Hoarder needs help.

aliasojo

Hello, I'm aliasojo and I'm a hoarder. *waves*

I'm in the loft today trying to empty it as I have 32 rolls of insulation to lay and no space to keep them so they have to go down soon.

I've done well up till now, I've been quite ruthless about some things. I have a 'donate to charity' pile, a 'dump' pile and a 'not sure about' pile.

It's the 'not sure about' pile I need help with.

So fancy helping me out?

I will list things I dont know what to do with (and any reasoning behind them) and you lot can tell me to keep, donate or dump. It'll help while away any bored moments.


1) From 22 years ago.......wedding dress, bridesmaid's dress and silver (not real silver) commemorative platter thing with our names engraved on it that was given as a present by our local pub. Obviously will never use them (nor will I ever fit into the dress again) so I don't know why I haven't just chucked them. I don't even have any fond memories of my marriage so it's not like I'm hanging onto the stuff for sentimental reasons.


2) Canteen of cutlery given as a wedding present but never used. Everyday set (not posh). Pattern would be seen as quite old fashioned now I think. Don't really need it but a knife is a knife and it might come in handy one day?

3) Big cardboard box full of material. Mum used to make her own clothes but the craft gene passed me by. Daughter likes making things though and it might come handy for making easter things?

4) Old Singer sewing machine (if memory serves, it was a bit temperamental and kept jamming but it was Mum's so was kept after she died and also it might come in handy ) That said, it's been sat in the loft for 20 years.

5) Old vinyl LP's, not in very good condition. Don't even have a record player but they are a reminder of the past. Some of them were even my Mum's so I keep her junk too. :rolleyes:

6) China tea set. Old and also Mum's. Also been in loft 20 years.

7) Old wooden crutches. Found them in someone's bin years ago and asked if I could take them as I thought they'd come in handy for a school play or something.

8) Antlers (Shut up Pavlov) and a matching ship made out of antler I think.

9)Boxes of books from my childhood, my Father's childhood and also his First Aid books from when he was training.

10) An old mirror that's at least 45 years old. I have pictures of me as a baby looking into this mirror. It's got a little damage to it in a couple of places where the backing seems to have rusted (?).


So, these are what I'm sat staring at at the moment, undecided about what to do with them. If I never had them in the first place, I wouldn't miss them but I've got them now. I've got loads more up there too, this is only a tiny drop in the ocean.

Shout at me someone. :rolleyes:

Reggie_Rebel

Can of four star, packet of Swan Vesta's. Stick everything in the garden, introduce the Swan Vesta to the four star, job's a good 'un

Zozo1985

Put them all on Freecycle or Freegle. Someone will take them off your hands. Which means you don't have to go carting about dropping them off at charity shops etc, or wasting them by binning them. Someone will come and get them off you.

aliasojo

You know what Reggie, I really wish I could bring myself to do that.

Why do some people have such a hard time getting rid of stuff....I don't understand it myself.

neneromanova

the box of materials, can you give them to the childs school or their craft lessons?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Offer wedding dress to DD. If she doesn't want it, ask local college that does textiles if they are interested in this, the singer and the fabric. DD1 says her textile class would kill to have access to things like that rather than just bits of cotton.

EBay cutlery (it may have a kitsch value), teaset, LPs, books (some have silly values), antlers, crutches and mirror if you don't like it.

Simple. Anything still there in a fortnight goes to charity shop. Big bag, hand it over and leave. Don't look back.

RVK2

aliasojo wrote: »

Hello, I'm aliasojo and I'm a hoarder. *waves*

1) From 22 years ago.......wedding dress, bridesmaid's dress and silver (not real silver) commemorative platter thing with our names engraved on it that was given as a present by our local pub. Obviously will never use them (nor will I ever fit into the dress again) so I don't know why I haven't just chucked them. I don't even have any fond memories of my marriage so it's not like I'm hanging onto the stuff for sentimental reasons.
No fond memories? dresses to a charity shop perhaps?


2) Canteen of cutlery given as a wedding present but never used. Everyday set (not posh). Pattern would be seen as quite old fashioned now I think. Don't really need it but a knife is a knife and it might come in handy one day?

I agree, use them

3) Big cardboard box full of material. Mum used to make her own clothes but the craft gene passed me by. Daughter likes making things though and it might come handy for making easter things?

Pick the biggest bits, but is it likely to be used, really?

4) Old Singer sewing machine (if memory serves, it was a bit temperamental and kept jamming but it was Mum's so was kept after she died and also it might come in handy ) That said, it's been sat in the loft for 20 years.

Sounds like a new home needed at the tip especially if it's temperamental

5) Old vinyl LP's, not in very good condition. Don't even have a record player but they are a reminder of the past. Some of them were even my Mum's so I keep her junk too. :rolleyes:

Ebay?
6) China tea set. Old and also Mum's. Also been in loft 20 years.

