Hoarding - Springing Ahead

whitewing

I think there can be a bit of childlike (as opposed to childish) 'not having your needs met' as a hoarder. I was very sentimental about cuddly toys, ie son had them and I would buy and encourage them to be kept.

I;m glad we donated ours to the charity shops. We still have a fairly big collection but it is manageable not depressingly overwhelming. When it gets to a point that they collect on high shelves or in drawers or boxes or are in the way then I think it is time for a cull. We have what we can enjoy using, and now at birthdays etc we get rid of the older/not played with ones. I do feel guilty sometimes but they can also become Sacred Objects because other people only like to give cuddlies to people they know. I only give them to charity shops now, I won't give cuddly toys to people because they never say no, at least they can choose not to buy them.

VJsmum

Took a "wally trolley" full of stuff to the charity shop this morning. Some clothes DS had grown out of, about a dozen PC and old playstation games (Kids sanctioned their removal), about 2 dozen of DD's books that she was thinking of selling but no-one wants to pay a decent, worthwhile sum for, some clothes of mine that are surplus to requirements and a couple of OH's books. Very happy to see that amount of stuff gone.:T

idristhedragon

I just spent two peaceful hours ironing. I love ironing and love all the clothes being away, smelling fresh and the kids looking vaguely presentable for once. Usually though there s so much other * stuff * that needs doing I feel I don't have time. Because my bedroom, bathroom, front room and kitchen (nearly) are at levels of tidy I am happy with I am happy dedicating those couples of hours to ironing. That couple of hours would usually be spent doing nothing as I was so overwhelmed by everything! My DD (15) then took all the clothes upstairs and put them away *faints*
Monday afternoons are now going to be ironing time as I'm going to go down the each task having a set day route and see how that works

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

idristhedragon wrote: »

I just spent two peaceful hours ironing. I love ironing and love all the clothes being away, smelling fresh and the kids looking vaguely presentable for once. Usually though there s so much other * stuff * that needs doing I feel I don't have time. Because my bedroom, bathroom, front room and kitchen (nearly) are at levels of tidy I am happy with I am happy dedicating those couples of hours to ironing. That couple of hours would usually be spent doing nothing as I was so overwhelmed by everything! My DD (15) then took all the clothes upstairs and put them away *faints*
Monday afternoons are now going to be ironing time as I'm going to go down the each task having a set day route and see how that works

Doing that ironing (and the putting away) will also make a huge difference, as there'll be less time spent searching for stuff to wear, because it's all where it should be and in perfect condition to be worn - and not cluttering up a corner of the kitchen, living room, etc.

sjprmc01

So, last night when I walk in the house from work at 11pm, I'm informed I need to have swimsuits x 3 ready for granny's tomorrow as she is taking kiddos swimming while I'm at work

That would be all good and well if I knew where they were. I PRESUME they are at the bottom of the washing basket or the bottom of a pile on the floor (kitchen, my room, kids rooms, take your pick) so, now I have to spend the morning hunting out swimsuits!!!

Then I'm wishing I could drive coz it would be soooo much easier to pop up to Asda and just buy new ones, although I know that is NOT the answer!!!

This is NOT the way to live, I NEED to get some organisation about me!

whitewing

You could spend the morning decluttering and organising clothes, and find the swim suits as a side effect!

I must sort out my work cupboard when I have some time off over Easter. I only have stuff I need to keep in it but it's all over the place so I only vaguely know where it is.

Took a pile off stuff to the recycling centre yesterday, a fair bit of that itty bitty stuff that accumulates like packaging that seems that it will come in handy but never does, a pair of broken shoes, a broken coathanger. We wouldn't have made a special trip but because we were going past we made the effort to pop in.

I am more successful in the tidying/dehoarding if I have clear spaces to re-start on a regular basis rather than am adding to a huge pile of rubbish. Clear spaces have promise.

catshark88

I am trying little and often with our glass recycling. They seem to collect in the kitchen and look so depressing, even when they are only 3 or 4. Now they are going every few days and it does feel encouraging.

Catriona_P

Well I can safely report that I've completed the 40 bags in 40 days challenge :j Not entirely sure it's made a dent in the clutter but it feels good. I have bags and bags of baby clothes to go to a sale next week, so looking forward to clearing space and making money at the same time.

With my relationship with my husband having taken a big turn for the worst, I'm planning on putting our home on the market at the end of the year if not shortly afterwards, which means I now need to start tidying the house properly in preparation for selling. I've been looking at hiring a storage facility for a few months but they're not cheap. I'm a bit worried that having one will encourage me to keep clutter and I don't really have the money anyway. Has anyone used a storage facility before? Is it worth the money?

littlegreenparrot

I don't know how old you children are sjp, but I have a suggesstion.

One of the very few organisational things my mother had for us from an early age was a swim bag. We each had a coloured draw string/canvas bag that our swim stuff/ towel etc lived in.
It would be washed when worn, then go immediately back in the bag. If it wasn't there, it was our own problem to fix.

If you gave them a few little things like that to be responsible for, you are taking the pressure of yourself, and teaching them how important it is to look after their things.

I just get the impresson from your posts that you are overwhelmed, and it shouldn't be only your responsibility. They might not do things perfectly for a while, but as soon as they realise lost swim stuff=no swimming, they will keep hold of it!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

littlegreenparrot wrote: »

I don't know how old you children are sjp, but I have a suggesstion.

One of the very few organisational things my mother had for us from an early age was a swim bag. We each had a coloured draw string/canvas bag that our swim stuff/ towel etc lived in.
It would be washed when worn, then go immediately back in the bag. If it wasn't there, it was our own problem to fix.

If you gave them a few little things like that to be responsible for, you are taking the pressure of yourself, and teaching them how important it is to look after their things.

I just get the impresson from your posts that you are overwhelmed, and it shouldn't be only your responsibility. They might not do things perfectly for a while, but as soon as they realise lost swim stuff=no swimming, they will keep hold of it!

I had that for the girls (and myself) as well. Their bags were the only ones allowed on the back of their door (rotten doorframe meant anything else would have it falling out of the hole onto them, so they listened to me on that one), and they also contained a small towel, goggles, hairband, a mini shower gel, comb and a pound coin for the locker. All they had to do if the opportunity arose was pick up the bag and go.

Nowdays, I have my gym bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. I haven't been for a couple of weeks though, as it seems like the meds are doing their best to kill off my immune system, so I've had to rest and wait for the results of another blood test before I can resume meds - which means I'm starting to flare again. I should go today.