Hoarding - Springing Ahead

whitewing

MessyMare,

I have had similar concerns -especially with regard to DH, lol - but actually even the well-loved stuff that has gone was tatty and overdue. Yesterday we are at MILs. She has had enormous changes over the last decade, and she is a stasher, rather than full-blown hoarder. She wants to save dresses etc for DD to grow into and even buy a dresser from a CS shop to store them in. She was really surprised, and a little hurt, when we said there would still be bargains and beautiful clothes to be had when DD was 6 years older and it was not worth getting them now.

We also did say about our 'ban' on soft toys. (We have asked family not to give them to DD; not an outright ban, but they understand that we may not keep them if they do give them to us, and we would rather not upset DD by having the dilemma).

I have just deleted all my 'your order has been shipped' emails from the last million years.

GreyQueen

MessyMare wrote: »

Question for you lovelies

We (or people we love) are hoarders...but now I'm worrying I've gone the opposite way and I'm now getting thoroughly addicted to getting rid of things. I almost got rid of two jumpers I love and wear all the time this morning because I was just itching to clear something...I get a rush when an email from Sue Ryder pings through telling me how much my stuff has raised (over £70 so far, and I've taken in loads more stuff since then) and I'm now mildly concerned I've gone the opposite way and I'll throw OH away if he sits still for too long!

I think it might be the flipside of the hoarding temperament; the desire to go a bit further than before. Or possibly a manifestation of perfectionism, the idea that a little bit more off the premises and it will all be gravy.

The more I think about it, the more I realise that life is a series of having-using-letting go. You have babies and babies need things, then they become small kids, then big kids, and each stage needs more and different clothes and accessories and toys and.....and...and.

When we're adults it doesn't differ overmuch. Say you read; books, mags, newspapers, whatever. Can you hand onto everything which you ever read? Or wore? Or enjoyed as a decorative object?

Nope. You can't.

I have been to two carboots this morning and saw lots of stuff which would have been bought had I been setting up home from scratch, but otherwise wasn't needed. I got some hankies and a jug. On the wants list. Saw thousands of other things which I either couldn't use or which I had functional expamples of already and thus didn't need.

It's nice to acquire but it's also nice to release things to serve someone else. Thou art a poor soul saddled with a corpse is an old saying. We art poor souls saddled with............. several cupboards full of tubbyware, clothes in several different sizes other than present range, our kiddies' cutest outfits, our childhood cuddlies, several moribund houseplants and - well, fill in your own blanks...........:rotfl:

whitewing

I have been dipping in and out of my emails.

I have deleted anything I can delete without worrying.

Everything else is filed into company name eg Tesco and Amazon for online orders. If I deal regularly with different people within a company then it is filed as that person's name.

I have managed to delete a few files (on purpose).

I am keeping emails for the same amount of time as business paperwork needs keeping.

Although it's all email and therefore doesn't take up space in the house, it is amazing how much space it takes in my brain. Last year, I moved premises. Everything related to that is now in a folder, for reference if I need it again and easily accessible, but no longer in my inbox to be thrown up randomly if I search my inbox. It is giving me closure that a big change to my routine has been dealt with successfully.

mcculloch29

I know what you mean Whitewing. Even though I diligently file the important e-mails, my competitions hobby means regular newsletter culls need to take place.

Re steam generator irons. These have come down massively in price and the cheapest are now cheaper than a top quality steam iron. Am@zon gave me one to review a year or two ago that now costs around £150, down from £200. It is brilliant.

Some things DO need ironing, denim jeans, cotton blouses, cotton tees in particular, so it is worth having a really good iron for these.
Not everything in my house gets ironed by any means, but at least I spend far less time doing it now.

DD visiting tomorrow, will be able to dispose of Easter bits. They are at the beach today (Seaton Carew, must have been the first 'proper' beach we visited in the N.E. ourselves, c. 28 years ago)

Happygreen

mcculloch29 wrote: »

I know what you mean Whitewing. Even though I diligently file the important e-mails, my competitions hobby means regular newsletter culls need to take place.