Display/use it if it's pretty? Or charity shop?

7) Old wooden crutches. Found them in someone's bin years ago and asked if I could take them as I thought they'd come in handy for a school play or something.

Tip, lol

8) Antlers (Shut up Pavlov) and a matching ship made out of antler I think.

As above, or display them somewhere?

9)Boxes of books from my childhood, my Father's childhood and also his First Aid books from when he was training.

Sort through those the family will use and charity shop the rest

10) An old mirror that's at least 45 years old. I have pictures of me as a baby looking into this mirror. It's got a little damage to it in a couple of places where the backing seems to have rusted (?).

Have it re-silvered if you like it?

So, these are what I'm sat staring at at the moment, undecided about what to do with them. If I never had them in the first place, I wouldn't miss them but I've got them now. I've got loads more up there too, this is only a tiny drop in the ocean.

Shout at me someone. :rolleyes:

Job done

I know how hard it is to declutter the sentimental stuff:o

RVK2 xx

RAS

aliasojo wrote: »

It's the 'not sure about' pile I need help with.

1) From 22 years ago.......wedding dress, bridesmaid's dress and silver (not real silver) commemorative platter thing with our names engraved on it that was given as a present by our local pub. Obviously will never use them (nor will I ever fit into the dress again) so I don't know why I haven't just chucked them. I don't even have any fond memories of my marriage so it's not like I'm hanging onto the stuff for sentimental reasons.

Could be considered "vintage"? I would suggest e-bay for the clothes. Your daughter might have some interest in the platter, as a sentimental item?

2) Canteen of cutlery given as a wedding present but never used. Everyday set (not posh). Pattern would be seen as quite old fashioned now I think. Don't really need it but a knife is a knife and it might come in handy one day?

Do you need cutlery? Even if only for when you have loads of folks round occasionally. Store it downstairs or e-bay.

3) Big cardboard box full of material. Mum used to make her own clothes but the craft gene passed me by. Daughter likes making things though and it might come handy for making easter things?

We had mountains of the stuff to clear from my mother's house. We found a charity (st Elizabeth's I think) that renovate furniture and they took loads. If it is furnishing stuff, also try Emmaneus, for clothing fabrics ask the local hospice charity, as they may have members who make stuff for sale.

Although do ask DD first if she would like any pieces.

4) Old Singer sewing machine (if memory serves, it was a bit temperamental and kept jamming but it was Mum's so was kept after she died and also it might come in handy ) That said, it's been sat in the loft for 20 years.

Personally, the one thing I regret parting with when we split was my old hand sewing machine. If it is electric, I would freegle it.

5) Old vinyl LP's, not in very good condition. Don't even have a record player but they are a reminder of the past. Some of them were even my Mum's so I keep her junk too. :rolleyes:

Do you like the music on them? If not, definately e-bay or amazon.

6) China tea set. Old and also Mum's. Also been in loft 20 years. E-bay.

7) Old wooden crutches. Found them in someone's bin years ago and asked if I could take them as I thought they'd come in handy for a school play or something. Drama group? Would be great props.

8) Antlers (Shut up Pavlov) and a matching ship made out of antler I think.

9)Boxes of books from my childhood, my Father's childhood and also his First Aid books from when he was training.

I would go through with DD, identify any that you think would last and sell the rest on e-bay. We found that grand-kids are like to have one or two books from the older generation. All our pete rabbit, wind in the willows, and swallows and amazons have been through generations.

10) An old mirror that's at least 45 years old. I have pictures of me as a baby looking into this mirror. It's got a little damage to it in a couple of places where the backing seems to have rusted (?).

Do you like it? If so hang it up. If not, ask if anyone else would like it and then e-bay or freegle.

Hi

It is also worth making a list of the older stuff and just checking with your local or any specialist museums. We found on one occasion that a workbook would have been very much appreciated by a specialist museum particularly because of the local link, until I pointed out that I thought it had been thrown the previous month.

aliasojo

Thanks peeps. It's only when I look at the things that I get undecided. Sitting here reading the comments makes it seem so straightforward and I think 'that's just what I'll do', then I go look at them again and waiver and I think 'but I might need it or find a use for it.

I'd love to know what it is that makes me like this. I may have another problem worthy of therapy. :rotfl:

claireac

If you want to get rid of the sewing machine let me know!!

I was the same when I was xh, then I just upped and left. No idea what happened to half my stuff. He even threw out my teddy I had as a child and denied allll knowledge.

I'm nowhere near as bad now - it's not belongings that make you happy.

My own theory is that lofts are just too convenient! How easy to umm and ahhh and then put it out sight and mind in the loft?? :rotfl:

Krystaltips

I would... Insulate the loft... Then pop boarding over the top... Then pop it all back up there...

But then I can't throw anything away lol!