cycling shorts from Primark and because she has autism they was wrong, to tight, too loose, to black, not black enough. Ugh.

I'm deep in my two sen appeals and feeling stressed which makes me want to turn feral and buy lots of crap to cheer me up. I won't however. I'm going slightly feral until Thursday when the decluttering guy comes again. I have no faith he is going to be any help.

Only I can help myself. It's OK to pause. I deserve a pause. I can not fall off the wagon however. I still have a lot I can see easily to get rid of. I'm going to take my vinted listings off I think and go back after Christmas. Not sure yet.

Got a hoarding support group zoom on Thursday.

You can do it @IncessantNameChanger. You’ve come so far and should be very proud of yourself.

Is there something else that might feel really good, or to let you get the buzz without buying more stuff? Buying tickets to a Christmas show or something to watch this month? A massage? Something consumable like a really amazing box of Chocolates?

I’m nowhere on decluttering… the best I am hoping for right now is stemming the tide of mess that comes with a newborn and a toddler. Basically putting rubbish in the bin, emptying the bins and keeping on top of the washing.

I’m starting to see some decluttering that could be done though. Seeing things we don’t need any more, or won’t need soon. Love my memory boxes too, as it means I have somewhere to put things, which also means I can say goodbye to some other things…

I can’t remember who said it above - I’m also not really counting binning packaging or postal stuff so much as I’m mostly dealing with it at the time.

@IncessantNameChanger hang in there, it’s always a battle with SEN. I’m trying to figure out where DS2 is best to go next Sept. Another college open eve tomorrow.

@Realfastfoodie thats all you need to do right now. Kids fed, clothed and happy means you’re winning 🏆

Done some jobs today.
Out:
box of books to charity friend for school libraries GONE
pile of old plant pots, need to just bin now as tried to give away several times
charity shop trip DONE
envelope of unused postcards to friend DONE

IN:
new school skirts for DD - need to find old ones to give away
new bras in for me - have already textile recycled several

One catalogue recycled. Total is 1366

Bag of clothes that I’d sorted at the weekend has been taken to the charity bank today. Always good to have stuff out of the house!

A wicker basket I no longer had any use for out. My old medical notes shredded. Total is at 1712

Two blankets that don't fit my colourscheme. I figured since I have 19 others I could let these ones go! I've rehoused the rest somewhere more visible and easily accessible, so I have a huge empty box now. I will put something in it that's currently crammed under the bed Total is 1368

I bought a new shower hat, exciting times, and actually threw away the old one!

Unfortunately new one is rubbish so I think I'll have to bin it and instead work my way through my stash of hotel ones.

I have about 20 from when DH worked away a lot so they'll last me a while and will finally be used up.

DH bought an air fryer in the Prime sale yesterday so I need to make space in the kitchen for it. He also wants a decent food processor but I've no idea where it would go.

So far I've cleared out a basket of kids treats and chucked a handful of last year's candy canes and relocated the tea towels and extra kitchen roll so there is a shelf free but no idea if an air fryer will fit.

Kitchen jenga starts tomorrow when everything gets delivered.

Took some electrical items to Currys, thanks for the suggestion!

Also freecycled a bunch of baby tights, took some toys to the charity shop and gave my sister a bag of her childhood toys back. 1,315 items out.

Is anyone else running out of bags to give things away in?!

@CornedBeef451 I told my dh that if he wants more kitchen items he needs to let go of something else/find a spot himself for it

@Jellycatrabbit I tell people collecting stuff to bring their own bag. I don't generally keep many plastic bags etc.

Out today: a promotional totebag and 2 unopened beauty products to a friend. I have way too many

Total is 1715.

@Jellycatrabbit im about to go to Currys with my broken shredder.

I had such a good day yesterday and I need to stop thinking I’m crap and disorganised. That’s the old me. I had planned on spending a day doing some admin that I’d been putting off. Just filing stuff relating to dc. It only took half an hour, instinctively I assume my papers are in a mess, when really most things are filed and I’m quite organised.

anyway I used the day to fix the shredder - but failed at this. I sorted out uniforms from both schools to find donations for the second hand shops. I put a load of unsold toys in bags for the charity shop and put more stuff for sale. I did loads of hoovering and cleaning and just feel the house looks better than it has done in ages.

