Dedicated declutterers welcome

[LushLemonTart]

Thought I'd start a thread for us dedicated to streamlining our homes 🙂

I’ve sold a couple more bits on vinted & they’ve posted out this week. Also got rid of a t shirt that managed to get bleached at the hairdressers

have bought stocking stuff today but those are mostly consumable so shouldn’t take up space for long. I’d like to go through the coats & cull them but think I’ll wait till after Xmas for that. Got a carrier bag of old/spare dog blankets to donate to the vets to use as bedding after ops as well to go next time I’m passing

The last of the clutter collection left the house yesterday, a couple of boxes put back under the stairs.
It's a great feeling!
@WearyAuldWumman I steeled myself to open the suitcase with my late husband's dress uniform in.
I couldn't believe it, it's not even his! No idea why or how he ended up with someone else's.
The dog tags and bible are his, so they will go to my children.

I kept my DH's original platoon photos, but sent the kids copies. Can't bear to part with the originals yet.

Will leave instructions for them to be sent to the kids if I haven't done it before.

I've managed to avoid getting too many things for Christmas. I told everyone I'm on a decluttering spree and to only get me things I need or a charity donation so everything I received has a purpose.

Did another declutter sweep of a few rooms today and have given away two scarves, a pair of wellies, a toddler straw cup, an unwanted bottle of frizzease and listed a dress for sale on Vinted.

Took a pair of brand new pair of plimsoles with tags to the charity shop and put a now too large coat into a charity bin. (Was going to take it up to the shop after the New Year. Used the bin to get it out of the way.)

How's everyone doing?
The boxes of charity stuff were in DPs car, waiting for him to drop them off, but I'd forgotten I had an Anglo doorstep collection booked, so they went from his car into their van. Anglo also took the small TV I'd been trying to give away.
I've had another clothes cull, both from my wardrobes and a few bits from under bed boxes of clothes that I may fit into again one day.
Crazy the amount of clothes I have/got rid off. On a weekly basis I just wear clothes straight off the washing rack.
I'm so often tempted to bin the lot and just buy a few pieces.

I still have bags of books sitting in the car, waiting to be dropped off.

A friend got rid of one of her unwanted items by foisting a blouse on me - you had to be there - so I now have that to get rid of.

Had a day out with a couple of friends yesterday and I resisted all temptations to buy anything.

Thought I might need a new coat after moving on one that was much too big for me, but have found an old one (in the wardrobe) that now fits and looks smart.

Well done both of you.
Not much happening here. I need to get motivated.

Morning
Sorting the cupboard of doom.
Plastic boxes, drinks bottles mugs.
Why do I have 15 drinks bottles?
Why are there more lids than tubs?
Do i hang onto the 19 yr old weaning pots I use regularly?
52 mugs! Wtf!

Wish me luck!

This is the thread for me.

We have started a huge declutter, lived in house for 26 years and have retired we intend to move in about 2 years. Loft is heaving, have two huge walls of cupboards, a conservatory full, actual lived in house is clutter free it’s all hidden except conservatory.

Started when DH had to give up his big office and share one, he is classed as a visiting academic which is an oddity in higher education. He is retired but has a desk still. He had to get through 8 huge moving boxes of stuff. Then we started sorting the books in the loft. Twelve large plastic storage boxes became 4, we sold 3 and the rest went to charity and 1 to recycling. Now we are on to my at least 1200 Ladybird books.

DS is moving out in June so we have 4 dining chairs in loft which he will take. I have my old Dolls house which I need to get rid of, thinking of donating to a playgroup. Then we have various boxes of stuff. I’m trying to persuade DH to get rid of his Undergraduate work, I got rid of mine. He is very resistant and he is the reason the loft is heaving. Okay I had my Ladybird books but his is the sort of stuff that needs sifting though and is all mixed up.

We also got rid of 500 CD, we sold the ones we could , got £25 and the rest went to charity, he ripped the music from all of them.

@ViciousCurrentBun dont get rid of the Ladybird books! My mum gave mine away45 odd years ago. I really regret that.
My loft is a homage to Lego and used car parts. We need to get up there and sort it.

@Rowgtfc72 About 300 are being kept, that’s enough for any household.

I’m gearing up for another effort. There is a school uniform sale coming up, then a couple of NCT type sales (have booked for one but not yet others). Plus several EBay items sitting in draft that just need a final check.
Pep talk to myself incoming!

But I did significantly improve the look of my workroom in January with a big sort-out of paper and re-making the bed with clean sheets and a nice new coverlet. It looks a lot better in there, although clutter is still lurking just out of sight.

Glad you're all doing so well.

We sold a few cameras today in CEX. Got over £200.
I did buy a shirt/blouse from a charity shop but am not sure of it so it's going in the bag. I have a few things to take to the charity shop tomorrow.
I have a book to pick up from the library. I've used the library a lot lately. I order books online and pick them up when they're delivered to our local one. Means less books in the house and saves money.

Loft has been sorted through so that insulation could be I stalled and an old water tank removed.
DH has installed shelving racking so that the stuff we do want to keep is a bit more organised.

Next big job will be getting insulation installed in the flat roof above the bay window in the front bedroom. Whilst I'm getting quotes from roofers I'm sorting out clothes, stuff under the bed and bedside tables so we'll be ready to redecorate that room after the roof is done.

Have finally found a charity shop that takes VHS tapes: The Forces Support shop in Glenrothes.

The helpful gentleman at the counter tells me that they also have branches in Stirling and Alloa and that the Salvation Army store in Glasgow also takes them.

I only dropped off one tape - didn't want to carry in items that I couldn't leave.

Have been sorting through my clothes again and have one top in the rag bag. It's not a lot, but better than nothing.

I wonder what they do with them

There are customers who are still buying them, I was told.

That's amazing

Hello @LushLemonTart, @ViciousCurrentBun @CherryogDog and all,

I had a very productive table at an NCT-type sale a few weeks back and managed to sell a lot of items, also giving away quite a bit too.

I had a big clear-out of my garden items (at the behest of my DH) and gave away a lot of old flower pots to people on my street. Somehow I caught the warm-weather moment when everyone was wanting to pot on their seedlings and, after an initial lack of interest, was absolutely fighting off requests to come and get some!

I have tried to bag up some items for textile collection during the week, rather than leaving it until the night before and not having time. That has been quite successful.

I have found myself being a bit more tolerant of the idea of actually putting something in the black bin. If there are no reuse options, no recycling routes then perhaps, philosophically, that is where it is meant to be?

Still no progress on Ebay, despite having items in draft. I seem to be out of the habit.

Hi @BadSkiingMum . That's very productive!
We're moving house soon so a mass declutter is in the pipeline. We've just got rid of some bits and some clothes. Lots more to go/sell.

Some more clothes have gone into the textiles bin at the recycling centre.

Hi @everyone.
I've sold some stuff on ebay, letting it go cheap rather than hang on to it for ages.
Got a new bits and bobs charity box on the go, and throwing stuff away with no regrets.
Just chipping away slowly.

Hi @CherryogDog sounds progressive.

I'm working today off tomorrow but am seeing a friend. I'm measuring up at the new house Tuesday and will get rid of some stuff when back home.

Good luck everyone.

Yes to ‘chipping away at it’. I have come to the conclusion that we generally acquire items one-by-one, so they probably need to be considered and disposed of in the same way. Obviously I don’t mean driving to a charity shop for one item, but picking it up and turning it over in your hands as you decide where it should go.