Re steam generator irons. These have come down massively in price and the cheapest are now cheaper than a top quality steam iron. Am@zon gave me one to review a year or two ago that now costs around £150, down from £200. It is brilliant.

Some things DO need ironing, denim jeans, cotton blouses, cotton tees in particular, so it is worth having a really good iron for these.
Not everything in my house gets ironed by any means, but at least I spend far less time doing it now.

DD visiting tomorrow, will be able to dispose of Easter bits. They are at the beach today (Seaton Carew, must have been the first 'proper' beach we visited in the N.E. ourselves, c. 28 years ago)

When I moved in I said that no way I would be ironing for anyone (I always hated it probably because I'm rubbish at it ). We do have a good iron and whoever wants their shirts done is welcome to it.

On the thread - I found a box of accessories for a prehistoric pocket pc, which I will label and give to the CS - feels amazing . Sadly no time to go through paper as it was brilliant weather over Easter and the garden was calling :j

softpad

Re washing up, I have thrown out my washing up bowl and now just put the plug in the sink, it stops me procrastinating and saving up dirty pots in a bowl. I never have dirty pots now. I can highly recommend chucking that bowl and drainer

whitewing

I sorted the recycling and DH has put it in the car. That feels better. There was a fair bit from DS' room - wires and gadgety things. Feels good to have it out of the house rather than trying to balance new waste on the old piles. Even wet-wiping the recycling cupboard floor makes me feel ready to tackle the next bit. I also bought DS a filing box (sorry!), and sorted his paperwork out. I know he should do it but I can't stop being a control freak overnight. He needed some important paperwork for this week and it is all accessible.

whichwhydoIturn

Going to get to my wardrobe tomorrow & sort out clothes from winter to spring though still a bit chilly isn't it ?
Toiletries blitz as well.
I found recently an un opened S&G set under the bed in the spare room ...
Still got the freezer to organise .. Eating out until it's empty
Hope everyone had a lovely Easter Sunday
X

whitewing

I've ploughed thro some more of my emails. It is quite relaxing now there is a madness to my method.
Had a lovely roast tea and am feeling quite cosy - especially as no work tomorrow.

Saver-upper

Oh,my heart hasn't been in it today.I have plodded along,and am pleased with what I got done,but not enthusiastic.

Got a couple of fiddly jobs done that have been irritating me.These are the jobs I never get around to because I always have soooo many big jobs to do.I think because I wasn't feeling enthusiastic enough to sort through huge drawers and cupboards,just did a couple of little jobs,very slowly.

-paired up lots of long-lost odd socks that I have found tidying big kids' room over the holidays.For as long as I have had kids,I have kept odd socks in a huge bag in the hope that they will eventually find their mate.Of course,some never will because they have been lost while out,lost at school,lost in the garden.I have bags of socks that haven't seen their mate for 7-8 years :eek:,but still I keep them,just in case .Today I matched up 22 pairs .

-bagged up and put a few bits into the loft.When I get a chance,will take to charity

-folded and put away a small amount of washing (am getting good at putting away washing as soon as it is dry.Clean washing hanging around has always driven me crazy)

-tidied the top of otterman in my room,partly by putting away those clothes,but also sorting out a couple of little messes that have been there for months.Sometimes things just get left in a position for so long,you don't see them anymore!

-finally got around to dusting my bedroom windowsill (wasn't I talking about doing that last week???).It doubles as my bookshelf,so removed all books,dusted,polished windowsill,culled a few books,replaced the rest.

-ironed about 6 school polo shirts I found when I was tidying the otterman, so had missed being ironed the other day

-vacuumed whole house,dusted,polished and vacuumed front room,stacked a few cups into the dishwasher (the sum total of eating utensils used in the house today since kids had Easter eggs for breakfast :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:)