Decluttering

Ooh heck, I did keep buying bamboo toilet rolls at bogoff prices and there they were, all neatly stored under a bed. Oh well I won`t need any more for a good long time and de-cluttering them is going to be slow

I failed today and just bought another clothes airer for indoors, winter is coming and this one is tall when opened up. Hangon drying rack. Necessary is not clutter in my opinion

So my electric underblanket is in my car while I finally decide on its fate, either keep it or skip it. I need my sensible head on and keep thinking back to the very many years of using a hot water bottle, which did the job while allowing my inner core temperature to cool, so giving me better sleep. Anyway I can always put some hm woolen socks on too

I did similar very often when I started decluttering to move house in 2019. I used to fill a shopping trolley with the maybes, leave it for a few days and more often than not, I wheeled it intact to a charity shop where I emptied it to oohs and ahs from the helpful assistants

I have ordered a good hot water bottle with a cover and am going to get rid of my electric blanket which is in s big roll under the bed

There is more than one reason to get rid

Yay and there is a pair of beaten-up trainers going out, which means I can take a new pair out of my shoe stash, also under my bed

Well, as you can see, its a veritable hive of activity on this thread.

fancythat

What was the reason she left everything so very late. If you dont mind me asking?

I really don’t know, I think the task had become too big and it was better for her to ignore it. Also I think she was hoping to take a lot more than she could take. She is a crafter and in a large bedroom had 3 units filled with about 70 storage boxes of craft stuff. She wanted to take it all but that alone would have filled the van.

What was the reason she left everything so very late. If you dont mind me asking?

I have just had an exhausting month. My sister in law has just moved to live in Sweden with her 2 sons and families.
Her house was put on the market a year ago, after a couple of months sale fell through back on market and sold in January. Unfortunately in March she fell and broke her hip and thigh.
Her buyer then was pushing her to move out by end of July ( quite reasonably).
She had done absolutely no declutterring and I and a couple of her friends had to downsize her belongings to fit into a medium size van in 3 weeks. What a nightmare she had so much “stuff” we took about 30 bags/boxes of clothes, shoes, kitchen stuff etc etc to charity shops. I sold a lot of things, arranged for a scrap men to take away a lot of things. I left lots of things on her drive with a sign saying free - everything went. We filled a large skip aswell.
It was very hard for her as a lot of things had sentimental value and she was reminiscing all the time when she found things - we didn’t have time though.
We then had to pack up everything she was taking.
It taught me a big lesson, we keep a lot of stuff we don’t need use or want. So I am on a mission to sort a drawer, cupboard, wardrobe every week and try and declutter.

Oh, well done!!
How lovely that sounds, and the "no more shoving things into cupboards."

Its a huge strain to put youself under, when you're basically a clean, tidy person, to just put things out of sight, because it doesn't follow that they're out of mind.

You've done so well, and no doubt lifted a little unnecessary weight off your mind. I'm jealous!

I am packing in for the day, worked until 9.30 and thats enough, its sunday, my day of rest

Looking at my patio plants in pots and I was begrudging water for my figs, I am not liking figs anyway. 5 plants,. 2 were a few years old. They have gone to the tip just now and so have the pots they were in

Thats another load de-cluttered for my future. I`m amazed at how bits for de-cluttering pop up

I am enjoying the extra spaces all over my house, no shoving things into cupboards any more

2 bottles of Corsydil mouthwash gone out today.
I'm so angry with my boy.

Adrian cupboard was clean and tidy. I opened the door and he has cleaned his car but deliberately left cloths, bits of mini vacuum, etc, all over the floor, along with every spray cleaner known to man strewn all over the placè.

FranP My DDs clothes will fit DGD in a year or 2, so do I keep them?

Whilst on a 3 generation holiday this year, I commented on a very nice boho top my 18 year old GD wore. It turns out it was mine then passed on to my DD.

My GD has worn several items originally mine or her mothers, usually going out stuff.
Takes me down memory lane when I used to have a figure like hers

Three years ago I was going to have a new porch and the garage roof re felted. Found the quote last night. Was all set to have it done but found that all of my windows needed replacing so had to do that first. Then realised the garage roof was asbestos and there was a drainage problem as it has no gutters just a hole in the roof leading to a soak away. No one has been able to think of a new drainage solution. However someone came out to give me a quote to repair part of it and he’s someone that seems to like a bit of a challenge and thinks he can find a way to do the work. However having been resigned to not doing the work I’m now lying awake at night worrying about the logistics of it all ( ie removing all the junk that’s in the garage) and how much it’s going to cost. Also what if it all goes wrong and I’ve used up all of my saved up house fund. And will it start raining just as the work begins which is what always happens in Grand Designs.Mind you I had the dripping bathroom tap fixed yesterday and keep going to the bathroom just to gaze adoringly at my new taps.

I am having shelving put up in the garage. Maybe today.
All part of the big declutter.

