Hoarding - Springing Ahead

mollythewestie

Just thought I would come back to this thread to update where I'm at now.

I first posted on the original thread over 3 years ago, and at that point in my life, I really couldn't get rid of anything without a great amount of thought and just throwing away a receipt or some packaging would be a major decision.

We had one bedroom which was almost inaccessible with junk piled up to head height, and that junk was starting to migrate into other rooms. Every drawer and cupboard couldn't be opened without "stuff" spilling out.

Fast-forward 3 years, we have now moved house. Which required a massive amount of de-cluttering and the vast majority of our stuff was disposed of. It took over a year to get to the point where we could put the house on the market, and further 4 months of serious de-cluttering before we completed on the new house.

We are now settled in our new home and I was worried that my hoarding tendencies might come back, but so far I've kept it in check.
This weekend, we have managed to donate a whole shelf full of books to charity and put 3 items on ebay (Which was a momentous occasion, as for the first time in over 3 years my "ebay cupboard" is empty :eek:)

I will always be a hoarder at heart, and will struggle to let things go. But right now, I'm loving the feeling of space and not being tied down with lots of possessions. It's now easier to keep the house clean and I feel pride in my home - I have even let unexpected visitors in!

I'm so thankful to this thread, as I don't think I could have started this journey without the support I received. Reading other peoples experiences, made me realise that I wasn't alone and other people felt the same way I did.

So a huge thank you :beer: I couldn't have done it without you :A

dragonette

Molly, that's wonderful! Huge congratulations on a job very well done

Thank you for coming back to update us, it's very inspiring to those of us still struggling to make progress.

Ivyleaf, thank you. I'm trying to not overdo things. Slow progress is still progress

dragonette

Tiny bits of progress, trying to not feel too dispirited by how slow it is. Gradually thinning out clothes and stating to see a difference in the wardrobes (I have 3, but they hold about as much 1 large modern wardrobe, and one only has 4 hangers with all my scarves on them). I've also been able to move some things from the hooks on the door and it looks much better now

barneydee_2

I have just been reading through this thread (read from page 255) will go & read others later, I & my other half are hoarders he is worst than me if I want to get rid of any thing I have to do it when he is not around.
What has brought it home to me that we need to Declutter is that last weekend we celebrated my grandsons 5 th birthday my dd2 got my Mil to do the party at her house when I challenge her saying it was to much for the Mil my daughter said "mum your house is to cluttered & messy" I felt realy ashamed it's not dirty but we do have a lot of old tat.
So I'm going to follow your lead & do a little & often & post on here to keep me going,so today I am going to start with my little box room which has become a bit of a dumpling ground.
Hope you don't mind me joining in will let you know how I get on later

Dee x

GreyQueen

Lovely to have you here, barneydee, and good luck!

barneydee_2

Thanks grey queen I'm going to need it

Dee x

Gingernutty

I've been given a date for the builders to show up.

I've got to be out around the last week in August to accommodate my odd shift pattern and get the builders in for the first full week in September.

I'm sitting here in a mild state of panic.

Even after years of doing this, I still need to pare things down even further, put it in the back of a van, put it in storage or bring it with me to temporary accommodation.

That's after I find temporary accommodation. :eek:

That's a lot to organize.

parsniphead

I need to come back to this thread to get motivated again. I have read the kondo book twice and it just irritates me to be honest.

I have continued decluttering since last being on here but it has been bits and pieces. I need to hit the sewing room hard and get it done once and formally.

Ideally I want the house looking as neat as possible before Saturday as I'm going on my holidays and it would be nice to come back to neat.

I have to head out in 45 mins to collect DH and the DS from nursery for the final time. I'm going to use those minutes wisely.

dragonette

*waves hello to BarneyDee* I've been there with a hoarder partner, gentle progress is wonderful and don't push yourself too hard.

Gingernutty, I remember that you had a fair bit of progress. Everything little helps, eating an elephant a bite at a time n all.

Parsniphead - I haven't read the kondo book, just the thread on here. The question of joy was quite helpful but I simply cannot tackle a whole category at a time!

Haven't done any sorting of things today, will try and do some before dinner I have managed to wash the last of the dishes, and resisted really doing the ones my flat mate washed

parsniphead

I have always found this thread more inspiring than anything else when it comes to decluttering. Since coming on this afternoon I have managed to completely clear the sewing room table, put all the toys in there into one storage basket ready to go up to little ones bedroom and tidy. I still have a lot to do but it is looking so much better.

After the little one goes to bed (I dont think he will take much rocking tonight )I'm going to have some time sorting the garden.