Hoarding - A New Start

Gers

grousescot wrote: »

However this has made me realise I likely have a lot of junk stored away in cupboards/wardrobes and drawers which I could get rid of and not miss. This will take some time - perhaps have it done by the time the clocks have gone forward? I wondered if anyone had any suggestions for how to tackle clearing out a wardrobe of stuff that hasn't been touched for a few years. I think quite a lot of it is paper - I seem to hang on to stuff like school and uni notes or exam papers for some reason when they cannot possibly serve any useful purpose now.

I have just done this - well, last month, in anticipation of a bedroom refurb - and it was fairly painless but time consuming. All the junk at the bottom of the wardrobe was tackled first, hauled out and examined. My ruthless head came on and I created the usual three piles: keep - CS - give away.

As for the clothes - if I hadn't worn an item in two years it went. Gone. Never to be seen again. Some went to friends (warm jackets) and the rest to a CS. I now have about 10 items in a pile in the living room waiting for the new wardrobes to be fitted in three weeks time.

Papers - I baulked at throwing out all my university notes and assignments so spent an evening scanning them into my PC as pdfs and now have them stored without the bulk of paper. Did the same with family photos ages ago and gained so much more space.

My decluttering has slowed since the December frenzy, mostly down to mission accomplished in the bedroom but any further rooms haven't been touched as I got an injury which is temporarily limiting my mobility. The time will come soon though when I can get started again.

Good luck with it. Space gives my spirit a chance to soar!

GreyQueen

Gers wrote: »

Good luck with it. Space gives my spirit a chance to soar!

:j Yessss!!!!!!!!! That ought to be emblazoned somewhere in my life, it's absolutely brilliant.

Decluttering isn't about denial, hardship etc, it's about having space to soar!

sjprmc01

Time to start on the house I guess! The general housework needs done before anything but I'd also LOVE to find some place to house the last few bits of stuff out my bedroom and possibly get round to organising one of the kids rooms so they can actually move!

lostinrates

Hurrah for jojo.

I feel less self satisfied now that my sitting room is tidied (imperfectly) and that I cleaned the dining room windows this morning.

It's tidy enough to have any one in. (I do wish it didn't smell of old wet carpet and farm cats though.)

I was actually thinking this morning that maybe I should consider getting a cleaner now. It would be a financial stretch, and feel the cleaning should be my remit as a sahw, but at least I would have to keep the place ship shape so s/he could get to everywhere.

Instead I might suggest to dh we have a spring cleaning service after the next set of building is completed. (a new bathroom) and when the weather should be mild enough to open windows upstairs for the rest of the year without closing them. Goodness, is it too depressing to ask for it as a birthday gift?

Just finanlising the tax stuff for the business today too, to submit by end of the month, but to accountant on Monday. It's not a lot to go through but I need to include all the stuff we bought in advance of 'opening' and I am sure I have forgotten stuff.

idristhedragon

I too am trying to do the "normal" housework which has deteriorated over the holiday period. I have loads of work stuff to do but keep getting sidetracked by house stuff. However once shopping has arrived (due 9-11) I am going to "go to work" in study and do 2 hours just work as if I was elsewhere where I couldn't do washing/clean bathroom/ vacuum rugs.

JayneC

Good morning,
thanks for the welcome Brightonbelle and whitewing

I got up stupidly early this morning as couldn't sleep and spent a good hour or so decluttering under my bed, I lead such an exciting life:D Having joined this thread I was inspired to admit that my huge stash of fabric is probably not going to be transformed into fantastic crafted items, so I've now got a box full of fabric to either e-bay or carboot.

Most of it came from mum who [STRIKE]I think[/STRIKE] is also a hoarder, she - like me - can pass things on but can't throw things away. However she's very tidy, so her home doesn't look too bad. I on the other hand am very messy, even without the hoarding factor!! DD1 has told her (and my dad who is as bad!!) that she mustn't give me anything else!

Anyhoo it's a start, at least I've admitted taht I have an issue:p

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

lostinrates wrote: »

Hurrah for jojo.

I feel less self satisfied now that my sitting room is tidied (imperfectly) and that I cleaned the dining room windows this morning.

It's tidy enough to have any one in. (I do wish it didn't smell of old wet carpet and farm cats though.)

I was actually thinking this morning that maybe I should consider getting a cleaner now. It would be a financial stretch, and feel the cleaning should be my remit as a sahw, but at least I would have to keep the place ship shape so s/he could get to everywhere.

Instead I might suggest to dh we have a spring cleaning service after the next set of building is completed. (a new bathroom) and when the weather should be mild enough to open windows upstairs for the rest of the year without closing them. Goodness, is it too depressing to ask for it as a birthday gift?

