Hoarding...not just on TV

GreyQueen

Hey, Jo Jo, were they flower bulbs or some stray garlic bulbs that you found in the cupboard?

I've dismantled a part-used notebook into it's covers for the recycling, it's confidential bits for the shedder (done already) and the unwritten bits for a scratch pad to use at work. Which I use all the time.

I tried to do this last Friday but was sooo feeble from the dold that I couldn't rip it apart but I managed yesterday. One less fing on the premises.

The recycling considerably-outnumbers the actual household waste (as it should IMO) and if it isn't raining too heavily I shall get another bag to the c.s. after work, don't want that on the floor another day longer.

Of course, the flip side of the sttreamlining of my lifestyle is that when my brother asked me what I wanted for Xmas I honestly had to say.......nothing!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Flower bulbs, GQ. It's too wet out there for garlic, it would just rot away to nothing over winter - I'm not convinced I'll have any grass out there by February, as I had to reseed that last year.

It's what I get for living over the course of an underground river. The soil isn't too bad quality for mostly post builders subsoil, albeit a little silty, but it was a nursery until about 1930 when it became a vehicle reclamation yard - I half expect to come out one morning and find a tank turret sticking out from under the patio when it rains too much.



Well, I am accompanying someone to their gastroscopy today. And then hopefully going out this evening. A busy day.



And I would far rather be lazing around or perhaps buzzing up an quick loaf of bread or a cake to test the new oven.

imataloss

Hello all, just thought I`d pop by and see how everyone is doing.
Been busy working and knitting (trying to use up some of my stash). Have wrapped up most of the presents using wrapping paper, tags, ribbons and bows that have been around for years. Will also use some of the cards too that I`ve also been hoarding.
Work shredding is all done, drawer now has useful things in it instead of years old paperwork. Need to have a quick clean up of desk but that`s not looking too bad either.
Good news on the replacement flooring (that`s where one of my earlier posts came in) Insurance agreed to the claim and floor will be screeded tomorrow and flooring done on Friday. Just need to tidy everything in the kitchen before then.
We haven`t received many cards this year but I`m sticking the ones that we do have with blu tack onto the doors when they arrive. Also disposing of envelopes at the same time.
When tackling the ironing mountain this morning I found a pair of jeans that have lost a button, are too big for me and of no use to anyone due to them being so frayed and worn. They are going - I would normally have put them back in the wardrobe. It`s surprising how you start to look at things in a new light when you realise how much we are hoarding.
Keep up the good work everyone and hopefully I will be back soon to catch up.

Byatt

Well, barring anything untoward happenning (pooch is poorly and may need a vet appt), I have a friend coming for coffee tomorrow. :eek::T

I am just doing some of the last of the cleaning, I can't say I am a clean hoarder, and should be ok...

no friend has darkened my doorstep since May 2010.

I will take pics tomorrow or Friday, and then post a couple of before and after, for a short period, as I am so embarrassed by the before. :o

I took more kitchen stuff to the CS yesterday, I am pretty organised present wise for Xmas, have cut back on the wrapping by using bags (for the purpose) and red tissue paper which only needs to be scrunched up and still looks good.

Sorted my freezer last night so have an idea what's in there.



LIR, I think that's an excellent idea de-Richarding the Xmas menu. I realised not that long ago I was adhering to long ago traditions that were no longer relevant to me and also didn't enjoy anymore.

Thanks to all of you for being here for me this past year. :T:A

imataloss

decogecko wrote: »

Hi all

Anyone know what to do with old routers? I've just changed phone & t'internet provider? Is it ok to freecycle such things or will beatty want it back? (My contract with them had finished).

You will be ok to freecyle it. I always keep one as a spare/backup because I work from home and can`t work without one.

imataloss

katep23 wrote: »

Bin bag of clothes, 2 pairs of shoes and a towel rail to the cs - they wouldn't take my books though so they are still in the car.

Have you thought about taking them to a BHF Book Bank?

http://www.bhf.org.uk/about-us/find-the-bhf-near-you.aspx

On the dropdown menu there is an option for books.

sjprmc01

No decluttering has gone on for days, I've barely been in the house! I DID get rid of the kids huge stack of fisher price little people toys a they are too old for them now, I sold them to a friend. I had planned to get rid of them long before now though!

Kitchen table is STILL hidden under ironing mountain, its going to be like finding the lost village of Atlantis trying to make my kitchen 'normal'

Looks like its going to be another Xmas where I transport the contents of the kitchen to my bedroom for a few days!

