Hoarding - A New Start

sjprmc01

Don't plan, just do!

First and possibly easiest thing is the clothes, as you say they are bagged up and ready!

JellyBox

I think it says a lot that the thought of just taking those bags down without looking at alternatives/rechecking that they're not needed makes me feel a little clammy and emotional. The ones for the charity bin are mostly old promo tshirts from my shop job and I've already taken out the one that is useful for washing delicates (big enough to protect them) and two or three for pyjamas. It doesn't help that I don't have a day with time to sort it til Tuesday, so that's a long time where they'll sit continuing to taunt me from the end of the bed!

katep23

Been really interesting to hear about people's spending / buying habits.

I am an emotional shopper. I love to buy things. As soon as I have something new I have to wear it - if I have several new things I have inner turmoil deciding which to wear first.

I grew up in second hand clothes and was always mortified when my friends pointed out that my clothes were their discarded clothes.

I have tonight bought a pair of snow boots; I already have a pair, kept in the car for emergency use if I get stuck. My rationale is I can wear these "every day" and keep the emergency boots in the car. Hmmm, how often do we get snow?

My life is about to change with leaving my full time permanent employment and not having something equivalent to go to so I should be reigning in the spending but if anything I am worse.

I know this is about fulfilling an emotional need in me but knowing it doesn't stop me doing it.

sjprmc01

Coming from someone who can find a 'reason' to buy anything

Looking through the bags, you will find every reason to hang onto as much of it as you can........however, if they are already bagged up to go it seems you should have made your decision already

(This also coming from someone who has had to rip something of OHs to shreds to make him realise it was torn and fit for the bin, and who had to attempt to smash his indestructible tankard that had never been out the cupboard in 5yrs or longer to make him keep it in the bin (he took it ut about 6times))

Goldiegirl

Hi Bexim and welcome.

Often you read on this thread about 'baby steps', and it really can work to do things small and often, if you have a busy life, and if you find it difficult to let things go.

I've been at this de-cluttering lark for three years, and I didn't even have as much stuff as many people do.

Apart from my two days at work, I try to de-clutter at least one thing each day, and it works, I can really see the difference. Some days I do more, but I've never spent all day doing it. It'd be far to tiring for one thing.

I've never regretted anything that I've let go. Mostly because I've taken it gently, and it's never felt overwhelmed by the speed of stuff leaving the house.

Byatt

Kate, I can relate to your post, the spending, the knowing I shouldn't spend but the almost addictive nature of the act of spending is often overwhelming. I'm still working through this, when I feel "well" I don't need to spend, but I slip into the role of spendaholic very easily when I'm feeling sad. Currently going through that now, I had started a spending diary for January, and it's gone to pot already, but I realised I could start again, it's a blip, but I need to get to grips with money, spending and the emotional emptiness.

Bexim, hi...there's no magic formula, but I found doing a few things in a few minutes helped. I found counting whta I was getting rid of helpful as it leaped into the hundreds so when I felt I was getting nowhere, I could remind myself X amount of stuff had gone. Do 5 minutes, or 5 things...anything I was unsure of I put to one side, usually in sight and over the days I would grow accustomed to the idea of it going. I also had things that I considered valuable and wanted to fleabay, but eventually realised the cost of my emotional/psychological health was greater and more important than any perceived monetary value, and it also got rid of a lot of the hoard which otherwise would have hung about waiting for me to photograph, list end eventually pack. And I hate packing!

I also see it as a contribution to my chosen charity shop as I can't afford to give money, well unless I buy something!

Also at the beginning I stopped my recycling because it was taking up so much time and space...washing cans/bottles...shredding paper work...and threw it away instead, taking the stance that I would (and have) start again when I was free of rubbish. Plus so many people don't recycle that I felt I should have a get out of jail free card for a few weeks.

Today I tidied/sorted the living room as it had got a bit over run with all the new cat stuff...I am now physically feeling better because the room has opened up again and I have space. I've also made a decision about and ornament I commissioned when my dad died. There's no grave or marker anywhere and I wanted something to remember him by, it's a cricketer...anyway, I don't need it anymore, I don't need to be reminded of my dad as he's there no matter what. I don't have space for it, and I move it around all the time...

There's no one way to do this, and there will be days, weeks or months of inaction and then you will be spurred on again. But it is worth it, truly.

wannabe_sybil

Byatt wrote: »

There's no one way to do this, and there will be days, weeks or months of inaction and then you will be spurred on again. But it is worth it, truly.

I potter, have spurts, fail, flag and impulse buy - but gradually, very slowly, marginally it is getting better. Every time I slip back I do not slip back as far. This thread is brilliant, tho atm I am mainly a passenger.

Molly41

Still following you and wishing you well x

Pitlanepiglet

OK fellow hoarders, how many of us will admit to this one....hoarding of text messages....

I've got a new phone and it reminded me of one previous upgrade where DH looked at me in horror when I asked him to transfer over my huge batch of text messages - because they were "special" to me :shocked:

I'm hoping I'm not alone!

whitewing

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

OK fellow hoarders, how many of us will admit to this one....hoarding of text messages....

I've got a new phone and it reminded me of one previous upgrade where DH looked at me in horror when I asked him to transfer over my huge batch of text messages - because they were "special" to me :shocked:

I'm hoping I'm not alone!

My phone actually froze when I got up to 1500. Of course, it took me days to work out that was what the problem was!