Hoarding...

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:05:29 GMT

Berkcla — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:05:29 GMT

Thank you for calling attention to this serious problem, that can be progressive andlife threatening. Clearly it is difficult for anyone who does not suffer from a cluttering problem to understand what it is like to be paralyzed emotionally and unable to let go of things that appear to be trash to others. Thank god there is a 12 step group for people who are desperate to help themselves through fellowship, action and provides tools to let go of things one day at a time. Clutterers Anonymous http://www.clutterersanonymous.net

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:08:58 GMT

carebear — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:08:58 GMT

buds hubs:
ChiefKiasu:
[quote=\"carebear\"]... I feel great throwing old things away, it lightens my burden.

I do hope that doesn't include old fogies like me :!:

You old meh?? :?

Just because some auntie at the market called your \"uncle\" doesnt make you old right!

I've seen you in person and I dont think you're that old.

:celebrate:[/quote]Feeling old is just a mind set.
Maybe chief feels old cos he is one of the founders of KSP?

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:56:53 GMT

buds hubs — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:56:53 GMT

ChiefKiasu:
carebear:
... I feel great throwing old things away, it lightens my burden.

I do hope that doesn't include old fogies like me :!:

You old meh?? :?

Just because some auntie at the market called your \"uncle\" doesnt make you old right!

I've seen you in person and I dont think you're that old.

:celebrate:

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:47:57 GMT

carebear — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:47:57 GMT

ChiefKiasu:
carebear:
... I feel great throwing old things away, it lightens my burden.

I do hope that doesn't include old fogies like me :!:

Oh no, certainly no.....
You are certainly not classified as \"things\".

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:28:06 GMT

ChiefKiasu — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:28:06 GMT

carebear:
... I feel great throwing old things away, it lightens my burden.

I do hope that doesn't include old fogies like me :!:

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:10:17 GMT

carebear — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:10:17 GMT

My motto is : If you buy new things, throw the old ones.

Another is : If you don’t use something for more than 1 year, throw it away.
I don’t have much space at home.
I feel great throwing old things away, it lightens my burden.

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:04:40 GMT

buds hubs — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:04:40 GMT

mathsparks:
we've lots of build in cabinets so thats why i could hoard so much. And like you autumnbronze, i still keep my son's umbilical cord. My kids hair and nails from their first cut.. And their teeth which was taken away by the tooth fairy and given to their cousins. Plus their letters to santa and santa's replies too!

Phew! That is a lot indeed!
And if you run out of space, consider renting storage!

:!: ... I'm definitely not a hoarder!!

My motto is simple \"If theres clutter.... THROW em all out... I say!!\" :evil:

Its amazing how you ladies can find the space to keep all this stuff!! :celebrate:

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:52:22 GMT

mathsparks — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:52:22 GMT

we've lots of build in cabinets so thats why i could hoard so much. And like you autumnbronze, i still keep my son's umbilical cord. My kids hair and nails from their first cut.. And their teeth which was taken away by the tooth fairy and given to their cousins. Plus their letters to santa and santa's replies too!

Phew! That is a lot indeed!
And if you run out of space, consider renting storage!

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:26:23 GMT

autumnbronze — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:26:23 GMT

mathsparks:
I keep most of my kids' stuff, from their 1st pair of mittens, baby clothes, party clothes to their 1st set of school uniforms, to their artwork, compositions, test papers, spectacles...even some school books. I still keep the A series of Peter n Jane, some Enid Blytons, roald dahl, their board books etc. My girl's first hairband, hairclips. Their cards/letters...even hongpow packets.

1st winter clothes, boarding passes, ticket stubs..any items that bring back memories of their trips, theatre performances,..even hospitalisation..the wrist tag.

Most of my storage spaces are used up and dh suggested, if we move to a smaller place, we'll have to box them up and send to storage. :oops:

If I had the space, I would've kept their 1st crib, sarong, kiddy swing/car and loads more.

I hoard some of my clothes..from suits to casual ones...even my maternity clothes. I've no idea why I'm keeping them; its not as if I'm ever gonna return to working full time or have another baby.

But, as all hoarders can tell ya, we hoard coz we cling on to memories.

Wow mathsparks,

Where do you find the space??

I have been keeping all my DS's playgroup artwork for the past 6 mths, but I know eventually I have to let go all and keep only one, and he is barely three!!!

I cleared alot of my clothes b4 end of last year, It amounted to 4 big plastic bags (the black rubbish type). Dropped it off at the Salvation Army.

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:28:09 GMT

autumnbronze — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 07:28:09 GMT

jedamum:
mods, pls merge

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5061&start=0

Thanks jedamum,

Must have missed this topic in my search ....

