The Great Declutter - 18 months on

HomeSpun

Jnelhams wrote: »

This thread is like a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, I suppose if any
of us is ever going to succeed it is a question of trying to establish why it is we have rooms full to the ceiling of stuff?

For my part I think it was growing up poor in the 70's and just not wanting to throw stuff out that might be needed. As well as a large dose of despair at where to begin.:rotfl:

So what's your excuse?

I live with someone who would throw out everything if he could and then re-buy it - he's the original 'disposable' consumer. I hoard (and hide) everything so that he can't throw it out :rotfl:.

I used to laugh at my Grandmother for hoarding toilet rolls when I was younger. I counted those I have in the airing cupboard and it was 94 rolls at last count

Jnelhams

Yes it does appear to be our parents fault, for some of us at least, strangely my parents were not hoarders or squirrels. Trouble is as has been said we now have the modern excuse of recycling, before it was Make do and Mend.

In America they do these 12 step programmes, where you talk your declutter problems through. I think it might work, as you spend all your money on these instead of stuff. :rotfl:

pigpen

My mother is a squirrel..

I have made a fabulous start on the decluttering in the last year and hopefully this year will see me become minimalist.. *giggle*

Jnelhams

HomeSpun wrote: »

I used to laugh at my Grandmother for hoarding toilet rolls when I was younger. I counted those I have in the airing cupboard and it was 94 rolls at last count

I went to the Cash'n'Carry the other week they had an offer on 72 packs of Loo Rolls, and the Hoard Monster got me to put two packs in my trolley. It did It wasn't my fault.

charlies_mum

Ok, my name is Charliesmum and I am a hoarder :rotfl:

My excuse is that I have a small business and most of my clutter is stock no, that's a lie, some of my clutter is stock :rolleyes:

Jnelhams

pigpen wrote: »

My mother is a squirrel..

I have made a fabulous start on the decluttering in the last year and hopefully this year will see me become minimalist.. *giggle*

I've heard about Minimalists in a book I've got somewhere on decluttering. How do these people cope without the excitement of not knowing what is going to fall out of the cupboards next?

Jnelhams

charlies_mum wrote: »

Ok, my name is Charliesmum and I am a hoarder :rotfl:

My excuse is that I have a small business and most of my clutter is stock no, that's a lie, some of my clutter is stock :rolleyes:

Welcome Charliesmum, you do realise I have never met anyone who has succeeded in getting decluttered. I have planned to do dozens of Car Boot Sales, but the Hoard Monster made me buy more. I did sell some stuff on Ebay, I filled a van from the Charity Shop, and I gave away stuff. Problem is Christmas as just added to it and I have 3 rooms filled with stuff now, none of which is really worth keeping. Broken Computers, Hub Caps, Loo Rolls, Jars, Odd Wall Paper, Paint, Luggage, Furniture oh the list is endless....

angelavdavis

Jnelhams wrote: »

Yes it does appear to be our parents fault, for some of us at least, strangely my parents were not hoarders or squirrels. Trouble is as has been said we now have the modern excuse of recycling, before it was Make do and Mend.

In America they do these 12 step programmes, where you talk your declutter problems through. I think it might work, as you spend all your money on these instead of stuff. :rotfl:

Trouble is my parents live with me and have this attitude. A routine clearout turns into a full scale row! There is nothing wrong with make do and mend - I am also a big fan, but when you are drowning there has to be a point where you can say "no, its GOT to go!"

Even the lady that comes in to help with the vacuuming was overheard saying yesterday "Well, you can't turn your back one minute before a space has been filled with something else!"

zarazara

I started to de-clutter when it reached the point where we couldnt find stuff or get to it when we needed it, so we KNEW we has a ***** somewhere but ended up going out and buying another ***** coz it was easier.
Time to get rid of stuff I decided. Life is now much easier and less fraught.

Jnelhams

angelavdavis wrote: »

Trouble is my parents live with me and have this attitude. A routine clearout turns into a full scale row! There is nothing wrong with make do and mend - I am also a big fan, but when you are drowning there has to be a point where you can say "no, its GOT to go!"

Even the lady that comes in to help with the vacuuming was overheard saying yesterday "Well, you can't turn your back one minute before a space has been filled with something else!"

I did empty a room once, trouble is all that space, it looked so empty.:EasterBun