10 Days to reclaim your home days 3&4

Day 3 Dec 28th.

Find a home for the presents. This can be a challenge whether you house is a small 2 bed bungalow or a 10 bedroom mansion. More rooms means more clutter. The question is whether to keep ( precious/useful/brings you joy), pass on, throw away, or hide away. 15 minutes ( But I do 10) at a high speed. Then stop. WELL DONE.

This is the difficult question. Does it make you smile? If you yes straight away then find a place to put it. If you hesitate even for a moment then it needs treating. Now there are two routes. 1) The MAYBE pile and the OUT OF THE HOUSE pile.

The MAYBE pile is for those things that you are not sure about. Once you have a pile big enough ( carrier bag, small box) seal it, date it and then put it somewhere out of site. Put a reminder to look at it in the diary at 6months and 1 day or 1 year and 1 day. If you have not opened it 6 months/1 year later – do not open it just bin it. The important thing is NOT to open it. If you haven’t missed the contents in 1 year – you don’t need them.

The OUT OF THE HOUSE pile – does what it says on the tin.

Remove the monsters in the fridge - and their food.

Day 4 29th Dec The left over eating and drinking stuff.

Firstly take a long look in the fridge. Go on I dare you. Look at it and work out the stuff to be thrown away. The half eaten, going crusty, really can’t be bothered eating another piece food. Isn't it time the turkey and the potatoes hit the bin before they grow hairy? Then look at the savouries. Gather together ( or bin) the crisps, then the nuts, put the fruit in the bowl, cheese biscuits in their tubs, sweets into one place.

BUT word of warning.... once the food is out of the fridge - bin it - don't leave it on the side for later - as one author did. It's a bummer to discover the half finished job when you are about to make your "going to bed" cuppa!