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:54:54 GMT

jedamum — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:54:54 GMT

mods, pls merge

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5061&start=0

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:30:03 GMT

mathsparks — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:30:03 GMT

I keep most of my kids' stuff, from their 1st pair of mittens, baby clothes, party clothes to their 1st set of school uniforms, to their artwork, compositions, test papers, spectacles...even some school books. I still keep the A series of Peter n Jane, some Enid Blytons, roald dahl, their board books etc. My girl's first hairband, hairclips. Their cards/letters...even hongpow packets.

1st winter clothes, boarding passes, ticket stubs..any items that bring back memories of their trips, theatre performances,..even hospitalisation..the wrist tag.

Most of my storage spaces are used up and dh suggested, if we move to a smaller place, we'll have to box them up and send to storage. :oops:

If I had the space, I would've kept their 1st crib, sarong, kiddy swing/car and loads more.

I hoard some of my clothes..from suits to casual ones...even my maternity clothes. I've no idea why I'm keeping them; its not as if I'm ever gonna return to working full time or have another baby.

But, as all hoarders can tell ya, we hoard coz we cling on to memories.

Reply to Hoarding... on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:32:35 GMT

autumnbronze — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 05:32:35 GMT

Hoarder (noun)

Etymology
From hoard + -er

One who hoards; one who accumulates, collects, and stores

Definition derived from http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hoarder

Hi all,

I shall start the ball rolling ....

Yes I am. Most definitely.

1.I still keep the frosty the snowman ceremic drink holder that I drank my first alcoholic drink with DH (then boyfriend) like 20 yrs ago ... though its a bit chipped.

2. I still keep the swatch watch that DH (then boyfriend) gave me on my first bday celebration I had with him, although its not working now and the strap is broken. In fact, it was his first gift to me.

3.I still keep all the letters and cards and notes given to me by him. Also by pple who mean alot to me. I also keep the receipts of the places we visited/went to eat during our dating days.

4.I still keep some of the clothes I wore 10 yrs ago, hoping one day I will fit into them again .... I still have the top (low back) that I wore on the first date with my DH

6.I still keep my EL essays that I kept from Sec sch ... those that were read aloud by my EL teachers and other EL teachers in their classes :lol:

7.Now, I hoard stuff for DS like books and educational toys that he can only use in say 2 or 3 yrs time (can't help it, am so spoilt for choice with the learning tools and also love going to books warehouse/atrium sale) I also hoard books for myself. Have many that are still waiting to be read.

8.I am holding on to some hardcover books on fairy tales, nursery rhymes etc.. that belonged to my nieces. They are easily over 30 yrs old and in v good condition

9.I begged my mom to hand over porcelain crockery that my Dad especially had them hand painted in Japan to me since none of my siblings expressed any interest in them. They are at least over 30 yrs old.

10.Jewellry that my mom gave me as a wedding gift. Although I hardly ever wear them, it is unlikely that I will do trade-in cuz they are at least over 40 yrs old ....

As you can see, most of these items are of sentimental value. Though I am aware that people do tend to hoard things maybe because maybe its a compulsive habit for them?? even though it may not be of sentimental or monetary value to them??

There is more, but think I've said too much and hope others will share their 'wealth'

okie okie ... last one

11.I still keep my DS's umbilical cord that dropped off, some of his hair when he had his first haircut, his/mine name tag when he was born, his first pair of shoes ... okie parents you get the drift rite??

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:00:14 GMT

buds — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:00:14 GMT

Make that me 4 then, you guys!

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:21:37 GMT

RRMummy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:21:37 GMT

Busymom:
EN:

Busymom, hi-5 to you. Your description sounds like me. When I used to have a maid, she is to stack things neatly for every cabinet that we own. When travelling, I will not allow dh or the kids to pack their luggage. Even when we reach destination, I will first unpack & put our clothings, foodstuff, toiletries in proper place. Soiled clothing, they are to put at a proper place & I will fold it back neatly into the luggage. Only difference is, I'm not late for flight. But I simply skip sleeping. DH & dd is complete opposite of me and ds. DS who was then 7, just simply decides that he does not want to sleep in the sister's room anymore. He simply cannot tolerate the mess and the things his sister hoard.
Hi EN, hi-5 to you too! :grphug:

I also skip sleeping... thought I am the only one to do that. :oops:

Me 3!

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:07:54 GMT

Busymom — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:07:54 GMT

EN:

Busymom, hi-5 to you. Your description sounds like me. When I used to have a maid, she is to stack things neatly for every cabinet that we own. When travelling, I will not allow dh or the kids to pack their luggage. Even when we reach destination, I will first unpack & put our clothings, foodstuff, toiletries in proper place. Soiled clothing, they are to put at a proper place & I will fold it back neatly into the luggage. Only difference is, I'm not late for flight. But I simply skip sleeping. DH & dd is complete opposite of me and ds. DS who was then 7, just simply decides that he does not want to sleep in the sister's room anymore. He simply cannot tolerate the mess and the things his sister hoard.

