Hoarding - Springing Ahead

flossyann

savingqueen wrote: »

Filled several bags of paper and cardboard recycling some of it containing old greetings cards which I have hoarded for years - big deal to let them go.



SQ:)

hi saving queen, you have inspired me to also recycle my huge stash of greetings cards :T
i had some cards in there from when i passed my driving test.. around 25 years ago :eek:
it was lovely to look through them and it is hard to let them go, but nice to reclaim a little more space in my home.

GreyQueen

I am ridiculously happy about something I have just done. I was being vexed by a used-up pepper mill, the kind you buy for under £1 and cannot refill. I couldn't get the top off to recycle the glass jar part, which sits badly with me, so the mill was sitting on the shelf behind the other mill which was in use and annoying me whenever I saw it.

Today, whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, I had everything off that wee shelf for a wipe-down and decided the empty mill ain't going back. I had a brain wave about getting the top off by breaking the jar, so wrapped it in newspaper and tapped it with a hammer and the plastic bit broke off and came away with the glass intact and will be into the bottle bank on the way to work. Sorted, yay! And I need to buy a refillable pepper mill in the future to avoid this, although so many are disappointing and lose their grindability in no time, making them a money waste.

If anyone can recommend a good brand of refillable pepper mill from their own experience, I would be grateful. I'd rather pay a few more ££ upfront than have yet another bad experience with an unsatisfactory refilable mill which only lasts 1-2 years.

I will also take something back to work to return it to the person I borrowed it from and will take some other stuff out this afternoon, just have to wash it up now so it'll be dry by the time it's to go.

Now all of this will seem very little to those of us who are wrestling with whole rooms of unwanted carp, and shedding bits of furniture, but it is proportionate to my life in a 240 sq foot one bed flat. I don't do spare furniture, there literally isn't any room for anything of that nature which isn't being used, and is barely room for that which is used.

But equally, every little thing outta here contributes to quality of life, because its so in-yer-face. I don't have a loft or a basement to hide things in, and that's probably no bad thing.

And when you look at pix and progs of hoarded homes, it's the endless muddle of misc, the little bits of carp, which form the great bulk of the hoard, representing all those little decisions which weren't made in a timely manner and have built up and up and up................I rest my case, m'lud.

Righty, shelf should be dry now, so back in the kitchen to replace the stuff on it (very small amount of stuff) and have brekkie. It's early and I'm busy and happy, just the way I like it.

Have a good day, lovely peeps, and remember if more goes out than comes in, you're WINNING.:rotfl:

whitewing

House is tidy as we took DD to the park yesterday evening so she didn't have time to mess it up.

Busy work day today and a doctor's appointment. All I have time to do is a couple of loads of washing. But that counts as dehoarding to me because of how clothes used to hang around the rooms before I wised up.

parsniphead

Well done on sorting the pesky pepper mill Greyqueen. I tend to buy the plastic ones from B & M which I refill a few times before they break.

I have managed to purge 7 bottles/jars/ tubes from the bathroom this morning and have another three which are nearly done with.
A small step but its the little things which I struggle with.

Have a good day everyone.

silvasava

GQ - If its any help I bought some small Coleman brand ones in A**a many years ago & they're still going strong in the 'van. The grinder bit is metal not nylon & seems to withstand the oils in the peppers better. We've got some 'electric' ones now from Al*i & so far so good
If you've got a TKM near you its worth having a look there as they have 'continental' brands that are good quality too & not too expensive.

MyHappinessProject

GreyQueen wrote: »

I am ridiculously happy about something I have just done.

Now all of this will seem very little to those of us who are wrestling with whole rooms of unwanted carp, and shedding bits of furniture, but it is proportionate to my life in a 240 sq foot one bed flat. I don't do spare furniture, there literally isn't any room for anything of that nature which isn't being used, and is barely room for that which is used.

But equally, every little thing outta here contributes to quality of life, because its so in-yer-face. I don't have a loft or a basement to hide things in, and that's probably no bad thing.

And when you look at pix and progs of hoarded homes, it's the endless muddle of misc, the little bits of carp, which form the great bulk of the hoard, representing all those little decisions which weren't made in a timely manner and have built up and up and up................

