Hoarding...not just on TV

lostinrates

blossomhill wrote: »

sjp That's a win, win then if you end up with more space and fewer squabbles
They can help keep it clear as they will get used to the routine of tidying up their pencils ready for teatime, and this will help you as an incentive to keep it clear

For anyone thinking about New Year resolutions, remember to keep them achieveable, and measurable, so go for "I will iron each machine load within a day of it drying, or ask OH to do some if I can't get it done before the next wash" rather than "I will keep on top if the laundry"

Mine is simply...put it away. I will iron, pretty much as ironing piles end up being, as needed. Because the hanging rail is too small (or needs dericharding, but not prepared to go there yet) things need a nice over anyway befor swearing, so hanging then ironing with a spray bottle is the realistic way to go for me.

Sjp, maybe this holidays is the time to introduce some of that help for you but most importnantly education and contribution for their pride and self esteem for them?

decogecko

Hi all

Glad everyone seems to have had a good christmas.

I was lucky and got mainly money towards to new carpet for the lounge and my Dad is decorating my lounge as his present to me. Presents were put in their place and any rubbish was put in the recycling or rubbish bin.

Noticed that oxfam are collecting old bras (regardless of condition, some of mine had never been worn ) so dropped them off today. Paperwork if not required to keep is being shredded immediately (have put my shredder in the hallway so it's within reach).

For me, I hope my dericharding will let the new in my life. I am a content person and know myself well enough as to what makes me happy. Dericharding and making quick decisions on the richard have been very freeing.

sjprmc01

Ok, so, I've joined the no unnecessary toiletries thread, I'm joining the OS dieting one (I really need to start cooking things from scratch anyway) the grocery challenge thread......I think I should have myself sorted by the end of 2013 lol!

I feel quite optimistic although I realise I've prob taken on a lot. I figure though, the main part of my clutter is clothing so even if I keep the majority of that in my room, it will still be Richard but I can chip away at it bit by bit whilst it is out of sight and I won't feel ashamed of bringing people in

It is by no means only clothes (as can be seen by the toiletries thing) but the toiletries aren't strewn across any surface I could find! There are still other areas to be tackled, and I need to run down my food stocks too! I know there is an eating out of the cupboards thread but not quite ready to go with that one!

Now, so long as I can keep myself off grabbit, I should be fine! Haha!

Patchwork_Quilt

We had a bra collection at our 0xfam, decogecko but the lovely window display lasted about two hours until some ghastly old lady tore a strip off one of the staff because it Just Wouldn't Do in our small town to have underwear on display on the High Street. Unfortunately, I bet that limited the number of bras they were offered.

Am decluttering some posh chocs at the moment in a bid to reclaim the sofa from the presents. Have also watched the Hoarder Christmas Special. I really felt for the woman that wanted to have her grandchildren over. Although those programmes are voyeuristic, they're such a good insight too. We must keep an eye on ourselves!

Happy post-Christmas decluttering folks!

blossomhill_2

I has a good throw out of photos today - several instances of a reel of film of the same subject (DD) so have kept the best and a spare and thrown the rest of the batch, much better than keeping all

Found another decade's worth of work records too, thought I'd binned them all a few weeks ago, so they went out too

Binned several containers, small cases, tins, folders, sleeves

Also cut out patterns for some craft items, and pinned them ready for machining, so no longer have piles of materials
Made a craft item from a kit I was given last Christmas

Very low motivation today (lack of exercise and light) so am actually amazed I managed even that!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

DD1 turned up today. And smuggled DD2 in as my back was turned

It went OK. Wasn't as awkward as I had imagined it could be, so enjoyed it immensely. And I must admit that the nice clean, tidy house it is now there isn't someone else here gives me a slight , in that I can honestly say 'It really wasn't all me' and she could see it.

DD1 is dating a new lad, which means the old one is a dim and distant memory :j: This new one sounds quite sweet as well.





Spoke to Mother on the phone as well. Seeing as I haven't spoken to her once since the summer, she didn't seem to have changed much - just that she seems to be picking faults with the brother and sister who could do no wrong previously - perhaps she's run out of people to pick on now. She certainly ended up spending Christmas Day alone, whatever the real reason was.



Oh well.

mcculloch29

Sorted out a huge pile of books for CS and some published more recently that the library may accept. Library is closed over Chrimbo tho... oh well.

