Hoarding - A New Start

Goldiegirl

Byatt wrote: »

Goldie, I still have a doll's dinner service in Willow pattern that I got one Xmas. I first saw it in the shop near where I lived, it was in the window, and I used to detour that way after school just to stand and stare at it. I think I asked the cost, but don't remember, I was probably 8? One day the dinner set was gone and I was so sad...but then on Xmas morning there it was, I have loved it ever since, it's packed away and has been for years, but it's all I have left from my childhood, (long story)...but I just like knowing it's there, I can't bring myself to part with it.

Hi, Picklepot, do post more often. xx
WW, spot on post, :T

My decluttering 'mission statement' is to only have things in my house that I use, enjoy or value in some way.

David and the Bimbos have great sentimental value, so when the questions are asked, I think I will allow them to stay.

M.E.

Carpe Diem or a Daily Round Tuit 1st January
Just a thought for those of us who have a mountain of clutter, lots of collected carp, (hence carpe diem.. seize the day.. or carp die!), stuffed drawers, dusty sills and never get around to doing anything about it (hence a daily round tuit!)
how about having a progress report on one specific micro-mini-project that takes less than 15 minutes. Before and after photos even better.

It is ONE SPECIFIC PROJECT PER DAY

January 1st .... The handbag or trooser pocket!

Empty everything out onto tray. Discard absolute rubbish, crumbs, car park tickets, sweet wrappers etc
Cut up out of date tickets, plastic cards etc throw away manky tissues etc etc
Test the pen or pencil.. keep one that works and doesn't leak... discard out of date tokens, put this year's diary in, throw out last year's diary,
well you have the idea....
Then come back on here and update us about your Round Tuit and what you have thrown away.
2nd Round Tuit - kitchen window sill
3rd Round Tuit - sewed button on one pair trousers, threw out scruffy pair held up by string as zip and button hole broken..

JayneC

http://www.meetthegreens.org/episode2/little-brown-dress.html

Have a look at this if you're wondering if you have too many clothes!! The original article is gone now unfortunately, but I found it quite inspiring and it did motivate me to prune my wardrobe.

I'm quite good with 'stuff' I don't have ridiculous amounts of clothing and wear everything in my wardrobe - even my 20+ year old coat!! I don't have much jewellery nor toiletries.

I'm realising that my hoarding is aspirational, I want to be more creative/environmentally conscientious(ie not wasteful) well that's it mostly...

So it's used packaging (to re-use), jars and bottles (oh the jars and bottles - some don't even have lids!!!) plastic trays for seed propagation, tho I have admitted that the plastic drinks bottles (mini cloches don't you know?) are a step too far, I can't 'put them away' anywhere and they are far to conspicuous and annoying to leave around. I've also realised that there' always more and should i 'need' one it won't be long before I can acquire one... So now I've recognised this I think it'll be easier to be easier on myself and start limiting the stash!! And the crafty stuff... Well I'm feeling much more confident about sorting it out properly and limiting it, I probably couldn't even find stuff if I wanted to use it anyway...

To the person who was wondering about tackling her OH I have to say my DS has been good about helping me, he's been quite gentle but will firmly challenge me with a 'when are you going to use it? What are you keeping it for?' whereas my DD just came in whilst I was out and chucked stuff in the bin I was V V annoyed:mad:!!

It just occurred to me whilst I was reading that I remembered going on a course with work (about drug use not hoarding but the message is useful) and it was pointed out that persuasion by trying to point out why somebody shouldn't do something does not work as every time you directly say why they shouldn't do it, it then inspires them to come up with counter arguments and reinforces their stance. What is better is a technique called motivational interviewing where you ask lots of questions about why they do it and what they're hoping for and asking if that gets them what they're hoping for, etc, etc. Any way not sure if I made much sense there. You might find something useful if you search for it...

Sorry for waffling, and thanks for being there x

blossomhill_2

I've never ordered a takeaway but have had to put up with decades of menus being shoved thru my door, at least 3 -5 a day, there should be a law against it!

lostinrates

Not going to get that box room finished, but ...going through one more box of clothes tonight. It's very difficult.

For future record. Tackle most emotional and ego challanging areas of Richard on the other side of mental cycle. Looking through clothes of a thin healthy person when chubs and ill has to be worst with water retention, right?

lostinrates

Out....

Sniffle...my soft rose pink cord skirt. I loved that skirt. But now I am in my thirties it looks too middle aged. A skirt I am too old for. A roll neck jumper dh used to love me in.....he argued for it to stay but it's pilling very badly......(itching to pull out of bin, both of us)

A benneton jumper that looks nasty and cheap now I look at it with clear eyes, though it's utterly respectable.


The top I wore the day dh and I first met. He wants to keep it. It's sheer, seetheough. I will never wear it again. But it is one of my last very clear and complete memories, not rehashed. I remember everything about that night and what I wore (even the underwear) and how that funny little man was quite sweet really.

Kept with some confusion, a beautiful blue Mulberry jumper.....that also looks a bit...cheap tbh. But I like it. I had fun in it, I would wear it if I fitted in it again.

A shirt that I don't like, it looks like a solicitor's wife's weekend gardening shirt. I garden, and I am a solicitors wife. I would probably relief the neighbours if I wore this.

Other things I have kept because I loff them and am not willing to negotiate on them, I could still wear them without looking ridiculous in my thirties.

Ok, dh has convinced me to keep the top and the sweater for now. Apparently I was 'all his dreams come true' in both those items of clothing.

I am going to do another box as penance though.

whitewing

lostinrates wrote: »

O
Ok, dh has convinced me to keep the top and the sweater for now.

Good, I like happy endings.

Byatt

I was going to say keep them LIR, such a lovely story and such lovely memories.

lostinrates

Haha, thank you both.

We have called it a day now, after doing three boxes, now re
Oates under the bed. I have created a bin bag, an Entire bin bag, of clothes from the 'not up for discussion at this time' boxes.


I also found out a terrible but funny thing.

The first summer I got I'll my weight literally doubled, And I found buying clothes in the initial months very stressful and hard. I did find a baggy shirt I liked t gap that got me through until I was admitted into hospital (dn't remember anything about that) but today, sorting through other clothes, found the same shirt in two sizes......dh had seen I was gaining more weight and didn't want me to stress so he had popped out and bought the bigger one and put the other one away. At the same time he bought a fleece tracksuit which was deliciously comfortable (I remember putting that on and laughing).

I think he was very clever to make the swap, and keep it hidden for so many years. .

I have kept the smaller one.

Night all.:)

Byatt

Awwweee, LIR, what a lovely, lovely OH.