Hoarder's Rehab

[FrustratedFrugal]

Do you hoard clothes, shoes, jewellery, makeup, skincare - or magazines and books?
Or something else?

Do you have a hard time letting go of things?

Would you like to declutter but don't know how to get started?

Would you like to join a collective spring cleaning?

A warm welcome: please join this thread and tell something about yourself!

Well done @IPokeBadgers - step by step. I know I hoarder to hold on to memories but seriously what memories are in bank statements
I have one carrier bag of paper ready to take to work on monday to shred. Bit by bit.
I also sorted through 2 cubes full of books and identified 2 for charity... well its a start.

IPokeBadgers several people in my mother's family have fairly severe hoarding tendencies too - it runs in the family and I learned overshopping from my mother and sisters at a very young age.

Embarrassingly I've had a sportswear shopping binge today - 12 items (leggings, tops, socks) [ashamed] In my defense, I am going to a retreat next week, the dress code is yoga gear and I have also started running. So the items will definitely be worn and I will enjoy them. But I'm sure you all are familiar with the mixed feelings...

Hi kwick and frugal!
Agree that this tendency runs in families....I see behaviours in myself that were definitely there in my mum and nan. And totally get the shopping/mixed feelings thing.
I do feel ready for a change in regards to the house but getting motivated is a challenge. Off work still and want to make changes here/declutter but also have to focus on looking for a new job and trying to process a lot of big emotions/sadness/anger about my current job. Don't feel I can go back after events of the past year but after over a decade there it is so hard. Altogether it feels quite overwhelming....and that's before we bring TTC into the equation....
Part of me feels if I could address the hoarding, let go of a lot of physical stuff it would put me in a better position to address the mental/emotional stuff.

Curious about the retreat frugal....sounds interesting, care to share?

Kwick I laughed at you saying what memories are there in bank statements.....I still have a bank statement from my first credit card, which has transactions on it from my interrailing trip in 2000.....I look at it and remember staying in the Strawberry Youth Hostel in poland.....and drinking some very strong Polish rocket fuel....I mean....vodka.

There's no hope for me is there! 😅

My problem with hoarding is I can't let go because I feel like I paid for the items, it's a waste to let them go for cheap or for free. How to be freed from this mindset?

And I hoard notebooks, pens too!

I love notebooks, then I don't use them in case I mess up writing something! Can never find any scrap paper --- there is definitely no hope for me

FiveShelties -- OMG that's me!

I love notebooks too! I need to join in please. Managed to sell some stuff on EBay but it's slow going . I need to be more ruthless!

Me too Five. I wonder if it is protective? I tend to think it is because I like to buy a bargain, but don't use things before the next bargain comes along; but maybe there is some hidden need to "have" stuff.

Flo, I got rid of the programmes and tickets a few years ago, I had a wallow first! It was a bit sad, but we really didn't have room. I haven't regretted it like I have regretted clothes (in fact sometimes I even regret clothes that have fallen apart!).

hello, I would like to join.
My problem is not that I have masses of stuff, but that I feel that I have too much, plus a lack of storage.
So officially Im not a hoarder, but i do have a problem getting rid of things. Yesterday I tidied the linen cupboard but only chucked 1 tiny towel.

IPokeBadgers, I'm going to a writing retreat. I'm in academia and found retreats a couple of years ago. Usually, writing retreats are a mix of writing, workshops, and spending time in nature. For me, retreats have been transformative. My work is very stressful but these kinds of experiences really fuel my productivity and creativity and I've also met wonderful new people. I've even started organizing writing retreats in my institution so that other people can experience them too. You can organize a simple retreat with a friend just by going somewhere (a simple B&B for example) for one or two nights. I sometimes do that too: we walk, talk, read or write and spend some time alone but share our meals.

To come back to the theme of hoarding, I also have countless notebooks

I started working on the underlying issues related to hoarding and overshopping a couple of years ago. For me, accumulating stuff has been a way to channel negative feelings and to reward myself. I've managed to slow down but have not been able to stop completely.

Anyway, it's a work in progress. I've accepted that I will always struggle with this and right now my focus is on taking small steps. Every magazine discarded, anything recycled, every bin liner taken out, every shelf or drawer sorted out counts. My folks never dealt with these issues: I think I'm the first person in the family who is even trying to tackle this.

