30 bags in 30 days decluttering method

My niece and nephew met their partners at Leeds as well as getting good degrees which led to good jobs.
Now it's their DC and our DGC we worry about.

My df came with her sister today and began the big declutter. Lots of lists were written and things I do not need to keep were explained.
I'm to be given a fireproof safe to keep the really vital papers but they want to help to release an entire room to be repurposed.

I went to Leeds University too . I’m so sorry to hear about your son’s misfortunes, MayBee, but I’m glad that in the long run he enjoyed his time there.

To be honest, Leeds was the making of him. The students really looked out for each other and the friends he made there are still in touch. They all turned up for his surprise 40th birthday party. For two summers after they graduated they travelled round Europe together. My boss’s son went to Leeds, too, and he said all the students want to stay there afterwards. What did make it hard was that my husband had left us for someone else and whenever I got a phone call from our son I was left to deal with it on my own. I’d love to meet that policeman, though: I still chuckle to myself when I think of our conversation. He had his wallet stolen at one time and I had to cancel all of his cards but a few weeks later someone found it and sent it to me which restores your faith inhuman nature somewhat. I can’t believe it was so long ago, though. It only seems like yesterday. Unlike my daughter who decided to raise her children in a village it turned him into a real city boy.

I cross posted and missed the story of your son, MayBee. What an awful thing to happen.

When DD was home we asked her to sort out all her paperwork and University notes.
That way it wasn't on our consciences!
The other DC had disposed of theirs years ago, apart from a few things.

I've come across my mother's exercise books and her essays from the 1930s and a drawer full of DS uni work.
That is awful to hear about your poor DS at Leeds MayBee
3 of my nieces and nephews were at Leeds and I never heard stories like that from them.

I am in 2 minds about the value of having friends to help.
I host volunteers from time to time through HelpX but I recently hosted a couple from Kentucky who were so ruthless, I had to rescue things off the bonfire!

That’s a very easy thing to declutter MayBee. I hauled my daughter’s uni stuff out of the garage before she came to visit, put it by the sofa, and she sat down and went though it all in about 5 minutes, she had no sentimental attachment to it at all. She kept one piece of work, the rest was straight into the recycling bin, and folders in a black bag for the tip. That’s the sort of decluttering I enjoy best. It’s my own stuff that’s the hardest for me, I’ve still got a little box with my school exercise books in that I can’t part with.

I'd love to borrow Grammaretto's friend. It would be so much easier with someone to help, wouldn't it? Sadly, Mr Dog is not the right person, as we'd just argue over what should go and what should stay.

Just found a box that contained my son’s uni stuff. Old photo bus passes etc. Forms that he had to fill in when he was glassed at a night club. He didn’t phone me till he left the hospital and was walking home. I can still remember hearing the church bells ringing in the background. He was at Leeds Uni. He was always being mugged or burgled. Someone broke in and stole his bike one day. He saw someone riding it but didn’t dare take it back when they left it outside a house. I phoned the police on his behalf and said ‘ I know you’re very busy but I need to ask you for some advice’. The policeman paused and said ‘don’t buy any stocks and shares at the moment, it isn’t the right time’. He did go on to say, if he sees it again just take it back. But he never did. I remember him saying ‘ mum, it’s not fair: I saved up my pocket money for that bike and someone just took it: how can they do that?’. This decluttering really tears at your heart strings. It’s much better to just throw things away at the time, not years later.

Why do I have 5 guitars and 2 pianos?
Oh yes, we got rid of one large keyboard and stand plus assorted music 🙂

Ooh I didn't notice we had six more weeks!
Is that all? 😲

Actually I've probably cleared 20 bags and only another 100 to go!

Ooh I didn't notice we had six more weeks!
Phew.
Df who helped before with my papers is coming again tomorrow and bringing her sister.I am hoping for ruthless decluttering.