Hi EN, hi-5 to you too! :grphug:

I also skip sleeping... thought I am the only one to do that. :oops:

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:50:53 GMT

schellen — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:50:53 GMT

sashimi:
One more thing, although by and large schellen is the anal organizer and I am the messy curator, when it comes to the store room.... we are reversed.

I take pride in making sure the storeroom is organized, to the point that basically you can walk in and locate anything. I have reorganized it a few times so that there is always a central passageway from door to the back, surrounded on three sides with stuff.

However schellen loves to just throw stuff in the storeroom haphazardly. She would bag all sorts of stuff in unmarked bags and just stack and stack. Worst of all, when I bought her a clothes rack, she parked it in the passageway, blocking everything! :stupid:

BTW, I am a Capricorn, year of the rat, blood type B.

I gave up on the storeroom. In the beginning, it was full of sashimi's stuff. When I want to add something to the storeroom, I don't have the strength/height to put it on top of his stuff so I just dump it wherever there was space. I did ask him before to help me but he is always occupied when I need to store things. I gave up waiting.

The problem with our storeroom is that it is long and narrow so a lot of things are piled right up to the ceiling.

Actually, sashimi used to not mark his stuff too so after our last spring cleaning session, we marked everything possible.

About the clothes rack: I really have no idea where to store it and it is not practical to dismantle it each time after use, especially now, it is always in use (to hang clothes due for ironing). At least it is on wheels.

Oh, btw, my sign is Cancer so I do hoard some stuff but for sentimental reasons and I do store them away properly, out of sight. For such things, I have no problem sorting them out and storing them properly (unlike bills and statements).

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:40:20 GMT

schellen — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:40:20 GMT

sashimi:
But... my philosophy is that - read carefully ah - schellen's DVD1 in the player, goes into the case for DVD2, cos I'm going to watch DVD2. By placing DVD1 in DVD2's case, when you take out DVD2 later, you look at the title and put it back in DVD2's case, which is where DVD1 is residing temporarily... and you put DVD1 back in the player mah....

This started because of schellen's Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection, cos they are those DVD box set cases which unfold into these dangly 4-foot-long monstrocities. I hate these containers. Prefer the book-type DVD set containers.

Anyway, that's why I implemented the temporary holding case mah, the clear one....

If you only watch one series at one time, then ok but you don't. Your temp holding case is usually full becos of this.

sashimi:
schellen has this Sony mini-hifi from circa 1999/2000(?) that IMHO barely works anymore, but she refuses to throw it away because it is a b'day present from her dad. So it takes up space and collects dust and chokes when you try to coax it to read a CD. :roll:

It's not a b'day present lah. I told you I keep it for DD to play with becos:
1. You sure you want her to use your \"still-under-warranty\" CD/DVD player w/o supervision? Considering that sometimes, she can be rather \"rough\" when handling stuff, I doubt you would agree. So if she ruins this old player (which I have connected an old discman to), no heart pain mah.
2. You also complain that sometimes, the CDs I burned/personalised for her may overwork your player since the burning process is not sophisticated. So where else to play them (other than PC) than on the old player lor.

sashimi:
While I roll my eyes at these scavengers, I am even more annoyed when scavenging comes home. My in-laws occasionally scavenge old toys and stuff for DD, which annoys the hell out of me. I used to come home, spot something suspiciously old in DD's collection, interrogate, then chuck it straight down the chute. I did this a few times in front of them to get the message across.

I can understand if my dad brings home old hi-fi parts cos he loves to tweak them and add them to his system. It gives him a sense of satisfaction, I guess, when it works. However, I don't like it when they pass me old stuff that they have scavenged, especially if the source is unknown. If it's a hand-me-down with a verifiable source, then ok. Currently, I only accept books, worksheets, sketch pads, etc that have been bought but never used (and not yellow and/or dog-eared) by previous owner and definitely not picked up from unknown piles of trash.

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:35:12 GMT

sashimi — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:35:12 GMT

One more thing, although by and large schellen is the anal organizer and I am the messy curator, when it comes to the store room.... we are reversed.

I take pride in making sure the storeroom is organized, to the point that basically you can walk in and locate anything. I have reorganized it a few times so that there is always a central passageway from door to the back, surrounded on three sides with stuff.

However schellen loves to just throw stuff in the storeroom haphazardly. She would bag all sorts of stuff in unmarked bags and just stack and stack. Worst of all, when I bought her a clothes rack, she parked it in the passageway, blocking everything! :stupid:

BTW, I am a Capricorn, year of the rat, blood type B.