Sorry guys just need to check in.

2 months into the school year and I'm feeling like I'm drowning in clutter. It's upsetting me so much. Feel like I'm behind in everything. Feel like having a cry. Maybe it's because my period is due. I haven't taken my 2 year old to playgroup nor baby but hopefully will do better next week once I target this mess. It's more mess than clutter but things do need to go. It's horrible how clutter can make you feel this way.

Out are 2 paper gift bags. God knows why I was keeping them.

@Pigtailsandall I would do that but I've found he can't be trusted to store things! He'd just put everything in the (newly tidied) garage and forget it's there.

Thinking of you @heartbroken22. Sounds like a tough time and the hormones at this stage can be brutal. Do consider going to the GP though if you are feeling very overwhelmed, no one should have to keep going without support.

As for mess, I think it goes with the territory with a newborn and a toddler! You aren’t failing

Not much decluttering happening here while we're renovating one of the rooms. More stuff has gone to the tip though including old radiators, fabric recycling and random junk.

Whilst clearing the room we found a huge bag filled with carrier bags. Embarrassingly they moved house with us 2.5yrs ago and hadn't been seen since. We agreed to sort later as a lot of them are 'nice - too nice to throw out' 🫣🫣.

My DP has lost the car service book for his appointment today due to all the clutter/mess so it really doesn't feel like the situation is getting much better.

We also found a very large box filled with documents that need shredding. We'd forgotten about it and already have 2 bags waiting to be done.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 I'd have them haha!

@heartbroken22 I felt just the same when my youngest was little. My dd is now almost 2 and can turn a room from spotless to destruction in 2 minutes. Its driving me crackers, can't remember how i coped with mess and baby together! Think I left the house as much as possible.

Definitely think I had a touch of the baby blues, maybe speak to your HV.

Grrrr I still haven’t gotten the 3 baskets of clothes folded but DH is working from home tomorrow before going off to do a sport in the afternoon. so he can tend to the dog too ,and I don’t have any appointments etc so I can get them done during the day .
we did get our trip booked for halfterm just a few days in 3 w but something to look forward to ; a city and a country me and DD haven’t been to , DH has for work . DH had a medical app , and I a self care one today plus the ovens and extractor got cleaned earlier in the week so that’s off my list now .
We tried on DD winter uniform and turns out she’s grown more since the Easter hols before which she last wore it so have to replace a few bits; the skirts and socks but rest should be ok we even have more shoes . Got a packet of next size up shirts to try though . I also got 2 pairs of new pyjamas for winter and she had that character on her Christmas list so was super happy she’ll get them early since due to the growth spurt old ones at getting comically short , will need a few more pairs as well . also got a spare leash for the dog . Ones we had used since we got him years ago are now nowhere to be found in the shops so when I saw another type I liked I had to get a spare . Washing another one of his beds and will have to see if it’s inner parts are in pieces like the last one then it’ll have to go , we have spares in the already luckily .
poor dog is unwell so I’ll have to call the vet and my daughter’s alopecia is back so will have to commence treatment again and contact her doctor . I feel sad for both especially for DD. At least this time around we have a medication that we know has worked before unlike when she first got it . It’s easily hidden in a ponytail thank god !
im going to finish making my bed then go finish my super good book that will then go to charity box tomorrow …

A few things out :
-1 stained bedspread
-1 dented bathroom bin
-1 beauty sample
-1 wrong colour concealer
-3 DD small uniform skirts
-1 book
-1 pair of DD small unused school trainers
-1 pair of DD small new school socks
-1 pair of DD small winter boots ( I have to check rest of her shoes , small ones keep on popping up )

More from the clean laundry tomorrow I hope

Back when I was stoney broke I used to hoard "nice" carrier bags too PissedOff

4 cardboard boxes out tonight into recycling, their contents moved elsewhere. Total is 1372

Whole boot full of old bedding and clothes going to textiles recycling today, its made a massive difference in the cupboard!