DD came today and took away a few of her things and also told me to "chuck, chuck, chuck*
Why do I have 5 guitars and 2 pianos? I don't play any of them. The DGC love the piano and my DGS is grade 8 now but he doesn't live here.
I have sold the clay mixer.
Some small victories amidst the chaos.
I agree about SAPLE but there are things to enjoy while we are still here

Horty
Vinted is good to sell on. I havnt but my friends daughter does very well selling on there.

My daughters taking a very ornate cheval mirror that I bought years ago. It looked beautiful at a craft fair but it doesn’t go anywhere in my house and it’s so heavy I worry about it falling on my dog. I honestly don’t know why I bought it!

Oh, and MayBee70, re the keeping of old furniture to be upcycled . . . . . Yep, I feel your pain .

Welcome, Rosie51 .

I’m still plodding along but, like for so many of you, there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Clothes, books and costume jewellery are still waiting to be sorted. Mugs need to be culled.

Now that I’ve given myself (and all you lovely thread followers) six more weeks, I’m confident there’ll be a noticeable difference soon.

😁 SAPLE !
But never the one colour you need to complete a project.

Oh dear, I'm procrastinating.

Have you come across the term 'SAPLE'? It means Stash Above Probably Life Expectancy, and I reached that state years ago!

I knew that as SABLE in the quilting community, Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy I reached that many years ago, but managed to use loads up making laundry bags for the nurses and midwives of my local hospital, and uncountable ear savers to keep the elastic of their masks from making their ears so sore. My yarn stash is mostly just the approved cotton for making my 'Octopus for a preemie' makes.

See you next Christmas, Calli .

If I went to sort my yarn, I would need to take rations to last a fortnight. I am trying very hard not to buy more, at least until I have used up more of my enormous stash, but it's so hard when there is so much temptation.

Have you come across the term 'SAPLE'? It means Stash Above Probably Life Expectancy, and I reached that state years ago!

I am going to sort my yarn. Well, re-sort it.
Yes, really!!

The problem is that I found a project I want to do and it requires some colours I don't already have ......... 🤔

I have furniture that I bought to upcycle and never got round to doing it. Some needs to go back to a charity shop eg some chairs that I was going to paint but had cushions that needed reupholstering. Annoyingly I had painted one of them before I gave up. And an old writing bureau. I’ve always wanted a writing bureau. I’ve got nowhere to put one but I’d still love to paint it. And an old wash stand that used to be in my porch. It needs the tiles repairing and I still love it. I did ask a local shop if they could sell it but they said nobody wants them any more. I thought I’d got fed up of upcycling but I went to buy some chalk paint Fira small shelf the other day, saw some of the furniture in the shop that had been upcycled and the urge to start again came back. And, as I was writing this realised I could ask the lady who runs the shop if she would like to upcycle the chairs for me. I don’t think she charges a lot….

Keep it up, karmalady. It’s not easy, but the feeling of relief when an area’s been cleared is worth it.

I have had a busy week, and have a lot on today, too; but I need to sort out a spare bedroom as my son and his wife are coming for an overnighter next week. If I can get that done today it would be one less thing to worry about.

One more item, carrier bag worth, out today. I am still de-cluttering after starting 17 years ago, difference being that now it is a more gentle pace but much harder psychologically

new but bought years ago, wide shoes that disintegrated on my way home yesterday. Past their use by date obviously. Binned

I watched a youtube sewing vid earlier and have actually taken in that the reason I don`t use my viscose/jersey fabrics is that I just do not like that fabric and what would be the point in spending time sewing them. I will very soon start on my fabric stash, arghh, quite a daunting prospect but hey ho,

I got carried away when I returned to sewing. All those bargain fabrics!! expensive enough tbh but not me at all. I have to bite the bullet but there is an upside and at least I have found my fabric style. They will be bagged in clear labelled bags and donated. People will get a bargain and the charity will get money

Doodledog

Come and join us, Rosie! I’ve been busy for the past few days and am out tomorrow, so won’t get anything done then either, but I’m back in the harness on Sunday.

Thanks Doodledog I've felt a bit of a fraud being so intermittent but you all inspired me to start the clear out and I'm so pleased with what I've accomplished. Can't promise a bag a day, but can promise to observe the spirit of the thread