Hoarders Anonymous!

scuzz

Hello, I'm Scuzz

And I hoard everything. I just can't bear to part with things. I have cuddly toys piled to the ceiling, clothes, theatre tickets junk, more junk and then some more junk!

I will make an effort to de-junk when I move!

luxor4t

I blame my parents... they blame their parents and the depression / war.

Some things don't worry me at all and I can cheerfully E-bay, carboot, donate etc but some go deep, this is my big 5:

- I hoard fabric, trimmings, patterns, buttons because they will ALWAYS come in useful one day eg DD (20) baby clothes patterns
- I have a million cross stitch mags but can't stitch for long due to RA
- slightly fewer craft books
- I have enough toiletries to last till Xmas and there are 5 in the family so this is a problem for storage
- I LOVE a bargain and find it hard to walk away, so I have harnessed this to a 'Birthday /Xmas 2008' challenge: all gifts to be sale, reduced or HM items

I grew up in a house where there was so much stuff that could and did 'come in useful' as mum and dad were both very good at making things eg furniture, pottery, clothes. One grandfather gardened and the other was a cabinet maker so both had sheds! One grandmother was an amazing needlewoman so had a huge fabric stash.

Good job OH grew up in a tiny flat!

mary43

I remember dear olf Mr. Trebus...........what a character he was but oh dear me.............all that rubbish.It was compulsive viewing in our house it really was.
Reminded me of an old lady in a town I used to live in. She used to wander around town with a large pram filling it up with anything she could get from jumble sales or just 'stuff' she found laying about. She lived in a two up two down terraced house. She was seen around so regularly that when she wasn't seen for a few days the police were alerted. They went to her house, knocked but no reply so they went round the back (when they could actually manage to open the back gate -there was so much stuff in the yard). No sign of her in the house as far as they could tell so they left. Few days later they went back - one of the officers had a 'feeling' about the house.......so they went in, had another look and she was on her bed covered in clothes, bedding........all sorts............seems it had fallen off the top of the wardrobe and covered her totally. Whether thats how she died or whether she had died and that was why no one found her I don't know, but how sad...........and she had family too but they hadn't seen her for years.

I think when it's taken to the extreme like that it must be because something has happened to them, -maybe they've lost belongings for all sorts of reason
and fear they'll lose them again and it gets out of hand. Very sad.

paddy's_mum

So .. for those who admit to hoarding, can you explain why? Do you even understand the reason? When you contemplate not having something or throwing something away, what thoughts go through your head?

For me, it's partly "oh, that's something I use on a regular basis and as it's on special offer, I think I'll have fifty" or else it is something I think is just too good to get rid of.

When I get to the point that I'm falling over things, I have a (mild!) clear-out and feel quite happy about it if the items are going to do someone else some good. I suppose my thinking is an exaggerated 'don't waste' response. Anyone else brave enough to put down in writing what their thought process is?

mary43

Don't really understand it paddys mum - thought it might be an 'insecurity' thing..............buying something, especially if its not a necessary item, gives a certain amount of pleasure..........just the act of parting with money and having something to bring home.
I'm a charity shop shopper so what I buy is affordable (within limitations) and I do smile to myself if I've bought a brand name jumper for £2 that I would never have been able to afford if it were brand new. But the bulk of what I get is just 'stuff I like'.............sort of 'want it so I'll have it' attitude.
Maybe someone else has the answer or is it different for everyone ?

hev_2

paddy's mum - for me it is a real fear that if I don't hold onto stuff I will never get another chance.

Due to some awful times when I was young, sometimes there was really not enough food to go round. Emotionally as well it was a tough time, so 'stuff' became important. At least we had something. If we did not hold on to what we had, we may never have a chance or the money to get it again.

Hard to break the habit...

whatamess_2

Take a look here.

the ultimates in clutter (American) but so much stuff!!!

lyndseyann

mine was if you said "no " to someody, they wont ask if you want anything again!! i did need the stuff then though!!!!! i am learning!!!!!!

mary43

OH always says that and has tendency to accept anything offered if its free -says he he refused he might not get offered again and next time it could be something we need...............thats why we had two sets of stereo speakers to get rid of and two different lots of dinner plates...............and I've just remembered...........few years back someone gave him a scalectrix set.........or was it that other race track one ? Ummm..........he hasn't mentioned that so don't know if he's hidden it or got rid............lol

lyndseyann

mary43 wrote: »

OH always says that and has tendency to accept anything offered if its free -says he he refused he might not get offered again and next time it could be something we need...............thats why we had two sets of stereo speakers to get rid of and two different lots of dinner plates...............and I've just remembered...........few years back someone gave him a scalectrix set.........or was it that other race track one ? Ummm..........he hasn't mentioned that so don't know if he's hidden it or got rid............lol

lol mary43!! i like your hubbys mind!!!!:beer: :j