| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 10:41:12 AM
Or is it too late?
I am just 52 years old. And I save everything. I cannot throw things away. I save every bit of tin foil and reuse it. I save every box. I reuse plastic baggies til they get holes. I even save envelopes that I get mail art in so I can reuse them over again.
I feel like my grandmother already. Is this the beginning stages of a hoarder? I didn't grow up poor. I had everything I ever needed. What's wrong with me? Is this normal? Am I just being thrifty? Or taking it to the extreme? Are there others out there like me?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Nov 12 2010 : 7:40:38 PM
Just to offer some encouragement-I cleared out 5 boxes of stuff from my room,have put up more items for bid,and I'm discovering there's a lot more floor in here than I first thought. More organizing-clearing out to go,but it sure is looking better!
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mando pickin,uke strummin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 6:39:04 PM
Lol, gotta love those crispy rubberbands!!!
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Nov 11 2010 : 3:26:29 PM
I know the feeling of being overwhelmed by it all. When I moved down here to AR it was into a house that was full of my parent's stuff and I was stuffing my house into it along with theirs (they had both passed several years ago)...2 households worth in one house but thank goodness it is a big house. Then I got Graves disease and was pretty much blind for 2 years so now that I am "back in the saddle" I have taken to using a timer so I don't get overwhelmed or too tired to make myself supper! LOL! I live alone so I have the luxury of messing up one room in order to get to the heart of another one. Up north people were always dropping in so I'd rush and stuff things away or hate to get involved in a big project for fear I'd get waylaid but down here I am FREE!!!
I also tend to be a perfectionist sometimes so it wasn't enough to just clean up...I had to paint and recaulk etc...I finally realized I was making MORE of a mess so I made a plan. I would first go through the house and just "clean up and straighten" even if there was an inch of dust or cobwebs...I would just straighten. Then I chose a room to start with and NO PAINTING or DECORATING...I went through my bathroom cupboards and cleaned and organized and went through every little thing in there and then did baseboards, dusted walls and windows and washed windows and screens. Of course the regular cleaning of the bathroom is a no brainer. It took me a few days but it got done and is easier to maintain. Oh, while I cleaned I made a list of what I wanted to do to the bathroom eventually...such as paint, clean grout, make curtains etc. The house had not been decorated in 30 years! Then I moved to the closet, went through everything, got rid of clothes, took all my shoes and purses and cleaned and polished them and put them into clear plastic bins from Dollar General. I took all my shoe polish "stuff" and put that in a bin...the more organized I get the more I get done. I then shampooed the carpeting and cleaned my bedroom good and now need to clean out my dresser drawers. A lot of this is on my blog but it has been wonderful because I can see progress. But you're all correct! It takes time but I feel SO good when I go in my closet or open those cupboards in the bathroom because those are things that stay clean and organized for quite awhile before you have to do it again. Now, there are rooms you can barely walk through but I will get there eventually and seeing progress is the greatest motivator! And yes....I threw out a whole bunch of "crispy" rubberbands! LOL!
An aside....I had a hard time when my folks first died to get rid of their things...that was part of the grieving process and I couldn't bear to have an auction and see people pawing through their things but now I have gotten rid of quite a bit and I've been able to just keep what I love. Hopefully this will continue as I go through things and I am going to do Ebay too and hopefully make a little extra money! Hope this helps all of you cuz I have been there and still am depending on what room you go into! Ha! Ha!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226
www.farmgirlsam.blogspot.com |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Nov 10 2010 : 7:35:11 PM
I don't think it's laziness...it's just the feeling of being overwhelmed. My mother and I have a running joke: When we look around our house at all of the STUFF and are feeling overwhelmed, rather than go and sort through it, we'll go clean a closet (or pantry, or something that doesn't need doing). I mean literally. We're weird like that. I read this great book the other day:
http://www.amazon.com/Let-Go-Clutter-Harriet-Schechter/dp/0071351221/ref=pd_sim_b_13
After I read the first page, I knew she was talking about me! My mom and I are very much alike. We save things "in case we'll need them one day". Now, for about 90 percent of that stuff, the day never comes. After reading the book, I felt liberated. I tossed stuff left and right. By decluttering my house and storage building, it freed something within me. I didn't feel weighted down, or 'paralyzed' as my mom says. I really loved this book.
Now, I do keep some stuff, like jars (but NOT all of them), and I do try to reuse things. I try not to use plastic bags as much as possible. In fact, as far as food storage for leftovers, I have been using vintage Pyrex refrigerator containers (colored base with glass lids) and I LOVE them. I have no idea why we ever went with those stupid disposable containers.
