Hoarder needs help.

pavlovs_dog

aliasojo wrote: »

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.

Hope the renovations are going well. Is the end in sight?

aliasojo wrote: »

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.

Don't lose sight of this. as a horder, decluttering goes against all your natural instincts. If you have sorted stuff into piles then you have made progress. You're prepared to say goodbye to some stuff. If you're not prepared to say goodbye to it all in one go, and doing little declutters often isn't an option then you just need to resign yourself that you are hanging onto the contents of the don't know pile (for the immediate future at least).

aliasojo wrote: »

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.

If your daughter doesn't want the dresses for dressing up then ebay, donate to charity or the textiles dept of your local school. The platter is harder to ditch guilt-free as it has your names on and could be traced back to you.

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?

You said it yourself; never used. You've had enough knives up to now. Get rid.


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?

How often? When did you last use something from there? if more than 2 years it can go.


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.

Can you actually use one? if not, do you have any inclination to learn?


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:

If they're scatched they wouldn't play properly even if you did have a player. You could consider doing something arty with them (eg making bowls/wall art). Alternatively, buy a grammarphone. It would look lovely under the antlers....

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

Ever used it? is it to your taste? did you mum ever use it or did she hang onto it simply because it was a present (like your platter and canteen)?


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.

These were someone else's junk to begin with. you rescued them with good intentions. Rehome them.


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

i'm saying nothing. :D Just note the date


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

Keep your favourites. There is something priceless about your personal copy of a childhood favourite.


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 (?).

If you like it, get it fixed and hang it up.


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:

it's so much easier getting rid of other peoples junk. We have a house move at the end of the month. That's been a real kick up the bum to get rid of stuff that we've had forever. It's very rare that you miss it once it has gone. Out of sight, out of mind.

aliasojo

nearlyrich wrote: »

....... BUT peace of mind and a tidy house are priceless so here goes!



Hope that wasn't too harsh enjoy the feeling when it's all gone;)

When we had to move out recently during some work that was going on in the house, we rented a place that was open plan, wood floors, no curtains just blinds, no shelves full of ornaments, no clutter anywhere. It was spacious and light and we ALL felt 'lighter' and at ease more if that makes sense. We left there with the full intention of throwing out everything that wasn't nailed down in our place. Maybe I need to rent that place again to recapture that feeling. :rolleyes: Peace of mind and a tidy house is definitely what I want/need.....I'm just struggling a bit on the journey there.

Not harsh at all. Please come to my house and do it for me. :rotfl:

nearlyrich

I wuld love to set up a clutter busting business I know I would be good at it LOL doubt the financial rewards would stack up against my current job though sadly so it's a few more years of doing the day job.

You already know what you want to do and you even know it feels good so as it says in the NIKE ads ......

If you were a bit nearer I would love to help!

aliasojo

stormbreaker wrote: »

Is it my loft you are in?

I have spare wardrobe doors, high chair,baby clothes, birthday cards from when I was 10, wedding invites and Order of Service from weddings 30 yrs ago. Old newspaper cuttings. You name it I have got it!

I have a plumber who is 50+ and everytime he has to go up my loft or into my garage he can't get over the amount of stuff and he has seen many a loft and garage in his time but none like mine! I might have to send him up to yours one day aliasojo so he can compare!

You're the first person in 20 years I have come across who also keeps wardrobe doors. :rotfl:

I have newspaper cuttings too from when my Mum was one of the first ever people to be cured of Myasthenia Gravis. (Me and a pal also did a sponsored silence all by ourselves for the deaf and dumb peeps and we got into the local newspaper, lol.) I can't quite chuck them as I think they might be nice for future generations to look at but sod's law says I'll keep them for years and my lot will chuck everything out when I pop my clogs.

Errata

Don't despair. I have a patchwork quilt that my great-grandma almost finished, handed down to my grandma who passed it on to my mum which I have now inherited - and it's still unfinished ! I have a special section in my will for it

aliasojo

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

Hope the renovations are going well. Is the end in sight?

Will be a while yet....we keep running out of money.


Alternatively, buy a grammarphone. It would look lovely under the antlers.

I've just laughed out loud at that! OH has just made some potato and leek soup and some of it is on the carpet now. :rotfl:


How often? When did you last use something from there? if more than 2 years it can go

Been up there untouched since Mum died over 20 years ago.

:D:D

*adds 10 characters*

candygirl

I'm also a terrible hoarder:oMy old kitchen was rammed full of crap, which we got rid of last week, in several trips to the tip, plus a massive skip:eek::eek:
The new kitchen is very light, with lots of cupboards so nothing can be out of place, but.......................................












I've no idea what's im my loft:eek::eek::eek::o:o:o

Tish_P

Unclutterer.com is a great site for this kind of thing! They have some fantastic advice on how to identify and part with clutter, and a very gentle, encouraging attitude towards people with hoarding tendencies (even the ones who can't throw ANYTHING away and end up living in heartbreaking squalor).

aliasojo

I've just had a thought.....if I cut the wedding dress up and put the material into the material box....technically I will have got rid of one thing then. :rotfl:

pandas66

C'mon then...............what have you decided can go?

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