So before I begin this blog, I want you to answer this question, When you see the word hoarder, what does it mean to you, and are you really a hoarder?
I hold my hands up as I am a hoarder, but I do have it under control. So in that, I go through parts of the year not buying anything, and then get the urge to spend money, but it is always planned and set out, and this helps me control the things I have and not buying items just for the sake of it, which is a sign you could be a hoarder, if you always go into a shop like TK Maxx and have to come out with a purchase, and really was in impulse you are feeding your hoarding. When you don't you know you have it under control.
I am watching a show that was on TV about Hoarders but the extreme kind where they can't even get into their home easily as they have a house full of stuff. Its often sentimental value, wanting to recycle everything and feeling they have to keep stuff "Because its just in case" factor.
How do you get it under control?
For me its "Will I ever use it" and "Have I used it?" and "How long I have had that item?".
If it is "No I haven't used it since it was bought", I don't see place for it at the moment and its been sitting there for a year. This can mean, it is time to let go of it, and I do the one in and one out, system. So if I buy new clothes I will have a sort through to see if there are items I have that I can donate, sell or give to someone else.
Is it something you inherit?
Well my nan on my mum's side of the family, always had a lot of items in her home, because my grandad would collect items, like keeping newspapers. My grandad on my mum's side, loved horse racing and so would mark down who won, who got second, but yet it was organised.
I loved my nan's studio flat they had and it will still big enough for when family came down to visit, room for them to stay for a couple of nights or so.
For me I like to have a collection of items, and it is comfort over commonsense a lot of the time.
Can it take over your life?
Yes it can, and when you can hardly see the floor you know soon or later you'll being tripping over the stuff in your room or house, so the things I would suggest to keep hold of, is shoe boxes as these are great to keep documents in, and envelopes by gluing them together and will lower the spend on a filing system or temporary until you can buy a better filing system to keep letters and bank statements in.
If you can go paperless take it, as if you need a statement you can print off your transactions and deposits, from doing home banking.
Things like Gas bills still go with paper statements as they can stitch you up with the bill and also keep tabs on your Gas Meters yourself as this will help make sure, they don't charge you more going on your meter reading.
Also these are great for when you need to change your name of accounts or open new bank accounts and also when going for new employment they now often ask for these items to prove you are a UK resident.
The other items that are good to keep hold off, is jars as they are great if you keep buttons off from clothing, make up brushes, pens and pencils and washed out and for snacks.
What is good hoarding?
Buying items in bulk, but to a limit too, but things that you use regularly and that you easily run out of, like Washing detergent, dishwasher tablet, toilet paper, kitchen roll and reusable cleaning cloths. Even make up items I will by extras of like my regular Nivea face cream and body sprays.
Just to say this blog is not being sponsored.
Item that aren't gonna clutter, but be used without having to spend money on more, and often you can save money by buying items in bulk.
It is good to have if you have a house with many floors is having cleaning items around the house, upstairs and down as it saves so much time, when tidying and cleaning. So having spares of cleaning cloths, sponges, toothbrush to cleaning tiles and plug holes, and shower heads.
I have before used natural products to clean so lemon and table salt, is the great to descale areas around the house. Like I am near Mrs Hinch, I sometimes wish, but its the effort and what I'd rather do, to that has to be done at some point.
Can passed experiences turn you into a hoarder?
Going on myself yes, as I remember once my mum asking my brother to go into my room when I lived in London, Hammersmith and clear it out, and so I am very protective over my belongings, but it has in a way worked in reverse in that I try not to have too much of every item I own, only on items I like to wear and use all the time, like writing materials, and leggins.
I have got it under control, and seeing the TV shows about hoarding it has made me more aware of having loads of everything, and having items I know will definitely use and its does it have any relevance in my life any more. It can happen due to a loss of a loved one or a end of a relationship, it isn't something you are born with it is things that has triggered this behaviour of having loads of stuff.
How can hoarding effect your mental health?
The question is, "Do you always want to live with something that is an eye sore?" and it can make us feel stuck in a rut, and that we haven't got out life together when we live in mess, so even though I don't like cleaning seeing my desk in a chaotic mess makes me feel Gosh that is too much, so for me yes. When I have a functional way I find life is less stressful and that I have my life in order.
It can make you not want to get out of bed, when you see that you have too much stuff that you can handle, then it means you mind is full of seeing the amount you have, so needs to be cleared to feel "Yes now I have my life in order". So it does, it makes us feel "Everything is okay with the world again".
So if you hoard it is okay just learn how to manage it is the key.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
