Do you consider yourself a “hoarder” at all? The Mayo Clinic’s definition of “hoarding” is:
“Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.
“Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually piled with stuff. And when there’s no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles, yard and other storage facilities.
“Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much impact on your life, while in other cases it seriously affects your functioning on a daily basis.
“People with hoarding disorder may not see it as a problem, making treatment challenging.”
Which end of the spectrum are you on? The hoarding end or the minimalist end?
Okay, I claim to be under control, but I admit that I need to establish more control! My current claim (hope) is that I will be able to clean out as soon as I finish my current 3 projects. Then I won’t need to save stuff for future projects because we just recently obtained an Ace Hardware store nearby, and they have agreed to have everything I might possibly need ready and waiting on their shelves for me.
You’re lucked our last Ace hardware closed when the owner retired and no one wanted to buy it, closest one now is 28 miles away, another hardware went out of business because of Lowes.
Is it hoarding or Hurricane season. Coming? Hard to tell sometimes.
I’m a diy woodworker so I probably have more tools and materials than the average person but these are essential items in a wood shop. Plus being slightly ocd everything has its place. LOL
I don’t hoard things but DW says I do. I don’t throw away something I may need later on, example if I use a roll of electrical wire but have 3’ left I don’t throw it away, I’ll save it in case I need some small wiring project, DW says that’s hoarding, I say it’s smart future savings where I won’t have to buy another full roll when all I need is 2’.
Exactly my approach. Fortunately my spouse agrees. If and when I downsize, I will trash things I determine will never be needed after downsizing.
Neither my wife nor I are hoarders, but I do admit to not throwing things out right away. Then, when I am doing a major cleanup, I get rid of everything I don’t need.
I will admit to needing to do a major clean out and Goodwill run! I have issues with getting rid of parts and pieces that I justify keeping for future projects because “if I get rid of that nut and bolt collection I’ll just have to go out and buy them again later!”
Not at all a hoarder living 6+ months a year in an RV. I always know everything we have has to eventually be moved.
It is a little different at the house, but we have started getting rid of stuff. Think you are going to store it in your mausoleum? The rule is, what will your inheritors do with your stuff? Keep it, sell it, donate it or dump it? Start asking them. Not every ‘precious’ item is going to be accepted for donation or easily sold in an estate sale. If the truthful answer is your inheritors will dump it, start doing it NOW and save them the aggravation.
Mr J,
I totally agree with your comment. After taking care of my mothers possessions, I vowed my stuff has to go, now.
I’m working on it. Sometimes not so fast, then I get a burst of energy and stuff goes!
I hate to get rid of stuff. When I do, I find out I need it and have to buy another.
I agree, if I didn’t want something I would not have purchased it. Don’t buy things to throw away. NOW let’s not talk about organization skills 😁
I believe I’m under control. I regularly sort through things and get rid of unnecessary items. The DW on the other hand is another story. I’ll leave it at that.
Our basement is just that, a basement. It’s my space and my refuge. I seldom throw anything out unless it’s beyond repair and there is nothing that can be used somewhere else. It is ‘neat’ and I know where everything is. Amazing how many times I’ve reused things that most people would throw away.
I’m like Bob M. I hate to have to buy things over and over.
I voted on today’s hoarding, post traveling. Pretraveling, I kept more. You never know when that perfect size box will be needed, or that container of various size screws. I kept a lot more for those “what if” times. I was prepared for ANYTHING, lol. Now, living in a 13′ Scamp, I fight myself constantly to not keep stuff for “what if.” I keep telling myself there are stores everywhere for if “what if” happens.
I save things that sit in my basement for years. Then all of a sudden I need something, and for some unknown reason I remember I have one. I go to the basement and usually I remember approximately where I put that treasure. For example: I’ve got a piece of velcro that I know, one day I’m going to need. LOL….my wife is always complaining about the junk I keep.
I have started clearing out. That “one day I’ll use that” has come and gone 30+ years ago. Container and baby jars if screws/bolts/nuts/Vitter pins and the old auto fuses. As well as tools. I no longer need a roofing hammer, 24’/30′ extension ladders. I’ve told the kids to take their stuff and do as they wish and anything they want drag it along with them if not it’s recycle. But nothing like my grandparents or parents they saved bread wrappers, tons of wire coat hangers you name it they saved it. A lot of stuff I saved was crap from my years of military travels that still sit packed in boxes for the last 26 years. Know what’s in it just no place to put it. Time for eBay.
I don’t have to be a hoarder. My wife does it for me.
Sorry, Kenn. I just found your comment in the Spam folder (silly filter!). Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Once a year, I go through EVERYTHING, ditching what we don’t need.
I am, however, an absolutely DIGITAL hoarder. I have ample network storage space and I rarely delete anything. Old code snippets, downloadable installers, digital TV/Movies, images, you name it.
I just can’t throw away old car parts that still work…
Being a full timer for 8 years, it’s really impossible to hoard. But after going thru covid,I always have 6 months of food,to and essentials just in case. I guess I m scared for life!!!
Or…. am I in denial?
Sorry, Primo. I have no idea why our sometimes-overzealous spam filter held this and your last comment for moderation.🙄 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I have way too much stuff ( in MY own mind, collectibles) that I keep boxed up and put away so it’s mostly unseen.
I also have way too many tools, some handed down from my grand father, which I can’t seem to get rid of…
Actually, it’s “part with”. I’m in my 60s and still have and use things that were my grandfathers.
Personally, I hate discarding anything that’s still in working order. Way to much good stuff ends up in landfills. Of course I have a place where all that good “junk” can inhabit.
I probably keep too many things, mostly sentimental, but truly it’s not all that much. When I had my own place I would describe myself as minimalist. My husband on the other hand…oy vey. He has a shop that is 2500 sq ft…packed with machinery, car parts, engines, tires and 3 cars (there are more cars and parts in sheds/huts outside of his shop. He is a vintage car racer and has been for 60 yrs. Still has his first race car and others. Finally realizing he can’t do all the things he thought he would do. I told him I was going to die first so I didn’t have to deal with…lol. He has sold some…but there is sooooo much. Fortunately his 2 daughters are great so I will have some help if my threat doesn’t happen.
I guess I’m a book hoarder. I hate to let go of the books I buy. My laundry room is stuffed with books that I’ll probably never read again, but I love to have them just in case.
A dumpster was put in our driveway of our bricks n sticks. The kids didn’t want hardly anything (would fit in the bed of my truck with room to spare). It all went. I never knew how much I could love and embrace minimalist lifestyle!! I purge every 6 months living full time (moving every 2-4 months).