One drawback for the CS is that my (self - employed) income plummeted this last tax year, and unless we have a minor miracle I won't have earned enough to pay tax come April, so no Gift Aid claims.
I receive Disability Living Allowance (mobility) and Disabled Person's Working Tax Credit which has enabled me to survive.

I have some very good bras that Oxfam might like, that were bought on a whim years ago. TY PQ and Decogecko for giving that a heads up.

Blossomhill, thank you for your lovely posts, JoJo thank you for this thread.

Sjprmc1, the toiletries thread IS a lovely one. So friendly and supportive.

Byatt

Jo-Jo, that's wonderful news about your DD's! :j:T

I'm like this for you :D:D and like this because they could see you were not the untidy/cluttery one :D:D

Huge squishy hugs with excitement. :rotfl::o

415SanFran

415SanFran wrote: »

[QUOTE=Jojo the Tightfisted;5377107

I hope everyone who hoards realises their need for help before its too late, I hope that everyone who is involved with one gets support. (QUOTE]

Thank you so much for starting this thread, and for a few of the people that have made me look at my house in a completely different way, from now on no putting "stuff" in another room to be sorted out later as was pointed out that doesn't happen, it just sits in the other room for evermore never to be looked at again!
Now, if you had asked me a week ago I would have said I was a collector, but NO, I AM A HOARDER there it is out in the open.

Here is a conversation that I had with my daughter this very afternoon.

ANNA:-" Do you still have all those bunnykins ornaments?
ME:- "Yeah why? Did you like them?
ANNA:- "No I thought they were horrible, but you never did put them on display and it just seemed a waste of money to me, could never see why you bought them for them to stay in boxes like that. Actually now that I think about it there is also your Portmeirion, and Royal Doulton tea sets, thimbles, tea spoons, ow and those silly teddy bears and for God's sake just how many cups with flowers/teddies/cats/dogs silly captions on, can one person need?...............Mum why are all those things still in boxes? Hell you might as well stick them on ebay for all you seem to enjoy them! I dislike those fairy plates that you have on the wall, but at least they are in use, that makes sense!
Me:- Mind your own damn business!
Anna:- It is my business when I don't want to come and visit you because I feel claustrophobic, because of all the boxes you have EVERYWHERE.
Me:- So if I died tomorrow what would you do with it all?
Anna:- Give it all to charity!
Me:- WHAT? You wouldn't want to keep ANY of it? Not even one small thing?
Anna:-Either you get rid of it or I will when the time comes, but frankly, I have a lot of things that I need to do I haven't got time to pore through a hundred boxes full of your carp.

You know, I love my Daughter and this collecting/hoarding has only come about since the children left home so it is still workable to get rid of.
The conversation that I had with her has really opened my eyes and I am slowly working on getting rid of a box a week on ebay, if it doesn't sell after say 3 listings then it will go to a charity shop.

Here is what was wrote back in June time.
Since then I have made great in roads to getting my house clear.
I have had a boot sale been to two vintage china fairs and as you can see from my siggy sold about 250 items on eb*y and about 100 on etsy.
It's been a long road and very emotional at times but we are getting there, I still have loads to get rid of in fact the stuff that I have gotten rid of is perhaps only a quarter that needs to be gone.
I had NO idea things had gotten this bad!
Well the good news is ANNA CAN NOW DRIVE :T
I can now walk around my dining room with out tripping over anything, and walk up and down the stairs without having to simmy past any boxes of long forgotten "stuff"
The focus this year is to get it so that I can sit in the living room without seeing boxes, I could have moved the boxes from the living room to the dining room but that would not have had the same effect, things getting in the way has probably been the best motivator.
Thank you to jojothe tightfisted for starting this thread, you have helped so many people.

lostinrates

Well, today we met with my non resident parent and the loose plan had been to go sales shopping.

Dh does need some new work clothes but, well, I don't though would be sure to find somethings I wanted. Instead we asked if we could go to a town with a nice antique shop and anothe town near where we used to live.

At the antique shop we bought one thing. Not a cheap thing, and second hand rather than antique, but something we need and love. Then in the other town we saw a potential purchase that I said I wanted to think about ( we need light shades but we are both fussy, we like these but they are not cheap! ).

Not coming home with lots of bargains feels as god as coming home with lts of bargains has felt at times.