I am trying to hang onto the energy I had when I woke up, it is partly used up but I want to use it today, later when it is a bit cooler. I will be working outside again

I did build some raised beds this morning, for veggies at home but I`m now wanting to thin down my gardening collection of pots, planters and propagators. They are outside in keter storage and I did wash the pots and modules some weeks ago but tbh I don`t need 50% of what I have. I must do it while I am in the mood, once that mood goes then so will the enthusiasm

It is hot outside now, I have to wait

I have been clearing out my little study ready for the decorator on Monday. It suddenly occurred to me that I ought to be sorting things, not just removing them. So quite a bit of paper went in the recycling bin today, but the rest will need sorting before it all goes back in. The trouble is, I can’t stick at it for long, it’s so tedious. Or else I start to read all sorts of things I had forgotten about, then of course I don’t want to throw them away.

I’d like to just go and live in a caravan for a few weeks ( I did live in a caravan once) and then return and find everything had been done. I’ve spent a lifetime collecting things that made me feel happy at the time but now just weigh me down. Tried on a Seasalt dress today that a bought a year or so ago. Having lost weight it now doesn’t fit me and is far too long. And I’ve never even worn it.

I am carefully NOT looking at the many things that I really need to sort out, yet again. I havent been well and am not in the right frame of mind to contemplate a blitz right now. Having moved many times both here and abroad, you would think that I would be a competent "thrower outer" by now. but when it comes to books and paperwork and making decisions I am not. I shall no doubt be more in the mood come september. Having been a teacher and lecturer, that always feels like a start the year time and sort out time. Of course every time we moved I would swear that I would never let it get so bad again but thats life.

It just made me remember once , many years ago, when there was just my first husband and myself, and we were supposed to be getting ready to move once more. I was very tired and was fed up with his excuses of having to be in work and leaving me to do most of the sorting out,(despite the fact that I also had a full time job,) and we ended up having a blazing row. I had just about had enough of him, the firm, and everything else and suddenly said. "Right, I am leaving NOW. " He was stupid enough to say "Oh you wont really" and that was red rag to a bull!

I got my coat and bag and took the car and drove out to the countryside. It was wonderful and stress relieving, as at that time I really meant it. I sat there suddenly thinking how marvellous, I would not have to think where anything went and how to pack and how to get rid of things etc, and best of all NO decisions to make , and relished the thought that he would have to sort out every cupboard and drawer and clean up. I calmed down and went and found a pleasant cafe and had a coffee and spent a while thinking about what I really wanted.

Then I drove back home and we carried on. But my husband definitely made more of an effort, and we made many more moves over time. But that is how I feel right at this moment. I want to just go out , shut the door on the lot of it, and do a Reggie Perrin and disappear. Unfortunately , it wouldnt work, as no doubt wherever I went to, I would still have things to sort out! Ah well just have to wait for September, and a cold wet day to get me into sorting mode!

Didn’t clear everything; just rammed it all into other rooms. Roof guys turned up really early and I wasn’t even dressed but were really helpful and I’m hoping that they’ll fix the leak. Most people only want to do a full job not just a repair. They’ve done a lot of work in the village and come highly recommended. Wish I’d called them before. Looking at my garage last night I realised I’m a hoarder with ocd tendencies because most of my hoarding is all categorised and labelled and the stuff that’s lying round the house is just waiting to be categorised and labelled. Preferably alphabetically…

Mine is since my kids left.
I then did a lot of volunteering for a number of years.
I assumed I could catch the tidying back up quite quickly.

I did three days of decluttering last week .
It was hot .
I was appalled at the clutter .
It was far worse than I'd imagined .
I did four hours yesterday and plan to work thus afternoon .
It's actually the accumulation of stuff collected over my lifetime.

….now watching Renovation Rescue hoping for inspiration…

#wewouldntwantyouanyotherway

I’m still procrastinating. And the dog has just been sick in the kitchen…( currently watching Homes Under the Hammer) #beyondhelp

Oh now there's a reason to "spring into action" MayBee!
Have you sprung, yet?

I have had lots and lots of company, the last few days. One in, one out.
Consequently, I'm now behind with the normal housework, so, we start again on the decluttering merry-go-round.

I need to get tidy as I have some shopping being delivered.
Washing needs to be got in, and anotjer load put out.

I just haven't the energy these days...

I’ve got a plumber coming next week to fit some new taps and someone coming on Friday morning to look at the garage roof. Hopefully this will focus my mind and spur me into action. The more I read about it the more convinced I am that I have ADHD! I remember once been in someone’s kitchen when she’d just been shopping. I watched her in amazement as, in the space of a few minutes, she unpacked everything and put it in it’s rightful place.With me I’ll still have some things roaming round the house a week later. Or still in the car…

That's the thing, isn't it?
Decluttering involves making (temporarily) more "stuff".

Brian cupboard involves getting lots of stuff out, and into my narrow hall, all jumbled up, so I can sort it and put it back.

Ive a half formulated plan, that I could fetch one box into the living room, and sort it out while I'm resting...