Decluttering Thread 6 - hit those targets before New Year!

[Pigtailsandall]

So the last thread got filled up and I think I seem to have taken it on myself to start a new one every time, lol! I hope everyone finds us because I'm too lazy to tag everyone, but here's few who spring to mind. It also doesn't let me add some people, for some reason

@realfastfoodie
@IndianSummer78
@stealthninjamum
@cornedbeef451
@EllieQ
@Gassylady
@IncessantNameChanger

@nordicmom
@Vinorosso74

Now it's the last push until the holidays to get it all out and done (before new cr*p comes in)

@pinknsparkly I think I’m just very distrusting of people because I’ve heard so many stories of people using Facebook for scams and Facebook not trying to reduce it. I have been selling toys - some never opened, so things like playmobil, Duplo, Lego, board games, jigsaws etc. They’re all in good condition with instructions and boxes. In the last month I must’ve had about 50 people asking me to post even though my advert says I don’t post. In six / seven years of doing this I’ve only had about 3 or 4 people asking me to post something or even deliver it so there’s definitely more of it now. If my current stuff hasn’t gone by the 20th it’s going to my friend’s son’s school.

Anyway this morning I have someone collecting a lego set so that’ll be another out.

The stuff we cleared out of the airing cupboard last weekend is still sitting in the hallway and starting to make me nervous. We have been busy and not had time to do a run to the tip, although I think it'll need to come out of the bin bags and into smaller ones to fit into the textile collection bin. Also need to take a parcel of returns from Regatta down to the Evri parcelshop - they gave me a free delivery code as some of the items were faulty so no charge.

FiL is getting us a Christmas tree this weekend so need to make some space in the living room for it, which is easier said that done!

Back when I used to sell I wouldn't take PayPal for posting items, because if it's lost or damaged or they're a scammer they'll be after PayPal for a refund and probably get it. Leaving you minus the item, the payment for it and the postage costs too. But if they pay by bank transfer you're safe. They can't take money out with the information. The law doesn't make private sellers responsible for loss or damage in transit, the buyer changing their mind, it not fitting etc like with a shop. So the buyers have no comeback and are the one taking all the risks. All they need is account number, sort code, your name and bank name. So long as you haven't given them your address or anything else they can't do ID fraud on you. Lots of people are lazy/don't drive so won't collect. I don't deliver either unless it's something big like a fridge that people can't collect by public transport, then I add on some for petrol and say I'll deliver to kerbside, getting it inside the property is on them and it has to be paid for before I deliver. I'm not driving out to someone for them to look at it and decide it's not what they want after all! So either they buy blind based on photos or they get their backside over to my place, look, see it working and pay, then I'll drop them home with the item. But I agree donation is easiest StealthNinja.

🏃💥🦿boot up the butt for BC! 🤡

1 nasal spray I don't like and 7 dead tea lights is this morning's efforts. Total is 1717

I've just uploaded 8 pairs of shoes to vinted. I've been putting it off for ages cos I was going to wash them first but I've decided to just post them as they are...eek

I hadn’t done my 15 minutes a day in the Room of Doom this week so I did an hour and made a complete mess. I went through some folders and the memory boxes organising things - have now organised school reports from primary school and chucked out loads of paperwork.

I also found 10 items to go including a brand new picture frame, a brand new nice notepad, 7 games / toy sets that can be sold or donated, a box and paperwork that came with an old blackberry phone.

I also put a couple of bits of child art work in the recycle bin which was hard.

Still haven’t braved Vinted although I’ve registered.

Out:
pile of unused postcards to a friend who uses them for running club instructions

In:
homemade Christmas decoration from friend’s husband, random but lovely!

I have got piles of presents hidden randomly so will need to sort them all out at some point next week.