Just finanlising the tax stuff for the business today too, to submit by end of the month, but to accountant on Monday. It's not a lot to go through but I need to include all the stuff we bought in advance of 'opening' and I am sure I have forgotten stuff.

If you're in the position to afford it, I would say get a spring ckean as well as a regular visit.

I know somebody who runs a cleaning business. Her flat sparkles like the facets of a crystal. The taps shine. The windows gleam. It looks perfect.

Now, I don't pretend that is likely when you have any number of four legged beasties marching across the house after going out for a scrabbling session in the mud or dust - I can see a perfect line of paw prints going along the fridge and freezer, then a break at the stairs, only for the trail to resume on the living room glass side table I only polished yesterday and I know exactly who is to blame for that. If nothing else, because I can follow the paw prints to where he is currently snoring his empty little head off.

But even a little sparkle makes it look ten times better.

lostinrates

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

If you're in the position to afford it, I would say get a spring ckean as well as a regular visit.

I know somebody who runs a cleaning business. Her flat sparkles like the facets of a crystal. The taps shine. The windows gleam. It looks perfect.

Now, I don't pretend that is likely when you have any number of four legged beasties marching across the house after going out for a scrabbling session in the mud or dust - I can see a perfect line of paw prints going along the fridge and freezer, then a break at the stairs, only for the trail to resume on the living room glass side table I only polished yesterday and I know exactly who is to blame for that. If nothing else, because I can follow the paw prints to where he is currently snoring his empty little head off.

But even a little sparkle makes it look ten times better.

Thanks. The more I think about it the better the sping clean idea feels. After that maybe I will see how I feel. I am trying to think what would be better use of the money for me, house help, garden help or help with the business (the pots are separate but we are still putting more into the business than we are making so ....less eparate than they ideally would be).

This weekend I think we will make a start on a tying the box room for the next phase of building work. Old clothes I am not prepared to let go off, but could go in the attic, and I will edit again and keep just the very best. Shoes, beautiful shoes, can come into the bedroom or, when I find a rack suitable, under the front stairs, and I think a few of the suitcases can go to the tip. I reckon we could do the box room in a long day.

The spareroom I am leaving till last, as we need it for guests until the last minute, but we could deal with some of the Richard in the upcoming weeks so it's just the bare bones of the furniture left.:)

annelouise_2

Today I have refashioned and lined 2 hanging baskets,never seen the light of day since this timelast year when we moved.

Recycled 2 bags clothes to friends.

Cut up a t shirt and dressing gown for cleaning cloths.

Made tags from Xmas cards and cut inner ribbons from some clothes to add to ribbon stash for my jar decorating.

Made tasty tacos from bolognese sauce we had Tuesday night with a salad.

Xmas decs to put away tomorrow and a sort out and declutter of the cyclone shelter.

Did empty one baking box and make pizza with the treasure bread flour and yeast. Only 20 more boxes to go!!!

annelouise

Catriona_P

Hi everyone, I think it's high time I joined this thread. I am, unfortunately, a hoarder - people have been telling me this for years but it's only in the last year or so that I've started to open my eyes to it.

I'm currently seeing a counsellor for several things and we've been discussing my hoarding. She has helped me to see that my hoarding issues come from my Dad - he was and is very controlling, anything he thought was out of place would be thrown, and he used to go into my room on a regular basis and throw my things away. This happened throughout my childhood until I moved out at 18. As a result, I hold onto things, throw little away, although I am getting better than I was.

I have very little money so tend to hold onto things rather than throwing them in case they are useful. My husband is much like my Dad in that he despairs about the amount of stuff I have - we don't have much furniture in our home as he says I will just fill things full of rubbish. He won't invite friends over as he is ashamed of our house, and it's only small, we have little storage. We've been having marriage counselling as things are not good there either and he said he has given up on keeping the house clean as I don't pull my weight.

I work full time with a daughter who is almost 2, and am studying for my second degree (exam in 2 weeks), so get very little spare time to actually tidy even when I want to - I use my annual leave to make small dents in the house but within a few days any clear areas are full again. I sell lots of things on eBay when I get the time and sometimes use freecycle.

With my exam looming I have next week booked off work to study - but I'm finding myself already planning lists of tidying to do instead. Prioritising what needs to be done first is very hard.

My final straw was over Christmas - we had family come to stay and my daughter's bedroom floor was totally clear to make space for the sofabed. She ran into her room, said "WOW!" and started running around in circles and dancing, as it was such a rare occurance. I've also noticed that she's started hoarding things too - holding onto as many toys as she can carry. I don't want her to end up like me.

Hoping this is a kind and gentle thread that can get me going in the right direction. 2013 will be a good year