Anyway, I will also say that my grandmother, who lived through the Depression, saved EVERYTHING. I mean, to the point of madness. Who needs 150 butter tubs? Or 1000 crusty old rubber bands that crumble when you touch them? I am sure that she, too, got to the point of feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed, so instead of doing something, she did nothing about the clutter. All I can say is that while I am so glad she saved some things, I really wished she would have tossed disposable items such as the tubs, the rubber bands, and the 2 dumpsterloads of old wrapping paper that we found in the attic!!!
I have helped my mom organize some, and now our big task is to clean out the TWO huge storage buildings full of things that haven't seen the light of day in over TWENTY years. She said that the biggest help is having someone to be there to tell her toss or keep, lol. In a lighthearted moment, we were cleaning out her kitchen drawers and after finding multiples of everything known to man, I slammed down six vegetable peelers and declared, "MOTHER, no one needs SIX peelers!" We both laughed about it.
:0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 09 2010 : 3:00:09 PM
That's true, Sherrie. But sometimes I think I am just too lazy to clean it all up. Just plain lazy. I try not to look at it. And another thing is I just don't have anywhere else to put things except in here. I would love for an organizer to come and make me a neat tidy little room with a place for everything. Wouldn't that be great?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Nov 09 2010 : 07:43:32 AM
To answer the title of this thread,I believe there is always hope for one who recognizes there may be a problem with a habit,no matter what that habit may be. I sometimes inwardly sigh at my Dad too,as it seems he just hangs on to every box & jar that comes his way. Yet in all honesty there has been many I time I was the one needing the jar or box he had saved! One thing you ladies might want to try is when you have some quiet time alone,is to write down any thought that pops in your head when you ask the question "why do I keep all this stuff? Where is this coming from?" (Mind you this is for your private notebooks & not for the message board unless you want to share)To be honest,with any attitude,habit,etc I felt I needed to get to the root to has always called for inner exploration. Just don't edit yourself as you scribble-many times those seemingly goofy non related thoughts are stepping stones to what is really causing the attitude or habit. Personally speaking,until I find out the inner "why" of something I remain stuck in changing a habit,trait,attitude,etc.
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mando pickin,uke strummin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
| Lainey |
Posted - Nov 09 2010 : 06:33:23 AM
I tend to collect things as well and have a very hard time letting things go. I keep thinking I'll need it someday. So then I store it away, mostly in storage boxes and I never think about them until my husband makes me go through it. He has always called me a pack rat but until that show came on about hoarders I didn't think it was a problem. Now, I'm not as severe as some that I have seen on there but I can tell I need to de-clutter and get more organized. I do go through my clothes from time to time and give to Good Will and other places. I think I need to go through those boxes before the holidays. But one thing that happens when I do that is I wonder what am I going to do with those things. I usually let go of a few things... then I'll just repack what is left and store it away again. My husband just sighs.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' |
| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Nov 06 2010 : 08:16:58 AM
My Dad saves jars,so on & so forth. I'm a collector of fabrics,yarn,songbooks,buttons,etc. Yet I can say that some of my stashes are waay bigger than they should be. What I've started doing to thin it down is take small steps. For example-I have subscribed to several knitting magazines over the last several years. I finally started going thru them and I've taken quite a few to my part time job to give away-others I have cut patterns out of & placed those in page protectors & have a pattern notebook-what's left goes in the recycle bin. And there are those few magazines that have so many patterns in them that I want I just keep the magazine. I've been selling instruments that I just don't play on eBay,along with other clothing items,etc. It feels so good to get rid of an object you don't want anymore,and it's so nice to not have to move it out of your way any longer. And I'm making room for whatever I do want! Not to mention lightening the load for our possible move.
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mando pickin,uke strummin, & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
| ramonaj |
Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 9:47:05 PM
well, i hold on to things but not to the point of hoarding. not to my way of thinking anyway. i re-use things as much as possible, then when they finally wear out i toss or recycle. our disposable society is out of hand so people like us have to provide the balance. that's my rationalization and i'm sticking to it! i will admit that my knitting supplies are out of hand, but i'm gathering it all up to give away (carpal tunnel), so I do have some control.
happiness to all sentient beings |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 4:03:35 PM
There is just one room in my house that I pile stuff in. Like the boxes and all. It's where I am now. The rest of my house is very minimal and simple. So really it's not all that bad. It just seems bad in here. And my laundry room too. I almost forgot. That's where all the jars are. And lots of appliances and kitchen stuff since my kitchen is so small and I have very little counter space. I just hate this room and want it to look like these people with all the organizational things to make it look so neat and clean. I want to be able to sew in here like it was intended to be. A craft-work-sewing room. Oh well. My kids ask me what I want for Christmas or birthdays and I say a good house cleaner. Do I ever get one? NO. I keep telling them though.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| pinkroses |
Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 11:46:52 AM
Yes
As you know we moved into our farm house last Fall
I had to get rid of a lot .
and I mean a lot
After living where we did for around 27 years one has a lot of stuff.
or shall I say me.