This afternoon's efforts:

4 x babygrow
1 x baby coat
1 x baby headband
1 x baby hat
1 x baby dress
1 x baby tights

Total is 1726

not had the greatest week for outs and another outdoor Christmas decoration in
the olio-er didn't reply when I told her 5 days ago she needs to collect today please, this isn't looking good, I've written a message asking her to confirm time and at 9am I'll send it. not holding out much hope

Moving two of the kids rooms around so have done a deep delve into all the cupboards. Several outgrown bits into the rag bag, a wetsuit that’s too small but will donate next spring/summer moved to attic room. Another bunch of books to go to charity shop as youngest has decided he will not reread them at this stage. A bunch of NERF guns fate to be decided - maybe donate to scouts or if not the charity shop again.

Also several old chargers etc will go on the next tip run

👏 I think those are the best kind of declutters - when you properly clear an area out. We just had a load of decorating done and our building work is finally finished, so I’m trying to only put stuff back into the rooms that is necessary. With your name @Gassylady - I keep wondering if your name refers to excess wind or whether you are an anaesthetist 😂

@tallsmallmum - it’s so annoying with olio when they mess up. Make sure to report and give her a bad rating! Sometimes if something is proving difficult to actually get someone to pick up, I just leave it outside and tell anyone interested that it’s first come first served!

I had a surprise win with some building supplies which I’d listed on FB and also for free on a local group. I’d left it outside for collection and it turned out the person collecting it had seen the “selling” listing so took it and put cash through the door! Every little helps!

Im also feeling much more nicely organised - with kids clothes I was able to go upstairs and just grab the Christmas stuff for my eldest and I have everything for my youngest nicely out. No stash fails for me. Possibly a slight over-stock issue! 😂

Done a bit of a declutter this week.

I went through every section of my wardrobe and counted the items then got rid of half of each category. Still jam packed. But at least I can see things again.

also gave away a notebook I had stashed away as a gift.

ds used up a load of crafting paper

old Christmas decs have gone - the broken ones.

Two more items posted to their vinted buyers and a load of assorted supplements disposed of as I accept I won't use them before their expiry date 😉

Our weeks are so busy with kids clubs, work, etc I have ended up doing a big clean on the weekends. Not idea, I was trying to get into the Organised Mum method where you clean a room a day and have the weekend off but it just isn't working. Anyway I've got some outs today, a couple of little shampoo pots, a jumper with a hole in, some rubbish from my sons room.

Got a load of toys my son has grown out off but he isn't keen on letting go, going to put them in the garage for a bit and then see if he notices they are gone!

2 months and 2 weeks until the garage conversion, there is a LOT to do before then!

Work has been hectic so not much clearing being done.

Only things out today are an isofix car seat base and some spare car seat clips.
Total now 1554

Annoyed with DP as he refused a low offer on something on FB marketplace that is mine and I'd have let it go for that. It's a large boxed item that I want gone. He's also got over 30 offers on another item and hasn't 'got around' to getting rid of it yet. He's away all next week so it'll be stuck in the house for another couple of weeks at least now 🙄.

Been to the tip today.

Out went
2 suitcases
1 carpet
1 clothes airer
1 garden chair
1 garden umbrella
2 exercise mats

So much more I will take to the dump tomorrow as well. There's things I could give away or sell but right now I need some space for Christmas.

Well cheesed off with dh as he has reached a new level of inertness. I'm actually going to start throwing out some of his shit too. There's too much to sort through now.

