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!

Not the dog! She enables me! Dh was the strict one!

Well done op; I am aiming to do every room too!

cormorant my DH does this too. He hates finishing anything. Drives me up the bloody wall!

AteRiri - me, too! Re that feeling of wasting cash and also loving notebooks!! TK Maxx is lethal for that.

Great progress ladies!!

@Cristiane that is such a good idea!!! Who did you do it with?
I once did a Wardrobe Audit with a professional image consultant and it was so worth it... but habits (and weight gain) have crept back in...

FFS just realised I have left shredding at home 😡😡😡😡

I love notebooks, then I don't use them in case I mess up writing something!

@Fiveshelties - I do this too! I'm so glad it isn't just me

Frustratedfrugal The retreats sound fab. I have toyed with the idea of one before but it almost feels too self-indulgent or something....I have a pre-emptive guilt when I consider it, don't know why?

I liked what you said about everyour magazine, every book, every bag that goes out is a sign of progress. I am trying to hold on to that fact as motivation is low at the minute...but I know I've made a start.

Anyone else have a problem chucking gift packaging? I'm a jewellery fiend and have spent hundreds of pounds over the last decade on everything from fine gemstone rings to the more commercial brands.....so have amassed packaging and dozens of boxes.....why cant i just send straight to recycle bin? I have to date never parted with any jewellery that cost more than a few quid, so not as if I'm saving the packaging for when it is time to sell it on!

SapphireSeptember I donated my leftover stationery to DD's school and after school club (primary school).

IPokeBadgers I am sure you deserve a retreat I go there to recharge my batteries: even DH encourages me to go If you are into yoga or meditation, those would be great in a retreat setting as well. I've also sometimes gone with friends who are going through difficult times - somehow, it has helped.

I feel totally wiped out tonight. If I can muster the energy, I'll cull some magazines. I also ordered some binders for children's magazines that currently litter of our living room.

Oh and an embarrassing confession: I also hoard gift packaging Gift bags and boutique bags are my specialty. I can pretty much track my shopping history - some of my bags are more than 10 years old. My mother has a special thing for Christmas gift wrap. Not long ago, she still had some from the 1970s.

Cristiane, a decluttering professional sounds fantastic. Will definitely consider. I'm so happy that you were able to reclaim your living room.

Kwick good luck with the shredding, I always forget that kind of stuff as well. (Have just mailed a couple of letters that languished in my bag for weeks.)

@IPokeBadgers yep I keep gift packaging if I can reuse!!

I did a yoga weekend once at a Champneys Spa over New Years a couple of years ago - best New Years ever!!!

Yoga weekend sounds lush!

The council metal waste collection bus that collects bulky stuff and chemical waste like paint and batteries came round today. I took two dead fluorescent tubes and a bagful of batteries there and feel incredibly smug - and I also took a bunch of magazines to work. All of the above have cluttered up the kitchen and living room for ages.

A very sweet 7 year old Freecycle has collected some toys that my teenager was finally persuaded to get rid of, and I've binned five CDs of obsolete technology. Not the most productive day but better than nothing. I did buy some tights but that doesn't count because I destroy them as fast as I buy them.

The magazine collection. This isn't even all the magazines in the house, I know there are othersome lurking. This box has sat, with the lid on it, in corner of my living room for maybe two years.....did I just lift it straight to the car to follow to the recycling at the dump? Did I feck. I only went and opened the bloody box didn't I! I am literally like one of those hoarders you see on the, poring g over every scrap of paper. Oldest magazine found so far dates to 2007......

Hoarders on the TV was what I meant to say!

Is anyone still around? I have been travelling for work and am now back. The house is a tip and I am planning on continuing will small weekly steps of decluttering.

Todays's task: to take two bags of frayed clothes to be recycled.

I am @FrustratedFrugal !!!! Just been away for a week and heading out on a work trip tomorrow but my intention is still there!!!

Old duvets, pillows and throws have gone. Games in a pile for charity shop. Wine glasses washed and stored!

Tanaqui fantastic progress!!! Well done!
Kwick I am also making one final trip before the summer holidays the day after tomorrow, so I will also be away for a few days.

Three things accomplished today: I took two bags of threadbare clothes (too tatty for charity shops) to the local H&M to be recycled. And I sorted out a few volumes of DC's magazines into binders. Finally, I declutterd the sofa table in the living room - will take another sheaf of old magazines to work next week. Our living room looks totally different now that the clutter is gone!

I've only just come across this thread - signing in. We have a small house and too much clutter. I have too many clothes and have been on a shopping ban since January. I have only bought three items of clothing this year, although I have bought three pairs of shoes and boots. I wear shoes and boots out though and needed to buy new ones for work so I don't feel too guilty about that. I don't know how long it will take me to wear out my clothes though...

I'm trying to sort one bag a week to the charity shop. It seems endless though

Sounds like great progress ladies!

@FrustratedFrugal do you have before and after pics?

I'm sat here in a pile of clothing some of which I've just bought off eBay for no reason it doesn't fit why did I buy these? I'm beginning to think I should chop my fingers off step away from the eBay app

It wouldn't be so bad as I've thrown out three bags last week I was doing well 😣