The Hoarders Anonymous Thread Part Two...Still Sorting It Out ~ Together!

[Solo]

Sorting out the home when you're a hoarder (big or small) is never going to be easy and we should know! but having someone else to support you, talk about it with you and make you feel much less of a freak of mother nature makes a huge difference!

If you are any of the following:
A hoarder. In a mess. Untidy. Disorganised. Lazy with housework that has lead to something that you now feel unable to deal with. If you are ill and not coping with the housework. If you are emotionally attached to items for whatever reason. If you have a combination of any or all of these things or something completely different, please join us. No one here will judge you. We have something in common and we have a common goal. We share our ideas and we share our disappointments no matter how big and our celebrations no matter how small.

Welcome to thread number 2! :)

Well, a family member was evicted today so I've spent all weekend packing and cleaning their house! My ME is banging loudly on the door and I'm thoroughly exhausted. Shame I can't throw as much energy into my own mess! But sil is in hospital, so I really had to do it. I am suffering now and going to try to sleep in a minute.

No one can visit the Solo household because no amount of bags would help .

Sorry you're having a hard time solo. Been meaning to update, sympathise and empathise but keep hitting setbacks. Eg I just typed a reasonably long post but my battery died before I could submit. Too tired to try again tonight but will update properly soon. Sending positive vibes to all.

Hi KMS it's nice to see you :) Looking forward to your update very soon.

I have nothing much to report really other than I really think I need to put some energy into my own crap. And soon!

So this time of year always motivates me to sort out/tidy but this year I am truly overwhelmed by the amount of "things" we seem to have accumulated - I don't know where to start. Those of you who live in tidy/sorted houses do you have any tips or advice? What I'd really like is a neat little check list of everything I need and the rest can go!!!

Hi P999 :) I'm not sure you'll find any tidy or sorted posters on here although Babies seems quite good usually; most of us are here because we are far from tidy and sorted, but we are very supportive of one another, so please join in

Hi everyone, how's things?

Solo you deserve a medal for the clearing of someone else's house.

I've made no progress lately - just knackered sore and overwhelmed by it all.

Today I am attempting to change that. The Caglets brought down all their teddies and we've found some to donate, some to give to a friend who's setting up a new infant school, and some to chuck. Still a ridiculous amount being kept TBH but they are so attached [tears hair out].

Anyway then when the tumble dryer finishes the Caglets have been told to bring ALL their clothes down and we are going to sort through for tatty/outgrown stuff. Not expecting 7yo DS to be forthcoming with that though - the other day I mentioned getting rid of some too-small trousers and he said "you can get rid of them when I'm dead"

I also seriously need to get the old toys sorted to sell. Little things are just being donated but we have big boxes of Happyland, train set etc so should make a fair few quid.

Then I need to go through all the Caglets' picture books - I tried doing that a few months back by picking some things to see if they'd chuck them, but they opted to keep pretty much all of it. Lots of them don't get read anymore though so I'm going to take a different approach and ask them to pick x amount of favourites to keep.

And THEN I need to finish going through the massive box of paperwork to shred. I did really well a couple of months back but then totally stalled and the box is just sitting under the table taunting me and gradually getting filled with more random crap.

HELP :(

I have found friends. Seriously need to be with you all. Really not good at this housework/decluttering malarkey! Dining room is the ŵorst. Am sitting here surrounded wondering where to start. Have spent hours on it lately with not a lot to show for it. Hmm.

Know the feeling! Welcome :)

Fair amount of progress yesterday but a tiny drop in the ocean.

Finishing the clothes today and then picture books.

Clothes finished! We've bagged some for friends, chucked some and put others aside for the fabric stash (which will be massively decluttered itself next month - DD will be doing her designer badge at Brownies and they've asked for fabric donations!).

Books wasn't so easy. Turns out we have nearly 100 picture books and we've managed to ditch over 30, which is certainly progress, but I was hoping for more. Still we've got a few to sell, some to recycle, some to donate and some for my teacher friend.