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:27:14 GMT

sashimi — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:27:14 GMT

schellen:
Busymom:
On the topic of CD, DH has this irritating habbit of putting whatever CD that is in the player into the case of the next CD that he is going to play. Is there anybody out there who is like that?!!

sashimi!! And it's not just CDs but DVDs and CD-ROMs too! If I am the last one to use the DVD player, and I presume that I will be the next one to use it, I will leave my DVD in the player. But sometimes, sashimi will use it after me and he will put my DVD into his DVD case, even when my DVD case is just sitting on the shelf above within reach and sight. The problem is that it may take a while for me to get back to what I was watching and meanwhile, sashimi (who loves to watch a few series at one go, for variety, he says) will have a few DVD cases laid out in front of the player. Imagine how annoyed I get when I have to look through so many cases for my missing DVD! :stupid:

But... my philosophy is that - read carefully ah - schellen's DVD1 in the player, goes into the case for DVD2, cos I'm going to watch DVD2. By placing DVD1 in DVD2's case, when you take out DVD2 later, you look at the title and put it back in DVD2's case, which is where DVD1 is residing temporarily... and you put DVD1 back in the player mah....

This started because of schellen's Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection, cos they are those DVD box set cases which unfold into these dangly 4-foot-long monstrocities. I hate these containers. Prefer the book-type DVD set containers.

Anyway, that's why I implemented the temporary holding case mah, the clear one....

Um, I think I consider myself a.... curator. I used to hoard, but I have seen the error of those ways. So, nowadays, I only keep something if I think it has long term value.

My biggest problem is finding the time and will to organize my stuff. Organizing stuff is a full-time job - the kind I only do whenever I take 3 days' leave to do CNY spring cleaning. These are the times I haul out the stuff from my hoarding days and just throw.

When it comes to throwing, I subscribe to large-scale throwing. For example, if a piece of furniture or an appliance cannot serve my family's needs anymore, I will announce to DW and DD that I'm replacing it, and I will just do it, esp. since I pay for the replacement. Recently for example, I replaced the TV bench and DD/DW's wardrobe, in order to increase overall capacity.

schellen has this Sony mini-hifi from circa 1999/2000(?) that IMHO barely works anymore, but she refuses to throw it away because it is a b'day present from her dad. So it takes up space and collects dust and chokes when you try to coax it to read a CD. :roll:

If an appliance still works but is not performing or gives more trouble than it's worth, I replace it. I am very very big on durability and reliability. I don't need the high-end stuff, I need faithful performance.

I highlight this cos the older generation always want to keep these things, even if they are old/cranky/inappropriate for today's needs. For me, I don't care - limited value (or worse - obstructing value) = throw throw throw.

Which brings me to one of my pet peeves - scavengers. I live in an old estate, full of scavengers. schellen and I would sometimes bet how long it'll take before something we throw at the rubbish dump downstairs is scavenged by someone in the area.

While I roll my eyes at these scavengers, I am even more annoyed when scavenging comes home. My in-laws occasionally scavenge old toys and stuff for DD, which annoys the hell out of me. I used to come home, spot something suspiciously old in DD's collection, interrogate, then chuck it straight down the chute. I did this a few times in front of them to get the message across.

I don't care even if it is in perfect working order, I feel that it is extremely undignified to scavenge things from rubbish dumps in order to give to our kids! :stupid:

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:53:49 GMT

jedamum — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:53:49 GMT

csc:
My darling hubby is both a hoarder and thrower... in that he hoards his stuff but throws away mine. :x

:!: :rotflmao:

Reply to Hoarding... on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:40:11 GMT

csc — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:40:11 GMT

My darling hubby is both a hoarder and thrower... in that he hoards his stuff but throws away mine. :x

And I am a hoarder... a very sentimental one. Yeah... i kept the guest lists of our wedding, our wedding card, all his love letters, my son's first set of clothes, his kindergarten uniform, his first art piece, his first handwritten note etc

And yes, my children are reading my yellow and tattered story books from my pri school days... and they love them.

If I could, I would have kept all my composition books and all my primary school diaries . But my mum threw them away after I got married and did not have the time to pack them off with me. I was so upset to know that.

Reply to Hoarding... on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:53:34 GMT

Jennifer — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:53:34 GMT

ZacK:
insider:

If two also hoarders, then...
A picture paints a thousand words :!:
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4389/draftlens1998648module1.jpg\">

In my family... I'm definitely a thrower and DW a hoarder... My son is reading some of her story books that she read as a kid :!: :roll:

This not your house right???

Reply to Hoarding... on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:21:49 GMT

ZacK — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:21:49 GMT

MLR:

Jus today I found another one of his hiding place full of yester years magazines. I did warned him about throwing his magazines out, so he moved some of his stash in the study room to his wardrobe!

Hahaha... I found this funny... For hoarders, getting them to throw away stuff is akin to askiing them to chop off a limb! :stupid: :roll: