help me throw a broken fridge magnet away?

[SoGonnaBeAHoarderWhenImOld]

Plasticy fridge magnet souvenir from an African trip fell off the frige and it's giraffey leg broke off.

I've glued it before and am now thinking I should throw it away but I can't quite manage it.

It's on the top of the fridge with it's bit. It looks at me accusatorially

Other than reminding me of the trip which is not itself special, it was just a holiday, it holds no sentimental value. It's quite cute looking but I have lots of other magnets from other trips so its no big deal. It wasn't a present or anything

I'm toying between gluing the leg back on, leaving it 3 legged (which actually looks ok at a quick glance because it sort of looks like it's other leg is concealed) or throwing it away.

I know I should bin it but I can't. for no obvious reason.

So I'm not drip feeding I think I do have borderline hoarding tendencies. I'm very much 'keep it in case' in life generally - keep the jam jar/spare ribbon in case type.

I'm very pathetic. What's wrong with me.

Please give me a shove/some good reasons why I should just chuck it out. Help me.

Go through your cupboards and select 5 items to get rid of instead of the magnet. Then make your choice about whether to get rid of the 5 items or the 3 legged giraffe. Either is a win!

I like a Magnet too but not that attached. You sound like you're attaching significance to keeping broken things that don't have any significance or sentimental meaning. Just free yourself and put it in the bin. Just don't make eye contact with its pleading, sad giraffe eyes. Is there a tiny matchstick splint being made now?!

Life is too short to have broken fridge magnets. Get rid of it.

lol love this!

I’ve got loads of FMs, none of especially sentimental value, and I’d have no qualms about throwing one out. But in this case I think you should stick the leg on again 😀 I like the idea of a cheap, not that significant object being so painstakingly cared for.

I get it OP, that anxiety that creeps over you when you need to throw something away. A small fridge magnet is a good place to start though if you have borderline hoarding tendencies.

When I feel that tell-tale panic at throwing something away I've started to remind myself that - for example - even though the broken fridge magnet is a reminder of a wonderful holiday I had, those memories are not going to go simply because I have thrown the magnet away. And then apply this thought process to whatever the situation might be. I still struggle letting go but it has helped me.

Good luck!

OMG, this is me. I loved my fridge magnets and got one from every holiday and quite a few day trips. Then we got the kitchen redone and an integral fridge and my fridge magnets won't go anywhere. I put them in a big tub and now I still buy the magnets and out them in the tub with the others. Fgs!

It’s broken - throw it away.

Maybe yell BECAUSE I’M WORTH IT at the bin as you do it

Release yourself from the future pain of indecision, throw it away and give yourself some freedom back instead of letting a broken magnet judge you from the fridge top and steal your peace.

Life is too short to be condescended to by broken clutter, however cute it is

I'd keep it! Particularly if it's not "obviously" broken at first glance.

But I also collect fridge magnets of the places I go to. They are a collection of happy memories of the experiences I've had.

Imagine the broken giraffe is saying 'Pleeease, let me go. I can't live this three-legged life anymore' and then you say 'Thank you giraffe fridge magnet, you have done your duty, I will let you go to the great fridge in the sky' and then chuck it in the wheelie bin reverently place it in the fridge magnet undertaker's hearse.

<shuffles in front of own fridge full of 'mended' fridge magnets>

This, you can even put the photo on the fridge and change it when dirty.

Ask your inner Marie Kondo if the broken magnet sparks joy.

If it does, keep it, broken leg and all.

If it doesn't, thank it for its service and chuck it!

I bet if you do throw it away you will remember it more than the ones you've kept!

We kept the old fridge in the garage when we had the kitchen redone and that’s where the magnets go.

If I'm struggling to throw something away, I put it away somewhere I won't see it for a long time. When I eventually come across it again I'll I either feel happy to see it again, in which case I put it back, or I'll feel neutral about it, in which case I'll get rid of it. I find I do get rid of things months later, when they are no longer emotive.

If in doubt, throw it out!!

This!

Obviously this thread was a huge mistake you bunch of evil enablers.

I thought I was bad but the people with the buckets of broken fridge magnets!!?!? & more than one of you!

This thread didn't turn out the way I'd hoped. Sadly, I've glued it together and it's back on the fridge. I did like the advice about throwing out three other things and I've managed one so far. I'm collecting below the advice I found helpful so I can come back here as this is an ongoing issue. If it breaks again, I think I'll put it out of sight and hopefully work up to disposal!!

A COMPILATION OF GOOD ADVICE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE (for me and anyone unfortunate enough to be like me!)

@MistyGreenAndBlue

Feng Shui says that broken items are bad for the energy of your home <<<< I must REMEMBER THIS always!!

Clutter is also bad so any small thing you can do towards breaking the hoarding habit is helpful

@badg3r
If you can't throw it out, how about keeping it but finding day three other things you can get rid of or decluttering a drawer? Win win (for the Gertrude the giraffe 😉)

@IcedPurple
Ask your inner Marie Kondo if the broken magnet sparks joy.
If it does, keep it, broken leg and all.
If it doesn't, thank it for its service and chuck it!

@Kittybelle123

When I feel that tell-tale panic at throwing something away I've started to remind myself that - for example - even though the broken fridge magnet is a reminder of a wonderful holiday I had, those memories are not going to go simply because I have thrown the magnet away. And then apply this thought process to whatever the situation might be. I still struggle letting go but it has helped me.

@Luredbyapomegranate

It’s broken - throw it away.
Maybe yell BECAUSE I’M WORTH IT at the bin as you do it

@thistimelastweek
Seriously. The broken fridge magnet is not improving your quality of life.
In the time you've angsted, you could have chucked the fucker and read three books.
At no point in the future will you think, if only I had a broken fridge magnet this situation will be resolved.
I'm voting lose the magnet.

@NoMoreAgeJokes
Take a photo of it first and then say a fond goodbye as you place it in the bin. It will be OK and you can keep the photo as long as you want.

@WashAsDelicates
If I'm struggling to throw something away, I put it away somewhere I won't see it for a long time. When I eventually come across it again I'll I either feel happy to see it again, in which case I put it back, or I'll feel neutral about it, in which case I'll get rid of it. I find I do get rid of things months later, when they are no longer emotive.

@YaWeeSkitter

Im no use. I broke my microwave because I was trying to fix a fridge magnet.

Please cheer me up by telling me this full story. How on earth?

You know you did the right thing. If you didn't want to keep it you wouldn't have asked.

If you binned the magnet straight away when it was broken, I doubt you'd think of it often afterwards. You'll always remember your holiday, though, magnet or not.

Throw it away

Ask for a new magnetic for Xmas or buy one on your next holiday

Take a nice photo of it

And put that on a magnet