Clutter and hoarding - help!

kit

I dont know if anyone will find this useful or would even be interested due to the 'stigma' attached but still I post just in case.

I used to work as a Tenancy Support Worker.... please keep reading, the name of the job was deceiving!!

Basically the job involved teaching people to live independently - this could be anything from assisting them with budgeting, organising household paperwork, cooking, learning, working, cleaning and decluttering.

A lot of housing associations and councils offer this assistance - YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A TENANT TO GET THIS HELP (homeowners, private tenants and LA/HA tenants can qualify) and the service is free due to government funding. Some places only offer this service to 'young adults' (aged 16 to 25) but others offer to all. Where I worked provided assistance to all ages.

Basically the support workers are not there to 'do it for you', they are there to help you get your head round whatever you need to learn and help you go about it in a way to suit YOU. You have to apply for a support worker and when/if you get one the support can last anywhere from 1 week to 2 years - depending on how long you need the help for.
Some people turn their back on 'support' due to the name and stigma attached to it; however I learnt a lot from being a support worker - people are different and need to approach things in different ways! I have to say that I am a lot more organised (and can now get rid of things I dont use/need) because of the training I had to do the job!

I hope I have not offened anyone by listing this but it works for some people.

Pat__3

Judi wrote:

My kids say, if it aint nailed down, Mom will chuck it!!!:o

This is exactly what my ex husband use to say, and now he's gone.;)



I'm not sad, so you can fall about laughing I do a lot.:D

Pat__3

Judi wrote:

The worst sort of clutter for me is the clutter that my family have given me over the years. Like the boxed set of Star Trek videos that MrJudi bought me about 4 years ago. I am really grateful for them, but everybody hates science fiction in my house. I cant watch them, but i cant get rid either.

Judi, Tell them that William Shatner is coming round to watch the videos with you and you want them all out of the way.:D And don't forget to move the car cos he needs somewhere to park the Enterprise.:eek:

Bordera

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Maybe we need an MSE "Tidy the House" buddy system?

Just thought: some people were finding The Fly Lady's approach helpful, maybe you would too? Although the recommendation is NOT to sign up for the emails as they will completely take over your inbox!

Savvy, thank you for this tip, I checked the website,, read for 2 seconds and thought it was far too organised for me. BUT the tip about the sink stuck, I found myself doing it and it worked . Now when I walk into my kitchen it looks gleaming clean (even if I know it isn't)

I'm trying the hot spots thing next. Many, many thanks for the tip.

Savvy_Sue

Bordera wrote:

Savvy, thank you for this tip, I checked the website,, read for 2 seconds and thought it was far too organised for me. BUT the tip about the sink stuck, I found myself doing it and it worked . Now when I walk into my kitchen it looks gleaming clean (even if I know it isn't)

I'm trying the hot spots thing next. Many, many thanks for the tip.

Well I'm glad it worked for you. I still can't usually see my sink, and as it's a dark brown limescale encrusted monstrosity there's little likelihood of it ever being the first job of the day ...

However, today I have filled my black box (recycling) with paper from one table! I'm looking for the car's service history before I attempt to sell it ... it's like an archaeological dig, and I now have a pile of stuff for my husband to sort through. I'm sure he doesn't want most of it, but I can never quite tell ...

savvy

Savvy_Sue wrote:

HOW did the chap who raised the alarm know to do so? (I'm wording that carefully so as not to spoil the story!)

YEAH!! I wondered that too!!!

Judi - can you not watch them in secret........................or kick them all out of the house and have a Star Trek evening to yourself!! LOL make some Klingon ****tails and Vulcan snacks!!!

kidtechnical

Lillibet wrote:

I hoard books.
HTH

To Lillibet and all the other book hoarders out there,
There's a great site http://www.greenmetropolis.com for recycling your books. It's really simple, you register & then list any books you want to sell by inputting its ISBN number. When someone want's to by it you'll receive an email from them, you post it on & your account is credited.
All books (hardback or paperback, old or new) bought & sold for 3.99 inc p&p and some of that goes towards planting new trees. Of course there's a danger that you'll be tempted to buy....

aliasojo

I LOVE my books..... says she, shaking at even the thought of getting rid of them.

I may click on the above link.........but not yet.

elona

So glad I am not the only one who loves her books. I enjoy re- reading them and getting even more out of them the second time.

At the risk of sounding soppy - they feel like pets or something ( two of my daughters feel the same way).

Curry_Queen

one-non-blonde wrote:

My name's One-Non-Blonde and I'm a clutterholic...

I had to move from a 5-bed house full of junk to a 2-bed flat last year... absolute nightmare. I still had all my school books, university notes, every bill I'd ever received, 9 years worth of kids clothes, toys, prams (3!), etc. Got rid of a lot but nowhere near enough. I had to leave behind the contents of the garden and shed because I had nowhere to put them. At this rate I'll end up on Life of Grime being paid a visit by health and safety officers cos I can't get out the door. I have to sleep on one side of the bed because the other half is ALWAYS covered in piles of laundry. Too cold and wet this time of year for car boot sales and I find Ebay really stressful, hard work (is that just me?).

I could have written this myself!!!! :eek:

I even sleep on the sofa cos I can't get into my bed, or even my bedroom at times ... trouble is there's nowhere to store anything here and every spare bit of room is filled with boxes, many of which have never even been unpacked.

I really need to try and get on top of all this and sort everything out but it feel's like such a monstrous task that I just can't face on my own and I don't have anyone to help me

aliasojo wrote:

I LOVE my books..... says she, shaking at even the thought of getting rid of them.

Me too!!! ... I could NEVER part with any of my books!!!