Dh went to my mums house and bought back lots of things, but not the furniture I wanted. He didn't wipe any dust off the furniture so now there's dust and shit over everything. If I try to tell him he has made a mess he gets super defensive. I wonder how he would feel I treated his dead parents belongings with such disrespect. So that's now a massive job. He has treated

@Realfastfoodie I think she's just leaving the message deliberately unread now 🫠 I'll be reporting soon and maybe leave them outside free when it's dry

@Realfastfoodie a bit of both 🤣🤣 A surgical colleague I’ve worked with for many years often refers to me as “the gasboard”! And I find if I eat a lot of carbs it has an unfortunate effect

Been a while since I was here . Been busy and unwell but here’s a few bits gathered up
lately :
-DD broken science kit thing
-10pairs of socks
-2 pairs of pants
-1 small bikini
-2 hoodies
-5 pairs of sweatpants
-2 shorts
-5 T-shirts all to clothes or rag bank
-1 broken glass
-1 pair of DH broken shoes
-18 gift bags and
-70 ish Christmas cards used up from my stash
-1 DD long sleeved T-shirt to charity shop
-2 DD finished books
-1 DD small Christmas jumper earmarked to go after wearing it this week once more
-4 kids unused craft and science kits
-2-3 new legos we were given when ordering other things all to a kids charity Christmas present collection or charity shop
-DH old manual coffee maker earmarked to go
-an old other coffee machine also earmarked to go

Everyone is being very productive so well done all ! Im mostly now doing maintenance decluttering but there are a few boxes in the attic still from moving in to repack
or look through and never time or energy .
Rest of the house will just forever need regular edits and organising as years go by and kids grow . I’ve excepted this . I’ll need to do DD room in the new year . DS did his own completely before uni .

I have more big items to take to the tip today. Also more big toys to give away

I donated 5 bag to the charity shop this morning. It has definitely freed up some space.

It has been great to see how everyone is progressing.

Spent another 30 mins in the Room of Doom mainly emptying a large box of papers, chucking some out, and putting it in a smaller box. No matter how much time I spend I never finish the papers. I’m procrastinating really anyway because I am about to start on my private letters and dd2s schoolwork.

Outs include a plastic box with files in (like a filing cabinet), two children’s teeth, an old Homebase loyalty card from about 2000, a box of 25 CDs that I’m advertising on freecycle and a broken phone cable. I’m also very close to giving away a 6 foot bookcase (that used to be full!)

Today I binned a wooden stick that was part of a felt advent calendar I gave away either last January or the January before. I’m annoyed as at the time I really looked for the stick.

I also sold a Lego set and had a no show.

im also doing my usual annual freezer declutter. (Before Xmas I aim to empty it drawer by drawer and replace with new stuff). Last year dd2 went vegetarian so I bought lots of veggie sausages which she hated so I will be eating about 24 between now and Xmas!

Incessant is he doing that thing where he sees you do something so he sits back with his feet up knowing you'll pick up the slack? So infuriating. Good on you for chucking out some of his stuff! I'll bet he doesn't even notice.

Pissed off since he thinks your stuff is his to do with as he likes, don't you think that should work the other way round too? I'd be contacting those offers he's had and getting rid of the things if possible while he's away. I'd also contact the low offer you had, apologize for messing them around, tell them your DH is a PITA and see if they still want it.

Ememem I need to do that with my clothes but just can't. I've got rid of anything not in good condition or doesn't fit. Feel like maybe I should pull out a load of things I don't care about, wear them through spring so I can tell myself I got some use from them, then commit to donating all of those things when summer arrives. Or maybe I just need to get to the point where I value the space they take up more than the money I've spent on them 🤔

I've finished reading another magazine so that's getting recycled today. Total is 1727.

Two old jersey fitted sheets, into the rag bag. These have been used with blow up mattresses for sleepovers but now are definitely past their best. One of the mattresses has a leak and the patch failed to cure it so that has been put by ready to go to the tip with lots of cardboard tomorrow.

I sold another item on vinted today so have sent that off already. Plus I sorted through our first aid box and got rid of 41 boxes/packets/bottles of expired stuff!! I need to buy one replacement item, but that's still 40 items down! One unused item to give away (a dummy that you can use to administer medicines. Neither child has EVER taken a dummy so force feeding calpol via syringes it is!). The box lives on a very high shelf and I can now get it down without risking dropping it 😊

That takes me to a total of 260 since 1st October