It took a lot for me to part with some of my things.
Things that I had for years.
I know what you mean
My grandmother's lived in the depression era
and saved every thing.
Mom is sorta like that; maybe not so bad
What with me liking to do so many different needle works and loving books, I had a lot
material , yarn etc
I still have quit a bit; but getting rid of it a little more.
It gets easier
One of my pastor friends said
"When you stuff begins to own you; it is time to clear it out! "
His wife said.
" He a good one to talk !!!"
Meaning , he was just as bad ha.
It is so hard to start; but once you get rid of things that are making you have stress ; you will find it easier.
I watch the show Hoarders.
I doubt you are like them.
I watch them because I don't want to be that bad.
Praying for you . hugs sheila
http://www.sheilascreativetouches.blogspot.com/
http://www.ohkayteagirl2.blogspot.com |
| sherrye |
Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 07:42:00 AM
wanted to add ...i think we have become a nation of throw away waste. disposable everything. the jobs were even given away to other countries. so i say who knows what next year shall bring now. if you own it why throw it away. use save re purpose. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| sherrye |
Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 07:39:38 AM
hey there kris, i have stuff too. i do draw lines in how much is too much.lol since we are staying here i am decluttering . i want to paint inside. its been a lotta years for paint. i love that when papa or i need something we see if we have it first. lots of times we do. we buy tools at garage sales and hinges and kitchen supplies at goodwill. if we need a shelf or box we make it. we do sort and stack. we have been sorting and stacking now to get ready for winter here. moving hay manger. i save right down to rubber bands. mom was like this and so was my granny. this will make you farmgirls smile. i still have my grannys bobbi pins etc. and my moms little personal stuff as they left it. ALL of which was wrapped by them in rubber bands. i have a lifetime supply of paperclips. need some? lol life is truly how we see it. i bet your stuff is fine. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| texdane |
Posted - Nov 05 2010 : 06:42:31 AM
Kris,
I think you are too hard on yourself. I think you are smart, girl. Especially in times like these...
Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 7:11:09 PM
So I guess it's not too bad yet. I am glad there are so many of you that do this too. My kids think I'm crazy for keeping stuff like this. But really, why throw it out?
I hope you get your sewing room, Ruth.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| pnickols |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 6:25:50 PM
don
t feel bad Kris, me too, I try to unclutter but just can't get rid of stuff plus I have this wierd urge to save items from the trash. my kids tease me all the time. must just be the age or times I don't know |
| violetrose |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 5:03:37 PM
Kris, You are too funny - I have been in my sewing room trying to make some order in there. I have been throwing away pieces of ribbon, but all the time thinking one of the Farmgirls could use this for card making or something! and fabric scraps - oh I could make a rag basket!!!, or a pot holder!!! you get the picture 
I have a basement full of "projects" that are never going to get done, so I need to take it to the Thrift or trash it!
Then I can put my sewing room down there and have all the room I need! Sounds like a plan to me!
Hugs, Ruth
Farmgirl Sister # 1738
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
| emsmommy5 |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 4:49:23 PM
My kids accuse me of that... teasingly... =)
I try to throw things away, but I do save things that can be reused within reason. it's a fine liine sometimes. It's hard with the economy because I want to have it 'just in case.'
Do what you love, love what you do. |
| karla |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 1:00:00 PM
I think it is a sign of the times. We all feel like things could change drastically & we want to be prepared for it! I nkow that I have been doing the same things! My freezer is full just in case! I know my grandmother was a bit more of a hoarder than even I am & I am like you I don't want to be like her!!!! I loved her but that was scary!
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
http://rua2j-grammysheirlooms.blogspot.com/ |
| star-schipp |
Posted - Nov 04 2010 : 10:45:57 AM
Oh my, Kris...I so hear you. I have been saving more and more things lately because I think I will need it/think I might need it/have a perfect project in mind for it/think I know someone who might need it...I am 49 years old and didn't grow up poor either. I used to go through the house at least twice yearly and declutter/throw away mercilessly but just cannot make myself do it now. So, I'm like you but don't know why or if I even do need to do something about it.
We can do no great things; only small things with great love - Mother Teresa
Star - farmgirl sister #1927
Master Food Preserver |
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