To throw away stuff I had planned to donate to charity.

[safariboot]

Because hardly any of the charity shops are open (understandably so) and the ones that are might not even be taking any more donations. Our house is cluttered from years of hoarding, I'd say a 4 to 5 on the "clutter image ratings", and I'm trying to do something about it though progress is slow at the best of times. There's a pretty big bag, mostly clothes, waiting to go.

YANBU - Bin it.

YABU - Keep it until it can be donated.

I agree with @LevoMental. My house isn't completely clear yet but the rooms that are done make me feel so much better. Mentally I'm improving not living in a dump. My children are happier. I'm wearing clothing I forgot I had, and not 'replacing' things just because I cant find them so my bank balance is happier too.

My improved way of life far outweighs anything that went to landfill and my mental load is significantly lighter too.

I'm alright jack.

What an absolutely vile way to speak to somebody with a MH issue. You are clearly extremely ignorant of the issues around hoarding, and how intractable it can be. Not only that, but you appear to be unable to comprehend what the poster wrote about how her increased space has led her to reduce her consumption and waste. Maybe educate yourself a bit before sticking the boot in, in future.

I would.

at our local tip there is a bin to put clothes in. there is also the same in the carpark and by the fire station. have you one near you

@Malbecblooms

My improved way of life far outweighs anything that went to landfill and my mental load is significantly lighter too.

I'm alright jack.

It's no more "I'm alright jack" than people who havent had hoarding/mental health issues telling people who have that clearing their junk out is wrong. Or drivers constantly telling non drivers to take it to the tip because they have recycling bins there.

My improved way of life far outweighs anything that went to landfill and my mental load is significantly lighter too.

What the PP means is her current way of life is much less wasteful so overall a better environmental impact despite it being not ideal to tip rubbish, sometimes that is just a necessity.

*my improved way of life far outweighs anything that went to landfill and my mental load is significantly lighter too.

What the PP means is her current way of life is much less wasteful so overall a better environmental impact despite it being not ideal to tip rubbish, sometimes that is just a necessity.*

I apologise if I misread that. I read that my new way of life is more important than stuff going on landfill.

I see how that it was a comment on carbon footprint. Once again I apologize for misreading it.

I do still think every effort should be made not to just dump things even if the long term benefits might be good.

I apologise if I misread that. I read that my new way of life is more important than stuff going on landfill.

Well, actually, if that were the case, it would STILL be more important for Levo to get the stuff out ASAP than worrying about landfill at this point in time..

Because hoarding is a serious MH issue that ruins lives, and it’s important to get on top of it, and faffing around hand-wringing about landfill will interfere with that.

Plenty of time for Levo to turn her attention to environmental concerns once she’s in control and no longer hoarding. Right now, she had a MH issue to get to grips with and that has to come first.

I haven't read right through, but our hospice charity shop has a van, that is sitting outside Asda every day for collections.

Also the actual shop is letting us drop bags off to them in person.

Also BHF are offering free postage at the moment.

Loads of our shops have put their pop up donation venues on F.B or on their website. Im not on F.B, but I could still see it on their page.

It is a really difficult no-win situation because ideally we would not have consumed/accumulated so much stuff in the first place, but can't turn back time on someone's individual household.

Thanks for understanding and explaining my point a bit better than I did @Tolleshunt and thankyou for rethinking and trying to see my point of view @Malbecblooms

Thankfully, with the help of some very kind family members I was able to get on top of the problem and have been hoard-free for several years now, I was posting my story to try to show people that it's not always as simple as trying to avoid waste. Hoarding is a serious issue and can ruin your life and your family. If you've found the strength and motivation to tackle it, focus on that first and foremost. Get yourself better and then you can start to be mindful of other things.

I still suffer anxiety and depression and some of my triggers are definitely linked to the hoarding. Its not something that just goes away overnight and its an extremely difficult thing to overcome without complicating the process worrying about where you can take things and finding people to collect them.

Give the really good stuff to charity, recycle the rest or donate to refugee or other organisations that will have a specific use for it.

Well done for making such great strides forward, Levo, that’s no mean feat!! 💪

@DDIJ

Thank you for the advice. It is hard for the children because they are completely torn between doing what I say and doing what their grandmother says. I think I have truly reached the end and I have decided to move out.

Why not just move the stuff out? If your children can bring it in they can take it right out again. I don't understand how they are "completely torn": they must be able to see for themselves that what their grandmother is asking is totally batshit.