i think my house is about to split at the seams!

[martini82]

Help!!! I am a self confessed hoarder and now my house is busting at the seams. Where do i start??? But worse than that where do i find the heart to get rid of the things that were once loved but no longer needed.

I have 3ds 6,2.5 and 1.5 yr so have toys for all ages as well as hand down clothes and well as all the baby stuff (just in case).(oh and only a small 2 bed house) Old camping stuff in the loft that, as well as a million and 1 other stuff that has been put up there (again just in case) its now over filled and fear the ceiling collapsing.
Any other hoarders out there??? Or likewise and de-clutterers (if there is such a word) out there for tip or where to start???

I used the FLYlady method of de-cluttering. I di8d 15 mins a day and I threw out anything I had not used for over a year

The stuff you mention is stuff I would tend to hoard, too.

But is that really all of it? Do you have old magazines, more cups and plates than you can fit in your cupboards, clothes that you don't really like, broken toys they still play with but which are fundamentally just like other toys that aren't broken?

You could get the baby clothes down and decide to keep only 5 of anything Pick your favourite 5 trousers/short sleeve shirts/baby gros in each size and give the rest to charity shops. Assuming you think it's conceivable you'll have another baby, else just give away everything the littlest one has outgrown too.

I think that for us confirmed hoarders it's sometimes better to approach these things gingerly .

I tend to do mine in stages, so pick a cupboard/area, completely empty it, bin for rubbish, box for recycling, box/bag for charity and stuff to keep (and stuff I'm not sure about) goes back in. This usually reduces it by 1/3 to 1/2. Then a few weeks later I go through the stuff I've kept again and find that I don't actually want all of it so get rid of some more.

Can you sell any of it for a good price on Ebay? That may help you get started!

I'm too am a self-confessed hoarder , although I am at present going to great lengths to cure myself of my affliction.

The way to do it is to be very ruthless. I've been going through my house, room by room for the past 10 days on and off.

Each room I've spring cleaned from top to bottom, touched up the walls if needed (all walls are magnolia) and sorted cupboards, units etc.

I only have Ds's and my bedroom to do now. I've just either put stuff in bags for charity shop or chucked it at the tip.

It doesn't help that I run a business from home as well so have mountains of business paperwork, and materials in my room.

By doing a room at a time the tidiness and organised cupboards etc have inspired me to carry on. By the weekend I'll have a clutter free house

I'm really ruthless, but I still find I have too much clobber in the house. I certainly couldn't survive in our house if I were a hoarder!!

Plus, the more stuff you have makes tidying up that much more time-consuming!! That's my theory.

tbh i think the gentle approach may be best, like the idea of FLYlady!! 15 mins sounds good not too much time for me to change my mind a rummage through the bin bag

i have ebayed things before but for one the costs to sell seems to eat most of my proffit as well as paypal. also i tend to find things to buy on there which doesnt help

I chucked a pair of toddler skates last year, they were too pants for DD (8yo) even if they fit her feet, and none of DC were that keen on skating, anyway.

Fast forward, now all DC are very keen on skating, including 2yo DS -- I so wish I had kept those toddler skates! To buy new ones like them would cost £20.

So how do you (or should you?) chuck stuff you haven't used for years, when you know it would be financially painful to replace it and you have a history of regretting tossing stuff?

cantSupinate thats the biggest reason i keep things. it pains me so much to spend more money on something i had but chucked out!

am now thinking of gathering all the kids bits up and sorting them into boxes to take to the bootfair (i've got to be ruthless). any money i get back on them will be shared between my ds's so they can save it or buy somthing they want. that way they pay for it not me!!

Also if they have to pay for it they are more likely to really want/use whatever they get iyswim.

Take photos of stuff that have memories attached/ sentimental value. Then get rid...!

I find moving or having a baby is a good kick start to get rid of everything.

I feel your pain as a compulsive hoarder who had to clean stuff out (and sell it) when dd came along I found that even though I used FreakoidOrganisoid approach I still have some things (books, music) that I can't bear to be parted from, though since we are moving again parting will have to happen!

With the baby clothes farming them out to relatives or friends who are having babies is good - that way you can get back if you really do need them, the idea of keeping the 5 babygroes etc that make you gooey though is probably a good one - let us know how it goes?

I echo tackling a room at a time - I started in February and have systematically worked my way through the house from loft to cellar...
I am now on a rota - one room a month - gets reviewed...

Good luck