Have a good day, lovely peeps, and remember if more goes out than comes in, you're WINNING.:rotfl:

GreyQueen, Please keep on posting about all the little things! it keeps me motivated and inspired to let go of all the unecessary STUFF in my house and in my life.....Your wee flat makes me think of holidays I have had in caravans...it is so liberating to keep life simple and just have what is necessary. It is so less stressful to have less stuff about the place. I have the day off today so am off to the Kitchen to sort through the cupboards and release stuff I do do not need, as well as dehoarding any dirt and grease and cobwebs I come across on my explorations.! And GreyQueen I love your final comment..if more goes out than comes in,we are winning...Go us!!!
:T:T:T

short_bird

GreyQueen wrote: »

If anyone can recommend a good brand of refillable pepper mill from their own experience, I would be grateful. I'd rather pay a few more ££ upfront than have yet another bad experience with an unsatisfactory refilable mill which only lasts 1-2 years.

Don't buy a plastic mill as they don't bounce very well. Go on, ask me how I know The metal innards are still working really well.

Happygreen

short_bird wrote: »

Don't buy a plastic mill as they don't bounce very well. Go on, ask me how I know The metal innards are still working really well.

We have one if these cheap ones - are you absolutely sure it doesn't unscrew to refill? Mine didn't look like it was possible but determinedly I just turned the top the other way and presto - open sesame . It will go to Uni with DD1 as she has brilliant cheap Asian shops for the refill pepper. We also use 2 wooden mills, one is from my own childhood - on its last legs though, sadly. It's so hard to tell what the metal part is like when you buy one new, you might spend a small fortune for rubbish....good luck!

GreyQueen

Happygreen wrote: »

We have one if these cheap ones - are you absolutely sure it doesn't unscrew to refill? Mine didn't look like it was possible but determinedly I just turned the top the other way and presto - open sesame . It will go to Uni with DD1 as she has brilliant cheap Asian shops for the refill pepper. We also use 2 wooden mills, one is from my own childhood - on its last legs though, sadly. It's so hard to tell what the metal part is like when you buy one new, you might spend a small fortune for rubbish....good luck!

Yeah, it was a cheap one and said it wasn't refillable on the label but I don't take that on trust and had a bliddy good try on two separate occasions to get the top off and it just wasn't happening. Not for the want of trying, my lovelies.....:p

I will check out TKMaximus when I am next in there. I tend to forget that they do housewares as well, which is silly as I know fine well they do. Very hard to judge quality when the working part is hidden. I'm a natural-born cheapskate but I have learned that it is more economical to spend a bit more on certain things to save in the long run. Money and inconvenience being the items saved, naturally.

I have been shopping today and have spent £4; fresh food, clothes (2 items), 2 mugs and some gift cards. Pretty pleased with my purchases, all will be used and eventually used up or given away when no longer needed (the mugs) so feel it was money well spent. Felt a bit weird coming back in with a bag of shopping (jute shopping bag, I will have you know, none of that plarstick carp here).

Smiling at the image of my wee flat being likened to a caravan. It would probably be a lot better if I could afford built-in furniture like one of those, as opposed to having to shop for smallish versions of proper furniture, like my bijou 3-seater leather sofa from the chazzer.

Sitting-room is currently featuring an upside-down pushbike (tis poorly) and a clothes airer of stuff now ready to put away, except I shall leave it up as my new purchase includes a darling little angora-blend cardi which needs to be dried flat. I shall handwash it tonight and dry it.

Dunno if anyone else watched that food hoarding clip mentioned up-thread, but I did and had one of those ouch moments when the decluttering helpers said to one of the women hoarders something about completing tasks like the challenge being not to just come in with new stuff and put it down on the floor, that it is to be put away.

It was one of those LBM moments. I do that! And so does my Mum and Dad and brother! And this is a lot of why the place gets in such a bliddy muddle (mine and their places). It's probably universal among hoarders and clutter-bunnies.

silvasava

My Mum is wearing her holier than thou smile from above 'cos her mantra was always 'dont put it down - put it away! Hmmmm still not completely sunk in with me lol