DD made an amazingly brave decision today. When she left infant school (which she loved) I gave her a particular story book with a note inside about her being ready for new adventures. But since she left juniors (can't remember what I've said on this thread but basically after 6 months in juniors I deregistered her because she was stressed and being bullied, and she's now home educated) she's felt unable to look at said book. She keeps saying she wants to read it but she can't because the note makes her sad - because it reminds her that she misses the infant school, and that the junior school was so awful for her. :( She's overcome a lot of the damage school did but sometimes things resurface and I realise that actually the scars run pretty deep.

Anyway she's been reluctant to get rid but we had a chat, a cry and a cuddle today and I explained that sometimes we feel like we SHOULD hold onto things, but we don't. We shouldn't keep things that make us unhappy. Needless to say being a hoarder I have only recently learned this myself so I'm hoping DD can learn this early and never feel hostage to stuff again.

We talked about maybe getting a different copy of the book, but we agreed in the end that would still be too much. So I said she could choose another book as a Well Done and the result is I'm going to search eBay for the next book in her favourite series (Percy Jackson) instead. I'm really proud of her. :)

Welcome in Blue :) Just get stuck in; I hope you can get inspiration and great tips from some of our stars here (Cag and Babies).

Cag I find it easier to sort other people out :(. Mine is still a tip and the rewiring and new windows is not getting done!

Can't believe how long it is since I posted on here!!
(My cough turned out to be the return of allergic asthma, so I have new meds now to add to the list!)

How are you all getting on?
Today I have bagged up a load of boxes (I'm a PITA for keeping packaging "just in case") to go to the tip.

Welcome back :)

Time goes pretty fast on this thread doesn't it? I often don't get any decluttering done for months so I forget to post. :(

Today's been slower but still made progress - some VHS chucked (keeping only the much loved stuff that's not available on DVD at all, as we still have a VHS player!) and we've put aside some Wii games to exchange. One corner of the living room is now much neater. Tired though so not expecting a productive evening really.

It does indeed, and that was exactly it - completely forgot about decluttering while the DSs were off school!

I found a box of xmas presents 'put away for a rainy day', so this weeks task is to use them up

Can I join? Our small house is too cramped and cluttered. I tried to clear up part of a room earlier to make space for workmen who are coming in tomorrow. What should have been a small job has turned into a bigger one because there is absolutely nowhere to move the stuff to. We can't afford to move so need to declutter.

Welcome apples :) same here, our house is tiny and we have no hope of moving. It's frustrating, because we are getting rid of stuff that is genuinely used (like big toy sets etc) but there isn't the space.

Got rid of some stuff today - friend bought a couple of things from me and I also gave her some outgrown clothes for her DD. And my DD have also chosen another couple of books she doesn't want to keep.

has*

I've got rid of more stuff. A bag of things for the charity shop. More outgrown clothes passed on to friends. Books and toys for my teacher friend.

Cag you are doing so well! :) And welcome Apples get stuck in :)

I have done some this weekend too! There's a reason though; I need to find my V5 for the car.

I have sorted through some of the Chinese laundry dining room, emptied and refilled and put on the dishwasher, done 2 wash loads, sorted through a load of crap in my bedroom (but still have a lot to do in there). Hey! I've got loads to do everywhere. I sorted a bit of the dining table (hardly dented it). I even cooked a spag bol this evening.

I didn't find the V5 though :(

What's v5?

It's the Log Book Cag

Aaah ok. DH and I don't drive so I am clueless about such things. But I can say for certain that if we did have a car, the v5 is precisely the sort of thing that we would lose in the clutter!

Not done anything today and not expecting much this week at all as lots of home ed trips and a few pupils (so will have to tidy up a bit more).

Hi all, how's it going? I've made no progress in the last few days.

Hi Cag :) I've been sorting some paper crap out; still searching for the V5, but not found it yet

Hello waves please can I join?

We have a house full of stuff, people and pets, whilst we can't get rid of the latter I'm trying to clear some stuff!

I bought two 80 DVD cases so we can get rid of all the cases, filled them up but still have loads of DVDs and CDs over so I've ordered two more!

It's just so hard to keep on top of everything.

Hi and welcome :)

We have 2x 320, 3x 240 DVD cases and a smaller one as well! Gradually moving them around to get organised. DVDs and board games are our addictions.

Done nothing in the last few days, flare up in full swing