GreyQueen

sjprmc01 wrote: »

No decluttering has gone on for days, I've barely been in the house! I DID get rid of the kids huge stack of fisher price little people toys a they are too old for them now, I sold them to a friend. I had planned to get rid of them long before now though!

Kitchen table is STILL hidden under ironing mountain, its going to be like finding the lost village of Atlantis trying to make my kitchen 'normal'

Looks like its going to be another Xmas where I transport the contents of the kitchen to my bedroom for a few days![/QUOTE]:D This means that you're one of the normal people, hun.

Most of us are hiding something somewhere odd when company comes. Mum once hid a tin of Quality Streeet in a mini oven to stop me scarfing the lot. Only she forgot and put the oven on the pre-heat for a pie..........:rotfl: Thankfully, the smell of overheated tin caused us to rescue the sweeties before they were more than slightly-melted.

Byatt (((((((((well done))))))))))) I hope you and your friend have a great visit at your home. She'll be that envious of your woodburner in that lovely fireplace.

I'm afraid that has joined a mental file of mine called Aspirational Living (House P0rn) of things I'd like in my own life. Cannot see inglenooks working in a concrete 1970s flat but we all have to have our dreams, don't we?

Right, am eating my way thru the things in the freezer this week with a view to defrosting it at the weekend, so everything eaten is something less to stash in a cool bag for the duration. Today I has a salmon bit I froze last December and some carrots and cauli frozen last week.

Tomorrow will involve a FB pie. I have a robust digestive tract.

Stephb1986_2

I think I have a problem with hoarding I think I've had it for a few years to be honest.

I live with my parents and I'm due to get married in 16 months time. I've bought everything I need for a kitchen apart from the big appliances (fridge, freezer etc) At first the items lived in a spare wardrobe in my bedroom but it started to spread into more wardrobes. I've got 4 double wardrobes and 1 single one and 5 sets of drawers, They are all full of things.

Currently my wedding dress is hung on the outside of my wardrobe, boxes on the floor with christmas presents in or what parcels have come in, I can walk in and out of my room no problem the top of my wardrobes are full of boxes of shoes and gift sets that I've bought in the sales in December over the years.

One wardrobe that has just shelves in is full of clothes I've not worn in years or never worn, Cookery books, items for the wedding.

I moved all my household items into huge storage boxes and put them in the garage but as we work from home and use the garage it's becoming difficult.

It's just knowing where to start with it all, I start it and get stuck and then wish I never started it and throw everything back in

I think along with hoarding I've had a problem with spending (shopaholic) I've not got myself into debt or anything I've got savings.

I can tell it frustrates my mum but she can be as bad as I am. I just don't know where to start and I want to start 2013 as I mean to go on as I know I won't be able to take all this stuff with me when I get my own place.

Any advice?

Thanks

Steph xx

GreyQueen

Hi steph, welcome to the thread and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

I think it's very easy to overshop for a new home as there is so much nice stuff out there and it maybe that you haven't set up a home from scratch and so don't really know how much and of what kind of stuff you really need and will use.

I find running a kitchen is a process of refining down to the things that I actually do use, not the things that I should own because "everybody" has this particular whatchamacallit.

I don't think it's really possible to do this a mental exercise ahead of actually living your life in your own home. Once you're living it, you'll find that some stuff you thought was critical kit is never used, and some stuff you could barely be bothered with is your everyday workhorse.

Re cookery books, my conclusion is that regardless of the style of cuisine they all contain a mixture of the following recipes; things too fiddly for your temperament, things which contain ingredients to which you are allergic, ones with ingredients you can't get where you live or are beyond your pocket, or contain some flavour, texture or whatever that other household members draw the line at.

What I do is copy out any recipes I really want (and there are often only 1-5 per cookbook) and donate it. Recipes have to meet my criteria; economical, unfussy, taking less than 30 mins prep and pref no more than 30 mins cooking time, although I'll be flexible for stuff which can mind it's own business in an oven or crock pot. I dont' do standing over stoves and I prefer things not to create too much washing up.

If the recipes pass my personal criteria, they get typed out and printed, plastic sleeved and stored in a lever arch file. When I want to use one, I dab it onto the front of a kitchen cupboard with sticky tape whilst I'm cooking then back in the file.

Just an idea, works well for me.

As to the clothes which you don't wear, could you motivate yourself to try them on and see what their problem is? Could it be that they don't suit the person you are now? Or could it be that you have so many that these ones have been buried and could be lifted up into daylight and worn and appreciated anew?

It's a tough thing to do but you've posted in the right place for people to empathise and come up with sensible advice (plus we is as funny as hell at times, too.:p)