Hoarding...not just on TV

valk_scot

lostinrates wrote: »

Alec, while I agree, because it's how I felt, what I am tying to say is that when the flat screen came......it's just as ugly, it takes up less room on the same table, ( our flat screen is smaller screen that the other one too) but its still 'just' an ugly tv.

I am not suggesting Valk scot let's her husband fill the house with old tvs, but also to not run away with the idea that a flat screen solves all ills.

I would say that symbolism of 'not just a tv' is what gets a lot of non oldstylers into trouble financially.

Oh crikey, I don't want a flat screen TV as a status symbol, belive me. You should see our house, we're just SO not into status symbol living! And few electronic objects are beautiful in their own right. But it would be nice to be able to move the thing occassionally without the help of two strong men, so I can retrieve the cat's toys and hoover and perhaps even rearrange the room?

alec_eiffel

Aaaargh, just lost a long post.

Yes, I think taking the tv just in case is hoarding for hoarding's sake. YEs it might be a waste to not take it, but it wouldn't be your waste, it would be the waste of the person who is getting rid of the telly.

In terms of "not just a tv" I don't mean that in the sense that things give you status or make you happy (although my Robin Day chair does make me happy). More in the sense that if I accept something that I don't really want but would kind of do the job and it's something that someone has already defined as worthless then I'm not really creating a nice loved feeling in my home, I'm just making do. Making do is fine but when it's not necessary and there's an easy alternative (saying no to the free thing and either saving up or not for the thing I actually want) then it just seems to be what's the word... dishonouring myself by accepting someone else's junk. It's not even a case of getting what I want, it's more about not settling for any old thing just because it's there.

lostinrates

Yep, I think we are all not so far apart.

I don't Hoover behind the tv, dh's job so I had not appreciated that pov Valk, also, mine is ona singer table (that groaned under the weight of the old tv) so I can reach through the bottom for cat toys etc.

I hate the tv being on display, and my dream object would be a decent tv cabinet that didn't look like a tv cabinet. In the new kitchen, where we are having a tv (parent's giant flat screen came with them here) is going up tucked in beside the chimney breast so that it's not in ones face when you come in the room.

I like those tvs that look like mirrors. Perfect. Invisable. I really hate the look of televisions!

Byatt

I got rid of my tv last week, also the little one I was going to have. I don't miss it as much as I thought I would, although I'm watching iplayer on the laptop and listening to the radio much more. My whole room was arranged around the tv as there's only one wall it could go against.

blossomhill_2

Byatt, I just logged on to suggest a covered basket for your selloptape etc ... but you got there before me! I like your thinking!

Byatt wrote: »

Although not physically doing a great deal, I have been thinking and have come up with a plan for the "stuff" that seems to hang about without a home, I'm going to use a small covered basket to put those things in. Plus move my books to the bedroom as I have more shelving there (why didn't I think of that before?)

(((hugs)) for your bug! If you like baskets I'd recommend a way of making sure it stays disciplined, rather than a basket of doom, perhaps a routine of checking the contents every so often?

I have recently decided I am a dumper-in-of stuff so have started keeping things in baskets - iron now sits in a nice basket with ironing water and small sewing kit rather than me needing to reach understairs cupboard and hang it up once it's cool, winding round the cord, going to other cupboard for ironing water. Like another of us "girls" who said in a previous post that she likes ironing since she took up quilting, I see it as a positive task, I like taking the garment back to how it was made, so like to do it little and often and have the iron handy. Cutlery is now in a basket instead of a drawer.

I have also set up some of those shallow trug-type-things which I use for dumping in equipment that I take to my various day activities; eg one for gardening tools, one for craft-meet etc - it may just be an interim method but it's working while I am having grand sort-out

PS large TVs - I know someone whose large wallmounted TV means they can't shut lounge door any more! :eek:

VJsmum

Byatt - an alternative to your basket might be a set of 3 drawers you can get in supermarkets. I think they are for bathrooms - at least that's where mine is but I don't see why they can't be elsewhere in a home.

Something a bit like this

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/home_and_garden/bathroom/bathroomstorageandshelving/naturalstorage/118925800_seagrass_4_drawer_unit.html?hnav=4294901302

They aren't as big as they look - mine sits under the wash basin

Brighton_belle

We switched from a huge old tv to a flatscreen 6 months ago. I confess I am still in love with its sleekness and it sits neatly on a shelf. The room feels less cluttered and the picture quality is so much better.

I wouldn't want one of those old ones hanging round 'just in case either'.

whitewing

Been clothes shopping today. Got 2 pairs of pjs and 2 nighties. Decided I was old enough not to have sleepwear with cartoon characters on, which means that my two old nighties were bought can't remember how many years ago. Am really looking forward to changing into the new stuff for the evening!

Also got some winter clothes but quite difficult to find stuff in my size so desperately need to lose weight. M & S have a wonderful brown, furry gilet, not in my size. Hoping long term to be able to fit into fabulous layered autumn clothes. Defatting for hoarders, anyone? I'm sure a lot of the issues and hang ups are the same.

Am trying to incorporate more hot food into our diet this winter. Porridge and soups with finish-off-baking-yourself rolls. Am thinking this will make us feel better and also keep warmer to do more tasks, decluttering and exercise/wellbeing in general.

Re TV's. We got given a widescreen TV that was twice as deep as it was wide, and very heavy. Then DS bought a flat screen for the world cup. It is so much better, in all aspects.

Byatt

BH, great minds think alike!

VJsmum, thanks, the drawers look like a good idea, I might have them for the bathroom as stuff everywhere in there.

alec_eiffel

whitewing wrote: »

Been clothes shopping today. Got 2 pairs of pjs and 2 nighties. Decided I was old enough not to have sleepwear with cartoon characters on, which means that my two old nighties were bought can't remember how many years ago. Am really looking forward to changing into the new stuff for the evening!

Also got some winter clothes but quite difficult to find stuff in my size so desperately need to lose weight. M & S have a wonderful brown, furry gilet, not in my size. Hoping long term to be able to fit into fabulous layered autumn clothes. Defatting for hoarders, anyone? I'm sure a lot of the issues and hang ups are the same.

Am trying to incorporate more hot food into our diet this winter. Porridge and soups with finish-off-baking-yourself rolls. Am thinking this will make us feel better and also keep warmer to do more tasks, decluttering and exercise/wellbeing in general.

Re TV's. We got given a widescreen TV that was twice as deep as it was wide, and very heavy. Then DS bought a flat screen for the world cup. It is so much better, in all aspects.

I think there is probably a lot of defatting for hoarders. Dave Ramsey says when you change your life you change your life and I agree.

When I started declutting the house I was 4 stone heavier than I am now and we were £25k in debt. In the time it took to declutter then organise the house we got rid of the debt, I lost 3 of the 4 stone and DH lost 5 stone. By the time we'd got round to decorating the newly decluttered house we'd saved another £12k to pay for a new car. That's just less than a 5 year turn around. So yes, when the motivation kicks in and things start moving then in impacts on all aspects of life, not just the one you start focusing on.