It's great that so many of you have joined this thread! I feel extra motivated to get something done because I can share the progress here

Today's job is the make up

drawer. And then socks. And bikinis.

Kind of a hoarder, though I am getting better at getting rid of stuff. Cosmetics and jewellery are my downfall. Though I have just gone through my lipgloss stash and got rid of about 90%! I am finding my decluttering a work in progress, but I'm getting there!

Yes to pens and notebooks, although I am a writer, so definitely need the notebooks, I'm just not buying any more until I've used the ones I've got. (However I do not need 12 different neon pink gel pens, where can I donate unwanted pens and pencils that doesn't involve posting them? Because that would cost a bomb! I've got a massive box full of ones I want rid of.)

I hoard anything and everything 😭 recently found a shoe box full of birthday cards from my 13th birthday I'd forgotten existed. I'm 22 soon. Luckily I'm moving soon so absolutely have to throw all my crap away!

Also a nightmare for buying stationery in bulk... so hard not to when Sainsbury's keep stocking such pretty things

Could I join please? I feel I'm beyond hope: hoard EVERYTHING and wish I could get Mary Poppins to just appear and do her stuff. Part of me wishes I could ask someone else to clear my clutter,then I wouldn't know what had gone and couldn't worry I'd chucked something I'd want in the future.. The bigger part of me is filled with horror at the thought of anyone ever attempting to go through my stuff and binning it as I'm so attached to so much.
I think I should probably start with clothes

Well it is certainly nice to know I am not alone in my hoarding tendencies!!!

I have never thrown away a birthday card... I will be 43 in July!!!

Welcome everyone!

And well done Ememem!

I've had a really good day today. I had a picnic with DC and decided to use a picnic hamper bought more than ten years ago when we lived in the US. It has only ever been been used a handful times (I had to dust it first, sigh...) but DC loved it and we had a glorious time.

Later today, I took out the garden furniture (I have been meaning to do his for weeks). Then I tackled one of the worst problem areas - listening to music, I sorted out nine overflowing wire baskets in my wardrobe. I will take three bags of clothes to H&M to be recycled. Most of them were limp, bobbly, faded or tatty, a few just too tight or terminally unstylish. Many had not been worn in years. Bye bye, itchy yoga leggings and running capris that never felt right. It is difficult to describe how good letting go feels.

I know this is really ambitious, but I'd like to go through every room in our house, letting go of items that are no longer needed.

Signing in not specifically because of S&B related hoarding, but because when I see it in my TIO it'll prompt me to do my bag of disposal for the day.

I've taken a book to the free book stall at the tube station, put two toys on Freecycle and and made it to the small electricals recycling with a bag of stuff but there's just so much stuff left to go!!!!

Cormorant good work, well done! Yes, I fully understand the feeling - there's still so much stuff left. The same here 😅

A recycling truck for small appliances will be in our neighborhood on Tuesday. I'll try to remember it.

I have hired a decluttering person. It is amazing. I hated being in my living room. After two hours there now everyone says it is their favourite room in the house. She has laundered, dry cleaned, mended things. Taken wine glasses rented a year ago back to Majestic. Arranged old VHS recordings to go onto DVD. Got council to collect items I don't want.
Today we did my clothes. I have now donated four bags of clothes to a charity that helps dress people for interviews.
She asks me 'do you LOVE it''do you need it?' 'Does it fit?' 'Does it make you happy?'
I sit down while she asks all these things and a timer goes off after an hour. Then I have a cup of tea and chill and then we start again, while she runs to the car with all my bags of discarded clothes.
Yes it costs money but I have achieved more in two sessions than I ever would have before.
I am so happy!

We have made a start this evening by eating the remaining week and a half of our Christmas advent calendars
This is the kind of clutter clearing I can actually enjoy at least!

DH has a Valentine's Day cardboard box of truffles out containing one truffle. It's been there for weeks. I could honestly strangle him, not because I particularly crave the truffle, but because that almost empty box is driving me insane.

I threw out 90% of my Tupperware today, a kettle and a toaster! Also dog made me throw out all but tow chopping boards, that made me sad :(. But the kitchen looks pretty good! Am going to do the food cupboards tomorrow, and then work on eating stuff before it goes out of date!